1 1- When We Met

As the Pink Cherry blossom were slowly falling on the ground, resisting against the might of wind, The Blue Sky with white clouds looked like they were calmly celebrating the Arrival of Spring season.

This was neither the soothing scenery of DC, nor The beautiful Sakura of Japan. As there was already green trees in between the Pink Cherry blossoms, It was The Pink and Green Scenery of Himachal. Normally one would expect that the scenery of Cherry blossoms is beautiful because there is no greenery between those mesmerizing pink flowers, However As perfectly aligned as Apricot and Apple trees were in between the Cherry blossoms, One just can't look away without savoring them completely by their eyes.

As I was just sitting in a bench at the park with my Travel bag on my back, Various thoughts were just popping inside my head and just disappearing like the Hydrogen bubbles in electrolysis.... Er... seems like I kind of used Jargon in between my sentenses, As Lovely as they were, that "Hydrogen Bubble" thing kind of ruined the mood.

Well The reason I used those words were because I, Sharad Trivedi. am an Researcher, or am I(?). At this point I don't even know what or who am I Actually. I was supposed to join army.... or so my parents told me to do, but once I said that I am not interested so they didn't pestered me, Quite uncommitted for asian parents if you ask me. Afterall once they decide something, It's set on stone, you can't change their decisions, actually noone can change them, or so I thought.

Ah! Once again I have gone off topic, so where was I, yes I changed their decision to go to army, and as my teacher suggested I continued studying science. With my second year as Masters from Physical Sciences, I already had an offer to become an assistant Lecturer, at the same University where I studied, once I cleared my "CSIR NET". For those who don't know, In Simple Terms, my test for becoming a lecturer (LC). However things certainly changed and I joined a Research Center instead, Well it's too much hassle so lets leave it at that.

Enough With the introductions, The reason I am here is because I am on a vacation. I wanted to see various spots, some famous, some underrated, some in India, some outside India and just enjoy my life. My life has always been full of ups and downs. Once I reached 27 I realised that I have neither girlfriend nor family. My parents passed away when I was at last year of my Bachelor's degree, it was certainly a bit early but I didn't really cry much because they told me that their life was fulfilling and they didn't really have any regrets.

|| Drop ||

While watching Cherry blossoms, I didn't realised I was crying until a tear drop fell on my hands. A cold sensation grabbed me back in my senses. As I was watching my tear drop which fell over the back of my hands, my eyes suddenly diverted towards the wrist watch I was wearing, it was only then that I realised it's been 2 hours and I haven't moved a little bit.

[Guess its really true, The Cherry blossom, once embrace you, never let you go without struggle.]

I started remembering these lines which I once read in not so popular novel. It was so unpopular that I don't even remember it's name. As I saw my tear drop once again, it was already gone, but the sensation was still there.

[Hehehe... I must be tired from all that working my ass of for no reason]

I started laughing on myself without even clearing my eyes which were full of tears. After a few seconds pass, I realised I am not the only one and how creepy I might be looking to people who were taking a look at the beautiful cherry blossom and suddenly find a 27 yr old creepy man laughing.

As soon as I realised this, I grabbed my lazy ass, and again started wandering around the Park. Children playing around, their parents watching them while sitting on bench, couples walking around holding hands, to be honest I think I am jealous. From whom? I don't know, maybe everyone of them.

When I see people together happily as family, I realise that despite being an settled person in life, I am just an hollow person, A kind of human who lacks something that every human should have. What could it be? Family? Love? Affection? I guess all of them.

But it's also true that seeing those same people, I always get a bright smile on my face, a genuine smile which seems to be telling me [You are still a Human].

As I was walking around the park, seeing the exact same scenery which I was already watching for last two hours. My gaze turned towards a girl.

Long black hairs, Chest puffed out in perfect proportions, With the smile like that of an angel, and Lips pink enough to misunderstood as the cherry blossoms. She was like a person just out of a Model show.

Even though she had bended her knees in order to capture Cherry blossom's picture in her Camera, She Clearly wasn't that tall. Maybe around 162 centimetres. But She did had a beautiful sense of dressing. Wearing tight black jeans with pink top. For A second I was mesmerized by her, but I then realized how bad I would look like if someone saw me staring a girl. Well for a girl like her, I, a person who is single even in his mid twenties, clearly had no chance. So I averted my gaze.

[Such Determination. Was I like that in past as well? For Photography? For anything?]

I asked myself those questions at that time. As one would expect questions like that always goes unanswered. But why did the question appeared at the first place... Ah right, around an hour ago, while I was sitting on the bench, I saw her first but didn't noticed her. She was trying clicking a picture since than.

[Well I think it's already been long enough now. I think I should go back to my hotel. Afterall I have to pack my things as I have to leave tomorrow. My vacation is about to end now I have to stay at Uttrakhand for a Next six months for my research. It's gonna be too much work.]

I had these thoughts as I went back to the hotel I was staying in. To be honest, when I booked a room in that quite expensive hotel, I was expecting some really good things. And it was indeed Everything as expected, except the fact that the Receptionist was a Guy. No hate to all guy Receptionist, but just imagine, that you ate a sugar cube with clear intention of savouring the sweetness and it turns out to be crude salt. That's what happened to me when I Expected a cute girl as an receptionist but somehow, What I saw was just an guy.

Okay he wasn't just a guy, I lied. He was handsome but come on I don't wanna say it. I am straight. Wait How many times has it been since I had strayed from the topic.

Well This is meant to happen when the story teller is just an overthinker. Or am I really one? I mean me being aware of my being overthinker means that I didn't had anything to think about to I started thinking about how I might be a overthinker but again as I had nothing to think about then how could I be a overthinker? Or maybe I am a overthinker because I somehow still have something to think about when I was thinking about nothing.

No No No, That's no good, if I go on any longer, this story of mine might not remain consistent.

"I wish, I can find some purpose, some motto of why I am here? Why I am travelling? Why I am exploring? Why I am Researching? Why am I?"

As I was alone in my hotel room, I blurted out these words out loud without any concerns of being heard. Looking back, Maybe I left a really important question among all of these.... Who am I? Ofcourse I knew I am Sharad Trivedi, But still sometimes you are just not sure who you are.

It might have happened with everyone at some point that they don't know who they are, If it hadn't till now, it will. And at that phase, if you lose sight of your answers, Everything surrounding you seems to be pushing you. Like a sea does when someone is about to drown.

However there might have been a reason that I didn't though about all of that, maybe deep down I had a hunch, Things will Change, And I will find my all answers.

[Ticket Check, Bag Check, Earphones Check, Lunch Check, Playlist Check..... Okay All Set]

It was the next morning and I was inside the bus, An Roadways bus which was supposed take me directly to Dehradun, Capital city of Uttrakhand State of India. That place is also called the Land Of Gods (Devbhoomi) So I was kind of excited to see how that place actually looked like. And as I had just seen something beautiful here, I won't be lying if I say that I was already expecting a disappointment since I knew nothing could be better than cherry blossom. Or at least that's what I thought at that time.

[It ain't uncomfortable as I thought it would be. Actually it's kinda nice, Like it's embracing me from behind. Good thing I booked the window seat.]

At that time I was thinking that it might be my lucky day once again. Things were going in my favour afterall... or were they?

As I plugged the earphones and was about to sleep, I heard a soothing voice. A calm, mature, a little bit sweet voice. Being habitual of low volume in earphones, I usually never miss if someone interact with me, and that day was same as well. However I wasn't really habitual of talking. And I was even worse when it comes to strangers.

"Excuse Me?"

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Writer's Note.

•It is gonna be "Multi Pov" type novel so I hope you all like it. And it won't be confusing as I will add the initial of whatever characters perspective it is gonna be.

•It will be around 2 Ch per week but depending on availability of time I might increase/decrease chapters. but it definitely won't be less than one ch/ week

•Leave A comment anywhere for suggestions or appreciation. Not mandatory though

•This won't affect any of my other Novel... Yes same novel which noone reads anyways.

eg. of pov, For Sharad

[S] -------------------

just like that.