11

                                    

                                          
Shravan had announced that he will be leaving for London in 2 weeks. Kamini was the happiest listening to this. Ramnath had also agreed as it would keep him away from Suman. Ramnath's plan was simple. He let him practice in London and look for a match for him here. After his marriage, he would settle with them there taking retirement. 
Upon hearing Shravan's announcement, an annoyed Sumo went to confront Shravan, again.
When she entered the room, he was reading something facing opposite side. All the books were scattered over bed as he was packing. 
"....and tumhare saath waqt kahan chala jaata hai pata hi nahi chalta, tumhare saath rahna mujhe bahut accha lagta hai. I think I like you. Sumo, would you be my girlfriend?"
The letter read.
He sensed someone was standing beside him and looked to find her. 
She quickly grabbed that letter and Tom and Jerry show started. 
He ran behind her as they were moving to desk, then couch, bed and closet. He trapped her but she swiftly escaped. But he again trapped her near bed and held her hands strongly behind her back. The letter was forgotten when their eyes met. The proximity again started killing them. If they had allowed themselves, they would be kissing each other all the time. Their reverie was broken soon.
"Shravan!"
Said an angry Ramnath who didn't like what he saw and quickly ran to his room. Shravan followed. 
"Ye kya kar rahe the tum Shravan, I know wo tumhari dost hai lekin wo Tiwari ji ki natin hai."
"Papa main bas wo...letter...."
"Koi bhi reason ho Shravan, tum aisa nahi kar sakte. This is not right. Ab tum bacche nahi ho. Aur maine kaha tha na tumse, wo acchi ladki nahi hai, bilkul Nirmala hai. Keep your distance from her. Tumhari uske saath dosti mujhe....mujhe samajh nahi aati. She caused you so much pain and still ..you...I want you to stay away from her."
He said and continued asking him indirectly to break bond with her. 
Shravan also agreed thinking whatever his father would say is right, afterall he knows best. But his heart was not agreeing that she is not right for him.
----
Shravan came into the room and found a very surprised Sumo.
"You liked me?"
Sumo asked with shock and a few tears in her eyes. 
He at first got confused but then it hit him.
'Shit! She read the letter meanwhile. Dammit! Of course she did, I had forgotten to take it back.' He thought. 
"Chhodo Sumo, ye sab bachpan ki baatein thi."
He said remembering his father's words and went into his walk-in closet. 
She came near him and stood in front of him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She asked with slight anger. 
This made him angry too.
"Because you were so occupied with your cool girl image that you never really cared about me."
He said making her go quiet. 
She knew he was right. 
"I don't care anymore, wo sab mera bachpana tha aur kuch nahi."
He said as she moved away from him. 
"Okay."
She said and was leaving with the letter when he stopped her.
"Leave the letter."
"Why? You don't care so I'm taking it."
"Yes, I don't, but you still can't take any of my things."
He said and took the letter from her hand.
She stayed silent. 
"You were going somewhere?"
She just nodded and left.
All the way down to her home she was cursing herself and regretting that how her immaturity took away 10 years of their lives. They would've been together forever but now everything is a dream.