PRESENT:-

I looked at my City, as I walked around the streets. Whole city was asleep, as it was around midnight. The road bathed in the bright moonlight, the moon seemed like smiling, in its beautiful crescent shape.

Dogs started barking and cats hissed at me. They knew who I was. Thank God, animals couldn't talk. I sat on one of the pavements of a shop and cuddled a black cat which was already lying there lazily. Her eyes were closed and she purred when I caressed her ears gently. But, as soon as her eyes opened, a strange light shot through her eyes, which caused me to close mine. At some point, it became unbearable, that I had to leave that place. Since, that moment I made up my mind 'Stay away from Cats!'

The next morning, I came in front of a really big, building. Well I was very familiar to that building, as it was my Vikram's company. All those memories came rushing, as I stepped inside the building, a car came towards me in full speed and ran over my right leg. Nothing happened to me though, but the driver of the car was horrified. I quickly escaped from there without reacting much to that situation.

I went inside the building, and asked for Vikram at the reception. They said Vikram will be here any second. Vikram's always been punctual. I still remember the day I met him. He came in my orphanage to spend his birthday, he was really comfortable among children, he also gave gifts to everyone, including me. I fell in love with his giving nature, he loved children. I couldn't point out any flaws in him, he was absolutely perfect. But at that point, I never thought I would ever start a relationship with him because, he was a big, successful, dignified businessman while I was just a mere social worker and an 'orphan'.

He became a regular visitor in our orphanage, I had already fallen in love with him since the day I saw him, love at first sight was the new thing I had started to believe. We often found ourselves stealing glances of each other. Things improved between us when he visited on the occasion of Diwali festival. He bought so many gifts, food for everyone as usual. He looked so handsome in the traditional attire.

I was hiding from the noise of crackers, as I was afraid of firecrackers. He came there to keep some of the boxes he had bought. He smiled and I smiled back.

"Happy Diwali!" He said as he held his hand to shake mine. But I was too shy that I ended up doing a 'Namaste' gesture. He followed my gesture and did the same.

"Why are you standing here? Don't you want to burst crackers?" He asked.

"No! I am too afraid to burst them, I don't like crackers." I said.

"Okay! But at least come outside, don't stay here alone." He said.

I nodded and went after him but the sound of a 'sutli bomb' (a type of firecracker which sounds like actual bomb explosion after being burst.) pierced my ears causing me to hold his hand tightly. He was surprised as me. "I am so sorry!" I backed off. Before he could say anything, I ran away from there. He just kept staring at me. I actually felt like hiding myself somewhere.

"Shreya beta (child)! Where were you? You are supposed to welcome the guests!" I bumped into our Yamuna aunty.

"I was just..." I began to speak but Vikram came inside, causing me to shut up.

"Vikram beta! How are you?" Yamuna aunty asked him.

"I am fine chachi (Aunty), happy diwali!" He said touching her feet.

"May God bless you beta." She blessed him.

"So how's the decoration? Our Shreya here has done all the arrangements specially for you, she has been working really hard since yesterday." She said causing me to look down.

"Yes indeed, everything's beautiful here." He said looking at me with a mischievous smile on his face. I blushed immediately and ran inside. I could hear laughing behind me.

I couldn't stop smiling at the way he was looking at me. "Shreya!" His voice fell on my ears and I turned around to look at him. He had a big red gift box in his hand. "Yes!" I spoke.

He came towards me and placed that gift in my hand. "Shreya! This is for you."

I backed off, "Mr. Vikram, I can't take this."

"Shreya! Let me finish." He cut me off.

"Shreya, this is not just an ordinary diwali gift, I need you to open it now."

"But Mr. Vikram, I..." I spoke,

"Please, I insist, open it for me." He said.

"Fine" I said as I opened the gift, my eyes widened as he gifted me a beautiful red silk saree, with little golden dots on it. It was so pretty. Along with the saree, there was a set of things which a girl has ever dreamt of since her childhood. It had gold bangles, earrings, necklace, a packet of bindi, lipstick, nail polish, and lastly a small box of sindoor (vermilion). It all left me absolutely speechless.

"Shreya, in our culture, when a boy really likes a girl so much to an extent where he cannot think of any other person to spend his whole life, he proposes to her, giving her all the things which are believed to be the signs of saubhagya (good luck.) Shreya, with all due respect, I want to offer those things to you." He said, bringing tears to my eyes as no one had ever treated me like this. Those were happy tears.

Vikram wiped away a tear which had successfully escaped my eye. "Shreya! What happened! Did I hurt you, tell me." He asked.

"No no, I am sorry, you did nothing, they are happy tears Mr. Vikram, I didn't even expected this in my dream and all of a sudden it came like a surprise." I said.

"Okay, and please call me Vikram." He said. I stayed quiet looking at all the items he had gifted me. From the inside, I was so happy but a sense of nervousness was still there. Vikram was too good for me, and I on the other hand had no goal in life besides my NGO.

"Shreya! I am not in a hurry to hear your decision, you can take all the time you need."

"I think I've already made my decision since the day I saw you Mr. Vikram." I said to which he smiled beautifully.

"Oh Shreya! You don't know, how much happy you've made me. Even, I started loving you since the day I saw you. Most importantly, you are not just beautiful from outside but from the inside too. I fell in love with your helping nature, the way you are helping people is so divine. I love you Shreya! Will you marry me?" He asked.

Everything was just like a dream for me, this Diwali was way too special for me. More than him, I fell in love with his unique style of proposing. Without wasting any more time, I said, "Yes of course, I love you too Vikram." We both hugged, I never wanted to leave his sweet embrace until we heard applause behind us. We quickly moved away from each other, I was almost red as a tomato while Vikram only smiled cutely. That day was a landmark in our relationship.

My eyes were moist, thinking of that precious day. Too bad I didn't even get to kiss him. Let's see if get that chance, I ain't losing this chance at any cost. I looked around the corridors of the office building. I couldn't help but notice, the receptionist was staring at me suspiciously. I froze, did she knows that I am a ghost? I dodged her gaze by taking a magazine from the book shelf. It was a boring business magazine. I heard a loud noise of car brakes screeching, I threw the magazine away and looked towards the entrance. The environment around me became warmer as I saw Vikram entering the building. I froze in my place just like a statue. I kept staring at him until he went up through the elevator. The expressions on his face were neutral, just like a robot. It was so hard to see him like this, Vikram would always smile no matter what, and now, he just seems so upset. I knew very well, I am the reason for his sadness. I don't know if I could ever forgive myself for making him this sad that he would forget what is laughing. I wiped away my tears.

Crap! Now I will have to take the stairs. All this time, I have really understood the importance of stairs in my life or death! I quickly reached on his floor within seconds. There was one more receptionist sitting filing her nails. She jerked back to her work when she saw Vikram entering. I just kept looking at him, he looked so handsome in his regular suit. I missed him so much, I wanted him in my arms. The receptionist glanced at me, "Are you alright miss?" She asked me.

"Huh! Oh yeah I am fine, I had to take the stairs that's why!" I tried to act as normal as possible.

"Oh! Do you have appointment?" She asked.

"Yes! I have it, just got it this midnight. I mean morning!" I said

"Vikram sir is very busy today, I insist you to wait till the lunch time, if you don't mind." She said.

"Yeah! I am okay with anything." I said.

After 2 hours of wait, Vikram came out of his cabin and he looked at me. My heartbeats were out of control when he came towards me, with a confused look. I stood up immediately, not losing my gaze on him. Eye contact with him never felt this hotter.

"Aishwarya told me that you wanted to see me." He spoke.

"Who is Aishwarya?" I questioned him, with a slight anger in my voice.

"The receptionist." He answered.

"Oh! Yeah, I am sorry, I uh.."

"See, if you are here for the interview then I am very busy today, I have an important meting with foreign delegates today. If you don't mind, can you come tomorrow? I will be taking your interview surely. I am sorry for wasting your time." He said.

"Its no problem at all sir." I said, not knowing what to say any further. He thinks that I came here for an interview. I couldn't say 'No' to him. I saw him walking away from me. It was still painful.

I went back to Dr. Russell's mansion. I told him about my meeting with Vikram, and my interview tomorrow. I obviously didn't had any documents like ID proof, educational certificates, nothing! I was so worried about my wish now, what if Vikram finds out that I don't exist. My problem was solved immediately after Dr. Russell threw a bunch of papers on the table. I looked at the papers, they were all bogus degree certificates and fake identification. I smiled wickedly and thanked Dr. Russell for his excellent work.

"What about my name?" I asked as we were not allowed to use our current name on Earth.

"Your name will appear on the papers, as soon as you tell any name to Vikram." He said.

"I will get this job doctor! I know how to get it." I said moving out of his mansion with confidence on my face.