30th December 2017,

Lewisham, United Kingdom.

-S H R E E     P R A S A D-

We had the most fun in the past six days. We cooked together, ate together, gossiped each night like teenagers. And of course, we looked after Madhu together. Madhav decided that he'd change her soiled diapers on mornings, afternoons, and nights. He would have done it in the evenings too, but I was adamant. He was better and faster than me in changing Madhu's diapers.

We both loved bathing Madhu. She would lay in the baby tub that father-in-law sent for her, looking at us with her big black eyes, smiling as I apply baby shampoo to her head. Madhav loved watching Madhu kick her legs, making waves on the lukewarm water. She would have drenched both Madhav and me, by the time we were done bathing her. He would laugh every time Madhu splashes water on us. His laugh was nothing but a catalyst that would encourage Madhu to splash harder, looking at us with the smile on her toothless mouth.

Madhu grew closer to Madhav in those few days. She threw tantrums every night, as I laid her on her nursery bed. She would squirm and shriek in my arms, for she wanted to sleep on her father's chest. Madhav gladly let her sleep on his chest. She fell asleep very fast, and a lullaby wasn't needed either. She would sleep peacefully, with her spit racing down from her mouth to his tee-shirt. He didn't mind.

I loved how he brushed her hair with that delicate baby hairbrush. He would hum nursery rhymes for her as he brushed her hair. It was the best way to have her distracted so I could trim her nails. It was not just Madhu and Madhav who grew closer in those six days. I felt as if Madhav and I were coming closer. Each night I think about the dinner date we had on Christmas Eve- the dinner, the dance and that kiss that should have happened. It's been so long since our last kiss, but I remember every detail about how it used to be.

Six days went past like six minutes. Madhav would be flying back to India today, at 10 AM. It broke his heart to leave Madhu. He left his favourite Iron Man tee-shirt. I swaddled Madhu in it, so she'd feel like Madhav never left.

"Chellam, where are you?" Madhav asks as he stands outside on the apartment corridor with his bags. "The taxi is here."

I grab my side satchel and rush to the door, zipping up my sweater on top of my blue shirt. Barbara, Madhu's young part-time nanny comes running behind me to give me my water bottle. "Thank you, Barbara. I'll be back as soon as the lecture is over. I made some cookies for you just in case you get hungry. There's some pancake mixture in the fridge, right next to the Madhu's bottles. Bye Barbara!"

Madhav was silent throughout the taxi journey. He was headed to the Heathrow Airport. He offered to drop me at the Kensington junction. I could take the bus from there till the faculty.

I was seated beside him, holding the big bouquet of red tulips he ordered for me, looking at him. He wore the same shirt I gifted him on Christmas Eve. He was looking out of the window, deep in thought.

"Madhav?" I call out, shaking him off his thoughts. He looks at me and holds my hand. He looks at my knuckles and runs his thumb softly.

"Yeah? I'm so sorry I-I-I- was just thinking about-about, you-you-know- regular stuff. How long will-will I have to- have to wait in transit at Muscat, the-the-the board meeting next week." He stammers.

"Interesting." I say and notice the taxi reach the Kensington junction. The taxi pulls over by the side of the road.

"I need to get down I guess." I say and grab my bag. I quickly open the bag and pull out the Tupperware lunch box in it. "I kept a few biscuits and I made some waffles for you to eat while you're in transit. I know the business class lounge rooms will provide you with food, but I-"

"Thank you." He says smiling, as he takes it.

"Send me a message when you land in Muscat and when you reach home. Also, please tell everyone at home that we met and that you know of Madhu. Father-in-law has Madhu's birth registration documents. I have signed it, but we need your signature. Can that be the first thing you do when you go home? Because if we delay-"

Madhav inches closer and pulls me into an embrace. I hug him. He keeps a tight hold on me, his head buried against the curve of my neck. He inhales deeply, trying to memorize my scent. His embrace was warm, and his strong arms seemed very protecting when draped around my frail body. The world around me melted away as I hugged him back, praying that the moment would never end.

"I was thinking about you. I was thinking about you the whole way and throughout last night. God, it hurts me so much to leave you now. Every second away from you and my kannamma is going to be hell for me. I'll miss Madhu. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. Come back soon, alright?" I say, trying not to break into tears. He holds my face and leans forward. As he leant forward my pulse sped. A small tendril of my hair tumbled in front of my face, resting just in front of my cheek. With just one swift slide of his thumb, it was brushed out of the way. His lips touched my cheek. Time stopped. My heart came to a halt. My breath caught in my throat. Our fingers locked together similar to puzzle pieces. He presses another kiss to the other cheek and another to my forehead.

"I'll be back soon." He says smiling.

I press a kiss to his forehead and grab my bag along with the big tulip bouquet. "Take care, Madhav."

"You too, chellam." He says as I get off the taxi.

I smile and wave at him.

* * * * *

30th December 2017,

Mumbai, India.

-S H Y A A M    R A M A K R I S H N A-

I didn't call her. She did- which was unusual since it's always me calling her.

"So, I heard you are graduating with a second upper." She say happily. "Congratulations."

Yeah, so the university released the marks for our final exam. In every undergraduate's story there is a enemy. The whole university had one common enemy: Professor Bhuvanesh Bajaj. He's our Conveyancing professor. He's very much like the Viru 'Virus' Sahastrabuddhe character from 3 Idiots; except he'd never be the director of the university. There is no batch that he likes; in other words, he hates every batch and it can be for the most trivial reason too- we don't know why. He shows it by marking our exam papers and assignments really low, randomly cancelling our attendance. Urgh! Madarchod.

He played hard and bad. I was in the first-class range, but with him teaching me two modules in the first and second semester of my fourth year, brought about some nasty side-effects. He scored me, and the whole batch very badly and voila, not just me but a whole bunch of my batchmate's GPA dropped really low. And that is how I lost my first class.

"Yeah, I had the first-class GPA, but that Mr. Bhootnath Bajaj scored our Conveyancing exams and assignment real low. Our batch got into his bad side and he got even with us that madarchod." I say as I browse through Netflix, that's the only thing that has the power to make me feel better.

She laughs. "Looks like my batch will have to be careful with Mr. Bajaj."

"You'd still get a first class even if Mr. Bhootnath messes up things for you."

"I don't think so." She says laughing. I love it when she laughs, there's no pleasant sound than that.

"Okay. In one more year you will be done with your final year and you will have your results too. If you get a first class, you owe me a date, and not just some stupid coffee-tea date at Café Coffee Day, but a proper candlelit dinner date at a restaurant."

"Okay, Mr. Ramakrishna." She says.

I chuckle a bit. "Wow, you just agreed so fast. I didn't have to ask you for a second nor a third time. May I know why?"

"I don't know, I just liked the sound of it." She says.

"Devi, can I ask you something." Madam replies with a hmm. "Do you love me?"

"Do you?" She asks in return.

"You tell." I insist.

"No, you tell me." She counters.

"Okay, if we love each other then, at the count of 3 we cut the call." I say. "1, 2, 3-"

I cut the call, breathing heavily. And then it struck me, did she cut the call too? I pick up my phone and start to dial when she calls.

"Sh-Sh-Shyaam did you c-c-cut the call?" She asks nervously.

"Yes, d-d-d-did you cut it too?" I ask.

"Shyaam." Devi says and inhales sharply. "I cut the call too."

To be continued....

Stay in touch! I'll see you soon with Chapter 41!

I agree that this is a short update but the next would be TOTALLY worth it!

Keep the votes and the comments flowing!

Also let me know,

-What is Madhav trying to say by giving Shree so many tulips? What's so special about tulips? Especially red ones?

-What did you like about this chapter?

-That was some interesting development in Shyaam and Devi's storyline! Wasn't it? What are your thoughts?

-How do you want Shyaam and Devi's relationship to move? 

Announcement

Dear Readers here's that exciting news....

Shree and Madhav have their own Instagram account now! Follow us to get news about chapters and to see what's cooking in their lives!

A big hug and a big thank you to all those who followed us. Link is in the inline comments. Make sure to follow us!