23

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ARJUN

I pace nervously outside the Arrivals section of the airport. I haven’t slept a wink all night. I just want to meet my Kiddo and tell her what I feel about her.

Aai and Baba wanted to come to the airport too but I requested them to give me some time alone with Kiddo. I told Aai that I was going to propose to her today. Her response alarmed me to no extent. All she did was give a not-so-kind slap to my face and muttered. “Finally! My girl wasted away, pining for you!” Unfortunately, that was not the only rebuke I got. When I told Amma, she shoved me hard and shouted. “What took you so long?”  With a defeated posture, she looked at Appa and shook her head. “A tubelight, that is what we got for a son!” Then she looked at Abhimanyu who was laughing uncontrollably and told him. “I expect better from you!” The panicked look he exchanged with me and Appa made my parents laugh for a long time. I could only shake my head in silent amusement, a more pressing issue weighing on my mind – I needed to tell everything to Kiddo.

I deserve the award for the dumbest guy on earth. When I could not realise my own feelings for her on time, how could I know what she felt for me!? The girl went to a far-off and unknown land, nursing a heartbreak over me, thinking that I do not love her. How deep must have been her hurt! It breaks my heart. She has loved me almost all her life. And I could not see that! I could only see her as a kid. It was only when she left that I realized that somewhere in the course of time, she became my lifeline. She has always been, but I was too blind to see it.

Back at home, my mother and Aai have already started scheming and planning for a grand ceremony for engagement, marriage and reception. It is scary how quickly they started making plans.

Every few seconds I keep checking the gate. I must have presented a fine sight to the people there, nervously walking to and fro and looking at the gate in desperation.

And just like that, she is there, my Kiddo, lugging a trolley containing several bags. I shake my head even as I break out into a run. That girl must have brought half of New Zealand.

On seeing me, she brings her fist to her mouth and laughs in sheer joy. That joy slowly turns into hesitation as she drops her head and makes a big deal of checking her bags.

“Drop the act, Kiddo.” That is all I say before I engulf her in a hug. The girl has lost weight and feels too thin for me. I have a lot of pampering to do. But first things first…

“I am elder to you by a decade.” I say, still holding her in a hug. She tilts her head back and looks at me in confusion.

“Will it bother you that I am elder to you by a decade?” I ask her as I tuck an unruly curl of her hair behind her ear gently, trying to project all of my love for her in that gesture.

Her eyes widen as realization dawns. She slowly shakes her head and stares at me even as her eyes fill up. “It is only you for me, Arjun. It always has been so. There can never be anyone else.” Her voice breaks at the end. Her gaze is questioning, wondering what I would say next. As if I could say anything else other than…

“I love you, Kiddo.” I finally manage to say. She drops her head onto my chest as a sob escapes her. I still do not let go of her. I won’t. Not when we have found each other after such a long time. I just gently press her head to my chest. “I am sorry that it took so long for me to realize my exact feelings for you. But it is only you for me too. There can never be anyone else.”

She leans further onto me while I hold her. Moments or probably lifetimes pass while we stand like that. But I am in no hurry. I have found my soulmate and the tie that binds my heart to hers forever.

THE END