As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the misty air, I handed some money to the guard. His face lit up with a wide smile, and I could tell it made his day. Chippi and I boarded a bus to Kozhikode. I hadn’t seen my friend Vaishnav in ages, and today felt like the perfect day to catch up. Chippi, ever the adventurer, was game for anything. I told her about the special food awaiting us in Kozhikode, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
When we reached Vaishnav’s house, it was like stepping into a food lover's paradise. The table was laden with dishes whose names I didn’t even know. There was kallummakaya (stuffed mussels), chatti pathiri (layered pastry), and an array of pickles and curries that filled the room with their spicy, aromatic scent. I tried a little bit of everything, but it wasn’t long before I was completely stuffed. Chippi looked at me, her hands resting on her rounded belly, unable to take another bite. Vaishnav's family insisted we eat more, but we just couldn’t.
We collapsed onto the sofa, too full to move, and let the hum of the TV lull us into a nap. When I woke up, the house was quiet. I looked around, only to find Vaishnav outside, tending to something in the yard, and Chippi curled up in bed, fast asleep. The comfort of Vaishnav's home and we received made it hard to leave, but we knew we had to get back.
When we finally bid our farewells, they tried to make us stay longer, but we had other plans. As the bus pulled away from the stop, Chippi rested her head on my shoulder, drifting off into sleep. The ride back to her hostel was peaceful, the bus gently swaying as it navigated the narrow roads.
We reached her hostel around noon, just in time to feel the pangs of hunger again. I noticed a wedding taking place nearby and turned to Chippi, mischief in my eyes.
“Have you ever crashed a wedding before?” I asked.
“No, yaar,” she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Let’s go, then,” I said with a grin, grabbing her hand.
“Are you sure about this?” she whispered, a bit panicked as we walked toward the entrance.
“Don’t worry, I’ve done this a million times,” I reassured her.
She hesitated, looking at the bags we were carrying. “Shinu, we have so many bags. What if we get caught?”
I quickly spotted a pile of bags near the photographers’ equipment and, with a confident smile, told one of the light boys, “We’re photographers from the other side. Can you keep our bags here? We’ll be back in a moment.”
The light boy nodded, and we slipped into the dining area. The aroma of Kozhikode biryani greeted us like an old friend. The flavors were rich, with that unmistakable hint of local spices that made Kozhikode biryani so famous. We savored every bite, relishing the experience as if we belonged there.
As we left, I checked on our bags, ensuring everything was in place. The light boy’s doubts vanished when he saw my camera. Chippi, however, was eager to leave and tugged on my arm, urging me to head outside.
Just as we stepped out, I froze. There she was—Aneesa. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I could see a flash of recognition in her gaze. Chippi noticed my hesitation and looked at me, puzzled
“She’s here,” I whispered.
“Who?” Chippi asked.
“Aneesa,” I said, my voice barely audible.
“Do you want to talk to her?” Chippi offered, concerned.
“No,” I replied quickly. “She’s not... She’s not good for me.”
“How do you know?” she pressed.
“I just know. There’s something about her, a pain she carries. But I can’t help her.”
Without another word, Chippi and I flagged down an auto to take her back to her hostel. The ride was silent, the weight of unspoken thoughts heavy between us. When we reached her hostel, she turned to me, her brow furrowed with worry
“Shinu, what’s going on? Why did seeing her affect you so much?”
I forced a smile. “I don’t know, Chippi. Maybe it’s just seeing someone from the past... it stirs up old memories.”
She sighed, clearly frustrated. “Look, if she’s still on your mind, maybe you should talk to her.”
“I can’t. She blocked me,” I admitted, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness.
“Well, then, maybe that’s your answer,” Chippi said sternly. “You need to move on.”
I watched her walk inside the hostel, her words echoing in my mind. The entire journey back home, my thoughts kept drifting back to Aneesa. Why couldn’t I shake her from my mind? Even though I’d moved on, she still held a special place in my heart.
That evening, I got a call. It was from Aneesa.
“Hii, Shinu,” her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
“Hello, Aneesa,” I replied, my heart racing.
“How have you been?” she asked, her tone casual, but I could sense the underlying tension.
“Fine,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. “And you?”
“It’s okay,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. I could tell she wasn’t okay, but I didn’t push it. The conversation felt like a formality, both of us tiptoeing around the real issues.
Later, I called Chippi to tell her about the conversation.
“I think she realized her mistakes,” Chippi said thoughtfully. “Or maybe she has a problem that you can solve. But don’t chase after her, Shinu. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
“I know,” I said, trying to sound convinced. But deep down, I knew that the trust we once had could never be fully restored.
Days passed, and I focused on my work. My website finally got AdSense approval, and I spent my time editing pictures and uploading them, even though the views were low. I knew it would take time, but I was okay with that.
But then, a sudden call from Mithun changed everything...
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