It had been a week since the Tripathis had made their decision: they would move to the U.S once Kasturi’s school session ended. Mr. Tripathi’s excitement was palpable—his brother had everything arranged, and this felt like the break he had been waiting for.
Kasturi’s mother had begun making lists of what to pack and what to leave behind. But Kasturi? She had been holding the news close to her chest, hoping against hope that something might happen to change their plans.
That Sunday, like usual, Meena came over for lunch. It was almost a ritual now—a shared meal, laughter echoing through the house, and long hours spent together afterward. Kasturi knew this Sunday would be different. She dreaded it, but there was no avoiding it anymore.
As soon as Meena entered, Kasturi’s mother greeted her warmly, handing her a plate of steaming dalma and rice. “Meena beta,” she teased, “what will you do without Kasturi when she leaves, haan?”
Meena froze, spoon mid-air. “Leave? Where is she going?”
Kasturi, who had been quietly picking at her food, felt her stomach drop. She looked up sharply at her mother, her eyes wide with a mix of panic and anger.
Her mother, oblivious, continued with a laugh, “America! The land of big cars and bright dreams.”
Meena turned to Kasturi, confusion etched on her face. “What is Kakima (aunt) talking about?”
Kasturi couldn’t bear to see the look in her best friend’s eyes. She pushed back her chair and stood abruptly. “Come with me,” she muttered, grabbing Meena’s hand and dragging her outside.
They walked silently to the little garden where they had first met. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine, but neither of them noticed. Kasturi let go of Meena’s hand and turned to face her, her voice trembling.
“It’s true,” she said finally. “We’re moving. To the U.S.”
Meena blinked, as if trying to process the words. “What? When?”
“At the end of the school year,” Kasturi admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Meena’s lips quivered, but she managed to keep her voice steady. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t know how to tell you,” Kasturi said, tears welling up in her eyes. “I thought… I thought maybe if I didn’t say it, it wouldn’t be real.”
Meena shook her head, stepping back. “You’re just going to leave? Just like that? What about school? What about the songs we hum? The games we play? What about… me?”
Kasturi couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. “I don’t want to go, Meena. I don’t. But what can I do? It’s not my choice.”
For a long moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of their impending separation hanging heavy between them. Finally, Meena spoke, her voice breaking. “You’re my best friend, Kasturi. My only real friend. What am I supposed to do without you?”
“I don’t know,” Kasturi whispered. “But I promise we’ll stay in touch. We’ll write letters. We’ll call. I’ll visit.”
“Letters?” Meena said bitterly. “Do you think letters can replace this? Replace us?”
Kasturi had no answer. She simply reached out and hugged Meena tightly, the jasmine bushes rustling softly around them.
That day, the garden that had been a place of laughter and friendship bore witness to their tears. And though they promised to keep their bond alive across the distance, both girls knew deep down that things would never quite be the same again.
PS: I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z
Cerebration 
The sadness of being uprooted! losing friends, the familiar and the loved. I hope the two friends retain their innocent friendship as the years go by. Quite a turn of events for the little girls.
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Life does have a way of throwing unexpected twists. Thank you for sticking with the story!
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I just finished reading Chapter 8, and wow—this one tugged at my heart in such a gentle, beautiful way. There’s something about the way you write emotions that makes them feel raw yet poetic, like they’re whispering directly to the reader’s soul. I loved the contrast between heartstrings and horizons—it felt like a quiet reminder that longing and hope can exist together. Your characters are growing in such subtle yet powerful ways, and I find myself rooting for them without even realizing it. That one line about “dreams anchored in silence” gave me goosebumps—it’s going to stay with me for a while. I also really appreciate how you pace each chapter—it’s not rushed, but it doesn’t drag either, just the right balance.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s heartening to know that you’ve noticed the subtleties of the emotions in my work. I’m especially relieved to hear that, as a reader, you appreciate the pace. I was a bit apprehensive about it but didn’t want to rush things either, so your feedback is incredibly reassuring. Your thoughtful comments truly serve as a great motivator. Thank you again!
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You’re most welcome! I’m so glad my words could offer that kind of reassurance. Honestly, the emotional depth and pacing in your work felt very intentional and well-balanced—it gave me time to really feel what the characters were going through. That slow burn worked beautifully. I’m looking forward to reading more from you, so keep doing what you’re doing—it’s definitely working! 😊
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Thank you so much!
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Okay, I’m crying too.. how heartbreaking is this 🥺
I wish Meena could stay behind… uff, the pain of losing friends is so deep… the girls will never forget each other but their bond will never be the same again either
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It means a lot to me as a writer that the characters made an impact on you. Thank you so much for supporting the story.
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Oh no! So they are moving! I am as heartbroken as the girls are!
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I’m so glad the story resonated with you! It means a lot to know that you’re feeling the emotions of the characters as deeply as I did while writing them. Thank you for sharing this—it motivates me to keep writing!
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So sad!!
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Thanks for reading. It’s just life throwing some twists.
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Really heartbreaking. It’s sad when you get deeply invested in a relationship and one day realize it’s going to end abruptly.
And the feeling of helplessness when you realize that there’s nothing you can do to avoid it is hard to describe.
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Absolutely! I am glad thay you could resonate with that feeling, something that the girls are experiencing at the moment!
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Oh my god. They made me sad. It’s a shame to separate friends, yet time does it constantly.
//“I thought… I thought maybe if I didn’t say it, it wouldn’t be real.”//
I was deeply moved.
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Yeah i believe this was the fate. Thanks for your support with the story
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Yeah rightly mentioned. That’s loge afterall. I am thrilled to kn9w that you and characters are developing such an emotional bond. It means a lot to me!
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This chapter holds a special place in my heart because the same thing happened to me and my best friends when we left the school after the 12th board. Friendship that was the best reward of life, now has become faded into oblivion. Your writing made me cry.
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I remembered the last day of school when we had cried our heart out. This post made me nostalgic.
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I am thrilled to know that the post resonated with you. Thank you!
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