Chapter 4: Surprise surprise!

The sunrise today didn’t come with any ‘notifications’, as I woke up clueless of the surprises in store for me.

Like any other day, rolled up in my makeshift bed in Dipin’s room with burnt papers and ashes filling the floor, and smoke, the room, I was lost, thinking about the day that Lia’s lips were set on mine for the first time. This day too, attending college seemed like a bad idea.

Srikanth and Dipin entered the room, which now seemed like a dingy rat hole, going by the stench and reek of it!

The cell rang, with a rather unusual, shriller tone, almost giving a clue that the news it bore was in no way lesser than completely unexpected.

“Hello” I said, fighting my go-to snubbing instinct. Nothing was exciting.

“Hello, Suraj?” a voice replied, and it felt similar… a known world, soothing and calm.

               (photo credits: Jayanth Maiyya https://www.facebook.com/JayanthMaiyya)

I knew exactly who it was, but could it really be her? Too perplexed, my hands followed an order that my brain could not process. In a state of shock, fingers pressed the red button with no known directives of mine to do so.

Barely a matter of minutes and it rang again. A bit hesitant at first, there was no way out of this awkward situation.

“Hea... hello”

“Hi, sorry to bother you. Is this Suraj’s number?”

“Yeah, this is Suraj. May I know who’s on the line?” I asked, seeking confirmation.

“Who’s on the line??!! Mister! This is Aleena! Forgot my voice so soon?” She said in a teasing manner.

“Aleena! Wow, oh Aleena. Aleena… Wow. Hi”

“Umm… yeah, hi. You high or something?” She said, with a giggle that could only be called unconventional!

“Me?? High? No not at all. I wasn't expecting your call! It’s a happy surprise nonetheless!” I replied, coughing furiously.

“So, where have you been? No calls, no messages, nothing. It’s as if you have disappeared from the face of the earth!” I said.

“I have disappeared? You changed your number and didn't even bother telling me!” She replied, sounding a bit offended.

“Anyway, I got your number from a friend. I was hoping we could catch up you know, since the last time we spoke, things did not go well. So why to hold on to things of the past, right?”

“Yeah you are right, as usual” I said. Agreeing without a doubt.

“But don’t you think it will be a bit awkward? After all that happened? But yeah why to dwell in the past. Sure, let’s meet up someday” I said, hanging up.