Maruvarthai🤍

XXX

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm blanket of light over the scenic lakeside café in Mangalore. Anushka stepped out of the taxi, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gentle lapping of water against the shore created a serene backdrop, and the aroma of coffee mingled with the scent of blooming flowers. However, today, the beauty of the place felt overshadowed by the ache in her heart.

Having recently ended her casual relationship with Prabhas, Anushka tried to embrace the idea of moving on. But every corner echoed with memories of him—his laughter, his playful teasing, and those tender moments they shared. As she walked towards the café, her fingers brushed against the delicate ring he had given her when he proposed her in her apartment, the time when he thought she was pregnant.

"Why did I even come here?" she whispered to herself. She had been running away from the tangled emotions that had ensnared her, yet here she was, back at the center of it all.

Her friend had called her over, suggesting a casual meet-up. But looking around at the intimate setup, with twinkling fairy lights and a beautifully arranged table overlooking the lake, Anushka couldn't help but feel that today was not meant for casual chit-chat. A wave of nostalgia hit her as she remembered the last time she was at a café with Prabhas, laughing over their inside jokes.

She was playing with the ring absent mindedly. Lost in thought, she barely noticed the soft sound of footsteps approaching until a voice broke through the melancholy haze. Suddenly, her reverie broke with the sound of a familiar voice. "Sweety!"

She jerked her head up, squinting against the sun, hardly believing her eyes. Standing there, casual yet undeniably handsome, was Prabhas. His usual charming grin was absent, replaced by a look of unexpected seriousness. The sight sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach, memories flooding her mind. "What are you doing here?" she managed to ask, her heart racing.

"I'm visiting someone," he replied, the tone of his voice sending chills down her spine. He looked more mature than she remembered—serious and intent. A part of her wondered if he had moved on, but the thought was too painful to entertain.

"Who?" She asked, confusion lacing her words.

"The girl I love," he said simply, and the world around her seemed to tilt on its axis. The words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, she thought she might faint. Had she genuinely heard that right?

Before she could gather her thoughts, he continued, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Can you give me back the ring?"

Anushka stood frozen, processing his request. "I thought you told me to keep it," she said, pulling the ring from her finger, misunderstanding washing over her.

He grinned, taking the ring from her hand and slipping it into his pocket. "Yes, I said that," he admitted. Then, with a flourish, he produced a small velvet box from his jacket. Anushka's breath caught in her throat as he opened the box to reveal a newly designed ring—much prettier, with a delicate setting that sparkled in the sunlight.

Her heart raced as she looked from the ring to his earnest eyes. "Prabhas... what is this?"

"Because I thought this would suit you more," he said, his serious demeanor melting slightly into the boyish charm she had fallen for.

The gentle breeze seemed to carry whispers of memories: his playful banter, the way he would slyly tease her about being the 'independent woman', how he had always seemed unfazed by her sass. She felt tears prick her eyes, overwhelming emotions rising to the surface. She had thought she'd moved on, but standing here, staring at him, everything felt raw and real.

He continued, his voice softening. "Sweety, I wasn't joking when I proposed you that day. I meant every word. Sure, relationships and commitments are scary, but I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else but you. Forever worth sounds boring, but if it's with you, I know we'll make it exciting together. You've wrapped me under your fingers more than you know."