OS: A Dotted Line

"Jenna , u done packing everything?" . My mom questioned me from her room.

"Yes, Ma .. Im almost done with it", i replied loudly. I had a soft voice , thus , i had to nearly yell while speaking to people who stood a little farther away.

I neatly folded my quilt and placed it into my bag. It had been two years , since i was living in Kolkata. I was 14 when we shifted here. It never was an uneasy feeling for me, when we shifted to a new place. Over all this time, i had become used to it.

My father is a government officer. Well , my family that comprised of me ,mum and dad had to shift when the call came for a posting in a different city. I had travelled to a dozen cities , met a thousand people, learned a million things in life. In a few days , we would be stepping our feet in the city of Delhi.

I stepped outside my room, relieved after completing my packing. It was a good six hours before we had to head the station .

"Mum, il go meet my friends . will be back in an hour ", I informed her. My mom was the easiest person to talk to. An easy talker, who always knew to make other's smile. Since , we never lived in a city for more than 3 years, the only friend I could always hold onto was my mum. I never spoke much, but she always understood me and her reassuring smiles made my life so much easier.

"Alright , dear." , she replied smilingly and continued to pack another suitcase.

-------------------------

Clutching my navy blue sweater tightly against my skin, I stepped in the cold december evening. It was only 48 months since I knew the two girls I was about to meet. But the way they had become two of my best friends was something I would cherish always.

I stepped inside the park. Our meeting place was a coffee shop, and the walk through the park was a mere shortcut. I had great memories of this place. I, Ashfi, Sanchari , three very different girls , but we always got along so well , that at times people mistook us for real sisters.

We had the craziest of talks in this place. It was like I could speak the mysteries of my mind to only them. Novels, music ,studies ,boys, bands, random stuff .. the list was long. I told them all of my past stories and they listened to every word so intently as if it was coming from a philosopher. And then they told me how they had been the best of friends since they were four.

There was but one thing I hadn't told them . I shook my head , trying to brush away the emotions that had started to creep in my mind.

I tugged to my sweater more tightly. The cold wind zipped past my soft curls and I continued to take my steps forward.

Just then , I heard a familiar sound nearby. A sound I knew to well to be decieved. I flipped my head in the direction of the husky tone. I quickly turned away, as my heart pounded loudly.

No , this was not happening. Why did I have to take this route. Didn't I have enough time to take the longer one. So what? He hasn't seen me. I can swiftly get out of here.

I couldn't understand a single thought running in my head. The cold atmosphere made it harder to quicken my steps. I tripped on a brick and an involuntary 'Ow ' escaped my lips.

I could see a few heads turn in my direction. I sat down in a weird manner, rubbing my finger over the my reddened toe. Lifting my head, I saw faces peering at me.

Oh hell no.

"Jenna, oh my god, are u okay?" . He bent down next to me, examining my face. The rest of the faces dispersed in their ways.

He looked me straight in the eye and repeated a similar question. "U doin fine? Here", He offered his hand and I took it gently. A touch.

'This isn't happening '. The voice in my head yelled loudly. I hit back to reality soon though.

"Im fine , thanks" , I uttered softly, trying to hide the reddening of cheeks. The pain suddenly seemed to lessen . I knew the obvious reason.

Why in the world our cheeks had to turn red . A god's will. Simple as it was . I gave up thinking .

"Jenna , why didn't u tell me about it?" , he questioned.

"Tell u what?", I asked him ,confused.

"That you are leaving today for delhi". His tone was a mixture of disappointment. Atleast that's how it sounded to me. "And ' never coming back ". He finally finished .

I gulped hard, pondering over the question. It had been a week since christmas vacations had started. I had'nt told everyone about her leaving kolkata except a few. The last person I could bring myself to inform was him. It was hard.

"Umm.. I assumed u might have gotten to u know..know" . I heaved a sigh with that reply. It had managed to come out whole.

"No I didn't . I was speaking to Yana a while back. She mentioned it then. ".

He sounded a lttle hurt. I had spoken to him quite a few times. A few talks, and it was enough to know he had a beautiful heart. and an equally charming face. And somewhere down , I knew I loved him.

"I am sorry" I mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in my position.

" That's okay. I was hoping to see u at the new year party . But then-" , he trailed off.

Ofcourse I knew about the party. I didn't really wanted to go in it. And then the train tickets were booked for today. Thankfully. Wait.. what did he just say ..'I was hoping to see u..' lingered in her mind.

"Ash and Sancho are waiting for me , I should probably get going. Last time with them. " I don't know why I diverted the conversation. There was still time before i met them There was still time before we could say goodbye. But me, being me wanted to run away.

"oh .." . He stepped closer and whispered ever so sweetly,

"Happy new year. Hope the new place meets u well" . He smiled . What kind of smile was that. It seemed a genuine one and the next second a disappointed one.. as if he wasn't happy. Wait..it could be a casual one.

What in the world was wrong with me. Here I was deciphering the smile of the boy I loved so much. Did he too lov-?

"Wish u the same, and hope for the best. I love this city. Hopefully , I can come back here again" .My lips quivered sharply. I wanted to blame the cold, but the other reason suited better.

"Bye ". I waved him and started to retreat my steps. He repeated the same and it sounded melancholy than ever to me.

When I had turned my back to him, the tears fell. They burned against my pink cheeks but I wasnt going to stop them. "I love u " were the words that found their way out of my lips . If only I could have told them to him..

Another ten minutes had passed by before I met the two angels of my life. They greeted me with a warm hug .

"Hey u already crying?" . Sancho asked me innocently.

"Yeah, too many memories ". I stammered, while they smiled and hugged me again.

"Lets settle down for the last coffee.. another in our memory list Jenna". Ashfi added.

I could hear the train bell ringing in my ear.