THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
"Bienvenue à Paris", chirped the officer standing near the departure section of Charles de Gaulle Airport.
PARIS, the city of love and romance. Evana had to go through a lot so she could finally enjoy this trip to her dream city with her friends. All she ever wanted to do was come to this city, but that was another dream. A dream she couldn't live. A dream that was shattered long ago. This was not the time to live in the past. She was in a new country, with a renewed hope and spirit, she could not dwell on the past and what that held.
sitting at a quaint cafe`, sipping her latte` and wishing the waiter could bring their croissants as quick as possible, evana kept admiring the street corners and the people here. It was a gloriously pleasant day and she hoped it would continue because they had made plans to leave for monte carlo after lunch. "This place must have great food, all the tables are filled with people", said Aditi. "Yeah, I guess so", commented Kanika, "Regardless of that, they need to quicken up their speed of service"
Evana was about to flag the waiter and ask him about their order when she heard someone say, " Espresso, without cream, and two packets of sugar". She recoiled in shock. It was harrowingly similar to someone she had known long ago. No, it couldn't be Gyan. He wouldn't remember the importance of this year. He wouldn't know that she was here. Yet, here he was. The kaleidoscope of memories had already taken hold in her mind. The epic story, as she used to call it, their rivalry and how that led to the fierce friendship which grew to become love. She couldn't help but remember how they had spent their days in college, how they made every party their own, how they spent hours talking about each other and their future, their plans and promises. She was so taken with all this that she never noticed the waiter standing next to her asking her if she needed something.
"Snap out of it Evana. What is the matter? You seem flustered", asked Aditi.
"It's nothing. I just thought I heard Gyan. The guy over at that table ordered coffee just the way he did"
"Oh, Gyan. Isn't he the one that got away? Right, Aditi?"
"Kanika please. We do not want to hash this up again. Leave it be Evana. It can't be him. Let's just eat lunch and catch our train to Monte Carlo"
There was no mention of Gyan again. They left the cafe` and took their train to Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo was a quiet city. It was relaxing in the day and bustling at night with it's famous casino. Evana was getting ready to go to the casino. on their way to the casino, Kanika met a guy who invited all of them over for a drink. Evana was not in the mood but she obliged her. Imagine her shock when on reaching the table she saw Gyan with a few other guys.
It was 2010 all over again. They kept staring at each other for several moments while everyone started mingling with the crowd. It was only then that Aditi remarked over something and Evana came out of her reverie. This was not happening. If she stayed even a moment longer, it would end up with several complications.
" I need to leave. I'm not really feeling that well. I'll see you guys in the room"
Aditi was convinced. She finally realized who was standing next to her. she exclaimed," Oh, yeah. Let me take you up. I'll come back for Kanika"
That night, she received a call on her cellphone. It was Gyan.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Evana. I know that we're not talking to each other but it was really nice seeing you after a long time. I know you've always wanted to come to europe and I'm happy that you made your dream come true. Regardless of what happened with us, I would like to be in touch with you"
"Gyan, I'm glad that you feel so but I would really not be comfortable doing that. We have a history together but it will still be very difficult to be near you"
"Good Night"
"Goodnight and Goodbye Gyan"
They kept tossing and turning in their beds for hours on the end thinking about their past. HOw did two people who were so right for one another turn out to be so wrong. Evana couldn't understand why it was so hard to let it go and all Gyan wanted was to move over the bitterness and do something. They were never meant to be together. They shared a friendship fiercer than most,loved deeply than others and they had now reached an impasse where neither knew where they were going. They had filled the life of the other with unbelievable experiences, colourful events and strong memories. They had taught each other important life lessons and truth no one could. But now, they could never continue from there. They would remain a sweet stranger in the future.
One thought swimmed in Evana's mind before she fell asleep.
PARIS, the city of love and romance. Evana had to go through a lot so she could finally enjoy this trip to her dream city with her friends. All she ever wanted to do was come to this city, but that was another dream. A dream she couldn't live. A dream that was shattered long ago. This was not the time to live in the past. She was in a new country, with a renewed hope and spirit, she could not dwell on the past and what that held.
sitting at a quaint cafe`, sipping her latte` and wishing the waiter could bring their croissants as quick as possible, evana kept admiring the street corners and the people here. It was a gloriously pleasant day and she hoped it would continue because they had made plans to leave for monte carlo after lunch. "This place must have great food, all the tables are filled with people", said Aditi. "Yeah, I guess so", commented Kanika, "Regardless of that, they need to quicken up their speed of service"
Evana was about to flag the waiter and ask him about their order when she heard someone say, " Espresso, without cream, and two packets of sugar". She recoiled in shock. It was harrowingly similar to someone she had known long ago. No, it couldn't be Gyan. He wouldn't remember the importance of this year. He wouldn't know that she was here. Yet, here he was. The kaleidoscope of memories had already taken hold in her mind. The epic story, as she used to call it, their rivalry and how that led to the fierce friendship which grew to become love. She couldn't help but remember how they had spent their days in college, how they made every party their own, how they spent hours talking about each other and their future, their plans and promises. She was so taken with all this that she never noticed the waiter standing next to her asking her if she needed something.
"Snap out of it Evana. What is the matter? You seem flustered", asked Aditi.
"It's nothing. I just thought I heard Gyan. The guy over at that table ordered coffee just the way he did"
"Oh, Gyan. Isn't he the one that got away? Right, Aditi?"
"Kanika please. We do not want to hash this up again. Leave it be Evana. It can't be him. Let's just eat lunch and catch our train to Monte Carlo"
There was no mention of Gyan again. They left the cafe` and took their train to Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo was a quiet city. It was relaxing in the day and bustling at night with it's famous casino. Evana was getting ready to go to the casino. on their way to the casino, Kanika met a guy who invited all of them over for a drink. Evana was not in the mood but she obliged her. Imagine her shock when on reaching the table she saw Gyan with a few other guys.
It was 2010 all over again. They kept staring at each other for several moments while everyone started mingling with the crowd. It was only then that Aditi remarked over something and Evana came out of her reverie. This was not happening. If she stayed even a moment longer, it would end up with several complications.
" I need to leave. I'm not really feeling that well. I'll see you guys in the room"
Aditi was convinced. She finally realized who was standing next to her. she exclaimed," Oh, yeah. Let me take you up. I'll come back for Kanika"
That night, she received a call on her cellphone. It was Gyan.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Evana. I know that we're not talking to each other but it was really nice seeing you after a long time. I know you've always wanted to come to europe and I'm happy that you made your dream come true. Regardless of what happened with us, I would like to be in touch with you"
"Gyan, I'm glad that you feel so but I would really not be comfortable doing that. We have a history together but it will still be very difficult to be near you"
"Good Night"
"Goodnight and Goodbye Gyan"
They kept tossing and turning in their beds for hours on the end thinking about their past. HOw did two people who were so right for one another turn out to be so wrong. Evana couldn't understand why it was so hard to let it go and all Gyan wanted was to move over the bitterness and do something. They were never meant to be together. They shared a friendship fiercer than most,loved deeply than others and they had now reached an impasse where neither knew where they were going. They had filled the life of the other with unbelievable experiences, colourful events and strong memories. They had taught each other important life lessons and truth no one could. But now, they could never continue from there. They would remain a sweet stranger in the future.
One thought swimmed in Evana's mind before she fell asleep.
"In another life, I would make you stay, so I don't have to say you were the one that got away"
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