The morning of Teddy Day dawned, and Sharon woke up with a strange feeling in her chest. It was a mix of excitement and nervousness. After her heart-to-heart with Swayam the previous night, she couldn’t help but wonder what today would bring.
As she entered the campus, her eyes immediately scanned the area, half-expecting to see him, but he was nowhere in sight. The day had just begun, and the air was buzzing with the usual chaos. But there was something different about today—something that made her feel like it was going to be special.
She was deep in thought when suddenly, a soft voice interrupted her.
"Sharon!"
She turned to see Simmi and a few other friends rushing toward her. As they reached her, Simmi handed her a small, soft package wrapped in pastel-colored paper.
"Yeh kya hai?" Sharon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Simmi grinned mischievously. "Teddy Day, Sharon. Tumhare liye ek surprise hai!"
Sharon looked at the package in confusion but couldn’t help but smile. "Yeh sab... tum log bohot cheesy ho!"
Simmi winked. "Cheesy toh hona hi chahiye, yaar. Pyaar ka din hai!"
Sharon rolled her eyes, though a small chuckle escaped her. She slowly unwrapped the paper, revealing a small, soft teddy bear with a pink ribbon tied around its neck. It was adorable, and her heart softened just a little. But what made her smile even more was the small note attached to the teddy’s paw.
She read it quietly:
"Kuch cheezein bahut special hoti hain, jaise yeh teddy. Tumhari tarah."
Her heart skipped a beat. The handwriting was unmistakable. It was Swayam’s. Sharon bit her lip, trying to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She felt a warmth spread through her chest as she clutched the teddy tightly.
"Yeh kisne diya?" Simmi asked, her voice teasing.
Sharon, still staring at the note, muttered under her breath, "Swayam."
Simmi’s eyes widened in excitement. "Toh, tum dono ke beech kuch chal raha hai?"
Sharon quickly looked up, her cheeks turning pink. "Simmi, band kar."
But Simmi was relentless. "Arre, yeh teddy toh sab bata raha hai!"
Sharon didn’t respond, but she could feel her heart racing. She couldn’t help it. Every little thing that Swayam did made her feel something she couldn’t explain. And this teddy—it wasn’t just a gift. It was his way of showing her how much he cared, of how much he was thinking of her.
As the day progressed, Sharon found herself distracted. The teddy bear was now sitting on her desk, its little eyes staring at her. She couldn’t help but smile at it every time she passed by. It was a reminder of Swayam, of his sweet gesture, and of the way he had been quietly weaving his way into her heart.
Later in the afternoon, Sharon received a message from him:
"Meet me at our spot after class?"
She felt a flutter in her chest. There was no way she could resist. She quickly typed a reply:
"I’ll be there."
By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the day’s classes, Sharon was practically buzzing with anticipation. She walked to the spot where they had spent so many moments together—the garden behind the school, hidden away from prying eyes.
As she arrived, she spotted Swayam sitting on the bench, his back to her, a few bags scattered on the ground. He seemed to be waiting for someone, and she couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at her lips when she saw him.
When he heard her footsteps, he turned around, and the moment their eyes met, all the noise of the day seemed to fade away. There was only the two of them, standing in this little world they had created for themselves.
"Hi," Swayam said, his voice low, his eyes warm.
"Hi," Sharon replied softly, feeling her pulse quicken as she approached him.
He stood up and gestured to the bench. "Baitho."
Sharon sat down, her heart thudding in her chest. Swayam sat beside her, slightly closer than usual, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. They just sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the tranquility of the moment.
Finally, Swayam spoke. "Tumhe teddy kaisa laga?"
Sharon looked at him, her heart suddenly full. "It was sweet. But... is this your way of making me blush?"
Swayam chuckled softly. "Mujhe pata tha tum blushing type nahin ho, par maine try kiya." He looked at her with that playful glint in his eyes. "Tumhe pata hai, tumhare andar ek sweet sa side hai, Sharon."
Sharon shook her head, smiling despite herself. "I’m not sweet. You’re just turning me into a sap."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Kyun, tumhe lagta hai main sap hoon?"
Sharon tried to maintain her composure, but the tension between them was palpable. Her heart was racing, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "You’re making me feel like I’ve been hit by a love truck," she murmured, barely able to keep a straight face.
Swayam laughed, a sound that made her heart melt. "Good. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do."
He reached into his bag, pulling out a small box wrapped in a soft cloth. Sharon eyed it curiously as he handed it to her. "Aur ek surprise."
Sharon opened the box, her eyes lighting up as she saw what was inside. It was a small locket, a delicate heart-shaped pendant with her initials engraved on it. She gasped.
"Swayam..."
He smiled, watching her reaction. "Teddy ke baad, tumhe yeh bhi chahiye tha."
Sharon blinked, her fingers gently touching the locket. "This is... this is beautiful. Why the locket?"
He shrugged slightly. "Tumhare liye. Taaki tum hamesha mere saath raho, chahe tumhare paas main hoon ya nahi."
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Sharon’s heart swelled with emotions she wasn’t sure how to process. But one thing was clear—Swayam was doing everything to show her just how much she meant to him. And in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she was starting to feel the same way.
As they sat there, the sun setting behind them, Sharon finally allowed herself to feel everything she had been fighting. The soft breeze tousled her hair, and Swayam’s presence felt more real than ever.
"I think I’m starting to understand," Sharon said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Swayam looked at her, his expression serious. "Understand what?"
She looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "That... maybe I’m ready. Ready for us."
Swayam’s eyes widened slightly, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Sharon..."
"I don’t know what this is... but I want to find out. With you."
He didn’t say anything for a moment, but then his hand gently reached out to take hers, his fingers lacing with hers. "I’ve been waiting for you to say that."
And as the world around them faded into the quiet of the evening, Sharon realized that she didn’t need to be afraid of what came next. She wasn’t alone anymore.
Edited by SarafWasima - 7 months ago
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