Accidental meeting

Dad stayed in my room till I complete my snacks. After he left, I closed the door of my room and opened the wardrobe. I took Rosh's favorite shirt and our wedding photo into my hand. Still, I could sense his fragrance from his shirt. I looked at that photo in which I was so looking happy and he holds my shoulder with possession.

Never in my life, I thought I would live without him. I didn't hurt anyone from my childhood but I don't know why God took away my happiness.

I hugged his shirt and our wedding photo to my chest. Then I laid on my bed thinking about my Roshan, my husband.....

Flashback.....

Hasanthi POV:

Five years back, we met accidentally on the train, AP express. I was going to Delhi along with my mom to join in Business management course in a reputed college. As my mom and I got different seat numbers, we were seating in different compartments. When I was reading a novel, I saw few college students were disturbing others, and also they were drunk. I ignored them and resumed work. Among them, one of the guys sat opposite me and talking in bad language. I wanted to move from that place and sit with my mom. But his friends blocked my way to stop me.

A few passengers were present in that compartment. Everyone was looking at me but no one came forward as they were drunk. Among them, one guy touched my hand and tried to move his fingers towards my arm...

I closed my eyes with disgust and fear. My eyes started dwelling with tears. After few minutes, I felt that guy released my hand and heard a scream. Then I slowly opened my eyes and checked my surrounding. I was shocked to see all guys fell and screaming with pain. Then I noticed a tall person with a fair complexion. He was looking for a courageous and well-mannered person. He was perfectly strong with six-pack abs.

" Are you okay madam?" He asked me.

" Hmmm.." I replied still looking at him.

He made me sit and gave me some water to drink. He shouted at other passengers as they looking like an audience. I was impressed with his behavior, how bravely he questioned everyone.

" Till where are you going?" He questioned me.

" Delhi" I replied.

" Okay. I am also going up to Delhi. Don't worry. My seat number is opposite to yours. " He said with a Calm tone.

" Thank you. By the way, My name is Hanshi and yours...." I extended my hand.

" Roshan." He replied.

" Nice to meet you" I smiled at him.

We talk with each other forgetting about time. From his words and behavior, I understood one main thing. He said he was working in the army. He a was very mature and decent person. In our whole conversation, he didn't try to ask me about personal information. Any guy tried to take advantage of my situation but he didn't.

I had a habit of reading novels, I thought I was seeing one character from one of the novels because we don't find the perfect guy now a day except the novel.

At 9 pm, mom made a call to know whether I had my dinner or not. I answered my call and again started talking with him. After one hour, I slept on my berth. When I closed my eyes afternoon incident reminded in my mind. Suddenly I opened my eyes and checked my hands.

" Are you feeling scared?" He questioned me.

" No..." I lied.

" Okay. Sleep I will be here itself ...." he assured me.

His words gave me strength and slowly I went into a deep slumber.

.....

.....

The next morning, when I opened my eyes. I didn't find him. I felt disappointed as I didn't saw his face. It was a new feeling to me. I just met him before the day but I don't know why I was missing him. I thought he will stay with me till my destination but he gets doff-off-offf therein in middle.

I asked my next passenger about him. She told in the early morning she saw him taking his luggage and went towards the exit.

I cursed myself to sleep like a log. I was helpless and started thinking about why I am worried so much about him. After some time, my mobile was buzzing. The call was from my mom. She informed me that we were very near to the station and asked me to wait near my compartment number. I took all my belongs then I saw a small note with a pen:

" All the best for your studies and be strong to face problems around you."

- Roshan

I smiled inside and kept carefully his note and pen in my handbag.

My uncle( dad's friend) came to the station to receive us. We went to his house. We stayed there for two days after that I joined the college and also my hostel building was on the same campus. The hostel warden allotted me a room where the girl also belonged to South India. To my luck, she was also from my state. Her name was pragathi. She was very bold and intelligent.

It was the first time, I was staying away from my parents. I cried for them for two days, especially I was missing my younger sister, Shalini. Slowly, I habituated to a new college, hostel, and people. My roommate, Pragathi became very close within few days. Time flew very fast...

After 3 months...

One day, pragathi asked me to come along with her to meet his brother as he was coming to Delhi on some office work. First I denied it as I was so scared of a new place. But when her face became sad. I wanted to accompany them to meet her brother.

With the help of local friends, we reached that place. I was busy playing games on my mobile whereas pragathi was eagerly waiting for her brother. After 15 minutes, my friend screamed in excitement which made me look at her. I didn't believe my eyes. For few seconds, I thought it was a dream. I pinched my other hand to confirm what I was seeing as true or not I thought that pragathi's brother was the same person, I met on the train who was none other than Roshan.

He too looked at me with amusement.

" Hey, he is my brother, Roshan" pragathi introduced me.

I smiled at him.

" How are you? " Roshan asked me.

" Yeah....fine... Doing good. Pragathi is my roommate" I replied to him

" You both know each other...." Pragathi asked us.

" We met once in train ...." We both replied at a time.

He was pampering my friend like a small kid. I noticed how much he loves his sister. Then I understood why she was so eager to meet her brother. We had our lunch in a restaurant. Then he took us shopping. My friend bought dresses, handbags, and other accessories. I just followed them without talking.

From my childhood, my parents were so busy in their lives. They had hardly half an hour per day to spend with me and my sister. My parents were always concerned about their business. Most of the time, caretakers used to look after us. So I felt happy to see brother and sister bonding. I silently admired his care on pragathi. He gifted one golden wrapped box to his sister and another one to me.

In the evening, he dropped us at our hostel. I and pragathi stood at our hostel main gate. When he was leaving, pragathi got a call from her parents. He took my mobile in case of any emergency to talk with his sister. I wanted to stop him and want to spend some more time. I don't why I was attracted to him. I was so confused about my feelings towards him. He walked 10 feet away from me. I stood in the same place looking at his back. All of the sudden, he turned his head and looked at me within. He waved his hand and left the place. I felt empty in my heart with his disappearance.

I went to our room and opened the gift box. There was a set of beautiful red bangles. I just loved it. I immediately wore those bangles, it was perfectly fit my hands.

...

....

Within few days, we started to chat and talk with each other whenever he had free time because he used to be busy with his work most of the time and hardly he used to get free time. He used to share everything about his job, plan, and other things. Many times pragathi asked about our relationship as she knows that her brother doesn't talk with strangers. I told her that I respect him and like him. She smiled at my words.

Sometimes I am too confused about my feelings.....

.....

.....

Four months passed .....

I went to my hometown for the semester holidays. As usual, my parents were busy in their lives. I craved to spent some time with my mother. But she advised me to have fun with my sister, friends, and cousins.

I used to talk with pragathi daily. Gradually Roshan stopped calling me regularly as he got transferred to Tawang at Arunachal Pradesh. I started missing him especially his voice. I lost all my interest in any works only his words and his face were running in my mind.

....

....

After one week, he made a call and that too he spoke only for ten minutes. I felt peace hearing his voice. I was very happy that even in his busy schedule he spared ten minutes for me. Days passed quickly and again I returned to the hostel. I eagerly waited to see pragathi but she sends me a message that she was not coming for one week. I immediately made a call to her.

" What happened? Why are you not coming till one week?" I questioned over the phone.

" Actually..... I am getting engaged ...." She replied making me a shock.

" What!" I exclaimed.

" It happened very fast..... I had no time to inform you earlier" she explained.

" When is your engagement?" I asked her.

" After three days...his name is Lokesh" she answered.

" Okay.....congrats.... bye" I disconnected the call.

I hurt as she didn't tell me about her engagement till I called her. One week passed...

Pragathi joined back in the college. For few days, I didn't speak with her properly. Later she narrated why she engaged hurriedly. I felt bad that I didn't analyze her situation. I wondered within a short time my friend fell in love with her future hubby. I used to tease her to the core. She threatens me that she will also take revenge on me.

After few weeks, she got a call from her parents that her marriage date is fixed exactly after two weeks. I felt happy for my friend as she is going to start a new phase of her life. Her fiance used to make a call daily.

Before one week of her marriage, her father came to take her home. She introduced me to her dad. I took blessing from him. Before leaving for her hometown, she said to come three days before her marriage and I agreed to it. She also said Roshan already booked tickets for me and he will join in the journey. I felt excited to meet him and travel with him.

I informed my parents that I was going to attend my friend's wedding. I packed all my necessary things and waited at a railway station. The train we had to catch is at midnight 2 am. The time was 10 pm Still Roshan's train didn't arrive. I made a call to him. He didn't attend my call. As it was November month, the weather was very cold and I was shivering badly. I forgot to bring my sweater. I cursed myself to forget. After half an hour, Roshan's train arrived and he ran towards me.

" Why didn't you attended my call?" I complained.

" Sorry.....my mobile was in my pocket. I slept in train" he explained.

I could understand how tough his job is...

" Okay ....what shall we do till 2 am?" I asked him.

" Let's roam nearby places....." He said casually.

" I can't ...it's very cold and also forgot my sweater....." I said in low voice.

" First we will have one nice tea then we will think....." He dragged me with him.

After having hot tea, my body becomes warm. We roamed near shopping malls which were opened at midnight. Then we catch our train. As we were tired, immediately, we slept arranging our blankets on the berth. In at early morning, I noticed some warm hands on my cheeks. I opened my eyes and find Roshan in front of my eyes.

" You are shivering so badly. So I am here to cover with another sheet" he reasoned.

" Thank you..." I smiled at him and closed my eyes.

...

...

I opened my eyes at 10 am and find Roshan was reading some magazine.

" Good morning....." I greeted him.

" Good morning...." He greeted me back.

I completed my morning business and sat beside him. Still, the weather was cool. He pulled me closer to him and shared his quilt. I didn't oppose his action as I was enjoying the closeness. We had breakfast in silence. He again started reading that magazine. As I was feeling bored, I leaned back and close my eyes. After some time, I noticed that he wrapped my shoulder carefully from back and my head was on his chest whereas he was sleeping leaning back. I was embarrassed with shy. I don't want to disturb this moment and again I closed my eyes.

After we wake up, we didn't speak with each other only our emotions were carried through our eyes. Finally, we reached their home. Pragathi hugged me and asked how was the journey looking at Roshan.

The house was beautifully decorated with flowers and filled with relatives. I shared pragathi's room as I don't know anyone in their house. Roshan got busy with marriage arrangements. I noticed how much bond was there in the pragathi's family. From my childhood, I carved for it but I didn't get it.

Before one day to pragathi's marriage, she was introduced to a girl named Kusuma. She introduced her as a future vadina (sister-in-law). She also said after her marriage, Roshan and Kusuma were going to be engaged.

My heart was broken hearing that news. My eyes filled with tears but I controlled to fall with great difficulty. I covered my face with a fake smile and congratulated her. I remained in the room for some time. Then pragathi's mom called me to have lunch but I lost my appetite. I lied to aunty that I will have lunch later. I walked out of the room to have some peace of mind. Unknowingly tears were falling like a waterfall from my eyes.

I don't know why I hurt if Roshan was getting engaged to Kusuma?

I sat under the tree at a nearby pond and started throwing pebbles into the water to calm myself. The weather suddenly changed and started raining.

Someone was calling my name from far. It was raining like cats and dogs, I could not see his face properly.

" What are you doing here?" Roshan came holding an umbrella and he pulled me closer to him so that I won't wet in the rain.

I didn't answer his question and turned my head in another direction.

" Why didn't have your lunch?" He questioned me again.

" My wish...." I replied rudely.

" Come...." He holds me and tries to drag me with him.

" I want to stay some more time...I will come later...." I replied looking at him seriously.

Still...I am confused with myself...why I was speaking in this way ...

" You will get cold and fever..... " He said with concern.

" I don't die .....to this heavy rain.....just leave me alone" I shouted at him.

" Dare to talk about your death..... or else....." he pulled me closer to him.

Due to strong wind.... the umbrella from his hand flew away. We both were drenched in the rain.

" Or else...what?" I questioned with an angry face.

" I will die. I can't imagine my life without you.....never talk such words again.....because .....I love you..... " He leaned closer and sealed my lips with his warm lips.

I remained numb with his confession.

He released me when I was panting heavily and cupped my face with his palms.

" I love you.....Hansi..." He said looking into my eyes.

My eyes shedding tears with happiness and I smiled at him ...

" I love you..... too... Rosh..." I hugged him tightly.....

Stay tuned...

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