Chapter 1:

    The world around me is so beautiful with its dark sky covered in stars and dark trees that glow silver from the dim moonlight. A stream slithers few feet away carrying lotuses and night bloomers that emit white energy. 
    As beautiful as they are, they are nothing compared to the person lying next to me on the grass. I look over at him and see his closed eyes that seem to say so much without uttering a single word. I gaze at his handsome face and run my finger down his cheek. Bringing my fingers to his lips, I think about their sweetness.
    A hand wraps around my waist and pulls me closer to him while he kisses my fingers and opens those enticing obsidian coloured eyes. I smile shyly and retreat my hand, looking away. This promotes him to place his finger under my chin and lift it. We lock gazes once more and he leans in, brushing his lips on mine. I smirk and connect our lips in a soft, loving kiss. 
    As I am about to make it deeper, a voice booms in my head making me pull back and blink.
    No longer in my dream world, I lie on a fluffy bed in a brightly lit room. 
    "Come on Priam! Get up already!" Shalini cries from the door. As a response, I take my pillow and plop it on my face. I hear a sigh and the pillow is snatched away from me.
    "Get up unless you want to clean both the bottom and top decks. And you know very well I can make Captain Tej give you that task," she says.
    I release a loud groan but get out of my ever-so-comfortable bed, not wanting to sweep the huge vessel. Collecting my supply kit, I make my way to the ship's bathrooms so I can get dressed for yet another day of exploration under the Indian Ocean. I know that sounds Like I am on a vacation but this is anything but that.
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    When I get out of the bathroom, I find Shalini waiting in my room, all dressed in her squab-diving outfit.
    "You ready for another day?" she asks with a smile.
    "No," I admit truthfully as I fix my bed and straighten the photos on the wall. My best friend behind me heaves another sigh, tired of having to wake me up every single day.
    Now Shalini and I have been friends since I started working for the USI (Undersea Investigation). I know the name is weird but it is what it is. Anyway, so back to my green eyed, brown haired best friend. She has been my BFF for five years. She understands me better than anyone in this world. Usually supporting my decisions she is just great. However, if she thinks I am being stupid or illogical, she doesn't hesitate to voice her opinions.
    The first time I met her...it did not go well. We argued for two hours straight like two birds fighting for a grain or seed. what were we arguing about? We were arguing over who's assignment was more informational. I really loved her project and how she explained everything in such a detailed manner...it was unbelievable. I felt this but was too stubborn to admit the truth at the time. i was quite jealous. 
    However, as the years progressed, our jealousy transformed into admiration and finally, we became best friends. We trust each other with secrets that we, ourselves, dare not think about. Secrets that give voice to our deepest, darkest desires and dreams. She is the only one who I can trust with anything and everything. Well...there is someone else whom I trust a lot...Raghav. But he is a totally different case.

    Shalini snaps her finger in front of my face and raises an eyebrow asking "Where is your head today? It seems you are day dreaming about...Raghav?" I shake my head. "No?Who it it then?"
    "It's nothing like that," I explain. "I was thinking of the first time I meet you and how we argued so much."
    "Yeah, that was stupidity," she says, flicking her neatly braided brown hair behind her back. "You sure that is what you were thinking about?"
    "It's my head. If I don't know what I am thinking then then who would?" I counter.
    She starts to say something but Raghav pokes his head through the door and asks "You ready Priam?" His obsidian eyes gaze at me with fondness and admiration. We hold each other's eyes, which gives me a major case of butterflies in the stomach syndrome. Then, realizing Shalini is also resent in the room, he averts his gaze and they share greetings. 
    She glances between us and smiles. Confused by here expression, I raise an eyebrow at her but she just shakes her head and shrugs. Sneaking a glance at Raghav, who seems uncomfortable, I change the subject. "So...what's our assignment today?"
    "We are supposed to search for the effects of pollution and get Simmer some samples of the ground for her research,"Raghav replies causing me to groan louder than before. They chuckle quietly at my immature behavior.
    "Come on Ms. Lazy, let's get some breakfast. I am famished!" she exclaims, dragging me through the ship's hallways, towards the cafeteria. Raghav follows close behind, trying to swallow his laughter.
    I turn my head to look into his pretty eyes that sparkle with amusement. He sees me looking and raises his head as if to ask What are you starring at? I just shake my head and turn around. 
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    The cafeteria was bursting with noises and activity. People were sitting on various tables that were scattered around the room. Many were reaming around with overloaded plates of food while others stood at the buffet table getting their first servings.

    Shalini makes her way towards buffet table and we follow suit grabbing a plate and some buttermilk pancakes. Next to the pancakes are a variety of toppings and syrups. I pick up the pitcher labeled maple syrup and pour some on my stack of pancakes. Once satisfied, I turn towards my friends and say "Don't you get bored eating the same breakfast every morning? I know I am bored."
    "At least they are giving us something...that's enough for me. Plus, I am going home next week where I get to eat my wonderful mom's wonderful food!" Shalini excitedly exclaims. "I am so glad she survived the rail accident."
    She stops abruptly, realizing how I lost my parents in that very same accident. My expression turns to the one of pain and she tries apologizing but I wave her off saying it's ok and there was nothing anyone could have done. However she knows she struck my sour nerves. One that I try really hard to numb. The one that left a gaping hole in my heart. Raghav reaches for my hand and squeezes it as a comforting gesture. Usually, his holding my hand, would give me butterflies and a tomato red blush, but it doesn't right now. Right now, any gesture is like a cry for deaf ears.
    We proceed down the aisle of food and fins a place to sit, a table near the window overlooking the sun-kissed waters of the Indian Ocean. Once we are seated, I stare out the floor to ceiling windows, wondering if my parents are watching my progress, my successes, my failures. If they are, what do they think about my choice of being a research scientist? Would they be proud or disappointed? I remember them buying me a doctor's set, a proper, real one when I finished 12th class. Dad had said "You have made me proud. You will make an excellent doctor." Then, after my first year aboard this ship, he was taken away from me along with my sweet-hearted mother.
    "So what do you say Priam?" Shalini asks. "Priam? Priam! Are you even listening?" She shake her head in disapproval.
    My only response is "Huun? Ohh...mmm." Then I shake myself out of the old memories and try for a more complete reply. "Ohh, sorry. I kinda zoned out. So...what were you saying?"
    She shakes her head some more and continues saying "I was saying that since it's a Friday and we don't have work tomorrow... we should watch a movie tonight. Only the three of us, in my room after dinner. You in Priam?"
    "Umm...," I pretend to think. "Of course! It would be an amazing way to end the week."
    "Since Shalini came up with the idea," Raghav states. "I get to pick the movie."
    "Hey," I protest. "What do I do? Could we have it in my room instead Shalini?"
    "Yeah, sure," she agrees. "So it's settled. Tonight, after dinner, in Priam's room, with a movie chosen by Raghav. Perfect!"
    We go on with our breakfast, chatting about random things such as movies and such. We are on the topic of 3 Idiots when the loud speaker blares. "Prim, Raghav and Shalini, please report to the stern deck immediately!"
    I look at my companions and say "Here we go again. Off to another day of exploration." At this Shalini's face light up like a Christmas tree, Raghav sighs and we all get up, making our way to the said destination.