Almost Perfect Vacation

ARYA “I still don’t understand why I had to come with you?” I commented for the hundredth time. I was feeling exceptionally irked by the behavior of my two best friends. They knew that I was uncomfortable in such flashy places, but did they care? I think not!“Like I said, there is strength in numbers,” Raghu spoke, giving me a very condescending look.I sighed as I looked around, feeling sore and out of place. I was tapping my shoes at the table and was hopelessly waiting for the dreaded hour to be over when Sri roared, “Vishwaswamini Arya Nathan.” I froze. I always froze at the mention of my full name, which I hated to my core. “Can’t you do this for your friends? You didn’t have the courtesy to wear something decent and gracious to honor the venue, at least do us some favor and not make impolite and mediocre noises in a place like this,” Sri glared.

ARYAThe orientation program was hosted by Nathan’s company. It was one of a kind program where thirty students, this time thirty-three including Sri, Raghu and I, from all over the world were chosen and taught by Nathan himself. Day one comprised of multiple sessions, and day two was about assessment and getting to know each other. It was kind of an adventure and as per Sri and Raghu, only the brightest of all were selected for this program and people formed lifelong friendships in these two days.Our adventure began the next day at 6 AM when we three – Sri, Raghu and I, checked in the hotel Plaza, the venue of the orientation. The previous night, we had received emails detailing the schedule and agenda. Where Sri and Raghu were beyond excited, I was lost. Sri and Raghu had packed up all the fat books from their course to look up anything and everything that may come up during the session, whereas I packed my novels, sketch pads, drawing p

ARYA “What was that?” Sri demanded that evening. “What was in your notes that he took them? It could not be anything related to the lecture!”Her tone and jealous look bothered me, and for a moment I didn’t want to share, but if I didn’t share with Sri and Raghu, who else could I share this with? They were my only friends in the whole damn world! So, with a scoff, I showed them my notebook, “These…” I spoke as I opened the last pages, “are my notes.”They stared at the pages for a moment then laughed in unison as they saw my latest drawing of him in there. “Yeah, it is mighty impressive,” Raghu laughed. “No wonder he took your ‘notes’.”I rolled my eyes and took back the notebook. I looked at my own handiwork and this time, I had drawn him from a pose that I remembered from our lunch together. He was sitting straight with h

ARYAAs Nathan’s hand slid into mine, a shock emitted all over my body. His grasp was so familiar and comforting that a warmth, which had nothing to do with my clumsy, baggy clothes, spread in my heart.“Do you know how I can go on top, there?” I asked Nathan, pointing at a mountain top.“Why?” he demanded, shielding his eyes from the Sun’s glare and looking up.“Para gliding,” I beamed in excitement.“What?” he looked taken aback.“Why? You haven’t done it ever?” I asked, shocked. “With your kind of money and resources, you must have tried everything.”“Yes, but not here,” he pointed around.“Why?” I asked serenely. I had done paragliding back home once or twice, but never from this height.“Because it is frigging dangerous,” he looked strangely at me as if I had lost all my senses.“Umm… I am pretty sure it isn’t,” I laughed.“You can drown,” he pointed at the vastness of the ocean.I too looked at the horizon and smiled, “If I fall there,” I stretched my hand, “Smack in the middle

ARYAI didn’t know why but tears kept pouring down my cheeks today. Sri, who had given me an earful for my incandescent behavior, had left for the evening. She was going to spend the night at Ajit’s, her long term boyfriend and fiancé. Raghu too was out with his friends and I was all alone.Two months were still left in my term, and after that I was supposed to go back to India forever. But today, I wanted to go back immediately. Not because I didn’t want to be with Nathan. Oh, I desperately wanted to be with him, but I knew that it was neither possible nor plausible. So, to silence that desperation, I wanted to put an end to any possibility. And the best way was to get a one-way ticket to India. I knew if – no when – when I will go back home next, it would be the last time. And I would never see Cape Town ever again.So, to make this sad thing possible, I had called my professor and begged him to let me go early. Hearing my tearful plea, he agreed to let me go after I had submitted t