CHAPTER 5

  NEW YEAR EVE IS HERE

  It is 31 December 2023 today. I came after my last exams and I was lying on my bed. My phone was ringing, and it was my Amma. I picked up, and she was silent

  I asked “Amma, are you there? Hello”.

  She gave a sigh and replied, “why can’t you come home tonight, anyway? Your exams are over and you got four days holidays before the new semester starts.”

  “Amma, I know, but the flight tickets are so expensive, and also, after four days, I have to be back at college. At least this semester, I want full attendance.”

  She laughed and said, “after every semester you are keeping the same promise. Which later on became broken.”

  ” at least this time I will follow it, it’s a new year resolution.”

  “Let’s see, anyway. Happy New Year, and take care. Bye, and love you.”

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  Bye Amma, convey my wishes to papa too, love you.”

  Jenya and Praba were having their last exam the next day. This is the only thing I didn’t like about my university that is keeping exams on new year. So, they were preparing so I couldn’t spend the new year with them. Isha went to her home yesterday because her exams got over early. I took a bath, had my dinner and was waiting for the clock to strike 12.00. suddenly Jenya came to my room and gave me some grapes and asked me to have this before the clock strike 12. I felt a bit puzzled and turned to her with a curious expression, gently asking,

  “What, for?’’

  She smiled and said, “google yourself since I don’t have time to explain to you. We can’t talk now. I have exams tomorrow.”

  This was some kind of pact between us. We promised not to talk about anything during exam days to avoid long conversations. Our talks never end so do the syllabus.

  Before leaving, she reminded me to have the grapes under the table.

  I took my phone and searched about the grapes tradition and came to know that it was done in Spain during New Year’s Eve to bring good luck for the upcoming year. When the clock was about to be struck, I had those grapes under the table. I felt like I was doing foolish stuff, but somewhere I wanted a good year for me, somewhere I wanted good luck to come for me. But I wanted to get what I was meant to be given even if it’s a bad or good luck. And what I was not going to know was that this was the wonderful magical years I would ever have in my life and the story of him is about to unfold.