Roomies (Story - concluding part)

This is the concluding part of the story Roomies. Its earlier two parts can be found here and here.

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The following weekend Mr. and Mrs. Mehta came to meet Devika as promised. They took her and Vaishali out for lunch and had a great time. The night Devika spent with her parents in their hotel room and on Sunday she took them to Elephanta Caves. Though she had been there before the trip became a memorable one because of the rediscovered love for her parents and vice versa. As the time came to say goodbye her parents hugged her with boundless affection. When she returned room number 156 she was full of spirit. She divulged all the details to Vaishali and then asked her,

“Ab tera kya hoga Kaaliya?”

“Meaning?”

“When are you going to inform your parents that you are not going back home during vacations?”

“Hmmm.”

“Don’t delay the inevitable. Call them today. It is Sunday and so Uncle will also be at home. That reminds me Daddy told me that his very close friend Mr. Subhash Goyal lives with his family in New Jersey. In fact the two of them talked over the phone in front of me. Uncle said he will be happy to take care of you and act as your local guardian. Also he has a daughter who is our age so you won't lack company.”

“Really? Can I tell this to Maa and Papa?”

“Of course. Daddy will soon get you in touch with Goyal Uncle.”

Hearing this news Vaishali called her parents and was amazed to find that she didn’t have much convincing to do. Her mother hardly put up a fight. Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor said that they were very proud that she had won this prestigious opportunity. They were however concerned since this would be her first trip abroad and that too alone. But when she told them about Mr. Subhash Goyal it comforted them that there would be someone in foreign land to look after their daughter.

Thereafter time flew very fast. There was so much to do. Besides the usual attending of classes and practicals, writing assignments, giving quizzes and revising for the final exams the girls were busy making rounds of the US Consulate and shopping for the cold winter of New Jersey. By mid-November all arrangements for Vaishali’s trip had been finalized. She had got the US Visa and a confirmed air ticket. An Indian student, from the Chemistry Department at Princeton, Anand Sarkar would be coming to receive her at the airport and take her to campus guest house. Mr. Goyal’s daughter Supriya and she had already become friends and had hatched plans for all the sightseeing.

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Finally the end-semester exams were also over and it was the eve of Vaishali’s departure. Devika had stayed an extra day in the hostel to help her pack. With minutes to leave for the airport both were making sure that nothing had been left out from the checklist. Satisfied they carried the luggage to the taxi waiting outside the hostel. At the airport Vaishali checked-in her baggage and got a window seat allotted. With nothing more to do but wait the two of them decided to sit quietly and relax. Not having slept much over the last fortnight due to the exams and excitement over her trip Vaishali ended up dozing off on the chair. She was in the middle of a dream when Devika woke her up.

“Vaishali… get up... wake up. In 30 minutes you’ll have to proceed for your immigration. I suddenly remembered you never called Uncle and Aunty. You had told them that you’ll be giving them a ring once you were free. They must be on tenterhooks by now!”

“Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding. I’ll talk to them.”

She spent the next 15 minutes on the phone with her parents. As Vaishali ended the call and looked at Devika who was standing at a distance it dawned on her that she’ll be now be only seeing her friend after a month. Shyly she admitted,

“Devika, I want to tell you something. In all this time I have never properly thanked you for that night before the Analytical Chemistry exam. Had you not lent me your books and notes all this would not have been possible.”

“What are you saying?? I am the one who should be thanking you. Mummy had told me long ago that you had called her up. I guess it was a couple of days after that heart to heart discussion we had had.” confessed Devika.

“How could Aunty break my promise?” asked a clearly embarrassed Vaishali.

Devika answered while smiling, “She didn’t actually. She didn’t disclose even dialogue of your conversation with her. She just felt that I must know that Daddy’s and her changed attitude and my reconciliation with them are all because of you.”

Snapped back Vaishali, “But I have not been the only one working behind someone’s back!! I have known for sometime that it was you who explained my side of the story to Maa and Papa!! It was on your insistence that they started giving me the space that I needed.”

It was Devika’s turn to feel embarrassed. The two girls were now glaring at each other. As a minute passed by they began feeling stupid that they were fighting over saying thank you. Soon the anger gave way to laughter and they said in unison,

“I guess that’s what roomies are for.”

“Devika… as roomies we share more than just a room.”

“Yeah Vaishali… we share each others’ joys and sorrows.”

“We stand up for each other. Just the way you did. You gave my life a new direction.”

“You gave me back my family.”

Just then an announcement was made asking the passengers going by the Delta Airlines flight from Mumbai to New York to proceed for immigration. The moment to say goodbye had come. The roomies hugged each other and parted ways to meet once again in the following semester.

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THE END