Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Prince Charming is stunned

Kayal's POV

Our train journey to Srikakulam was fine. We made friends with Tea and coffee vendors in the train. We had a newly married couple sitting opposite to us. Both of them were oblivious to their environment. Their PDA was too much. These are the times when I feel bad for being single. Every now and then John and Salim used to ask us whether we are okay. I always thought that I am an over protective person. But next to Salim, I am nothing. He is super over protective. I know there is no such word as super over protective. But Salim can't be defined by anything in the standard Oxford English Dictionary. He is way beyond that.

When we reached Srikakulam, her parents were waiting for us in the Railway Station. We went to their home in an auto. Her parents followed us in their bike. It was a simple and neat home. Jaanu's parents were school teachers for a Telugu Medium School. They pampered us so much with food, I was sure that we can survive without food for two more days. Every time her Mother sees us finishing off some food, she will either bring us some more food, snacks or a drink. I have never been this full throughout my life. Jaanu planned to take us out somewhere. We went to her friend's house, which was actually two houses away from Jaanu's . When Jaanu knocked the door, I expected a woman to open the door. Instead a guy opened the door. On seeing Jaanu his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He smiled, "Jaanu, Jaanu, Jaanu."

Nothing else came out of his mouth. Jaanu was the first one to speak. "Baagunnara?" (Are you fine?) That guy was still overwhelmed to speak anything. So he simply nodded his head. Suddenly a young woman whom I assumed to be Jaanu's friend popped out of nowhere. She came and then after formal introductions we learnt that the girl was Madhavi and her elder brother who clearly has a crush on Jaanu was Stalin. It seems their parents were out of station. Madhavi was busy chatting with us. That guy went to the kitchen and made some juice for all of us. We had to drink it in spite of our full stomachs. It seems that drink was Jaanu's favorite drink. It was Sharbath.

When Jaanu had gone to the restroom, he spoke with Sara and I. "Jaanu is an extremely soft and sensitive person. Please take care of her. I have heard from Madhavi that you people have made her feel really comfortable in Delhi. Thank you so much for that. Please don't ever let her go alone anywhere. This is my humble request."

I told him, "Anna (Elder brother in Telugu), don't worry. We will take care of her."

By now Jaanu returned and all of us stood up to leave. When we were leaving their place Stalin asked Jaanu to come to their home for the next day as well. When she said that she will be leaving for Hyderabad for her internship he asked her to take care for like hundred times. As soon as we reached Jaanu's place we locked ourselves in Jaanu's bedroom. We told her mother that we were tired from the journey and we need some sleep. She believed us.

Sara was the first one to speak, "For the past how many years?"

Jaanu tried to act innocent, "What are you talking about?"

I said, "Jaanu, tell us the truth."

"Well, he proposed me when I was in High School. I said I like him, but I don't want to get in a relationship behind my parent's back. So he said, he will ask for my hand to my parents when I complete my studies. He is now working as an Engineer in Railways. His family is aware about his feelings for me. In my family, my mother knows that I like him. That's it."

I said, "Jaanu, you have such a sweet love story. Why did you never tell us that your Prince Charming is waiting for you?"

"To be honest, I never expected him to wait this long for me. I always thought, he may find some other beautiful girl and forget about me in the due course. But, he hasn't changed. I just happened to see my photo in his wallet now which was in his table inside their bedroom. It seems he had cut that picture from our college group photo. His sister and I were classmates."