Chapter XXXIX
Farewell: The Lunch Box Journal

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Story so far: Did Gautham finally make it on the other side of the planet? What was the deal with Akhil’s opportunity? How deep was Neil in his marriage preparations? What were Madhav and Aryan upto?
Read on…

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One day Aryan saw Srestha taking the public transport instead of her beloved bike and she didn’t even opt for the company transport which would have taken her directly inside the office. This was quite odd and he sent her a message asking the reason for the same. She seemed to have sprained her hand and she didn’t want to risk taking her bike to the office as she had already suffered an accident and a second one in a row would mean that her parents could take back her bike from her. That was how Aryan broke the ice between them. While Akhil had told in detail about each and every member of the group, she knew that Aryan was a coffee addict. In one of their casual conversations, he asked her to join if she was free. She said she would, but Aryan was sure that it was never going to happen. Because why would she hangout with him in the first place. Aryan was way too skeptical about the whole going to the coffee thing. It could as well have been a date, but since he wasn’t even thinking in those lines. It would have been great if she hung out with him, but then again he was the one of those who didn’t speak at all, and that was a drawback that could drown him completely.

Once such lazy afternoon, he was talking to her and he put forth the idea if she was free, she could come to the Starbucks. For some bizarre reason, she said yes and Aryan was shook, like everything around him was shaking and he had no idea how to deal with that. Being an introvert is a curse that no one really understood. But still, he took the chance knowing it very well this would be the first and last of her Yes. Because from experience he knew what was going to happen and he was pretty sure about it. Meanwhile, the moment came when they had to go while he was wishing for some rain to cancel the plans. Unfortunately, he had to face it, for once in his life, he had to give it a shot. They eventually hung out, talked and had a few too many awkward silences. Meanwhile, Aryan knew that she would never agree to go there ever again. He sensed that she was bored out of her wits and him being an introvert wasn’t helping her cause. Little did he know why she had actually wanted to come. But he was glad that he didn’t do too many making a fool of himself instances. They took a few photos and left for the day. It was quite unusual to ask Aryan to take the photos, especially when he too has to be in the photo. He should have known by then but he was too over his head to even think straight.

Gautham was already halfway through packing his stuff for his overseas assignment. And Akhil was in between things, the things being the girls and his lost opportunity. He was visibly sad and then there was Likhita who wasn’t helping his cause either by drawing a line between him and Srestha. Though she was happy that he wasn’t traveling as of yet. And then something happened. Aryan hadn’t told Akhil about the time he met with Srestha. And him not informing about the same made Akhil more angry at Aryan. Aryan was completely oblivious of the whole debacle in Akhil’s head. While Akhil was burning up inside, the reason for his silence was not yet justified. Aryan, until then was following the story that had been running among the trio but thought it would be better to keep mum about it and not say something that might not come out right and might hurt the people even more. Meanwhile, Gautham travel date was set and amidst farewell, the was about to be sent off. While Neil’s marriage was almost round the corner, it was a hard bargain that Gautham couldn’t make it to it. He was very much looking forward to attending the marriage, but since his travel date was set just before Neil was going on a vacation. It was Gautham’s first overseas journey and also his first flight journey. And in solidarity of friendship, the three of them Akhil, Aryan, and Neil went to see him off and help him out if there was anything he needed help with. Gautham was off on his journey and everyone else returned back to business as usual. Meanwhile, Akhil got news of a travel opportunity and he was keeping it under wraps this time and be more careful. He didn’t want it to happen like it did the other time and it left him devastated.

He was talking less and keeping everything to himself for reasons not being revealed. While the others thought it might be about the new opportunity that he has got and want to keep it under wraps and perhaps not jinx it. While Srestha had a different story to tell for him being distant that it had to do with the girl named Likhita. At one point she even asked Aryan whether Akhil was angry at him. Aryan was completely unaware of what reason Akhil might be angry at him. Apparently, no one was telling him anything at that point in time. He did respond back saying that Akhil had been distant for the past couple weeks and what he felt the reason to be was the travel opportunity and that maybe he didn’t want to mess that up and that’s why being so very cautious and not talking much, which was very unlike him. While he was being his usual self the other time, he didn’t seem too angry to Aryan. Meanwhile, they met for Neil’s big day, while Gautham and Sameer were relishing the new found comfort place and work on the other side of the planet, Akhil was busy preparing and getting himself ready for the opportunity that awaited him. He was to travel in a weeks time after Akhil’s marriage. This time probably it will be the least turn over at the Airport to send Akhil off since all half of the group was already overseas and Madhav was busy preparing himself for a new baby and Neil was newly married. The only person left behind was Aryan, who was still thinking whether to go there all alone or not.

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(To be Continued …)

Did Aryan to for the second time? What happened afte the coffee shop debacle? How was Neil settling in after his marriage and the aftermath of marriage? How far along was Madhav?
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The Lunch Box Journal

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