Pratyusha 2

"Hey Priya! Did you eat my tiffin again..." Pratyusha's face looked as if she had just lost a great war. Holding the empty box in her hand, she was angrily running after her friend, while all the kids in the class were laughing uproariously. "Hey, I just had one chapati..." Priya said, laughing. "Not one, the entire vegetable is gone too! And my favorite, the potato one!" "So what? In friendship, 'your tiffin is my tiffin' is the rule, right!" Pratyusha said, pouting. "Next time, I will eat your entire tiffin, don't you say anything then!" "Okay, you silly girl, go ahead and eat it, but first make me some tea!" Everyone laughed. That small college canteen, the plastic chairs in the corners, and Pratyusha's mischievous smile... everything felt like a scene from a movie. Then suddenly, the professor entered the class. "Miss Pratyusha Agarwal, this is not a comedy club!" The whole class laughed again, and Pratyusha said softly, "Sir, sorry… it's just the aroma of the potatoes was a bit too strong today!" The professor held his head, "Nothing can be done about this girl and the aroma of potatoes!" As soon as the bell rang, all the girls rushed out of the class. Priya said, "Come on, let's go to the canteen now. You can have my tea today." Pratyusha smiled, "No, I will make it today. Besides, my tea is sweeter than yours." The two of them walked off, laughing. The sun was setting behind them, the air was filled with the college's hustle and bustle, and in Pratyusha's eyes was a sparkle that said, "Life is fun for now." Little did she know... that these were the days whose laughter she would miss deeply later on.

As class ended, both of them took a deep breath and stepped out as if freed from prison. The corridor was crowded with students—chatter, laughter, someone's book falling, someone being teased. Pushing her hair back, Priya said, "Look, let's get out of this crowd before it gets worse, or we won't get a seat in the canteen." Pratyusha laughed, "So what if we don't get a seat? The ground is still ours, right? We'll sit there and have our tea." Upon reaching the canteen, the warm aroma of tea was infused in the air. It was that same scent that resides in the heart of every college—a bit cheap, a bit strong, but filled with friendship and laughter. Priya said, "I'll make the tea today." Pratyusha immediately replied, "No way! I had the tea you made last week, my tongue is still burning from it. Today, I'll make it, in my special style." The canteen uncle said smiling, "Oh, Pratyusha, dear, here you are again, taking over the stove." She smiled back, "Yes, Uncle, without my tea, the college day feels incomplete." The two of them reached the small corner of the canteen where an old gas stove was kept. A dusty cupboard held tea leaves, ginger, and milk. Pratyusha rolled up her sleeves and said with full confidence, "See, Priya, making real tea is an art, and I am the artist of tea." Priya held her head, "Let me tell you right now, if you put salt in it again, I'm leaving." Pratyusha watched the milk boil, added the tea leaves, then broke and added ginger, and gave a slight smile. She closed her eyes and said, "Just a few more minutes, and this will become the most lovely tea in the world." Priya said, "Your dramas are longer than movies." Pratyusha smiled, "Yes, but in my movies, everyone gets a happy ending." The aroma of tea had now permeated the air. The other kids sitting in the canteen started looking their way. Someone said, "Look, Pratyusha is making tea again." Another said, "There's some magic in her tea; your mood instantly gets better after drinking it." The two of them started laughing. Pratyusha poured the tea into two glasses and said, "Here, Priya, today's tea is ready. Drink it and tell me how it is." Priya took a sip, closed her eyes, and said, "Wow, you've really outdone yourself today." Pratyusha said proudly, "See, I told you, my tea is sweet and true." The two of them sat on the canteen steps. In front of them was the college garden, where some kids were playing cricket, some were sitting under trees studying their notes, and some were lost in their own world. Priya said softly, "Have you ever thought, Pratyusha, will we get these days again?" Pratyusha smiled and replied, "I don't know. Probably... not. But so what if we don't? At least they'll remain in our memories, right? Like this aroma of tea that gives the same feeling every time." Both were silent for a while. Then suddenly, Pratyusha said, "Come on, let's take a photo, for the memories." Priya said, "Your photos always come out blurry." Pratyusha laughed, "That's what makes them real. Perfect people are boring." The sun had begun to set. Golden light was streaming in through the canteen windows. The two of them kept laughing, talking, dipping biscuits into each other's tea, as if time had stopped, as if this moment was theirs forever. Then suddenly, the college bell rang, and everything seemed to start rushing again. Students picked up their bags and started leaving; the canteen slowly began to empty. Pratyusha took her last sip and said, "Come on, Priya, let's go home, otherwise Mom will say, 'Did the tea shop open again?'" The two of them walked out, laughing. The air still carried the faint scent of ginger and tea, and within that scent was an innocent laughter that was destined to live on in her memories. She didn't know that one day, this very canteen, this very tea, this very friendship... everything would remain in her heart like a memory, just like a warm cup slowly turns cold, but its fragrance still lingers in the air for a long time.

...🌷🌷. Pratyusha..... 🌷🌷 Oh, come on, wait! How much more will you read about me? I am a bit mischievous, so what can I do? 🌷🌷 The way I am, I love everyone, right? You love me a little too... Not that kind of love... Send me your love in the comments...😁😁😁😁🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️......bye......

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