Wave

By Yamini Sharma

Abhay Sharma is tall with a toned masculine body, her hairs and eyes are black, nose is a bit long, his chiselled cheekbones make him look handsome. Chest is broad; the waistline is flat while legs have muscular shape. He lives in Jammu city. Jammu is the winter capital and the largest city of Jammu district of the Indian (then state) union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu is lying on the banks of the river Tawi. The city spreads around the Tawi river with the old city overlooking it from the right bank and the new neighbourhood from the left bank of the river.

Gandhi Nagar is known as one of the posh areas of Jammu. Abhay grew up there. He live with his mother, Devika, who works as a government teacher. Father, Sanjay, who is the owner of the AROMA restaurant and one younger sibling, Ruhaani. The double-storey house has three rooms with attached bathrooms, one living room, kitchen and a backyard. Ruhaani is a tenth-grade student.

Abhay recently passed his twelfth class with 95% from the school, Jodhamal Public School in Sainik Colony. He aims high for his life, so does his parents. Hence, after securing good marks in commerce, he applied for the scholarship test in various college, as he want to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

While having his usual chapati with okra on the fifteenth august morning, While surfing, he got a notification about his college admissions. As he was opening the e-mail, his heartbeat ten times faster. On clicking the bulletin, his eyes got wide, grin spread on his face, he jumped to his room which is next to the living room and hopped falling to the desk near the window chunked with novels. Overwhelmed to know that he finally got into the most prestigious commerce college; Loyola college of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He came back and told his family about the admission which, came as a surprise to them, everyone congratulated him and were happy. Abhay watched them for a while as they all completed breakfast with a smile on faces, he felt satisfaction as the struggle his father went through to provide him good education went in no vain.

"When will your college start?" asked father.

"I need to arrive at college within two weeks as the classes are going to start on first September."

He went to his room to study the brochure and know the further details that needed to be filled and to see the things he needed to pack or shop. Entire twelve days went on packing, shopping, meeting family and friends. On twenty-seventh August, Abhay found himself recollecting some memories of the past eighteen years. The family trips he had, like how randomly one summer holiday they decided to have a trip to Bhaderwah known as Mini Kashmir as family. How school trekking with friends at Patni top went to be the closure for them before high school was over forever, snowman building in Natha top, picnic to Surinsar and Mansar with maternal grandmother and their family, visit to Dhanidhar Fort in Rajouri, Shrine visit to Vaishno Devi in every two years with cousins which made that 13 km arduous journey on foot from Katra fun and tiring. Fair in Mubarak Mandi Palace where Abhay used to stopover in childhood, he remembered how a school picnic to Krimchi temple in Udhampur at age ten by school was commemorated by all forever for being a little spooky which is why it is known as a haunted place.

And he also has a little on and off picnics to Akhnoor fort, Bahu Fort and Bagh-e-Bahu Aquarium is known to be Indias largest underground aquarium located in Jammu city and many more with several family members.

"Come and have your dinner," his mother called out.

He got distracted and rushed down to have his last dinner with family.

"As we have our dinner and probably my last dinner with you three for a long time, I want to thank you for having my back and always believing in me and my decisions, I am lucky to have you. I love you all," said Abhay emotionally.

His mother, father and sister started crying. While father and mother hugged Abhay, Ruhaani gave him a nice punch.

Later, he went back to his room where his sister followed her and suddenly hugged him from aback.

" I am going to miss you, big brother." Ruhaani shrugged

" I will always be there for you, one call away. And remember you can share with me no matter how far away from you because from heart I am invariably with you. "

"Okay now go to your room and let me sleep, I have to wake up early," Abhay said.

His alarm woke him up next day at 5.a.m. as he had to catch his flight at 9.a.m. his mother and sister sent him off with a teary eye and father patting them up. Abhay took the cab, went to the Jammu airport from where he took his Vistara flight to Delhi, from where he took AirAsia airlines to Chennai.

Ayushi

Ayushi Gupta is from Delhi, officially known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi(NCT), which is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Ayushi is eighteen, about 5.7 feet tall she has fair complexion, medium-long golden brown hair always tied up in a ponytail, a broad, round face with a pointed chin, eyes are almond-shaped and very dark brown, with dark eyelashes. Her nose is short, little turn up at the end. She loves to wear a pair of simple gold hoop earrings, has a beauty mark next to her lips on the right side. She puts herself up together very well. Ayushi is shy at first, but she opens up a lot once you get to know her, She is agile and has a wicked sense of humour. She has a quiet voice and speaks in a very level tone, speech is fast and deliberate, and she always takes a moment to think about what she wants to say before talking. She makes eye contacts every time she has a conversation. Ayushi loves singing. Ayushi is the only daughter of her mother, Seema and father, Naresh. Her father owns a jewellery shop and mainly work on diamond jewellery whereas her mother is a homemaker. Her house has open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of family. All the three rooms of the house are like a perfect magazine cover. The couch is cream but inlaid with an attractive green silk; leaves embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in. The white curtains are of cotton, the kind of white that is untouched by hands and devoid of dust.

The dining-room is exquisite. Down the centre of the table of four has a runner with Celtic design woven in gold and green into the fabric itself. The dining room run out from the left side of the main door to the balcony that seems to grow from the walls of the house, as generous arms from a host. After being done with her twelfth grade from Delhi Public School, Rohini, she gave scholarship test of the most prestigious commerce college, India where, she got enrolled. She has been hiding about her enrollment from her family, since they want her to become a jewellery designer so that she can help them in family business. Ayushi has different plans. She want to become a Chartered Accountant and live the dream she always had. As the college was going to start on first September and she got accepted by college, she decided to confess to her parents. While, having lunch with her father sitting on the front side of her on the dining table and mother, serving them Pudina rice (Mint rice) with chicken curry, the Sunday usual. She put her guts all together and decides to talk.

"Mom, come and sit down with us."

"Just let me pour some curry to your father."

"You seem so stressed everything fine Ayushi?"

"Yes Dad, just wanted to tell you both something."

"I know you both want me to pursue our business, but the truth is I don't want to."

"I want to become a Chartered Accountant and live my dreams, I am not interested in designing, neither I find it enthusiastic."

"I have enrolled and selected in one of the best commerce college of India, in Chennai and it will start on coming Monday. All I want is you both to believe in me and be with me in my journey."

"I am sorry for telling you at the last moment as I was scared to let you down," Ayushi said in cracking voice.

" We both are little sad but not for opting something else but for knowing that we were not able to let you know that no matter what you do or choose, we will always be there for you."

They hugged each other, Ayushi felt a relief.

As it was Saturday night, she started packing and dreaming her plans. "Being a determined child since your childhood we know you will do well and make yourself proud," echoed her parents voice who were standing on her room's door.

"I hope I will," Ayushi smiled by looking at them.

Next morning, she moved to the airport by cab till 9.30 a.m. as the departure time of Vistara airlines was 11.00.a.m.

She safely landed on Chennai after three hours sharp 1.a.m. and headed to the college.

College

Abhay got to the hostel and took his room keys from the warden.

His room 105 is on the ground floor where he took all of his baggage. After resting for a while, in the evening, he managed his room to make it look like his home for the next three years. Later, flee to have dinner in a mess, where he introduced himself to the all the newbies like him.

Next morning, on twenty-ninth August, he woke up at seven in the morning got ready and had his breakfast till seven-thirty and walked towards his college building which is twenty steps away as it starts at Eight O'Clock. He entered the classroom full of enthusiasm. He sat down with the friend he made in a mess. Abhay's friend, Harsh Vellalar called Ayushi's name as soon as she entered the door, "Hey Ayushi, come here."

"Ayushi meet Abhay, my college friend."

"Abhay meet Ayushi, my school friend."

After greeting each other and a little glare, you can know he was mesmerised by her charisma, and Ayushi was little flattered by his personality. The teacher entered, and they returned to their respective seats. Later, Ayushi made some friends in class and had her lunch in the canteen. For some days, the college was the same with regular classes where, Abhay made quiet his name in college due to his outgoing personality. About one month later, the class teacher announced to them that they are going to have an excursion next week so that they all can know each other well. As, seniors had told, due to their ongoing exams freshers will be after three months. They got a one week free to pack up their luggage as it was going to be cold in Kodaikanal, in Tamil Nadu. Also known as the "Queen of hills stations."

On Sunday morning around six in the morning every one of us got in the bus. As Abhay was getting into the bus, he took the back seat where, Harsh was waiting for him alongside with Ayushi and her friend. After everyone arrived, they said a little prayer, and then they headed to their destination.

"Harsh, I was surfing about our destination on the internet as I have never been there, at the place seem amazing."

"Abhay you are going to love that place the road, hotels and the place is all a whole package."

" I remember how you used to cry in Delhi for missing this one place of your hometown," said Ayushi.

" You both will know why did I miss it and, it feels amazing to be back to my hometown."

"Silver cascade fall, pillar rocks, Poombari village and many more you will see all that beauty in this week. Here let me show you both the picture or Cascade fall."

"Wow", said Ayushi and Abhay.

And as they said in sync, their eyes met. Both of them grinned. That fair complexion, medium-long golden brown hair always tied up in a ponytail, a broad, round face with a pointed chin, eyes are almond-shaped and very dark brown, with dark eyelashes stunned Abhay.

Gradually, a six-hour roadway made Ayushi and Abhay a little friendly to each other. A bond between both of them seem shatterproof as Harsh soon realised and moved to another seat to talk to others.

"Ayushi, how did you decided for this college?" asked Abhay.

" My family owns a diamond business which I was never interested in, I love economics and dream of becoming a chartered accountant one day and fly to live independent. As I knew it was the best commerce college to go for I gave scholarship test and I passed." Ayushi said briskly.

"You are quite ambitious. I am impressed."

"Thank you."

"All I want is, to make my parent's proud, they have done a lot for me and my sister Ruhaani. I want to be successful enough to make a comfortable lifestyle for all of us."

" It seems you all share a great bond," Ayushi said delighted.

"Especially my younger sister Ruhaani and I ." Abhay commended.

"I am the only child of my parents. They wanted me to be with them in business but, as I explained them, they understood how important my dream was."

"That is great Ayushi."

" Here let me tell you how good my taste is in music," Abhay said by handing Ayushi earphones.

Rest of the journey they spent listening to the music and talking. After reaching destination and while sightseeing together for a week, both were convinced about how beautiful Kodaikanal is.

While having a walk-in Coakers, Abhay asked, "Harsh why were you studying your high school in Delhi?"

"My father got transferred while I was in eighth, so we moved with him."

"Harsh, I am just in love with this place specifically, Coaker's Walk." Ayushi agitated.

"Yes man, the Kodaikanal was a delight too." Abhay agreed.

"And I know that", Harsh chuckled.

At the end of the excursion, Abhay and Ayushi seems the two which cannot be severed. As we returned to our college and time passed, Abhay got puzzled. As, the way he was feeling he had never felt before, being known by someone so winningly. He told Harsh, "she knows me, what goes inside my brain without even letting it out and that's what I had always dreamed. What are these butterflies in my stomach for, music in my ears, smile on my lips all about?"

"I knew the day I saw you both in excursion, you love her," said Harsh.

"Yes. I am in LOVE, you are right."

So, it took Abhay a while to know that he was in love with her. The next morning, when Ayushi met him in the canteen, Abhay shared his feelings nervously.

" The day I met you, I knew something was there in between us, gradually, after understanding you from the trip till now, the feelings which I couldn't understand are understandable. I love you, Ayushi Gupta."

"I love you too," cried Ayushi.

By Yamini Sharma