At dawn, Arjun awoke, the soft light filtering through his curtains. He meticulously packed his belongings, the weight of each item reminding him of the years spent in this place. With a deep breath, he approached Rahul's door and knocked.
"Rahul, have you finished packing? I'm bringing two bags; is that alright?"
Rahul's muffled voice responded, "Yes, Arjun, the car is spacious. No need to worry. The door's open; come in."
They began moving their luggage, the silence between them filled with unspoken memories.
"Almost four years we've lived here," Arjun mused, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"Yes," Rahul replied softly, "It's hard to leave. But we can always come back."
As they loaded the last of their bags, Rahul turned to the driver. "You can sit in the back; I'll drive."
The driver hesitated. "Rahul sir, your uncle instructed me not to give you the keys. You should sit in the back."
Rahul sighed, "Ugh."
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "What did you do, Rahul? Why did your uncle warn him not to let you drive?"
Rahul rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Three years ago, I accidentally drove the car into a pool. Since then, they haven't trusted me with driving."
Arjun chuckled. "So that's why, despite being wealthy, you never have a car."
The driver and Arjun laughed simultaneously.
Rahul frowned. "It's a serious matter, Arjun. Don't laugh."
Still grinning, Arjun asked, "Tell me, how did you manage to drive into a pool?"
Rahul sighed, "Instead of the brake, I pressed the accelerator. You can guess what happened next. Even though my driving has improved, they still won't let me drive."
Arjun suggested, "Why not buy a car yourself?"
Rahul shook his head. "I once bought a second-hand car with my pocket money. The next day, my father sent his driver to take it away. I don't know why he's so scared to let me drive."
Arjun patted his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry. Learn again and buy your own car."
As they discussed, they settled into the car.
Arjun reminded, "Don't forget our agreement. Every Sunday, we'll watch a movie together."
Rahul nodded. "Yes, I remember. Do you recall Raj?"
Arjun's eyes lit up. "How could I forget that timid guy? What's he up to?"
Rahul replied, "He's studying medicine, aiming to become a surgeon."
Arjun laughed heartily. "He was scared of blood, and now he's training to be a surgeon? What a twist of fate."
Rahul's expression turned serious. "It's not just fate. Remember, his father is a doctor, and their family owns the biggest hospital. He was pressured into it."
Arjun sighed. "I miss our school days. The three of us would eat snacks near the school, work together, and sometimes he'd join us."
Rahul smiled wistfully. "Yes, let's hope we meet again someday."
Curious, Rahul asked, "By the way, who is your landlord?"
Arjun grinned. "Not landlord, landlady. And you know her."
Rahul's eyes widened. "Who?"
Arjun grin widened. "Do you remember our school beauty?"
Rahul's jaw dropped. "You mean Ananya?"
Arjun nodded. "Yes, she's the one renting the floor to me."
Rahul shook his head in disbelief. "Damn, how lucky you are, living with the school beauty."
Arjun playfully slapped the back of Rahul's head. "Don't get any ideas. I'm on the first floor; she's on the ground floor."
Arjun laughed. "Let's go to my place and meet her. Then I can tag along to your uncle's place."
Rahul agreed. "Yes, let's do that."
As they laughed and chatted, Rahul handed the driver an address. "Uncle, this is the place. We'll settle Arjun's contract there, then head to my uncle's."
The journey was filled with scenic beauty—lush greenery and a river flowing alongside the road. Arjun, mesmerized by the scenery, drifted into sleep.
A gentle nudge woke him. "Hey, Arjun," Rahul whispered.
Arjun rubbed his eyes. "What happened?"
Rahul smiled. "We've arrived."
Arjun quickly sent a message to Ananya: "I've reached the place. Can you open the door?"
"Let's go, Rahul," Arjun said as they exited the car.
"Hi, Ananya," Rahul greeted warmly.
"Rahul, is that you?" Ananya responded, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
"You still remember me?" Rahul asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"How could I forget? But it seems someone is missing," Ananya observed, glancing around.
"You mean Raj? He's busy with his medical studies, so we've lost touch," Rahul explained.
Ananya laughed softly. "You three were always inseparable, earning the nickname 'Three Idiots.'"
"Why were we called idiots?" Rahul interjected, feigning offense.
"Well," Ananya began, a playful smile on her lips, "all three of you excelled academically, yet each had distinct personalities. One was a loner, another a chatterbox, and the third timid. You sat together, rarely interacting with others. So, the class dubbed your trio the 'Three Idiots.'"
Rahul chuckled. "Seems we never corrected that misconception. How dare they call us idiots."
"Let it go," Arjun advised. "We never cared about their opinions anyway."
"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Rahul asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," Ananya replied, stepping aside. "Come in, all of you."
"Uncle, you can join us too," Rahul added, gesturing towards the driver.
"Uncle, could you open the trunk? I need to bring in my luggage," Arjun requested.
After retrieving their bags, Arjun and the driver entered the house.
"You're living quite the good life, Ananya," Rahul remarked, glancing around.
"It's peaceful here, surrounded by greenery. A lovely place," Ananya responded, her voice filled with contentment.