Nidhi woke up that morning with a heaviness that couldn't be expressed.
The heaviness that's not from wanting something but from not wanting someone else to give up on the trip.
She lay there for a moment, simply waiting for the sun rays to warm her up.
She murmured almost to herself.... "Kashmir... Why it has to be you?"
After some time she pulled herself to get ready.
Nidhi who had already half given up was not really prepared for the day. The guilt of the previous night still lingered.
She had lied to her parents and they had seen through it not with anger but with something far more difficult to bear.
And somewhere between the guilt she had to find a way to face Priyam.
Her mother entered the room.
Quietly she sat behind Nidhi and began to weave her braid.
Her fingers moved the way they always did ,carefully, lovingly.
But today not a single word was spoken.
When the braid was done, she simply rose and left the room.
No conversation.
No warmth exchanged.
No gossip at all....
Just silence which Nidhi couldn't tolerate.
She gathered herself and stepped out of her room.
Her eyes began to search for one person. Her father.
She found him.
And the moment their eyes met, a soft smile found its way to her face.
His eyes grew gentle.
And Nidhi slowly stepped out of her house and made her way to college.
Her father stood in a corner watching over the jasmine strand.
Something inside him quietly broke.
Because today Nidhi walked out without asking for her jasmine.
The jasmine he picks every morning.
The jasmine her mother strings with love.
Just for her.
She didn't ask. She didn't search. She just left.
On her way to college, Nidhi stopped at Priyam's doorstep. No shout. No laughter. Just a quiet presence.
Priyam who had been waiting with a thousand eyes, ran towards her the moment she appeared.
Nidhi didn't really want to start the conversation.
But Priyam couldn't hold her excitement.
"So... are we going to the trip?"
Nidhi stopped for a second.
She hadn't prepared for this. For the one question she knew that she has to answer for sure.
She looked at Priyam.
And her expression did what words couldn't.
Priyam understood. The way only a best friend can.
Without a single word.
Priyam's excitement slowly faded.
She looked at Nidhi quietly.
And then softly asked. "Not even for Kerala?"
Nidhi honestly admitted everything. Every single thing that had happened the previous night.
Priyam couldn't say anything either.
They walked to college. In a silence that felt heavier than usual.
The moment they stepped inside, everyone was giving their names for the trip.
The entire college was buzzing.
Trip preparations.
Packing lists.
Excitement that had no end.
Nidhi and Priyam slowly found their place and settled in.
But every conversation around them was about Kashmir. Only Kashmir.
Nidhi looked at Priyam.
Before she could say anything, Priyam made it very firm.
"We are either going together or we are not going anywhere"
A pause.
"I would rather spend these two weeks sitting with you at the shore than go to Kashmir alone."
That one sentence made Nidhi's eyes moist.
Priyam noticed immediately and soon burst out laughing.
"It seems like the entire Indian ocean is hidden within your eyes."
Nidhi just couldn't help it. She laughed through the tears.
Nidhi was almost tired by the time she reached home.
She opened the gate, and stopped.
Her parents were sitting on the steps right next to the Tulsi plant.
Their expressions said everything before a single word was spoken.
As she walked closer and closer, her guilt began to rise.
Her father broke the silence. "Nidhi! Do you really want to go on this college trip?"
She slowly looked at her mother.
Her mother was already looking at her.
She lowered her gaze before slowly looking back at her father.
"I am not sure whether I wanted to go or not, but Priyam really wants to go."
She looked at her mother and simply said "Sorry Amma"
Just that one sentence.
But it carried everything.
Every emotion she wanted to express.
Every drop of guilt she wanted to wash away.
Her mother stood up, held her and slowly brushed her cheeks.
"I am not angry that you lied, but I am worried"
"Whether you can go alone, all the way to Kashmir."
Her eyes were soft now.
Mr. Swaminathan stood up. Gently brushed her hair and said "If my little jasmine can manage everything by herself, we don't have any problem with the trip."
"Anyways, Priyam will be accompanying you and so will your teachers."
That one sentence was sufficient.
She hugged them both, saying sorry and thank you at the same time.
And then —
Before anyone could say another word, she pulled away.
"I have to inform Priyam! I only want to go just for her. Let me tell her right now!"
Before she could even finish her sentence, she had already crossed the gate.
Her parents looked at each other, worried.
Smiling.
At her childish excitement.
Really wondering, if their little jasmine could truly manage everything on her own.
Unlike the morning she rushed to Priyam's house —
Shouting her name.
Priyam was almost scared to death.
"Are you okay?" she asked, looking worried.
Nidhi was barely breathing but refused to wait.
"We are..."
A breath.
"...going."
"What? Where? To the beach?"
"No..."
"To Kashmir?"
"What?"
"Yes — Amma and Appa agreed."
"But before that, let's get to the shore."
Priyam was almost jumping.
Her excitement had no boundaries.
No limits.
No ceiling.
The sun was almost setting as they found their place at the shore.
The waves already touching their feet as they sat
Priyam's excitement was something that simply cannot be described.
And Nidhi was simply happy. Not for herself. Just for Priyam.
"It's really very peaceful," Priyam said.
Nidhi just laughed.
And spoke without even realizing it —
"This is going to be very tough for me.
Two whole weeks away from Kanyakumari.
Every single day —
I know I will miss Amma, Appa —
And this peace."
Priyam looked at the horizon dramatically and said,
"Who knows, Maybe Kashmir has something waiting for you that even Kanyakumari cannot give."
Nidhi just smiled and slowly the sun went below the horizon.
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