Forget-Me-Not : Bound by Secrets

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Vidhi had started working only minutes ago, when the door opened and Aparna came in again. "Someone's come to see you. Some Geet Kapoor."

Geet Kapoor, Vidhi mused, observing how different it sounded from Geet Juneja. "Send her in," she said without looking up from her computer. And she couldn't concentrate on the work anymore. None of the numbers made sense. She felt slightly nervous, and reminded herself that she was seeing her after eleven long years. It was so strange, and somehow she was so happy, too.

The door opened and her friend came in. For a moment, Vidhi couldn't identify her. She was taller than she remembered, her milky white skin radiant and glowing, her chestnut brown hair done in a half updo. She was dressed in a starched, floral patterned salwar kameez, and she carried a small bag in her hand.

Geet paused in the doorway, taking everything in, looking at the office, at the woman sitting behind the desk, and tried to see a glimpse of her best friend in the now older version that she didn't know so well.

"Geet," Vidhi said, standing up from her chair, and stopped awkwardly. She could see how stunned Geet looked, how the expression of her face betrayed her slight fear. Then she relaxed, and a smile covered her face.

"Vidhi," she said, her voice as soothing and calm as gurgling streams. Without any hesitation, she came inside and enfolded her in a hug. At first, Vidhi felt strange, but then she felt the familiarity of those arms around her and relaxed in her friend's embrace. And even eleven years of separation couldn't prevent her from feeling all the love and friendship she'd suppressed until now. The hug didn't feel strange or awkward-it felt warm and familiar. As if they'd never been away, as if they'd always been together.

Then she pulled back, and part of her hesitation reappeared.

"Please sit," she said, and her friend took a chair opposite her.

Geet looked around for a little moment, and smiled. "You look every bit the successful businesswoman I expected you to be," she said, and her voice was soft. Just like it had been before.

"Financial analyst," she corrected automatically, and Geet smiled wider.

"I can't believe I'm here," she admitted.

"Well, I can't either. This is so sudden... how did you find me?"

"Not that difficult," she said. "I already knew you hadn't left the city."

Vidhi didn't know what to say. There was so much to resolve... there was a void between them, eleven years long, and she had no idea how her friend had been, what she'd been doing, where she lived, how her life had been.

"So... what brought you here?" she said finally. "After so long?"

Geet's expression softened and she looked at her with something like sadness. "I did make it too late, didn't I?" she said.

Vidhi blinked. She hadn't expected to feel so emotional at her words, but she did. She blinked back tears from her eyes and said "Well, I really hadn't expected. I don't know what to say..."

"I've really missed you," Geet said. "I really have."

They looked at each other, and Vidhi bit her lip. "Me too," she said finally. And just like that, her uncertainty and doubts vanished. She felt less nervous and more relieved. It was her best friend she was talking to, after all. And even after eleven years, she felt as if they'd never been away from each other.