As Swapna stood up to leave, her phone rang. She despised attending phone calls. Every person on earth who has her number seems to be calling her to offer their support and to console her. How many more times should I say “I am Ok. Thanks” to these people to stop them from calling me, thought Swapna. Reluctantly she took her phone from the side pocket of her kurta. She froze. Laya calling. 

A shiver went through her. She swiped the green icon and listened,

 ‘Hello betta, this is Laya’s mom. Sorry to have called you this early. Are you awake?' 

Swapna took a moment to realise and register the fact that it was Laya's mom calling her from Laya's phone. She has been avoiding this conversation ever since the funeral.

‘Hello, can you hear me Swapna betta? Are you there?'

‘Haa Maa.’ 

‘Why didn’t you come to the home betta? Did you forget us?' Laya's mother asked and sounded worried. 

Swapna didn't know how to answer that question and stayed silent. As if reading her mind, Laya's mother continued,

‘Do you remember the last study leave?’ 

The question brought all the memories which Swapna tried to block from her mind. 

Study leaves were the exciting part of their college life. Swapna went to Laya's house in the name of ‘combined study’ and they used to sit in Laya's bed discussing anything and everything except the topics they had to study for exams. Last study leave was no different. They were talking about something about life which lead to death and then about the importance of preparing a will before dying. That was when Laya's mom came into the room unannounced. Swapna remembered how furious Mom was when she saw us lying on the bed talking about things that never made any sense. 

‘What do you both think of yourself?’ Laya's mom was shouting. Laya seemed totally impervious to her mother's anger. She smiled and started lecturing Mom about the importance of writing a will. Swapna and Laya's Mom looked at each other with a startled look and then broke out laughing. 

‘Why are you both laughing?' Laya asked. 

‘You haven’t even finished your college and talking about leaving a will before you die. How could I not laugh?' Laya's mother said. 

Laya was out of words for a moment but the look on her face clearly said that you-poked-the-devil-inside-me-be-ready-to-face-what-follows. ‘I agree that I didn't finish college. But how can that assure that I don't die tomorrow?' Laya asked. 

Laya's mom started laughing again. This time Laya and Swapna looked at her puzzled. ‘Why are you laughing again Maa?’ Laya asked annoyed. 

‘What assets do you have that you want to write a will?’  Laya's mom asked. 

To be continued…. 

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