At night, when the world was enveloped in darkness and everyone else in the society was fast asleep, there were two souls who found themselves wide awake.
Tapu and Sonu, both unable to sleep, tossed and turned in their beds, their minds filled with thoughts of the day's events.
Tapu couldn't shake off the image of being in Sonu's arms earlier that evening, feeling completely at peace and lost in her presence.
"What happens to me when Sonu is around, and why do I feel this way?" he pondered, his heart racing at the thought.
On the other side of the society, Sonu was grappling with similar feelings. The way Tapu had looked into her eyes had left her feeling a whirlwind of emotions.
"What strange feeling was that when I looked into Tapu's eyes, what is happening to me?" she wondered, unable to find peace in her thoughts.
Unable to find solace in their beds, Tapu and Sonu decided to seek fresh air in their respective balconies. As they took in the cool night breeze, their eyes met, both surprised at the sight of each other.
"You're still not asleep?" Tapu inquired, breaking the silence between them.
"I couldn't fall asleep, but what about you? Why are you still awake?" Sonu questioned.
"I couldn't sleep either," Tapu confessed.
Realizing that they both shared a similar predicament, Sonu suggested,
"Let's go to sleep now; we have to wake up early for college tomorrow."
Tapu agreed, "Yes, Good night, Sonu."
"Good night, Tapu," Sonu responded as they bid each other farewell and retreated to their rooms.
As they lay in their beds, their minds still buzzing with thoughts of each other, they couldn't help but wonder how they had found their way into each other's hearts.
Despite the late hour, the feeling of being connected was strong, binding them together even in the quiet of the night.
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the Gada house as the family sat down for breakfast.
Jethalal called Daya,
"Daya chai laa dukaan ke liye der ho rahi hai."
Champaklal, shook his head at him.
"Ae bhai jaldi hai toh jaldi uthna chahiye na khud Kumbhkaran ki tarah sota rahega aur phir bahu ko daatega."
Tapu, couldn't help but giggle at his father's scolding.
Jethalal noticed his son's amusement and teased him,
"Zyada hass mat beta, teri biwi ko aane de phir jab bapuji tera nahi uska saath denge na, tab tujhe pata chalega."
Tapu blushed at the mention of his future wife. But to his surprise, the first face that came to his mind was sonu.
"What the heck, main Sonu ke baare mein kyu soch raha hu," he thought to himself, puzzled by his own mind.
Daya returned with the tea and breakfast, setting down Tapu's tiffin in front of him.
"Dika yeh le tera tiffin," she said lovingly. Tapu looked sheepish as he realized he had forgotten to mention that he would be coming home early from college that day.
"Sorry mummy, aapko batana bhul gaya, aaj college mein half day jaldi aa jayenge," Tapu apologized. Daya smiled understandingly, "Thik hai, beta."
After breakfast, the family members each went about their day. Jethalal headed to his shop, Tapu went to college, and Champaklal spent his day meditating in the garden. Daya, ever the multitasker, managed the household chores with ease.
