Chapter 10
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As Pragya stood up she looked excited and nervous, intertwining her fingers, looking everywhere else but me and after few seconds she closed her eyes, then re-opened and straight away looked at me. I gave her a nod for encouragement. She smiled and started talking about what she would like to become. I was dumbstruck. She was glowing as she looked so thrilled talking about her wish.
I didn't know what I should do. Chashmish wanted to be a vet. Why didn't I know this before? But we haven't really talked about ambitions before. I realized that the teacher was asking me about my ambition when Prem pulled the end of my shirt to bring me back to senses. I looked at Pragya and she was all smiles. I told, "Rockstar" and our teacher looked at me like I was joking. I told her about my interest in music and my guitar classes. I went on to sing a song but everyone started giggling and my teacher had to stop me. Pragya gave me a high five in the air and I did the same. I was lost in remembering Pragya's talk about her wish to become a vet that I didn't hear what Prem had to tell about his ambition. As we stepped out of our class after the class, I hugged Pragya and asked her why didn't she tell me before. "About what?", she asked innocently not knowing why I was grinning from ear to ear. "About chashmish wanting to be Dr.Chashmish?", I told her with a wink.
She
As the teacher told me to start my presentation and explain what I would like to become I stood up ever so slowly. It was something that I haven't disclosed to anyone, not even my best friend Abhi. I was wondering how he would take it. I mean I wanted him to be the first one to know but not like this. Anyways I was sure I can convince him in one or the other. As I stood looking everywhere else but him, I felt jitters. I could feel Abhi's eyes on me. As I looked at him he gave me a nod of encouragement and that was it. That's all what was needed. Here I began.
"I want to be a veterinary doctor", I said with a confident smile. After a pause, I continued.
"One day while going home, I saw a pup playing in the middle of the road whilst a car was coming on the way. Before I could save it, the car ran over it. I couldn't see it lying in a pool of blood. The pup was so.. so small that it would fit in my palms. When I thought it died, Rockst.. err.. my best friend Abhi showed to me that it was alive. It was so fragile and small. We took it to my home and a vet treated it. My parents let me keep the pup as pet in home. It is so healthy and happy now. I would have never imagined the pup which was lying lifeless with blood all over to be happily jumping around my house and play with me. It's all because of the doctor. That's why I want to be a veterinary doctor and help animals which cannot speak for themselves."
My teacher wished me best of luck for my dreams and I sat down. I was excited to hear about Abhi's ambition though I knew what exactly what he would tell. He told the teacher about his Rockstar wish. He was too involved in telling that he starting singing. After his speech, I gave him a high-five in the air. Next was Prem. He told us about how he wanted to be a businessman. It was strange that all three of us were close friends but our ambitions were so unrelated. As the class got over and we stepped outside of our class, Abhi suddenly hugged me and started smiling widely. He asked me why I didn't tell him before. I asked him what was he talking about. He told, "About Chashmish wanting to be Dr.Chashmish?"
Six years later
He
It was school holidays but I and Pragya had plans to go out on a road trip. Prem was busy with his friends. Pragya's brother had other plans with his friend and he needed to be home to look after Pragya's parents. Other friends were also busy and it was only me and Pragya who ended up in a road trip together since everyone else was busy and we did not wanted to miss out on this since we have talked and was looking forward to this since forever. I had everything packed. My clothes, accessorize, toiletries, extra pair of shoes. After giving a good morning kiss to my mum and said bye to dad and my brother, off I went. As I drove my classic car to pick up Pragya, it took me five minutes to get there since there was no traffic and it was a Sunday. The sun was shining bright and I just took the shades from the bottom draw of my car to put them on to protect my eyes. It was ten minutes since I had been there. I gave her a call, still she didn't pick up. Then I started honking the car and saw her running coming towards my car with her suitcase and...wait...er...a dress. Pragya in a dress. I took my sunglasses of since I wanted to get a proper look. She looked ethereal. I kept staring at her whilst she put her suitcase in the booth and sat in the passenger seat next to me. She patted me before I realized what I was doing. I looked at her once more. She looked confused and asked, "what happened?", errmmm nothing I said, as I couldn't put my emotions in words. "Wait emotions, what? What am I thinking? Wait, am I checking Pragya out? Dude, she is your bestfriend", I thought. I shook my head and I heard her say, "let's go" and I replied back saying, "yes, let's go".
I started driving the car after waving our byes to Sarla Aunty. Pragya turned on the radio and some old songs were playing. I changed the channel as I didn't like to listen to old songs. "I gave the idea for the trip. So we are going to do it my way", she said changing the channel back again. I told her that the idea might be hers but it was me who convinced our parents for the trip. But of course, Prem, Pranav and other friends were also part of the plan but they backed out at the last minute which was also good because me and my best friend get to spend quality time after so many months. For the past 8 months, she was busy with her studies. Whenever I tried calling her, she said she was in the library or in some class. Even in school, she was always with a book or with some other classmates discussing about a lecture. I knew she loved studying and excelling the exams would make it easier for her to get into a veterinary college. So I didn't complain about her not spending quality time with me even though I missed his best friend badly. "Where are we going? I think we missed a road there", she said pointing backwards and I came back to reality. She said that I was going in the wrong route to which I replied, I was taking a shortcut. "OK, Fine. But don't get us lost somewhere in a jungle. I hope rockstar has a good direction sense.", she told me in a sarcastic tone and took a book from the bag in the backseat. "Chashmish... You are impossible. You really brought books with you?", I said glaring at her. "Just two chapters left Rockstar and we are still in the city na. What would I miss by reading this book? I promise I will finish the book before we step out of the city.", she said while her eyes were still fixed on the book. The sight of a book in her hand irritated me so much that I stopped the car in a corner and snatched it from her hand.
SheI and Abhi were going to go on a road trip and I was too excited. Since I had been busy with my studies and Abhi mainly with his music. I had always attended his important events and training. I could not miss them for anything. If anything music is part of his life and he is my life. So this was making up for all that time missed with my best friend. Though our brothers and other friends were meant to join us, they could not make it for their own individual reasons. I was too glad. Iwas too happy to have just Abhi and me, getting to spend time together and the places we want to visit since we planned this since forever. I had almost everything packed. My clothes, accessories, toiletries, extra pair of sandals and trainers too. Mum made some rice since Abhi loves them. As I was getting ready, my clothes were flying everywhere scattered around the room. So unlike me. The sun was shining bright and I just took the pretty summer dress that I brought for the road trip. It was above the knee in a fuschi pink, not my usual colour so I was abit skeptical to wear. I quickly put my light makeup on, the eyeliner and baby pink lipstick since I saw Abhi's missed call. As I heard him honking I ran downstairs hugged and kissed my mum, dad and brother and ran out towards his car with my belongings and I put my suitcase in the booth and sat in the passenger seat next to him. I patted him since he looked dazed. I was confused and asked him what happened?. He just told me it was nothing. Then told him to get going hence he agreed and off we went.
As we bid our byes to my mom, we started our trip in Abhi's car. The weather was hot and I was already restless. I couldn't wait till we get out of the city as I already started wondering how our trip would be like. To add in to the journey mood, I turned on the radio in the car and luckily, they were playing old songs. Just when I closed my eyes and started enjoying the song, Abhi changed the channel citing he doesn't like to hear old songs and they were boring. I couldn't understand how he couldn't enjoy old songs when he loves music. We have faced this situation before where his and my tastes differ but we don't force our likes and dislikes on the other. This time it was not going to be the same. I told him that the trip would go on as per my wish as it was my idea to go on a trip. As I expected, Abhi defended himself that he was the one who convinced our parents for the trip. I realized we were not going on the road we were supposed to go. I told him the same to which he replied that he was taking a shortcut route. By the time we finished talking, they stopped playing old songs and unusually Abhi went silent afterwards. I took out a novel from my bag and started reading it. Abhi got irritated that I had brought books to our road trip in spite of me telling him that I will finish the novel before we move out of the city. He snatched the book from me. I have heard best friends being jealous if their friend talks to some other friend but he strangely exhibited jealousy over my books. He had even said to me once that I spend more time with books than him and that was why he hated my books. That was very funny to me. I love books but not more than him but I need not tell it to him. Why should I tell everything? He should understand certain things without me telling him.
He
I told her how we were going for a trip and that she should give a break to books for once and talk to me instead. She just carried on looking at me which frustrated me further. She did try telling me again how she only had few chapters left but as soon as she saw me firing she looked away. She didn't say anything further and told me its fine she would do as I wished. I felt guilty. I did not want her to have no choice. Then I decided to let her read whilst I parked the car. She put her hand on my hand and squeezed it after my decision and smiled. I smiled back unknown to me. I had the windows open whilst I was humming looking at her as she was reading. After half an hour her reading was done and I drew off. We were talking throughout the journey, well Pragya was mostly doing the talking to be more precise. I had an inner smirk. I decided to tease her. I mentioned to her about her giving me and Prem birthday present which involved giving me a stuffed monkey toy. As soon as I mentioned this she went pale and I could see while driving from the corners of my eyes how she looked at me. I further tried to tease about the present she gave to me and how did she put further cotton in the stuffed monkey. She had a mischievous smile just then and her reply was unexpected.
"At least I gave the gift when I was 11. There are some people who gift a balloon to a 17 year old girl", she said sarcastically. I told her that it wasn't a gift since I didn't buy any gift for her last year because she told me she wanted me to give the money to a charity instead of spending it for buying a gift. I had planned to buy a anklet for her but in order to honour her wish, I donated it to a local orphanage. I didn't want to go to her birthday part with empty hands. So I had brought some balloons with wishes written on them. But there she was teasing me that I brought balloons as gift. I frowned at her and looked straight on the road. I could see that she was expecting me to reply her and give her the chance to continue teasing me. But I didn't give her the chance. She must have realized how annoyed I was hence she started telling sorry again and again. She held her ears and told that she was really sorry. It was really difficult for me to remain unaffected by her cuteness. "Fine I will talk but on one condition", I said. She looked at me curious to know what I was going to talk about. I was not going to miss the chance to take my sweet revenge from my best friend.
She
I carried on looking at him which frustrated him further as I could tell by the cute expressions on his face. I did try telling him again how I only had few chapters left whilst I looked at him his face changed colour so I looked away. Then I told him it was fine and I would do as he wished. I did not want him to feel guilty as I saw his face go in a flush of guiltless. But as he had it, he decided to let me read whilst his car was parked. I reassured him how thankful I was that he put my love for book first through squeezing his hand and smiled. He smiled back so I was relieved he did not do it out of guilt but by out of love for his best friend, me, I did notice him opening the windows and humming. He had such a soothing voice whilst singing though I didn't understand his choice of singing songs. With his soothing voice I got distracted and finished reading ten minutes later. As soon as I was done he drew off. We were talking throughout the journey about our previous adventures, school, music, books, family and friends, about everything and anything. All of a sudden Abhi mentioned about me giving him and Prem birthday present which involved an extra present for Abhi, a stuffed monkey toy since I loved calling Abhi monkey at times to tease him but he knew how much I adore the monkeys. He loved me calling him though he never admitted it. I kept on gazing at him as he continued to tease me, hence I had a mischievous smile just then when a thought struck me and blurted it out to him.
I told him that I was better because I gave him the stuffed monkey when I was 11 but he gave me balloons for my birthday last year. It was actually not true because it was me who asked him not to buy me any gifts but to donate to a charity. He did what I requested him to do. In fact, I had asked my brother and Prem also to not buy me any gifts but only Abhi considered my wish and didn't buy me anything even though he had many surprise plans for my birthday. But I couldn't find anything else at that moment to tease him so I brought this topic and I knew he would defend himself by telling me that I asked him to do so but to my dismay, he went silent. I didn't really meant to hurt/annoy him. But it seemed he was not pleased with me teasing him with that topic. He didn't even look at me. His eyes were focused only on the road in spite of my continuous apologies. I held my ears and told him that I was really sorry. He seemed to get convinced a bit. He told me that he would start talking if I agreed to his condition. I wondered what idea he had on his mind this time.
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