Suman was rolling over her bed all through the night.. It was horrible to be awaken  without screening her lids , even for  a second .. At the same time, it was a kind of joy she never had before. 

What happened to me? Why am I feeling so different?

she couldn ' t  find the answer even though she knew the reason....She recalled her days when she didin't come accross with Shravan..Those days were equally beautiful with her daily routines where she would always engaged in solving cases and travelling to some where to inquire something.. Her rest of the days would be loaded with fun and frolic with Maya and her friends.  Those moments ... she forgot them easily  in recent days.. Fortunately or Unfortunately , she didn' t had such deep cases to solve with.. Naturally, she got gelled with Shravan  and she began to long to be with him..

 After so many attempts , she drifted off....

" Suman.. Suman.."

She heard his voice whispering softly to her ears.. The voice  was deep and passionate...

 " Shravan.. ! " , She got up in a wink...

Looking around, she hid her face beneath the pillow , embarrassed...

Slowly, she got up and wrapped herself with the shawl.. She walked to the balcony and looked the sky ... deep into the sky...

He came at her back and stood so close to her..

Whispering her name huskily, he embraced her .. 

' Sh...Sh... Shravan...!'

She clenched her eyes, blushing hard..Suddenly, he vanished..!

Where is he?

There is no one.. 

Huuuh... You are a fool Sumo...How he would come here ? You have gone crazy..!

She   was restless.. uncomfortable... irrritated.. annoyed..finally, decided to be calm..

Sumo .. Your profession is your partner.. Don't give room to such feelings.. That will destroy  your personal growth..Go somewhere and spend some time   with your passion.. Paint or sketch what your heart says.. who knows ? You may forget Shravan and  all these emotions ...

 Like all the love sick people, she too was destined  to be alone.. temporarily..

                                 ***********************************

Morning wasn' t early for her..While coming down from her room , she got dressed up for a picnic, had luggage  for a week..

 " Suman beta... Where are you going? You didn't tell me anything?"

Suman  hugged Priya..." mom.. an unplanned tour ... will be back in three days ..."

" But .. "

Before she would ask anything, Suman kissed her cheeks and ran to the car...

 she huffed after igniting  the engine.. But, she don't know that this journey would be a gamechanger of her life...

Firstly, She switched off her mobile phone..Secondly , she plugged in to her favorite rhythms..

 She opted to book  a  cottage at countryside along the coastal region..

done!!

She fell on the cozy bed and slept well ...

When she woke up, she took the canvas to paint...

Her hand moved freely without any hesitation in the canvas.. the strokes were clear .. The colors were vibrant...She drew the picture  from her heart...She spent painting unaware of the time . At the end, she stood  one step back and looked at the picture...

The word shock would be little to express her status...She eyed the picture suspiciously in disbelief..

The picture was perfect.. There were cedar and pine trees around .. The sun rays were sneaking inside the dark hued  ambiance.. There was a man who was leaning at  the woman's shoulders. He was crying  but his face was calm...

It was Shravan and the woman he leaned on was she , herself...

Involuntarily, a lone tear drop rolled down her eyes...

What have I  done?  Why I painted this scene? What my heart tries to tell me? Look at him.. He is terrified..  He felt comfortable at my shoulders.. He had peace in my proximity.. He unveiled the truth which he never had opened to anyone in his life so far.. Doesn' t  it say that he considers you as special? 

Leave him.. ..  on that day .. When he was at shock ,Why did you cry? Why you couldn 't spare his pain?  because, you liked him and that was the point you started to love him... accept it... 

 Her mind shot questions at her... 

" acknowledge what you feel suman.. Thats fine.." Maya's  words hit her mind...

Yes .. I do love him..  I promised him that he's not going to have that nightmare again.. He needs me... He needs my shoulders to lean... i dont mind what hell of the situations and career  going to be.., i am going to confess my love to him..

 She packed the luggage and checked out...

                             ***************************************

" Shravan...Where are you?"   

" Hey... Suman.. Where are you?"

His sound echoed excited at the other end of the phone..

" It was an emergency trip ... I couldn ' t inform you.. sorry.."

lie...

" Its okay ...  When are you coming home? I couldn't reach you by call.. I was scared... "

 She huffed.. " I saw them.. forty missed calls... fifty texts ... seven voice messages..in eighteen hours."

There was a momentary silence.. 

" Shravan.. Are you there?"

" yes.. I am here only .. it's you ,  who have gone away..."

" sorry",  She apologized.." now, tell me... where are you? I wanted to see you immediately"

" anything important? I am at the beach now "

" Be there .. I am on my way.."

" I am waiting Suman"

 Those  words seemed to be so soft...which had silent meaning...

                                     *****************

When she reached the beach, the day began to fall down..she couldn't  find his car  at his usual parking area...

 The beach is crowded with people who had evening jogging and walking..  The vendors were busy with their work... A boy  was building sandcastle ....a girl ,  must be his sister was helping him. Suman walked across the beach scenario and threw her eyesight at every nook and corner in search of shravan...

 When she located him, the love she had on him turned into fury..

He was laughing at a girl who was sitting beside  him...

 how dare he ?!?

She walked fast to him..  She wanted to grasp  his shirt collars and slap him for betraying her...

but.. wait.. Who are they? My goodness... 

Those girls must be Anu's friends..  Shravan 's  friends were with them..  Suman didn't notice them . 

 She stopped and scolded  herself for suspecting shravan..

  while she was thinking, shravan saw her  and waved his hands .. He got up and walked towards her with his charming smile..

  Suman's heart beat skipped .. her breath hitched.. she felt like fainting...

 How am I going to propose you shravan...?

 she felt like the goddamn earth stopped relolution...