*A FairyTale Ending* - SaJan Story - Page 20

Exams had already started. The whole college was busy in mugging up as much as they could before it was too late. I have accepted that this last term in college would be pathetic and it could happen that I do not even pass. I couldn't study. In these past two weeks I had seen my life fall apart and I could do just nothing about it. Nothing at all. So all I could do was wait for exams to get over so I could get away from everything and enter my own world..

Exams had done a little good to me after all, I had stopped getting those awful text messages but Samrat's questions didnt want to stop at all. He was determined to find out who had sent me those texts. Why couldn't he just let it go for once. I pushed all these thoughts out of my mind as we sat in the canteen and Mayank bragged about how amazing his exams were and how he had already started getting job offers. Sigh. I wasn't interested in that but it was intriguing how happy that made Mayank. He had worked hard all these years just for a good job...

*Crash* *Crash Crash* Crash*

Suddenly a man, with blood all over his mouth, fell near our table. Dia and I shrieked as the guy begged for forgiveness. The only strange part was that he was looking as me. I looked up to see Samrat come in behind the man. "Gunjan, all those messages you got were sent by him and his gang. I just overheard them saying that it had been a long time since they had sent you a message." Samrat said with gritted teeth. "I am sorry" the man stuttered. I was shocked. Why was Samrat doing this? What would he get by all this. "Its okay.." I said. The man left immediately. "How could you forgive him so easily?" Samrat growled. "Because it wasn't his fault Samrat. He sent me those text messages because he got a chance to. I gave him the chance to make me a laughing stalk in his gang. It is my fault not his.." I stood up and stormed out. I was angry. What was he thinking? What was he trying to prove by beating a guy up? How was it his fault? I was tired of all this. I was sick of staying in that college. I couldn't take it anymore... Just two more exams, I reminded myself. One more week. And then I am out of here.

That night my phone rang a couple of times. Obviously it was Samrat but I didn't feel like answering. Then finally dia called and I picked up. "Hey! Whatsup?" I asked. "Hi, nothing really, just called to check on you. How are you doing? Samrat shouldn't have created such a scene in the Canteen. But Gunjan, he was distressed and angry. He was furious, he couldn't bear the fact that someone could send you those kind of messages. You know how Samrat is?! He has always been over protective of you.." "Why Dia? Why is he like this? I have tried to forget everything that happened and he just keeps reminding me.. How should I make him understand that making a scene won't help our friendship.. nothing, in fact can help it now. NOTHING. Its all over. We can never go back to the way we were.. I don't know how to explain it all to him, I can't bear it anymore.." I said almost crying. Dia understood. I knew she did. "Its okay Gunjan, We'll be in France in 5 days! Isn't that amazing? And then we can forget everything and have a great great holiday!" she said. "Yes. I am looking forward to it. That's the only thing that's got me going all this while..

* 5 Days Later *

Dear Diary,

College is finally over and this is the last page of my diary too. I am finally relieved. We'll be landing in France in just two hours. It's such a long flight and my friend sitting next to me is already fast asleep. I can't sleep... I can still imagine his face at the airport. Yes, Samrat had come to the airport along with Benji and Mayank. He told me that he knew we would never go back to normal, he told me that he knew that I was distancing myself from him. He seemed very upset. I didn't say anything in return. Just a goodbye. What would I say anyway? I think its good he knows. This small break will give both of us time to move on. I know alot has happened this year and it is hard to forget everything but I am going to try and put behind as much as I can! I am really looking forward to this holiday, its going to be a fresh start for me. I am all set to forget my past and have alot of fun.

Exams sucked alot. They were pathetic, but now I am done with exams for good. And Samrat.. it was difficult to say goodbye. I knew he had also sensed that we were drifting apart and we barely had anything to talk about. Benji was grumpy all day because we weren't taking him. And Mayank was sad because he would miss Dia. I am so happy for Dia, Mayank will always be there for her no matter what and she deserves him. Sometimes I pity myself, I have such high expectations for my dream man but what if there is no one like that. What if I never meet someone? Would I die alone?

Anyway, I have left all that behind. I am going to be a new person now. More rational and not at all a fairytale person. So watch out, because I am not going to be the same anymore.

Dia and I were very excited since it was almost after a year that we were going on a holiday. It would be a change for me. That is what I need the most now I think. A change. The most important thing in life is letting go.. The faster you let go the longer you can live happily. So that's what I am about to do!

* Airplane Landed *

The weather was so cool and pleasant. It wasn't as hot as Dubai was atleast. I was already in love with this place. The people around were strangers so I was comfortable. These days I haven't been too comfortable among the people I know, so the thought of being among strangers delighted me.

Our hotel was just a short drive away from the airport. The roads were nice and clean, just like ours but the buildings were more artistic. On the way to the airport I could just see a part of the Eiffel Tower. We had to go there sometime soon. The taxi driver told us that this was the best time to visit Paris since the locals had left in droves of their own for the French Riviera or the Spanish coastline, making the pace around Paris unusually languorous and the mood especially exuberant. I was so happy because I could speak French so fluently here. Even the taxi driver was very impressed. Dia was still stumbling at certain words so I looked good in front of her *wink*. He also told us that July tends to bring on a laid-back, yet stimulating, mood in Paris. People are out and about, roaming the picturesque streets at a pace that looks languid to most North Americans, or nursing drinks on sunny terraces. I was so glad that we had picked the best time to visit.

The name of our hotel was *The Ritz* It was certainly the best known hotel in Paris. It had a huge lobby and reception. While me and Dia sat in a corner whispering to each other about Dia's outstanding choice of hotel, the hotel manager got our room ready. Yep, we were sharing. We had to cut our expenses somewhere... The room was just so comfortable. The first thing we did was go to sleep. I was so tired. I hadn't even slept in the flight. I had just lied down on the bed and I had already begun to snore.

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