Somewhere Between Almost and Always

Chapter 3?

That evening, as the sun dipped below the waterline and the sky softened into shades of gold and lavender, they all met again at their usual spot-the lakeside bench beneath the leaning neem tree. It had become something sacred over the years: a shared refuge, a breathing space where stories flowed and time felt slower.

Swati sat in the center, legs crossed. Her eyes were bright, but everyone could feel the weight beneath them.

" You packed your bag ?"asked Krishna sitting next to her. "Yes." Swati replied.

"Toh, Madam Swati, Andhra Pradesh mein humein bhool toh nahi jaogi?" teased Chandni, tossing a pebble into the water.

She laughed. "Forget you guys? Kabhi nahi. But I might find better biryani there, toh thoda upgrade kar lo yaar!"

The group erupted in laughter. Even as sadness lingered beneath their words, none of them wanted this evening to feel like goodbye.

"I still can't believe you're leaving," whispered Asha, her voice barely louder than the breeze. "It won't be the same without your laziness."

"Excuse me!" Swati shot back, playfully glaring. "At least accept that you will miss my jokes and my coolness ". Krishna interrupted with a pretending grin on her face. Swati chuckled. " I don't think so." "Those jokes are award-winning. You'll miss them more than you think." Krishna said proud face.

The conversation danced from memories of school pranks to fun games, from silly fights to the one time they all got caught sneaking samosas into the library. Each story brought with it a mix of laughter and nostalgia, a gentle reminder of how tightly woven their lives had become.

Tanvi sat quietly for a moment, looking around. The fading sunlight casts a soft glow on everyone's faces. She knew deep down that something was shifting-that this might be the last time all of them sat here without the weight of distance, schedules, and growing up between you.

"Do you guys remember," Tanvi finally said, breaking the soft silence, "how Swati once cried because I ruined her neatly combed hair?"

Everyone burst into laughter again. Swati covered her face. "Ugh, please! That day we had our Annual Inspection Day, therefore I got panicked."

"Honestly, the worst memory of 10th boards," Krishna added, laughing.

Then a pause. A soft one.

"I'll miss this," Swati whispered.

"We all will," Krishna replied quietly.

And just like that, the mood softened. No more jokes for a moment. Just eyes glancing toward the lake, listening to the stillness that comes when people don't want to say what they feel too deeply.

They stayed until the lamps began to flicker across the lakeside. No one wanted to leave first. Not tonight.

Later, as Swati stood up to go, The whole group walked her to the auto. There were no tears, just tight hugs and promises "Text us when you reach," "Don't forget us," "Call every evening."

She waved as the auto pulled away, her silhouette shrinking into the night.

Everyone stood for a moment, looking at the now half-empty bench like it had suddenly lost some of its warmth.

Tanvi glanced at Krishna and then at the others, a lump forming in her throat. Then, quietly, she said, "Ab yahan milne ka koi point nahi raha."

There was no argument, no protest just solemn nods.

"School bhi kuch hi dino mein shuru ho jayega," Chandni added, gently. "Wahin mil lenge sab."

One by one, the group began to stand, dusting off their clothes, glancing one last time at the lake, the bench, the memories still hanging in the air like fireflies.