6 months back:
Shravan drove like a madman. He ditched his flight to London after the realization dawned upon him that in all obviousness, Mr. Shravan Malhotra had not moved on.
He had stopped in his tracks, right before the immigration counter, when Sumo called.
"Sumo? Is everything alright?"
"Tumhara pair kaisa hai?", she had quipped, inquiring about his sprained leg.
"What?" Sharvan laughed in disbelief. "Tumne iske liye call kiya hai? Sumo, so jaao."
As Shravan continued to chuckle, Sumo cut in. "I read the letter", she sputtered.
"What letter?", Shravan asked, thoroughly confused. When there was no response, he added impatiently. "Sumo, I have to catch a flight. Could you please hurry?"
Sumo swallowed her ego, her fear, and said after taking a deep breath. "The letter you had written to me 10 years back. I read that."
Shravan was stumped. The feelings that had receded into unknown corners of his heart resurfaced at once. He remembered penning down his love for Sumo. And he remembered the rejection that had followed. His fingers tightened around the phone, as he anticipated another rejection; another joke made out of his feelings. But what happened next made Shravan weak in the knees.
"I love you, Shravan", he heard her say. A tense pause followed. "And maybe you don't. Maybe karma is getting to me. I had walked away from your love ten years back, and maybe it's my turn to get hurt now. But I don't care." Sumo's voice was hoarse, but frim. She continued, only to hear Shravan's heavy breathing on the other end. "I don't want to make a mistake again, only to regret it later. You told me you have moved on. But I have not, Shravan. The stupid girl in me did not understand that she loved you, but the woman in me does. And she is going to let you know that. I love you." She said it, loud and clear. And the very next moment, the line went blank.
Shravan couldn't move. She loved him. His Sumo loved him. Every nerve on his body was on fire, and cold as ice, all at once. He looked at his ticket, and then at his phone. "She loves me", he whispered. A huge grin spread across Shravan's face. "She loves me", he said, this time a little louder. "SHE LOVES ME!" he shouted, attracting others' attention now. He shook his head vigorously, testing if this was real. Shravan heard the microphone announce the last call for his flight. "And I love her", he said to himself, at once running back to fetch a cab.
Now, as the driver's measured speed had irritated Shravan, he had the poor guy in the passenger's seat and was himself speeding away to Sumo. His Sumo.
****
Suman was sitting on the swing, absently gazing at the stars. Her euphoria had died down by now. Currently, she just felt peace, a sort of weightlessness. She had pronounced her feelings to Shravan, and though she was extremely nervous while doing it, it did feel good. Sumo knew Shravan was gone by now. She knew how clearly he had told her that he has moved on. She was happy that at least they could renew their friendship before his departure.
She saw an aircraft fly over her. She imagined it to be Shravan's flight, and felt him fleet away from her just like the plane, getting tinier by the second. A sense of sadness gripped Suman and she decided to go back to her room and sleep.
Just as she got up, she heard the screeching of a car. After a moment of confusion, her heart began to race. Had Shravan come back? Even though she had never thought this would happen, a sliver of hope ran through her and she ran towards the gate.
And there he was. Shravan Malhotra, her lambu, paying the cabbie and unloading his luggage. He couldn't see her from there as he limped towards the gate, his bags in tow. He quietly placed them near the main door, and then stood there absently for a minute, wondering how to meet Sumo now. He had clearly not thought this through.
Suman laughed, standing at the hem of the garden. He was so cute. As she saw him trying to climb up the terrace, putting his already injured leg at risk, Suman called out, "Shravan!"
Shravan turned back, and saw Sumo. He smiled. He walked up to her, slowly, and Sumo stood there, almost dazed by his presence. The frenzy that his heart was had now calmed down at once as he took in Sumo's sight. Her earlier words rang through his hears, and he ached to hear them all over again.
Shravan was now right in front of her, towering her small frame. Their toes touched, the air between them mingled.
"Say it again", he whispered.
Suman did not respond. She was in a trance. Was he really here? Her hand instinctively reached out to touch his cheek. It perfectly fit against his face. Shravan closed his eyes at the touch.
The prick of his stubble brought Suman back to reality. She quickly pulled back her hand, turning red with embarrassment. But Shravan caught her wrist, making her transit to a deep crimson. He smiled, amused at the new, fresh shades of his Sumo.
"Say it again, he repeated, his hand still around her wrist.
"Say what?" Suman managed.
"That you love me", he whispered, edging a little closer.
Suman's breath hitched. Her throat went dry. How could she say such things when he was right there in front of her, looking at her like she was a huge plate of moong daal ka halwa?
"Say it, Sumo. Please."
The longing in his eyes, the desperation in his voice made Suman's head spin. She held his shoulder from her free hand for some much needed support. "I love you, Shravan."
Shravan felt like his entire universe has snapped back into focus, like he had been a nomad for years now, and he had finally found a place to call his own. Suman watched him smile, as his other arm snaked around her waist.
She cleared her throat. "I expect a reply."
Shravan laughed. "Didn't you read the letter?" he teased.
"But that was ten years back!" Suman whined.
"And nothing has changed in these 10 years."
For a moment, Suman was lost in his eyes. She had longed to hear those words, for Shravan to say that it was all the same. But then she was ready with a comeback. She couldn't let him win so easy. "Someone told me you had moved on?" she said, arching her eyebrows playfully.
"So I wished", Shravan said, smiling sheepishly. "Lest Ms Suman Tiwary rejects me again."
Suman whacked his arm. "Shut up, Shravan. You have to say it."
Shravan suddenly pulled her towards him by the waist, as Suman's arms automatically flew around his neck. "If I have to say it, might as well say it in style."
Suman would have rolled her eyes at his cockiness, but the proximity had her only struggling for air. Shravan leaned in, and pecked Suman's lips. "I love you", he spoke against them.
Suman felt complete. His lips on hers felt perfect, like that is where they belonged. As Shravan mouthed the words, Suman barely let him complete. She was on her toes, taking charge, and kissing Shravan urgently. On cue, he picked her up lightly, helping her reach exactly where she wants to be. Suman smiled at his action, and mumbled, "Lambu."
****
They sat on the swing, holding hands. It was half past 12. Shravan made circles on her palm from his thumb, as they both basked in the peaceful silence. It felt serene.
Their trance was interrupted by Shravan's phone. He pulled it out of his pocket. It was his Dad. They both saw the name, and anxiety cloaked their faces. Both of them were aware of Ramnath's dislike for Suman. At once, the claws of reality caught up with their dreamland.
"I have to take this", Shravan said. Suman nodded. He got up, walked up to the corner of the garden and answered his phone.
Suman watched him, his back towards her. She couldn't hear him, nor did she want to. For the night, she wanted to forget all her worries.
Shravan came back after a while, and sat beside Suman. He did not hold her hand. Suman looked at him. He wore a pensive look.
"Everything okay?"
Shravan just looked at her in return, a long endearing look. Then he took his hands in hers.
"Sumo, I'm going to be selfish. I'm going to ask you for something that may seem ridiculous. But I'm to going to ask anyway. Because I want this, I want us." Sumo nodded. In her head she knew that she would blindly say yes to whatever Shravan wants.
Shravan continued, his voice low yet earnest. "We both know how Dad feels about you, Sumo. He'd never agree to us being together. And even if I beg of him and take his consent, he'd never be happy. You know what Dad means to me, right?"
Suman saw Shravan's eyes go moist. She hated to see him this way, torn between his father and herself. "Of course I do", she said, reassuringly twining her fingers around his hands. She had seen Shravan practically worship Ramnath uncle since their childhood.
"Then you must know that I can't go against him. I never would." Suman's heart went in a standstill at those words. But then, Shravan smoothly shifted to his knees. Suman tried to hold him up, mentioning his sprained leg, but Shravan paid no heed. "But I want you", he said, looking at her with an unnerving oneness. "I want you, so bad. And so what I am asking you to do is, to be with me, and not let Dad know. I don't know for how long we may have to hide this, maybe forever. But I can't risk losing you, Sumo. Not again." He paused. He then added, very slowly. "Because if Dad asks me to leave you, I will." Shravan's voice cracked. He was looking down, unable to meet Sumo's eyes. Had he looked at her, he would have seen pain and hurt flash past her eyes, but only for a moment. Because then it was replaced by a sort of resolve, a stubbornness.
Shravan whispered, his eyes still rooted to the ground beneath. "What you deserve is unconditional love, Sumo. One which you can announce to the world and be proud of. But this is all I can give you. I'm sorry. You're free to walk away."
Suman cupped Shravan's face and made him look at her. She wiped away the tears that had dared to spill. "I don't want this unconditional love, Shravan. I want you. I have nothing to announce to the world, but only to you; that I love you."
She sat beside him, and took him in his arms. "I'll wait, Shravan. Even if it means that I have to wait forever. And until then, I'm never leaving your side." Suman was surprised at the confidence in her voice. She was scared, obviously. But her love and faith for Shravan made all the fears look small.
After a while, as they both sat in each other's' hold, Suman suddenly jumped.
"I HAVE to tell Preeti and Pushkar", she announced. "Or they'll kill us."
Shravan laughed and agreed. "Let's shock them tomorrow. Pushkar would never believe that we got past our World Wars."
Suman giggled, remembering all their fights. "Had it not been for those wars, we would never have been here."
"And anyway", Shravan said, wrapping his arms around her. "I like feisty Suman."
She slapped him lightly, only to make both of them laugh. And the couple sat there, under the moonlight and the stars, joking and laughing and kissing.
Present Day:
Suman smiled through her tears, remembering the day they had confessed their love. She had been scared, and yet ecstasy of being with Shravan had overridden all her fears.
It had been a week since Shravan had talked to her. And today, he had ambushed her. She felt terrible. She shouldn't have melted at Nirmala Aunty's pleas to let her meet Shravan for once. It was all her fault.
To end this matter once and for all, she decided to speak with Nirmala Aunty, tell her to leave them alone and go back to where she was all these years. She wouldn't listen to her explanations of how Ramnath Uncle was at fault as well. She had melted the last time, and was bearing the brunt of it. This time, she wouldn't make any such mistake.
Suman resolutely took her bag and car keys and drove off to the hotel where Nirmala was staying.
___________________________________________________________________________
Hope you guys like it! ⭐️
Anupamaa
