I was a shy kid while growing up. Never had many friends. I preferred sitting alone rather than being unseen among hundreds of friends. I wasn't anybody's favorite. Years passed and I was in class 8th. My only friend in the school has left it because of her father's transfer. I was alone and finally I started talking to other people of the class. This way the girl who was with me from class  2nd finally became my friend in class 8th. Still I was shy. I would day dream about Ranbir Kapoor as it was the same time Saawariya had released. But I wouldn't share this with anyone. Then few days later there was a new admission in our class. I have studied in an all girls school. This new admission was very different from the girls I had seen in my life. She had a boy cut, wore pants, walked very differently from other girls, was kind of shy overall was a kind person. She sat behind me and my other friend Roshini. Every time I would turn around to pull out notebook from my bag we would look at each other and smile. We three started sharing our lunches. She was a boarder and we two were day scholars. Her Name was Ekta. Our friendship grew she was our pillar of strength and were the same for her. She made me so comfortable that I told her about Ranbir Kapoor. She never made fun of it instead she would bring me Ranbir Kapoor's pictures from News papers or magazines for my collection. 

I have a huge broad forehead and one day I don't remember why I was sad but I remember her words. She said Avantika when I saw you I thought this girl is so pretty. Your broad forehead makes  you look beautiful. Don't ever listen to others. And these words became my rescue. Everytime someone would laugh on me I would tell them I know I am pretty. Years passed, we went into different colleges but nothing between us changed. We never called each other daily but whenever we did we would laugh through out the conversation. Colleges got over and we three started working. Ekta had fallen in love with a guy during her college time. He was from a different religion. The guy was wonderful but yes religion was the barrier. They both wanted to get married, so lately our conversations became all about this that how will the parents agree until last year I received a call from Roshini saying Ekta met with an accident and passed away. I am still shivering while writing this. Our worlds turned upside down. We called her mother she was in no situation to talk. She had lost her daughter. You know what kills me the most that last time when we met was in 2019. Because after that corona happened and we were all locked in our houses. Her boyfriend of 8 years confirmed the news. He was shattered. He has lost his everything. Roshini and I still find it hard to believe. We still think that someday she will call us but it's been a year now. Roshini is getting married soon. Ekta will be missed we had so many plans that who ever will get married first we will have a crazy bachelor's party but now as Roshini is getting married I sit here writing this because I don't have anybody to plan Roshini's surprises with. Life in unpredictable, there is nothing like tomorrow. Stay in touch with your friends. A sorry is better than a lifetime of guilt.