Page 96 - You Only Live Once [BooksLD]

I reach St. Paul’s Hr Sec School just in time. Parvathi, Aarav, and Ricky
greet me from a distance. While Ricky called me here and I invited
Parvathi, I have no idea what Aarav is doing here.

‘You’re late,’ Ricky snaps at me.
‘Now he also knows?’ I stare back at Ricky, pointing to Aarav.

‘I am here to help.’

‘Why?’
‘That’s what friends do. You helped me the other day. I rocked at my
performance in Pune. Besides, I am a huge fan of Elisha. I would be the
happiest person if I get to meet her once.’

I ignore most of what he says as I continue, ‘Okay, I have something
important to share before we start. Look here. I discovered this folder in
Maria’s store today. It has what supposedly are my mother’s documents.
What could it be doing there?’

Parvathi snatches the folder from me and opens it. She goes through the
pages. ‘Hey, this is the same orphanage where my mother works!’
‘That’s what!’ I say.

‘She was raised there. But she left it long back. There’s hardly a chance
that we will find something there,’ Ricky comments.

‘Ricky, we need to look at every place we possibly can. I set the rules of
the game. That is how it works. Hope it makes sense to you all!’
‘Calm down, we’re together in this,’ Aarav says, thereby easing the vibe.

We take a walk past the dead walls of the school that once existed. Never
did Ricky mention that the school is not operational anymore. While I had a
very different expectation of possibly meeting the Principal, new students,
and old teachers, I find this place no short of an architectural heritage site

begging for maintenance.
‘Empires fall, glory fades, this remains standing tall in dull shades,’
Ricky points to the walls as he continues, ‘Someday, your material
possessions are going to look like this. Gather experiences instead. Treasure

memories. Spread love. Embrace life.’ He laughs and gives gyan in his
usual tone. But I feel mad at him. How could he be so cold-hearted towards
his childhood friend?
‘It feels like this whole thing is no more than a joke for him,’ I tell Aarav

as I feel helpless about being here. I should rather have spent some time