chapter 19

'Smile today, because someone likes you" Shashank replied with a lovely smile on his face"Okay...... But what about tomorrow?" Adarsh laughed and tried to tease him because of that childish thing."That is what I asked her too..." He repliedThat question took him to breathe in past for a moment and a piece of memory came into the light...*Four years ago*After his father's death, his stepmother took everything from him, there is nothing left under his name.Until this day He is very well off and now suddenly he has nothing left, the person he thinks of like his mom, kicked him out of his own house and now he has nothing... At that moment he is so sad, he didn't even realize when he came up to the rooftop, he is standing at the edge of the roof, all those thoughts are running into his mind, he is twenty-two years old guy but he still has a heart of a child, he is a really sensitive person, he is standing there wiping out his tears, thinking about the time he spent with his dad, when he is about to jump, someone came running towards him...He thought she is going to stop him but she came straight and stands on the edge too, almost three ft. away from him...He can't help but start looking (more like staring) at her with his tear-full eyes, even when his vision was blurry but still she seems fine to him, there is no sign of pain on her face, instead of that there is a smile. He thought she is a mental patient or something and her actions strengthen his belief a bit more...Up there on the edge, she is standing there and staring at the street, after a few minutes of awkward staring she bent down suddenly and tighten her shoelaces..."Okay let's see" She stands up and started to count something. He is still staring at her and came up with the fact 'she is the weirdest person he saw in his whole life'.He wanted to know what she is trying to do, he is trying really hard to hold himself... but his curiosity won and he gave up and finally asked her..."What are you doing?"She didn't reply and continued counting something..."What are you doing?" He asked again in a bit louder voice"I forgot because of you" she replied making a sad face. She turned towards himThis is when he saw her dazzling eyes, eyes that are beautiful yet full of mysteries."I lost the number because of you, help me count them again," she said pointing her finger out at the building in front of them"Hm..?" He didn't understand anything."That building" she repliedThat was a Morden art museum building, that has a rooftop garden, and symmetric design on the front wallAfter checking out that building with his eyes... "And what are you counting exactly?" He asked looking at hershe is still staring at that building... "Those lines, they are exactly one metre away from each other" she replied.To understand the meaning of her words he focused his gaze on her face"And you are counting them..." Before he finishes his sentence she started talking..."I want to go there" "But that garden isn't open to the public yet," she said looking at himHe didn't understand what does it have to do with counting those lines, so he is still staring at her in confusion..."So...?" He asked"I have a way to go there," she said with a devilish smile"I just need to figure out how tall that building is..." she continued talking"Way...?" He said looking at that building"Yupp... I'm going there tonight..." she said "With the help of those pipes", she completed her sentence."What....!!!" That was the word that came out of his mouth at that very moment, he was totally shocked after hearing her. "Don't tell anyone about this, okay?" She asked He does not know what to say, he chooses to be quiet."Promise me..., Okay?" She said looking at him"Ah...hm... o...okay" he replied"Don't break your promise... otherwise a black crow will bite you" she replied with all sincerity.He gave her a look but she is too busy on her own to notice that. He wanted to say something but nothing is coming to his mind... A few minutes later..."Why don't you wait, it's going to open in a month" he finally managed to say something"No no no... I have so many other things to do, it has to be tonight" She immediately denied him, but noticed him staring at her, he isn't satisfied with her answer so she clarified herself"Life is too short to wait and regret,"  she said with a smile"You wanna come with me?" She asked himHe didn't reply anything, he is just staring at her thinking 'how come a person turned out to be this weird'"Help me to count them" she requested him"O... Okay" he repliedA little chat with her made him forget about everything he had in his mind...After counting those lines they both got down from the edge. "Oh... I have something for you" she said searching her bagHe is curious about what is it she is going to give him, but his expression was changed after a thought strikes his mind "What if it is something weird just like her' now he has a scared expression on his faceShe took out a paper flower from her bag and raised her hand forward to give it to him"Here..." "A paper flower..." He is relieved, he took that flower from her"It is a special flower... It has a message inside" she said after seeing his face"Huh? He is looking at her to continue her sentence"Here when you open it like this... Tada... " She said"STBSLY....?.... what does it mean?" He asked"Smile today, because someone likes you" she replied with a proud smileBut his expressions sank deep down in the sea of sadness...She noticed that and..."Do you hate me?" She asked all of a suddenHe became confused and hesitant because of her question, but she continued looking at him for an answer..."N...no" he replied'Why would I hate her' With this thought in his mind"That means you like me...""I don't hate you either" she replied closing the chain of her bag"Okay bye, have a sweet day," she said and was on her way to leave.'That means you like me' This sentence is echoing in his mind he is standing still in his place, he didn't even realize that she said bye to him."How come she came up with that conclusion" he mumbledWhen he came back to his senses, he saw her leaving and without realising he said: "What about tomorrow?" She turned around after hearing his voice"What about tomorrow...? He asked her again raising that paper flower in the air..."Tomorrow never exists, there is only today" she replied with a smile(A smile, that he is unable to forget maybe for his whole life)"Thanks for helping me......" "...Byeeee" she said waving her hand.He flashed a smile, after all, she is the actual one who helped him. He no longer wishes to end his life...*Back to present*Shashank took that flower back from Adarsh and is leaving in a hurry"Where are you going?" Adarsh asked him"I have something to tell her" Shashank replied running out of the room"Are you going to follow them?... Wait till the next meeting" Adarsh said running after him"Life is too short to wait and regret" he replied and vanished from the corridor.....One more thing......(There was a night view picture of a rooftop garden in her diary)