Love,or something like it....

Pia tried to de-tangle her hair..the wind was blowing a bit too fast..and she hated tangled hair..but she wouldn't be in any other place in this entire world right now even if she could trade her hair with Angelina Jolie....

To be very specific, she was on the terrace of her pishi's house...her ICSE boards had finished a week ago and she had come to her pishi's place to chill for a few days..right now the clock ticked it's way towards 8:30pm..and Pia's heartbeat grew louder as each second ticked away...

There he was..he walked so stealthily. even in the darkness Pia knew he was looking at her.This was the guy Pia would come up to the terrace for..he strolled on the terrace of the house just opposite Pia's pishi's house...they would spend hours on the terrace looking at each other, though the cruel darkness clouded everything..

Pia loved looking at his dark silhouette against the midnight blue sky..his shoulders..so striking, so beautiful.once in a while he would hold up his cellphone close to his face reading a text..in that little light Pia had discovered what a handsome nose he had..so sharp.Yeah, what a silly thing to notice, Pia thought.

That night at the dinner table Pia mustered up the courage to ask her brother,

"Hey bro, who's that guy in the house opposite ours?"

Rohan said~ "Some guy from Mumbai called Varun, came to spend his holidays in Kolkata. a moron, i tell you! we asked him to play cricket with us and he tells us 'Cricket is not my thing, i'm more of a rugby guy' HUH! which Indian guy doesn't like cricket,eh?"

Pia nodded sympathetically.she couldn't feel sorry for Rohan.personally, she never found fun in a guy hitting a ball with a bat and 11 other men running like madcaps to catch it....

* * * * * * * *

It was very easy to tell when Pia wasn't in a good mood.she would hunt for things to eat.anger fostered hunger, she believed.last night she had waited for two long hours on the terrace and he didn't show up..what a wonderful time she had with the mosquitoes!!

"Uncle, a maggi please," Pia told the shopkeeper.after counting the change she turned around and froze..it was him, right in front of her.he smiled apologetically, Pia frowned back.

"Hey, i'm sorry..i tried to come.besides, hi, i'm Varun," he said.

"Yeah, i know that," Pia replied.

"Seriously, i tried to come..awww..dont be mad..let's go for a walk..please? i insist," he begged.

Soon enough, they were sitting beside a lake in the locality and talked like they had known each other forever.

"I like kites," Pia said "so colourful, and so free"

She looked at the little V-shaped pendant that hung around his neck on a silver chain, "Hey, that's cute," she said.

"I've worn that locket since i was a child. it's my favorite, almost a part of me now," Varun explained.

"It's so pretty," Pia sighed.

"Hmmm...your choices are unusual," Varun said.

"I am unusual," Pia gave him one of her best smiles and put on her shoes to return home.

When she returned, she cursed the shopkeeper on top of her voice for being so lazy, and Runi pishi believed her.

* * * * * * * *

Every morning they would meet near the lake, and stroll on the lush green lawn, lost in their own little world.

"Pia, i have to tell you something," Varun said.

Pia looked up at him. he held Pia's hand in both if his.

"I'm leaving next week Pia, for Alabama, USA.my uncle stays there and that's where i'll continue my studies.i have to go."

Pia had been unable to respond as hot tears trickled down her face..she ran back to her house.

That was the first day Pia felt how strict her parents are..most of her classmates had cellphones..why couldn't she have one?the money she had saved in her piggie bank from when she was just a child was sure to be enough.Besides, how much could international calls cost??

* * * * * * * *

"Pia???Pia beta wake up!" Runi pishi shook her vigorously.

Pia groaned still half-asleep.

"Pia beta, your grandma is not well..she has been hospitalised.pack your bags shona, your dad is coming to take you back home," Runi pishi explained.

Pia shot up on her bed..no no no no, how could this be?how could she go back today?? God noh! she loved her grandma..but what about Varun??why was everything going so wrong?

Runi pishi packed her bags.Pia's dad would come by 5 in the afternoon..Pia took her suitacse and insisted that she wait alone near the main road..she kissed her aunt good-bye.

pia was waiting by the main road..she could hardly hold back her tears..

"Pia??"

In a second Pia knew who that voice belonged to.the one voice she would do anything for,...

"Pia..you're leaving??" Varun asked as she turned around to face him..she tried, but she couldn't answer..

they just stared at each other..so helpless, so lost.

A Wagoner wheeled in beside them..it was Pia's father..he opened the door and said "Pia beta..get in!"

Pia looked at Varun with fear, pain and love etched in her eyes...

"Pia, if you ever come back here, look for me on the terrace..not mine, but yours," Varun said.

"Huh?" Pia questioned.

"Pia..what are you doing??" her father shouted.

"I'll leave a part of me behind for you..but please, try and get here before the rain comes," Varun smiled at her.

"Go Pia, your not losing anything," he touched her lightly on her cheek.

She got in the car and shut the door behind her.

"What were you doing?and who was that boy?" her father questioned.

But Pia didn't answer..her eyes were glued to the rear-view mirror. Varun was standing with a smile on his face..the sweetest smile Pia had ever seen.

she closed her eyes as she sank into her seat..this is how she would always want to remember him..with his twinkling eyes..his smile..so beautiful and incomparable.

Tears ran down her face, but Pia smiled.

* * * * * * * *

Pia always liked her coffee bittersweet. Runi aunty made it the best way..Pia was sitting at her dining-table.she had come for a visit, three weeks since she had last come..

"Runi pishi..its too hot downstairs..i'm going to the terrace..ok?" Pia excused herself.

She took slow, short steps till she reached the terrace, and looked around. she knew this was stupid.how could Varun leave something back for her on her pishi's terrace...how would he get inside the house??Just then, she saw it...

The kite was tied to the Tata sky antennae and was frantically fluttering in the wind, as if to make it's presence known..she untied it..

It was written on the kite itself...

"Pia, i never told you, but i like kites too..the soaring kites remind me of your hair flying and caressing my cheek..they tingled me..i loved it..your eyes..they are so beautiful..i could see a whole new world when i gazed into them..looking back, i just wish we had some more time together. Pia, i love you, too"

She looked at the silver chain he had left behind...with the V-shaped locket, and clutched it close to her heart.the first raindrops fell on her cheek, their coolness soothing her, quietening her burning heart..

She closed her eyes and smiled..Pia had kept his word...

She had come before the rain did......

P.S~ sorry for such an unusually large post, that's for all those who survived it! this is my first shot at writing a story..something imaginative..would love to know what you guys think of it..keep me posted buds..!!read on..! :)