What took you so long

I am Jeevika, a simple happy exciting girl who loves to spend time with her parents mostly. And this is my love story.

Since I am 3, every year our family goes to our vacation home at a beach which is my favorite place on the earth after my home. It’s like a vacation to the kids but actually, it is a get together of our parent’s friends. It’s like a bunch of families meeting every year and spending a few days. This year I am very excited as I am an adult now… Yay… I turned 18… Which is somehow very exciting to me. 

By the time we reached the cottage, most of the families had already arrived. I could see that this year is going to be fun like every other year and got me super excited. That evening while walking on the beach I saw Viren walking opposite to me in some distance lost in his thoughts. Viren is 5 years older than me and I have known him almost my life as we see each other during our vacation. I see him on the beach around this time every year but we never talk to each other. I guess he started nodding at me with a smile when we crossed paths on the beach from the past 2 years. So, I guess it would be the same this year too and I got ready to respond to his smile. But surprisingly he walked towards me and said Hi. I was startled but responded to him. Viren: ’Did your brother not come this year too?’ Me: ‘No’ And then he started asking how I was and how my studies are going. I told him that everything is good except the fact that I am being bullied. He suddenly turned towards me completely and giving his complete attention asked me, ’how bad is it?’ Me: ‘Not that bad, enough for me to handle. It’s mostly guys trying to make a move on me’. He smiled. Viren: ‘It’s pretty common for a girl as beautiful as you’. Me: ‘It’s too hard to live a normal life when people bother you all the time’ Viren: ‘Then you should have told me as I have few friends at your college who can look after you’. When he said that sentence, everything became so special to me as we never spoke to each other in the last 15 years and I felt that his words meant caring for me. Our conversation then went around his education and about vacation plans tomorrow. Then we realized that its dinner time and said bye to head to dinner. When I met my parents for dinner at the dining room arranged for all the families, I realized that we spoke for almost an hour and I didn’t even realize the time. The next day went by as according to our fun plans. In the evening I realized him saying that he will be leaving tonight as he got his medical exams soon.

I thought to myself If I could meet him one more time and tell him all the best with a handshake. While I was still in these thoughts one of my friends took my hand and started dragging me out to the balcony for a conversation with me. Coincidentally, I crossed paths with him. Without wasting a second, I extended my hand saying ‘All the best for your exams, Bye’. I made up my mind that I won’t see him for another year and with that thought, I said bye for one long year. He took my hand and said Thank you with a smile. And that was the last I have seen him on that vacation and I know I won’t see him again until next year but still, something in me was filled with complete happiness. I sent him a friend request on Facebook while traveling back to my home from vacation and he did accept it. But I didn’t dare send him a message as we never spoke to each other before and convinced myself that we will meet next year.

1 year later:

I was excited as every year for the vacation but this time my eyes are excited to see Viren. After reaching there I didn’t spot him anywhere in the cottage and my mind started making all the worst assumptions possible guessing he might have not come this year as he finished his Bachelors in Medicine this year. I closed my eyes and thought that I wish to see him. The moment I opened my eyes I saw him. My heart was relieved of all the thoughts I had. He was talking to his friend and I am not sure if he saw me or not. Something stopped me to walk to him and start a conversation as we weren’t that close and I felt one year is a long time to remember that conversation previous year. I spent the rest of the day waiting to talk to him but nothing happened. 

The next morning as I was daydreaming while walking, I got hit to my bed. Initially, I thought it’s not a big deal but as the day progressed, I couldn’t walk. As I was going into hospital, I saw Viren standing there talking on his phone. As I got a doctor’s appointment I went into the clinic. As I was coming out, I saw Viren standing outside the hospital. My heart skipped a bit but I told myself that he isn’t there for me as I saw him that morning at the breakfast table and just shared a smile with no conversation. I got no choice than walking towards Viren as it’s the same way I need to head for the cottage. 

As I was walking towards him, he lifted his head and asked me with a smile, ’What happened to your leg?’ Me: ‘I just got wounded’. He saw my leg and asked me, “It looks like you bumped into something’. I smiled and responded playfully, ‘yes doctor’. Viren: ‘is it okay for you to stand?’ I thought he was asking as he was concerned as a doctor. Me: ‘Its more comfortable when I stand still.’ Then he started a conversation about college and life. I just thought to myself if he asked me ‘if I am okay to stand’ is to start a conversation with me. Viren: ‘Are still boys bothering just to talk to you?’ I was quite surprised to learn that he still remembers our conversation from last year. I just smiled and responded saying ‘I don’t think it’s going to stop anytime soon’.

While we were talking, we saw John uncle passing by us giving an odd look. So, I mentioned it to Viren saying that John uncle is giving us an odd look. Viren: ‘That’s why I am ignoring him right now’. I was touched by that sentence as I know how valued john uncle is. As we respect him and give a lot of importance in our life. I asked him when he is going back. I found that both our families would be leaving tomorrow. We realized its lunchtime and that we need to head back. I realized that it’s exactly like last year where we spoke for an hour without realizing the time.

After lunch, I couldn’t find Viren anywhere. I just waited for dinner time hoping he would be there. But my eyes kept searching for him. At dinner, I couldn’t find him or his family. I was too upset and came back to my room without having dinner. I just want to know if he is still here or not. I don’t know why my heart is too disturbed and realized that I have feelings for him and that I truly love him. Above all these thoughts, my soul just wants to know his whereabouts. After sometime my mom came to my room and asked me, ‘Did Viren left?’ I was quite taken back as this was the very first time my mom spoke about Viren with me. Me: ‘I don’t know, but why are you asking me that?’ Mom: ‘After you left the dining hall, Viren family came in but I didn’t see Viren with them. As you guys talk, I thought you would know.’ Me: ’No mom, I don’t know anything. But by your words, it looks like he left.’ 

As I was thinking of my memories with him, I got to know that,

‘when I wanted to say him all the best previous year it happened just right away

 when I wanted to see him yesterday, it happened just right away

 when I wanted to know his whereabouts, it also happened just right away’

When I think something to happen about him, it’s being done immediately every time. I feel its fate rather than coincidence. May be every girl in love feels the same. Maybe this is called true love.

His memories didn’t leave me even after coming back home but I again convinced my mind that I will meet him in a year but this time the year didn’t seem long.  

8 months later:

I still have his thoughts but I am still going good with my life. On my birthday I got a Facebook message from Viren, ‘Happy Birthday Jeevika’ at 12 AM. I was too surprised and couldn’t believe my eyes what I am seeing. I started typing my response back and almost confessed my love indirectly but reality hit me as I don’t know how he feels about me. So, I wiped off the messages I typed and sent ‘Thank you’. He said welcome and that was the end of our conversation.

While I was enjoying the day with my loved ones, I got a call from an unknown number at 4 PM. I just picked up and a male voice said, ‘I love you’. I quickly recognized as Viren’s voice. I asked him, ‘where did you get my number from?’ Viren: ‘I have your number for a long time, can you please concentrate on what I said just now’ Me:’I heard it and I am still on the call’ Viren: ‘Hold on a second. How did you recognize my voice? Do you have my number’ Me: ’I love you and I don’t have your number.’ With a rush of excitement in his voice, Viren started saying ’I wanted to say this from 1 year 8 months but I didn’t as I don’t know how you feel about me. I just love you Jeevika’ Me: ’I was also on the same boat but I was waiting to meet you soon on the vacation. I love you Viren’ 

Viren: ‘I didn’t even hesitate a second to hold your hand when you offered me your hand for a handshake. 

I was waiting outside the hospital only for you as I saw you heading into the doctor’s room.

I got an emergency after meeting you and tried to convey that message to you but time didn’t allow me as I need to catch a flight soon’

Me: ‘I am feeling so high right now. I waited all day when you were talking to your friend.

 I searched for you till night then your family came up for dinner but you weren’t around. That made me realize that you left.

 Thank you for giving me such a beautiful gift on my birthday. I am so happy that I am going to share the rest of my life with my true love.’

Viren: ‘I love you’

We felt that we got an answer to our feelings which we carried from last 1 year and 8 months.