Aatma

Bestie

Diana was spending a lazy Sunday afternoon in the comfort of her home in Kolkata. It was raining in November as usual.  Scrolling through i********: reels and stories, Diana lost track of time until the doorbell rang.

“Ugh! Now who could that be?,” She fussed and dragged herself to the door.

Diana opened the door and was surprised to see her bestie from Canada, Anita.

“Oh my god! When did you arrive?” She asked in utter bewilderment. 

“Surprise! Ha-haha!” Anita hugged her and made her way in. 

“No call, no text? Anita, I would have picked you up from the airport had I known you were visiting,” Diana crossed her arms. 

“And that’s exactly why I never told you,” Anita smirked and helped herself to an apple on the table.

“Where are mom, dad? You came alone? Where are your bags?” Diana bombarded her with questions.

“Slow down, Diana! I’ll answer all your queries soon!,” Anita rolled her eyes and looked around. “Won’t you ask me for Coffee? It was a long flight after all,” Anita pouted.

“Fine! Stay right where you are. Remember, you owe me,” Diana sighed and rushed to the kitchen.

“I remember…” Anita smiled and looked at the rain lashing against the window.

Diana returned after a while with 2 hot cups of coffee and some onion fritters.

“Wow, you made these?” Anita’s face lit up.

“Of course, anything for my best friend!” Diana sipped her coffee and smiled. “Now give me the deets as promised,” Diana begged.

“Remember, Rakesh?” Anita asked.

“Of course I do, he is your husband..duh,” Diana made a face and wondered why Anita was behaving weird.

“Yeah, but did you know he has a cousin who is getting married tomorrow?” Anita raised her brows quizcally.

“Oh, so you flew down for the wedding?” Diana composed her expression after realizing Anita hadn’t flown to meet her.

“Look at you! I also came down to visit you, you’re my soul sister, remember?” Anita pouted and embraced her.

“You aren’t getting away with just an embrace, as punishment you will stay with me here,” Diana crossed her arms.

“Hahaha...you haven’t changed have you?” Anita giggled and looked deep into Diana’s eyes.

Anita looked back at her and shifted her gaze over the coffee cup and snacks. 

“Hey you haven’t touched any of it, it’s getting cold,” She complained.

Anita sighed and looked at the rain again, she suddenly seemed a bit off and silent. Diana noticed this and got worried.

“Anita, is everything alright? You look lost…” Diana asked worriedly.

Anita took her time before breaking her silence. She leaned forward and took Diana’s hand in hers.

“Diana...I need to tell you something,” She whispered and sounded serious, which scared Diana.

“Anita, what is it? You’re scaring me now,” Diana placed her other hand over Anita’s hand.

“This is not how I had expected to tell you but...I guess this is it…” Anita sighed and noticed how anxious Diana was getting as the seconds passed.

“Me and Rakesh had been trying for a baby... for over a year,” She started. “It was a painful process but in the end we overcame all obstacles and I conceived,” She smiled.

“Oh my god! You’re pregnant! Aww! My bestie is preggers!” Diana jumped in excitement and looked at her belly.

“Let me guess, it’s just 2 or 3 months right? Girl, you should take care!” Diana felt concerned and rushed to get pillows. “Where is Rakesh? How did he let you travel in this state all alone?” She fumed and started mothering her.

“Diana! I’m not done yet…” Anita looked on as Diana tried to make her comfortable.

“I delivered, Rene!” Anita blurted and surprised Diana.

“Wait, what?! You mean…” Diana turned around feeling lost.

“Yes, I delivered her…” Anita said but there was something off about the way she said it.

Diana was about to speak when Anita pulled her to her side and whispered. 

“Rene, is at the public hospital…” Anita whispered and shocked Anita.

“What?! Wait what are you saying? Is she okay?” Diana panicked.

“Diana, she is here, at the public hospital….Please inform Rakesh,” Anita whispered as her eyes welled with tears.

“Here?! You mean the public hospital in Kolkata?” Diana paused and felt confused. She couldn’t understand what Anita was saying.

“I don’t have much time...please, unite Rene with her father,” Anita sobbed and shrank on the sofa.

“Anita, what happened to your baby?...How did you deliver here? Why aren’t you telling me properly?” Diana got agitated and picked her phone to call Rakesh.

“Ugh! Why isn’t Rakesh answering my calls?” Diana frowned and turned to look at Anita but she was gone.

“Anita?!” Diana wondered where she went and got up. “Anita, where is Rakesh?” she enquired and walked towards the bathroom.

“Anita, are you inside?” She asked worriedly and opened the door only to find it vacant.

“Anita??!! Where are you?” Diana called out loudly and looked all over the place but Anita had mysteriously disappeared.

Diana tried to call her on her phone but she was unreachable. “Damit, what’s happening?” Diana ran her fingers through her hair when all of a sudden their mutual friend, Swasti called.

“Swasti, I'll call you back later,” She said before Swasti interrupted.

“Diana, Anita passed away!” She blurted.

“What?! Are you out of your mind?” Diana got angry.

“Didn’t you watch the news? She was on the flight that crashed on landing this morning,” Swasti cried. “Rakesh’s cousin informed me. She’s gone, Diana...Anita is gone…” She said and hung up.

Diana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She switched on the news and collapsed on the sofa as they showed live footage of what remained of the airplane.

“How...how...can this be?” Diana froze and started sweating. She turned to look at the cup of coffee that was lying there untouched. “Aa-ani-ta….” her voice choked as she realized she had been interacting with Anita’s soul.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she let out a loud cry. Anita’s last message to her echoed in her mind, “Unite Rene with her father.”

“Did the baby survive for real?” She thought but had her doubts.

“Was it really her soul or did she imagine it all?” Diana pulled her hair and recalled the whole conversation.

“No it can’t be my imagination….It was Anita’s soul…” She composed herself and decided to find the truth for herself.

Stepping out in the heavy rains, she called for an Uber and headed straight to the Public Hospital. The scene there was horrible with charred bodies and injured people being wheeled in. Anita tried speaking to the person who had the list of the dead. Her heart broke when he confirmed Anita’s death. She enquired about the baby but they ignored her as many families ambushed them to know about their loved ones.

A nurse heard Diana and approached her. “Are you looking for a baby who was born on the flight?” She asked after seeing the desperation in Diana’s eyes.

“Born on the flight? Yes...Yes...it’s a girl, right?” Diana’s face lit up, “Take me to her!” She begged and followed the nurse to another ward.

Diana’s heart melted and she broke into tears as she held the newly born baby in her arms.

Later, after informing Rakesh, and Anita’s parents, Diana held the baby and looked at Anita’s picture on her phone. She couldn’t believe that Anita’s soul had connected with her seconds after the flight crashed.