Chapter 31: chapter 31

The digital clock on the wall blinked one at night, casting a faint glow across the room. The silence was broken only by the intermittent sounds of a restless sleeper and the soft hum of the air conditioner. I was lying on the bed, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself, trying to shake off the uneasiness that had settled over me like a fog.Just last night, the ominous coughs of my roommate, Alex, had filled the air. The realization that a flu virus had entered our shared space had sent shivers down my spine. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, pondering whether I would be the next to fall victim.Alex was an athletic guy who used to go to the gym every day and had a healthy diet, but he had still fallen ill. On the other hand, myself Prakhar, was a bit lazy, and my daily routine usually consisted of working, cooking, eating, sleeping, and repeating. I had a health check not too long ago, and the doctor declared me fit, so I felt there was no need to exercise.What was interesting, though, was that Alex and I, despite our stark differences, were good friends because of our shared love for cricket. Alex was from Manchester, England, and I was from Mumbai, India, where everyone worships cricket. During cricket tournaments, we would spend hours discussing match strategies as if we were on the field with international cricketers. We even turned our balcony into a small cricket pitch, where "One Over Cricket" became our source of entertainment.We lived in the heart of busy Paris, where the city lights danced upon the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. I was deeply immersed in my world of software and lived happily in my den of codes and algorithms. I was a seasoned software engineer and a senior manager at a prestigious multinational corporation. My life was all about projects and deadlines, but now, it all seemed meaningless. I had no one to share my uneasiness with, as I wasn't supposed to interact with Alex, according to the doctor's orders for the next twenty days. But twenty days felt like an eternity, and the virtual world around me now appeared cold and empty, devoid of real connections.Alex was scared about his health and was being extra cautious not to spread the virus to me, but it left an emptiness at my side too. We were two roommates who stayed in the same place but were distanced by an invisible flu virus.I tried to cope with the situation by helping Alex virtually. We interacted over the messenger since he couldn't speak either. It was a challenging time, and I couldn't help but worry about him.It was during this distress that I remembered Vedahi, a dear friend and former colleague. We had spent the golden period of our lives working together in Hyderabad, India, but our busy schedules had made us drift apart. We had shared countless laughs, weathered the initial exam storms together, and created a bond that seemed unbreakable. After receiving her message recently, I decided to call her.It was still evening for Vedahi in Charlotte, USA, and I hoped she'd answer.Determined, I picked up the phone and called Vedahi, but I got her voicemail."Hello, you've reached Vedahi. I can't take your call right now, but please leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."I hesitated for a moment, then cleared my throat and began speaking, "Hey, Vedahi, it's Prakhar. I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry for not getting back to your message earlier. Things have been crazy here lately. There's this virus situation, and it's just... I hope you're doing well over there in the States. I could use a friend to talk to right now. I've been feeling so isolated, and this uncertainty is getting to me. I miss our old times, the laughter, and the companionship. It would be great to catch up. Please call me back when you can. Take care, Vedahi."I ended the message and placed the phone back on the nightstand, waiting hopefully for a response. Minutes felt like hours as I lay in the darkness, my thoughts shifting between worry and nostalgia. The uncertainty of the times had brought a sense of vulnerability I hadn't experienced before. The virtual world, which had once been my refuge, now seemed hollow, devoid of the warmth of human connection.Finally, just as I was beginning to lose hope, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Vedahi.I answered eagerly, "Hello?""Prakhar!" Vedahi's voice came through the line, filled with surprise and warmth. "I can't believe you called! I've been thinking about you too. How are you holding up?"Relief washed over me as I started sharing my fears and anxieties with Vedahi. We talked openly, catching up on each other's lives, reminiscing about our initial office days, and providing much-needed emotional support. It felt as if the distance and time that had separated us had melted away, and we were back to being the best of friends.As the first light of dawn broke through the curtains, our conversation gradually shifted from worries to hopes and dreams. I couldn't help but share my anxieties about the outbreak and the challenges I was facing. Vedahi listened attentively, offering words of comfort and understanding. She shared her own experiences from her locality, and how everyone was scared to step out of their homes. We both found solace in the simple act of talking to someone who truly understood.Hours passed, and the sun had risen, casting its rays into my room by the time we said our goodbyes. I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn't experienced in a long time.Though I had not slept that night, this call refreshed me, and I realized that even in the most uncertain of times, the bonds of friendship could provide a lifeline of support. Little did I know that this call was the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one filled with adventures of a new kind.~~~~~