Ananya’s Pov:

Now I’m laying on my bed and thinking about the kiss. That was our first real kiss. Lips to lips. Shiv only kissed on my forehead, he never kissed on my lips. But today he did and it was magical. I was shy or you can say completely numb at first but when I realised what was really happening, I responded. I still feel his lips on mine. His gentleness and soft lips are still lingering on my mind. The ring of my mobile stopped my thoughts. I know who is calling me at this late.

“Thinking about me?” I chuckled lightly.

“Nope” yes, I was thinking about him and our kiss but I am not going to admit it.

“but I was. What have you done to me miss Ananya Singh I can’t stop thinking about you?”

“black magic.”

“I see. Tired?” shiv asked me and hearing his voice I can say that he is also tired, must be on bed.

“umm” I’m feeling sleepy as well.

“sleep then. I’m hanging up, ok.”

“ok…. wait”

“Do you want to say something, love?”

“I love you” I whispered it. I know he heard that.

“I love you too.” I never get bored of hearing it from him. I’m addicted to it. My eyes grew heavy and I fell asleep.

******

After my birthday we, Harshi and I gave our full concentration on our upcoming semester exam. We even set a new time table for reading and other stuffs. So that we can manage our time properly. The whole month went like a blink of eyes. We really did our best on our exam. Now, we’re coming to our PG from uni. after completing our last paper. And Harshi’s mood is kind of down because of her parent’s decision relating to Jai’s coming over. It’s not like that they didn’t give permission. Definitely he is coming. In fact, he already reached but he would be staying here only for one day. And she is sad because she can’t show him the places as she planned. Here I’m trying to console her saying that at least they gave him permission to coming here and one day is enough to show him the Shillong city. She seemed to giving it a thought. I think I’m succeeding so far to console her because I’m not good at consoling people. We gave Jai’s staying responsibility to Shiv. He happily took it saying, “Fine, now I can take his test that he really deserves my sister or not?” So, Jai is with Shiv now.

We reached our room and freshen up and rest for a while. After that we’re going to meet them or you can say we are going on a double date. Joking, it’s just a coffee outing at army cafeteria because Shiv has duty till tonight. And from tomorrow he took leave for one month. So, he can’t go out. Therefore, we have planned this there.

The coffee outing was great. Jai is really good looking, mature and fun-loving guy who perfectly fit with our crazy Harshi. And I must say he has so much power on Harshi. I can now surely tell that Harshi will be happy with him. Currently they’re on dinner date. They invited me also. But I gave them some space alone because they met after six long months. Shiv went to his duty after sending me till the gate.

*****

Yei! I’m going home. Yes, we’re going together to Delhi. We have booked a taxi to airport. Harshi and Jai also came with us to airport, even though they have their flight one hour later then us. Shiv is from Delhi not originally but after Shiv was born, they shifted to Delhi permanently. Shiv wasn’t happy about me going alone to Dehradun. But when I told him about sending driver by Papa to pick me up from New Delhi airport to Dehradun, he is somehow relaxed after hearing that. Otherwise he was arguing to go with me to Dehradun. Even I told Papa that there is no need to send a car, I can go alone but I failed to convince him.

Yesterday, Shiv and I shopped for our family. He bought a shawl for aunty. Of course, I had selected it for her. I don’t know whether she is going to like it or not. According to Shiv she is going to love it. I bought a shawl for my mummy also, same as aunty, two beanie and hand socks for Papa and my baby bro. He hates it when I call him baby bro and I love to tease him. Oh! I missed them so much. I didn’t buy much because Papa said, “I have everything, no need to buy anything for me. You just come home.”

We have safely landed in New Delhi. “Are you going to miss me?” Shiv asked me.

“I have many things to do rather than missing you Mr. Shiv Kapoor.” I teased him. I’m going to miss him badly. The winter break is for one and half month. Shiv is going to return after one month.

“Promise me that you’ll call me and text me every day.” Did he think that after going home I’ll forget him?

“I promise you that.” I can see the brightness in his eyes.

“Let’s go to parking lot.” The car is already arrived and waiting for me in the parking area.

“Namaste uncle” when I see uncle, I greeted him. It feels good to see a person you know after six months.

“Namaste Gudiya.” Yes, he calls me that even I’m not a gudiya now. Shiv kept my luggage in the car. It’s time to good bye Shiv. After coming to relationship, we never been away from each other. That’s why I guess I’m feeling kind of sad or anxious when I think of staying away from him for winter break.

I look at uncle, he is in driver seat and busy with someone on call. I went near Shiv, who is giving me the saddest smile.

“So, see you after the vacation…bye.” It really hard to say good bye to your dear ones. Today I feel it.

“I’ll be waiting to see you very impatiently. It’s a torture for me. I can go to Dehradun you know.” He again starts this topic. We have discussed about this already.

“No. No need to come there, we’ll see after the vacation.” I firmly refused him.

“okay.” He is making sad face. Now tell me, how can I go after making him sad.

“Don’t make that face Shiv. Why I am refusing you, you know that right?”

“Yes. What will happen if your Papa come to know about our relation, but Ani we can’t hide it from him right? And I don’t want him to think about me that I’m in a relationship with his daughter behind his back. It makes me a coward. Anyway, I won’t go to Dehradun. But come soon to Shillong.”

“okay, I’ll come soon. Bye.”

“Bye. I love you” I again look at uncle he is still on the call.

“I love you too and I’ll miss you, Shiv. Very badly.” I whispered near his ear and hurriedly get in the car. Uncle start the engine.

“Don’t forget to call me after you reach home. I’ll wait for your call.” Shiv told me while waving his hand.

******

Shiv’s Pov:

I just don’t want her to go away from me, that to for long time but I have to let her go because I don’t have the right to keep her with me. otherwise you know, I won’t let her stay away from me for a second.

I booked a taxi and went home. Mom welcomed me like are you not eating properly, beta? Why are you looking like you lose wait? Yes, that were the only two questions about me, others were about Ananya. And you won’t believe me she asked me thousand of questions about her since I have reached home. When I gave her the shawl which Ananya choose, her face was watchable. She was so happy hearing that Ananya, specially Ananya choose it for her. It’s because after dad’s death, only I gift her cloths or she buy it herself. But after many years someone choose something for her, it’s a very big thing for mom. I’m happy that she is happy because of this.

Mom is like “I want to meet her, why didn’t you invite her to stay with us for one night? When are you going to marry her? I want her as my daughter-in-law ASAP.” Oh god! What happen to her today? She never asked me about marriage.

“Mom, are you serious? We’re not ready for marriage now. Moreover, Ananya is still studying, after that she said she’ll do job. She wants to be an independent girl.” Ananya told me about this, not about marriage about what she wants to do after this course. She wants to do a job and from her first salary she will gift her parents something.

“As a mother, I just want someone to accompany you on your happiness and sadness. I don’t want you to feel lonely. And I’m not against anything, she can do whatever she like. I just want a daughter. So that we can go to shopping whenever we like.”

“You mean, I don’t go with you to do your shopping? I always go with you mom and that to whenever you like. I’m hurt.”

“You always go with me. now happy?”

“Very.”

*****