Bundle called Friends

Bundle called Friends

I always wanted to live in a house with a lawn, big kitchen and spacious rooms. I haven’t got married. I move in to my own house. Actually, I mean our own rented house. Before this I was living as a paying guest in a small apartment with some other folks. They were good but not as good as my bundle of friends. All of us belong to different parts of the world and followed different religious values. But common thing between us was nothing except friendship.

I am Miraya, I work in a big luxury hotel as a Senior Manager. I love my job and best part is meeting people and making conversations. My friends also call me talking turtle (TT). Turtle because I am tough and strong headed. I sleep early and wake up early to watch sun rise. It is hard for me to stay awake for late night.

Eliyen the Yen, she works in a Multinational Company as head of IT department. One who earns the most. Worked the hardest even in pandemic. Always worried about her looks.

Olaf, funny looking guy, newest in the group. A Rich man’s naïve son with a weird looking nose. Joined a writing firm as a chief photographer and editor for fashion and life style magazine.

Joaquin as the name suggest The Dancer, loves to party and travel. He works as senior instructor in famous a dancing school.

Twinkle Our star- A painter, due to pandemic my friends from mountain, lost her job. She went back to mountains. Taking online art and craft classes to pass her time. Hard working, always ready to help. But real slow Mo. Take a lot of time react. No doesn’t exist in her dictionary.

Jason- Doctor and Professor at medical school. Owner of various degrees. Most intelligent and informed among us. Knows almost everything except to Express. We have to judge his emotions.

Nara the baker, she owns her own bakery. Beautiful girl with black strait hair. She used to work at the place where we meet first time.

The pride Cafe a 24*7 restaurant. From where Nara did her internship after her culinary school degree. I met her when she was taking my order, I told her to get me best pastry along with tea. The most intellectual person stood up and said try savory than sugar. I smiled and ordered tiramisu. Two girls sitting there start giggling. Mr. Intellectual looked at them and went to his seat.

Giggling girls were Twinkle and Eliyen. Nara told us about intellectual guy and his degrees as he was a regular guest. We all started meeting often at Pride Cafe. Once I went there for early morning breakfast before my shift. Met Nara as there were less guests we started talking. She told me about her plans. She was happy to know that I work in a hotel and I can help her getting a job there. We shared numbers and became friends as we work in the same property.

One day all four of us meet at Cafe. While we were waiting for our table, Nara saw Mr. Intellectual. Eliyen mockingly said sugar is dangerous and laughed out loud. I stopped her and apologized to him. While we were sitting the place got crowded. Renowned dance school’s artists were performing there. Seeing the crowd Twinkle panicked and rush out. I found her sobbing in the corner and was reluctant to come inside. I told her to wait outside and went inside to call Mr. Intellectual Doctor and others.

Doctor tried to compose her. Yen rushed to bring her car. Yen knew she get scared in the crowd when she was a child. But didn’t know her phobia still persist. Mr. Intellectual took us to his professor who teaches and practice psychology. Doctor said, she an Agoraphobic which I surely didn’t understand. Twinkle spoke to the doctor he recommended some medicines to control anxiety. He also mentioned with medication and meditation her phobia can be cured.  When Twinkle felt better, Yen left her home. Jason dropped me and Nara. Seems to be a decent guy.

Next day, Intellectual called Twinkle to check her condition. She invited him for dinner at a café. Both had a good time. All of us started meeting occasionally. We went for shopping sometime. Mr. Intellectual I mean Dr. Jason also came along this time. Twinkle always hold my hand like a little girl. While shopping we saw Dancers from Dancing School performing on the street. Overwhelmed Yen enrolled herself in the troop. Great day with friends. Became tiring when I reached home my home mates started nagging and abusing. Making me call 911.

Next day, I told Yen about it. She told me to live with her to which I agreed. Soon, it was getting difficult to live with her because of her late-night parties. She had some new friends from the dance school coming for sleep overs. She met Joaquin best among all her new friends. He was her instructor at the dance school. They disturbed my complete circle of life.

One day my old mates called me and said mean guys have left. So, I asked them can I come back and soon I moved back. Yen got upset and stopped talking to me. She started ignoring me as if I am transparent. Now Joaquin also accompanied her in our meetings.

One day, Jason invited one of his friends Olaf. Very Funny name but real handsome guy. Everybody knew what happened between us except Jason and his friend. So, he noticed Yen and asked her.

Jason – Is everything okay seems you are ignoring Miraya?

Listening to this she started crying. Oh! She blubbered putting all the blame on me. I didn’t know where to hide myself. No-one was ready to listen. Even I thought that I did something wrong. I took my bag and left to which, Yen mentioned. Who will pay your share? I laughed and went home.

Got a message from Jason. Not fair. I thought we all are friends. If you were facing any issues, you should have stayed with me but now Olaf moved with me. But we I can still adjust. My friend Olaf was so excited to meet you but you spoiled it all. To which I wrote thank you for your concern along with a laughing emoji. For some days there were no communication between us.

One day Nara sent a message - where are you? To which I didn’t reply as I was stuck with some family concern.

After two days, they all visited me at my family residence which is far from the city where I work. I was busy in my Grand papa’s last rituals. So, they all seated behind me. Dad told them to wait in my room. When I reach my room, Jason said sorry for your loss. I told them that my Grandpapa was ill from some days. My father called them for food service. All tried to help my father but he denied as all of them follow other religion. After food they all came to me, I was sitting with my hotel colleagues. They came to get my signature on my resignation as I was absent from more than ten days. To which my father said, she was doing double shifts and this is a courtesy gift. I signed and went inside my room.

Later that day, I received a salary transferred email from hotel. So, I returned all the money I have borrowed. To pay bills I browed some money from Twinkle also. There were so many other bills to be paid. While I was busy, they all sat near me. Twinkle come close to me and said why are you like this. You should have paid me later. To which I said, I am clearing all before money and all this get over. Listening to which Yen said let’s go. To which slow Mo who has never objected Yen said No, you can go. I will stay with her. Olaf stood up and said ‘Friends’ I seriously doubt. You guys don’t know real friendship. You all can leave I will come with Jason and Twinkle. Olaf told about his friendship with Niharika (Beggar with Butterfly), her childhood friend. How they stood for each other.

And then, blame game begin, as per all I didn’t tell them anything. To which Jason said, I know many doctors you should have told me. I should have helped you. They all seemed foolish to me. Fighting without listening to each other. Nara said turtle say something you don’t have to be tough on yourself. Joaquin hugged me and said say something. Listening to this chaos, my father came and spoke

Dad- Mira, what is happening? Shouting will not help. Be patient if you want to understand her.

Me: It is the end of the road Dad. Don’t worry they are just leaving.

Dad left some envelope from hotel on my table.

Jo: - Leaving I am not till she speaks up.

Making Jason and Nara angry

Nara: Who are you? She is my friend I will also not leave till the time she speaks up.

I smiled and said, your concern will not change anything now. When I needed you Guys you were busy in your own world worried about your cake design, dance class routine, paints and new friend Olaf. Only Twinkle noticed. Yen told me thrice to leave her house because with me Jo isn’t comfortable. I was working double shifts to get paid more. I was so tired to do dishes as an elf after shifts. But on this Yen said I am jealous of Jo and her other friends because I don’t have many. My old mates understand so I went there. I can’t afford her place either.

Yen started crying and said I apologized also. Jo didn’t know you much. I convinced him and that same day you left. I am sorry for not understanding but you have to speak up. Don’t be like Jason.

All of them felted sorry. Jason handed me an envelope from the table. I just put it back and said it is a copy my resignation no need to open it. Jason still opened it and started laughing and said Oh God, I can’t believe it. Promotion letter. While hugging me. My friend You are promoted. He read it out loud. Holding my hand so tight. His gesture saying so much but.

He said so end of the road or turn in the road. Making me blush which only I can understand. All is well that ends well but it was just the beginning.

It’s been Seven years now and our friendship took so many turns and folds, breakups and patch-ups but we tried to be around for each other in good time or bad time. We all moved to different cities and houses but not so far. When pandemic hit life stood still. Olaf was in his native place before pandemic to see his family and friends. So was safe and working from home. Jason had to move to hospital. To perform his duties. Nara’s bakery also suffered but she was working from her home and took online baking classes. I didn’t lose my job but faced deduction in salary. Twinkle lost her job and went back home. As only bread winner in the family she faced many challenges. She was not that out spoken. So, Jo and Nara prompted her in their online classes. Only Yen had a stable job.

Twinkle was so far and alone. She lost her father during pandemic. We were worried about Jason’s health. He was so busy not able to pick our calls for many days. Even If he calls, he talks about take this medicine, stay indoors and eat healthy. Never asked what are you doing, how are you? His pictures were scary. He had so many incidents to talk about recoveries and struggle to recover. But always in one tone, as if prescribing medicines. I and Olaf opened a Dr. Jason blog where we wrote his real time recovery and hardship as a Doctor stories.

My dad become his follower and commented only Humanity should be our religion. I solemnly declare my religion is Humanity first. Tagging me on his comments most of the time. While he was changing and learning humanity I was stuck.

Due to movement restrictions in the cities, my plans of moving and decorating new house with Twinkle were ruined. I had to everything alone. Jason didn’t come home for some days. Sometimes he came after 3 weeks and stayed in quarantine for long. Even being in the same house we lived apart. Finally, things started to settle down. Jason visited hospital early morning and came exhausted at night. Had no time to talk. We only spoke over the phone.

Lately when situation improved Olaf came back. Yen and jo also visited us. Avi my colleague, good friend and an amazing chef also visited us. Jason (annoyingly) asked me Who invited him to my house? I told him ask Nara. Nara introduced Avi. Both are together and have plans for opening a culinary school.

One of Jason’s female colleague Rose was also invited for supper that day. Looking at a beautiful Doctor, Jo asked Jason are you guys dating. To which Jason laughed putting some hearts on stake.

After supper, which was prepared by Nara and Avi we all gathered in the lawn for tiramisu my favorite desert. Rose stood up and spoke

Rose: I have to share something. I know Doctor J will never say it.

Me: (I didn’t want to listen) Wait for Olaf he is inside.

Rose: Olaf knows. I guess almost all of you know but will never confess.

Yen: I want to know what everyone knows.

By that time Olaf was back.

Yen: (looking at Olaf) Boy’s secret. I want to know please continue.

Rose: Doctor is a hardworking, caring, handsome an amazing guy.

Me: Oh! this we know doctors can understand each other better. They think in similar ways are very intellectual.

Olaf: Handsome??

Me: We know each other from 7 years (making it as a friendship milestone)

Rose: I know him from last 12 Years.

Me looking for a place to hide myself.

Nara: Please be quiet. Let her finish.

Rose: I and doctor follow same religion, same occupation and same interests but that isn’t enough for a successful relationship. Pandemic has taught us only Humanity should be our religion. Your father has no problem, J and he speak every day. What is your problem? You know he thinks like a doctor first but you make him lose his mind. You agreed to live with him in a same house as a friend but not in a relationship. Why are you running away?

All of them were looking at me like is it my mistake only. Even I think it is my mistake.

Jason: Your religious parameters stopped me all the time. Else I would have sad it million times. 

Olaf: Yes, like prescribing medicines. Say it.

Jason: From the day we meet my heart palpitates. It starts pounding. My heartbeat get irregular seems like skipping beats when you are close. It increases when you are far. I feel it in my chest and throat every day. Prolong deficiency of you will bring more problems.

I hugged him so tight as if there will be no tomorrow. And asked what is Palpitation? Finally, he removed his mask and explain it.

As situation improved further and with so many reasons to celebrate. We organized a house worming party. On one condition everyone should wear a mask and should have negative report.

Before the party Mr. Doctor was standing at the entrance to check.

All of us were waiting for Twinkle. It was a surprise for her. Finally, after 10 months we all will be together. As everyone waited for her arrival, she fainted the moment she saw so many people. Her old phobia hit her again. Seeing her unconscious, scared Jason run towards her. Lifted her and the same moment she laughed out loud and said SURPRIZE. Jason dropped her there and went out.

All started blasting on her because of her stupid act. Slow Mo shout out loud, I missed you all. Hugging everyone. Olaf reminded her of the pandemic. Not giving an ear she continued singing loud increased the volume and started dancing like a freak. The one who never even stood up for dancing was behaving like a school kid would do hearing about holidays. Usually, she shies away. Excited and so eager to dance and enjoy. Her reluctant nature just vanished. Usually, she used to cancel all the plans for dance parties fearing of her phobia.  

Went out to Jason. Tickled him and said you didn’t check my report. Hugged him and said I missed you too. No one could believe that it was her. Twinkle became the Star of the party. Her moves and expression took away many hearts. Drinking and Dancing on every song, singing out loud, proposing every boy.

Went on dancing even without music and singing Kojo No Tsuki.

One of Jo’s friend was familiar with the famous sad song -The Moon over the Ruined Castle. The song expresses pain. Pain of losing family, a job, leaving friends and city behind and working hard to make ends meet. Lived life without telling us much.

Twinkle went to Olaf while singing the same song to which Olaf played “Hero” and proposed her. Making her cry. While crying she said send it to me in writing. So, we can close the deal. All were happily started cleaning the house.

Soon Twinkle and Olaf got married. Now twinkle the star – Is no more reluctant party goer. Now she waits for Friday’s so we all can party.