Raj unlocked the door and led Meera into his apartment. When she entered the little foyer area of the apartment, which is usually used to keep shoe rack and umbrella stand, she noticed there were two big suitcases near the shoe rack, like someone is prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.

Raj noticed her gaze and informed sadly “I have a flight at 2 AM”.

Meera felt melancholic but didn’t pry and simply nodded after which she noticed that right wall across to the little foyer area is drawing room which is equipped with a blue colored sofa set with a center table which suits the white-blue color theme of the house, opposite to the guest hall is kitchen-cum-dining room, and living room is adjacent to the left side. It was a decent 1 BHK apartment.

Raj led Meera to the sofas and placed the carry bag on the center table. She was a little lost after knowing that they have just met and he will be leaving soon. He noticed that she was absentminded and shook his head smiling wryly and called her “Senior” gesturing her to ask what happened.

After noticing the sad smile that he wanted to hide and beer he bought, she knew he was not doing well or something happened so she refrained from making comment and asking about past events. She shook her head giving a cheerful smile to lighten up the atmosphere. Though she has an outgoing personality, she did not know how to soothe someone’s heart.

After that she showed her personality in full to steer away from the topic and ordered him “Remove the sofas, make some space in the center, I don’t like this kind of atmosphere, like we are in an office and drinking with so much of consideration like your boss is dancing on your head, I like to drink in Desi way, sitting on the floor and enjoying the drink comfortably without a care in the world.”

After hearing her say that Raj laughed out loud in his signature loud and unrestrained manner which can make everybody laugh, two tears leaked from corner of his eyes showing that in troubled times a hearty laugh cannot solve your problems but it can surely lighten your heart.

She also smiled and laughed whole heartedly after him as she knew his mood has brightened up, there are very few people in the world that can make her smile and laugh this way and Raj was one of them, her sour mood from the day has also brightened up a little.

Raj moved the table to the side, adjusted the sofa a little, made the room for themselves in the center of the room, put down all the bears in center, five can in total, a five to seven kinds of snacks or “chakna for the daaru”.

After seeing so many snacks she smiled meaningfully and commented “You still hate beer’s taste don’t you and what’s up with the tears, don’t they say males don’t cry”

After hearing the comment, he smiled, his expression full of melancholy “As if you haven’t seen me cry before, Senior”

She smiled ruefully after taking a sip from the beer she opened because she knew her emotions are stirred and replied thoughtfully “Life has been rough lately and I am glad you have changed but from heart you are still the same.”

Raj also smiled ruefully, opened the can and drank half in one go, thought for a moment and quoted;

“Life is always tough, it’s all good if you change a little if you are true to yourself and have all your basics.”

After taking a glance at Meera he asked sipping his beer nonchalantly “Has the life had been kind to you lately, Senior?”

She was a little stunned and depressed by the tone Raj used, she knew he didn’t talk in such a way until the sky has fallen, and also, she was almost in the same situation, not as much as terrible of condition as him but not much better off either.

She also took a large sip of her almost finished can, with a sad face she shook her head without saying a word.

He understood that she was not in much better shape than him and didn’t comment, he picked his can and offered her toast “Cheers to our sad life.”

Meera clinked her Can with his and said “Cheers” enthusiastically.

They didn’t ask what was happening in their lives as they knew they can’t do anything about that. They opened another can, ate some snacks, talked a little about common things.

Meera grabbed the TV remote from the side on whim and switched it on; there was an episode of friends (TV series) airing on TV and nostalgically she exclaimed “FRIENDS”.

Raj did not think of it much and replied “There are few things nowadays that make me smile, FRIENDS is one of them.”

She knew he liked FRIENDS from college days and how his room partner cursed her for suggesting this show because while watching the show he laughed a lot in his unrestrained manner which is the cause of his roomie’s headache for at least two months. Raj was unfettered for some time, kind most of the time and unreasonable was when angry, all in all a good guy.

After the rush of these memories and an addition of her outgoing personality suddenly she asked “Do you have a Girlfriend?”

Startled Raj replied almost instinctually “No” and asked in the series “You?”

She knew the he would never have the guts to ask her directly if not for the alcohol so she asked with a teasing smile on her face and her cheeks little red “little rascal has the beer taken effect already so you have guts now to ask and no I don’t have a boyfriend.” and gave a flick on Raj’s forehead.

He smiled, little happy about this while rubbing his forehead retorted “You are allowed to ask and not me and yes the beer is showing its effect.”

She answered him with new question while having an amusing expression and being playful to her heart’s content, she said solemnly “Let’s have Friends pact like phoebe and all, if we meet next time after the gap of a year and are not married, we will marry each other?”

“Huuuh” RAJ’s expression became a little weird and flustered as he knew he liked her and that she liked him too, but doing things this way was little funny. He thought for little while and answered “Things haven’t been going my way for so long already, I have thought about you on many occasions while I was at a low point in my life that’s is why I was so happy when I saw you at the crossroad, I know you would have already asked me to date you directly if I was not leaving tomorrow so let’s do this.”

Both of them stood up, shook their hands and promised each other. This turn of events was unexpected, and surprising to the most part as both were not in their best state of mind, still knew that this is one of the best outcomes in their hearts. This was the thing she did for only one reason and that was if they met once more then fuck everything, I am not leaving you alone, and as a matter of fact he did think the same but his reason was “Fate is the reason we met today when I was almost leaving so let Fate decide what happens in the future too.”

As he was thinking, his eyes noticed the time and he knew he had to leave for his flight in two hours so he asked “Where is your house, let me walk you or get a cab, I have to leave soon too.”

She knew this reunion had come to an end so she didn’t tarry either, she was a little embarrassed to say these things so she told him hurriedly that she lived next street to the crossroad.

They cleaned up the mess so his room partner does not have to, locked the door and he walked her to her apartment, both didn’t say a word; they just stole few glances, just like before.

“Silence conveys the thoughts of hearts more beautifully then words ever can.”