As the convocation came to an end, the noise and excitement around us began to fade. I found myself drawn to Vayu, seeking the comfort I knew so well.
Slipping into his arms, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, as if everything had fallen into place. In his embrace, the weight of the day, the years of hard work, and the emotions all settled, leaving only a quiet solace. This moment, in his arms, felt like home.
We sat on the balcony, the quiet hum of the evening settling around us as the sun dipped lower.
The sky was awash with deep oranges and purples, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of dusk. Our hands remained interlaced, as we watched the sun slowly disappear behind the horizon.
There were no words, only the peaceful rhythm of being beside him. The silence was peaceful, but I could feel the weight of the moment.
“Kya soch rahi hai?” he asked softly, his voice blending with the evening breeze.
I smiled, still gazing at the horizon. “We've come a long way, nahi?”
He nodded, his thumb gently tracing circles on my hand. “The best part is we're together.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his presence. “Hamesha rahega na?” I asked, my voice barely audible.
He squeezed my hand slightly, “Aur koi option hai?” he said teasingly.
I looked up at him, his lips curling into a wide grin. “I will kill you, Kashyap!”
He leaned forward, pecked my cheeks before muttering sorry. I kept my head on his shoulder again, closing my eyes and losing myself in his arms.
As we sat there in the quiet comfort of the setting sun, lost in the moment, I suddenly heard a soft clearing of a throat.
Startled, we both turned to see my parents standing at the balcony door, smiles tugging at the corners of their lips.
“Lagta hai humne tum dono ko disturb kar diya,” Papa said, trying to suppress a grin.
“Sharma Ji, you've started teasing your daughter a lot these days, aren't you?” I said glaring at him, making him chuckle.
Mumma chimed in, “Bas yeh dekhna tha ki sunset sirf tum dono ka hai ya humein bhi join karne doge?”
I chuckled, shifting slightly but still holding his hand. “Aapko iski permission ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!”
They joined us on the balcony, and as we made space for them, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
As we sat there, basking in the quiet moment, Vayu's phone buzzed on the table. It was a FaceTime call from his parents. He smiled, holding up the screen for me to see.
Maa and Papa’ faces appeared on the screen, beaming with joy. “Congratulations, beta!” Maa exclaimed. “We’re so proud of you!”
“Thank you, Maa,” I said, feeling a warmth spread through me.
Papa chimed in with a grin, “You’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s amazing to see you achieve your dreams.”
I laughed softly. “Thank you so much. It means the world to have your support.”
They both continued to shower me with kind words, their warmth palpable even through the screen. Keeping the call, we continued to chatter, Mumma sharing my childhood memories making me giggle.
“Kittu, hume ab chalna chahiye!” my dad said softly, breaking the flow of the moment.
I looked up, surprised. “Kya? Itni jaldi? Subah chale jaana!” I said with a pout.
Dad smiled and shook his head. “Kal ek important meeting hai, beta. Subah jaldi nikalna padega. Tum aaram karo.”
My mom gave me a soft, comforting smile, nodding in agreement. “Jaldi ghar aana! Or Vayush tum bhi wapas jaane se pehle ghar hoke jaana!”
“Jii Mummy!” Vayu replied softly.
I sighed but smiled back, understanding. “Okay fine! Thank you so much for coming here!” I said, hugging them both tightly.
“To ab apne parents ko thank you bhi bolne lagi hai ye! Dekh rahi ho Ruchi.” teased with a chuckle.
“Main wait karungi tum dono ka!” Maa said, caressing Vayu's cheeks and hugging me. We both nodded in response.
We bid them farewell, watching as they left for the evening, my mom giving a small wave before disappearing across the street.
As her parents left, I turned to her with a gentle smile. “Chal, andar chalte hain,” I suggested, motioning towards the room.
But she shook her head, her eyes still on the darkening horizon. “Nahi, thodi der aur yahi baithte hai,” she replied softly, her voice filled with calm.
I sat back down beside her, understanding the need for just a few more quiet moments in the night air. The breeze carried a sense of peace, and with our hands still interlaced, we sat in the stillness.
I looked over at her, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "You know, sitting with you like this makes everything else seem... less important."
She tilted her head, giving me a curious look. "Oh really? And what's so important about just sitting here?"
I leaned in slightly, my voice low. "Because it's not about where we are. It's about who I'm with. You could put me anywhere in the world, and as long as you're there, it feels like the only place I want to be."
She blushed, shaking her head with a soft laugh. “You're too cheesy!”
I grinned, squeezing her hand. "I'm just being honest.”
Moments passed as we were engrossed in ourselves when she leaned back and looked at me with a soft smile. “Do you remember how I used to wait for you after school? Sitting by the field, watching you finish your football practice, just so we could walk home together?”
I paused, looking at her as the weight of her words sank in. It had been years since I left football, and this was the first time she had ever mentioned it. I could tell there was something deeper behind her smile.
I smiled, “Of course I remember. You were always there, sitting with your books, pretending not to be bored out of your mind while I kicked a ball around.”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “I wasn’t pretending. Well... maybe a little. But it was worth the wait.”
I looked at her, my heart full of fondness. “It meant the world to me, you know? Walking home with you after practice made all those long hours worth it. Even back then, you were my favourite part of the day.”
She smiled warmly, leaning in closer.
I looked out into the night, the memories of football bittersweet now. “The game took you from me,” I said, my voice quieter, more pensive.
She held my hand tighter, her fingers lacing through mine. “You never lost me, you know? I was always there... always.”
I looked at her, the truth of her words settling over me. “I know.”
She looked at me, her voice gentle yet hopeful. "You know... maybe you should start playing again.”
I glanced at her, feeling the weight of her words settle in. "I can’t," I said quietly, shaking my head.
"I’m sure of it. I walked away from the game for a reason, and I don’t think I can go back. Not after all these years."
She sighed softly, her eyes searching mine. "But you loved it once. Maybe it doesn’t have to be what it was... maybe it can be something different now."
I smiled sadly, running my hand through my hair. "It’s not that simple. Football wasn’t just a game to me, it was a part of who I was. When I let it go, it wasn’t just because of what it did to us... it was because it stopped feeling like home."
She leaned closer, her hand resting gently on my arm. "I get it. I just hate to think that something you loved so much is lost to you forever. Aur ye sab meri…”
Before she could finish, I gently cupped her face and kissed her, stopping her words mid-sentence. It was soft, tender, and full of everything I couldn’t put into words. When I pulled back, I looked into her eyes, my voice firm yet full of warmth.
“Stop,” I said gently. “You were never the reason. You were always the reason I chose better, the reason I became more. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
She stared at me for a moment, her eyes glistening with emotion, and then she smiled, the weight of her guilt lifting. “I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.
I leaned my forehead against hers, my voice soft but steady, "You were worth every step I took away from that field. You're everything I deserve.”
“But Vayu…”
“Shh! Mere paas tu hai! And that's enough!” I said before pecking her lips. She smiled softly when I pulled back slightly, looking at her with a playful grin. “You know what? I’m hungry.”
She laughed, her tension melting away. “Haan bhook toh mujhe bhi lagi hai.”
I chuckled, standing up and offering her my hand. “Well, how about we make something together? It’s been a while since we did that.”
She smiled, taking my hand and getting up. “Okayyy!”
As she stood up, we walked inside, I followed her, but before I could say anything, I remembered I needed to wash my hands. I quickly slipped into the washroom.
Just as I was drying my hands, I heard a sudden scream from outside. My heart dropped. Without thinking, I rushed out, my pulse racing.
There she was, sitting on the floor, holding her ankle. “What happened, Sunflower?” I asked, kneeling beside her, worry lacing my voice.
She winced, trying to smile through the pain. “I twisted my foot….ahhh! Bahut dard horaha hai!”
I gently held her ankle, assessing the situation. “Dhyaan kahan rehta hai tera?”
“Tujh par!,” she whispered, grinning widely.
“Shut up!” I glared at her.
I gently lifted her up in my arms, feeling her lean into me as I carried her to the bed. I grabbed the ointment from the drawer, kneeling beside her, and began to apply it to her ankle.
“Just relax,” I said, my voice low as I carefully massaged the area, feeling her tense muscles slowly begin to ease under my touch.
She sighed softly, her eyes fluttering closed. “That feels good… maybe I should twist my ankle more often,” she joked, her smile returning.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Don’t even think about it. One injury is enough for today.”
As I continued massaging her foot, I looked up at her, watching as her face softened, the pain slowly fading away. “Better?”
She nodded, her voice soft. “Much better. Thank you.”
As I finished massaging her ankle, she gave me a teasing look. “So... now who’s going to make dinner?”
I grinned, wiping my hands. “Well, it looks like I’m the chef tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll make something good!”
She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “You sure about that?”
I laughed, standing up. “Are you challenging me, Dr. Sharma?”
She leaned back against the pillows, her smile growing. “Yes! Let's see if you can make something really delicious!”
I winked at her as I turned towards the kitchen. “Challenge accepted!”
Just as I turned to head toward the kitchen, I heard her voice behind me, soft yet insistent.
“Wait,” she called, “Mujhe bhi le chal.I don’t want to just sit here.”
I stopped, turning back to her with a smile. “Are you sure? You should rest, Sunflower!”
She smiled, a bit stubborn. “I’ll rest in the kitchen. I don't want to stay away from you!” She said with a growing pout.
I laughed and walked back to her. “Alright!” I scooped her up again gently, and she wrapped her arms around my neck.
We made our way to the kitchen, and I gently placed her on the counter, making sure she was comfortably seated away from the stove.
She leaned back, her legs dangling as she watched me with that playful look in her eyes.
“Kya banaega?” she asked.
I glanced around the kitchen, opening the fridge, “Hmm... let’s see.”
Pulling out a few ingredients. “How about pasta with a side of garlic bread?” I asked.
She nodded approvingly. “Sounds like a good choice.”
I placed the pasta in the boiling water, turning to gather the vegetables for the sauce. Just as I reached for the knife, she leaned forward, eyes sparkling with determination.
“I can chop the vegetables,” she insisted, holding out her hand.
I raised an eyebrow, giving her a doubtful look. “You’re supposed to be resting, Sunflower?”
She rolled her eyes. “I can still chop while sitting here. Mere per mein lagi hai haathon mein nahi!”
I chuckled, handing her the knife and veggies. “Alright madam!”
As she began chopping the vegetables, I stood there for a moment, genuinely impressed by how effortlessly she worked. “I have to admit,” I said with a grin, “your knife skills are pretty amazing.”
She looked up, laughing as she continued slicing. “Well, I am a doctor, after all. I’m pretty good at using knives—especially on human bodies.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “No doubt about that.”
Once everything was ready, I carefully lifted her again, her arms looping around my neck as she smiled. “Meri aadat mat bigad!”
I laughed softly. “Main hu na tere nakhre uthane ke liye!”
We made our way to the room, and I gently settled her on the bed, propping up some pillows behind her. “Comfortable?”
She nodded, still grinning. “Perfect.”
I headed back to the kitchen to grab the plates of food. Returning with the food, I placed the plates on the side table, offering her a fork, “Here's your pasta and garlic bread madam!”
She chuckled, taking the fork. “Let’s see if it’s edible.”
We both laughed as I settled in next to her. I noticed her trying to hold the fork, but I gently took it from her hand. “Let me,” I said softly, scooping a bite of pasta and holding it up to her lips.
She raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully. “I can eat myself!”
I smiled, offering the bite again. “Just eat.”
She laughed lightly but leaned in, taking the bite. “Mmm..it's delicious, Vayu! Maybe you should feed me more often.”
I chuckled, giving her another bite. She smiled between bites, her eyes soft with affection. “You always know how to make me feel special, don’t you?”
I shrugged playfully. “It’s my job.” And with that, I continued feeding her, each bite filled with a warmth that only deepened the connection between us.
After a year of distance, being with her again felt like rediscovering a part of myself I didn’t even know I was missing.
Each moment we shared was a reminder that love knew no bounds, and every laugh, every glance, every touch felt like the universe was aligning just for us.
It was in these little moments that I realised how deeply I cherished her, and how beautiful our journey together truly was.
As we finished the dinner, I felt an undeniable urge to share something that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I took a deep breath, sensing the shift in the air as I prepared to reveal the truth.
“There's something important I need to tell you, Sunflower!” I began, my tone shifting to something more serious.
Her expression turned from playful to concerned, the laughter fading from her eyes. “What about it?” she asked, her voice steady but tinged with worry.
I paused, searching for the right words. “Once I return to duty, I will be heading to the war."
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