It had been nearly three months and already the 'once so familiar' felt distinctly different. 

Maybe it was just that my perspective of characterization had slightly changed over the past few months, or it could also be that looking at her, caught me off-guard for a moment. 

Or... it could also be due to our last interaction, four months ago... on that night,

After paying her transportation fee, she hurried over to me, her face adorned with a radiant smile, "Heya man, you and Avinash are really doing wonders...! Like I am still finding it kind of surreal, how you two managed to maintain the releases under so much pressure!!!" 

"Whoa whoa calm down, let's first go to the platform and then we can continue talking you know." 

"Uh... you killjoy!" 

"It's pouring down here, you know how easily I catch col-"

"Okay, okay Lets's Gooooo-" she expressed merrily, interjecting me.

As we walked towards the platform, a sensation of relief washed over me, which was vaguely familiar. Alo's perpetual excitement for all things fictional was an integral part of her identity, and hearing her usual stream of words did not fail to help me transition from my initial state of panic. 

"It's been 4 months eh..." 

"Uh huh.." she replied, quickly glacing at me.

Soon after stepping onto the platform and closing our umbrella's, she asked, "So, how's life holding up for you?" 

A deep question right off the bat, "Technically speaking not too bad, like I have got such a well established comic series under my belt now along with a mediocre job and all so there's that..." I replied quite reluctantly,

"Whoa, cheer up man...!" she exclaimed. "You guys are close to celebrities right now and you say this stuff like it's nothing; Man I feel so jealous right now... like for real!"

"Heh," I smirked, "Is that right? Well, that's great then."

"You have got that good IT job too, man... your luck has always been so supportive to you,"

"*Tch* Quit the talk about jobs already, you know how I feel about that..." I replied, frustratingly clicking my tongue,

"Heh," she replied, slapping my hand, "Eyyyyy, now don't start behaving tsundere all of a sudden, you know"

"YOU-" I exclaimed, placing my hand on her hair clip wearing an annoyed expression on my face,

"Okay sorry sorry sorry, you know I was just joking, right..?" she replied, paying heed to my warning,

"How could I possibly not know that," I expressed, as I put my hand back from the top of her head.

"But anyway, I am sure Shilpi will get a lot more popular than it already is you know... just wait for it!" she exclaimed with her hopeful enthusiasm. To my surprise, her aura of pure excitement had somehow unknowingly induced a smile upon my face, "I hope it does..." I mentioned, gazing at the cloudy sky above us, "Well anyway, what's up with you these days?"

"Umm... Nothing too special you know- the usual appearing for a thousand interviews, dealing with those annoying relatives and above all keeping my mental sanity in check."

"Ha ha ha...!" I burst out laughing, listening to her commentary of the situation she was in.

"Just relax I guess," I mentioned, "Both you and 'your' Abhoy have gotten that job, at the same company moreover- be happy about it!"

"HEY- What do you mean by 'your' Abhoy?"

It was then that two super excited voices cut through our conversation with cheerful greetings. "Heya, you guys!" "Long time so see...!"

Turning towards the entrance of the platform, we were faced with the smiling faces of Rup and Abhoy, gazing at us.

"Bro...!" I exclaimed, filled with a sudden rush of happiness.