It was a Sunday evening. Dhruv and Nayan were having tea, relaxing and chatting in the living room.

“I hope the lockdown ends soon,” Dhruv was telling Nayan,“I need to go see my mother, she lives alone in Ranikhet.”

He had hoped Nayan would react, but he did not say anything.

“Hi, good evening!” Dhruv said as Amaira entered the room in a violet coloured chiffon dress.

“Going somewhere?”

Amaira was dressed up, and looked stunning.

“Oh, don’t you know?” Nayan looked towards Dhruv, “today is her birthday.”

“I didn’t know, Happy Birthday!” He stood up to shake her hands.

A thought crossed his mind, I wish I could hug her.

The evening was filled with fun and laughter. Nayan had ordered food from a nearby restaurant and they all enjoyed the evening with champagne and cake!

“I must go to bed now, I have an early morning appointment,” Nayan said, and left.

Dhruv looked towards Amaira and said, “You are looking very beautiful today!”

They both walked towards the terrace.

“I think today would be the right day to tell you what I wanted to tell you the other day. But promise me, whatever you decide, you will not let our friendship break!” Dhruv held both her hands and kissed them.

There was a moment of silence as they both looked into each other’s eyes. Dhruv drew her close and hugged her, saying “I love you!”

Amaira smiled shyly and nodded.

That night Amaira and Dhruv sat on the swing in each other’s arms till dawn.

— <> —

Amaira and Dhruv spent a lot of time together, They would secretly exchange glances when Nayan was around and share messages on the cell phone. Both of them looked very happy. Amaira would often probe for probable dates for marriage and Dhruv would cleverly change the topic.

One evening, while they were having tea, Amaira said, “I think we should tell Papa about our intention, I am sure it will only make him happy.”

“Suit yourself!” Dhruv shrugged his shoulders, not committing to anything.

“If the two of you have decided, I am very happy,” Nayan said with a smile.

He was reminded of his college days and his love for Amoli. How he wished that he had listened to Amoli!

— <> —

It was time to implement the climax of his plan. Dhruv started having unnecessary arguments and fights with Amaira. It led to them not talking to each other for some time. And every time it was Amaira who apologised and made up.

The lockdown was lifted and Dhruv was ready to leave. Amaira felt sad. In the last few days they had had many arguments.

While leaving, she asked him, “How do we take our relationship ahead?”

Curtly, he said, “I don’t know.”

— <> —

Back in Mumbai, Dhruv was immersed in his work. He did not answer Amaira’s calls or messages. For a few of days, he felt victorious, as if he had won a battle. ‘I hope this hurts the old man!’ He told himself.

Then, something strange happened. He felt lonely and had a strong urge to meet Amaira. The memories of days spent with her flashed in his mind. She had stopped messaging or calling him. May be that’s why I am missing the fun of troubling her, he tried to convince himself. May be it will settle in a few days.

But that was not to be. The more he wanted to forget Amaira, the more he missed her. He often picked up his phone to dial her number. “Give it time, after all the acting was so real, you would need time to get out of the role,” he consoled himself.

— <> —

The vaccine was approved and overnight Dr. Nayan Kumar became a celebrity. He was featured in leading newspapers, TV news and magazines, both local and international. His research paper had won him a gold medal at an international medical conference. In his acceptance speech, he said, “I dedicate this award to someone very special. My first love, who inspired me to do my best, always.”

Dhruv rewound the recording of the speech many times to confirm if he had heard it right.

— <> —

It was about a month since Dhruv returned from Bangalore. He was having coffee at his favourite restaurant. The sea breeze was soothing his nerves which had been very tense ever since he had returned. He had invited Shweta to have coffee with him. She was his counsellor and best friend. She was his therapist for anger management and depression issues. She knew everything that had ever happened in his life.

After he told her his recent story, Shweta said, “You are in love with her, but you don’t want to accept it.” She added, “Why are you taking revenge on her for something she is not at all responsible for?”

The discussion went for a long time.

“I felt really nice talking to you Shweta, as always! I feel relieved.”

He gently pressed her hand.

Dhruv dialed Amaira.

“I am really really sorry for what I did,” Dhruv said after he finished telling her about her father and his mother’s life story.

He pleaded with Amaira to forgive him. Amaira listened carefully without saying anything. There was a long silence and then she said, “Dhruv, I think we should bring them together. I will plan a visit to Ranikhet with Papa to propose our marriage!”

— <> —

Dhruv and Amaira began to work on the visit of Nayan Kumar to meet his mother. Every aspect of the visit was carefully planned. Dhruv reached Ranikhet a few days in advance. He told Amoli about Nayan and his daughter. Amoli had seen Nayan’s interview. She told Dhruv about their love story and how, if only he had the courage to elope, her life would have been so different. Tears trickled down her eyes.

Dhruv hugged her and said, “Ma, you will love Amaira. She will be the daughter you didn’t have till now. I am so happy today!”

— <> —

The day that Amaira and Dhruv had been waiting for, arrived. Dhruv and Amaira had been exchanging messages on WhatsApp. Dhruv picked them up at Pantnagar airport. As they drove through Nainital, Nayan looked around the place in awe.

“Ah, it has been so long since I left Nainital,” he said.

Nayan felt as if he had returned to his roots. The smell of eucalyptus brought back beautiful memories of the time he had spent in Nainital. Very little seemed to have changed.

Dhruv welcomed them to meet his mother. Amoli’s heart was beating fast as she looked at him. He looked the same except for a few wrinkles and dark circles under his eyes.

Amaira had not mentioned anything about Amoli to Nayan. Dhruv and Amaira wanted him to be surprised, so they had kept it a secret.

Dhruv introduced Nayan to his mother.

Nayan told Amoli, “This is just a formality. The kids have already decided, and I am very happy to have Dhruv in my family.”

Amoli nodded in agreement.

“I was in Nainital a long time ago,” Nayan said.

Amoli smiled as she handed over the cup to him and said, “The tea and pakoras made by me may not be as delicious as those at the Government Medical College but……”

Nayan’s heart beat almost stopped. He looked closely towards Amoli.

“Oh my God, Amoli……” He instinctively stood up and hugged her.

All of them had tears of joy.

Dhruv and Amaira were enjoying the evening sunset on the terrace as they sipped their coffee. In the distance, they saw Nayan and Amoli on the swing in the garden. Both were immersed in chatting with each other. They never looked happier before!

Dhruv gently pressed Amaira’s hand and said, “Thank you, my love!”

— <> —

Concluded