It was nothing fancy, but a decent room
With a bed and wardrobe and a study table of maple wood.
She was sitting in the dark
On the edge of the bed
Lost in her thoughts
Mosaic grain tiles on floor with a rug

he entered and switched on the light... Still standing at the door
Grabbing her attention

"May i enter"

She gave tilt of head and he stepped inside feeling thousands of emotions all together

He carefully selected a place
And sat opposite her on chair
She looked poised and calm....
He serached for words to start the conversation....
It was never this difficult to talk to her.
He kept staring at the print of the bed sheet
Some goemtrical figures.....
Spiralling around eachother
Just like his thoughts in his mind

"I was in Siachin last week
Not sure if I am gonna make it alive from there....
And now I am sitting here.. with you .... Funny."

"I am sorry about my mother
I don't know what's wrong with her "

"She cares
Especially now when your father is gone too..

He took a pause before he continued

"I am deeply sorry for your loss....
I wasn't in India at that time "

"Agar hote to ate"?
She asked almost immediately

And he remembered a similar conversation with her father few years back under same roof.

"Na Ane ka sawal hi paida nahi hota"

She gave her that special look which was always only for him....
Until now she never realised how much she wanted him

"I missed you"
He said with restless voice

She can see his love in his eyes ....
She recognises this emotion so well now.
After years of introspection and analysis

"Then how come you never came back"

He was expecting this question.

"I wasn't sure if it was a good idea
After everything that happened
It was necessary to stay away from you
For your sake.... For the best of your interest"

"Why do you always have to do the right thing
Why can't you just sometime do what needs to be done
Why is it always about me"

"I don't know
To be honest
I have surprised even myself on matter like these.
What I have with you it's so strong and it has so much force that it's hard  not to acknowledge it."

"So now what
You are gonna vanish again "
She asked with begging eyes.

"I am tired of running away
I wana see what can we do about it"

He saw her eyes smiling
He was very sure that if he doesn't leave the room now
He will end up doing something in haste
Because all he could think was to pull her for a hug and then kiss her with all his might.

"It's getting late
I should leave now
Can I call you"

She nodded a yes with suppressed smile.

He got up and took his leave

"You can sleep here in the guest room"
She offered

"I have a room booked
It's nearby only "
He informed....

She walked few steps towards him and he hold his breath.
"Can we have breakfast together"
He asked

And she agreed

They agreed on time and place and he left with smile on his face....

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

It's been a month
They are talking now

Starting all over again
Swiping stories of last few years.
Talking their heart out.
Now and then expressing what they feel about eachother
Still haven't confessed in traditional way
But they never felt so intimate before

____________

"He called"
Her mother told her on phone

"Who"

"Who else
Captain rajveer"

"Maa please stop bothering him"

"Main kya bother kar Rahi hun
He was just making sure if I am ok and everything is good....
Such a fine man....
Bat kuch age badhi...."

"Maa please......
Don't get too excited
Bas kabhi kabhi phone pe bat hoti hai...."

"So so one thing
Don't come home this Holli....
Spend a day together
Ask him if he can make it"

"Maa please,ap na thoda break lagao.
We are not in any relationship or something
We are just talking
It's complicated....."

She hung up the call but her mother was happy
She is even considering venus and caterers
Just to be prepared

_______________

"I can't believe this is happening
Aunty is a rockstar"
Pooja was giggling and excited on call

"He is man of heavy principals
It's not easy for him to break the moral barriers....
Kabhi kabhi bat karte karte....he still slips into his old mentor role.
And starts lectureing me"

"Ohh God....
This is so funny....
But kind of sexy too"

"Matlab "

"You know like
Tum dono ko kabhi role play nahi karna padega....
Already character mein rahoge"

"Shut up Pooja
He haven't even said I love you yet...."

"To tu keh de"

"It's not easy
It's all very platonic between us
He stuggle so much sometimes to break the ice.
It feels like he has really restrain his feelings for a long time
Now it's difficult even for him to unlock the concealed emotions

But i don't have any complaints
Just talking to him is so comforting"

"I know
But still
Doing other stuff is fun too....."

Naina smiled at her conviction

____________

"How about i throw a get-together party and invite him too
And others also I mean Dr. Shalini, captain abhimanyu"
Ud suggested

"Idea achcha hai
Suspicious bhi nahi lagega "
Pooja got excited

"Although sir ko convince karna hard hoga "
Ud exclaimed

"Itna bhi hard nahi hoga
I don't think he is gonna miss the chance to see her"
She believed

"Just tell everyone to behave nicely and not scare him away with teasing and poking
He is not ready yet "

Pooja instructed

_____________

"You gonna make it "
She asked

"I am trying
I really wana come
ud was really adamant"

"So u wana come because ud was adamant"?
She asked in a playful manner
Making him grin on her question

"I wana see you..."
He said in a simple honest tone , winning her heart all over again.