Amma(mother) had prepared my all time favorite dishes for dinner- rice,moru curry and avial. Dinner was served and my parents started discussing various things.

"I want to tell you something.I am in love with Hari and I want to marry him" I interrupted.

"What?"my father was suprised.

"I knew about this and was waiting for you to confess"my mother smiled.

"You knew this?"my father asked. 

"Yes she had once told me that she loves Hari but wan't sure if he loved her back. It seems things have progressed"she said.

"Oh my God! How stupid I am? How can someone forget this? I had already told her that I love him. I should have discussed this with her first and then with my father" I cribbed to myself.

"Does his parents know about this?"my father asked.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Have they agreed?"he asked curiously.

I nodded my head again and smiled.

"They even checked our horoscopes" I said.

"Then??"my parents asked unamiously.

"It doesn't match but it seems Hari will have no other girl in his life if this marriage doesn't happen. I am their only choice"I replied.

"Gayu, things have moved to a totally different level and you are telling us now",my mother panicked.

"Even I wasn't prepared for so much of development. All this has happened so quickly that I did not get an opportunity to tell you before. I am so sorry" I apologized.

"We will speak to Hari's parents. But the idea of marrying someone so close scares me. While building a new relationship you loose the essence of the original relationship. I just wish that this doesn't affect my relation with my sister" my father looked worried.

"It's your responsibility to ensure that you do not spoil your father and his sister's relation. Do not do anything stupid which will hurt them and ruin their relation. Do you understand how sensitive this is?"my mother added.

I nodded my head and quietly listened to their advices. My brother who was sitting with us was quiet throughout our conversation. I looked at him and he whisphered "I knew it". I blushed and rushed to kitchen with my plate.

My parents spoke to Hari's parents and they decided to get us hitched after we both were employed.

"Hari...I am so happy. I was stupid for thinking about breaking up with you. I love you Hari. Thank you so much for saving our relationship."

"We love each other too much and we cannot live without each other Gayu...accept that"

"I know that.I don't know what made me think like that. I love you and only you and I cannot live without talking to you even a single day."

"Gayu. I love you so much.I wish I could see you now. Can you mail me your photos? "

"Yes. I will mail it after I come back from college tomorrow. I am equally eager to see you. Please send me your pictures dear."

"Okay sweet heart.Sleep tight. Good night. Muaaaah."

"Muaah. Love you too. Bye."

I was overjoyed. My life was perfect. We both had to only focus on our studies and nothing else mattered.

I decided to concentrate on my studies and score better marks.

" Hopefully, I will be able to go to Australia just like my senior went to US" I smiled at the thought of meeting Hari in Australia.

I reached early at college the next day. I was preparing notes in the college library when I noticed a girl walking towards me. I realized she was one of my seniors.

"Hi Gayatri. Are you too busy?"she asked.

I was surprised that a senior girl spoke to me. I barely  interacted with any of the seniors. I had a small group of friends in college. I never spoke to any boys in college because of my bad experience during school days. In short, I was an introvert.

I wondered how she knew my name and what she wanted to say. I was lost in my thoughts when she handed me a big bar of chocholate and a crystal pendant.

"This is for you"she said.

"Thank you. Is it your birthday? I'm sorry can I know your name?" I asked

"My name is Sushmitha.No, it's not my birthday. Someone told me to give this to you" she smiled.

"Really? Who ?", I was curious.

"That is a secret",she winked.

"Please tell me. It's really sweet of that person to give me these gifts. What is the reason? Is it that person's birthday?", I was perplexed and anxious.

"No. I'm sorry, I cannot reveal much. I have been strictly warned not to share any details about that person",she walked away.

I was sulking and wondering who was it? I was disturbed and could not concentrate. I closed all the books and walked out of the library. The college canteen was exactly opposite to the college library. I noticed that Sushmitha was sitting with her group of friends in the college canteen. My curious mind pushed me towards her and I started walking towards her. I was nervous and was sweating profusely. I gathered courage and decided to confront her.

"Hi Sushmitha"

"Hi Gayatri"

"Can I speak to you in private?"

"Yeah ,okay"

"Will you please tell me who gave these gifts and why did that person give this? I am really curious and I'm unable to focus on anything."

"You will get me killed. I will tell you but please do not be angry.Promise me."

"Okay, I promise I will not be angry."

"Avinash Kulkarni gave that chocholate to me and instructed me to give it to you."

"Who? Avinash Kulkarni , the one who went to US for his training? Him? But why?"

"All I know is that he likes you"

"What? Me??"

"Yes, you"

"But why?"

"He says that you are different from the other girls. He is attracted towards your simplicity and kindness"

"But we don't know each other and we haven't interacted  even once"

"You do not know much about him but he has observed you closely and knows many things about you. Do you remember the laboratory incident during your first week of college where your classmate met with an accident and had to be rushed to hospital?"

"Yes. What about that?"

"He was there when that accident happened and he observed how well you helped your classmate whom you hardly knew"

"He started observing you since then and fell in love with your simple yet humble nature. He loves you Gayatri"