Gauri was waiting in front of the office waiting for her letter. She was nervous as this was the first letter from Om after she revealed her feelings to him.

"This is too much Gauri! Atleast breathe!" Ishaana said seeing her getting nervous.

"The letter for room number 302!" Gauri heard and quickly went to buy the letter.

She took the letter from the lady in the counter and went to her room quickly. Ishaana followed her.

"Open it and read idiot!" Ishaana said irritated.

Gauri took a deep breath and opened the letter.

To my Ajnabi,

Gauris heart started doing disco dance seeing the term 'my Ajnabi'

You are right. Talking to each other through phone was wonderful. Writing letters are also wonderful, but the soothing effect which I got hearing your sick voice was more wonderful.

Thank god you got your sound back! But you know what? I don't remember your original voice. I am used to that sick voice of yours! Here I am dying to hear your voice and you are having fun there writing letters. And you accepted my proposal as the cherry on the top!

I feel like I know you for ages but yet you are an unknown mystry for me. What are you doing to me yaar!? Without even meeting, not seeing, not even knowing your name, I am hoplessly in love with you. Is this what we call heart to heart connection? I don't know!

I really want you see you Ms Ajnabi! You might call me desperate! But I don't care. I just know one thing and that is, I love you. I don't know, how and when it happened but it just happened. The only merit of this letter is this I guess.

If I was saying the same thing through phone, you will call it as flirting. Now it is romantic na? I know you will be telling that you still think it is flirting!

I hope you will soon stop playing this hide and seek with me.

Your Mr Khadoos.

Gauri stopped reading and smiled.

"Wow! I mean wow! That was pretty romantic!" Ishaana exclaimed.

Gauris cheeks were turning to deep shades of red.

"Ab do you agree about the things I told you?" Gauri asked.

"No! The way of writing the letter was pretty romantic but I still don't agree about things you told that stupid love." Ishaana said.

Gauri rolled her eyes.

"There is no use in talking to you." Gauri and went away.

Days passed into weeks. Gauri used to compel Ishaana to write the letters for her and both of them read the letters Om had sent. Ishaana was pretty impressed with the way Om wrote the letters and expressed his feelings.

Gauri felt like revealing her identity to him. It was high time. they've been chatting with each other through letters and Gauri felt like Om had the right to know about her.

To my Khadoos!

This is not a long letter! But you will jump in excitement reading this Mr Despo!

I think it's high time to stop this hide and seek. Let me reveal my identity! Let's meet each other.

Location: Mega Mall (imaginary)
Let's meet next week on the same day. Hope you are free that day. If you are not then you will have to make yourself free for me.

So, just one week! The countdown starts. Oops! I am being a little dramatic! Just like you and your sister.

Your Ms Ajnabi.

...

"Are you sure about this Gauri?" Ishaana asked for the nth time.

"Why do you have a problem in me meeting him? It's just a small meeting, he won't kill me. And it's a big mall and people will be around. So chill!" Gauri said.

"But still-"

"Ek kaam karo! You also come with me if you are this much worried for me." Gauri said sarcastically.

"Ok cool!" Ishaana said and quickly opened her wardrobe.

"Arrey! I was saying that in a sarcastic way!" Gauri said.

"But I am serious!" Ishaana said and selected a dress for herself.

"Par-"

"No par vars now! Go and wait for me outside." Ishaana said.

Gauri waited for Ishaana near her scooter. And the moment she saw Ishaana her eyes widened.

"OMG! What are you?" Gauri asked looking ar her who was dressed up so beautifuly.

"A beautiful, sexy, gorgeous, Royal looking hot chick!" Ishaana said dramatically.

"I guess Bhavyas disease is easily transmitable. You are becoming like her by each day passing." Gauri said. "Vaise, why are you dressed up like this?"

"I don't know, I felt like dressing up like this today." Ishaana said.

"Theek hai. Let's go." Gauri said.

Gauri was dressed in a simple jean and top with her short hair open. She felt like showing Omkara the real her. She wanted him to accept her as how she is. She never knew she was building castles in the air. She had already planned how their future will be but little did she know that a big wave is coming to destruct those sand castles easily.

They reached the mall and waited for Omkara at the place where they decided to meet.

"Gauri yaar! Don't spoil your nails. You are biting it for the last 20 minutes." Ishaana said.

Gauri stopped biting the nails.

Soon the wind started blowing her open hairs were dancing according to the wind, her mind was telling her that he is here. Her heart thudded with excitement.

*Just kidding you know 🤣 why on earth will the wind flow like this inside a mall? Oops! Was she standing in front of a fan?*

His arrival was normal just like how it happens in normal life. Gauri saw him walking towards her side. She didn't knew how to explain her feelings. She was damn nervous but at the same time she was excited. She saw him coming towards her. She closed her eyes anxiously, but she didn't feel anything afterwards. She opened her eyes and saw nothing infront of her. She turned and saw Om going towards Ishaana.

"You are miss Ajnabi. Right?" Om asked her. His eyes expressed longing. His heart was dying to hear a yes from her mouth.

For a second Gauri saw Ishaanas shocked face. But what she told made her numb.

"Yes!" Ishaana said. Her face showed something which was surely not love. Gauri couldn't read her expression. Maybe because she hid it or because she was shocked to understand what was happening around.

"I love you!" Om confessed looking into her eyes.

"I love you too!" Ishaana said.

The next second he hugged her.

Gauri was numb. She couldn't process what was happening. The past happening came to her mind. Realization hit her hard. She looked at them hugging each other. She saw him looking at her lovingly! the way she wanted him to look at her. She couldn't tear up in front of them. She didn't want to show her breaking down. Holding back the tears, she walked away.

***

The heart is frozen and the tears were the beginning of its melting! She lost the count of how much times she cried over it. Wiping the tears she walked through the muddy footpath. It's been six years since everything happened.

She doesn't know anything about him. She doesn't know anything about her. The only thing she knows is that she still loves him! Hopelessly, crazily and madly.

Time changes everything and changes are to be accepted. Gauris life took a 360° turn since then. Moving to US she cut every contact which she had in India. She didn't even talked to Bhavya. Everything here reminds her of him.

She knew Bhavya would be hurt not only because she had cut the contact with her but also because her brother being the reason for it. She knew one day or the other she has to face the reality. But a single thought about him reminds her of that moment which broke her heart forever.

Gauris POV

I was walking aimlessly. I never wanted to come back to India. This place reminds me of him. My legs were hurting. I don't how long I've been walking. I checked my phone and saw 22 missed calls. I knew who it will be. I kept the phone back in my bag. I looked around. It was pretty dark. I guess it was going to rain.

I hate this climate. And I always takes an umbrella with me. I don't want to get drenched in. I don't even have my ex best friend to give me a company in it.

*beep beep*

I heard my phone ring. I knew he was worried for me. But I need some time alone.

After sitting on the bench near the footpath I walked back to my apartment.

*beep beep*

I heard my phone ring again. This time I decided to attend the call. But to my surprise it wasn't him. It was Tej uncle.

"Hello"

"Hello Gauri! Why aren't you picking up his calls? Did you guys fight?" Tej uncle asked.

This boy! Why is he so much worried about me?

"No uncle. I just wanted to be alone for sometime. So I just-"

"Anyway after reaching home call him. He is worried for you." Tej uncle said.

I went to my apartment. After reaching India the first thing I did was asking him to book an apartment for me far away from them. But it was tourist season and he only got this one only. It was few houses next to Bhavyas home.

I went and climbed the staircase. I took out the key and opened the door. It was completely dark just like my life. I turned on the lights and switched on the TV. I had nothing else to do.

Kal I am joining Tej uncles company, if it was the old me, I would have been so excited to go there and start working but now everything is so mechanical. People said I am crazy! Even I felt so. How can I be like this? For a person who I have talked with only for few weeks, I have spoiled six years of my life. But the only person who understood me was him.

I took out my phone and dialled his number.

"Hello!" He said. His tone was stern. I know he is angry.

"Hi! Icecream?" I asked.

I know he can't say no to that. The relation between him and ice cream was so deep.

"Why are you like this? I wanted to stay angry at you." He whined.

"You know you cant." I said.

"I know I can't but still I was trying. Anyways, get me chocolate flavour. You've reached India four days ago and still haven't met me. I am angry for that too. So I want two tubs of icecream." He said. He is so cute.

"Theek hai. Kal, after office I'll come to your home to give it." I said.

He was about to say something. But that's when something from the TV caught my attention.

That sound! I heard it after six long year! The voice which I was dying to hear once. The voice which bought so many memories to my mind. I looked at the TV.

There I saw him. Looking handsome as always. His eyes with the same intensity with a soft smile on his lips.

But what he told next shocked me to the core!

"So that's it. This hospital is made in the memory of my late wife Ishaana." I heard him say.

That was the last thing processed in my head. I couldn't hear anything else.

"Ishaana is no more?"

#OkThanksBye