“Ammmaaa” I called her again and again till she leaves the work she was doing and ran towards me. I heard the opening of the door of my room.

“Tara,” her voice was calm and her eyes were giving me a knowing look that I failed draping my saree again. Yes, I failed miserably this time. She walked closer to me and stared at the way I draped saree around my body. Whenever Amma does that, judging me either my work or my behaviour I feel like to hide my face somewhere in shame. Because I already knew that I have failed in the work or misbehaved. Though I have always thought I never misbehave it is my way of taking a stand for myself and for my Amma. People call me impolite but it doesn’t bother me. If standing for right making me impolite and arrogant then I am all of this. I can not choose wrong and be polite, well-mannered girl for the sake of the society. It is always better to be alone and with right rather than in the crowd full of people who supports only wrong.

“What should I do to you Tara, you again forgot plates,” Amma said diverting my attention back on my saree. And the moment of my embarrassment was back.

“Look what you did to this cotton saree! You draped it two times without doing plating. It messed up and now it might get wrinkles over the saree” She told me.

Why am I like this?

“Amma help me” I made a crybaby face. I doesn’t want my saree to get wrinkles all over it. It just messes up the whole beauty of it. I had to go wearing wrinkled sarees every time. Today I can not do this to my saree again.

“Now what can I do Amma?” I asked her feeling sullen.

‘’Don't worry Tara I will press it with hot pot. Give it to me” She took it.

“How much time it will take Amma?” I watched her heating the pan.

“Not much,” she said taking a piece of cloth.

That means it will take longer.

“Amma make it fast I need to go to university today”

I said and saw her face getting frowned.

“Why? Your college is now over right?” She asked me. Yes, my boards exams are over and their results also declared. I became the topper of my town. It was the most joyous moment in my life because I studied hard for it. That day I saw my Amma dancing with happiness. For the first time in my life, I saw her smile again after my father’s demise.

I gulped thickly after remembering those days. Though I remember very few moments of my childhood. The partition happened after India got freedom printed in my mind as it is. Except that I barely remember anything. Perhaps the studies made me forget about it or my dream. Probably all blame goes to my dream for occupying the most of my mind that I forgot more than half of my childhood. The only thing I remember is my father’s demise and Amma’s struggle after that. Watching her fighting every day, someday with herself, someday with the society gives me an urge to do something for her, to make her life easier. We shifted from where we used to live before and came to the Calcutta city after Bengal partition. But our struggle for living continued. The fight felt like never-ending and only made me to study hard so I could give her some moments of peace and happiness. I was watching how Amma was pressing my cotton saree with a hotpot keeping another cotton cloth over my saree. She is not educated but she knows on what temperature to press my cotton threaded sarees. And when it comes to me, I still manage to burn my sarees while pressing. We don’t have coal iron but Amma found another option for it. In the household works, my Amma is smarter than me. Whom I am even comparing to myself? I chuckled whilst thinking about it.

“Is it necessary to go today?” Amma asked pressing the saree neatly.

“Yes Amma, today my entrance exam result is going to declare,” I told her.

“How many exams are you giving Tara? It's enough now. You have reached at the age where you should feed your husband and children”

NO...NOT AGAIN.

“Amma I have already told you not to bring my marriage in between” I pray the marriage thing would get vanish from earth.

“But one day you have to go in-laws” She said it in so much obvious manner.

“That one day will never come in my life” I huffed.

“Isn't it every girl’s dream to get married? ” She glanced at me.

“It's not my dream Amma. My dream is to reach to the moon” I always have to tell her this. She should have known this without telling this.

''Tara you are not a child anymore. Come out from dreams and live in the reality” Amma told me.

I can't leave the hold of my dreams. No. Never.

“Amma are you done pressing my saree?” I tried to change the topic.

“Listen to me what I am saying is” She looked adamant but I can't discuss this topic, not today.

“Amma some other day” I took the saree from her hands. “Wear me saree fast like the Moitree express,” told her. Before I open the saree and mess it again, she took it from my hands.

“Tara this is the last time I am wearing this saree on you, from next time you need to learn by yourself. In the in-laws who will come to help you, hun?” Amma said draping saree around my body, tucking it in and I noticed she already started forming pleats. I loved to see how her hands moved effortlessly while wearing saree over me. I can only imagine myself wearing saree like this but in reality, I was doomed.

“My husband” I replied. Her eyes narrowed at me whilst tucking plates in. After this, my focus shifted to make conversation with her.

“Your husband?’’ She said, “Does he even know anything about the saree?” She said like she already know my husband. I chuckled with a thought.

“No no, I will make him wear it” the moment these words let out from my mouth I saw her eyes widened in a shock, like she heard something very sinful. I couldn’t suppress my laughter looking at her reaction.

“TARA! Are you out of your mind? You will wear saree on your husband? Is your head on its place?’’ She looked at me in disbelief. Which made me laugh more. She took the pallu of my saree bringing it further under my arm and tucked in my blouse.

“I was joking Amma,” I said holding her chin and pulling her closer to my chest. She thought I will do it in real? Forget wearing saree to my husband. I will never going to get any man in my life. My dreams are different. I don’t know when Amma will understand it.

And I realized, I missed again to learn the saree. Never mind. I will proper keep my focus over it next time when my Amma will wear it over me again.

I chuckled again.

“I don’t get what is going on in your little head Tara.”

“Amma, wish me luck for today,” Tara said cutting the topic.

“My blessings are always with you,” Amma said making me smile again.

Holding my blue-red cotton satin bag, I touched Amma’s feet, taking blessings from her.

After that, I hurriedly walked out of my house. I hung the cotton bag over my shoulder and came on the road, opening the gate of the colony. Whilst walking ahead in the colonial lane, I could see everyone looking at me weirdly, whispering something about me. I decided to ignore all of them. A girl once comes to the age she has to face the society if she isn’t married yet and I knew what these people might have talking about me. The way they were looking at me showing how much they were bothered about my ways of living life. Some of them openly taunted to me that no one will marry me. I have always smiled at them. I never wished to marry anyways. Only if that lady’s words become true it will be good for me. I kept walking through the lane looking ahead. Ten years ago British left the Indian soil but also left their Victorian essence behind. The workers were sweeping the road cleaning it as I walked over it. Once I left the lane behind. I let out a sigh of relief. The constant staring and gossips made me feel so uptight. The moment I entered in the new lane, my eyes caught the glimpse of my friend Julie. She was wearing modern cloths comparing to my culture. When we saw each other, she waved at me. I waved at her too. She belonged to the rich Jewish family in Calcutta. Her family lived in a villa in the area, famous for rich people. She waited for me in the same lane every day so we could go together in the university. I crossed the road and walked at her.

“Goodness gracious look at you Tara,” She said. Her eyes became wide and sparkling when she looked at me up and down.

“You are looking simply gorgeous today” she complimented me. This cheered up my mood to another level.

“Thank you,” I said. I could feel my smile reaching to my eyes.

“Don’t tell me you are looking for a groom”

And there she goes. She said shaking her swayed her shoulders a little and winked at me. Julie never leave a chance to tease me. We met during the boards examinations days and we instantly became friends. She has that confidence to grab anyone's attention with her personality. Her face always looked glooming and that hair she always set them free. Just like her attitude. She was so free-spirited that she would look at any boy without any hesitation, talk about them. But in my case, I always avoided to get in such scenarios.

‘’No Julie it's my birthday today’’ I told her adjusting the bag over my shoulder.

“Is it? Oh my goodness, You are a year old Tara. Happy Birthday !” She exclaimed spreading her arms and throw herself in a hug at me.

“Thank you Ju...”

A whistle blew in a teasing way that it went through my ears making me flinch on my place. I immediately understood who it was!

“Let's go, Julie,” I said holding her hand and dragger her ahead before he crosses my path.

“What happened?” Julie asked me.

“Nothing just keep walking,” I told her.

I was so sure He is here again! After my examination was over, I really felt peaceful thinking that I will not have to deal his daily following behind me on the crowded boulevard and chasing in the lanes but oh goddess, I was so wrong! How did he even know I was going out today?

“YOUR MAJESTY!” I heard a familiar voice yelling from behind me.

Only one person can call me this and he was none other than my best friend, Akash. It made me halt on my steps. I was furious in a thought that he just called me YOUT MAJESTY. What will Julie think now about me? I thought as I saw her curiously looking behind. I turned to look back at him and there he was behind me, holding his cycle keeping one leg on the peddle and other on the ground smiling at me showing all his white teeth and clean gums. His black hair carelessly fell over his forehead. When a bus drove from near us in a speed, his hair floated up showing his eyes. I gasped when his chocolaty eyes suddenly revealed to me. He was just staring at me! The way he was staring at me like something mischievous was going in his head. It has started freaking me out.

“Are you going to keep staring at me the whole day?”

He said leaning ahead on the cycle handle with that unabashed look of flirt in his eyes. I twitched my lips at him and turning my back, I started walking ahead.

“Who is this handsome boy Tara?” Julie asked me lowly.

“He is nobody,” I told her ignoring Akash.

“What a heart-wrenching lie Tara! ” He said pitching in between us.

“Do you know him?” Julie asked me again.

“Tell her Tara” He said cycling around us. This made me roll my eyes in a vexation.

“Will you please go away. You are distracting us” I told him. He was constantly ringing that bell of the cycle continuously, whenever I tried to talk with Julie.

“I would be thrilled to know if I have distracted the girl with you,” He said peddling his cycle towards my side and looking at Julie. That impressed Julie very much because she immediately looked at him whilst walking with me. It irritated me a lot because I was in the middle of them now knowing that he is going to talk with her and I will keep walking like a third wheel in between them.

“She is not interested in talking with you” I snapped at him which made him go a little away from me but he immediately cut the distance between us.

“No no, it's not like that, I am keen to talk to you,” Julie said and I mentally facepalmed myself. I heard him laughing at me in a teasing way.

“What's her good name?” He asked me. The tire of his cycle touched my leg whilst walking and making my saree dirty. I threw a glare at him and found him looking at Julie.

''Julie” She said.

“She has a beautiful name isn’t it Tara?” He told me.

Why he is talking to me?

“Thank you and what should I call you?” Julie asked him. He peddled faster and stopped drifting his cycle in front of us.

Why he is suddenly doing stunts?

“If you look up you will find the sky and if you look down then you will find me!

Akash”

What a pathetic line he used on my friend! No one will get impressed by it. But Julia smiled at him. How? It wasn’t even funny. He just told the meaning of his name.

He said moving his hand towards her asking for her hand. Before Julie gives her hand in his hand, I slapped on his hands and dragged Julie ahead, walking ahead of him. I heard him moving his cycle.

Oh god, he is still coming back to us.

“Do you know the name of the street you are walking on?” He asked Julia.

“No,” she said. I could feel a slight change in her voice it became more feminine.

“It's called lovelock street. Because love finds its way and locks us with a destined person” He said.

“No, it's because this street belongs to a famous British man Mr Lovelock who used to live here,” I said proving him wrong. I saw him looking at me with an attitude. He is so useless.

“He is so charming,” Julie said.

Charming? No way! His hair looked dishevelled, the shirt he was wearing is the one I disliked a lot and those pants wasn't matching with it. His smile irritated me to the core that I wanted to beat him with my bag.

“This is so rude of you Tara.” He said.

“Yes, I am now going ahead” I snapped at him.

“Come on he is cute,” Julie said stopping me by holding my arm. She was already drooling over him. I could see the way she was looking at him.

“I was trying to make new friends but you aren’t letting me” He said. His words made me gasp.

“Go find other people to make friends,” I said. Though I would not bother if he befriends with anyone but not with my female friends. He had always flirted with my friends who happened to be only girls and later they would go with him on his cycle leaving me behind. I never liked it at all. So I was protecting my friendship with Julie but this boy is leaving no chance to try his charms on her.

“I would have but where will I find another Julie?” He said smiling at her. She blushed. Oh my god, what the love of God is happening in front of my eyes!

He was leaning ahead to look at her I assume and his gestures were making me step back every single time. He was infuriating me so much whilst walking. I let out a breath and marched ahead, leaving them behind.

But soon I realized it was a mistake because when I turned back, I saw them engrossed talking with each other in the corner of the road. Don’t they think what people will say? Julie was way too modern for this society already but Akash? I turned, walked at Julie and dragged her hand before she goes with him.

“We are getting late” I nearly snapped at her.

“Oh yes yes,” she said. I walked ahead not before glancing once at him.

He was smiling like an idiot Road Romeo.

We get in the tram and with that I let out a sigh of relief. Finally some peaceful moment. Now no one will disturb me. Thinking this I sat on the window side and Julie sat near me. It was just seconds of peaceful moments when I heard that teasing whistle again.

“YOUR MAJESTY, YOU ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING! ” I heard his voice again. Julie immediately leaned at the window to look. When my eyes fell on him I gasped. He was holding my bag. How did my bag fell out of my hands?

“Give it to me,” I said pulling out my hands through windows. He peddled near to the tram and threw a wink at Julie.

I gasped.

Shameless.

"Julie get back’’ I told her. But she didn’t budge so I had to push her.

“Akash give me my bag, my hall ticket is in it,” I told him.

“Ahun” He shook his head sideways. “I will not”

“Why you are doing this to me?” I yelled at him and he just laughed at me.

“Woohooo I am so much enjoying the helpless you” He said.

“He is so funny,” Julie said. My eyes fell ahead and I gasped.

“Akash look ahead” I literally shouted which made him snap his head ahead. He stopped his cycle and I let out a heartfelt laugh of my prank on him.

But my bag!

I saw him capturing the distance swiftly.

“Get down from the tram’’ he said peddling his cycle.

''Why?’’ I asked him.

“Do you want your bag or not?” He said patting over my bag he hung on his handle.

I closed my eyes in frustration. I heard Julie laughing on me. OF COURSE HE IS MAKING FUN OF ME! Anyone would laugh. I gave a look to Julie who gestured me to get down. I got up and patted on her shoulders.

“We will have to go by walking,” I told her. She got up with me. We got down from the tram although it was not running too fast.

I waited for Aakash to come. But instead of stopping he just went past by me.

“Akash my bag”

“Come and take it Tara” He said glancing back. This is not happening. I AM NOT GOING TO RUN BEHIND HIM!

Akash’s pov

I couldn’t control my laughter when I saw Tara was actually running behind me. I saw her new friend Jess…Jen..whatever her name was too running behind her. The whole scenario I will remember until the next week and laugh. I have always chased behind her because I love to irritate her. But, Today I had a reason to follow her, unlike other days. It was only for Tara and not to woo any female friend she roams with. It is her birthday today so I have to meet her and wish her. I stepped out of my home without telling anyone that I am going to meet Tara. Otherwise, my mother would slice me in two pieces. Sometimes I don’t understand why my mother doesn’t allow me to meet her. Perhaps because of society and what people will say if they find a boy and a girl together? I don’t care about them at all. People can just blabber and don’t have the courage to do anything. I peddled my cycle and moved towards her usual route.

When first I was crossing the lanes, I saw a woman walking elegantly and it made me automatically stop peddling the cycle. There she was!

Wearing maroon coloured saree and looking absolutely undeniable beautiful girl. I can guess her from far as she has a long braid reach till her waist. She stands out in the crowd because of her braid and it makes me easier to follow her. I saw her crossing the road and meeting a new girl. Probably she was her friend. She was tall in height and has a hint of modernity in her manner. I peddled towards Tara blowing a whistle in my style. I noticed her jerking and it made me smile thinking she probably understood I was behind her. But then I saw her walking away with her friend. Why she always does that? Running away from me! I am her best friend, not a monster. I peddled in a force, cutting the distance between me and her in a snap.

“YOUR MAJESTY” I shouted. Now that made her stop. She turned back and looked at me.

There is my birthday girl!

I could feel my smile touching to my ears. It never felt awkward for me to behave like this in front of Tara. The way she looked at me made me pretty conscious suddenly. Here I was smiling at her and she wasn’t returning my smile. I can't stare at her longer, she needs to look away. If I look away first it will be very wrong! Tara come on look away. She didn’t budge though.

“Are you going to keep staring at me the whole day?”

I asked leaning ahead on the handle throwing some extra charm on her, perhaps that would make her annoy and it worked! I smiled victoriously.

I heard her friend talking with her something and I heard she said a word, Handsome boy. I could feel myself boasting up a bit. Then I heard Tara saying that I am nobody.

Really TARA? I am your best friend since we had milk teeth we are together.

It messed up my mind a little so I decided to give a little mess of mine to her. I started flirting with her friend, jen..jan whatever her name is. And why wouldn’t I flirt with any girl? I am a young Bengali boy and my sleeves are rolled up to chase the lovebird. Well, I can not flirt with Tara. She is my best friend. She is loaded with too much excellence. If I go to talk to her then she will start lecturing me about how should I move ahead and make a future. Talking with her takes too much intelligence of me and I am lazy to do it. She is the topper of the board well I am a topper too but from the last. She is always interested in the books, studies and I am always interested in sleep. She has a goal in life. Just like my father wants me to be. Unfortunately I can't be like her. I have failed in the board examination and have no plans to study any further. I am clear about one thing that I do not want to do anything. My father runs a hotel in the town so why will I study? I will get in the place of father's hotel business. After all, I am his heir and I will work in my father’s hotel only.

I saw Tara was walking quietly. An urge to grab her attention crawled in my mind. I complimented her friend, peddled my cycle to Tara’s side, deliberately touched the tire on Tara’s saree to annoy her more. For the first time, her saree looked neatly pressed. I also took her bag without letting her know and idiot Tara was unaware of it until I told her that her bag is with me. Then it all started. She had to get down from that tram and chase behind me. Taking this chance I kept the birthday present I bought in her bag.

“Akash stop” She yelled gasping for breaths. I shook my head telling her indirectly that I wasn’t going to stop. Run Tara run. It's your birthday today have some birthday bumps. I have always followed Tara so I could grab her friend’s attention and when I get that, I feel so much good.

I glanced back and saw her standing in the road keeping her hand on chest and catching some breath. That’s when I slowed down. Is she okay? I hope so. Running in that saree must be tough for her. Then she simply walked and knowing my motive of following her behind till she reaches to the university. I saw her walking near to me and her kohl eyes glaring at me. Because of running, her face looked sweaty. I chuckled and peddled matching her pace.

In between I talked with her friend. She was beautiful too. I noticed she was wearing high heels probably that made her look taller. Her accent was different. She did not look Indian but she was beautiful. Tara looked straight while walking. When we reach nearby her university, I noticed a crowd gathered there.

“Tara I am going ahead,” Her friend told her and then waved at me saying, “See you soon”

I know she was out of my reach but still she considered to meet me again, that might be because Tara was her friend.

We stopped in front of the entrance of the university. I noticed Tara was standing in front of me, tapping her feet restlessly. Then I realized her bag is with me.

“Oh here is your bag,” I said removing the bag I hung over my cross shoulder. She looked around hesitantly which made me to look around too. And boy, I noticed how many male eyes were staring at Tara. So that was making her uneasy. Weird because I enjoy the attention from every girl whenever I get it.

“Akash!” I saw my friend Binoy walking towards me.

“How are you friend? I missed you at morning practice” He said.

“I know I had some emergency,” I told him looking at Tara finally going inside the college. I had to miss my today's football practice to meet Tara.

“Who was she?’’ He asked. He might have caught me looking at Tara.

“She is my best friend,” I told him.

“Is she married?” He asked further. Why does he want to know about Tara?

“No, stay away from her,” I told him.

“She is very pretty and tall,” He said with a mesmerizing look in his eyes.

“She is my best .. wait tall girl?” My eyes widened when he said Tall because Tara isn't tall.

“Yes, that tall girl who was wearing a brown coat'' He told me.

"Oh, that girl. She is Tara's friend" I told him. So he was talking about the girl with Tara I was flirting a while ago. What was her name by the way?

"Gracious you know her? What is her good name?" Binoy asked.

"Jess...Jenn...I don't know friend" I can't remember her name but I had a gut feeling that she surely told me her name.

"Never mind, seems like she has also applied in the same university as mine" Binoy said.

"What? You come here to study?" I looked at the huge building of the university. It has some Roman architecture.

"Yes Bubla, I have taken admission for engineering. Now I will study here in this university." He said. I was quite impressed by him.

"Congratulations Binoy. Your future is set" I said thinking I still don't do anything great like him.

"And what you want to do ahead Bubla?" He asked and as usual, I shrugged my shoulders at him saying, "I don't know"

"My father is planning me to find a bride," He said sighing out.

“Of course everyone is getting married these days but why are you looking sad?” I asked him.

"I don't want to marry by his choice.'' He told me. Well, his motives were right and strong but completely impossible.

“That is something..” I paused.

"Very tough I know. But it's far better to marry the person you love rather than marrying someone whom you don't know at all" Binoy said.

I agreed somewhere to his point.

"Tell me Bubla will you marry someone whom you do not love?" He asked me. I could feel the chaos of unimaginable theories whirling in my mind.

I shrugged at him again.

“I don't know. I am too young to get married beside I haven’t fallen in love yet.” I told the truth. Though I roamed and chased behind every female friend of Tara, no one has captivated my heart yet.

“No way. Don’t wait for the love happen to you brother” He said keeping his hand on my shoulder.

“What should I do? There are so many beautiful girls and my heart doesn't beat for the only one” I told him.

This time he chuckled.

“You will get the one which will make your heart skip.”

Binoy said.

Is it even real? Is it possible to find someone who makes your heart skip? His words whirled in my mind for a time.

<><><><>

Tara’s pov

My palms felt sweaty. I kept pressing my fingers with each other in nervousness. The pressure of the result felt so real, I could feel myself shivering.

Julie was already turning pale. We sat in the auditorium and our results were going to announce soon. After a while, the university chancellor started announcing names one by one. Julie’s name announced and she nearly jumped on her chair. I felt happy for her but now I was feeling extra nervous. When my name announced I couldn’t believe on my ears. I asked Julie multiple times about my name announcement and every time she said,

“Congratulations Tara ” every time cheering me up. I could feel my tears making its way free from my eyes. This was the only first step towards my dream. The moon is still far away from me but one step closer.

When we walked out of the auditorium, I was feeling unreal, dreamy. Julie hugged me.

“I am so happy Julie. We cracked the entrance exam” It was feeling surreal.

“Yes I cracked the examination but you topped in it, how?” Julie was stunned after hearing my result.

“I really longed to get this,” I told her.

“Your hard work pays off Tara.” She patted on my back.

“I know and I am sorry for the walk before Julie. Because of my friend Akash, you had to get out of the tram and also run with me” I said sighing out.

“Ah never mind. I enjoyed it. Your lover is pretty interesting he has managed to chase you till the university. ” She said hitting her elbow at me.

“He is not my lover,” I told her the truth.

She raised her eyebrows at me. Why she isn't believing on me?

“He is just a friend of mine,” I said.

“Just friend Ooo” She said it in a way of teasing me. Now she is checking my patience.

“Childhood friend” I snapped and she laughed.

“Wow. Childhood love’’ She said that L word again. How can she talk openly about love like this to me?

“Friend!” I corrected her calmly. I do not want to spoil my mood because of her playful teasing.

“hmmph I can see that in his looks sweetheart,” She said. Now what she has observed about Akash?

“What?” I looked at her.

“and what you feel about him, hun?” She asked me easily dodging my shock again.

“Nothing Julie. I don’t have time for love” I told her hoping she would stop discussing about Akash again. Why even we were talking about him now?

“Come on Tara you are a grown-up adult. Love is not far from you now.” She said.

“Please Julie I am not made for any love and romance,” I told her.

“Ahh you are probably made of stone heart ” She sighed dramatically.

“Perhaps” I nodded.

“But not me. I will find love of my life soon” She always looks enthusiastic whenever she talks about love.

“It doesn’t get by finding it comes at you,” I told her.

“Exactly just like your loverboy” She said making me speechless.

“FRIEND!’’ I corrected her again and will keep correcting her.

Julie laughed.

Oh god, I was tricked by my own words, I need to change the topic fast.

After celebrating the day with Julie, I returned home till evening. The sun has not gone behind the hills that means I was on time to reach at my home. I saw a black Hindustan ten car parked outside.

‘’Ammaa Amma Ammmmaaaa” I ran straight inside the house and stopped when I saw some guests inside.

“Tara.. here is my daughter, she went to the university”

My mother introduced me to a lady with a man. They looked like a middle-aged couple. I greeted them doing Namastey.

“She has grown into a beautiful woman ” I saw the woman looking at me with her big eyes and a big bindi between her eyebrows. She was looking quite rich in the blue colour silk saree she was wearing with the golden earrings. She walked near me and touched my chin with her both hands.

“Last time I saw, you were so young, merely six-seven years old now look at you perfectly bloomed, ” She said. I looked at my mother who was smiling continuously. I do not know who are these guests but seems like they know me from a long time.

“Of course she has grown up and so our Akash,” The man with that woman said and it alarmed my mind.

Are they Akash’s parents?

“Maa I brought it, tell me where should I keep it” A familiar male voice came from behind me.

Akash? I looked back and saw him standing at the door holding a box of gifts. His eyes widened a little then became normal. Perhaps he did not expect me to be here. He never visited my home since I shifted here. He looked little amused then he was smiling again looking at my mother.

“Tara, do you remember them? They are Akash’s mother and father. I hope she haven’t forgotten, it was a long time ago.” My mother said, making my guess correct.

I went ahead and bend down to touch their feet when I heard Akash’s mother saying,

“Indeed a long time ago, that’s why we are here to take our daughter-in-law back with us to home’’

It made me look up to her in a shock and the box Akash was holding fell down with a thud.