It's 7 in the morning and I am still unable to sleep.

Why?

Because I am missing my Nandini. I want to see her and I'm trying to suppress the urge for quite a while now. But my mind lost the battle against my heart and I decided to call Nandini. She picked up the call at the last ring.

"Manik? Who calls so early in the morning?" Nandini asked in her sleepy voice.

"I want to see you."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

"Let's meet at 10."

"I can't wait that long."

"Okay. Come home and call me when you reach."

"Okay."

I jumped out of joy. I changed my clothes and drove off to Nandini's place. It was early in the morning so the road was almost empty. It took me 15 minutes to reach her place.

I came out of the car and glanced towards the window of Nandini's room. She was standing there in her night suit. Her eyes were all sleepy and she looked like a cute doll with her messy hairs. I was lost in her when someone called me from behind.

"Manik beta, tum yahan? Itni subha?" It's Nandini's chacha.

Let me tell you Nandini's chacha and my dad are childhood friends that's how we met.

I rubbed my nape, looking for a perfect excuse to give him. Then I gave him the excuse which came into my mind first. "Ohh, chacha, I came to meet Nandini. I had an urgent work with her."

"Then why are you standing here? Come inside."

I nodded and went inside with him. I went in and was looking up continuously waiting for Nandini to come down. Chacha noticed me.

"Nandini is not going to come down so soon. What shall I say about her? She has become so lazy these days."

"Ooh." I nodded my head in assurance.

"You go inside. Nandini's chachi is there. Ask her, she'll call Nandini. I've some work to do."

I nodded and chacha left. That time chachi came there.

"Areh Manik! When did you come? You have forgotten us, you don't come here these days at all. But you're here so early this morning! What's the matter?"

"I wanted to see..." These words escaped form my mouth unintentionally. As soon as I realized I felt like punching my own self.

Chachi asked being confused, "What did you want to see?"

"Aa. . .  Aap . . . Aapko dekhne ka maan kar raha tha."

Chachi laughed hearing me. I sighed in relief. That time Nandini came there.

"Manik? Tum itni subha subha?"

I looked at Nandini being amazed as she was behaving like she didn't know why I came here. That too so early in the morning.

"Ooh. . . . I was missing chachi and her foods. So, here I am."

Nandini looked at me. Her eyes were spitting fair.

Was she expecting me to say I came here to see her early morning as I was not able to sleep?

"You are here to meet chachi? Fine! Meet her...." Nandini said gritting her teeth, then turning towards chachi, she told, "Chachi, I'm going to sleep the whole day today. Don't disturb me and don't let anyone disturb me."

"Chachi, did you see how she is behaving with me just because I came to see you?"

"It's your matter. Solve it yourself. Don't drag me in between, I have lots of works to do." She shrugged her shoulders and left for the kitchen.

As soon as chachi left, Nandini dragged me with her to her room and closed the door. She pulled me a little down holding my collar. "You have come here to see chachi?"

"So, should I have told her that I came to see you? Why are you acting like this?"

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"No. Do one thing, sit here and let me see you."

"Let's do one thing. Let me sleep and you look at me."

"Shall I sleep too?"

"Where?"

"With you."

"You have come here to see me or something else?"

"Okay, you sleep. I am sitting here only." I said in a low tone.

Nandini jumped on me all of a sudden and we both fell on her bed.

"What happened to you today? Couldn't you just say you have right on me?" Nandini told, caressing my face with her thumb.

I closed my eyes for a moment then opened only to look at her beautiful face. "I am scared of what if you leave me."

"Do you know what chachi was asking me yesterday?"

"What?"

"She was asking me if I love you or not."

"What did you say?"

"I said if they want to get me married, then the groom should be only you."

"Then?"

"Chachi said they had decided to get us married 20 years before only."

"What!!! That means we played this hide and seek just like that all these years? They had already planned this?"

"Areh pagal, iss hide and seek mein bhi kitna maja hein. Aur patah hein kya kaha chachi ne?"

"Kya?"

"Chachi said they are going to your place next week to speak to uncle about us."

"Sacchi?"

"Mucchi."

I jumped out of the bed being the most excited soul. Nandini also got up and I hugged her tightly.

Finally our wait of 12 long years is going to end. . . . .

**The End**

A valentine's day special os. I hope it was good enough. Do vote and comment. Let me know how was it.

Do share your opinion.

Bye.

14.02.2024