“Hello. Can I speak to Hari?” I asked.

“Yeah...Please hold on”, said the female voice.

“Hello…what happened? Why did you call me so many times?” asked Hari.

“Are you busy right now? Please call me when you are alone.” I cringed and disconnected the call.

I felt embittered. I looked at the clock and realized its midnight in Australia. I felt a sudden pain in my heart as if something ghastly bruised my heart.

“Who is she? What might she be doing with Hari at this hour of night?” I pondered.

Hari called back again.

“Gayu…What is the matter? Why did you disconnect my call like that? What happened? Why did you call?” he asked furiously.

“Please talk to me politely. I thought you were busy. I didn’t want to disturb you so I disconnected the call” I replied rudely.

“Now, who is being rude, huh?” asked Hari.

“Fine. I’m sorry. Happy?” I replied mockingly.

“Don’t behave so silly. Why did you call?”Hari enquired.

“It’s nothing more important than what you are doing right now. I assume you were doing something so important at midnight that you didn’t have time to answer anybody’s call”, I was agitated.

“Yes, you are right. I was doing something more important than talking to you and wasting my time. I’m in a hospital since today afternoon. My friend’s father has been admitted in ICU. He had a cardiac arrest. She has no one else to help, so I and a few friends are here at hospital with her. She picked up your call because I was busy, understood.”

Hari disconnected the call and switched off his phone.

I was repentant. I tried calling Hari throughout the entire day but his number was switched off. I texted him messages explaining that I was sorry.

I texted him and called him daily but he didn't respond. I stopped calling him and texting him after few failed attempts. I was crestfallen. I wanted to vent my emotions and calm down. I decided to contact Alphonsa, my knight in shining armour. I dialled the number which she gave me. But her number wasn’t reachable.

The silence had come back again in my life and it was driving me crazy. There was no place to go and no one to help. I thought my World has come to an end and there was no purpose to live any longer. I contemplated so many things from running away from my house to Australia till committing suicide. I had lost myself in these few days. I went to college, attended lectures and came back home. I didn’t speak to anybody.

One day, after college, I saw a guy standing at the gate of my college. He was standing far away. A large backpack hung on his shoulders and his fidgety movements instantly drew my attention towards him. He was closely observing each and everyone leaving the gate. It appeared as if he was waiting for somebody. With each step closer to him, he looked more and more recognizable. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I stood in front of him.

“Hari!!!!” I exclaimed.

 

My happiness was standing right in front of me. I looked at him silently. I noticed how tall he had grown and how strong he looked. His soulful eyes, his snub nose, the stubble on his face and his charismatic smile- it was all right there in front of me. I was in a state of trance until Hari lifted my hands and held my palm in his.

“Gayu, I’m sorry. I spoke very rudely to you. I behaved very badly in the last few days. I’m really very sorry. Please forgive me. Please speak to me. I have realized in these few days that I can’t live without you.” he said.

“No. I’m sorry Hari. I misunderstood you. Please forgive me. Even I cannot live without you. I am in love with you Hari.”

“I love you more than anybody else in this World my girl.”

We both smiled teary eyed.

We hired an auto rickshaw and went to my house. As soon as I closed the door, Hari took me in his arms and kissed me on my forehead.

“I love you Gayu...” said Hari.

“I love you too, since the last 10 years. I have loved you ever since I have met you. I always wanted to be with you. But I was never sure whether you loved me as well”

“I loved you, too, always. I do not remember since when but all my life I have always loved you and no one else. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” asked Hari.

“Yes. I will marry you but I’m yours whether we are married or not”, I replied.

He lifted me up in the air and carried me towards the sofa. He sat on the sofa while I sat on his lap.

“I love these dove eyes, this slender nose, these dimples on your cheeks, the lovely smile on your face “, he said kissing all over my face.

I blushed and immersed my face in his chest. We sat there hugging each other. All the pain and sufferings that I endured were erased away. Our souls and bodies amalgamated to create a feeling out of this World.

“Do you have to go back today?” I curiously asked Hari.

“Not today. I will be here for 2-3 days and will return to Australia”, he replied.

“Stay here till you go back”, I insisted.

“I haven’t informed anybody that I’m coming to India. Our parents might get upset if they find out about us. I think we should inform them that I’m in Mumbai”, Hari said.

“I can understand your concern. I would have told you to inform your parents if my parents and brother were here. They have gone to Kerala for a week. Nobody will find out that you are here unless you tell them. Let’s not complicate things. We might have to tell them about us, too. It is too early to let them know about us, don’t you think?” I asked.

“You are staying alone here?”Hari asked curiously.

“Yes, but not anymore, at least for the next 2-3 days” I blushed.

“I wish I knew you were staying alone. I wouldn’t have let you stay alone for so many days”, he caressed my face.

“Then stay till everyone comes back” I said.

“Anything for you my Gayu”, he smiled.

“Did you eat anything? You must be hungry. Let me make something quickly” I rose and walked towards the kitchen.

I was chopping the vegetables when suddenly two hands slid through both sides of my waist and pulled me backwards.

A bolt of electricity struck me and I shuddered. I closed my eyes as he ran his fingers from my waist towards my bosom and pulled me closer. I was breathless and hysterical. I dropped all my intentions of resistance like a hot potato.

Hari rubbed his stubble on my face and whispered in my ears” I love you Gayu..”

The breeze from his mouth gave me goose bumps. I felt the pleasure and security I longed in those strong arms.

I turned around and kissed him on his neck.

He cradled me in his arms and took me to my room. He asked me to open my eyes.

I slowly opened my eyes but my eyes felt heavier like never before. I was unable to make eye contact with Hari.

Hari sensed my coyness and took my face in his arms and said “Look into my eyes Gayu”

With lot of efforts I looked into his eyes. His eyes were moist and glistened like a piece of crystal.

“I have dreamt this moment all my life. I never thought it would come so easily and quickly to me. I am ecstatic and this feeling is out of this World. I have lost all my senses. You are just driving me crazy. Your courage and affection has swept me off my feet. The ease with which you said you love me, the courage that you exhibited to bring me home when nobody is in town and the affection with which you are cooking for me –what can I ask for more? I feel so complete with you. You are simply the best thing that ever happened to me”, Hari said.

I pressed my lips onto his and kissed him passionately. Even before I realized, I was lying on top of him and smothering him in embrace. Love dominated that moment and nothing else. Our bodies felt as it belonged to each other so did our souls. The bliss of oneness was exquisite and heavenly.

We both felt asleep. I woke up and reminisced the beautiful moments which we had together. I was overjoyed and felt on top of this World. I wish time paused so that Hari would never have to leave me. I kissed Hari on his forehead and went to kitchen to finish making food.

I woke him up and served him food. He tasted the first bite and smiled.

“I’m impressed..” he said.

I beamed in happiness. He took a morsel in his hands and fed me. All that was happening and all that happened seemed so surreal. It was hard to believe that my dream had finally come true.

We both sat together and started discussing all those little moments during our childhood when we started liking each other.

“Do you remember closing the doors and reading my letter? After that you had told me to look into your eyes and not to blink. Did you ever doubt that I had feelings for you?”I asked.

“Your eyes, your smile, your expressions, and your body language-everything clearly indicated that you had feelings for me. I still remember that day when you sat so close to me looking into my eyes, your eyes pierced through my soul. I wanted to hold your face and kiss you. I would have really kissed you if your father hadn’t barged in that day” Hari laughed.

 “What about that girl?” I enquired.

“Girl? Who?  Do you mean the girl in Australia?” he asked.

“No. I heard your brother teasing you with her name. Who is she?”I questioned him.

“Gayu!! Honestly, I do not even remember when he teased me with which girl’s name. He might have teased me with some random girl’s name and you misunderstood. You were the only one, always”, Hari claimed.

“Oh no! I threw away all letters and your memories that day thinking that you loved someone else”, I blubbered.

“You wrote letters to me? Why didn’t you post them? That reminds me after I sent you that letter you never spoke to me the same way. You always avoided me, why did do that?”,he asked.

“It’s a long story. I hate to remember those days. There was an issue in my school because of which my parents found out that I love you. I had to promise my mother that you are like my brother to convince her that I didn’t love you. I was really scared that they might think I took advantage of their freedom. I thought I will forget you and keep my promise. But it didn’t seem to work. I realized that it’s easier to tell my parents the truth than forgetting you”, I replied.

“Oh! I didn’t know that. Gayu, don’t you think you are taking advantage of their freedom now? Don’t you think you are cheating them?” he enquired.

“No. I do not feel guilty as I never felt anything I did today was wrong. I do not want to justify my deeds. But I do not feel I have cheated them by letting you stay here or serving you food. My parents would have wanted me to do the same thing. About making love, nobody has the right to judge matters of a husband and wife, not even parents. I can assure you that I will never regret this decision of mine. I trust you more than anyone else” I answered.

“It’s ok. Relax. I’m sorry if I hurt you. I know how pure your intentions are my dear” he said hugging me.

“Where did you hide my sketch that day when I went downstairs? I saw it before leaving the room and after I came back, it wasn’t there?”I asked curiously.

“You saw that?”,Hari was surprised.

“Yes. I overheard your conversation with your friend that day”, I smiled naughtily.

“That’s a top secret”, he chuckled.

Days passed quickly than ever and Hari had to depart.

“Gayu, tomorrow I will have to leave. I wish I could stay back and be with you. I will never forget these days in my life ever. I fell in love with you more with each passing day. How I wish I could take you away with me. Come with me, can’t you?”Hari was emotional.

We both sat down and he rested his head on my lap. I rubbed my fingers on his cheeks and kissed him.

“I wish I could come with you sweet heart” I wept.