I had written this story for one of the Chicklit weekly prompts. But by the time I finished writing the story, the deadline was over. Nonetheless, I decided to publish it.

*~*

A woman sat in the hotel, dressed in a red and black salwar kameez paired with a black dupatta. She tapped her foot impatiently. The other ‘lucky’ person who was the other winner was late. She clearly remembered how the salesman had pestered her to buy a ticket. Though she would never admit, she loved the idea of how giving one's name in the lucky draw can help them get a reward. The reward was a free meal in a fancy hotel that was opened recently.

Her friends, of course, were the most excited ones. Since the lucky prize was awarded to two people, they hoped that the other person was a man; probably in his twenties or thirties but a man so that it would be like a blind date. Their friend belonged to an open minded Indian middle class family but she was never into relationships.

“Ma'am, would you like to place order? Maybe the other person has decided not to come,” suggested the waiter.

She nodded her head. Just when she about to place her order, a man in crisp black shirt with light brown slacks sat next to her. “I am Punit, the other winner of your ‘Wine and Dine’  contest.”

She winced at him. The waiter nodded and left. He came back and served red wine. She looked at him with her eyes nearly popping out. “Punit? Aren't you MLA’s son? Why do you need to come for a free dinner?”

He gave an agitated look. “So what if I am a Minister’s son, Nandini? I have the full rights to use such opportunities, haven't I?”

“Yes, you have had ample of opportunities to use these and me,” she replied, her voice dipped in sarcasm.

The waiter interrupted them and asked them to place their order. They decided to order that day's special dish. Once the waiter was out of their earshot, he asked, “I used you? Are you mad?”

“Of course you did! When we were 7 years old, we used to live in the same colony, you were ashamed of playing with me. I understand, your friends teased you for playing with a girl. But that doesn't mean that you will leave me alone.”

“Are you serious? We were kids then, Nandini. I agree, I liked playing with you but don't you think I had the right to play with boys of my age?”

She rolled her eyes. “I've already told you that I understand. What about in college, Punit?”

He looked surprised. “What happened in college?”

She gave a sad smile. “Leaving behind our childhood story, I thought of rekindling our friendship, Punit. I took a big risk. This idiotic junior befriended an arrogant senior.”

“Nandini-”

“I haven't finished yet,” she cut him. “You were a high class boy who would cringe his face when you saw this middle class student who entered the college through scholarship.”

He looked down, with guilt. “I admit, I would cringe when I would look at you. Recently my father had won the elections and was elected as the minister of that constituency. The respect and attention I received was very new to me. Yes, I would cringe when you would visit our classrooms. But, a particular incident of my life changed everything.”

He slowly lifted his head. She looked into his dark brown orbs and asked, “Which particular incident, Punit?”

“An incident related to my father which made me realise that my friends, this attention was limited until he was a minister.”

He stopped his story as the waiter came to serve the food. As he left, her questioning eyes were enough to urge him to continue his story. “There was a petition filed which declared that the EVM was tampered. Until the committee gave him a clean chit, my so called friends had boycotted me.”

“I remember reading this enquiry committee report in the newspaper,” Nandini recollected.

“Till the reports came, I saw you near my class, Nandini,” he stated. It was her turn to look down. He continued, “You would wait to have a glimpse of me to make sure whether I am fine.”

She rubbed the back of neck and asked, “What if I only came to see your plight and laugh at you?”

He smiled. “You would never do that.”

She asked, “How can you be so sure?”

“Look at your palm,” he pointed that was still near her neck. “You do that when you would be nervous.”

Immediately, she removed her hand. He continued, “I saw the concern on your face, Nandini. After the committee decision, I tried talking to you but. . .”

“. . .I decided to ignore you and cringe in the same way,” she completed. He sighed. “Nandini, I want us give our relationship a try.”

She wasn't surprised. “Relationship? You mean friendship?”

“Friendship for now but if you're ready, we can take it to next level.”

She breath out. She didn't know that why she was holding her breath. “Why me? Why did you chose me Punit?”

He gave a smal chuckle. “Nandini, what does your name mean?”

She looked at him surprised. “It means the one who brings happiness or joy.”

He held her palm. “You bring happiness to my life.”

2 years later…

“Nandini, we’ve come to the same restaurant where we met?”

She shook her head. “We have arrived to the same place where we rekindled our friendship.”

As they sat in their reserved table, she took his palm in hers. “Punit, I love you.”

He looked shocked. She continued, “Two years ago, you touched my heart with your love. I understood that you're pure, just like your name. I wish to marry you.”

He nodded with moist eyes. He had touched her heart with his love.