Yamini reached home during lunchtime. She sat at the table and stared at her plate. She felt a deep emptiness inside her as if she was drained of all excitement and enthusiasm. She realized it was because Varun was now far away from her. I am missing him so much already; what will happen later?

She made it a point to talk to him daily. They also exchanged long mails. Varun felt that the distance between them had brought them closer. There was a strong bond between them. They met online daily and discussed their day routine.

‘You know, Varun. Today Mom was saying that I should start looking for a guy for myself. Wow! So exciting na! But Varun what type of a guy would suit me? Tell na! You know me the best..’ she asked one day.

Varun felt really subdued & disconnected his webcam so that Yamini couldn’t see his changed ex-pressions. He just couldn’t control his emotions.

‘Hey! What happened to your webcam!’ Yamini asked. Luckily, she forgot her question and didn’t ask again.

7 months later..

It was almost closing time when Yamini’s cellphone rang. She smiled when she saw who it was. It was Varun.

‘Hi!’, she said.

‘Hey! There’s some good news. I’ll be coming there for a few days. so keep yourselves free. And I’ll give you a surprise when we meet. No no no. I am not telling anything now. You need to wait!’, he said happily.

It really made Yamini’s day. There were still 20 days to go before Varun came. Nevertheless, she was happy.

That night, as she was preparing to go to bed, her mother came to meet her.

‘Yamini. We’ve seen a guy for you. We want you also to meet him. It’s time for you to get married unless, of course, you have seen someone yourself. I think this boy will be a good match for you…’

Yamini was quiet. She switched off the lights and stared into darkness. She couldn’t sleep for long. She suddenly picked up the phone to call Varun but checked herself. She somehow couldn’t face Varun while telling this.

Well, Yamini did meet him, not once, but a couple of times. But her heart wasn’t with her. She was very uncomfortable doing this.

The day came when she would finally meet Varun. They had decided to meet at Barista. She was nervous. How would she break the news to Varun that she was seeing a guy???

She waited anxiously at Barista, absentmindedly playing the paper napkin. It was raining outside.

Finally, Varun entered. His hair and face were wet because of rain. His hair fell on his forehead. She probably noticed for the first time how handsome he looks. He had a strange ex-pression of exhilaration on his face.

He surprised her by giving a kiss on her cheek.

‘Before you pester me for the surprise, I’ll give it to you myself. I am being transferred back! So, no need to go back!! I am back, Yamini’

Though she was happy, she couldn’t express her happiness and kept mum on the marriage topic. This is not the right time to tell him.

She spoke less to him in the coming few days. She thought to herself.  Why am I nervous telling Varun about my marriage? He is my best friend. I am supposed to be sharing everything with him. Marriage isn’t even finalized. Why am I not able to muster enough guts to tell him?????

She finally told him. Varun stopped calling her. Neither did Yamini contact him. Varun took to smoking again. He couldn’t pay attention at work. He sat till late at workplace, but didn’t work. He didn’t eat or talk to family and friends. He cursed himself for not telling Yamini his feelings. Maybe Yamini would have said yes. Yamini’s condition wasn’t any better. She avoided meeting the guy. She gave no answer to her family’s questions. She spent most of her time alone. She was frustrated, disturbed & distressed. She didn’t know what was happening to her. Who will help me? She often cried in unhappiness. She wanted to make everything all right. But how?

One Sunday morning, she was oiling her hair, when she got a call from a school friend, Ritu.

‘ Yamini!! How are u yaar! Long time, really. I called you to invite you for my wedding. It’s on coming Friday. You have to come, ok? Bring Varun also’, she said.

Yamini’s heart sank on hearing Varun’s name. How do I tell her that the person with whom I used to spend my whole day, no longer talks to me?

‘By the way, are you and Varun marrying?? We are all waiting for the news!’, Ritu continued.

‘Varun?? Errr….. no…. I mean, why … Varun???’, Yamini asked, amazed.

‘C’mon! You both make such a good pair. Not just that, you both understand each other so well! You can’t find a better match than each other. Oh, don’t tell me this isn’t going to happen. We’ll be disappointed man!’

Yamini stood there with eyes wide open as if in shock.

What is this feeling I am going through right now? Anxiety. Elation. Relief. A small fire was again getting ignited within her.

She didn’t think more. She threw the phone on her bed and ran out of home. She frantically searched for an auto to go to Varun’s place.

The journey to Varun’s place seemed really long. Sometimes she laughed to herself. Sometimes she felt a lump in her throat. On reaching his place, she ran up the stairs and rung the doorbell.

Varun himself open the door. It took a few seconds for him to register that Yamini was at his doorstep. He looked at her awkwardly. Yamini was dressed in pink and white striped pajamas and a plain white t-shirt. Her hair was tied in a bun, which was coming loose. He didn’t know what to say.

Yamini was panting profusely.

‘Varun………’. She laughed and cried together. Her ex-pressions showed joy at one moment and grief at other. Her eyes were wet with tears and her throat ached.

Varun brought his arms ahead to hold her,

‘Varun……. I……. I mean, you……… Varun……..’ she struggled to speak.

Varun suddenly held her tight and put his hand on her lips.

‘Sshhhh’.

And they hugged each other and stood there endlessly. Yamini let her tears flow freely. Varun was the most precious thing to her at this moment. She was so blind. How couldn’t she see that he was more than a friend to her? No one could keep her happier than him. And she almost lost him. She took a deep breath. Her heart was at peace now. Now she knew what her heart had been asking for so long.

And they did go to Ritu’s wedding together, hand in hand.