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Who would've thought you'd meet the person you've never expected to see again. People in our lives come and they go. Both of them had frequent thoughts of seeing the other again, but neither ever thought of that day coming true.
Niran regretted the fact he never said goodbye to her, the fact that he left without her knowing. Just the thought of seeing her reaction to waking up one morning and realizing he was gone. It hurt him—it bothered him. He would give anything to hopefully see her again someday; to apologize, to explain everything. It's not like he could've stayed, he did what had to be done. Regardless of how much she pleaded to him about giving up his biolight to Vishkar. Niran knew how terrible that decision would be.
But Satya didn't, her trust and loyalty towards Vishkar back then was palpable. Niran was probably the only roommate she cared about back then, seeing him in this predicament certainly did bother her. The mess would've been over if he just handed his invention to Vishkar, after all, he made it using their technology.
On the day he left, the day Satya woke up to a room filled with no color—no life. Niran was gone. She wanted to convince herself he wasn't actually gone, perhaps he just woke up early? Unfortunately, that wasn't the case due to the note he left for her to find. The note that told her he was gone. He left Vishkar—and was likely to never return again. Her best friend—gone.
That was Niran's choice and Satya had to accept it, but that was a choice she couldn't agree with. "Why couldn't he stay? Why couldn't he just hand over his technology?" she thought almost every day for the past eleven years.
Both had frequent thoughts of what would've happened and what could've happened. Niran had thoughts about what could've happened if he handed over the biolight to Vishkar and stayed. Satya had thoughts of what would've happened if Niran stayed. No matter how many regrets they had, it's not like they could change the past. What's happened, happened.
Who would've thought either of them would see each other again?
In the most unexpected place.
Both stood there, staring at each other from across the street. Neither could believe there eyes, could it be…? There's no way they'd be here of all places. It was a matter of time before either of them made the first move to come closer.
Simultaneously, they began walking towards each other.
Is it really her? Is that Satya?
Could it be? Niran…
As they took more steps, their faces becoming clearer as the space between them shrunk. It really was the person they expected it to be. The rush of emotions went through them both. It had been eleven years since they had last seen each other, and there was no need to keep the clock going. Eleven years, not twelve. It didn't matter what went on around them now.
"Satya, is it really you?" Niran was the first to speak once they got close enough in range for a conversation. Both stopping right in front of each other. It was certainly obvious they had both changed after a decade.
"I never thought I'd see you again, that day when you left—" Satya was cut off by a hug from Niran, she wasn't in the mood for physical touch at the moment, but this was her best friend. She reluctantly hugged him back.
"Let's forget about that day, what matters is that after so long… we've seen each other again." A smile appeared on Niran's face as he hugged her. One thing that has certainly changed was their height difference. He was much taller than her now. "I've missed you so much, I'm sorry for leaving but I had no other choice."
"There's always another choice, Niran." Satya wasn't sure how much she had changed, but she was sure of how much Niran had changed.
His build was much different, he felt… bulky. Different than how he was during their short-lived academy days. The hug lasted a few seconds longer before both of them pulled away from it.
Now that Niran could see her face in full, seeing the small strand of hair sticking out. It made his smile grow. With how she always called out the loose strands of hair from him, how could he not take the moment to call it out now? Remind both of them of the good ol' days at Vishkar (though it was far from good in Niran's eyes, only his moments with Satya were relevant).
He leaned to push that strand of hair back, "My, my, Satya. You've got a strand that's out of place." he said with a smug grin.
Satya took a step back, just to give some distance between them. "I expected a "How have you been?" or something along those lines."
"I'm getting there," the smile remained on his face. "How have you been, Satya? It's been so long, still with Vishkar?"
"I've been well, and yes. Are you ever going to come back?"
"Nope." He answered rather quickly. "I apologize, Satya. I don't think I could ever go back to Vishkar again, especially with how they have a search for my head."
She sighs, "I suppose that makes sense…" her eyes trailed away for a moment before coming back to linger on his. "I truly did miss you. Bua."
Niran's eyes almost glimmered hearing her say his nickname, "I want to hear it again from you."
"Hear what again?"
"'Bua', say it again for me, please?"
"Bua."
"Thank you."
Niran smiled softly, it was contagious enough to get her to smile too. If any stranger were to walk by, they'd immediately assume they were a couple. Though that accusation has been mentioned to the both of them even before separating.
This moment… both of them had something in their mind, it had to be said. Though something stopped the both of them, until Satya had the courage.
"Bua, I—"
"Satya, I need to tell you something." A slight delay but it seemed like they spoke at the same time. Niran realized it, he didn't mean to cut her off. "Do you have something to say too?" he asked and she replied with a nod. "How about we say it at the same time then? On the count of three?"
"Sure."
One.
Two.
Three.
They spoke at the same time.
"I love you, Bua."
"You need to leave Vishkar."