CHANGING SEASON
“Seasons change, friends move away, and life goes on from day to day.
Flowers fade and streams go dry and many times we wonder why.
Yet we can always be assured because God tells us in His Word,
That unlike changes in the weather, love goes on and last Forever!!..."
Part-1
I landed at the Philadelphia International Airport at 4pm. It‟s my first visit to the United States. I finished my immigration formalities, collected my baggage and was waiting for my colleagues to pick me up from the airport.
The airport looked very busy. Some people were rushing to the gates to catch the flights, some had come for send off, there were some couples constantly holding hands and whispering in each other‟s ears. The kids were looking very cute with very fair complexion, blond hair and red cheeks.
I was watching everyone when my eyes suddenly fell on one particular guy. I could easily make out he was a desi from his looks. He was wearing a faded blue Jean and a white sweat shirt. He was tall with wheatish complexion and toned body. His eyes were so attractive and he had a constant smile on his face .He was busy talking to someone on his mobile.
“Ria”- I was interrupted when someone called out my name.
A girl and a guy were standing with a friendly smile on their faces.
“Yes.” I said.
“I am Meghna and this is Karthick.We have come to pick you up.”
“Hi” – I smiled at them.
“Welcome to the US” – Said Karthick
They helped me with my baggage and we came out of the airport to the parking lot. We pushed two suitcases in the trunk and I had the hand luggage with me at the back seat. Meghna was sitting in the front and Karthick drove the car.
“So, how was the journey Ria?”
“It was good Meghna. Just that the connecting flight from Frankfurt was delayed by an hour. But I whiled away time roaming inside the airport.”
“Oh, If it was Meghna she would have utilized that time in Shopping. You know Ria ,She is a shopping freak” –Karthick teased her.
“Oh! you know what ?even I did a little shopping”
“That‟s great Ria. See Karthick, we girls latest spend time in shopping. Not like you guys. watching girls all the time”
“Alright ladies. Everyone wants to do what amuses them”
We spoke for some more time and Meghna got a call. She got busy talking and Karthick was concentrating on driving. I moved myself towards the window and started looking outside.
The Autumn season had just started and It was very beautiful to look at the trees with different colors. Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. I have heard this many times but it was truly a wonderful experience to see and feel the autumn season. The road looked very clean. It looked so colorful as though the whole place was painted with random colors.
In about an hour the car entered into the “ The Lakes“ community in Allentown,PA. We parked the car in front of apartment „A-9‟.We moved the luggages in and Meghna showed the room where I was going to stay.
The apartment looked very beautiful with a big hall and two bedrooms, big kitchen and a bath room. There was a balcony at the end of the hall. I could see lots of beautiful trees around. I loved the place!
“Alright Ria, take rest. See you both at office " – Karthick left the place.
I had dinner with Meghna and came to my room. My first day in US! I missed home terribly. I was very tired because of the long journey and slept off soon.
I was standing near a beautiful stream with trees on either side. The leaves in the trees were of different colors from light yellow to bright orange and red. The water in the stream was reflecting the colors from the trees. Some leaves were falling into stream slowly.
„Ria.. I had been waiting for you for so long..I missed you a lot”…He came near me, looked into my eyes .Hugged me softly and whispered in my ears
“I love you”.
The alarm rang!! I woke up with a jerk and looked at the time. It was 6 am!
Huh! ! It was a dream! And that guy..I have seen him somewhere ,,,Tall,Blue jean and white shirt..! It just struck me..Is it not the same guy I met at the airport ??
“Good morning Ria,hope you had a good sleep” – Meghna asked me.
“Yes Meghna..”
„Just that I am still not out of the dream‟ I said to myslef.
It was 3 days since I joined the new Project. Our office was 2 miles away from where we lived. Karthcik was staying in an apartment nearby and he picked us up every day.
Meghna had a meeting that day and she left to office early.I was getting ready when I heard the door bell ring.
„Must be Karthick „ – I thought and opened the door. I was surprised to see the person standing at the door. It was Him.! The one I met at the airport..!!
“Hi,I am Arjun”- He smiled at me.
Part-2
„Arjun‟ – The name suited him so much,I thought.
“Ria,right?” – He asked.
“ye..yes..” – I told him.
“Karthick is not well and is not going to work today. He had send me to pick you and Meghna. I called up Meghna and she said she has already left. So,I am here to take you with me”
I got into the car and sat next to him.
“Wear your seat belts Ria, you can‟t trust my driving!” – He said and started the car.
He was wearing a formal light blue stripped shirt and grey pants. He had folded the sleeves till his fore arms. I had a close look at his face. He was definitely handsome. Deep eyes ,Sharp nose and clean shaved look.
“Where are you from Ria?” – He asked me.
“Banglore”
“oh good! Banglore is a nice place.I had been there a couple of times”
“Where are you from Arjun?”
“Pune”
We had a brief conversation until we reached office.
“Thanks Arjun.”
“Welcome Ria.Nice meeting you..have a good day!”- He said with a sweet smile.
I noticed for the first time that he gets a cute dimple in left cheek when he smiled!!
“You have a good day too Arjun”
The day started well and I was kind of excited the whole day.I could not stop thinking about Arjun.He was very simple and sweet.Very soft spoken and gentle.And that smile! Any girl would fall for it!!
“Hey Ria..! Meeting just got over. let‟s go for coffee”
“Sure Meghna.”
As we entered the cafeteria, I saw Arjun sitting with a client and was explaining something from his laptop. His gestures were so professional and the client looked very impressed with him.
“Arjun is always busy, all the clients like him so much” – Said Meghna.
“hmm. He is so nice and friendly, he dropped me at work today.”
“Ya he called me. Arjun is Karthick‟s room mate.Karthick had send him to pick us up”
As we were talking,Arjun closed his lap top,shook hands with the client. He saw us from a distance and came towards us.
“Hi Meghna,Hi Ria”
“Hi” – We said together.
“What Arjun, Amy Watson looks so impressed?”
“Hm.Its a new proposal.Was just giving her the high level estimates”
“ She would definitely not deny any of your prosposals.More than the proposal she looked so impressed on you”
He just smiled at her.
“Meghna, did Karthick tell you about the week end plan”
“Ya .The long drive to see fall colors.”
“Yes. Call up Karthcik and confirm the plan.”
“Sure Arjun.”
“And Ria is joining us right?” He looked at me.
“I ..” before I could complete Meghna interrupted “Yes. She will come with us.”
“That‟s great. Ok got to go now. I have a 11 o clock with Lindsay”
“Oh..Please hurry up. She just can‟t wait to see you” Meghna made fun of him.
He gave the same sweet smile again and left the place. I was looking at him. How can a guy be so gentle and soft spoken? No wonder everyone liked him. I could sense that something was attracting me towards him!!
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