*

"Ridhimaa!"

"Evelyn go away. Let me sleep....".

"Ridhimaa! I'm not Evelyn, I'm-"

"Zac? When did your voice became girlish".

"Ridhimaa!! Wake up I'm not Zac or any other friend of yours, open ur eyes".

"Hmm.."

"Ridhimaa!!!!" Mom started shaking me.

"What a dream? Mom is shaking me," I said laughing.

"That's not a dream. I'm trying to wake you past 30 mins!" Mom said.

"Mom! When did you get here," I said, still very much sleepy.

"I didn't come there, you came here just open your eyes and look around, you are back to your home," Mom scold me.

Hearing that, I woke up and looked around. I was really at my home. It's a small, single room. Having a living room, kitchen and a bathroom.

It's been two days, that I've come back. Still I'm not use to it. I'm very much tired.

After that night, next day I finished my packing. We daily slept in the same room and spent as much time possible, together. One day, we went to a pub, party, gifts shopping, etc. Stupid boys, they even took leave for a week from their office.

I miss them so much. I'll miss the jolliness, the loving and caring nature of Zac. The sisterly love of Evelyn. My elder brother in the form of Lucas.

" Ridhimaa!!!!" Mom called out loudly.

" Hmm," I said.

"Get up soon and get ready we are heading to market," Mom said.

"But Mummy, I don't-"

"No but-wut. Go change right now", Mom yelled from the kitchen. God this parents! Never stop ordering at their kids.

"Okaaaay," I replied.

When I was ready we went to the market. It's two mins walk from my house.

Mom was now buying vegetables and I was carrying her bags.

"How much for this cabbage?" Mom asked.

"30 Rupees per kg."

"That's too much. I'll give you only 20," Mom said.

"No not possible," He replied.

I was not interested in their conversation, so I was looking around. Though the market is close to my house mom always purchases 2-3 days vegetable together.

".....not possible it-"

"Hey! Why are you arguing so much? We are your regular customers, you should give discount to us."

I turned towards source, to see who was the one to reply, with such a heavy but polite voice. Definitely it wasn't my mom. It was someone I know, but don't remember. Who is he? And how do I know him?

He is around my age. Tall, muscular, handsome and very intimidating. His eyes are black, small in size, but anybody can piss off in his or her pants, just by looking in those pretty eyes. His hair is darker shade of brown. He have a light beard. His lips are light brown. Thick eye brows, broad shoulders, long legs. He is wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. When, where and how did I meet him? I want to know. He's very handsome.

Wait! did I just say handsome. God!! Am I checking him out. What's wrong with me? Stupid!stupid! stupid!

I don't even know, that I really know him or am I just over thinking.

"Okay, give me only 20 rupees."

Why am I looking at him again? I can't keep my eyes off him. I just hope he didn't notice. But the smile on his face says otherwise. I immediately looked away.

"So sweet of you. You always help me," Mom replied.

Wait, did she say 'always', that means I'm not over thinking. I'll have to ask my mom, who he is.

"Oh! Aunty, that's not a big deal. You know, I like to help everyone, especially you," He replied with a wink and my mom blushed. Seriously! blushed. What's wrong with her?

"Thanks sweety," Mom replied pinching his cheeks.

God! She is so brave, to pinch the cheeks of such a intimidating looking guy. I don't want to stand here anymore.

"Anytime. By the way where are you heading? By looking at your empty hands, it seems you just came here," The Mystery man replied. So even he don't know me or may be, don't remember me.

"No no. I'm going back. And my hands are empty because she is carrying them. Now you don't have to carry them," she replied with a smile.

He looked towards me, as if inspecting me. "Who is she?" He asked my mom.

"Really! You don't remember her or......"

Mom trailed of and looked towards me. Looking at the confused expression on both of our faces, I guess she understood, that we don't remember. So she said.

"This is Ridhimaa, my daughter. Ridhimaa this is Armaan. Now do you remember?"

Armaan, I've heard this name before, but where? And, why did she stress on the word 'my daughter'? So I looked towards Armaan. The look on his face says he rrecognized me, now.

"Ridhimaa! You look different and very pretty. How are you?" Armaan asked me. He said my name as if he was shocked to see me, as if he really can't believe, that I'm standing in front of him.

"Um...., I'm good and Thank You?" It sounded more like a question.

"Ohh! So u still didn't recognize me?" He asked raising his brow.

I guess it was obvious, to guess by looking at my face, that I didn't recognize him.

I just shook my head and look towards my mom.

"Ridhimaa, this is Armaan. He was in your school, your best friend. Now do you remember? I can't believe you don't remember," She said in disbelief.

I started thinking. Armaan, in my school, my best friend? Then I remember, there was a naught boy, always ready to fight, strong, intimidating. He always troubled everybody. Teachers were tired of him. Every other month his parents were called. He was weak in studies. There was a time, when we were best friends. But then I found new friends and started hanging out with them. Our parents, were friends too. After I found new friends, we rarely met, mostly when our parents visited each other.

"Yes, I'm Sorry," I whispered after few seconds. But they heard it.

I'm ashamed, that I left him, because I found new friends. And today! I didn't even recognize him. He was my childhood friend, not just friend, we were best friends. I'm such a bad friend. I still remember after I left him for my new friends, his behavior towards me never changed. Like nothing happened.

"How are you?" I asked him in a low voice, not looking at him.

"Good," He replied. Without looking at him I can say, he is smiling.

"Son, Where were you last week?" Mom asked him.

"I was not in town," He replied.

"Okay".

"I hope you are coming for lunch today," Mom asked with a smile.

"Sorry, I've a meeting. But I'll be there for dinner." He said.

"Okay, I'll be waiting," Mom said smiling.

God! She is smiling a lot. He was alway my mom's favourite. I don't get, why mom is asking him to come for lunch? Why did he invite himself for the dinner? And why didn't mom call his parents for dinner?

"Sorry aunty, but I've to go. See you later. Take care," Saying that he left.

"Let's go home," Mom said.

I was trying, that I don't look back at him. What's wrong with me? He didn't greet me, before leaving, then why I want to look back at him? Oh God! What's happening? Please help me.