Like It Happened Yesterday

My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is A Reader's Take, where everyday I will be picking out a novel title corresponding to that day's letter and write my post based on it. To make it more challenging, I have decided to write a serial story. The novel I have selected for today is 'Like It Happened Yesterday'

Leave Me Never

Chapter 12

(Read the previous chapters here)

As Ayaan walked the familiar streets of Mumbai again, every street, every place reminded him something about their past. Yes, the place had changed a lot but their memories hadn't. There were still enough places, which remained untouched by time, like the park they visited often. As he walked by the park on his way to Kayra’s home, it brought another gust of memories. He remembered how he and Kayra used to spend time there, sitting by the lake, watching the sunset together. It used to be her favorite place. Whenever she felt low, she used to sit beside the lake, gazing at the ripples forming on its surface and trying to find answers to the questions in her mind, amidst those ripples. “I feel at peace here” she used to say whenever he asked her why she did that. As Ayaan sat there, trying to feel the peace she used to feel in this very place, he felt frustrated. It wasn't taking him anywhere. He hadn't come here to waste time. He had to find Kayra.

Ayaan got up and started walking towards Kayra’s home, brushing the dust off his Denim. What will he find out? Will Kayra be there? Will she be thrilled to see him? The questions buzzed in his mind, making him restless. He quickened his pace, in a hurry to reach his destination. He couldn't bear the silence anymore. The memories, a lot of them from their time together, kept rushing into his mind. He felt like it all had happened yesterday. It was like the seven years in between hadn't happened. A smile formed on his face as he saw the ‘Sharma Residence’ around the corner. He closed the distance quickly and rang the doorbell. Would Kayra open the door? His heart started thrumming in anticipation.

The door opened after he rang the bell twice, and there, standing behind was a very weak looking Shruthi. The glow on her face had disappeared and was replaced by the worry lines. Her shoulders were drooped, as if she was carrying something heavy on them. Her expression brightened a little upon seeing Ayaan. “Oh Ayaan! I was waiting for this miracle to happen from so long” she said as she broke down into sobs. Ayaan was equally surprised seeing Shruthi there. “Is Kayra too…?” he began, hope rising in him but Shruthi shook her head. “I came to check on aunty. I don't know where Kayra is. But I know why she left” said Shruthi as she remembered her betrayal all those years ago. She had been carrying its weight for so long, not being able to share it with anyone. But now that Ayaan had come, she would tell him everything.

To be continued...

About today's novel: Like It Happened Yesterday is a novel by Ravinder Singh.
Has anyone ever asked you - What were the best days of your life? That one period of your life you always wanted to go back to? And live that life... One more time? When asked this, I closed my eyes and went back in my own past. And I thought...
...of the days, when life's most complex choices had a simple solution of Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo!
...of the seasons, when rains were celebrate by making paper boats.
...of the times when waiting at the railway crossing meant counting the bogies of the train passing by.
When I opened my eyes, it seems Like it Happened Yesterday!

PS: Linking this post to A to Z Challenge 2015. If you are participating too, please leave a link to your blog in the comments, so that I can visit you :)

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)