PROMISE (Part 1)

I don’t know exactly what you are to me, my prettiest charm, but I know that our relationship needs no name, as it’s beautifully framed in every corner of my life.

Esika, she is not just a friend; she means so much more to me. That 'something' isn’t just special—it’s everything.

I’m not entirely sure what led me to come to Bangalore, but I believe that when you have a big dream, your destination becomes clearer. Yes, I have a dream, and Bangalore is a crucial step toward reaching it.

On the first day I landed at Bangalore International Airport, I realized I would be leaving behind a part of my life, a part of my dream. It wasn’t easy to leave the land that taught me the meaning of life, gave me my identity, and shaped my vision for the future. But I did, because to gain something, we often have to sacrifice something. Even now, I deeply miss those golden moments with my family, my friends, and Kalpabrichha, the organization I founded.

It was April 5th, my first day in the college hostel. I felt completely alone. Everyone was around me, but no one felt like mine. A new place, a new language, and unfamiliar faces. I hated how I was ragged that night, but I didn’t lose hope. I stayed brave, and my dreams remained alive. Still, I missed my family terribly. It wasn’t the first time I had been away from home, but as I felt tears welling up in my eyes, I smiled. My mom used to say, 'If you feel alone, call upon your heart—it will heal your pain.' So I appealed to my heart: 'Be quiet tonight, and by morning, I’ll have found a friend.'

I lost count of how many mornings passed like that. Yes, I made new friends, but something felt wrong inside. I hated living a life with a fake smile and shallow relationships. The dark corridors of the hostel and the endless boring lectures only added to my distress.One day, I saw a girl in a yellowish-green kurtha standing in front of the InfoTech block. I can still recall every second of that moment. She looked incredibly beautiful, and the black circular tika on her forehead, along with the dark kajal accentuating her big eyes, made her even more stunning. I was astonished—how could someone be so beautiful? I couldn't stop myself staring at her. And then, to my surprise, she looked right at me. I panicked, unsure of what to do. I tried to look away, but my eyes refused to cooperate, leaving me standing there, helpless. 'Keto, now you're gone,' I thought to myself. I had no idea how to escape the situation. Thankfully, she simply walked away, her face graced with a serene smile. It took me an entire semester to figure out the meaning behind that smile.

It was a week into the second semester when I saw her for the second time. This time, she wore a light red kurtha, and there was no tika or kajal. Even without those accents, she was captivating. This time, however, I managed to keep my gaze under control. She was with a group of friends, and luckily, Rojina (my hostel friend) was among them. Rojina called me over. I wasn’t eager to join the group of girls, but when one of them asked for my help, I saw it as an opportunity to be near the girl 'red kurtha wali'.

I approached the group, but the girl in the red kurtha seemed indifferent to my presence. While the other girls surrounded me, she sat a little distance away with her heavy orange bag, quietly observing. My intention wasn’t to engage with the other girls, as my focus was on her. They asked me to arrange a camera from the hostel for their event. Although I was tempted to ignore the request, the word 'occasion' caught my attention.

 ‘Occasion?’ I thought I had the right to ask, given they had a purpose for my involvement.

‘Yes, it’s Esika’s birthday today.’ One of them replied.

‘Oh, it’s a birthday… Who is this birthday girl?’ I asked.

To my surprise, the birthday girl was none other than the girl in the red kurtha. I couldn’t believe it when Rojina told me that Esika had asked her to have me arrange a camera. Esika seemed to know all about my activities, behavior, and interests, yet I was so clueless that I didn’t even know her name. I was thrilled to learn this, but I needed to confirm if it was true. I wished her a happy birthday. She seemed shy but offered that same serene smile and invited me to join the celebration. I was delighted but had to miss it because of a survey lab. I arranged the camera and promised to join later. At that moment, her birthday felt more important to me than the survey lab, though I hated how formal I had been. I couldn’t focus on the lab as I kept thinking about her. I was berating myself for my mistake when I received a message from a new number.

“Please come na, just for a few minutes”.

Oh my God! It was Esika. How could I refuse her first request? I had promised to attend the celebration, and I felt like the luckiest man. I left the survey lab, making excuses to my group, quickly got ready, and rushed to join her. Those ten minutes turned out to be some of the most memorable of my life.

That was just the beginning. My girl in the red kurtha was now my friend, and I had her number saved in my phone. I couldn’t resist continuing our conversations.

‘Hi, birthday girl! How was your day?’ was my first text to her. Since then, I’ve lost count of how many texts she’s sent me. We chatted until 2:15 that night. It’s hard to believe how she became so close to me in just one day. She began sharing many stories about herself, and I found myself trusting her just as much."

“What you want as your birthday gift?”

“I want a promise. Will you keep it?”

I was a bit puzzled by the question. It was the first time I had encountered such a request. But with such a beautiful friend, I was willing to take the risk.

“If you believe me, then I will.”

“Will you be my friend forever?”

Now, I was truly startled. I had been searching for a friend who would listen to me, share in my happiness, and be there through my pains and tears—someone who would stand by me throughout my life. I realized that what I was missing was not just someone, but a best friend. And could that be Esika? I became emotional. How could I refuse such a heartfelt proposal?

“Of course, I promise. I will always be there for you, my friend. I will never let you go, forever.”