Love is our true Destiny. We donot find the Meaning of Life by Ourselves alone, We find it with Another.

~~~~

"And get this thing Straight in your head," My Bestfriend, Mukti, Said over the Loudspeaker, "I'm not gonna wait a minute. Get ready on time Nandini, I'm telling you. I don't-

"You've told me this like a billion times," I pointed out, "Why are you so excited by the way? It's my Bachelor Trip, Not yours!"

"Yeah," She chuckled Sadly, "Unlike you, I chose my Life Partner Myself So My Parents are not so 'Meherbaan' On Me. In this case, You're lucky. Trust me, you will never forget this time of your life."

"Okay fine now, get over it." I jested. God, This girl. She's always so excited!
And Saying that, She disconnected the call and I Continued to pack my stuff. This is going to be the best time of your life. Mom's words echoed in my head. I smiled a little and Texted Mom, I'm Leaving for the Airport with Mukti, Take care and Don't worry about me. I headed towards the Parking lot and Saw Mukti Waiting for me outside the Car. She looked at me Surprisingly. I guess, She wasn't expecting me to come on time. After all, I am a Not-So-Punctual Person. "So?" I Questioned Raising an eyebrow, giving her a naughty smile to which she replied, "I'm Impressed."

We laughed and seated ourselves in the Car. To be very honest, I wasn't actually in the favor of this idea. You know, This Bachelor trip thing. But Mom and Mukti, they were after my life to go for it. The next month, I'll be Married. Married to a guy, I don't even know but I have no problem with it. After all, Marriage is important and Apparently, I have no love interests. So Yeah, Arrange Marriage is a good option for me. The Most Weird thing about this bachelor trip is that the place where I'm going to, is very unique. I mean, isn't it strange that People are not allowed to tell their identity to each other? Yeah. Like, it's a huge city within a city. Basically, It's a hotel and I am going to stay there for this trip. People book their rooms with some other name, some other identity and spend their holiday there without revealing anything about there life to anyone. Like a deal. You don't get to know me, I won't try to know you.

"Mukti, I'm Scared." I said, looking at her. She Immediately stopped the Car and Parked it in a corner. "Nandini," She began, giving me the scariest expressions as possible, "Actually you know what, Even I'm Scared"

What even!? "For Me? I Questioned, in a voice laced with confusion.

"Ya, Stupid. I mean, What if You find some other guy there? Mein Abhi Ko kia bolungi? Oh God Nandini, What will I do?" She laughed as she said that and I hit her playfully.

"Just Calm Down and Stop Over-thinking. Breathe In, Breathe out." She said, patting on my shoulder. I rolled my eyes and asked her to Start the Car. Ever since My Marriage was fixed, Mukti and Mom had been so desperate to send me on my 'Bachelor Trip' So Yeah, Let's go for it.

We reached the Airport in about an hour and After having a cup of coffee accompanied with our much needed gossip, We hugged each other I waved her a goodbye.

"B-bye Nandini, Have a good time there and Hey Please, Don't you dare look at Paraye Mard!" She literally screamed as I checked into the Airport. Oh God, knock some sense into her head. Puh-leez.

Oh shit! I Said as I Took out my cellphone and texted Mukti, But what is going to be my name?? Shit, tell me Fast!

What Name?

My 'Temporary Name'?

Oh, that. How about, Kaanta behn? :P

Mukti, Please. -.-

Go for Naina.

Cool! Thanks. 😘

On the way to my destination, I kept thinking about how I would deal with New people, New Place and that too, without anyone? Uh Nandini, Breathe In, Breathe out.

~~~~

Woah, this place is so damn beautiful! And this was the only thing I could say, in that Particular Moment. I went to the reception and the receptionist greeted me saying, "Hello, Nice to see you. Your Stay Name?"

"Namik." I heard someone saying it from behind. "Book a room on that Name." A tall handsome guy stood next to me.

Wait..What? I just kept glaring at him. The receptionist was talking to me, how the hell can he come in between of our conversation? What a mannerless person! The guy looked at me, raised an eyebrow, gave me a half crooked smile and asked, "What you lookin' at?"

I didn't say a word and I was hell angry. This was evident from my face. "Uh-Oh." He laughed, "Did I hurt you?"

Like, really now!? I looked at him angrily, open mouthed and shook my head in disbelief. "Forget it." I said, making the most disgusting face ever.

"Okay fine,I know I'm handsome but please, stop staring me like that." He smirked.

I Sighed and laughed a little. Sarcastically, though. "You wish." And saying that, I looked away.

"Too Much Attitude." He rolled his eyes.

"Atleast, I'm not Mannerless." I shot back.

"Excuse-

"Excused," I Spoke, Cutting him off. "Can you just leave now? I'm so done with this conversation."

"As if I'm dying to talk to you." He said, still looking at me. This guy was continously looking at me. I mean, it was weird af. He's done with the booking and stuff, then why the hell is he still standing here, looking at me like a crazy person? I slowly inched away, desperate to escape the Gravity of his gaze.

"Excuse me Mam, Your Stay Name?" The receptionist asked me.

"Nan-" I spoke absentmindedly. Oh, freak! I realized what did I just say. "Nandhitha." I said, covering it up. Thank God! She handed me the room keys and I turned to go to my room but that guy, was still standing there. I rolled my eyes and walked straight, pushing him a little. "What the!" He cried.

I turned back, smiled and said, "Uh-Oh. Did I hurt you?" To this, he just raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Just then, the Receptionist called me. "Excuse me, Mam."

"Yeah?" I Asked.

"Kindly leave your cell phone here. No cellphones for a week!" She declared. I had no freakin' idea about this. I was astonished to hear this. Confusion took over me and My Facial expressions literally changed at the thought of spending a week, in a new place, without my cellphone. I cursed Mukti for not revealing this important piece of information to me. "Aww, tch tch tch," that guy began, looking at me with pity in his eyes, "Mumma Pappa yaad ayenge?"

Control, Nandini. Breathe in, breathe out. I was literally about to burst with anger. Urgh! I just met this guy and he's already annoying the shit out of me. Oh lord! "Can I just send one last text, Please?"

"Okay."

I know you must be watching your favorite TV Series, sitting on that ever comfortable Sofa. I just hope you fall down and hit your head. I can't believe you did this to me. I'm SO pissed. I'll slap you on your face with a chair, once I come back. Trust me, I WILL Do that.

Despite the fact that Miles stretched between us, I could Practically see Mukti rolling her eyes reading this. And then, I exhaled, clutching the handle of my suitcase firmly, almost like my existence was contingent on it and left for my room.

I threw my stuff on the floor and stabbed the door angrily. Slowly and steadily, this trip was scaring the hell out me. I read a note that was kept on my table. It said, 7PM - Cafe Bistro.

I knew what was coming. I remembered Mukti's words when she told me about this place. So basically, they were now going to pair up two people randomly. Then, they would assign some fun and spontaneous tasks to everyone. I went to freshen up and braced myself for the epic battle that was coming my way.

~~~~

I reached the Cafe and so many people were already present there. It looked like as if we were all assembling ourselves to give an exam. That means, it was scary. So Everyone, the Guys stand on the left and the girls to the right please. A Man announced.

Girls are always right! I mumbled senselessly.

Now, Pick up a chit and Find out your Partners!

Number 12! I called out looking around me. Suddenly, Someone kept their hand on my shoulder and Said, "Number 12?"

Uh, ThankGod! I smiled like an idiot and immediately turned around saying, "Yes!"

Oh, Freak! My eyes literally jumped out of their sockets and I was standing there, stunned and astonished.
"TUM!?" We screamed in unison as we realized this pairing was terrible! "Hell, No!" He said, making a disgusted face causing my blood to boil. "Impossible!" I groaned, "Me & You? No way!" He Smiled Sarcastically and said, looking into my eye, "Exactly Ms..Whatever, Me & You? Oh Please,Give me a break!" And on that note, we moved in opposite directions.

~~~~

After wasting our time convincing the authorities to Change our partners, we left for the first task. TOGETHER.

"Hey listen," I said pointing my finger towards him, "We're not a team, Got it?"

"O Madam," He said, "Ye apna attitude na kahin aur jakar dikhao. Because Mani-" He stopped at this very word, I don't know why. He looked confused. "I mean," He began hesitatingly, "Namik Doesn't give a damn!"

"Like really now? Then you go your way and I'll go mine. We'll see who finds the most of the things!" I said, challenging him. Basically, they gave us a list of things and it was like, whichever team gets most of the things on time, Wins! "We'll see!" He said, snatching the list from my hand.

~~~~

After around two hours, I read out the last thing on my list, Fireflies. Okay now, this was hard. I was walking aimlessly on the road, trying to cheer up myself when suddenly, I screamed out of excitement. "Fireflies!" I threw away my bag and rushed to catch the little lightning bees. Just when I jumped extending my hand to catch them, I bumped into someone and we fell on the ground. "What the hell!" I cried.

"I can't believe this. I Just Can't believe this!" It was him, again.

"I was about to catch them, why did you come in between?" He yelled at me.

"To unhe catch kartay na, mujhe catch karne ki kia zaroorat thi?" I shot back.

"To unhi ko catch karne jaraha tha, Mujhe kia pata tha tum itni desperate ho mere qareeb anay ke lie."

"Oh hello, desperate to tum ho. Jabse ae ho peeche hi pargaye ho or abi to hadh he kardi, mere oopr he aa giray!" I was fuming with anger.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm down himself. "Look, it's high time now. We should work as team and find the one last thing. Understand?"

"Are you Ordering Me?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"No," He sighed, "I'm Requesting you."

"Better."

~~~~

Even after working as a team, we didn't find the fireflies. We were walking on a desolate road since hours now and our legs were just not allowing us to move further. We were hell tired so we unanimously decided to rest for a while. We sat under a tree and looked around in search of something to eat.

"I think I've seen you somewhere before." He said, looking at me.

I chuckled. "Seriously? Bohat Purana hogaya yeh. Koi new line laao."

"Do I look like an idiot? Agar mujhey tum me 0.5% bhi interest hota na, to is tarhan larta nahi tumse. I mean, pleasee. I have some standards!"

"Yeah Right, Standards." I Imitated him.

Aftee around 10 minutes, he finally said, "So, tell me about yourself?"

I looked at him, smiled a little and Questioned, "What about your standards? I mean, tumhe to mujhme 0.5% bhe interest nahi, so why are you asking?"

We laughed. This was the first time we were laughing together. It felt good. Talking to strangers was never my thing but he was different. There was something about him which attracted me towards him. I didn't know why, but I felt some connection. I know it sounds weird but like him, even I thought I have seen him somewhere. But, I just couldn't say that. I mean, he'll think I'm crazy! After talking for sometime, we didn't realize when we slept. My head was resting on his shoulder, and his on my head. Everything seemed so perfect.

~~~~

~ Don't lose out on something that could be forever just because you think the time isn't right. Sometimes, it just takes a minute for Someone to get a place inside your heart. Don't Let the moment slip away! ~

***xxx***

My First try in writing a TS, Please do leave in your comments as I am VERY Nervous about this one. This is for your birthday, Ghazna. :)

Love,

Saba. :)