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ALL INDIA

ASPIRING WRITER's

AWARD

Sakshi Kumari

REGISTRATION ID

B0097

YOUR FINAL SCORE IS IN BETWEEN

9.21 - 9.75

IFHINDIA CONGRATULATE YOU FOR BEING IN THE TOP 10 FINALISTS.
YOUR FINAL SCORE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE AWARD CEREMONY.

1. THE TITLE WINNER SCORE MUST BE MORE THAN 9.70 WHO WILL BE  WINNING 1,50,000/- CASH PRIZE & YOU MAY BE ONE OF THEM FOR SURE BECAUSE OUR FINAL WINNER IS IN BETWEEN THOSE TOP 10 FINALISTS INCLUDING YOU. 
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Written By

Sakshi Kumari

«Forever Young»

“Forever young.. I want to be forever young.. ”

In this world, when you turn sixteen, you get the chance to make a wish. A lot of people wished to be successful in their career, some wished to be rich whereas some wished just wished to get more wishes.. And I too was one of those people but the thing is that these wishes couldn't be fulfilled because the system had a rule : you can't ask for your future because that is something that you create with your own hands, sure you can wish for something that may affect our future..

Up until I was sixteen, I didn't have any idea of what I would wish for (because of course I can't wish for anything mentioned above) but a day before my sixteenth birthday, my grandfather passed away leaving us behind.. When I saw my mother and father crying that day, I couldn't bear to see them in pain… Part of me was angry at my grandfather for leaving us like that.. How could he leave us like that? Of course I knew that it wasn't his fault since death is after all unavoidable.. But the sadness of my parents and loved ones killed me from the inside... And that's why I won't leave my loved ones like he did…

“Are you sure about this? I mean - you do know that you are indirectly asking for immortality right?”
“I know..”
“Think again..”
“No matter how many times you ask me, my answer will remain the same!”
“Do you really want to live forever?”
“I don't understand! What's so bad about it? And as my guide aren't you supposed to fulfill my wish? ”
“But you are aware of the fact that I'm only here because-”
“Because your perfect wish ended up becoming a curse for you and so you were given a second chance at life by becoming a djinn guide right? So please hurry up and fulfill my wish..”
“He sighed.. If you say so.. ”
“By the holy power of the djinn guide, I wish to grant my patron their desired wish.. ”

As soon as he finished his statement, light started passing through my body and I felt a new wave of energy flowing through my body.. As I started floating, my djinn guide looked at me hopefully thinking I would change my wish but I didn't but oh! Oh I wished that I did because living forever is not that great as it sounds.. I watched my loved ones die and yet I couldn't do anything but cry.. And now, I'm just waiting for this suffering to end.. If it ever will..

“Hey! You shouldn't sit outside when it's raining like that, you know? ”

I just basically ignored the brunette in front of me and just turned my head to the other side..

“Hey! I'm talking to you! You know? So don't ignore me like that! ” said Savanna, an annoying ‘friend’ of mine who claims that we met at a fair and she helped me so now I have to ‘repay’ her apparently and so she basically follows me around everywhere and us being neighbors, she has an extra advantage.. Ugh.. Can I ever be free from her? She's very annoying!

“Anyways” she said, "Do you want to get ice-cream? No? You don't like ice-cream?”
I just simply stood up and started walking away..
“Hey! Wait for me!!”(whatever…)
“Hey! Hey!”
“What?”
“Do you want to get some coffee?”
“No”
“Awhh”
“Now leave me alone will ya? I want to go home and take a bath, I'm already wet and I don't want to get sick you know?”
“Ohk.. Bye!”
“Hmm” well.. It's not that I hate her or anything. In reality I actually really enjoy her company but I don't want to get myself emotionally attached to anyone.. I'm just not mentally prepared for the loss of another person..

The very next day..

“Good morning.. Who is it?”
“It's me, my dear neighbor! How are you doing?”
“I'm fine but isn't it like 3 in the morning? How are you already dressed?”
“Because I have to leave, that's how!”
Even though I was half asleep and kept on yawning but I swore I heard that wrong!
“What!?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean - how could you leave just like that without giving away prior information?
“Well I'm not leaving this apartment, I'm just going to my home town for like three weeks. The thing is my mother called me yesterday and told me to come home immediately and so here I am.. ”
“Ohh..!” (Phew well that was a relief..)
“Hmm judging by your expression.. Ha! You were worried about me leaving weren't you? Oohh my lovely neighbor I'm glad that you care about me so much!! ”
(Well I was worried but I can't let her know that!) “Uh- N-no I wasn't worried!”
“Well then why are you as red as a tomato?” (Uh-oh..)
“No I'm not!”
“Okay whatever you say my lovely neighbor! Hm!”
“Anyways, why are you here?”
“Oh that! Well I'm just here to hand you my keys you know?”
“Ohk..”
“Here!” She handed me the keys, which was when I realized just how small her hand is compared to mine, like did she even grow up since middle school?
“Well then I'm off now Mr neighbor!” She smiled at me and left.. Wow what a way to start the morning yay!

I tried to go back to sleep again but it was impossible knowing my little annoying pest will not be here for a few days.. A small smile formed on my lips while thinking about her.. Wait what!? Did I just smile after thinking about annoying Pest? Well that's new.. Anyways, my long awaited break is here! Finally no one will annoy me now! These three weeks are gonna be the best, I just know it!
Or so I thought..
Day one -
I woke up at around 8 am surprised that there was no knock on the door but then I remembered that little pest wasn't here today.. I hate to admit it but it feels a little lonely without her..
No! I mustn't think about her!
The rest of the day went quietly.. Even though this was what I had wanted, now that I had it.. It didn't feel so great.. I decided to go out and take a stroll around the neighborhood and it was quiet. I guess my cheerful neighborhood wasn't as cheerful without her in it..

I couldn't sleep well that night without her wishing me good night…

Day two -
Today I tried to drown myself into work(yes, we do have work here if you couldn't tell)but even that wasn't effective as after it was over I once again had nothing to do.. Except to just sit idle doing so which reminded me of her..
Ugh! I've been feeling so lonely these days! How can I spend three weeks if only a single day is so hard?

1 week later -
Okay! So somehow, I managed to pass through an entire week without dying of boredom so yay for me! Not really though.. One week down andd... Two more to go!? Oh no.. How am I going to make it out alive??

1 week and 2 days later -
Okay this is it! Does she not miss me at all? How come she never called me? Not even once this past week! I waited patiently for her to call but she never did so I decided to call her but then I thought.. Maybe I shouldn't.. I mean - what if she's busy or something? Okay, I will wait till tomorrow and if she doesn't call me then I'll call her.. Yes! That's probably the best thing to do!

1 week and 3 days later -

Okay so she didn't call me today either.. So as a caring and nice neighbor, I should call her! Yes, that's the only reason I'm calling her, it's not like I'm worried about her or something.. Okay now I should call her..

I took out my phone to find her number and to my surprise, it was literally on the top like, no one ever called me except for her.. No! I'll think about that later first, I should call her.. I clicked on her number but instead of ringing, the only thing that I heard from the other side was - “Sorry, but this number is no longer in service please check and try again later” * beep.* Wait! What? How is this possible?

I put my phone back and laid down on my sofa.. How could this be? I always talked to her using this very number and there wasn't any issue with it? So why now? I couldn't understand what was happening and before I knew it, I fell asleep…

I woke up at around 2 in the morning and realized that I've slept for way too long.. I guess I wasn't able to sleep peacefully these days.. While thinking about this, I heard a noise.. What was that? I looked around the whole apartment searching for the source before realizing that it was coming from my stomach.. Uhh I guess sleep doesn't take away the hunger does it?

So as any normal person would, I too checked the fridge and low and behold there was nothing in it.. Oh come on! Do I really have to go out at this hour to get some food while it's raining? What a luck I have.. So I took out my umbrella and rain boots, took some money, locked up my apartment door and went outside and to my surprise a lot of convenient stores were open even at this hour.. Well that's good.
So I bought some ready-made food and started walking towards my apartment. When I reached my apartment door, I saw someone already standing in front of it.. Was it a ghost? Or a spirit? Aren't they the same thing? Anyways, I gathered up all my courage and strength (of course) and started walking towards that person who started to look more and more familiar as I got near her and then finally, it was time to see who she actually was.. I put my hand on her shoulder to make her turn around (I couldn't risk waking up the neighbors you know?) let's see who you finally are! But when she turned around, I was horrified!
“Savanna!? Is that you?”
“...”
“How are you already here? Weren't you supposed to return in like two weeks?”
“…”
“What happened? Are you alright?”
“.. I'm fine, I'm just here to get my keys back.. So if you would be kind enough to..”
“Oh! Of course.. Why don't you come inside? I mean - you are basically drenched in water..”
“.. It's fine, I'll just change at my apartment..”
“Oh.. Okay..” (what's wrong with her? Usually, she always finds a way to annoy me and find excuses to stay at my apartment so why is declining this offer that she would have gladly accepted?)
I unlocked the door and went into my apartment to get the keys. When I found them, I came back outside and handed them over to her..
“..Thanks..”
“It's alright..” I just gave her an awkward smile, I didn't really know what to say.. I mean - she was always the one who started a conversation so what happened?
Hey I wanted to ask you- but before I could say anything, she had already left.. What? Just what in the world is wrong with her? I suppose she's tired so I shouldn't push her too hard and just leave her alone for now.. I'll talk to her tomorrow.. I sighed.. “I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.. ”
But the next day when I went to talk to her she just ignored me like I didn't exist!
I tried to talk to her the day after that but the result remained the same.. And again.. And again.. Until finally I was tired so on Sunday, I went to her apartment to talk to her so I went to her apartment and I realized that her door was open.. What? Just how careless can she be?
“Savanna? Are you there? I'm coming in!”
(No response..)
Okay I guess.. I pushed the door open and went inside only to see the lights off? But Savanna is scared of the dark. I never understood why she had railings all around her apartment though.. How is she even living there? “Savanna!” no response.. I checked the entire apartment but she was nowhere to be seen.. I checked the entire place except for her bedroom.. Well I didn't want to go there for obvious reasons.. (I mean - it's a girl's room for goodness sake! Well that didn't help..) I was about to leave when I heard someone crying..) “Savanna? Is that you?” No response.. Ugh.. Forget it! I'm going in!
“Savanna? Are you crying? ” she finally stopped sobbing ,wiped her tears, looked at me and said - “No I'm not! What makes you think I'll cry?”
“Nothing! But I thought that I heard someone crying.. Was that not you?”
“N-no that wasn't me... ”
“Ah.. I see.. Okay then I shall take my leave..”
“Why?”
“Well I thought I heard someone cry and I thought it was you so I came to check.. ”
“Oh.. I see”
“Hmm well then, I'm leaving now!“
“Okay..” (Huh!? She's letting me go that easily? Seriously?? Ugh! I can't believe this girl!)
“I'm leaving!!”
“And I said okay!”
“I'm really leaving you know?”
“Just stay please!” (finally! Now I can talk to her..)
“Okay so now tell me why were you crying?”
“Well.. I- it's just that I wasn't feeling well and “something just happened.”.
“I see…” (she isn't willing to tell me what's wrong.. I think something bad must've happened..)
“Well so why were you denying the fact that you were crying? “
“I had my reasons..”
“Well why were you ignoring me?”
“I- wait, are you here to interrogate me?”
“What!? No, of course not!”
“So will you be fine if I don't tell you?”
“Wha- I mean - sure if you don't want to, you know..” (why did I say that!? Now this curiosity will drive me crazy!!)
“Well then I should leave now..”
“Ok.. Bye..”
Hmm bye.. (well that didn't help at all but why was she crying?)
I didn't see Savanna for a week after that..
(What is this man? I thought we made up.. But she still isn't leaving that apartment or hers.. ) I turned around to find Savanna behind me..
“Good morning Victor!” She said in her usual carefree tone.. Finally! She's back! But wait..
“Victor? ”
“Yeah isn't that your name?”
“Yeah it is but don't you always call me 'Mr. Neighbor'?”
“Well yeah I used to but I thought you didn't like that nickname?”
“When did I say that I hate it? You can call me Mr. Neighbor ok?”
“Oh-kay..” (what's wrong with him today?)
A few months passed by peacefully.. Victor and I were also going to an amusement park today! But how am I supposed to tell him..
“Vic - I mean - Mr. Neighbor you're here already! Did I make you wait for too long?”
“Ah! No.. I've just got here.. ”
“Oh! Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go! I'm super excited!”
“Okay okay but calm down first little pest!”
“Hey! Don't call me that!”
“Fine! I won't.. So let's go now!”
“Okay!” I gave him my brightest smile ever.. If only it could last forever..

****************

“Well that was fun wasn't it Mr. Neighbour?”
“Yeah… very much.. ” he said with a shaky voice..
“I guess you really don't like roller coasters do you?”
“Hey! I'm not scared!”
“But I never said you were.”.
“Oh..” He flushed with embarrassment and seeing his red face I couldn't help but laugh my heart out.. How long has it been since I laughed like that?
“By the way, can you come to my house this Sunday?”
“Yeah sure but why?”
“Oh!.. Um I need to tell you something.. ”
“If you say so.. ”
Thanks!
No problem.. Well let's go home ok?
Sure..
-------------------
I was now standing in front of my apartment door..
“Thank you for today..”
“Oh! You don't have to worry at all!”
“Well then I will see you on Sunday..”
“Yeah! Of course!”

Oh my god! She just invited me over!! Oh my god! This is the best day of my life!! But what will I wear? And I forgot to ask her the time! Just then I got a notification from Savanna - hey! The time is 10:15 am okay? Don't be late! She really knows me well huh? A small smile formed on my face.. How long has it been since I last smiled like that? Probably forever.. Hmm

It was finally the day! I am ready now but first.. What time is it? 8:30 am what!? Oh no I'm late! I still need to go to coffee & bakes to buy some of her favorite Red velvet cake! And it will take a lot of time as you have to be in a big line so I have to hurry!

An hour later, I was finally out with the cake and now you see what I meant by a long line? Okay so now all I have to do is get ready and - huh? Suddenly my phone started ringing.. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was my boss! What in the world does he want now? Isn't it Sunday? But still, I picked up the phone..

“Good morning boss.”
“This morning is not good Victor!”
“Why sir? What happened? ”
“Our Chief executive director is coming for a visit today! So come here ASAP!”
“Okay sir! I'll be right there!”
“Be quick! ”
“Yes sir!”
What in the world? He wasn't supposed to be here by tomorrow! But I have to leave now!
But what about Savanna? I'll talk to her later, I'm sure she'll understand..

Where is he? He should have been here by now.. Huh!? I heard a doorbell, it's him! He's here!
And before I knew it, I started running towards the door.. Suddenly my ankle twisted and I fell down Oh no! I desperately tried to catch one of the railings but luck wasn't on my side.. In a hurry, I started running in the middle of the corridor instead of running near the walls.. It was my fault! I fell down with a loud thud oh no! I was so near the door! Suddenly the door opened..

“Hello? Is anybody home? I heard a loud thud- ma'am? What happened? You're bleeding very badly right now!”
“I-I” (I'm bleeding? I didn't realize it..)
“Ma'am please don't move! Let me call an ambulance!”
“Huh!?” I felt my eyes closing.. No no no no no! Not now!
*********
Phew.. I was finally out! That CEO really took a lot of my time! Oh! But what time is it? 11:55 am? Oh no I'm late! Savanna! I need to call her! As I took out my phone, it suddenly started ringing - Savanna? Oh no! Is she angry? I picked up the phone expecting to hear her yell at me but instead what I heard changed my life forever…

CITY HOSPITAL
It was written in bold letters. This is the place right?
I entered the hospital, quickly went up to the attendant and asked- “ Is there a patient named Savanna here? ”
“Yes sir she is in room number 232..”
So it was true... I felt my world black out.. As I rushed to the room the attendant told me about.. Room number 232 an emergency room! I patiently waited for the doctor to come out and when she finally did, I asked her-“ Doctor! Is She okay?“
“And who might you be Mr? Her family?”
“Uh.. Yes!”
“I see.. Well her condition is very critical right now.. She fell down in her house and a delivery guy who was luckily outside brought her here..”
“What? How did a simple fall result in her ending up in the emergency room? That's impossible! ”
“Wait, did she never tell you anything about it?
About what?”
“About that fact that she had Friedreich's Ataraxia (FRDA or FA)”
“What's that? ”
“How do you not know about her disease? Are you really her family?”
“Uh yes! Well I'm her boyfriend and we just got together about a month ago! ”
“I see.. Well Friedreich's Ataraxia (FRDA or FA) is a rare genetic disease that affects about one in every 50,000 people. It makes the bones of the affected person weaker than an average human.. That's all that you need to to know for now.. ” so that explains the railings in her house…
“Oh..” (why did she never tell me about it?) so she will survive right? ”
“Well right now, I don't know.. There's a 1 in a 100 chance that she will..”
“What!?”

“Doctor! The patient's breathing is getting uneven! ”
“Oh no! I'm coming right away!”
The doctor rushed back inside and I couldn't do anything but just look.. It was a familiar feeling.. I've felt this before but why did it hurt so badly this time?

“Miss Savanna! Please be strong! I need you to breathe! Breathe in and out! Please!”
I heard the doctor screaming from the inside.. As I rushed towards the door and looked inside through the glass.. And I saw Savanna holding her hand tightly to the bed's railing .. She held on to it for her life but it seems like god had a different plan..

“Miss Savanna, please breathe!! ”

As I saw the grip of her hand loosening on the railing, I felt my world crash down…

A few moments later the doctor came out and said-“ we are very sorry Mr but Miss Savanna wasn't able to make it.. ” was it selfish that I wanted to hear a different answer? For the first time after meeting Savanna, I felt really bad for being an immortal because if I wasn't then I would have killed myself too..

It has been 2 years since then and today is Savanna's birthday so I decided to pay her a visit..

“Hey Savanna, happy Birthday! Even though I wasn't able to prepare a lavish party, I hope you like this cake that I bought from coffee & bakes.. It's your favorite red velvet! ”

I told her grave..

“I wish I could join you… ”

I lived in that place for I don't know how long maybe a century? Until I finally got summoned..
“So my child, what do you wish for? I hope you know the meaning behind these wishes, right?”
“I do..”
“Very well then.. So, what do you want?”
“I want to be.. Forever young”
“Do you really want to live forever and ever?”

The end..

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Sakshi Kumari

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