Tara was on a video call with Shiv. It had been two weeks since he had confessed his feelings.

Tara was sitting with a pillow to her chest hiding her face partly. She did that whenever he flirted with her so that he couldn't see her blush.

"Shiv...side mai dekhiye."

He raised his eyebrow and looked to his side and then looked back frowning.

"What?"

"Arre wahi dekhiye."

"Kyu? You don't want me to look at you?"

He asked with a slight pout and she giggled.

"Aap dekhiye toh. Aur wapas mudna mat."

"Thik hai. Samajh gaya mai. Ab tun chahti hi nhi ho ki mai tumhari taraf bhi dekhu. Dekh lia maine Tara. Achha sila de rhi ho mere pyaar ka-"

"I love you."

His dramatic speech came to a halt hearing her soft voice. His head snapped back to her and he looked at her wide eyed.

"What?"

"What?"

She asked and he leaned closer to the screen.

"You said something."

"I did not."

"Tara! You did say something. Say it again!"

"Maine kuch bola hi nhi."

She was having fun teasing him.

"Don't torture me like this. Say it!"

She smiled and looked at him with a soft smile.

"I love you."

"Again!"

He demanded and she whispered it back while he closed his eyes as if it soothed him.

"I wish you were here. With me. I wish I could hug you, hold you, kiss you until both of us are out of breath. I wish Tara."

She blushed at the intensity of emotions in his eyes.

Tara was missing Shiv a lot. Her heart craved to see him and hold him close to herself. The feeling and the craving had been increasing since the day she had confessed.

"Shiv? Medical camp dobara kab lagega?"

Shiv frowned hearing such a random question from her.

"Next year maybe."

"Matlab aap next year aayenge ab?"

She asked with a gasp. She had to wait an year to see him?

"Zaruri nhi hai. Iss baar mai head tha. Next time head kaun ho pata nhi. Zaruri nhi hai ki mai team mai bhi hounga."

"Toh phir aap kab aayenge yaha? Mujhse milne?"

She asked with a sad pout.

"Ab tum aao na Delhi. Mujhse milne."

"Tsk! Mai kaise aaungi? Baba aise thodi na bhej denge mujhe anjaan shehar."

She said and he got silent for a few seconds.

"Shiv?"

"Agar mai reason de du aane ka toh? Tab toh aaogi na?"

"Kaisa reason?"

"Wo bhi dekhenge. Haan bolo bas. Sochta hu kuch."

"Haan! Mujhe milna hai aapse. Ek baar jee bhar ke dekhna hai."

He chuckled at her cute tone and said that he'll think of something.

It had been a week since Shiv said that he'd give her a reason to come to Delhi. Until now he hadn't thought of anything.

"Tara?"

She heard her father call her and she bounced towards him.

"Jee baba?"

Her father smiled seeing her smile. He patted her head and said.

"Kitni badi ho gyi meri laado. Pata hi nhi chala."

"Aise senti kyu ho rhe ho aap achanak?"

She asked suspiciously. Usually this happened when the talks of marriage was going on.

"Ehsaas hua ki ek din tujhe bhi khud se alag krna padega. Itne naazo se pala aur ab tere jaane ka waqt aa gaya. Ek baap kabhi taiyar nhi ho skta iss cheez ke liye. Par duniya ki reet hai."

"Kya bol rhe ho baba? Kya hua hai?"

The next words from her father's mouth made her eyes widen in shock.

"Rishta aaya hai tere liye. Achhe log hai. Kaafi izzatdar aur naam wale hai. Dekhne aa rhe hai kal."

"Baba? Maine kab kisi rishte ke liye haan kri?"

"Haan toh humne bhi nhi kri. Bas dekhne aa rhe hai. Dekhne mai toh koi harz nhi hai. Agar pasand aaye toh haan nhi aaye toh na."

Tara nodded with a tight smile. She had to talk to Shiv. She couldn't marry anyone else.

That night as soon as the call connected she spoke in a hurry.

"Shiv! Jaldi kuch kariye."

"No hi no hello! Where are your manners Tara?"

"Aap hi hello krte raho aur yaha kal mujhe wo ladke wale pasand kr jaayenge."

She said feeling irritated. She was too stressed about the rishta meeting tomorrow.

"Kaunse ladke wale?"

"Dekhne aa rhe hai kal. Baba ke paas rishta aaya tha mere liye. Unhe pasand hai ladka aur khandaan. Kuch kariye Shiv."

"Tumne mana nhi kra?"

"Abhi haan nhi hui hai lekin iska matlab ye nhi hai ki kabhi nhi hogi. Kitne rishte taalungi mai aise."

"Tum tension mat lo. Mai krta hu kuch."

"Shiv aap-"

"Tara I'll talk to you later. Raste main tha mai."

She frowned. It was almost 12. Why wasn't he at home already?

"Aap ghar nhi pahuche abhi tak?"

"Nhi...kahi jaana tha kaam se. Baad mai baat krta hu ok. Don't worry about anything."

With that he disconnected the call. Tara felf too irritated. First this rishta meeting. Then he seemed like he wasn't even bothered. And now he disconnected the call after acting so suspicious.

She shook her head and took a deep breath.

"Pehle toh kal uss ladke ko handle krna hai Tara. Iss aadmi se baad mai ladenge."

The next day her mother was preparing various dishes for the guests and Tara twisted her lips. What was the use of all the sweets when the alliance was going to be declined. She nonetheless helped her mother.

"Ye pehen le. Achhi lagegi."

Her mother said, handing her a beautiful baby pink satin silk saree. Tara didn't want to look pretty for anyone else. But she had no option right now.

She wore the saree and was in no mood of doing makeup so she just applied a little lipgloss and kajal.

"Tara! Bahar aaja. Aa gye wo log."

Tara took a deep breath and walked out of her room. She didn't look up. She had no interest in anyone apart from Shiv.

She bent to touch the elder couple's feet and they blessed her. She gave a brief glimpse to the man here to see her and did a double take.

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