Sana and Sid start walking towards their home from the restaurant. The roads were not so busy as it was 10:30pm. They crossed the main road holding each other's hand unknowingly but they didn't leave it even after crossing, instead their hands were entwined further. It wasn't a normal thing for Sana. But her heart just didn't wanted to leave his hand. There was a silence for a long time until Sid speaks.
Sid: So Sana, what's your full name?
Sana: (smiles) Sahana Srinivas Bhat.
Sid: Srinivas is your father's name?
Sana: Yes. My Appa was a pilot and Amma, Janaki Srinivas Bhat was a classical Bharatanatyam dancer.
Sid: Wow, so you learnt dancing from your mother?
Sana: Yes. She is my dance guru as well. I officially learnt Bharatanatyam from her when I was 8 years old. Unofficially, I used to often dress up like her and dance looking at her video cassette tape since the age of 3.
Sidharth: So cute. Do you dance now as well?
Sana: 8 years back, I lost both my parents in a car accident when they were returning from a dance programme. It was my dance programme and I had stayed back to come with my friends that day. I was 24 then, I stopped dancing after the incident.
He looked at her. She had tears accumulated in the corner of her eyes.
Sid: I am sorry.
Sana: (She wipes the tears with her other hand) Tell me about yourself.
Sid: I am Sidharth Gujral. 35 year old. Rest is all history which I don't want to think about or even talk about it. I've learnt to live in present from you.
Sana: Hmm.. yes, remembering bitter past can only leave you in pain. We need to only take lessons from them and move ahead in life.
Sid: Sana, I feel you held yourself back too. Why did you leave dancing?
Sana: I grew up suddenly after that incident. I had to prioritise my needs now than my dance.
Sid: Hmmm..
There was some more silence between the two.
Sidharth: Sana, our conversation was left pending due to Bharath's interruption. Sana, I don't have anything with me to give you at the moment but I want to give you the time, the care, the affection, the attention and the love you craved for. You said the relationship of boyfriend has no commitment and they can leave you anytime. I don't want to leave you. I don't want to give you a fake promise but a real commitment until we are together. I want to fulfill all your dreams. Marry me.
Sana loosened her fingers and pulled out her hand slowly from his grip. He looked at her, this was the second time she pulled her hand from his hand after his proposal. He had thought that she left his hand due to Bharath's presence on the first instance but this time he felt the reason was different.
Sid: I am sorry Sana. I think I crossed my limits. I forgot that we were suppose to act. I started having a genuine feeling...
Sana: Sid, please don't be sorry. You haven't crossed your limit. It's just that there is no future to our relationship.
Sid: But Sana, future will always be uncertain. We cannot stop living today just because we are uncertain about our future. Remember, these are your own words which you spoke while eating the chocolate I gave you?
She was silent as she was lost in thoughts.
I like him and if it was any normal situation, I would have been the happiest to be proposed by him. He wanted to commit suicide because he was betrayed by his closed one. My motive was to save him from doing so and I lied to him in that circumstance. But now the circumstances have changed. If he learns tomorrow that I lied to him and that I am not suffering from any disease, he will feel even more betrayed. I don't want to him to feel betrayed and go back to take such extreme steps again.
Sid: Sana.. What's about the future? You know that you have 10 days with you but what if I am not be there after 5 days?
Sana: Stop it Sid. I am happy with the status quo and our current relationship. I don't want to take this any further from here. I don't want you to involve yourself emotionally into this. I want you to live and stay happy always. Will you treat this request of mine as my final wish? Will you fulfill it for me?
He looked at her as he knew that he had progressed far ahead from the point where she was asking him to stop. He was not just emotionally involved but had realised that he was in love with her. It was just 5 days since he came to know about her existence but he felt that he was connected to her since ages. He wanted to fulfill all her wishes so he was ready to fulfill this as well.
Sid: (nods) Yes. I will.
Sana found it difficult to look into his eyes so she starts walking ahead just to avoid those eyes.
Sid's thought - I was wrong, I don't need marriage or husband tag to give her the love and attention. I will give it to you regardless Sana. I will fulfill your dreams along with your final wish.
He takes a bigger steps to reach her and slips his right hand to hold her by her waist. She looks at him in shock.
Sana: Sid? What are you doing?
Sid: I am your boyfriend, remember?
Sana gulped and nodded.
Sid: I will follow the boyfriend duties ardently from now on.
They resume walking and reach home. Nandini was walking to and fro in nervousness, waiting for her sister to arrive home safely. The moment she hears the footsteps, she opens the door immediately even before Sana could open the door with her keys.
Sana: Aren't you sleeping yet Nandu?
Nandini: Aaa.. no.. I will go now..
They go inside.
Sana: Okay Sid, Good night.
Sid: Yes Sweetheart. Good night!
Nandini looks at both of them as he called her sweetheart but she got a bigger shock when she saw him hug Sana and kiss her forehead. Sana was taken back herself.
Sid: Good night Nandini.
Nandini realised that her mouth was open agape. Sidharth had gone into his room. She closed her mouth and looked at Sana who went inside her room. Nandini followed her.
Nandini: Akka, what was that? And why did you take so much time when you left the restaurant 45 minutes back?
Sana: What? Stop spying on me Nandu. I am not a little kid and remember that I am your elder sister not a younger one who would give you all report. Why did you send Bharath there?
Nandini: I was worried for you akka. Now after looking at what just happened outside, I think I have to be double cautious.
Sana: Stop it! I think you should go back to your husband's house.
Nandini: What? No way! Not until he leaves.
Sana becomes sad at the thought of him leaving. Nandini observes her facial expressions.
Nandini: Akka.. Do you love him?
Sana: Aaa? I am tired and I am going to sleep. Bye.
Sana changes her clothes and freshens up before going to bed.
.
.
.
.
Sid wakes up in the morning and goes out. He finds Nandini reading newspaper.
Sid: Good Morning Nandu.
Nandini: Huh? It's Nandini! Nandu only for Akka.
Sid: Oh! Akka only for you, it's Sweetheart for me. (Winks with a smiles) By the way, where is my Sweetheart?
Nandini: (smirks) Huh!! I don't know.
Sid: Can you share the newspaper? Business section.
Nandini smirks and resumes reading her newspaper without answering. He shrugs rolling his eyes. He hears utensils sound coming from the kitchen. He smiles and goes towards the kitchen.
Nandini: Excuse me! Here take the paper. (Forwards the paper)
Sid: No, thank you. I have much more important work to do at the moment.
He goes inside the kitchen. Nandini runs towards the kitchen door and peeps inside. Sid goes and hugs Sana from behind and plants a soft kiss on her neck. Sana shivers at his touch.
Sid: Good Morning sweetheart.
Nandini crumbles the paper gritting her teeth looking at him hugging Sana and rocking her softly.
Her thoughts - What the hell is he doing? Akka isn't stopping him and I find her getting depressed emotionally as well.
Sana: G.. G.. Good Morning (Fumbles due to his closeness)
Sid: What are you doing? (Nuzzles his nose near her ear)
Sana: (Tilts due to the tickle and nervousness) Pouring Do.. Do.. Dosey..
Sid: (whispers) I.. Love.. (her breath hitched and heart beats rised) Dosey.. (he smiles)
Sana sighed. Nandini was face palming while cursing without volume. He rested his chin on Sana's shoulder.
Sid: Teach me to pour Dosey.
Sana: It's not a rocket science. Just grease the griddle lightly, pour it like this and spread it in circular motion.
Sid: (holds her hand as she spreads the batter) Wow!! That's so easy.
Sana: (smiles) You want to try?
Sid: Sure.
Sana removes the cooked dosey off the griddle and gives him the space. He greases the griddle, pours the batter and tries spreading it but the entire dosey stuck to the spatula and it turned out to be a disaster. Sana couldn't stop laughing. He makes a puppy face and looks at her. Nandini walks in and looks at the griddle and starts laughing as well.
Nandini: Akka, Vidhyarthi Bhavan Dosey is also fail infront of this special dosey.
Sana: Okay enough. Nandu take the plates to the dinning table. I'll get the dosey.
Sid: I'll carry the chutney.
Sana: Hmm.. okay, here take this. (Hands chutney bowl to him.)
Sid: What's this Vidhyarthi Bhavan?
Sana: It's a restaurant famous for their dosey.
Sid: Hmm.. We should go once.. (he takes the chutney out.)
Sana confirms if both Nandini and Sid were gone out before she grabs her mobile and takes a picture of the disastrous dosey for her beautiful memory. However, Nandini observes this but chooses to keep quiet.
They eat their breakfast and Sidharth helps Sana with dish washing and other chores combined with a flirty talks. Though Sana was enjoying every bit of it but was mentally exhausted thinking that everything will soon come to end.
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To be continued.. ❤️❤️