Inder: Lo Virat, aagai tumhari Manvi, ab toh khana kau he said smiling at him

I blushed hard hearing papa say tumhari manvi. Mabye telling them wouldn't be so bad. I looked at mummy's suspicious eyes and shuddered, no it still wasn't time yet I told myself quivering at mummy's expression.

We ate dinner and headed back to our rooms. I walked in my room to see Virat sitting on my bed.

"Manvi, this is my room now, Aunty told me to stay here," he said smiling. I started to head out when I felt his grip, "rukogi nahi." I looked back at his glimmering eyes and was lost immediately. He picked me up locking the door and set me on the bed. "Missed me today," he said casually," as he settled down on the chair. "Yes but you know what, I realized I am so busy that I probably won't even realize the year passing by, I didn't even have time to text you?" I said pouting.

He shook his head. "Do you think I care Manvi. The only thing that concerns me is hearing Dr. Manvi Chaudhary in 2 more years that is your main focus not me got it? I am glad you finally see my side of the story. We are both so busy with medical school, it's not the right time for us to be worried about marriage, I promise after our internship starts next year tum se shaadi karne khud US aaunga ok" he said cupping my face. I glared at him.

"Excuse me, who said you could decide we could have a US wedding, the wedding is in India and that is final!" I sad almost shouting as I crossed my hands.

I looked over to see why he wasn't trying to reconcile me when I saw him at the door unlocking it.

"Manvi tum toh marwaugi aaj mujhe," he said as he sent checked outside to see if mummy and papa were sleeping. I bit my lip realizing the situation and looked down embarrassed.

"woh sorry," I said nervously as I headed out to leave.

"oye madam senti, its ok ab itni hot hot boyfriend hai toh how can you stay away?" he said

"Virat beta," I heard mummy come down the hall and gripped his hand in fear. He let go and smiled and mummy. "Aunty woh Manvi was just giving me a hard time because I was in her room," he said swiftly.

"Manvi tu bhi na, go and sleep in the other room, chal apna saman jaldi nikalo," she said walking away.

We talked for a while before I slipped out. I smiled at the picture I took in India, it was still on my phone. I sighed and called Jeevika di.

Jeevika: "Boliye Devrani ji, kaise hai aap, waise I lost the bet, I was counting on you to play hard to get Manvi."

Manvi: Dddi, aap kya bol rehe hai, aap ko kaise pata aur yeh bet? I said not believing what I just heard Virat promised he wouldn't tell anyone.

Jeevika: Kaise pata kya matlab, Virat sirf aap ka hai kya?

Manvi: He wouldn't he didn't, di I will call you later," I said completely embarrassed as I hung up the phone.

I was so mad at him. He promised me so sweetly that he wouldn't tell anyone without me comfortable. I hadn't even told mummy and papa and here he was sharing it with his entire family. It was just a stupid bet, he didn't love me; he was just winning a bet with bhabhi. I threw my phone at the wall and began crying out of anger and hurt. I trusted him so much. I felt tricked. He was just saying these things in front of me to make me feel special and he was doing the exact opposite behind my back. I heard a knock on the door and looked to see him standing there looking confused.

"Manvi whats wrong, tumhara phone, its broken and in the hallway, why did you throw it," he asked inching towards me slowly.

"wahi rukho Virat, you have no right to come any closer. ," I said almost shouting at him.

"what? Are you ok Manvi, you yourself told me a couple weeks ago only I had the right," he said looking utterly confused.

"There is a big difference between now and then. I was so stupid to believe every single thing you told me. I talked to bhabhi, I know everything about your bet, you can leave me now you won. You promised me you wouldn't say a thing. Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was when she called me devraniji. You just had to tell her na. Who else did you tell, uncle, aunty, I am sure you told all of them. Its over Virat, chale jau yaha se. I understand exactly who you are. You just preteneded to be so sweet and you were doing this all behind my back, I trusted you Virat, more than I trusted myself and you broke me completely. Ek baat kan khol ke sun lo, tum ne bet toh jeet gaya lekin mujhe haar gaye, mere vishwas ko har gaye. Chale jau abhi isi waqt. I shouted as I slammed the door in his face.

I heard him walk away and sighed. How could I have been so stupid? I cried myself to sleep as I held his picture close to my chest. "I love you Virat, I love you, please wapas aajau, please tell me it's a lie," I mumbled still crying.

I heard a small knock on the door and looked at it and sighed knowing it was him.

"Manvi please open the door, just once please," he said helplessly

"Manvi mein mar jaunga tumhari bina, I love you please, tumhe meri kasam darwasa kholo." He whispered again.

I felt the tears cascading down my cheeks as I opened the door. It was a matter of seconds before he closed the door locking it before setting me down the bed as he kneeled down in front of me with the box I put the ring in.

I just want to give this to you. I saw you put it back in the box before we left Chicago.

"Manvi you can keep it, I would never think of giving this to anyone other than you and I hope you can understand that. I talked to bhabhi, she had a bet with bhai, that's what she was talking about, I promise I had no bet with her. I love you genuinely and I always will.

He held my hand looking straight into my eyes.

"I love you, and there is nothing else I can say or do to prove this, I just do. I told you before and I told you know, the decision is yours. I just hope you can forgive me if I make any mistake and promise me you won't leave me. You taught me how to love, how to live, and now I don't think I could live my life without you. I am leaving you with the decision but just know that whatever your decision is I will love you regardless.

He left and I locked my room and opened my box, it was the picture of me and him that he took on his phone in a small frame along with my engagement ring.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together. There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you. When you feel alone, just look at the spaces between your fingers, remember that in those spaces you can see my fingers locked with yours forever"

This one year without you will be hard for me and you both, but remember I will never leave your side. My heart is with you and it always will be. Whenever you feel down or need support, just remember I will always be at your side holding your hands through everything. True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes. I love you and no distance can change that. I love you now and I love you forever.

Tumhara Babu

I smiled at the end at the note. His note was so heart touching and he even included the name that I always wanted to call him. "Babu, mera babu," I said hugging the note. My heart sank thinking of how I treated him, how I doubted him. I opened the door to my bedroom to see him asleep in his room hugging my picture. His eyes were moist, I could tell he was crying. I sighed and moved the picture out of his hands setting on the table as I locked the door. I settled myself into his arms and he immediately opened his eyes gripping me tightly.

"Mmanvi, am I dreaming, I promise it wasn't a bet" he whispered gripping me tighter.

I kissed his cheek and felt him grip me tigther.

"can you stay here tonight," he mumbled as caressing my hair. "I missed you so much, please don't do that to me again," he said resting his chin on my head now.

"I am sorry," I started

"shh," he stopped me before I could even start. "lets sleep baby, jo ho gaya so ho gaya, I want to be happy with you now and not remember these past couple of hours," he said finally relaxing.

"I love you babu," I said snuggling into his arms. There was nothing he wouldn't do for me, he even left me just respecting my decision. These past couple of hours made me realize how true his love was for me, I was here so mad at him and all he wanted was my happiness. I sighed in his arms and we both fell into a deep sleep, my hand on his heart and his hand on my hair caressing it while the other hand never left my waist, keeping me close against him; giving me assurance we were together forever, he would never leave my side.

nimi002014-03-02 21:56:43