Ananya’s Pov:

“Ani, I’m going to come here every day. The brownie was yummy.” Licking her lips which made us laugh. Thank god, she is looking refreshing because a grumpy Harshi is very hard to handle. We stop our laughing when Harshi’s phone start to ring. At this hour’s both of our parents don’t call us. It must be Jai.

“Hey baby, missing me?” usually I don’t like when people call their bf or gf baby but when Harshi calls that I can feel the love in her voice. I hear a clearing throat. I look at Shiv with a confusing look. He is in my left side. He came down to my level. What happen to him now?

“So, from when are you going to call me baby?” whispered in my ear in a teasing voice.

“Never.” I said rolling my eyes.

“Learn something from Harshi.” With his signature smirk and mischievous smile. Aha, Mr. Kapoor wants to play.

“Seriously! You are no five. You have a well-built body and more importantly a soldier. Do you really want me to call you baby? If you want, I can call you now. I’ve no problem.” asked him narrowing my eyebrows. Indicating that we are in the campus itself. It’s my turn to smirk. I think he got my point.

“Don’t. It’s my fault that I teased you.” I want to laugh now but somehow supress it. Harshi is in her world, talking with Jai. It’s good that she didn’t hear our conversation.

Finally! Harshi ended her call and mumbled a sorry to me.

“Okay then, we are going.” We bid goodbye to Shiv. He rubbed my hand before leaving. How badly I wanted him to hold my hand for a longer time, at least for more seconds. But he has duty now.

This reminds me a song. Yeah, I’m crazy, even in this situation I’m thinking a song. But I like me better when I’m with you, Shiv….

Though, we are staying nearly, don’t know when I’ll see him again. We both have tight schedule. He has duty, I have my classes.

“Someone is looking sad. May I know the reason, why?” Harshi asked me playfully. She already knows the reason.

“Don’t you miss Jai? I mean, it’s almost three months you haven’t seen him.” Without replying her, I asked her. We have reached or PG, I unlock the door. Harshi directly went to her bed and fell down closing her eyes.

“I do. Everyday. It was my decision to stay away from him, not completely mine but I agreed to my parent’s decision to study here. You know, they thought loving Jai at young age isn’t a good idea. It’s not serious in their eyes. So basically, they sent me away from Jai. And even if I refused them, they would take it as a childish decision of mine because of Jai, which I didn’t want. Btw they like Jai. Literally, I can’t understand them, what they want.” She is now sitting on the bed holding her head.

“Hey, don’t be sad. I think they just want to be sure if you both are serious or not. Parents are just like that you know. So, don’t grow hard feelings for them.” I don’t know what to say but I just want her happy face back.

“Even Jai told me like this. At first, I was upset but later I understood. Jai said I’m their only child that’s why they are overprotective of me.”

“I’m thankful that he puts some sense in your mind and you came here. You know, you are lucky that you have Jai in your life.” trying to lighten her mood, in which I’m very bad.

“I know, I’m.” now she is grinning.

“Jai will come to take me from here at winter vacation. He already applied for leave. You won’t go early right?” she is asking me with hope.

“I don’t know. I haven’t discussed it with papa.” I have to ask papa regarding this matter after exam schedule out.

“Please stay at least for two days. We haven’t sightseeing anything and I want you and Shiv bhaiya to meet Jai.” She pleads showing her puppy eyes.

“Ok, I’ll discuss with papa but if he denied I can’t do anything. You know, he will ask the reason behind it for sure and I can’t lie to them.” I’m a very bad liar.

“I can understand. So, I won’t force you. Moreover, Jai is also going to take permission from my parents to come here.”

“Really! What if they don’t give permission?”

“He is the one who said that baby, no need to come alone, I’ll be there. So, it’s up to him how to get the permission. I’m not going to help him.” This girl, she won’t change.

“I really appreciate him for tolerating you from so long. Seriously! A big salute to him.”

“You’re praising him for no reason because I’m the one who tolerate him the most.” Can’t describe the face which she is showing to me now. I laugh at her antics.

“It really hurts that you’re taking his side.” Here starts her drama. When I first saw her, I thought, how can I survive with her non stop chattering but now if she doesn’t talk for a minute, I don’t feel good. It scares me, because silent Harshi is very dangerous.

*****

Shiv’s Pov:

I feel like teenage boy whenever I got call from her. The excitement in me I can’t express. I feel overwhelmed with the things happening with me these days. I was happy that she agreed to come here after her tiring day at university. It was a great evening indeed with Ananya and Harshi. It really feels good to see her, hold her hand and teased her. The way she understands me, I feel lucky to have her. Mom is like, when are you going to introduce me to my daughter in law? I told mom the scared face of Ananya when she knew that mom knows everything about us at our dinner date and mom scolds me for scaring Ananya.

Now, I’m thinking of Raghuveer sir, what he will do when he would know about our relationship. I’m kind of afraid of him because he trusted me and send her with me. I feel like I broke his trust. But how can I not fell in love with his beautiful daughter who increased my heartbeat at our first meeting.

For now, let’s focus on the duty, will see what happen in future.

******

It has been like two weeks we haven’t seen each other but we talk on the phone daily. Even in the weekend, she got busy with her practical which she had to submit on Monday. And this coming Saturday is her birthday. Harshi called me and asked me if I remember Ananya’s birthday or not? She was sounding like if you don’t know about her birthday, I’ll kill you and no doubt she will surely do. Harshi is planning to surprise her on midnight in which sadly I can’t attend. But I’m also planning something. Hope she won’t have any homework to do on this weekend. Otherwise, my one-day leave will go in vain.

Her first birthday with me, I want to make it memorable for her. Her course is only for one year and next year she won’t be here to celebrate her birthday. Even though I’m not that romantic person, I’ll try my best.

*****

Ananya’s pov:

Today our exam schedule is out. It’ll end on 15th December. I dialled papa’s number.

“Papa, you’re not busy right?”

“No, beta. Tell me, what you want to tell.” He already knows, I’m calling him for a reason.

“Our exam schedule is out.” I said it with excitement.

“Okay, I’ll book your tickets on flight then.”

“Papa…is it okay if I came two days later? Actually, Harshi wants to roam around before going from here.” I told him the truth, hiding the Jai part.

“Roaming around in winter won’t be a good idea. But if you promise to be careful, I’ll permit you.”

“I promise, Papa. I’ll be careful. Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, Ani. Let me know the date, I’ll book the ticket.”

“Sure Papa, bye.” I’m happy that he agreed. I’ll surprise Harshi, she will be cloud on nine hearing this.

OMG! I also have to tell Shiv. This reminds me our long train journey. Our first journey together. With him the journey was awesome. I never ask when he is going home. Silly me. Why didn’t I think it earlier? I dial Shiv's number.

“Love, are you alright? I mean, it’s your class time, right?”

“I’m totally fit and fine. Don’t worry. I’m calling you because our exam schedule is out today. I’ll go home most probably on 17th December. So, when are you going home? I’m just asking. It’s okay, if you don’t have any planning.”

“Ani, Harshi already told me about her planning and I have applied for leave. So, you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll book our tickets.” Last week, I told him to call me Ani. It sounds different when he says my name. And I love it, though I never told him about this.

“No, Papa said he’ll book my ticket on flight.”

“Oh! This time on flight then. Ready to enjoy your journey with me love.” Back to teasing. Some people won't change.

******