Kalpita couldn't concentrate on her job the next day. So much so that, she forgot to sterilize herself before getting into the operation theatre.

Their VS was just so annoyed with her irrational behaviour, that she wasn't allowed to wash for even one of the six surgeries that happened. All she did was stand with a pumpkin face and occasionally chat with the anaesthetists.
However, the VS gave up at the end of the day, owing to her sad face... and pulled her cheeks.

Kalpita.. was now on her way back home, at 8 in the night. Her legs hurt, so did her heart.

She did not really know... if she was upset with her Dad for almost compelling her to confess as soon as she could, or she was distraught over Shivaji's misinterpretations the previous day.

However, one thing she knew.

Even she, herself, was eager to read love in his eyes. For her.
And the desire grew, every passing minute.

She had seen love and lust in gazillion eyes, but witnessing the former in those deep dark pair, would mean the world to her. And she could hardly wait for that anymore..

Ganesh dropped her off below their tower and rolled over to the garage.

Kalpita pulled her body towards the lift. An unexplained malaise gripped her entire existence, and she didn't even know what the remedy could be.

Probably, a hot shower back home.

Suchandra opened the door for her. She had a pretty welcoming smile
She stared on at Kalpita intently.. as she took off the shoes.

" What? " , Kalpita eyed her silent gaze.

" Nothing. You look tired yet beautiful.
Love has hit you hard in the veins. " , Suchandra walked over to the living .

Kalpita followed her, trying to decide what she should make out of her words.

" Are they home? " , she questioned.

" Hmm.

Your Dad's taking a shower.

And, your man is out for a stroll. Says he's got a bad headache. " , Suchandra walked up the stairs.

Kalpita too followed the same course, murmuring within..

" Alone? He will lose track. He definitely will. "

" Go, be his GPS. " , Suchandra threw the words along with a smirk, and disappeared into her room.

Kalpita kept standing at the door to hers.

_____

Shivaji sat beside the swimming pool, at one edge of the compound.

He was there, only because, the place looked deserted and peaceful.

For the very first time, he didn't feel awkward or afraid. He had correctly traced the path from their tower to this place, and he would be able to get back unhindered. He braced himself.

A meeting with a potential buyer continued for hours today, at the end of which he had streams running down his cheeks. The dimly lit room and the short hands he had to do, had almost cost his eyes.
The ache shifted to the head as well.

Added to everything, pricking like a thorn somwhere, was Kalpita ji....
Why exactly, he didn't know.
Or maybe, he didn't want to.

She was not home today, throughout, had left in the morning before they did. And wasn't back even after they returned.

He had screwed up her birthday, hurt her to the extent of tears, and then he had had all those inauspicious premonitions.

He heard footsteps behind. His head slightly turned, and stopped in the position.

Kalpita walked towards him..
She had a bag in hand.

Was she directly here from work? How would she know his location even?

She reached him, and dropped on the seat beside. He still kept staring, vacantly.

No. She had been home. Drops trickled down her wet hair. And a purity oozed from her serene face.

" I searched the entire housing almost. And you're here, at the most unlikely place. Planning to impress me with a swim? " , Kalpita winked.

Shivaji smiled.
" Just because..... this place.... is empty. "

" But, you don't like empty places. Right? "

" I don't know.... what I don't like.... Kalpita ji. Specially these days...... I'm failing much... in my interpretations. "

" What's special about these days? " , Kalpita's voice sounded calm and collected.

" Mm....
You won't find answers from me..... when I'm myself dangling..... in mid air. But see.... how I made you cry.... with my misjudgements. "

Shivaji rubbed his nose and scratched his stubble, staring at the still water of the pool.

Kalpita let out a huge sigh.

She wondered, if Shivaji truly didn't realise even a bit of her emotions, after her outburst yesterday. Because, however much she claimed in anger, she knew he wasn't a fool. Not even a bit. He was innocent and.... that was his charm instead.

So, was it that, he had found something unusual regarding her...hence was talking of interpretations anyway?

Be it then.

" What's..... in that bag? " , Shivaji broke her thought process.

" Ermm....

Something special. Lol. " , she shrugged.
" I was anyway planning to find you wherever you would be, and pull you here. "

" Where? " , Shivaji raised a brow.

" To the pool.
You gotta dive today. Keep your promise. "

" Are you..... insane? It's eight thirty..... and I'll just get..... a pneumonia. "

" Shut up! It's June, not December. I got a shower back home.

And the pool remains warm till the night, because of the heat it absorbs throughout the day. "

" Kalpita ji.... You know very..... well I'm not doing this..... now. " , Shivaji got up.

Kalpita immediately pulled him back on the seat.
" You don't have a choice, okay?
Be a man, don't step back. "

" I had only said..... I would try..
That too.... never in the night.... I suppose. " , Shivaji shrieked.

" What's in time, dude? Also, when do you stay home during the day? " , Kalpita rolled eyes.

" Sunday. " , he somehow uttered.

" Bleh! On Sundays, we have the pools filled. You won't anyway ever get to here then.

Look, this is the most peaceful opportunity, I could ever provide to you, to get over your fears. Now, come on, don't be a spoilsport! "

Shivaji sadly stared at her and then at the pool.

He knew very well, that he would have to, at least, try. She would never spare him, once she had decided upon something.

" I've got dried clothes for you. Swim, in whatever you are wearing, then change to dry ones in those changer rooms. " , Kalpita pointed at the other side of the pool.

" Kalpita ji.... it's not.... necessary. " , he still tried to convince her.

" Listen Shivaji, if you don't get up right now, I'll just grab you and throw you inside the water. You won't even have a comfortable choice then. " , Kalpita glared.

Shivaji twisted his lips, rubbed his nose again, blinked thousand times over, and slowly got up.

Kalpita did too. Observing him thoroughly.

Shivaji walked over to the edge of the pool. And kept staring.

" Those are shallow waters. You can try there. " , Kalpita talked.

He immediately looked into her eyes.
Intently.

Unnerving her completely.

Woah!! He could anyday kill her with his gaze. She stared back unblinking.

" Kalpita ji... I know extremely well..... how to swim..... The only thing is.... I can't get myself to swim..... The same applies..... for both shallow..... and deep waters. "

" F... Fine!! Then....do whatever you wish.. B..But don't step back. " , Kalpita gathered herself as he shifted his eyes from her.

He inhaled deep. And took a step forward.

A sudden surge of adrenaline, almost blinded him. He could only witness himself drowning, and thousands of unseen voices screaming for life.

" Aaahhh!!! " , he stepped back with a scream.

Kalpita knew, he would take time, so, she did not move, neither held him.

He gasped and looked at her again.
" I can't do this....... Please!! "

" You have to do this!!! For yourself!!! For me!!!
You have to get over your fears!" , Kalpita shouted.

Yes, he had to do this, so that his heart remained steady enough when she confessed, and not sink in agony.

Shivaji inhaled a lung full of air, and took a few steps again to reach the edge. This time too, he could not muster even a cup of courage, to jump in, by himself.

However, not a fraction of a second, and the world turned upside down, before his eyes.

Splash!!!!!

Shivaji landed straight into the pool.

Kalpita kept standing, as she witnessed him gasp in the waters.....
..... after she pushed him with all her might.

" K... A... L.... P... " , Shivaji was still in utter shock... He couldn't even believe, he was diving in midwaters now.

However, his natural instincts soon overpowered his fear, and he began swimming. Kalpita settled near the edge, with a smirk, watching the show.

Making almost a complete round of the pool, Shivaji reached the spot where Kalpita sat, and jumped up, balancing his body against the banks.

Kalpita stood up too.

Shivaji was a completely drenched  package now, with gallons of water pouring down every inch of his body.

However, he had a heavenly smile on his face.

" Woahhh!!!! That was...... a miracle!!! " , he stared at Kalpita.

" So? Do you see how easy it is to get over the fears? Just face them. " , she crossed arms across her chest.

Shivaji did not shift the gaze from her, neither did he stop smiling. Water trickled down his hair and face. He wiped them off in vain. His white wet shirt had almost merged with his skin.

Kalpita suddenly, had to break the eyelock. And looked elsewhere than his existence.

" Thank you ..... Kalpita ji!! You're..... an angel..  " , Shivaji uttered softly.

" Erm.... It's alright. You go and change. " , she moved away from him, and spoke without even looking in his direction.

Shivaji picked up the bag that lay on the banks, and walked over to the changing rooms.

Kalpita stood, shutting her eyes, trying to calm her paced up heart.

" Kalpita ji! "

His summon threw open her eyes.

" The doors.... are locked. " , he had returned from the side of the rooms. And he looked extremely worried now.

" Ohhh..... Shit!! " , Kalpita made a face palm gesture.

" How can I..... get back..... to the house.... this way? "
He sounded panic stricken again.

Kalpita too was out of ideas. He could anyway change the shirt here, while she looked elsewhere, but how come the....trousers?

She was suddenly tensed as well, and began rubbing nails against each other.

Shivaji too returned the tension.

Meanwhile...

Plop! 

A drop hit Kalpita's shoulder.

She looked up.

The sky was overcast.

And soon, another drop.

Then another, and
...another!!! 

" Look!!! It's raining!!!! " , Kalpita screamed in joy.

Shivaji too had regained the smile.

So, god had made his own arrangements to save him from embarrassments.

Soon, Kalpita and Shivaji were both drenching in rainshowers.

" This is crazy! " , Kalpita uttered, without moving an inch.
" Also, I don't even remember the last time I drenched. "

" Indeed.....

Indeed.... " , Shivaji said. His head faced the sky, as he took in every drop of water on his face with utter precision.

Kalpita kept staring at him.

Her insides suddenly churned.

Her heart skipped several beats.

Her breath fastened.

Nothing could be a better situation, to confess her love.....

Her immense love for the individual, right in front of her eyes.

She gathered all her might, silently.

She took a few steps back..

Shivaji realised that, and looked at her now.

" Kalpita ji.....the shower's getting....stronger... let's go home. " , he suddenly remembered as if.

Kalpita ignored his words completely.

And, almost making him jump to his feet, knelt on the ground before him.

" What..... are you doing??? " , Shivaji screamed and stepped back.

Kalpita however, had a heavenly smile plastered across her lips.

She uttered,

" Shhhh!!! I don't like people talk when I'm talking.

I've got important things to say to you. And that demands only this position.

I don't like introductory speeches.

So, coming directly to the point....

All I have to say is,

I love you.

Terribly.

And you have got no choice than love me back.

Do you hear me? "

Shivaji felt, as if, the ground just slipped from below his feet.