The Moon Is Beautiful!
Suman had forgiven Shravan after the blood donation camp. Their bond grew the following month and both turned into really good friends. Shravan's habit of lying had reduced and Suman too had started accepting the civilian world. They would discuss the small small happenings of the day along with their goals in life! One fine day Shravan had taken courage and confessed his feelings for Suman saying, "Suman I like you! More than a friend. Can we?" He spoke the last words hesitantly with his heart racing at the speed of light. Suman stiffened, she could feel butterflies rising in her stomach. But she ignored the feeling and rationally spoke, "But I don't feel the same. It might be just a crush Shravan, it will fade away with time. How about we maintain some distance and then when the feeling goes away let's come back together" Not interested in forcing his feelings on her Shravan nodded and dropped her home.
It had been a week since the incident. Shravan regretted confessing his feelings while Suman regretted asking him to maintain distance. Her brain said she was on the right path while her heart had a different story. She seemed lost and felt aloof all the while. She missed the carefree talks she had with Shravan, how his antics would make her laugh. They both would seat on separate benches yet kept on stealing glances of the other one. Suman felt something was amiss but wasn't able to pin point what it was. Somewhere inside she knew that she was terribly missing Shravan but she was lying to her ownself. She would tell herself that it was the bad weather, study tension which made her lose interest in her surroundings.
They would talk occasionally but it would be cordial talks. Practising the skit was the only relief for them. They loved the characters and living their life especially the part where they would get to act together.
Shravan felt that he should have confessed later but a part of him was happy that he had let the feelings out! He felt relived for being transparent infront of Suman but was sad with the outcome.
Suman would sit in her balcony waiting for him to come in his but always faced disappointment. She would ask Kanchan to give updates on social media but there weren't many from his side. She started realising that her feelings for Shravan too were growing and she had no control over them. On the Saturday night she waited for the phone call which would ask her to come out and ask her to accompany him to the Raja Bhoj Setu/Raja Bhoj Cable Bridge for a long drive but the result wasn't in her favor. She lay in her bed thinking whether the decision she had taken was right? Whether Shravan was just a friend to her or meant more? Numerous questions crowded her mind but no proper answer was found. It was a battle between her heart and mind.
The next Monday they were practicing for the skit and the scene came where they had to hug. Shravan wasn't sure if hugging her was the best thing to at the moment when she had asked him to maintain distance. So he partially hugged her avoiding touching her which obviously didn't go unnoticed by the teacher. She asked them to be free and natural or the skit would be ruined. Shravan listened to her and hugged Suman properly. Serene happiness engulfed their hearts with that single touch. They could feel their hearts beating faster together and they were no more acting. Heer finally realised what she was missing in her life, it was her Ranjhana. Ranjhana relished the moment as much as he could thinking how his love for Heer would never stop.
As soon as the skit got over Devika called Suman for some help because of which Suman left. Shravan stood there smiling to himself. He had been noticing the changes in her how she somewhat had started accepting her feelings. He silently prayed that it wasn't his speculation but truth or he knew he was going to be broken.
The day passed in a jiffy as Suman was practicing for the upcoming debate competition and Shravan as usual was having fun with friends. Throughout the day Suman kept on telling herself, "It's ok! Let's accept that you were missing him. Friends do miss each other. It's normal, nothing strange!" but her heart believed that her feelings had grown for Shravan and ran deeper than what she thought.
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The next morning as usual she peeped out of her bus to check whether Shravan was there but didn't find him. She thought he was going to be late and made a note of scolding him for being late latif. The first lecture was about to start but there was no sign of Shravan. Suman grew worried and asked Saheb whether he knew about Shravan's whereabouts to which Saheb replied negatively.
As soon as the school got over Suman went near Bhopali to check the attendance record. Shravan was marked absent which meant that he didn't bunk lectures and really had taken a leave. Worry covered her mind while she sat in the school bus. As soon as the bus stopped near her house she ran to Shravan's house and knocked on the door. Kavita opened the door with a smile and asked her to seat in the living room while she would bring her some lassi. Listening to Suman's voice Avni came out, "Hey Suman! How are you?"
"I am good! Where are the other members?"
"Other members? You mean Bhaiya?" Avni asked teasingly.
"Ha..naaa I meant chachi, chacha" Suman lied.
"Papa and Mummy are out for business! Anything special?"
"I actually wanted Shravan's chemistry notebook" Suman quickly thought of a reason.
"Bhai still isn't home! I'll tell him to give his book! I have to study so bye!"
And Avni left the place. Suman realised that Avni didn't know about Shravan's whereabouts which added to her tension. Suman too drank the lassi and left Malhotra house.
Suman tried calling him the whole day but his mobile was unreachable.
Later at around 8.00 PM Suman saw Shravan park his bike. His yellow hoodie had some red spots. All unwanted thoughts crept up Suman's mind. She went running towards his house, her heart beating with anticipation and praying for his well-being. By the time she reached Shravan he had just taken out his key and was slowly walking towards the main door whistling in his normal jolly mood. Suman hugged him from behind, "Wait Shravan! How are you? Are you hurt?"
Shravan turned around while a smile automatically crept his lips after hearing his name on her lips along with the special back hug, "What was going to happen? I am all good!"
Suman checked him from top to bottom, "What are this red spots?"
Shravan checked his hoodie and said, "Oh! This? They are because of that idiot Bunty. We celebrated his bday today and that's the icing. He applied icing on my beautiful face too"
Suman mentally slapped herself for thinking the worst and spoke, "Let's talk somewhere else! Our normal place?"
Shravan readily agreed and they both drove to the bridge. Shravan's mind was occupied with bubbles of imagination during the whole drive. Some were negative while some positive, he was just hoping that Suman stays by his side throughout life
Shravan brought two cups of tea for both of them while they sat on the railing of the bridge! Suman sipped on the tea and thanked him! Shravan was waiting for her to open up. He didn't want to seem impatient and hence remained quite trying to deduce Suman's thoughts. She at last opened, "Shravan I missed you!"
Shravan's face lit like an LED bulb and his dreamy look replaced the serious look he had earlier. Suman continued, "I will love to be friends with you for a lifetime. I can't miss on our friendship!"
Shravan replied with a small hmm... while his small faltered which Suman obviously noticed.
Suman looked up at the sky and spoke, "The Moon Is Beautiful, isn't it?" The moon shined in between the dark black clouds. It seemed brighter than ever or maybe their minds believed so!
Shravan casually replied "Yes! It is."
Suman again spoke, "Shravan I am saying it again! The moon is beautiful!" And Shravan leaped directly to hug her, as the meaning behind her words struck him. Shravan remembered the story Suman earlier told him and spoke, "Instead of “I love you”, Natsume Soseki said “The moon is beautiful”. When the author, Natsume Soseki, was a teacher, he told his student translated “I love you” into Japanese, he just translated it word-for-word, “I love you”. Since Japanese people don’t say that often, he told the student it would be better to translate it, “The moon is beautiful.”" Suman shook her head in between the hug with happy tears and spoke, "Yes! That’s why I told you, 'the moon is beautiful.' "
They both remained in each other's embrace for quite a time letting the feeling sink in! They were having the time of life! Emotions of love, happiness completely engulfed them. And the two love birds united.
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