Mithra

ALMOST IN Love … {7} It had been a week since Jacob had last seen Dhwani. She had not called him either. Although he had made the decision to marry her, he was uncertain about the possibility. It was not because he was having second thoughts about his resolution, but because he was sceptical about her reaction. He was certain that she would not agree and he really had to plan his proposal to her. She was indeed the most intelligent and smart woman he had met in his life. Therefore he had to think deeply before making his next move. For now, he had purposely not called her just make her feel his absence. Inversely, it was him who was painfully missing her. He was desperate to have a glimpse of her. Unable to stay at home, he had come to the beach and was strolling lazily. Impulsively he picked up his phone with an urgent desire to speak to her. The screen was screaming out the odd time. 10.23 PM Jacob put the phone back into his pocket dejected. He took a few steps furth...

ALMOST IN Love … {6} ‘How are uncle and aunty?’ asked Lalana pushing the grocery cart. Dhwani picked up a two packets of sugar and placed it in her cart. ‘They are doing well. They left yesterday afternoon.’ ‘So early? You should have insisted that they should stay back for at least a week,’ she said checking out the price of tur dal. ‘I did tell them, but I could not force them because they had to go back to take care of the little Diya. Bhabhi won’t be able to manage alone for more than a couple of days. She could not avail leave from her office,’ said Dhwani shrugging. Together they reached the cash counter and she began placing the grocery on the table. Just then Lalana remembered that she had forgotten to pick up toothpaste. She immediately went to pick it up. Dhwani patiently stood there waiting for the billing to be done. ‘Hello Ms. Melody,’ called out a familiar voice from behind. A surprised Dhwani turned around with a smile. Jacob grinned at her. ‘...

ALMOST IN Love … {5} Jacob entered the elevator on 13 th floor and punched the button indicating the ground floor. The lift reached the 11 th floor undisturbed and the door opened. He sucked in a sudden breath of air. Dhwani entered the elevator dressed in a red sari and looked gorgeous enough to kill him. Apparently, she did not notice him and turned around her back to him. He stood still for a moment, even forgetting to breathe. She was barely a feet away from him and he simply couldn’t deny the magnetic hold she had on him. ‘Dhwani,’ he called out. His voice was almost hoarse. She instantly turned back and flashed him a smile. Damn! Do you really have to look so gorgeous?! That too in an elevator! You are killing me… ‘Hi Jake! What a coincidence! I have been thinking about you today.’ Her words left him dumbfounded. Unable to come with anything else to speak, he simply asked her why. ‘Tomorrow is Ahan’s birthday and he wants you to attend the birthd...

ALMOST IN Love … {4} Jacob did not comment on her confession. He quietly sipped the tea and waited for her to continue. She looked lost in her thoughts and stared at her cup of tea. ‘Before marriage I had never been in love or rather I did not let myself fall in love. I always dreamt of marrying the perfect guy and then love him more than anything in this world. I believed that Akash was indeed my prince in shining armour and laid my heart at his feet. Within the first few days of marriage I was madly in love with my husband. People say love is blind… it is true because I was so blind in love that I failed to notice his feelings. He never loved me but only pretended to do so and was cheating both of us. One fine evening… he came home and said that he wanted a divorce. My whole world came crashing down…’ she said in a shaky voice. He felt uneasy that she might start crying. He had no experience in consoling a woman. To his relief, she quickly composed herself and continued t...