Pavan's POV :
Sameerana. The only thing that is running inside my head from the time I saw her. Her name, her presence of mind, her smartness. Ugh..... I don't know a name can be so addicting.
We reached our house and stepped in. All the arrangements are being made by the organizers. Sagar is home and he wishes Mom. We entered the living room and Mom stood in front of Sameerana.
"Samee. Come let's get ready.", Mom said but Sameerana was not looking comfortable with it.
"It's okay Aunty. I'm fine with this dress.", she said with a nervous smile.
"Your dress is absolutely fine. But I want you to change into some party clothes. It's okay if you don't want to listen to me.", my mom started her melodrama. Sameerana immediately said she would get ready. She thought she was hurting my mom.
They both went into Mom's room.
"We should get ready Bro.", Sagara said and we both went to his room.
We are out in our party outfits. It was 7:00 p.m. Sagar came to me.
"Did you send a car to the airport? Sneha Aunty landed.", he said.
"I've sent a car and you please don't stress. Okay?", I cooled him down. Mom's birthday is the only day Sagar gets tensed.
"Has the cake arrived?", I asked him but he was looking at the stairs without blinking.
I followed his gaze and saw Mom descending the stairs in a blue color saree. Along with her, there is Sameerana in a freaking Yellow color dress. I don't know what that dress is called. But I'm out of words just by looking at her.
They both descended the stairs and stood in front of us.
"You are as always gorgeous Mom and I must say Sam is looking beautiful too. Isn't she Pavan?", he said looking at me.
I couldn't form a sentence so I just smiled and nodded my head. Sagar and Mom left to receive guests and we are left alone in the living room.
We were just looking at each other for some time.
"Shall we go outside?", she asked.
I can just stay like this looking at you for the rest of my life. "Yes. After you.", I said and followed her out.
Mom cut the cake and the party was almost done. I always tried to be around Sameerana. She enjoyed herself in the party. Sagar gave her company for some time and then Mom followed by Dad. Finally, we both were sitting together. It's almost 10:00 p.m.
"Samee.", Dad called, and we turned towards him.
"Why don't you just stay here tonight? It's already late.", he said. I'm super happy and saw Sameerana. But she is not happy. She put on a tensed face.
"No problem Dad. I'll drop her.", I said.
"That's fine. I can go on my own. I have my scooty.", she said and tried to get up.
"I'll send your scooty tomorrow with someone. I'll drop you off now in my car. Come.", I said and stood up.
"He's right. Go with him.", Mom said and she agreed.
We both got into the car and we were silent. Sameerana's phone rang.
"Hello Sruthi!", she said.
After listening to something she was shocked and excited and happy at the same time.
"Really? Did you check yourself?", she asked Sruthi on the phone.
I couldn't hear what the other person was saying but Sameerana was happy and slowly happy tears started forming in her eyes.
"Thank you thank you, Sruthi. I love you. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye.", she said and cut the call.
"What happened?", I asked as soon as I got the chance.
"I've passed the exam." saying this she danced in her seat. I'm happy for her. She is waiting for her final results and I'm super proud of her success.
"Oh my god. I'm super happy. I need to tell Dad and Babai about this. I've been waiting for so long. I guess Aunty is my lucky charm. It's her birthday today and I got my results.", she said with a big smile on her face.
Is it a crime to get jealous of our mother?
She is looking outside the window still smiling and her happiness can be radiated all around.
Soon we reached her home and before she stepped out I said, "Sameerana."
"Yeah?", she said facing me.
"I know it is the wrong place and wrong time but I think it is important to tell you.", I said and she was waiting for me to continue.
"I like you.", I said and saw the smile on her face slowly vanishing.
She didn't speak anything for a few minutes. I'm cursing myself using all the bad words I knew. I'm feeling so pumped up.
"I'm sorry Sameerana. I didn't mean to make this awkward. I'm sorry. I could've waited for a few more days. I just thought... I don't even know why I said that. Please forget that. I'm very sorry to make you uncomfortable. It was just....", my blabbering was stopped by her words.
"I like you too.", she said and I stopped.
"What?", I asked not sure about the words she spoke. Maybe I feel that I heard that.
"I like you too.", she said again and smiled at me.
I smiled and my lungs finally started breathing. I couldn't stop myself from saying, "I love you."
Her smile again faded away. She said, "For now I said I just like you."
"I know. Trust me you're not gonna take much time from turning I like you into I love you.", I said and she smiled.
She hurriedly went inside her house without glancing back. I went back to my home smiling like a madman.
When I entered the room Sagar was sitting there. "What are you doing in my room?", I asked him while changing my clothes into comfortable wear.
"Mom asked me to convince you to go and see a girl for marriage.", he said and I frowned.
"I'm not going to see any girl. I'll tell Mom everything tomorrow.", I said and lay on my bed.
"At least listen to the name of that girl.", he said and I said, "I don't care."
"Don't you care if it is Sameerana?", he said and jerked up sitting on the bed.
"What?", I almost shouted.
"Yes. Mom liked her very much. She asked Dad to talk to Shekhar uncle about your marriage with her. She asked me to convince you.", he said revealing all the events.
"What did you say then?", I asked.
"I said I'll try.", he said and we smiled at each other. He hugged me and said, "I'm so happy for you."
POV ends.
The next day Shekhar spoke to his brother and they all agreed to this marriage. Initially, Sam's father is hesitant to look at the status difference between their families. But when Sam said she liked the boy, he was more than happy.
After a few days, they decided to go with engagement. Mamatha ordered both Sam and Pavan to buy the engagement rings together. It is today they planned on buying the rings.
"Hey, Sagar. Go and bring Sameerana to the mall. I'm busy right now.", Pavan said on the phone.
"Okay. But I'll check your new camera in your engagement," he asked. And with no choice left Pavan agreed.
Sagar reached the house and stepped out of his car while talking to Pavan on the phone. He saw Sam through the window. But he saw that Sam was crying profusely. She is rubbing her eyes with the back of their palms. But still crying.
"Sam is crying Pavan.", Sagar said in a worried voice.
Pacan jerked up from his chair and started running towards his car.
"Why? What happened?", Pavan asked.
He started driving his car at full speed.
"I don't know. I'm going inside the house."
"Okay.", Pavan said and cut the call.
Sagar went inside and saw no one was there in the hall. He quickly went inside and was shocked to see the scenario in front of him.
After 10 min Pavan parked his car and ran into the house. He saw everyone sitting there in the hall. Sagar is also there. But he couldn't see Sameerana.
Without wishing anyone he started shouting her name.
"Sameerana. Sameerana.",
Sam came out of the kitchen with a knife in her hands. Pavan strode towards her and cupped her cheeks. "Are you ok? Are you hurt somewhere?", he asked making everyone shocked.
"What happened to you Samee?", Shekhar asked.
"Nothing Babai. I'm fine.", she said not understanding anything. Sagar is trying hard to control his laugh.
"Then why did you cry?", Pavan asked with worry.
"I didn't cry.", she said keeping a hand near her eyes. She could feel the wetness.
"Oh, this. I was cutting onions for the pakodi.", she said while smiling.
"What?", Pavan asked and looked at Sagar. He laughed out loud not able to control anymore.
Everyone is looking at him with confusion while Pavan is feeling more than embarrassed.
Sagar cleared everyone's confusion about what happened. Everyone laughed and teased Pavan and Sam. Pavan's face and neck turned red. Sam is also a blushing mess.
They went to their engagement rings shopping at a mall. They didn't say anything the whole time. They selected rings for their partner and went to their car. Sam is smiling all the time.
While going to her home, she asked, "Why were you so worried?"
Pavan smiled and said, "Or what? I got 3 challans for crossing the speed limit."
Sam widened her eyes. "You must be careful. What if something happens to you?", she said with concern.
"Nothing happens to me until you are fine.", he said and left her blushing.
Engagement day :
The ceremony is going well. Sam's friends Sruthi and Sakshi also joined them. When it was time for the ring exchange, Sam's friends demanded Pavan propose to her on the stage.
"It's fine. You don't need to do all these things.", Sam whispered to Pavan and glared at her friends.
Smiling at her Pavan bent on his knee. Sam widened her eyes. Everyone around them hooted.
"The moment I saw you is the moment I knew I wanted you in my life. When Sagar told me the meaning of your name, it was the most favorite word for me in the whole world. I love you Sameerana. I need you. Just like Sameerana needs Pavan. Give me a chance. I'll never let you cry. Not even while cutting onions.", he said and Sam could not control her tears.
"I love you too.", she said. Pavan slid a ring on her finger and stood kissing her forehead.
Everyone congratulated the couple one by one.
"I'll surely cry while cutting onions.", she whispered in his ear after confirming no one was near them.
"I'll ban onions from our house. And if you wish to have them, then I'll cut them myself.", he said in the same tone.
They smiled at each other welcoming the brightest future ahead.