"Just a few more hours to go." Mridul beamed as he sat with Maaya on the terrace of the roof top cafe
"Why are you so interested in the new year? Only the calendar is changing" Maaya had had a rough year and with the ongoing covid scare, was not expecting many miracles though she did hope this year would bring her the happiness she had been praying for months now that she had realized what she wanted.
"Well, I have a strong feeling that this will be my year Maaya." Mridul stared with determined eyes into the night sky which was filling up with scattered fireworks going off in the distance every now and then. A lot of people were celebrating in their homes, while Mridul and Maaya were able to find a spot out here, thanks to Mridul, who's friend was hosting a private party on his space.
"Your year? How so?" Maaya looked at Mridul with serious eyes, tipping her glass to the side. Barely managing to prevent spillage from these paper cups, easy solution for impromptu plans.
"Well, for starters I have a feeling I will be tying the knot this year", Mridul folded his arms, as if having already made up his mind about a serious decision. Maaya gaped at him in dread, was he serious, was this real?
"Like you seeing someone, or you just decided to say yes to rishta-scenes? Does it mean I should drop my plans of asking you out in a couple of months cuz I think I kinda Like-Like you?"
Maaya sped through the words in what seemed like a jiffy. A blizzard of thoughts running through her mind. What about our pact? Does he like someone? We aren't turning 30 this year, I do like him but I am definitely not ready to ask him for a wedding, an engagement would still be okay. Oh dear lord what's going on, I can't be performing on Channa Mereya at Mridul's freaking wedding, no way.
"Maaya, Maaya... Earth to Maaya. . MAAYA!" Mridul snapped his fingers, in front of her face to bring her out of her stupor.
"What?" Maaya finally responded, realizing she had sped through her words and then taken a long pause to gather her thoughts, a pause long enough to have Mridul concerned.
"What did you just say? "
"Nothing" Maaya snapped
"C'mon tell me, you know you wanna tell me." Mridul looked at her with caring eyes.
"Well, I actually kinda like-like you. Or at least I think I do. Like . . . . . so basically . . . . .. seeing you makes me happy and being around you calms me down. There is no rush, no stress when I am with you, hugging you feels like - yeah things will be okay.. . .(Maaya squinted her eyes shut with happiness, like a child experiencing ice cream for the first time) . . . " Maaya trailed off looking at Mridul who stared at her like a little puppy, at loss of words. He moved his lips to articulate something, but failed.
"Wait, lemme finish." Maaya raised her hand to sign a time out to Mridul, school habit that never left her, and Mridul understood this sign too, so he did not protest. Perks of growin gup in the same school.
"I'm not saying I wanna marry you or anything, and as such koi Neeyat kharaab bhi nahi ho ri terpe. Just that ek achhi feeling aati hai jab bhi tu saath hota hai, and I like that. I wanna give that a chance."|
Mridul was at a loss of words while Maaya felt lighter having confided in her friend. She hugged Mridul without a thought and he hugged her back in a comforting manner.
Music playing in the background (Phone alarm) followed by the barking sound of dogs. Maaya wakes up in her bed, hugging her pillow, another silly dream. She looked around, it was a cold early morning on the last day of the year. Maaya smiled recalling the last piece of the dream, her best friend hugging her with warmth and love, not a bad way to start the day for sure. While this was the second time she had dreamt about Mridul in the past month, she was glad it was not one of her unnerving nightmares that hampered her sleep in the night and mood all day. Seeing Mridul was anyday better than anything for her.
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