The landing was delayed by half an hour due to the heavy rain and storm, it gave the boy more time to think. The atmosphere inside the flight was relatively silent, with the occasional chattering from the elderly people and the announcements, nothing a headphone couldn’t fix. The rain came down heavily when the plane finally landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum. His eyes did a quick scan of the people around, no one came to pick him up, he hadn't expected anything better from his family.

The automatic doors of the airport closed behind him, he looked around taking in the fresh aroma of rain mixed with the earthy grounds. He contemplated walking home, but that would take nearly half an hour. He looked down at his luggage, a duffel bag and suitcase, the bag was on his back and the umbrella in the side compartment of the duffle bag. Walking home was the best idea.

The apartment compound was as lovely as ever, with the lush green garden and beautiful flowers now bathed in the fresh rain. The security guard of their building did a double check, he couldn't believe that the boy was finally back after 4 long years in Vietnam.

…

Ishan leaned against the wall of the elevator after pressing his floor, his eyes stuck to his phone. The jacket was clinging onto his body, soggy from the rain outside, his bag hung on his shoulders, a familiar weight. The elevator almost closed its door until someone quickly made their way inside the elevator along with a suitcase and duffel bag. He didn't bother to look at the person who leaned forward to press the floor number.

Neil ruffled his hair, his hand coming back wet. He bit back a groan, unlike his best friend he wasn't a big fan of the rain. He looked back to see the person behind him in the elevator, for a moment his heart stopped beating. There was he, the person who made this life worth it. 

Ishan walked out of the elevator without looking up.

Neil smiled to himself and followed Ishan casually, and sneakily plucked the phone out from his hands.

“What—” Ishan helped looking back, only to see his best friend standing there holding his phone. “Neil?”

Neil hummed letting his best friend stare at him in pure shock while he scrolled on his best friend's phone.

“What are you doing here?” Ishan asked. “Aren't you supposed to be in Vietnam?”

“Yeah, things went shit I came back,” Neil shrugged, holding out his phone which Ishan slowly took back. “What? Amai dekhe to mone hoi na khub akta bhalo laglo tor.”

“Bolechi?” Ishan scowled. “Bolte par tis, pick up korte jetam.”

Neil waved it off, his hair falling on his forehead, Ishan didn't think it through before he pushed the stray strands of hair away from the boy's face who stopped and stared, his heart skipping a beat.

“Change up, you will catch a cold,” Ishan said. Neil smiled as they walked together, the doors of their apartments parallel to each other.

“Same to you,” Neil smiled before knocking on the door to his home.