Long Distance Relationship | ✓

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Karan couldn't believe he was actually doing this. He just missed her more than he thought he would. He still remembered the first time he had seen her. He just couldn't break that eye lock that happened instantly. Karan never thought he'd be one of those guys to have an arranged marriage. He always believed he'd be the one to chose his wife, fall irrevocably in love and then marry. But fate had other plans. 

He still distinctly remembered the night before the day he first met her. When he had said yes to meet the girl, his parents wanted him to meet. He simply wanted to experience what it felt like. He had it all planned, how he'd politely decline the probable alliance owing to differences in personality and get back home. But boy, something so close to magical happened when he laid his eyes on her. He just couldn't say NO.

He smiled picking up the small customized basket of chocolates. Aditi loved chocolates. That was something he had learned on the very first day when they had met and had a little chat. Back then Karan didn't know why he felt those strong emotions for her, but he did. With time his affection for her only multiplied. 

The almost twelve days he was away from her felt like a drought in his life. He missed her terribly. The delicious food she cooked, the way she would randomly run her fingers through his hair or land a kiss on his cheek, the morning hugs and the evening cuddles he missed all of that and so much more. It only started becoming clear to him - he had actually irrevocably fallen in love with his wife along the way. 

He stepped into the elevator. He always boasted how he was the perfect guy who knew what women wanted. He had had his generous share of college romance and heartbreaks, yet when it came to Aditi he found himself second guessing his skills. He knew that just like many other girls Aditi had been under his charm. But she was the first who literally charmed him. She was unapologetically sarcastic, always played hard to get, she was sort of nerdy and smart, and when in mood, she was a firecracker lover in bed. 

He could literally see their relationship move from the attraction phase to the committment guaranteed phase. There was no way he had any doubts remaining. He wanted her to be in his present and future. He took a deep breath and stood before the door. Reaching for the keys in his pocket, he silently proceeded to unlock the apartment door. He peeped in.

 Half an hour back, on the call, she had said she had reached home. He stealthily shut the door and put his travel duffle bag on the makeshift couch she had made of the spare mattress. On second thoughts, he picked it up and placed it on the floor beside it instead; she wouldn't like it.

He glanced towards the open kitchen and then balcony. She must be in the bedroom or bathroom, he concluded tiptoeing towards the bedroom. He peeped in to find her sitting on the bed with her back towards him. She had the bed table stationed before her with her laptop on top. "Yes, we will be including them in the overhead. I think we should be able to follow the timeline and stick to it. Yes. Sure."

He smiled listening to her voice. Damn, he was such a goner. It was like his fate was giving him back for all the times he teased his friends of being under the spell of a girl. He rested his head against the wall, closed his eyes and stood there listening to her voice. This was crazy. When and how did he end up so whipped!

He opened his eyes only when he realised her call was going to end. He started thinking. Should he just walk in and say Hi ? Should he creep her out? That would be so much fun. But he didn't want to give her an heart attack or something. He took a deep breath. He smelled his tshirt. Damn, he smelt of the air conditioning of the airport. Who cares? 

Taking a deep breath he stepped ahead to enter the room. She was now near the side table typing way on her phone. At the very moment his phone vibrated briefly indicating a new message, and instant smile bloomed on his face. He admired the smile that lit up her face as she typed. His heart gushed on the fact that it was thoughts of him that induced that smile.