On this mesmerizing evening of 17th January -

I snatched away my phone from his hand, and turning around, ran inside.

My heart was beating fast because my happy hormones had lost its upper limit and the curve of my smile - the most astounding, I ever had.

"Shwetaaaa..." he called out my name, as I suddenly stopped at the threshold of my home, and turning back, it was one of the most alluring and dazzling moment, I was ever a part of.

I took a deep breath and without any control on my emotions, I ran towards him and hugged him tightly.

"Shwetaaa" - he yelled, but I was still attached to him.

"Shwetaaa"- he again exclaimed loudly, but I paid no heed to any of his calls.

"SHWETA..." he clapped loudly, and I came out of my most fascinating imaginations.

"Haan..." I was startled, as I realized that this was just a freaking dream - which every teenager might get into, 

when the teenager gets to know that, the person whom he/she likes, has a crush on him/her.

I have no idea about what was happening with him, at that particular moment, but I could simply believe on one single fact - which I had seen with my own eyes.

KEEJ a.k.a KSHITEEJ had typed the name "SHWETA KALANTRY" in the link.

"Shweta kuch toh bolo..." I could understood his dilemma.

"Kya bolu...?" I whispered this small question, very softly.

"Dekho Shweta, I know, yeh ek bohat hi zyada awkward moment ho chuka hain, mere liye bhi aur tumhare liye bhi,

Lekin mujhe ek baar sach bolke, sab clear karna hain"

I was about to say something, or rather simply calm him down, but he again continued --

Woh link mein, maine tumhara hi naam daala tha, aur uske baad mujhe pata chala, ki yeh ek  bohat bada SCAM hain (I laughed at his statement - SCAM, a little)

Phir uske baad mein, jab pata chala ki mera answer tumhare pass jaa chuka hain, toh phir I was...ahhh...scared...

Ahh...actually not scared...lekin...matlab...sab thoda awkward ho gaya tha!

You know...matlab agar tumne tumhara answer, 

unknowingly tumhare hi crush ko bata diya...toh tumhe kaisa lagega...

because at the end, woh answer mein tumhare crush ka hi naam hain!

He was simply muttering, whatever thoughts he had in his mind, and I blushed at his helplessness.

"Aur uske baad mein, main sure nahi tha, ki tum kaise react karogi, aur usse bhi zyada unsure toh iss baat ke liye tha -

ki main ab kya reply karu.

Isliye, maine kuch reply ya message nahi kiya tumko!

Aur ab, mujhe sirf sab cheeze sort karni hain! Please...

He took a deep breath and I mocked him saying - "Control Kshiteej, saans toh lele".

After 10 seconds, I replied calmly -

"Aur rahi baat cheeze SORT karne ki, toh cheeze BIGADI hi kab thi, ki sort karna pade!"

At first,  I could see a beaming smile on his face, giving him, some sort of satisfaction and giving me, a great deal of exhilaration.

I moved a little forward towards him, raised my hand and exclaimed - 

"And sometimes, it is good to be the SECRET PERSON and a SECRET KEEPER for someone!

Right Kshiteej...?"

He clasped my hand tightly, and it was a firm handshake.

"Yeah....

Definitely!" He replied.

Again a small patch of awkward silence for a few moments, and this time, he ended it, with his statement, "Tohhhh...tumhe kuch bolna nahi hain?"

I could make out his restlessness and I tried to take the advantage of the situation," Main kya bolu...?" 

"Arre...I mean...kuch reply toh dedo..." He giggled.

I purposely replied - "Kya reply doon...?"

"Arre...I mean...kuch toh bol do...thodi dilasa hi mil jaayengi mujhe..." He was very amusing as I burst out in laughter, while he still continued,

"Aur kuch nahi toh..at least itna toh bol do -

That we are okay OR we are still friends OR we are good friends..

I mean kuch toh..." Before he would complete, I began -

Kshiteej...you have no idea, that  I have a "PURE BLISS OF SOLITUDE" wali feeling in my heart, right now - because I too have a CRUSH on you!

Unfortunately, I was not sure, whether to speak this statement, or not.

Shweta...please aise shaant rehke - suspense mat badhao"

"Arre Kshiteej...we are still good friends...aur  tension mat le...main tujhse koi gussa nahi hoon!"

"So, all cool between us na?" He again questioned.

"Yes!" I answered, with a satisfactory smile on my face.

"Okay then...Bye" he left abruptly.

I was about to start a small conversation with him, but he left abruptly.

Nevertheless, I was the happiest person on the PLANET EARTH.

Secondly, I was proud and confident about myself, since this seemed to be an adventurous mission, 

A MISSION TO MAKE HIM REVEAL HIS SECRET.

To be frank, I felt OVER-POWERED (OP).

On that Sunday night, I decided that the only person, who deserves to hear one of the greatest secret of my teenage life, is none other than, the LINKED MAN himself - KABIRA.

At first, I dialed his number at 9:00pm, but I declined within a second, and thought that I will myself tell him, the entire story, whenever we meet.

"Every coin has two sides"

This time, I myself wanted to share my story with Kabir, but we never got time.

During the tuitions, we did not have lectures at the same time and after the tuitions, nowadays Mom was coming pretty early, so I left early, without having the chit-chat with my other friends, outside the institution.

However, the upcoming Thursday, was very indeed memorable.

In the evening, when I and Kshiteej met downstairs, we had an amazing talk for about 30 minutes.

I asked, about why had he written, my name, in that column of the link?

At first, he replied - "Yeh bhi koi sawaal hain?" 

Later, he answered - that I was beautiful and good in behaviour. He also stated that I was understanding and mentioned about one or two more similarities between, both of us.

Again,I had this thought in my mind, to reveal my SECRET to him -

Kshiteej, I do have a CRUSH on you!

But, my inner instincts never gave way to my outer confidence.

Later, at night, on the same particular day, I decided that once I share my secret with KABIR, I will reveal it to KSHITEEJ, as well.

On 24th January, I called Kabir and informed him, to meet me downstairs on 25th January at 7:00pm, as soon as he comes home, from his tuitions.

Since we have a Republic Day holiday on 26th, so we would not be in a hurry.

It seemed like a prior appointment and he heartily agreed to it.

Finally, on 25th January, 7:00pm, I waited for KABIRA.

As you know, that the Yellow Patch is Kabir's home, I was anxiously waiting for him.

At 7:05pm, when he walked through main road, turning right and entering my lane (my home = RED PATCH),

my excitement increased.

I rushed outside, and as soon as he reached, he himself yelled - 

"Kaunsa secret batana hain, jaldi bata.

Mujhe bohat zyada excitement ho rahi hain!"

I was indeed proud at the fact, that he was as excited as me, to hear my secret story.

I controlled my emotions, and framing the words properly in my mind, I spoke -

"Kabir...ek baat bata-

Woh joh crush ki link, tune mujhe send ki thi, tune woh Kshiteej ko bhi send ki thi?"

Instantaneously, he laughed and replied," Pagal hain kya, usko kyu send karunga!"

This seemed to be a mocking reply, for no reason, and suddenly the smile on Kabir's face after answering my question, faded into a look of committing mistake/revealing mistake.

"Matlab!

Tu usko kyu nahi send kar sakta?" I questioned him back.

"Arre...matlab...ahhh" I could easily sense, that he was trying to make some reasons in his mind.

"Main usko kyu send karunga...?" His reply was not satisfactory.

"Tu usko KYU NAHI send karenga!" I screeched.

"Kabir, yeh mujhe bhi pata hain aur tujhe bhi, ki tu aur Kshiteej - best friends hain!"

"Toh I am sure...tu usko toh send karega hi na!"

Now, it was clear - that he was caught.

"Woh actually Shweta..." he giggled a little and then, solemnly spoke -

"Maine tujhse ek baat chupai hain!"

Now, my in-built confidence from last 7 days, prior to my conversation with Kshiteej -

This confidence seemed to be seeping down.

"Kya Kabir...?" I muttered.

At first, he couldn't control his laughter, but later he stated - 

"Par pehle promise kar, ki tu gussa nahi hongi!"

Ideally, both of us had met, for me to reveal my secret story, 

but unlikely to the plan, this time, I was the one, listening to Kabir's secret story.

Anxiously, I commented - 

"Haan thike...par pehle tu bol toh sahi..." 

He took a deep breath and began - 

"Woh actually,

yeh link mujhe..."

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER