“Would you like to take a trip to Auckland?”
Savitri had never been to Auckland. Wellington and Queenstown, yes, but never to
Auckland. She asked her friend why she was offering this trip, to which her friend replied, “Because I was thinking about you.” That was all Savitri needed to pack her
bags and fly out of the country. It turned out that Anahira was lonely and desperate for
Savitri’s companionship. After they had left the American Embassy School in India to
move back to their respective countries, they had slowly declined to stay in touch.
Involuntarily, of course, but the frequency at which they sent letters to each other
dwindled away to nothing. The advancement of technology and social media, however,
had helped Anahira to find Savitri’s number. And what a change that made. The two
young women, apart for so long, had finally reunited. Two old friends, together under
the long white cloud.
In the time Savitri was there, Anahira showed her around Auckland and
introduced her to her friends and Maori family. Fragments of memories from her
childhood had wafted back into her mind: hiking on Mount Cook, staring in awe at
Mount Tongariro, adoring the glimmering blue waters as the wind over Milford Sound
teased and caressed her hair. She’d always felt a connection to New Zealand, despite
only having been there for two weeks. But the recent journey had reignited those
feelings, burning her with passion and love.
On Savitri’s last day, Anahira took her to her favourite restaurant in Auckland. As
they sat by the window, watching the rain pour down, Anahira had grabbed her hand.
“Do you want to live here? In Auckland? In New Zealand?”
Savitri had stared at her. “What? I have a job back in America – I can’t just leave.”
“There are plenty of opportunities here, Sav. There are some great advertising
companies that you could work for. I could help you get a job,” she had replied, a slight
pleading tone creeping into her voice. “This could be your chance to start anew. Have a
new life, live a little differently!”
“Are you pining for my company?” Savitri had asked, bemused at the sudden
change in her friend. Anahira had only looked at her with those wide, lucid brown eyes,
and Savitri could not refuse. Her friend was offering her a way out: a ticket to paradise
and a new life. This was what she had been wanting for a long time now.
“My boyfriend says I’m being childish and irrational to want you to move here, but
I don’t want to fall out of touch again. We were best friends, Savitri. We still are.”
Savitri stared down at her glass of iced tea. “I’ll need to find a flat here and get
permission to stay here. I’ll need a job, most importantly,” she had murmured, getting
swept away with the idea. Wanderlust had taken a hold of her and wouldn’t let go.
“Yes, yes, I’ll help you. I’ll help you find a flat, if you want. I’ll help you settle
down. I’ll arrange everything.”
The two friends looked at each other and reached for each other’s hands. Together at
last.