Chapter 12

Kadambari: You were in the bathroom talking to Virat?, kyun bahar bhet ke baat nahi kar sakti kya? Aise kya baat ho rahi thi. She said looking me up and down.

Inder: Manvi beta, are you not hungry, chalo neeche, you need to eat breakfast. He kissed my forehead and dragged me down. I mentally thanked papa for saving me, otherwise god knows what mummy would have asked next.

It was now the first week of February, about 3 weeks since I got back. I hadn't talked to Virat at all after the incident. I randomly texted him sometime but never really called him. I still didn't have the courage to tell him about my feelings. It felt so awkward just saying I love you Virat and I didn't know how else to begin. To my horror he called me last night telling me that he was coming. I still remember the entire conversation we had.

Virat: I am comming. I nearly dropped my phone in surprise hearing him say this.

Manvi: Virat tum pagal ho gaye ho kya

Virat: Ha, tumhara pyaar mein pagal. I could hear him chuckling and tried to think of a way around this. Mummy was already suspicious enough with my conversation with him and here he is planning this grand trip to come here.

Manvi: Virat change your plan please, aabhi maat aau

Virat: Manvi I come on February 12, I sent you the details through text, make sure you check them ok. See you in a week!

I shuddered thinking of what mummy and papa would think and then finally checked my phone for his flight details. He was coming to Chicago? Why did he say he was coming to LA. I checked the flight again but I was right, he was coming to Chicago from February 12 to February 19. Wait, February 12 to February 19, the medical workshop. Of course he would be coming; his university in India has its residency in Chicago anyway. I smiled; I would have a full week with him, alone, away from all this drama at home. I called him that night, but only after making sure mummy and papa were asleep.

Virat: Mannu! He screeched annoyingly.

Manvi: Viru I retorted back and he immediately stopped with the new nickname he gave me.

Virat: Are you excited I am coming? You seemed last night he smirked.

Manvi: Yes, because someone forgot to tell me that he was coming to Chicago for a workshop and not to LA. Virat you nearly gave me a heart attack.

Virat: "Oh I am sorry did I forget to inform you of that?" he chuckled again. I heard Bhabhi saying his name in the background and knew he would hang up soon now. My heart sank, I still didn't tell him, god why was this so hard.

Virat: Uh Manvi, Bhabhi wants me for something; I will call you back later ok. I really miss you, can't wait to see you again.

Manvi: Virat I love you. I finally just blurted it out. I didn't get a response for a while and my eyes filled up, "sorry I know it was the stupidest way to tell you my feelings."

Virat: WAIT, what did you say? He said completely ignoring my last statement.

Manvi: I love you Virat, I really love you. I am sorry I couldn't think of a more special way to tell you my feelings I said through my cascading tears.

Virat: Phir se kaho. He said not believing what he was hearing.

Manvi: I love you Virat!

Virat: Manvi, you have no idea how happy you made me. I really love you too. Don't worry about not making it special, I am just glad you confessed, ab hum valentine's day par saath mein honge toh it will be more special. He said huskily. VIRAT, I heard bhabhi calling him again. Ok I think I have to go now, subha call karna ok, muah, I love you Manvi.

I hung up the phone smiling and just hugged it close to me for a while, trying to feel his presence. I finally sighed opening my eyes and sat there smiling like an idiot just ready to dance in joy. I got to confess my feelings, and I would have a full week alone with just him next week. I was literally on cloud nine.

One more week and you can see him; I tried to convince my heart every day after I talked to him. I was literally counting down the days.

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It was finally time for him to come; I stood in the Chicago airport just waiting for his plane to arrive. I had asked the air hostess twice and she said all the passengers were already off but there was still no sign of him. I sighed and waited for a while before I felt two arms surround my waist. "God I missed you," he mumbled as he kissed my cheek. I immediately turned around throwing myself into his arms. "VIRAT" I said taking in his scent. He pulled away and cupped my face, "abhi yeh sab nahi, bhook ki mare maar rehe hoon, I didn't eat properly for two days, let's go to lunch now, ab puri week hai na bladla lene," he said smirking

I pouted at him. "Badla, what badla, I told you my feelings," I said confused

Virat: Ha, after you came back to America and I had nothing I could do. He was still smirking. "But you don't worry about that now, let's go," he said pointing to a restaurant.

"Virat, woh," I looked down at him in shyness, I saw him gaze at me similing and cup my face, "ha, bolo Manvi, kya hua," he said lifting my chin. "ghar chale, I mean mera booked condominium, subha utke I made food for you, if you are really too hungry we can just eat here," I said looking down again. He immediately turned us around towards the parking lot. "you really think I would refuse food that you made, I have been dying to eat your cooked food," he said dramatically." I hit him for his sarcasm and ran to my car before he could retaliate. We reached the condo and as soon as he walked in he saw his favorite dishes laid out on the table and he immediately ran to inspect it. I could see his eyes gleaming in joy. Mutton biryani, jackfruit, fish curry, and chamal. He came back to the door and hugged me tightly, lifting me up in his arms as he walked me through the door, "I always dreamed of walking into my house like this with my dulhan," he whispered in my ear gently kissing my ear lobe. I looked down and cuddled closer into his neck in complete embarrassment. He gently placed me on a chair and immediately began serving himself when I took his plate, "mein karti hoon," I said shyly. I placed the fixed plate in front of him just to see he had set my plate too, with just the correct portions of everything I wanted. I smiled as we sat down to eat. After dinner Virat was extremely tired and had gone into my room to sleep. I heard him talking to bhaiya for a while and then it was completely quiet. I quietly walked into my room to see him in an undershirt and tracks just sleeping sprawled over my blanket. He was again hugging another pillow trying to get warm, just like the time I saw him in India. I blushed seeing his bulging biceps and went into the linen closet to get another blanket, I carefully placed it over him and ruffled his hair to which he immediately relaxed and a smile played on his face. "pagal, pura pagal," I said shaking my head as I sat down to study for the workshop tomorrow.

Kadambari: Beta, Virat aa gaya?

Manvi: Ha mummy, I picked him up.

Kadambari: Ok, you guys have fun, aur ha make sure Virat beta eats something, I know the plane ride here is long. And make sure you drop him off at his hotel before its gets too dark ok, he's not staying at the condominium is he? She asked suspiciously.

Manvi: No of course not mummy, he has the hotel booked, ok mummy, thik hai bye!

My heart sank. When mummy told me I should drop him off at his hotel my heart just kept saying no. I looked over to see him sleeping like a baby here. I just got to see him and I would have to leave him now, it was almost 7 already and it would be dark soon. I sighed, if only we were married, then he could stay here with me. Why were things so complicated in society? I got up to warm everything for dinner before I woke him up. I was reheating the biryani when I heard him get up, haye so this is what it would feel like waking up married to you and seeing you in the kitchen," he said coming closer and taking me into his arms, he was still just in his undershirt. I sighed "Virat, please jau go get fresh and put on your shirt, I will reheat dinner," I said nervous at what he was going to do next. I really was not used to this closeness yet. "Fine as you wish madamji, oh and thanks for the blanket, for here and back in India," he winked. I blushed hard, he wasn't making it easy for me at all to control my emotions. After we had dinner I explained to him that I had talked to mummy about him coming and that I would be giving him a ride around. I sat at the dining table with my eyes filled up knowing I wouldn't see him till tomorrow. God why was this so hard for me to leave him, it is just for tonight, I will see him tomorrow I kept telling myself. If it was this hard for me to leave him, how would I leave him when he went all the way back to India. My mind ran through about a million thoughts before I felt him take away my hands that were covering my tear stricken face. "I can catch a taxi you know, you want me to stay?"

"How do you always do that?" I asked wiping my tears.

"do what and please stop crying, I am staying until you feel better ok," he said wiping my tears

"you always figure out what I am feeling even before I tell you," I said just to have him chuckle.

"Manvi your face is filled with tears and your eyes are bloodshot red, I would be an idiot to not see that you are sad," he said pointing out the obvious.

"you know normal people would ask what is wrong, you just come directly to the conclusion," I said frustrated that he didn't answer my question.

"when I already know the answer what's the use in asking. I know I am hot and sexy, every girl would feel like this leaving me, ab kya kare, I can't make you cry na," he said smirking

I glared at him, "you know what chalo I am dropping you off, I don't need you here giving me this nonsense sympathy," I said picking up my car keys.

He held my hands down and sat me down on the sofa, "meri guse ki rani, shaant ho jau. You know normal girls ask for gifts immediately after their boyfriend arrives, ab if you aren't normal, and I am not either, see how well we complement each other," he said smiling as sat down with me. "and if you want an honest answer to your question, dil ka ristha hai humara Manvi. Hum phele dost the aur bhir pyaar hogaya lekin dono toh dil ka ristha hai na, ab dil ka ristha hai toh dil ki baat thodi chupti hai," he said looking straight into my eyes. I hugged him tightly letting myself settle into my warm embrace, "Virat I really missed you when you were in India, I am scared, I don't know if I will be able to live without you when you leave again," I said clutching onto him tightly. "Shh, Manvi, please you have to be strong. Every tear you cry here, I die a million deaths here," he said pointing to his heart. "please stop cyring, I love you so much, but you know I have to go back. "Just one more year Manvi, I promise we will never be apart once I am done with Medical School there, I will come here for my internship and we can both be together, I will talk to mom dad, mummy papa about our marriage then ok, I want to have a stable job before I ask for your hand, please Manvi," he said kissing my fingers. I pulled away and wiped my tears and nodded my head, "but after this year, you are mine Mr. Vadhera, don't forget I will be waiting," I said with my head down. He lifted my chin up and smiled seeing me blush, "tumhara pyaar meri har sas mein basa hai, toh how can I forget you," he said kissing my hand again. I wiped my tears, and got up putting my coat on, "Virat chalo, I want to drop you off, the taxis here are not safe sometimes," I said worried that it was late now. He refused to let me drive alone but I finally convinced him that it would be better than him getting a taxi this late. I got back and saw he texted me a couple minutes asking where I was. I shook my head at his concern, "Virat I am home," I said, much to his relief I could tell. Are you going to sleep, you looked tired," I said noticing that he was falling asleep even on the car ride. He barely mumbled yes and I immediately caught on that he wanted to sleep but he didn't want to hang up with me too. "Virat you go to sleep, I will see you tomorrow ok, bye," I said hanging up and letting him sleep. I cuddled up to my blanket and took in the scent; his scent was all over it. I sighed taking the intoxicating smell in again, "I love you Virat," I sighed hugging the locket he had given me in India. I fell asleep in a matter of minutes, I hadn't slept well at all since I came back from India but today I had all the comfort that I needed, his assurance that we would be together after a year and his smell all over my clothes and blanket giving me a sense of his love for me.