The girl's picture

The hall was filled with people in different colors, shapes and sizes. The ladies were wearing their silks, and the gentleman wore formals. The hosts smiled, they had hoped the function would turn out well. It wasn't an occasion that had to be celebrated in such a grand manner but they decided to do so nonetheless. Some people were meeting each other after several years. Everyone had something to say to the people they met. In a corner she was sitting with her cousin and discussing the events that were planned for the rest of the day. She had been assigned the task of making several people feel comfortable, something like a public relations manager. She enjoyed doing this. So far everything had been perfect, better than she thought it would be.
Someone tapped her on her shoulder and she spun around to see who it was. He stood there with a grin on his face, she was very surprised she hadn't expected him to come at all. He was a very busy person, she blushed and smiled at him. She was meeting him after 2 years. Earlier they had been close to best friends, and every time they met they would amuse everyone with their arguments and discussions. Slowly each of them had drifted into their own worlds and they hadn't managed to communicate as much. She had attended many events and functions in the last 2 years, but he hadn't attended them.
They both started exchanging their stories 2 years had been a long time. They had kept touch about each other through common friends, but they continued to listen to the stories all over again. She heard her name being called there was some work to do. They had been talking for nearly an hour, she excused herself and resumed her duties.
He had to tell her something very important yet and he waited patiently for her to come back. She was his good friend and his confidante. She had stood by him and encouraged him all the time, while he was played any sport she cheered for him, when they went to the movies they would pass comments about everything, she would see silly movies all over again with him if he hadn't seen them, she had studied with him while he prepared for his entrance exams, helped him shop for his friends, and took good care of him. She reasoned everything out with him, she was an amazing person. He had stood by her and supported her during all her tough moments, he could say the word 'tough', because unlike him, she had worked hard always, she was from a middle class family in India. Her folks had brought her up with good values. She carried her own bags, and did as she pleased, she didn't attract attention but a conversation with her left a person thinking or amused. She was independent and strong. She was the heart of her family. He was the same to his family. They both wanted to be rich and successful and it was easier for him than her.
They had discussed everything, including expectations from a life partner, they both had agreed that arranged marriages were ideal and that mostly they would have arranged marriages.
He heard her click her fingers and she pulled him out of his thoughts. They both went to eat and they updated each other through the meal. After the meal they decided to sit outside for a while. She told him that he had changed in the last 2 years, he agreed with her and told her that he had found the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. She didn't pry further and told him that she was happy for him. He described the girl. She finally asked him if his parents knew about this, he said no, he wanted to tell her first as he needed a friend to help him at such a point. She said it wouldn't be right for her to break such news to his parents or anyone else for that matter, and that he must do so on his own. She wished him the best of luck and promised to keep in touch. He asked her if she wanted to see the girl's picture, and she said she would like that a lot. He showed her his wallet with the picture in it. She smiled after seeing the picture and her eyes were moist with tears.