Since many find the names unique, here are the meaning of it. 

Osha - Shinning, Combustion

Tejas- Lustre, Brilliance 

*****

Osha returned home straight after bolting out of the cafe abruptly. Why she reacted the way she did? Was she afraid to let him speak further after the note?

"Impulsive idiot!" she muttered and jumped out of the bed. She padded to her desk. From the drawer she pulled out a small box that she had stored all those random notes she got from him.

She read each one of it, they were no more than ten pieces of notes with shorter than three lines yet they spoke how much he had noticed her. She once received a note written on a tissue paper tucked between the assorted breads of her favourites which she did not order that day.

Today's special bread platter of your favourites on me. ~ T

He had even written about a song she casually sang aloud that had a ripple effect in the café where fellow customers to sang along.

You have a wonderful voice and you led the crowd effortlessly. ~ T

Some notes written beyond her understanding.

You remind me of myself only that you are a better version of me. ~ T

Osha snapped the box shut. Why was she rereading the notes again? Did his approach affected her in a way?

She couldn't deny that she begun to anticipate those notes more than anything only because they make her feel good. But knowing that the same person who wrote it has been developing feelings for her, disturbed her consciousness.

-----

Her encounter with Tejas did not vacillate her visit to the café. She occupied the same spot like always, ordered her regular and settled with her sketch pad, drawing tools and her laptop but there has been a slight change in her activities. Changes of which her concentration wavers from her sketch pad to the man seated at the table before, every now and then.

For an attractive reason, she couldn't stop herself from stealing glances. She took detailed note of him that she failed to do on the day they officially met. Tejas had strong features of a masculine man in his lean frame, he could easily tower her with his height, a big nose, thin eyebrows, mild stubble with moustache and a heart-warming smile. So much detail, she had even sketched a portrait of him much to her surprise.

Two months had gone by and since then none exchanged a word verbally but they do see each other on a regular basis in the café. Not just see, Tejas often passes random notes as well through his waiter. At all times, he would go missing after passing the note giving her a reason to look for him without her realising.

The one-way letter conversation continued for another two months that her small box doesn't fit to hold all those small chits any longer. Osha took an effort to search for a beautiful box bigger than she had to stored the letter only to realise she was treasuring those notes.

Treasuring it like they are very dear to her, yet she doesn't speak to the person who takes an effort to scribble on those papers.

Why was she avoiding conversations with him? Perhaps, afraid she might change her mind eventually.

The following week went on with no Tejas in the cafe and no notes. When enquired, even the waiter had no idea. Osha started to worry of his wellbeing but she knew not his address nor his mobile number to check on him.

Her restlessness rocketed with each passing day with his absences and she had no means to reach him out.

By the end of third week of his absences, Osha persuaded herself that Tejas might have left the city for good. Maybe, he didn't want to see the person who had denied him for a reason so stupid for him to understand, she thought.

Feeling dejected, she walked along the footpath on a rainy day. Through the blurry vision, she noticed Tejas approaching her from the other side of the path far ahead.

Seeing him after three weeks elated her spirit, she thanked God, Tejas was fine. Unknowingly, she found herself running towards him completely ignoring the harsh rain only to stop midway.

Tangled in her thought, she stayed glued to the ground. Why was she happy to see him? What made her pray for his wellbeing? No, she should not have this thought at all. What was he to her? They aren't even friends. Perhaps, she cared for him only because he sends her thoughtful notes every week.

She was somewhat discomposed failing to apprehend what's happening in her. Something that she had been noticing since a long while now. Osha held her head in her hands, forgetting about the rain.

"Are you alright, Osha?" Tejas's baritone boomed through the loud clatters.

She shook her head in a no, keeping her eyes shut.

"Let's go inside, you are awfully drenched." He said and grabbed her arm pulling her towards a shop nearby.

"No, wait!" she yanked her hand off his grip. "I have something to ask you. Why are you worried for me?" she held her hand up, stopping him from interrupting. "No. Not now but your last few notes said the same. Why?" she asked not in anger or irritation but to know why because she too felt the same.

In a world so harsh, you will need a shoulder to lean on to. I don't want you to feel lonely. ~ T

You should start sharing. ~ T

Your art is sad, are you? You can tell me if you wish. ~ T

Some of his last notes, flashed in her mind.

"Is this a question to ask now?" he brushed his hair behind and blew the water dripping down his mouth. He tried to get her hand once again to pull her in but she took a step back.

"No, you answer me first. I'm not going anywhere." The tears dripping from her eyes camouflaged in the rain but it did not go unnoticed by the man before her.

Confusion marred his handsome face, what happened to her in his absences? He thought. But he always kept himself informed about her wellbeing from the café staffs. What could be the reason then?

"Why are you asking this now, Osha?"

"I don't know! You answer me," she sulked, confused even more as she thinks of her question again.

"Alright, because I see me in you when I started knowing more about you by watching you and of course hearing you talk to those men. You are an ambitious lady with no one to share your ideas and thoughts. Everyone shunned you because you concentrate more on your work than pleasing people around you.

How I know all this about you? Because I was you five years ago.

I always thought I can survive alone with only having my family with me. Fate proved me wrong when it took my family away from me. Everyone needs someone in every point in life, Osha. Family, friends or sometimes it's a companion.

I understood that. I don't just see me in you but I have seen myself in quite a number of people, broken and repaired. Yet I never felt what I feel for you to anyone else. God knows why am I so attracted to you.

I don't know Osha. I don't know why I care for you. All I know is, I want to live my life with you and see what the journey has got to offer. Maybe I'm seeing my better half in you."

Fluttering her eyes, she stared at him all the while as he spoke. Her tears find no end as they continued to flow out of her eyes. How much more does he know her?

'Maybe, I'm seeing my better half in you.'

She felt dizzy. Did he said, he saw her as his better half? A knot formed in her chest, she tried to read him but all she did was capturing in his beautiful features wet under the rain in her mind.

She let the darkness consume her as she shut the visual of the world. The rapid beating of her heart and the aching of a different kind was churning the hell out of her, urging her to just hug the man for knowing so much of her. The man before her seems to hold answers for all her questions yet she wants him away from her also close to her.

Opening her eyes, the same man still stood before her patiently waiting for her to respond and when she did, he was flabbergasted.

"You! You bloody hell! Because of you, my very idea of life is hanging. You came into my life like a mushroom and stuck like a stain that even if I wish I can't take you off me!

I see, you are here to stay!

But that doesn't mean I'm fine with the idea of marriage." She announced, carrying her orange saree up till her knee, she storms pass him. She couldn't handle the weird feeling swirling around her with him standing there, she had leave.

Why he filled her thoughts more than herself and her work? Why his small of a note meant a lot to her? Only the God knows because she certainly finds it hard to decipher her own feelings. But all she knew was, she isn't ready for the life that leads after the 'wife'.

A smile adorned across Tejas's face. If he had decoded her words in the right way, Osha had opened her heart for him just a little to peak in. He could sense his inner self dancing in merry as he stood stupefied. His happiness increased tenfold when he felt a pair of arms engulfed him from behind.

"You really didn't have to leave to make me understand. You idiot have taken a lot of space in my life than anyone had ever taken after my parents." She mumbled loudly.

"No! I did not leave to give you a lesson. I just wanted to spend the week in my house." Tejas skipped the details to savour the moment.

All he wanted was to sink in the feel of having someone to care for him and vice versa. They had both been on a lonely journey with themselves for long that it seems to be the right time to allow another person into their life. As they allow to walk with each other in the path of life, they would soon know their destination. Either to stay or leave.

As for now, Osha plans to stay.  

******** 

Awkward ending!
Like the awkward writer☺️☺️

Perception of marriage lies on oneself. No one is right and no one is wrong. As long as one is comfortable in any state they are in, they will be in bliss.