Like any other day, Manav, yes that’s me, I was returning from the college. On the way to home, I stopped by a shop to buy some accessories for my assignment. I noticed a young girl reading something with keen interest but she was facing difficulty as it was written in English. I got distracted for few seconds but immediately coming back to senses, I asked the shopkeeper to give my requisites. After taking the stuffs, I still was standing there for few more minutes gazing at her until the shopkeeper asked me, “Beta, do you need anything else?” I nodded my head in denial and headed towards my lane. Something unusual about that girl settled in my mind but that was not like the attraction I feel towards other girls. At night while going to bed, I kept thinking about that girl. “She was reading the book with so much concentration but why it was not fluent?”, a silly question popped up in my mind. “You have a morning class tomorrow Manav, don’t waste your time like this”, I warned myself and went to sleep.

Next day after class I was going back to home by the same route. I looked around the shop but she was not there today. I waited for some minutes and then left. Some days passed and the thought of her gradually started coming down of my mind. But probably the fate had written something else for me. We had been instructed to do new projects. After college my friends Dhiraj and Ayush decided to go and buy the new commodities. We were one group and not only for projects, but also from childhood we remained the renowned trio in our institute. “Let’s buy it from the nearby shop. Who will go to the main town in this sharp sunlight”, Dhiraj spoke up.Then and there my brain flashbacked the image of that girl and to avoid pondering about it again, I told, “It’s been many days we visited the big town of Gandhinagar, let’s go there only. We will even get more varieties there.” They both gave me a disgusted look and started walking which clearly indicated that they were not going to listen. We reached at the shop. This time the shopkeeper uncle was not there, instead she, yes that girl was sitting and running the shop. Ayush asked for all the things we need and at the time of payment, she instantly calculated the total amount of so many things purchased. We three were stunt and looked around each other with astonishment. Automatically it came out of my mouth, “wow you are so fast. You must be very good at maths”. She just smiled to acknowledge my compliment.Next day, I came out of my home early, much before my class used to start just to check on her. I was passing by the shop when I heard a loud voice. Someone was screaming. I stepped closer and heard the sound of someone crying. Without thinking anything I just said, “Is there anyone in the shop?” The shopkeeper uncle came out. The frustration in his face was apparent. I asked for a ten rupees pen just as an excuse. Hesitantly I said with a low voice, “Uncle,I heard someone crying, is there anything wrong?” Uncle was in so much anxiety that he didn’t even bother before spitting everything infront of a stranger. He started saying, “I have a daughter who is my only child and I love her so much. I also want to provide her everything she wishes for but if something is not in my control, what can I do? She is in 12th grade this year and she is asking for tuition for her better understanding of subjects which is definitely a valid demand I understand but I don’t have that much money to pay her monthly tuition fees. I hardly can save money for her college fees. She is very talented and has keen interest in establishing herself but I feel helpless. I feel like I got defeated in the war of life when I see my daughter crying for something I couldn’t provide.” Uncle’s eyes got wet while expressing his grief. I got carried away witnessing the situation and all of a sudden spoke, “Uncle, can I say something if you don’t mind? I am studying genetical engineering and has passed my 12th with somewhat good grades. If you have no problem, I can teach her and I don’t need any fees.” “That’s so nice of you beta but sorry we don’t want to take any favour but thank you”, uncle said politely. “This is not a favour uncle, I will ask you for my assignment requisites and you can give me that and we will be equal then”, I suggested him. He after thinking for some seconds agreed to my proposal. I promised to come from next day and left for the college. That day, I was happy but also nervous at the same time as I was going to meet her next day from so close.

Next day, I went to her home at around 7 o’clock in the evening. Both uncle and aunty welcomed me but my eyes were searching for her. Finally I was brought to her. I entered her room where I found her sitting on her study table reading something. Seeing me she instantly stood up and greeted me with good evening. I gestured with my hand to sit down with a smile on my face. I took a look around her room. There was a book shelf well decorated and maintained with different books, a family photo hanging on the wall, a small almirah and a small single bed and ofcourse her study table. They left me with her and went out of the room. I made myself comfortable in the extra chair I was given. I was thinking in my mind about how to initiate the conversation and then came up with a line. “So do you like fiction, there are so many of them in your shelf?” I asked curiously. She with a soft voice replied, “yes, that’s my favourite genre.” “Then I must suggest you Harry Potter series of books, it’s just cult classic, you won’t be disappointed, try reading that someday”,I suggested her. “But I am not very good in English, I feel difficulty reading and understanding it as I passed out from Hindi medium school”,she expressed with a bit of awkwardness in her face. This reminded me of the day when I first saw her trying to read something in English. “Don’t worry, if you keep reading, it will automatically be fluent with time trust me”, saying this I encouraged her. “Okay now coming to the main topic, your academics, I will be teaching you science and maths but before starting we should know each other’s name atleast. Hi, my name is Manav and yours?”, I introduced myself with this. “Varsha”, the voice came from the opposite side. Then I started teaching her and we both didn’t get the idea when 2 hours passed untill my phone rang. It was Ayush, he was enquiring about where I was. I said to Varsha, “Ok this much for today, will meet you next day. Revise all the topics that is discussed today.” She nodded her head and said, “Ok sir.” It continued like this for months and finally her pre board exams arrived. I gifted her a pen to write in exam. The exam got over and the result was out. I was in my room doing my own assignments when she called me. It was around 11 o’clock at night. I was surprised to see her name in my screen at this hour. I immediately picked up the call and a shout came from the other side, “Sir, my pre board result is out and guess what? I have topped the class with 95%.” Her voice was enough to prove that she was on cloud nine. I congratulated her saying, “all credit goes to your hardwork, maintain it with dedication and you will come up with flying colours in the final exam too. I am proud of you.” She thanked me and hung up the call. Next day when I went to her home, her mother with teary eyes came to me and with folded hands said, “I don’t know how to thank you beta, God has sent an angel in your disguise. For you only, she scored so well in her exam and took a step forward towards her dream. Words are not enough to thank you.” “I have not done anything aunty, it’s her dedication that she reached this level. This is just the starting aunty, one day she will fill your chest with immense pride”, I assured her. Saying so I entered her room. Seeing me, she became so excited, she came running to me and hugged me in hapiness. I froze at that moment as her touch ran a chill through my spine. I could feel her breath. The warmth of her breath was striking my shoulders and her vibrations of heart beat was felt in my chest. She pulled herself out but paused infront of my face. We both had eye contact as if we were trying to find the words hidden inside our heart which we had not spoken till now. For the first time I observed her so closely and realised how beautiful she was. She was wearing a small red colour earrings with her hair open. She put kajal in her eyes which made it more defined. She was wearing a kurta which had floral print in it. Her get up was simple but never before she looked so beautiful to me than that day. As she hugged me in a hurry, her hair got spread infront of her face. I took my hand around her face and put the hair behind her ear and whispered, “Let’s study now.” Something got changed between us from that day. She used to blush in my presence and I used to call her sometimes just to check on her. Few months passed and her final exam arrived. It was the night before her exam, she called me at midnight and with nervousness spoke up, “sir, I am feeling very tensed, God knows how the entire exam will go. ” I sighed and told, “Don’t worry at all, you have prepared enough and hardwork always pays off. Just be confident and answer the ones you know. I am with you. Sleep early today so that you can go to exam with fresh mood tomorrow, I will call you after your exam tomorrow. If you need anything, don’t forget to ping me okay.” She thanked me for always being her support and wishing each other good night, we went to sleep. Next day when I went to college, I zoned out during my lecture. Ayush pushed me and asked, “What happened? Is there any problem? Why you are so lost?” Little did they know I was worrying about Varsha’s exam. They had no idea about the entire scenario as I never brought the topic infront of them. I used to share everything with them but I still didn’t know why I couldn’t share this. My class was over and I immediately rushed out of the classroom to call her. I dialed her number and as soon as she picked up, without giving any chance to her to utter anything, I spoke up “How was your exam? How was the question paper? How much marks have you attempted?” She laughed a bit and said, “relax sir, take a breath. My exam was good, question paper was moderate but I was able to attempt the whole question paper.” I got the sense of relief hearing this and asked her to start studying for the next exam. In this way, all her exams passed one by one and the day of result finally arrived. I reached her home before the result timing because I wanted to be there in her most important time. She entered her roll number in the website and the screen showed please wait with a circling symbol. I was sitting beside her and she grabbed my hand so tightly in nervousness. She didn’t realise it but I liked it somehow. Her parents were standing behind us with folded hands praying. Finally it appeared on the screen, she secured 97% and became the district topper. Her parents couldn’t believe their eyes and tears of happiness started flowing from all of them. I felt a deep sense of achievement that I never felt before. Her parents went out to inform everyone. She was still holding my hand. I kept my other hand above her hand and said congratulations. She just kept looking at me without saying a single word. I didn’t even know when I leaned towards her and my lips touched hers. Yes, we kissed. I looked straight into her eyes and said, “I was waiting for this day from so long. The day when you will be a winner and my feelings won’t be a hindrance to your path.”

“I started feeling connection with you much before but I wanted to see pride also along with love in your eyes for me. That’s why I waited till I prove myself. I love you, I love you with all I have”, she confessed. I grabbed her cheeks gently with my two hands and kissed her forehead and said, “I had feelings for you from the day one. It’s just that I realised sometime later. I love you too.” That was probably the happiest day of our life for she got her dream come true and we expressed our love for each other. We were having a honeymoon phase when reality stepped in. She asked me to come over her home. As soon as I reached there, she started crying. “One thing I have not told you ever is that I always had the dream of becoming a pilot. I never dared to express because I thought my parents can never afford it. But now when I have come up with a good result and cleared the entrance exam also which was held online, I can’t digest the fact that I can’t pursue my dream even after being so close to it. I am sorry I never told you about my dream or this exam because I thought it’s too good to be true. But now I am really feeling helpless and I don’t know what to do”, saying this she again broke into tears. I hugged her and said, “first of all relax, nothing has happened. There are scholarships which take the entire expense of your study if you qualify it and I am sure you will.” I wiped her tears when she said, “but my parents will never agree to this. They are very scared of heights, and one day when I just casually asked them about their opinion of making one’s child a pilot, they simply refused saying that it’s a very risky profession and they have no wish to put their child’s life at stake. “They are just concerned about you because they care for you, they will definitely understand if explained nicely. I will talk to them. They have always prioritised my input”, I assured her. We came out of the room to the dining hall where we found her mother busy with dusting and her father was busy reading the newspaper. “We have something to talk to you. If you both can give us few minutes please”, I requested them politely. They both came close to me and uncle said, “Why you are asking beta? Tell us anything you want.” I looked at her while she was standing at the corner of the door with an upset face and then again turned towards them and said, “Varsha had a dream from her childhood. I know as parents how much you love her and wanted to fulfill all her dreams. I still remember the day when uncle for the first time shared his grief for not being able to provide her what she wanted. Now that she has come up with flying colours in her result, she has every right to choose her career on her own. It will be injustice to her if she is asked to change her dream after so much of hardwork. She wants to become a pilot from long ago but never dared to speak up because of the fear of her dream getting rejected by you. I know your concern is valid. It is indeed a risky profession, but she can live her life with risk but she will die from inside if she has to live with the regret of not being able to achieve her dream. Can you see her like this? Moreover, now a days scholarships are also provided which bear the entire expense of study if one clear the exam. And I have full confidence she can crack it. So you all will be burden free from financial problems. Just trust your daughter and give her a chance. She will always make the best out of it.” They listened to all my words silently and then went to her. “Do you really want it?”, aunty asked her. She nodded her head and said, “Maa papa it has always been my dream, I promise I will never let you two down. And don’t worry nothing will happen to me because your blessings are with me. Please let me go for it”, she requested while holding their hands. They looked at each other and said, “If your happiness lies in this, then we will not be the hindrance to it. Just take care of yourself okay because you are all we have”, saying this they patted her back. Her happiness knew no boundaries at that time. I slowly walked closer to her and whispered in her ear, “see, I told you no, they will agree if convinced nicely. Now apply for the scholarship and prepare yourself.” She nodded her head with contentment. Few days passed and her scholarship was approved. Finally the time came to step into the outside world for her dream. She had to leave her home and go to Delhi for three years of training. With heavy heart, her parents sent her with lots of blessings. I went to see her off at the station. We hugged and promised to meet soon. She boarded the train and left for her destination. Reaching there, she very smartly handled everything and started her training skillfully. Everything was going smoothly when one day she called me and said, “Hi, what are you doing? Guess what? Sir praised me today. The time is not far when I will be a pilot and then we will also be together. By the way I am thinking of telling maa and papa about you.” I kept silence for some seconds and then spoke up, “I have not told you one thing about me Varsha, I am an orphan. I live here alone as you know but I was raised by my uncle and aunt, my father’s younger brother and his wife. So I am not sure if they will accept me or not as I don’t have parents and I am all alone.” She was shocked to hear this but then managed to speak, “you have not told this in such a long time. Why? Did you think I will take it otherwise? I loved you and not anything else. So I am just concerned about you. I am so sorry to hear this but trust me I have nothing to do with your family background, you are enough for me and my parents will also think the same.” I was relieved with her words. She told her family everything about us and they happily agreed as they loved me from the beginning. Days passed and I got placed in an international company with a good package. I invited Dhiraj and Ayush to my appartment and told them everything about me and Varsha. They got angry at first for hiding it for so long but then at the end they were happy for me. Varsha also now became a professional pilot who flies so high in the sky from one country to another. One day, I called her and said, “I am coming to you next month. I really want to meet you and I have a surprise for you.” She became very excited to know this. I planned to propose her for marriage when we meet. We both were counting days.

One regular morning in the middle of that month, when I woke up and opened my Instagram account, I saw something which shook me from inside. I could not believe. A plane from Delhi crashed and almost all the passengers were severely injured or dead. The plane fell in an island. Traces had been trying to recover. My hands started trembling and somehow I dialed Varsha’s number. It was not reachable. I immediately called her parents. They were crying continuously and trying to reach her from morning but couldn’t. I consoled them to believe in God and immediately left for Delhi. I reached the airport and rushed to the enquiry department. I started speaking in a quavering voice, “The flight which is crashed. Who was flying it? The pilot name. Please hurry up.” I was praying that her name should not come out when the person sitting at the enquiry desk said, “It’s Varsha Agarwal. She was the head pilot and Naina Nehwal and Varun Tiwari was her co pilots.” I couldn’t believe my ears about what I just heard. Is it a nightmare or is it happening in real, I questioned myself. “What happened to them, is Varsha Agarwal alive?”, I asked in a loud voice. “Investigation is going on but none of the pilots’ body have been recovred. Police suggested that they must fell on the river as the plane broke into two and one part fell on the island, the other on the river.” At that one moment, my whole life changed. I felt like someone has soaked the soul out of me and I was left with the body. I somehow managed to travel back to Gujarat and reached her parents’ home. I was not ready to face them. They came running to me and asked with hope in their eyes, “Beta, have you got to know anything? She is okay na?” I just stood there staring at their face. They kept shaking me and continuously asking me if she was okay. I finally gave up and burst into tears. I shouted, “Our Varsha is not with us anymore. She was flying that plane. Her body is also not recovered as police suggested she fell on the river.” Her parents denied it and didn’t believe my words. They started acting abruptly. Her mother became unconscious. With time everyone was gathered at their home and when I realised that they had enough people to take care of them, I left the place. I didn’t even attend her last rites because I didn’t have the guts to see garland in her photo. I spent days within the four walls of my appartment leading myself to oblivion. I resigned from my job and was running on my savings. Dhiraj and Ayush often came to check on me but I never responded to them like before. I always used to gaze at the stars at night thinking that Varsha had also become one. One day while gazing at the distant stars, I spoke up, “You liked the sky so much, you wanted to fly the highest for your dream is in the air. So I believe now you reside in one of those stars up above. It’s been six months and there is not a single day when I didn’t shed tears in your memories. The flashbacks of our time together haunt as well as comfort me as this is the only souvenir of you left with me. Sometimes I think, I shouldn’t have convinced your parents to let you go for this profession, then you would be with us. I blame myself everyday. I am the culprit of your parents, that’s why I can’t even face them.” While saying all this, tears rolled down of my eyes and I fell asleep slowly. That night my mother visited me in my dream. She said, “Varsha was the only child they had and now their world has broken. You also craved for parents’ love from childhood. You should really go and look after them to complete each other’s family. If not for yourself, do it for Varsha who wanted to give every hapiness to her parents when she becomes successful. And her parents never considered you as guilty because they know how much you loved her.” I suddenly opened my eyes and couldn’t believe what I just saw. My mother made me realise what I couldn’t see. Next morning, I went to their home and rang the calling bell. Her mother opened the door and was surprised to see me after so long. She welcomed me inside. She asked, “how are you beta, it’s been so long you have not visited us. You just vanished.” I started saying only when a voice came from the shop. It was her father. He came to the room saying, “Who has come Nisha?” He entered and spotted me. His eyes filled with tears and he hugged me. I said, “I am sorry for getting vanished for so long. I was shattered and couldn’t collect myself. I didn’t know how to face you two as I was the one who convinced you to send her there. I regret everyday for it. But today, I finally gathered the courage to meet you. Please forgive me. I have no parents in this world and you have lost Varsha. Will you make me your son? Can we be one family? Will you give me the opportunity to look after you two the way Varsha wanted to?” Her mother broke into tears and said, “we never thought you as guilty, we knew you were the biggest well wisher of our daughter. We die everyday to meet our child for once. We will be glad to be with you. This will also make us feel like we are closer to Varsha.” We three hugged each other. I gradually left my appartment and shifted to their home. I joined my job again and put helpers in the shop so that uncle didn’t have to work as he was getting old. I decided to dedicate my life in their care. We were filling each others emotional gap but still there was a void inside each one of us. That void was Varsha.

Some more months passed like this. One day when I returned from office and we were having evening tea together, the bell rang. Papa stood up and went to open the door. Yes I started calling them maa and papa now. There was silence for quite a few minutes. I felt weird and asked, “Who is there papa? Should I come?” No answer was sent from the other side and when I was about to go there, he brought someone inside which our eyes couldn’t believe. It was Varsha. I glued there for a moment like a statue. Her mother rushed towards her and hugged her tightly. They both couldn’t stop their tears. At last she came to me, my mouth froze and I was not being able to say anything. Somehow I managed to say one line only, “Are you for real or am I dreaming again?” She hugged me and said, “I have come in all flesh and blood and very much alive. See I am standing right infront of you. That day when the plane crashed, I fell on the river. I somehow took the oxygen mask with me and swam to the shore. But unfortunately I couldn’t rescue my co pilots. My condition was very critical and I became unconscious lying on the sand. The people of the island noticed me and took me with them. I was in coma for six months, after that I gained my consciousness but was very much week to speak or move. The villagers took care of me like their own child. Surely they were God’s angels. After fighting with my health for so many months, I finally stood on my feet again. I thanked them with all my heart and rushed towards my home as soon as I can and now see here I am infront of all of you.” I just kept listening to her like before. Her voice felt like melody to my ears. I wiped my tears and said, “nothing would have happened if I didn’t let you go for this profession. It’s all my fault. I have already lost you once. Promise me you will never leave me again.” She smiled and said, “if you didn’t let me go for it na, I would be alive physically but from inside I would be dead with the sense of failure. This incident couldn’t kill me but the regret of not being able to pursue my dream definitely would have.So you did the right thing. Also the way you took care of my parents is apparent. I couldn’t wish for more. And I promise to be with you three forever.” At this, I suddenly spoke up, “Varsha do you remember, before all this happened, I was about to go to your place for giving you a surprise. Now I don’t want to delay this moment anymore.” Saying this, I rushed towards my bedroom and brought a box. I turned my eyes to see their reaction but all of them were looking confused. I opened the box. There was a ring inside it. I took her hand softly and said, “will you marry me Varsha? Will you spend the rest of your life waking up next to me every morning?” She couldn’t control her tears of happiness and nodded her head in yes. I put the ring on her finger and hugged each other like never before. Maa brought sweets from the kitchen and our taste buds felt the happiness. In this way we started our life together with a small and contented family.