Lovers

2. Confession

"Hu Tame Prem Karu Chu. I love you, Anuj. I love you".

What followed her confession was a dead silence before a thump sound followed as the bag slipped from Anuj's grip and dropped to the floor. With his back still towards Anupama, he took a step back and quietly shut the door.

"What did you just--

Anuj spun on his heels then, his eyes the size of saucers as he stared at Anu, her head still bent low.

"Anu,tumne..."

As she finally looked up into his eyes, he was struck. Starstruck. Lovestruck. Dumbstruck.

While he gaped like a fish, Anu tried to calm down her nerves. They were raging wild.And she didn't know what to feel- to laugh at Anuj's stupid face or to cry,because she didn't know what to expect. She was happy still, scared too. Hey Kanha!

Was he day dreaming again?Perhaps it was her fragrance he had inhaled a few moments ago that was driving him insane. He looked at her again. She was worrying, and waiting. Did she really....?

He fidgeted with his glasses then, confusion painting his features. And as she looked his way again, he cleared his throat determined to affirm what he had just heard or what he had thought he had heard.

"Did I....Did you just...." He trailed, his finger pointing from her to himself.

She shook her head at his disbelief but as his eyes furrowed in confusion, she palmed her face. He was more troubled than her!

Gathering her nerves, Anupama nodded embarrassed, in response.

Anuj blinked in succession, baffled, confused and blank as hell.

"I..."he cleared his ears then and continued, "must've misheard because there is no way you just said that you lov--

"I love you, Anuj", she proclaimed, positively exasperated as she cut off his words and watched all expressions drained from his face.

While she stared at him expectantly with a flushed face and fingers crossed behind her back, his heart stopped, then started beating, before it skyrocketed.

Anu loves me.

'Hu tame prem karu chu'

Anu loves me....

'Hu tame prem karu chu'

Anu LOVES ME!!

And soon a lone tear escaped his eye, as his face lit up with a charming smile. Finally!

"Why are you crying?" Anu panicked then, as Anuj chuckled and wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

"Because I am happy. Very happy." He chuckled again as he took a step forward and dropped on his knees.

Started,Anu took a step back and looked down at Anuj who gazed back at her with misty eyes and heartwarming smile.

"आधा सा इश्क मेरा

जो था नहीं लकीरों में

हकीकत हो गया, लम्हा

जो था दिल की तस्वीरों में "

Gently,he pulled at her hands as she uncrossed her fingers and allowed him to hold her hand. And surprising her, he pressed his eyes against the back of her hands.