It was like a frozen minute.

     ..shravan didn't bather to ask suman anything. ..He just tugged her into him. ..it was a warm and  fondly hug. ..

      Shravan didn't feel  awkward to hug her ..infact, it was the act from his bottom of heart ...His entire demeanor was just finding peace at her warmth. ..hence, there was  no embarrassment. ..He took her into him in a thought that she's his girl. ..

    Suman knew his love for her yet, his hug described his untold feelings. ..she found his embrace to be soothing her soul. ..for her..it was like a feeling of  an orphaned kid who got a reliable shelter. ..

   His proximity gave her a sense of security which she hadn't experienced in her life ...

   Thus, they both had same feelings at  different opinions. ..

" aahh. ..aahh. .."

Ranjith coughed deliberately. ..

  The duo stood apart swiftly. ...Daisy rolled her eyes at Ranjith. ..

" Ranjith. ..I hate this cough, that disturbs everyone. ..."

She said sarcastic and dragged Ranjith with her to leave some private time for the embarrassed souls. ..

  There was a strange silence ...

" suman. ..are you alright. .? "

Shravan broke the silence. ..

" yea. ..I am fine. ..how are you feeling now. ..? "

Shravan stood silent. ..He stared into her eyes. ..and let out a deep sigh. ..

" I am okay. ..."

Suman simply nodded. ..they stood opposite, leaning at the wall,  staring at each other...

     'Suman. ...won't you say that you missed me. .?'

    'Shravan. ...I missed you as like I missed myself. ..did you miss me. ?'

'Suman. ..I  wanted to say how much I  love you. ...will you listen to me. .?"

' Shravan. ..I see your love at your eyes. ..why don't you tell me. .?'

'Suman. ..will you accept my proposal. .?'

'Honestly, I don't have answer. ..'

It was like an uphill battle to hold their feelings. ..the fact was that they love each other yet they had to confess it. ..

More than their words, their heart spoke vividly. ..so as their  love is   bonded with hearts ..

" ahh. ..shravan. ..a good news. ..may be tomorrow, we will be leaving Antarctica. .."

" leaving. .?but, why. .?"

" because, we found what we need. .."

" means. .?"  Shravan asked confused. ..

Suman sighed and her lips curved into a smile. ..

" I found the microorganism which is suitable to withstand space travel and Enceladus. ..so, "

She jerked her shoulders. ...

" Oh. ..then, congratulations. ..you are genius. .."

  " so, what next. .?"  Shravan was somewhere scared of their separation. ..

" next. .." suman looked at the floor to avoid his piercing eyes. ...

" next, I have to pack and.... back to the pavilion. ..may be another lab. ..another ocean. ..another research. ..."

She couldn't continue as her voice broke. ..

" yea. ..have to move on. .."  she said, collecting all her energy, to sound she's okay. ..

 
  Shravan was broken inside. ...

'Move on. ?how could it be possible. ?I wasn't me for the past three days. .how would I live without you. .?'

  Suman grinned. .."shravan. ..your father was too good. ..you're lucky to have him ...
............."

She went on blabbering something. ..nothing was heard by shravan. .later. ..she left to pack her things. ..

'Suman. ..you're  indeed smart, distracted me. .but, I gonna never give up. ..I am shravan malhothra. ..the NSG  who never knew the word defeat. ..let me see how long your smartness guards you. ..'

    Shravan was right. ..Suman was unable to bear his love loaded eyes. ..she herself scared of his proximity. ..hence, she spoke randomly and left the place. ..

  Actually, it was like a hell. ..one side, she wanted him to confess the love  ...the otherside, she scared of his confession ...

   It was only when she gained her breath after reaching her room. ..she closed the door behind and leaned at. ..a deep sigh escaped from her...

  She slowly retreated her crystal clear mind. ..

'Suman. ..you are born for the country. ..and die for it. .. i accept Shravan's memories would be permanent and I would love to live with it. ..let him live his dreams. ..'

Suman wiped her tears. ...she packed her belongings. ..she was done to go back. ..

It was almost evening. ..and the worst  weather settled down ...may be by early in the morning, they will be leaving. ..

Suman looked at her wrist watch. ..it's around 6 pm. ..she thought to go out to get fresh air. ..

------------------------------------------------------

   Suman stood facing the ocean. ..as the snow storm had been settled just then, the ice sheets were floating. ..

  Ocean. ..it had been her companion ever. ..since childhood, she had a strong connection with the marine environment. ..

It was her  sole friend, guide... .philosopher. .her joy and sorrow would be none with out the ocean. ..

This time too, she's there to share her burden. ..but, the oceans presence wasn't calming her ...this was the ever first time, she fell in love with a man. ..she trained her brain to focus only on lab and books. .

  Then, shravan came into her life and almost diffused into her. ..now, she had to go away from him. ..it's paining  beyond the  description. ..

She rubbed her palms together. ..now only she realised that she forgot to get her sweaters. ..she pulled her dupatta to cover her. ..

    It was almost dark. ..it was a great view. ..the ocean. ..snow everywhere. ..bharti 's glistening lights far away. ..mild breeze. ...

She smiled firmly in belief that the time would recover everything. ..

    She was covered by a warm shawl. ...she startled and looked back. ..

It's shravan. ..

"Shravan. .."

" haan. ..I saw you going out for a walk. ..I thought to accompany you. .."

  He stood near her. ..

Suman knew him. ..and his wish to stay with her....

" shravan. ..I guess your responsibility as a commando had been done. .no need to worry about my security. .."

Her words hit him like a blow. ..it rose his anger. ..

He stepped back from her. ..His disgusted look reached suman like a lightning. ...

" suman. ..do you really think I am only a commando for you. .?and I am done with my responsibilities. .?"

  His voice equally echoed his anger and pain. ..

Suman stood stunned like a statue. ..she knew it. ..He wouldn't give up. ..

    " tell me suman. ..am I still a stranger to you. .?"

Suman shut her eyes, perhaps to strengthen her. ..

She started to leave as she was unable to  recollect her....

Shravan grasped her wrist ,turned her to face him. ...

" sumo. ...it's not a wonder I fell in love with you. ..because, I have never seen a woman like you. ..your dedication and sincerity to the country made me to feel proud of you. .."

  " suman. ..I don't know when exactly I fell for you. .you invented  the softer side of me. ..you have taught me to breath via eyes. ..yes, I loved to see you every now and then. ...I saw your eyes loaded with love for me when I was struggling. ..I wasn't scared of death. ..but, your tears shook me to live for you. ..I understood that my heart was beating only for you. ..and. ..yes. ..it's the second life given by you. ..noway I would leave you alone ..."

   Suman was tensed. ..she stopped shravan midway. ...

" stop it shravan. ...yes. ..I do accept. ..you have a special place in my heart. ..I found secured at your embrace. ..infact, I ...I. ..loved to be. ..but. .."

Her voice broke and tears ran down. ..

She hastily wiped ....

" but. ..I can't be your girl. ..."

Shravan looked her surprised. ...

" why. .?"  He  demanded. ...

" because. ..my life is a mystery. ..I don't have family like you. ..I am an orphan who lived alone all through these years. ...living all alone, yearning for a family. ...longing for true love. ..."

Suman broke out into sob. ..her knees went weak. ..

Shravan held her hands reassuringly. ..

" suman. ..you yearned for true love. ..right. .?Then. ..why don't you accept me. .?you, my dad and me. ..we are a family. ..."

He spoke from his heart. ..

" no shravan. ...i lived with insecurity...i am stubborn and adamant. ..my life is different from yours. ."

"Suman. ..it's all because of your choice to live alone. ..be mine. ..everything will be alright. .."

" shravan. ..i am like a thorn....like a fire that may destroy you too. .."

Shravan pressed her hands. ...

" your thorns will be the Roses to me. ..and your fire would bring me warmth. ..."

  Suman stood completely elf struck. ...she was staring into his charming eyes, forgot to wipe the tears. ..

  Shravan wiped the tears. ..

" suman. ..you are my girl. ..accept it and live with me. ..and. ..one day we make a family of our own. ..."

His mischief retreated. ..

  No need to say....Suman was locked by his love. ...

She opened her mouth to say something. ..

" ishhhh. ....you have no other choices my love. ..just say yes. ..I won't leave you till my breath. .."

He winked at her. ...

Suman smiled. ...

"Sumo. ..did you smile. .?oh. ..then. ..say me... that you love me. ..Please. ..Please. ..Please. ..."

Shravan was completely on romantic mode. ..

  Suman laughed out loud. ...

" Shravan. ...you are. ..you are. ..."

" come on. .."  He demanded. ..

" you are my everything. ..I love you. .."

She said blushed  and buried her face at his chest. ..

"That's like my girl. .." He hugged her. ..

" I love you too ...." He shouted. ...

  Shravan pecked her forehead softly. ..

" shravan. ..I am happy now. ..happiest ever. .."

Suman settled into his warmth even more deeper. ...

"You know sumo. ..I thought to propose you in a romantic way. ..but. .."

He clucked. ...

" shravan. ..I don't need a fairy tale love. ...I need you only you. ."

  He was overwhelmed with her unconditional love. ...He stroke her hair lovingly. ..

  All of a sudden the ocean brought waves that were filled with tiny dots of blue lights  here and there. ..

  Shravan startled to see them. ..

"Shravan. ..easy. ..they're 'blue sapphire '- a bio illuminant creature. ..at times, they gather to the shore. ..they're harmless. .."

" Oh. .." shravan  looked them wondered. ..

Actually, it was a magnificent view that the ocean shore looked like decorated with blue lights. ..

" shravan. ..you thought to propose me at romantic way right. ..here's my mother nature made it for you. .."

She wiggled her brows. ..a gleeful  smile sat on her lips. ..

  Shravan mesmerised at the view. ...He leaned at her face, cupping her cheeks. ..He brushed his lips on hers. ..Sooner, the kiss deepened to gauge their love. ..there's no way they could part so easily. ..hence, mother nature, shyly stopped focusing at them. ..

Let the duo reinvent themselves. ...

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Here's the long awaited confession part. ...hope you will like it. ..and what are you waiting for. .?have a wonderful read. ..and I l......ove to hear from you. ...do vote and comment. ..

Love,

Arulpirai. ..