VERY KNOWN STRANGER
"Hey Cherry...you look stunning in white.
Have a nice day with my note.
I love you.
From
Yours and only yours"
"Not again" Swara sighed as her eyes caught the note and the message over it in her locker again. She closed her eyes in frustration and irritation.
"What's that Swara? Love letter?" Ragini asked Swara seeing some paper in her hand in a teasing tone. Her eyes were filled with naughtiness and curiosity as well.
[Ragini isn't swara's sister here but is her best friend]
Swara shifted her gaze from the note to Ragini giving her unbelievable look. She shook her head hearing Ragini.
"Ragini please...already this person is getting on my nerves...now you don't start" Swara glared at Ragini once before closing the locker with the note still in her hand.
Luckily no one was there to witness that note thing, as locker room was empty. Sitting down on the bench in locker room, Swara started observing the note again to find if she could get any clue from that. To her disappointment, she couldn't figure out anything from that. It was just a paper with a very normal handwriting on it.
Ragini snatched the note from her hand and roamed her gaze on the note. "Ohhohoo...Cherry and all? Not bad Ms. Bose"Ragini grinned looking at Swara.
"Who is this lover boy? Looks like, he is head over heels in love with you." Ragini made a statement mischievously grinning widely at Swara.
Swara took back the note from her throwing deadly daggers at Ragini.
"Shut up...this is not funny Ragini...I dont know who this crazy guy is...I have been receiving these notes from two days...at first I ignored thinking this must be some prank...but this is too much now" Swara said burning in anger and frustration.
"Chill yar...someone must be joking" Ragini said trying to calm Swara down.
"I strongly hope so" Swara said annoyingly clenching her fist.
"But you never know...if someone is really head over heels in love with you" Ragini said winking at Swara before running from locker room.
"Raginiii" Swara shouted getting up but Ragini was disappeared by then. Swara roamed her fingers over the note. Her mind filled with questions and curiosities. Firstly getting into the Girl's locker room for a guy was next to impossible and even if someone gets inside then how the hell someone can open her locker without the key. She clutched her head in her hands unable to understand what the hell was happening to her.
Shrugging off all the thoughts about the notes, Swara put the note back in the locker room and made her way towards her class. Her lecture had started but she was hardly paying any sort of attention there. Her mind was occupied with the thoughts of the notes and that guy only.
As soon as their class ended, Swara went in the canteen to drink some coffee to ease her tension a little bit. Taking a sip, she searched for her phone. Not getting her phone in her bag, she tried remembering about her phone. "Ohh shit...I forgot my phone in my locker" she uttered in annoyance as her mind flashed that she forgot her phone in the locker when she kept the note back there.
She rushed to the locker room leaving her coffee unfinished. Opening her locker, she was relieved seeing her phone there. Soon her relieved expressions changed into stressed one seeing one more new note there. Taking the note in hand, she stared at the message written over it.
"Ohh my cherry...
Even in your lectures, you were lost in my thoughts...
So sweet and romantic
You make me every second to fall for you more and more...
From
Yours and only yours"
A soft smile played on her lips reading the fourth line of the note turning her cheeks slightly pinkish due to the blushing. Reality hit her soon and pushing the thoughts away, "What the hell Swara? Why are you smiling at this stupid note? Arghhh...I will kill you Mr. Whoever you are...just show me your ugly face" she muttered to herself.
"Wait a second...how did he come to know I was thinking about him in class? So it means this is someone from my class? Alright Mr. Stalker, enough of your game plans now. Be ready to get played." Swara's determination reflected in her tone with a wide grin on her face clearly showing she was up to something very mischievous.
She looked at her watch before making her way towards to basket ball court. Today it was the final match in between her class and the rival one. She was sure about getting everyone from her class there and she was indeed right. Reaching there, she roamed her gaze all over the ground to see her whole class.
"Swara...You here? Since when you started taking interest in basket ball matches" Ragini who came there by seeing Swara, asked tapping her shoulder. Swara got startled the soon she felt someone's hand on her shoulder as madam Swara were engrossed deeply in the thoughts of her Oh So Mr. Intelligent Stalker.
She took a sigh of relief seeing Ragini. She hit on Ragini's forehead saying, "Idiot. You scared me."
"Oh my goodness!!! Did you just say that I scared you? I mean seriously? Swara Bose and scared? Umm not a usual combination to witness" Ragini said again going into her dramatic zone making Swara to roll her eyes over her extremely sarcastic remark.
Swara was about to say something but crowd started cheering and shouting terribly loud as the match was almost reached to its end by then, "Sanskar Sanskar Sanskar"
"Who is this Sanskar?" Swara asked Ragini.
"New admission...joined just few days ago" Ragini answered.
Swara felt the name to be familiar to her but she couldn't remember. Shrugging off the thoughts as she had something more important to deal with, she whispered something into Ragini's ears. Ragini's eyes widen in shock as soon as she heard Swara.
"Are you sure? Look don't blame me afterwards if the plan backfires alright" Ragini told warning her about the consequences she might have to face if the things went even a bit out as expected by them.
"Yes I am sure. Only and only catching that stalker is what going into my mind now...nothing else" Swara said ignoring every other thing. Finding about her stalker was not mattered her the most at that point of time. Ragini nodded.
The match was finished and their class had won. Everyone had lifted Sanskar up and crowd was cheering for him as it was Sanskar because of whom they had won the losing match. Swara tried to see his face but he was all over covered with the students.
"Guys, guys I have to confess something." Laksh who apparently was one of the team members said a bit loudly making it audible to one and all present there. The students kept Sanskar down as everyone's attention had shifted to Laksh by then.
Seeing everyone's eyes on him, Laksh continued, "Guys, today I am going to confess my love for a girl here."
"Wohooo" everyone started cheering and making sounds for him. Everyone was eager to witness a love proposal there.
Walking a little, Laksh pulled Swara by holding her hand from the crowd. Bending down on his knees, he said still not leaving her hand, "Swara, I wanted to say this from so long. But just couldn't dare to... lekin aaj mausam bhi hai aur dastur bhi"
Ragini smacked her forehead muttering angrily, "Ye overacting ki dukan...plan fail karwakar hi manega"
Laksh continued, "I love you Swara...I love you a lot...will you be my girlfriend?" confessing to her.
Everyone's gaze stuck on Swara to hear her answer. Swara smiled at him and happily said, "Yes. I will" and they both shared a hug just like newly been GF BF. Crowd went crazy shouting and congratulated them. Swara eyes made a quick search to see the result of her plan but to her disappointment her plan seemed like failed.
"Swara...Actually I wanted your economics notes...so if you could" Neha, her friend and classmate asked her.
"Ohh sure Neha...they are in my locker...I will just get them" Swara said before she left to get her notes from the locker. Opening the locker, she searched for her notes but what she found there, drained the colour from her face. She picked up the one more note kept with a red rose there.
"Hey cherry,
So you wanted to make me jealous by pulling that childish stunt of yours?
Come on cherry, if you are so desperate to meet me, you could have told me right away rather than creating that funny drama.
Don't worry cherry I will meet you soon.
BTW the one with you post a photo by saying Happy Bday Bhai, proposes you...isn't it funny?
Don't grow up Cherry coz I love you like this only.
Your and only yours"
Swara banged her hand on the wall behind in frustration, "Since when he is stalking me? Even I forgot about that post on face book and he remembers...the post before two years. Oh god, I will get crazy for sure."
Swara was damn annoyed at the same time way too much curious to know who the person was. She took the economics notes before she closed the locker and went to give them to Neha.
NEXT DAY:
Swara entered the college. She was looking elegantly beautiful in her simple yet stunning outfit. Her hairs were open giving a final touch up to her beauty making her look absolutely breathtaking. Swara was indeed a natural beauty and she looked pretty every day but today the glow of her face was just shining as brighter as sun.
She made her way towards her class but before she could reach her class, someone pulled her from the middle of her way in the music room. Swara was startled at the same time shocked with the sudden force of someone she felt on her wrist. She gazed up to find one guys holding her hand in his soft yet strong grip.
"Who the hell are you and what the hell do you think of yourself?"She shouted on the top of her voice jerking his hand away freeing her own. She rubbed her wrist by her other hand and glared at the guy angrily.
The moment her eyes met his, anger vanished from her face unknowing to her. She wanted to scold him but she couldn't. Instead she got lost into his eyes.
On the other hand, he smiled seeing her engrossed in him. He waved his hand in front of her trying to bring her back to the earth but she was lost in him to the extent that she failed to even notice the movement of his hand even after being right in front of her eyes making him chuckle at her cutely weird behaviour. Taking a step ahead, he said a bit loudly making it audible to her lost soul,"Sanskar...I am Sanskar Maheshwari"
Swara broke her trance hearing him and got embarrassed for her recent activity. Swara being Swara, snapped back at him trying to cover her embarrassment, "Why did you pull me here Mr. Sanskar whatever?"
Sanskar smirked at her feisty attitude. Within a moment he pulled her towards him sliding his hand around her waist, "I thought you wanted to meet me Cherry."
Swara's eyes widen at the moment she heard Cherry from him. Her gaze instantly shifted towards him.
"Ohh so you are my stalker" Swara said glaring angrily at him while struggling hard to get free from Sanskar's hold.
He smirked seeing her attempts and tightened his hold more onto her. "Stalker? Naaa...I am just your lover and would be husband Mithai" he said making her to go stunned hearing him.
Swara froze at her place the moment she heard him, "What? What did you just call me?"
Sanskar smiled at her and said making a fake annoyed face,"Waise maine socha nahi tha ki meri Mithai apne Namkin ko itni jaldi bhul jayegi...But I guess I was wrong"
Tears made their way through Swara's eyes. She hugged him tightly wrapping her arms around her neck. "Oh my god...tum...yaha..." she uttered in joy and surprise to meet him.
He chuckled seeing her excitement. Pulling her out of the hug, he wiped the falling tears from her eyes. "Haan, mai yaha..."
"To ye sab tum kar rahe the? Kyu?" Swara asked him in utter confusion.
"Well, see what I have brought for you today?" he said while taking two boxes kept over the table and handing over them to Swara.
Swara raised her eyebrows not understanding him. She opened the boxes and saw her favourite sweets in one box and Sanskar's favourite Namkeen in another box. Swara shook her head in disbelief. Grinning like an idiot, she stared at Sanskar saying,"Nooo...seriously?"
All what Sanskar wanted that time was to pull her cheeks. She looked so cute in her surprised mode. "Yes my dear Cherry"
Kneeling down in front of her, he took out a ring from his pocket. It wasn't any diamond or platinum ring. It was a ring made with simple chocolate wrapper [Remember how we used to tie a chocolate wrapper around our finger like a ring in our childhood...at least I used to do]
Swara covered her mouth with both her palms unable to believe that it was reality and not her any dream. Taking Swara's hand, Sanskar made her wear that ring and said, "So Ms. Mithai, are you ready to be Mrs. Namkin?"
Swara was stunned at his proposal. She dozed back into the past.
FLASHBACK:
Five year old Swara came running to the six year old Sanskar who was busy in reading his comic book. "Namkin...Namkin..."
Sanskar's attention shifted towards Swara, "What happeneed Mithai?"
"Wo mai na...ye poochne aayi thi ke ham sach me shadi karenge na?" she asked him with curiosity filled in her big innocent eyes.
Keeping the book aside, he said, "Of course Mithai...ham jaroor shadi karenge...but tu achank kyu pooch rahi hai?"
"Aaj na mai TV dekh rahi thi...to waha pe na uss ladke ne ladki ko shadi ke liye poocha...apne knees pe jake...ekdam mast tarike se...to tum bhi sun lo...agar tumne mujhe acche se nahi poocha shadi ke liye...to mai haan nahi karne wali" Swara told him with attitude.
Sanskar narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head knowing her craze for TV serials
.
"Achha baba...mai tujhe bohot acche tarike se poochunga" he told assuring her.
"Kaise?" Swara who was too much excited and curious as well was being impatient to know how he was going to ask her.
Little Sanskar thought for a while and answered her, "Dekh tu mujhe namkeen bulati hai aur mai tujhe mithai...so jab mai tujhe shadi ke liye poochunga mai tujhe mithai aur namkin dunga as a gift...aur...aur haan mai tujhe koi normal ring nahi dunga...chocolate ke wrapper ki ring dunga...ho gaya na sabse alag, anokha aur mast proposal?" Sanskar patted his own back in proud for giving a brilliant answer.
Swara's little brain took a little time to process all the things he said. She got impressed with his idea and nodded her head in approval.
"Haan, thik hai...ese hi poochna" Swara said with a wide smile over her face.
FLASHBACK ENDS:
"Are bolo bhi...my knees are hurting." Sanskar said making a puppy face.
Swara broke her trance to see Sanskar. "Ring pehna bhi di...aur ab pooch rahe ho?" she said giggling caressing the ring in her hand lovingly.
Sanskar stood up and pulled her with a jerk towards him, "Haan bolo na please"
Swara's heart melted at his cute yet charming face and she said,"Haan"
Sanskar's lips curved into a smile and he pulled her in his embrace savouring the feel of each other. After sometime, realising something Swara pulled her out of the hug and glared at him.
"What?" He asked her raising his eyebrows not understanding her sudden reaction.
"What was the need to do all this? Stalker thing, notes and all"
"Ohh...actually when I saw you the day I came, I was about to come to talk to you...but then My Intelligent Mind told me to wait...I thought ke proposal ka wo tarika to bachpan ka tha...since, now we are grown up...I thought I should make it little more special for you...and you know the rest" Sanskar told her with a charming smile playing over his lips.
"So cherry and all haan...not bad" Swara said folding her arms to her chest quite impressed with his nicknames for her.
"Of course...and maine to aage ka bhi soch liya hai...jab hamari beti hogi na tab mai use Strawberry bulaunga" he said grinning widely at her making Swara to turn red in embarrassment. She smacked on his shoulder saying calling him Shameless and buried her face in his chest trying to hide her blush. He encircled his arms around her protectively and kissed her hairs affectionately.
They both were destined to be together from their birth. They planned to get married in their childhood. Beautiful, isn't it? Though they were too young at that time to understand the depth of their love but love doesn't see age. Love is Love. It can happen to anyone with anyone at anytime. After the time passed, they grew up. Deep inside, Swara who had given her heart to only Sanskar could never even thought in that way about anyone in her college and so did Sanskar. Later he came to make his lady as his, to confess his mature love to her, to make a special proposal to her just like she dreamed of, years ago.
Years ago, Sanskar used to live near Swara's house in Mumbai. Sanskar and Swara's parents happened to be friends. Later they shifted to USA when Sanskar was 7 years old and Swara was 6. She used to call him Namkin as he loved eating Namkin and he used to call her Mithai as she loved sweets. That's why even after hearing Sanskar Maheshwari, her mind couldn't register and connect it to her Namkin. But all these years, when they weren't together, an invisible thread had kept them connected to each other. They were not together but still hearing only Mithai from Sanskar just flashed every memory of them in front of Swara's eyes. Sanskar took so many efforts just to make the proposal special for Swara. They both were just meant to be. They were made for each other. It was written in their stars to become one someday and finally that day arrived, spreading all the colours of each other in their life making their life even more beautiful by blessing them with each other.
THE END
Anupamaa
