“Waise if you're so interested in seeing me naked, just tell me. I'll fulfill your wish. Ye bahane banane ki zarurat nhi hai.”

She gasped and pushed him, making him laugh loudly at her expressions.

“I was just teasing. But the offer still stands okay?”

He winked and she hit his arm before walking out of the room in a flustered state. What was this man! So shameless!

Pratishtha chuckled and shook her head walking towards her parents.

It was yet another day and Pratishtha was in the local vegetable market to get some groceries for home. It was sunny right now but she never trusted the monsoon and always carried an umbrella with her.

And she was right. Because the moment she entered the market and started looking for vegetables, it started drizzling. Before she could even make a move towards, it was pouring heavily leaving her with no option but to open her umbrella and find some shed.

As she was running, she felt a presence beside her and looked at him in annoyance.

“Tum kabhi apna umbrella carry kroge ya nhi?”

“Yaar suraj chamak raha tha aaj toh. How would I know it would rain suddenly?”

“Seasons nhi padhe kya school mai? Rainy season hai. It is supposed to rain.”

She said and he huffed as they reached the shed.

Pratishtha patted herself dry and Dheer ruffled his hair to get rid of the water. She suddenly remembered seeing the object in his room and turned to him.

“You know? I got this umbrella as a gift from someone.”

She started gaining his attention towards the umbrella.

“Sundar hai na? It also has my initials. See!”

She showed him and he nodded.

“Do you have any idea if they make it as couple umbrellas ya single single banwane padte hai?”

He shrugged and looked away.

“How would I know that?”

“Oh! Nhi wo mujhe laga ki tumhare paas bhi same to same aisa hai na, toh tumhe shayad pata hoga.”

He looked at her shocked and she looked at him innocently. He gulped and looked away.

“I-how do you know that?”

“I saw it in your room on aunty uncle's anniversary.”

She shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal while in reality her heart was beating wildly.

“Nhi…wo…mai…”

“Tumhe bhi kisi ne gift dia tha?”

She asked but before he could answer to asked again.

“Ya tumne kisi ko dia ho?”

He understood that there was no point in hiding now and turned to her with his hands in his pockets.

“Jab sab samajh gyi ho toh ghuma fira pr baatein kyu kr rhi ho?”

She dropped her innocent act and asked seriously.

“Why did you give it to me?”

“Because I wanted to. I saw you dumping your old and broken umbrella and I knew you'd get one for yourself. Mujhe ye achha laga toh maine de dia.”

“Toh twining couple umbrellas kyu mangwaye?”

“Because they were offering a discount and I liked it so apne liye bhi mangwa lia.”

She bit her lip and took a deep breath.

“Aise anonymously kyu dia?”

“Saamne se deta toh tum le leti?”

He asked and she got mum. Maybe not. She then remembered something else and asked.

“What did you mean by that note? That sunshine wala.”

He smiled and said.

“You were worried about your job and things. I just wished you genuine happiness. Jo dil se nikla wo likh dia.”

His answers were true but not what she wanted to hear. She thought that maybe he liked it and would confess. She looked at front and nodded.

When she spoke again, her voice was a whisper.

“So that's the only reason. You don't feel anything else for me? Like, nothing at all?”

Dheer was surprised at her question and licked his lips.

“I…uhhh…how did you know?”

She looked at him and asked.

“Know what?”

“That I like you.”

“You like me?

“You didn't know?”

He asked confused and she looked at him seriously before asking.

“You seriously like me? Like as in romantically wala like?”

“I do! I thought you figured after I told you that I was the one who gifted you the umbrella. I mean why else would I even bother? Actually, uss waqt mujhe khud nhi pata tha why I did that. I never did that for any woman apart from my own mother. Not even for my cousins. But doing it for you felt…right. So I just ordered it. And placing that couple order for us made me feel something which I ignored at that time. But now if you ask me I’d say yes! Yes I like you. Actually like is a small term. I'd say I it's more than like. Maybe not love yet but…you get what I mean right? Lekin tumhe pressure lene ki koi zarurat nhi hai. I know you don't feel the same for me. And that's why I never made any move like that. I don't want to lose whatever little thing we have and I-”

His rant was cut off when she launched himself in his arms and burried her face in his neck. His hands shot out to catch her at the correct time and he held her securely.

“I like you too.”

She whispered and he melted immediately. Four words. Just four simple words and such a huge effect.

His hold on her tightened and he dug his face in her neck before kissing the side of her head.

“I…fuck! I can't believe this is real.”

He whispered and she pulled back with her eyes sparkling with happiness as she looked into his eyes.

“Mai pinch kru tumhe?”

She asked mischievously and he chuckled, resting his forehead against hers.

“Kiss krdogi toh better rahega.”

She gasped and hit his arm, making him chuckle. His chest reverberated against hers and she smiled seeing him happy.

Since that day, they started dating in secret. Pratishtha didn't know how his parents would react. According to him, they'd be happy. He said that his parents liked her.

She knew her mother would be ecstatic and her father would be pissed.