Accidental Soulmates (epilogue - Page 14)

Accidental Soul mates

She ran inside her house, shouted "Hello mom" and ran up to her room. "What's the rush, beta."

"I have to study, mom "she lied.

She couldn't wait to check her messages. She did not want to do it at college because her friends had no concept of privacy and she wanted to keep this all to herself for a while. Yes she knew all the dangers of cyber criminals and stranger danger but she couldn't help herself. She really felt excited to chat to this guy.

It started last night. She received a message from an unknown number.

"Hi, how are you?"

"Who are you?"

"It's Yash, you idiot. Can't you see my number?"

"I don't know any Yash."

"Who is this."
"My name is Aarti."

"Aarti Who?"

"You don't know me."

"Wow that is an interesting surname. Now I'm intrigued. So Miss You don't know me, are you interested in knowing a Yash."

At this point she would have ended the conversation but she doesn't know what made her carry on.

"How do you know I am a miss?"

"Are you not?"

"I am."

"I must be physic."

"Who is the idiot now?"

"Touche. So what is your answer?

"To what."

"Do you care to know me? You see I am bored and was hoping to chat to my friend back in India and the idiot clearly gave me the wrong number."

"Where are you?"

"South-Africa. Answer the question, Miss YDKM.

She smiled at that.

"Ok, I will humour you, although I don't really chat to strangers. What are doing in S-A."

"Working."

"Where are from originally. Mumbai India."

"What kind of work do you do?"

"Wedding planning"

"How long are you in S-A for?"

"I will probably be home in 2 months."

"Do you like it there?"

"It's ok. I don't get to see much. I am busy with my clients all the time so I don't get much time for sightseeing." I will try to do some when the job is done. By the way, who is chatting up who now Miss YDKM. Or are you just a nosey parker.

"Well you asked if I wanted to know you, so I am getting to know you."

"Touche."

"Stop saying that. It's irritating."

"Well excuse me. Nosey and bossy."

She was enjoying this now.

"So bossy boots, what do you do?"

"I am a final year student in interior design."

"Are you any good?"

"The best"

"So nosey, bossy and conceited."

"It's not conceit if it's true." She was shocked at herself. She is normally very modest, although she was good. This guy was bringing out a new Aarti."

"How old are you Miss YDKM, I just want to establish if you are sexual predator that wants to steal my virtue."

She laughed out loud now.

"I will tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"26"

"21"

"Baby"

"Old man."

"Why don't you have a profile pic."

"Why don't you."

"I choose not to. You see, when girls see me they all swoon at my good looks."

"Very modest I see."

"Always. So what about you.

"I am not as gorgeous as you so I prefer not to have one."

"Pity, I would have loved to see what you look like. Shall we exchange pics"

"No thank you. I really don't want to swoon. So are you still bored?"

"Nope. Thank for the chat Miss YDKN"

"No problem. I have to study now, I have exams tomorrow. Good night"

"Good luck, chat soon."

She checked her phone, but there was no message. She felt so disappointed.

How soon was soon?

Part 2

Yash was finally sitting down. He had waited for this moment for 2 days. He was about to contact her the very next day, but just as he reached for his phone, it rang. It was the bride's mother changing everything that was decided that day. After that, he had to call the grooms parents and when he was done, it was too late to send her a message. These people made his life hell again the next day, driving around from venue to venue, without making a decision. He was so tired that he literally fell into bed, with his clothes when he reached the apartment he was renting. Finally the 2 matriarchs agreed on a venue and he was allowed to leave early. Well earlier than usual so he could finally send her a message.

"Hello, Miss YDKM.

He could see the message had been read but she was not responding.

"Hellooo"

Again, no response.

"Come on please talk to me. I know you are there. Please chat to me. Pretty Please.😭

"So you think that you can contact me after 2 days and expect me just to wait on you, and be ready at your beck and call." Finally a response.

Yash grinned.

"So nosey, bossy, conceited and a mind reader"

"Good bye."

"I have had the worst 2 days of my life I am tired and I really miss home. These clients are the worst. I need a friendly chat buddy. Pretty please with a cherry on top"😃

"OK, but don't let it happen again." She had a smile on her face.

"Promise."

"So, how did the exams go?"

"Good thanks. My final results should be out soon and I have been offered an internship at company here in Bhopal. I am very excited about that.

"They will be lucky to have you seeing as you are the best, or so I've been told."

"Sarcasm does not become you. So tell me what these horrible people are doing to poor my poor Yash."

Oops, it was sent before she could think about it. She held her breath.

"They are torturing me, I tell you. The 2 mothers can't agree on anything and I have to run around arranging things and keep the peace. And when I need a little TLC, my girl ignores me. I hope you feel ashamed of yourself. "

He liked it that she referred to him as his Yash and her wanted her to know it.

She had butterflies in her stomach and she didn't even really know him.

"I'm sorry. "

"Forgiven, but don't let it happen again ;)

This continued for the 2 months that Yash was South-Africa. However in that time they still did not exchange pics or surnames.

They lived for their chats.

Yash was finally on his way home. She was excited as he was to visit her in Bhopal as soon as he has spent a suitable amount of time with his family.

She told him to contact her as soon as he had arrived in Mumbai.

He never did. She tried to contact him but her messages were never read.

She even tried to call but the subscriber was unavailable.

She cried for a long time.

A month later she had started her internship and she had finally agreed to a proposal from a guy that lives in Mumbai, Prashant Dubey. At this point she really did not care who she got married to. They were in Mumbai to meet with her intended in-laws this weekend and attend a wedding. But right now she was at the beach waiting on her best friend Mansi.

Mansi's had modern parents so she was allowed to accept a job in Mumbai and live in a flat on her own. She was already waiting for half an hour. Typical Mansi she thought. She was eating her ice-cream cone and turned around to find a bench to sit on. She knocked into someone's hard chest. There was chocolate ice-cream smeared all over his white shirt.

"I'm so sorry" she said and tried to wipe it with her scarf and this just made it worse.

"It's fine." He said. His amazing voice made her look up finally. Om my word he was gorgeous.

She is beautiful. She has the most amazing eyes he thought. I can't let her go just yet.

Their hearts recognised each other.

"Let me buy you another ice-cream."

"No, I messed on your shirt, so let me buy you an ice-cream"

"Ok" - anything to spend some more time with her. They walked back to the ice-cream vendor.

She bought the ice-cream and asked,

"Why are you at the beach with a laptop and formal wear?"

It sounds like something Aarti would say he thought and his eyes became sad.

He missed not speaking to her, he missed her. But there was something about this girl that attracted him.

"What's wrong? Was it something that I said?"

"No. I am fine. I had a meeting nearby. It's such a lovely day, so I decided to take a walk. I am glad I did" he said looking at her.

Aarti blushed.

"What are you doing here alone?" he asked.

"Waiting for my friend. As usual she has no sense of time."

"I would never make you wait" did her really just say that to girl that he just met.

They eyes met and locked.

"AK! AK!" she heard Mansi's voice penetrate the trance she was in.

Aarti broke the eye lock. "Mansi, she shouted, excitedly!

"That's my friend, good bye." And she ran to Mansi.

"What's your name?" he called after her but she was already out of ear shot.

"Aarti Khuranna, you are shameless. You are betrothed and you are making eyes at that handsome stranger." Joked Mansi.

"Don't talk nonsense, Mansi. Why did you make me wait so long?" and they continued with their girl talk.

Yash was at home in his bedroom, thinking about what has happened this last month. He was so excited to go home, he was finally going to meet her in a week or two. When he reached home, he was shattered and angry. His father had arranged a marriage for him with the daughter of one of his associates. He tried to speak to his parents but they were adamant that it was a good match and they had already accepted on his behalf. They could not go back on their word now. He had decided to break all contact with Aarti because he didn't know that he could fulfil his parents' wishes if he contacted her again. He was not sure if he could stay away from her. His heart was broken for a girl that he has never met. And today, he saw that beautiful girl at the beach. Now he could not stop thinking about her either. What was wrong with him? He was getting engaged soon.

Aarti was feeling bored at the wedding that they were attending. Prashant was there, but he was with his friends and she did not feel like keeping company with her parents.

She walked outside the hotel and went to sit down on a bench in the deserted garden. She wished that she asked for his picture now. What if she had met him here in Mumbai and she didn't even know what he looked like. She still missed him so much. And then the image of the guy she met at the beach popped into her head. He was so handsome. He made her feel funny and tingly every time she thought of him.

What is she thinking of, she is getting married to Prashant.

Yash stepped outside the venue to take an important call. When he finished the call, he was about to go back into the venue to check if everything was still running smoothly, when he spotted a lone figure on the bench. It was her! The beauty from the beach. His heart lurched.

He couldn't help himself. He started to walk towards her. She was deep in thought and didn't notice him till he was almost right in front of her. When she eventually looked up, she couldn't believe he was here. The handsome stranger from the beach. They moved to each other as if in a trance, stared at each other, helplessly. He took her in his arms and kissed her. She kissed him. They were lost in each other. Devouring each other. Their hearts hammering in their chests. Neither wanting to stop yet both knowing that it couldn't be. She was the first one to come to her senses, she pulled out of the embrace and ran.