Priya's
Flashback...
She could her
footsteps as he sat in the desolate part of the stoned university...she curled
her knees close to herself as to be engulfed in it and hid from whom ever it
was...but her muffle sound of crying gave her away...
The footsteps
grew nearer...she could feel it...there was someone standing infront of her...but
she kept her head buried in her lap...until the person rested his arms on
her...She picked up her head to look at the persons direction...tears made her
eyes blur...She saw a blur hand coming up her face...the thumb of which brushed her
tears off...it was Ram standing infront of her...
He knew she had
been crying profoundly...and it sting him...She jerked off his hand and moved
away... Priya look I and no idea...I will be chosen... All the way...I wanted...'
Ram tried to explain Yes it's all about your want...you want to be the best...be
the one and only...right...everytime...you competed with me...and now...now have got
it...' She took his hand which had the letter and showed him... now what have you
come to see..that how Priya Sharma looks...lost...and...' Ram did not let her
complete and kissed her on the lips...She hit him on the chest to free
herself...but with each hit he pressed more one her lips...and finally she gave
in...'
Ram broke the
kiss when he felt Priya was calm...he let go of her... Their eyes met... I am
sorry but it was the only way to shut you up...and you went on and on not
letting me explain...' he spoke slowly trying to read Priya's expression...But
was stone cold... Ram filled his lungs with air before he started again... I
have no Idea how I was chosen...but I always wanted you to be the one...you
deserve it more than me...So...I asked the Dean to chance...but he said that was
not possible...but also said that after my journal your was the best...and if it
was possible we both can work together...' Ram let out a breath...easing his
tension... But Priya walked past him slowly... Ram called from behind... Priya I
am Sorry... I did not mean to hurt you...' But she kept walking... Ram ran his
hands over his hair and kicked the wall in annoyance...
Priya was eased
as her brain registered who her Mr.Bagel Thief' was... Ram let go of
her...feeling her body light...His eyes caught her's they were no more filled
with anger...but with recognition .. and she finally spoke...
Ram...' and he
lips curled into a smile...This was what he wanted to see when realization
struck her...and he was not disappointed...his heart skipped a beat... She flew her
arms around his neck and hugged him...He wove his hands around her and hugged
back... Breaking the hug Priya spoke shyly... you need not have kissed me...if only
you could tell me it was you...' Ram shrugged
his shoulder and replied After all these years its still that best way
to shut you up...' She moved shying trying to hid the pink cheeks of hers...and
offered him a chair...
Filing the paper
before they flew off again she took the chair opposite to him... So after so
long...me meet again...' Yup...' Ram agreed...but there was a curiosity in his
voice... Where did you go after completing college... I tried to contact
you...asked you roommate...none knew where you just vanished...in thin air... and
then you appeared yesterday in the cafeteria as THE FIREY ONE...'
Priya chuckled
being addressed with her nick name by him...She loved her head and sighed... My
dad and brother and a fall...and I had to return back to Greece...as I was the
only one which had kept them together after mum gave up...everything happened
so fast...brother...decided to move away and I had to take up all...in the hustle
and bustle I just could not figure out what I left back here but now we have
moved back to India ...Brother still there ...' She finished with a slight of
regret... Trying to wade of the grave mood...she fired the same question to Ram...
What have you been...doing...?'
Well I have
been still working with Committee...and different research centers...coming up
with something or the other...' Ram replied joking sensing the situation needs
more laughter... The laughed a bit... So how come you are here...?' Ram
questioned... I had applied here as I moved down here from Delhi recently...and
the accepted... I am to work with in a research team details of which will be shortly emailed to
me...What about you here...and teaching...?' I am here trying to crack the code
for diabities...and its important for me...have to do it for Rahul...' Ram
sounded grave... Rahul...your side kick...'Priya replied...'but he was a jolly
fellow..a fun loving guy...always partying and goofing around...' and that took
toll on him...he is suffer...and each day its getting worst...i want to save my
friend and all this want to do only for him...' Priya sensed the pain he was
feeling for his friend...She slid her hand over his hand which rested on the
table and gave a slight squeeze Ram...all will be fine...Dont worry'
The touch did
make some lost emotion and nerves come alive...Both of them inside thanked that
their road crossed once again in this life... Both were relieved on so many
levels! Mentally, emotionally and above all as good friends both needed each
other.. there were lot of things they needed to share with each other.. for so
many years they havnt spoken to each other and back in college their
conversations were very very limited, rather a heated one mostly from priya's
side and that was also the reason why ram preferred to call her "THE FIREY
ONE"..
It was a Sunday afternoon
when both the friends were chilling and relaxing and were having some leisurely
time with each other on a caf outside their campus.. the atmosphere was very
calm and pleaure.. light breeze was making it more comfortable and nice.. ram
had been very busy these days making the last few experiments on the drug that
he was making for his friend.. he can't afford to fail with this coz his frends
lyf was at stake.. he was getting all stressed and worked up when priya
appeared in his lab out of nowhere and took him, rather hijacked him from there
with her saying "common genius, even machines need a break..look at you..you
have already grown such deep dark circles around ur eyes.. come with me..lets catch up over some hot coffee and
moreover Mr.Beagel thief you owe me one after that incident..right?" ram
replied her with the same vigour saying "are you following me Priya Sharma?"
"what if I say yes??" "well then definitely we both owe each other a lot more
and there's really a lot to catch up!" both laughed merrily as they made their
way towards the cafeteria. Priya made the order and after a minute or so two
steaming hot cup of cappichino was served to them and not to forget with that
came their delicius chocolaty beagel.. "you remember in college you never used
to look at me..let alone talk to me nicely..you were such a big miss atti back
then" ram said laughing while sipping his coffe.. "oh hello you were this big
nerd that time..not that you arent now..but at that time you were such a
jerk.." priya exclaimed giving it back to him promptly.. "and when you used to
sit beside me I used to think why the hell this guy keeps staring at me in the
middle of lectures" "oh you noticed that?? I thought you were very busy making
the notes then..bad habit madam..your concentration was not on class then but
on me..interesting!" ram smirked.. "excuse me! Stop giving so much importance
to yourself mr. begel thief.. I had my full concentration on class itself.. its
just that you were so very wiered that I took a lot of time to judge which
species you actually belong to.." "ok ok..enough yar! It seems our fight will
go endlessly without coming to any proper conclusion! By the way you should
stop calling me that now..already gave you a beagel treat.." ram made a cute
puppy face..and priya added instantly "well I have to think about that..issue
is under consideration" "your majesty thnx for being this kind..now shall we
move..i have hell lot of work left.." "yuppp ofcourse..lets go and since I m
free today I can offer you some help with the papper work if you want" "offer
granted..common lets leave" ram settled
the bill and both left the place teasing and having small litle litle fights in
between.. that day they worked for atleast 5 hours together..priya helped ram
making the documentation while ram carried on with some tests with composition
of mangiferin and berberine to set them in a certain ratio.. time seemed to fly like wind and work seemed
to be a much easier job..with priya by his side it seemed so light.. "really
priya you offered me a great help..just let me know when you need any help and
I'l be there in a millisecond" ram thanked her that evening for the millionth
time now while he was escorting her to her house.. "please now for god's sake
stop thanking me for such a small reason..it was really a no big deal..even I
liked helping you..got to know your style of working and I must agree its
really impressive..no doubt why you got selected for the ALL INDIA RESEACH
COMMITTEE" priya added enthusiastically.. "o common you are embarrassing me
now..even I know your work is great..the extra points you have put in the
document are amazing..even I couldn't think of them even after working on this
for so long..your approach is so fresh and easy to understand.." "ha ha aha ha..thnk
you so much ram..thanks for all the appreciation..just wanted to say I loved your company..I really misjudged you
in college..you have been a great friend all along.." saying so she made her
way to her house while ram stood their their still for few moments sinking in
the words which she just said.. with a happy and contended smile on his face he
left the place. It was new feeling for him..and he loved it..for so many years
he had simply worked and made researches but today he felt a strange feeling that
was shaping under the cover of their friendship..the scene was just the same
for priya as well..she liked spending time with the greatest geek of her
college she had known and when he kissed her she had loved that too..it may
sound a little inappropriate but she never found the urge to protest and fire
back to him for his action..not that day not even now. It was as if this was
meant to be.. days passed by and their bond grew from strong to stronger to
strongest.. it seemed like how the hell both lived so many days of their lives
without each other.. now the scene had changed so much that if they didn't see
each other atleast once in a day they would consider dat day wasted..
They would catch
up for lunch or breakfast or some meal of the day just to be with each
other..it was turning out to be a habit for them and then they would share what
all happened, what project they are working on, how much is left to be done and
so on..ram was excited for his medicine was all set to qualify the last set of
examinations and then he would finally be able to launch it on market.. mostly
he was happy for his friend for whom he had started formulating this wonder
drug for diabetes.. but since a few days he seemed a bit low and
distracted..priya noticed this and took him out of his lab for a walk.. "what
happened ram..you seem so low today..baat kya hai?" finally priya broke the
silence and enquired him.. after a pause he replied "you know priya when this
drug will be all ready for use the first dose I'l be giving to rahul..he has
suffered a lot due to this disease.. I just cant see him anymore like this.."
"you wont ram..see just a few steps and it will be all ready for use.. Dr.
Philips was giving such good appreciations for your work..their is nothing you
should worry about now" "no priya you don't understand..these final steps are
very vital and crucial..if something goes wrong at this stage I'l be denied any
further progress with this medicine..and you know what that means.." "I know
what that means but I just don't get why are you thinking so negative about
it..i know for sure it will pass all the tests..have faith yar" "priya I want
to tell you something..past few weeks have not been very good for me..since all
these tests have started something or the other happens and it keeps postponing
the date for the last and most important test..they say eith'er my sample is
too feeble or its too dilute and hence further improvements are required before
the test are to be done..but trust me priya before giving the samples I double
check them and then forward them to the authoritarian lab..i just don't know
why all these things are happening now..i m really worried priya what if my
drug fails? What will happen to rahul? Everything is dependent on me..i cant
get this one wrong..never..."
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