REUNION

I was heading back to Sri Lanka from the US after 12 long years.  Life has been a roller coaster ride ever since I finished my higher studies. We moved to the US and then I got married and got a family of my own now. I love my little baby girl more than anything in the world. She is my happiness. We were going back to my native for a long vacation.

I did my schooling in Sri Lanka and my higher studies in India. I was quite a popular student during my school times and had a bunch of friends then. I used to think that they'll be with me even after we finish schooling, but then I was wrong. I'm only in contact with 2 or 3 school friends now. My little baby girl often asks me that who was my best friend, as she have one whom she is very fond of, and I reply I had no one, which was obviously a lie. Both of us were the talk of the town in our school but an incident raised conflict between us and then I didn't even wish to see her face. We parted ways and since then I neither seen nor heard about her. Even though I don't want to see her again, a still childish, innocent version of me, deep inside my heart, had a desire to meet her at least once. 

And now, back to present, we went to my home town to see my parents as soon as we reached Sri Lanka. We stayed there for a couple of weeks and reached Colombo, for our batch reunion, which I was waiting for a long time. I saw almost all my friends there except her. I asked someone where she was and then I knew that she had moved to India. 

After spending some golden days there in Sri Lanka, we returned to the US again. The next day, we went for shopping as my girl was celebrating her 6th birthday the next day. There she found out a poster, saying about a raffle draw for winning a chance to meet and greet the singers of an upcoming concert, which was about to be held the next month. And, the main singer was my girl's absolute favorite. So, she started asking me to fill up the form to check her luck and I did so.

Within 10 days, I got a call from the event organizers as they informed that we have got a chance to meet them, and the event would be taking place in 2 days time. 

That day, I took my girl there saying her that we were out for our dinner, so that it would be surprising for her to see her favorite singer there. And, oh my god, when we reached there in the hotel, I was speechless to see my baby's reaction. She was just..... just couldn't believe her eyes on what she was seeing. 

We then greeted him and every others out there. There was a lady, probably same aged as me, is the one who caught my attention. I shook hands with her and felt like I've known her before but couldn't understand whom she really was.  There were two more families along with us. And to our surprise, the celebrities were so much down to earth, and me, for some unknown reason, was trying to make some conversation with that particular lady.

Oh my God... I've definitely known her before...

Somehow, I succeeded in my attempts to have a conversation with her. She was talking really well, and most importantly she reminded my someone of my childhood. 

AND THEN IT HAPPENED...

A person, dressed in suits, came near her, and called,

"MISS. MUKUNDAN, MD wants to see you!"

Ohhhhhh My Goodness! Its her, My god damned Best friend! The person I wanted to forget in my life with my utmost will. She wanted to be a singer when we were schooling, and she is one now!

Chills were running through my spines. Oh my God! I was spell bound. I was able to find the reasons why she felt so much familiar to me. 

She came back, after visiting somebody and tried to converse with me but I was unable to. I couldn't speak. Those good old memories were running in my mind. The times when we used to hold hands and roam around the school, the times when we used to hug each other, everything we did together, came in my eyes in a flash.

My girl said me that, "Mommy, You can make that aunty your best friend like I have Emily, can't you?"
She laughed.
I didn't know how to reply her.

Time passed, it was time for us to leave. My Little baby boo, got her Man's autograph and took a selfie with him as well. And then everyone there posed for a group photo. I was standing near her ever since I finished schooling.

I went to say her goodbye. She greeted, shook hands with me and hugged.

GOODNESS!!!

I was not even in my senses. And, when I turned to leave, she tapped my shoulders and said,

"I don't even know who you are, but you feel like a friend whom I have known for ages, and when I'm speaking with you, I get some warmth, which I was missing for a long long time! Thank You! "

I started walking back with a heavy heart. 

The person, my damned best friend, who promised to be with me forever, through my thick and thin, was unable to even identify who I am.

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AND THEN....

THATS LIFE!