Love finds a way

It had been a month since Surya and Vaishali last met. Both had been so busy with their careers, that they couldn’t find the time to see each other. A rare long weekend brought them together in Vaishali's home. Sitting on the couch under the warm glow of ambient light, their hands entwined, they poured their hearts out to each other, speaking of love, dreams, and fears. In that intimate space, time seemed to vanish.

Vaishali’s father left for his office early in the morning, his usual routine. Her mother had plans to attend a wedding in her village. She packed a small bag and left shortly after breakfast, reminding Vaishali to take care of the house while she was away. It was around 4:30 PM, close to the time her father usually returned home, but neither Vaishali nor Surya noticed, as they were completely engrossed in their conversation.

The creak of stairs shattered their bubble. Vaishali’s father entered, his stern gaze falling on Surya. “Hey Surya, How are you?” he asked.

Surya tried to remain calm. “Hello Uncle, I'm good, I was passing by and thought I’d meet you and Vaishali. It’s been a while.”

Her father gave a sarcastic smile and said, “Oh, Surya! How thoughtful of you to care so much about an old man like me. That’s really sweet of you.”

His tone slowly changed as he narrowed his eyes and looked directly at Surya. “But tell me, Surya,” he said, his voice now serious, “wouldn’t it be better if all this care was only for me and not for Vaishali? What do you say?”

Surya immediately understood the suspicion in his words. Trying to stay calm, he smiled and replied, “Uncle, I don’t know what you mean…”

Before he could finish, Vaishali’s father interrupted him, his voice rising in anger. “Stop lying, Surya! I know exactly why you’re here. Let me make it clear, this is your last warning. Stay away from Vaishali! Don’t come to my house or meet her anywhere else!”

The sharpness in his words made it clear he wasn’t open to any excuses.

With that, he grabbed Surya by the shirt and pushed him out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Turning to Vaishali, he said firmly, “If you see him again, consider me dead.”

Vaishali, heartbroken and helpless, locked herself in her room, crying. She didn’t eat or come out for the rest of the day. Her room was dark, and she felt completely alone. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep.

Time passed, It's now 10 PM, Surya couldn’t bear the thought of Vaishali suffering alone. Determined to comfort her, he quietly climbed the wall of her house. Standing outside her window, he whispered, “Vaishu, wake up. It’s me.”

Vaishali, startled, opened her eyes and saw him. Her sadness turned to joy as she hurried to the window. Seeing him there made her feel less alone.

With a gesture, Surya signaled her to come outside.

She tiptoed out of the house and ran into his arms. They hugged tightly, finding comfort in each other. Needing fresh air and some peace, they decided to go for a bike ride.

Surya started the bike and gestured for Vaishali to hop on with a slight nod of his head. She climbed on, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to fall. Unable to hold back her emotions, she gently rested her head on his shoulder, seeking comfort in his presence.

As they rode, Vaishali held Surya tightly, her heart full of love. The cool breeze brushed against their faces, making them feel free for the first time in weeks. It was like they had escaped their worries, even if only for a while.

Back home, Vaishali’s father woke up coughing and noticed her room was empty. Panic set in as he realized she was gone. He tried calling her, but her phone was on silent. Worried, he woke the relatives and called them home, explaining the situation. Soon, the house was filled with his people, all anxious and angry.

Meanwhile, Surya and Vaishali walked along a quiet beach under dim streetlights. The silence of the night and the gentle breeze made them feel alive. For that time, they felt like they could breathe.

Suddenly, Vaishali’s phone lit up with her cousin’s name. Surya noticed it and said, “Vaishali, your phone is ringing.” She glanced at the screen and froze, her face filled with fear.

“It’s my cousin,” she whispered nervously. “I think they’ve figured out we’re not at home. My father must have told him to call me. They’ll kill me! I can’t answer this call.”

Seeing how tense she was, Surya tried to reassure her. “Vaishali, it’s okay. Just pick up the call. Nothing will happen, I’m here with you.”

But she shook her head, panicked. “No, I can’t. I’m scared.”

Surya took the phone from her. Answering calmly, he said, “Hello, this is Surya. Vaishali is with me, and there’s nothing to worry about. We’re not doing anything wrong. We’ll be back in 30 minutes, so don’t overthink. 

He then ended the call and switched off the phone.

Everyone at home was furious after hearing how Surya had spoken to Vaishali’s cousin. Meanwhile, Vaishali’s cousin kept trying to call her, but every attempt went to voicemail as her phone was switched off. The growing anger and fear in the family only intensified.

At the same time, Surya turned to Vaishali with a reassuring smile and said, “Vaishu, let’s go home.”

Shaking her head, Vaishali replied anxiously, “No, Surya. Are you crazy? My father is furious with both of us. He’ll kill us! We can’t go back.”

Surya looked at her calmly and said, “Do you trust me? Then sit on the bike, Vaishu.”

Still overwhelmed with fear, Vaishali hesitated, refusing to move. She became more tense. Surya drew her close, his hand resting softly on her waist, Looking straight into her eyes, he said firmly, “Trust me, Vaishu. We’re in this together. I’ll handle everything. Don’t worry.”

His words gave her some courage, and she finally climbed onto the bike without another word. As they rode toward her house, a storm of thoughts swirled in Vaishali’s mind. She wondered if this would be her last day with Surya, yet a part of her hoped it marked the beginning of their happiness together. Emotions and fears clashed in her heart, but she held on tightly as Surya drove toward their uncertain fate.

As they finally reached home, Surya parked his bike and smiled at Vaishali, saying, "We're here, get down." And suddenly, Vaishali's calm expression turned tense again. When they returned, the atmosphere in the house was tense. Relatives glared, Vaishali’s father fumed, and her cousin rushed toward them, but Surya stopped him with a calm gesture. 

"Nothing has happened like you're all thinking," Surya said. Then he turned to Vaishali and told her, "Go sit down."

Vaishali looked into Surya's eyes, and he nodded, reassuring her with a silent gesture, "I'm here with you. Don't worry. Just go sit. I'll handle."

Vaishali walked over to the couch, sitting away from her father, where no one else was sitting. Her father and relatives stared at her with anger.

Surya confidently walked into the room, sat beside Vaishali, and, smiling, asked, "Why are you so scared, Vaishu? We're all human. We need time to understand each other's feelings. The same goes for your father, your cousin, and all your relatives who are angry at us."

Vaishali stared at him, confused. Surya got up from the couch and faced everyone. "I love Vaishali," he said. "I want to marry her. If any of you think I'm not a good match for her, please tell me one thing about me that makes me unfit for her."