Shehnaaz was very excited to go to college. She woke up early than usual and took bath. She picked the dress out of her wardrobe and wore it. She stood infront of the mirror and look at herself.

"Hmm.. Too gaudy.."

She took out another outfit and changed into it. She stood infront of the mirror.

"Huhh!!! I look fat in this.."

She changes into another outfit and looks into the mirror.

"Aww.. perfect!!"

She takes some more time trying different hairstyles and finally decides to leave her hair open and straight. She ate her breakfast and was ready to leave but before leaving she checks into the mirror one last time.

She went to her college. While every boy in her class eyed on her, her eyes were searching for just one person everywhere. Her lips formed a curve and heart beats rised when the bell rang. The next lecture was his. Her eyes were glued to the door and her hands were cold due to nervousness.

He entered the class and she automatically stood up. Everyone looked at her in surprise. He was looking down at the book in his hand.

Students: Good Morning Sir!

She looked around and realised that she was standing. She immediately sat down. He lifted his head and looked at the class.

Sidharth: Very Good Morning Everyone!

The next hour she spent gawking at him while he went on to deliver his lecture. He asked questions to the class in between and picked up random student and everytime he praised a girl student, she frowned. She wished, he had picked her to answer the question but it didn't happen. The class got over and he went out.

During the lunch break, she went near the staff room hoping to see him. She waited outside strolling when he walked out of the staff room with Ms. Noorie. She felt possessive when she saw him talking and laughing with her. She observed him from far and followed them to the canteen. He ordered food from canteen whereas Noorie opened her tiffin box.

Shehnaaz ordered the same food he ordered and sat 2 benches far from them. Her eyes were glued to them then her plate. Noorie offered him her food and he took two bites from it. Shehnaaz was burning from inside. Once done, they got up and went back to the staffroom.

As the bell rung, she went back to the classroom. Her mind was just not into the lecture. The lecturer warned her once, twice and on the third instance threw her out of the class.

She went out near the playground and sat there watching blankly at the boys playing cricket.

"Woah, Superb shot!!"

She heard a familiar voice and turned to look into the direction. It was him, Sidharth. Her lips stopped midway from smiling when she saw Noorie with him.

Noorie: I just hope, this time our college boys win the Inter college cricket tournament happening 2 weeks later.

Sidharth: They seem to be in best form to me. I am excited to witness the match. I love cricket.

Noorie: Do you play?

Sidharth: I used to play in my college but now I keep busy with my PhD thesis.

Noorie: Yeah!! That's there. You were supposed to met a suitress yesterday right? What happened?

Shehnaaz was in shock hearing the word suitress.

Sidharth: I reached half an hour late and that girl humiliated and taunted me.

Noorie: You shouldn't keep a lady waiting you see.

Sidharth: I know, but I was needed elsewhere. Another innocent girl would have been humiliated infront of mass if I had to leave her selfishly stranded.

Shehnaaz understood that he was talking about her. She smiled and thanked her periods for not only helping her to see his other side but also saving him from getting hitched to someone else.

Noorie's phone beep and she checks it.

Noorie: Hey, don't mind I need to go for a meeting urgently. I'll see you later.

Noorie goes away from there and Sidharth resumes watching the cricket. Shehnaaz was happy that Noorie left. She kept gazing at him and observing his every expression which he gave when the player hit boundry, missed the catch or on the fall of wicket.

The same routine continued for few days where she followed him and gawked at him hopelessly. Got threw out of the class for being inattentive and she sneaking to the oval to catch glimpse of him in his raw avatar, watching cricket.

He looked at the watch and got up to leave as he had to deliver lecture. His eye met hers and she shivered of being caught and looked down.

Sidharth: Shehnaaz, what are you doing here? Don't you have a lecture?

Shehnaaz: Huh?? S.. Sir, I got th.. thrown out of the class.

She got up to go to her class and he walked with her towards the campus from the oval.

Sidharth: Why? Didn't you complete assignments in time?

Shehnaaz: No.

Sidharth: Then? Did any mischief?

Shehnaaz: No. I wasn't paying attention. (Embarrassed)

Sidharth: (chukled) You happen to be a brilliant student in your class, right? What was distracting you?

Shehnaaz: You!

Sidharth: (shocked) Huh?

Shehnaaz: I mean, I wanted to give you something.

Sidharth: To me? What is it?

Shehnaaz: I didn't wanted to embarrass you by giving money for the napkin you bought for me last week, instead I wanted to gift you something as a sign of gratitude and thank you. Please don't deny it and kindly accept it.

She takes out a gift pack and hands it to him.

Sidharth: Thank you. Is this the reason you were following me everyday during the lunch break?

Shehnaaz: Huh? (Shocked) I.. I.. (She fumbled at the loss of reason)

Sidharth: Shehnaaz, I notice everything. You are too young. Your dream should be to study and achieve something in life. You are a brilliant student. Do you understand?

Shehnaaz looked down totally embarrassed.
Hmmm. He is just a lecturer. Why do I have to get so scared of him? I need to express my feelings for him, because he has been meeting suitress. I can't hide my emotions.

Shehnaaz: (with courage) I am not doing anything wrong. I like you and it will be my bad if I suppress my feelings.

Sidharth: (Taken aback at her straight forwardness) I don't date my students, Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz: Then I will leave my studies.

Sidharth: (surprised) ..and do what? For a minute, imagine you leaving your studies and I date you. What if we don't like each other's company in future? You will lose everything. Don't do this, Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz looks at him with welled up eyes. She was broken. She just walked away in silence.

Her welled up eyes troubled him a lot. He found genuineness in them but it was for her own goodness. He didn't wanted her to spoil her life and career at such young age.

It had been quiet a few months after the incident but she refused to look at him in college. He observed her silently. She undoubtedly scored well in all her tests and semester exams. He found himself falling for her but he kept those feelings unexpressed.

The college, looking at his performance made him permanent. He was happy since he could continue to see her everyday. The finals exams approached and he made sure that whichever class she was in, he didn't take it as an invigilator since he didn't wanted her to get distracted.

On the result day, he was the happiest person because she became a state topper. He hoped her to take up master's in the same college but she took a transfer certificate and he never saw her again in the campus.
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It's been over three years since he saw her last. He repented not reciprocating to her feelings or atleast not telling her about his feelings atleast on the last day of her exam.

Today he was going to meet another suitress. He remembers how he was delayed to meet his first suitress and the reason behind the delay.

"Hello Mumma, where is your distant cousin's distant relative's son? I've been waiting here since 15 minutes.. I am going to leave if he doesn't come in another 10 minutes."

He looks back at a familiar voice and finds a girl in blue denim jacket talking over the phone.

"What's his name Mumma?...  No, I didn't check the letter you sent. I had told you that I am not interested in marriage so it's obvious I wasn't interested in checking the profile as well. Tell me the name now instead of scolding me.. Hello.. hello.. helloooo mumma..."

She looks at the phone.

"Oh hell, I ran out of balance.. great!!" She shrugs in frustration.

Sidharth gets up and goes to the table. He forwards his hands.

Sidharth: Hi, I think you are waiting for me.

She looks at him and her facial expression was changed. She was shocked to see him.

Shehnaaz: Sir!! (Her mouth opened agape in shock)

Sidharth: Hi!! (Smiles)

She observes him. He was wearing the same white full sleeves t-shirt she had gifted him on the day she spoke to him last.

Shehnaaz: No, I am waiting for my suitor. I don't know his name.

Sidharth: Sidharth.. Sidharth Rathore! I am the suitor you have been waiting for.

Shehnaaz: Oh sorry! I didn't know it was you.

Sidharth: Hmm.. so, if you had known, then you wouldn't have come. Is it?

Shehnaaz: Yes, you are right! (He was shocked) Cause I haven't forgotten that you don't date your student.

Sidharth: Right, I still don't date my student but you are not my student anymore. Any other reasons to not meet.

Shehnaaz: (smirks) Yes, I've been rejected by you once.

Sidharth: And what if I tell you that I repented my decision every single second since last 3 years.

Shehnaaz: Huh?

Sidharth: I don't want to repent again for the whole life. Will you marry me, Shehnaaz?

Shehnaaz: I think I am dreaming, can you pinch me?

He looks around once and gives her a quick peck on the lips.

Shehnaaz: (shocked) Confirmed!! I am definitely dreaming!

He pulls her aside behind the pillar where no one could see them and smooches her passionately. She pats his back to gasp for a breath. He leaves her lips and looks into her eyes.

Sidharth: I love you!

She was still recovering from the sudden shock.

Sidharth: Aren't you going to say anything? Your 4 words reply for my 3 words confession.

Shehnaaz: (gulps) I am not dreaming!!

Sidharth: (laughs) Tubelight!!

Shehnaaz: Yes (nods)

Sidharth: What? (Confused)

Shehnaaz: My answer is Yes to your question "Will you marry me?"

Sidharth: You are confirmed tubelight. (He laughs)

Shehnaaz: I love you too.

They hug each other for what seemed like infinity.
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Sidharth goes to buy movie tickets. Shehnaaz recharges her mobile and calls her mother.

Mom: Shehnaaz, who was that man in the restaurant with you today?

Shehnaaz: Who? Sidharth, the suitor whom you asked me to meet.

Mom: Who Sidharth? I sent you to meet Abhishek. He called me to tell that he arrived to meet you 30 minutes late and he found you kissing another man.

Shehnaaz: What? Mumma, I'll call you back.

Sidharth returns with the ticket.

Shehnaaz: You lied to me? You were not the suitor I came to meet in the restaurant today.

Sidharth: No, I went there to meet another suitress. I reached 15 mins early since the first time I got delayed to meet a suitress due to your period, the suitress has insulted me. But when I heard your voice and learnt that you came to meet a suitor whom you didn't even know by name I took the opportunity to express my feelings. I didn't wanted to lose you again, Shehnaaz.

The first time I pecked you, I saw my suitress waving at me. She immediately took a u-turn and second time I smooched you, I saw a man approaching at you with a smile. He might have been your suitor. He also disappeared when I opened my eye after that passionate kiss.

Shehnaaz: You cheater!! And I thought it was a beautiful coincidence and that you kissed me out of genuine love.

Sidharth: It is still a beautiful coincidence since we met unknowingly at the same place. I don't kiss any random girl. My love is true and so was my kiss. You still thinking about that suitor?

Shehnaaz: (nods) No. For me there is only one perfect man I could ever think of and that's you. I love what you did because I love you my perfect man. (Hugs)
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That's end of this story "Perfect Man".

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