MONDAY

Karan is in the bus entertaining a cute baby who is having her time in her mother's arms.He is making her giggle to which he giggles himself.The bus stops at the Uni stop and he gets out bidding bye to them.He waves to her till she is out of sight.

Once it's gone,he starts walking on the footpath enjoying the clean and green sceneries.

It's a 10 minute walk to the Uni and he is in no hurry to reach.

2 minutes later he hears horn beside him. He turns aside to see a dark black shining Lamborghini stopped.He liked the car but proceeds further only to stop when he hears,

'Good Morning Mr.Luthra"

He is surprised and turns to see her from the lowered window,

Karan: Morning Ms.Arora!

Preetha: I would like Preetha.

Karan: You know what I like.

She smiles at his reply,

Preetha: Need lift?

Karan: Gladly!

He walks around to sit on the right side passenger seat and she drives,

Preetha: You came here on foot?

Karan: In bus!

Preetha: Ha?

She questionably looks at him,

Karan: Two reasons.We are planning to start transport services in India and I wanted to know how they are in London so that we could provide better facilities.

Preetha: Practical knowledge.Wow and what's the second reason?

Karan: I wanna feel the soothing ambience it provides.

She observes his interest in that place,

Preetha: You seem fond of London!

Karan: Who will not? This is a beautiful city with perfect blend of nature and culture.

Preetha: That's why you wouldn't come India much?

Karan: Maybe.I like it here this way.

Preetha humms understanding him,

Karan: By the way you have a nice collection of cars and bikes. I thought you wouldn't like to waste money.

He first appreciates and then taunts,

Preetha(shrugs): I won't waste mine not my father's.

He chuckles at her answer and within no time they are in the Uni on the way to their Professor.

Through out the day,they are together like sitting beside, having lunch, doing presentations.As the clock struck 3, they already became good friends.

As he doesn't have car Preetha offered Karan to drop home,

Preetha: Where do you live?

Karan: 2nd Avenue, Kensington.You?

Preetha: London city.

Karan: It's just 10 mins from my place.

Preetha: Yeah!

Karan: You live alone?

Preetha: No.My sister and jiju are here with me.They are having a nice vacation on my name while I am driving back and forth everyday.

Karan: Let's do one thing.As we are nearby we can have car pool.You drive two days,I drive 3 days.What say?

She is first surprised but then relieved as it's an hour journey and driving alone is boring,

Preetha: Undoubtedly Ok!

They both agree,

Karan: Can you drop me at Luthra's?

Preetha(surprised): You work from now?

Karan: Undoubtedly yes! I have a lot of branches to manage.

She sighs,

Preetha: You know everything about business.Why do you even need this programme?

Karan: No one knows everything.There's something to learn everywhere and I like to learn,learn and learn.

She is impressed,

Preetha: I need to learn a lot from you.

Karan: Start with politeness then.

Karan jokes as Preetha looks at him sharply.Their drive goes on with light jokes and more laughs and they arrive at his office premises,

Karan: Thank you for the ride........

She smiles and he completes,

Karan: Dragon!

Preetha(scoff): Its alright Mr.Creep!

Karan chuckles,

Karan: Bye dragon.Send me your address I will pick you tomorrow.

Preetha: I will be waiting for you creep.

He laughs,gets down and walks inside She observes him changing his overall posture.When he is inside, Preetha looks at herself in the mirror,

Preetha: In which way I am looking like a dragon? Huh!

Huffing,she drives to her home.

Their carpool starts, giving rise to a bond between them.Spending most of the time together,they got to know each other.

AFTER THREE WEEKS

Karan is in his car driving towards her house when he sees Preetha waiting at the gate.She is wearing peach jumpsuit with loose hair,goggles on her nose,hand bag on her elbow and creamy heels.She looked like a perfect girl.As he reaches her she walks towards him.

Karan: Hey.........

Before he completes she speaks in an exciting voice ,

Preetha: You know what?

Karan: Yeah?

Preetha(loudly): I was selected in Mumbai business school for my MBA.

Karan(smiling): Wohhh!

Preetha: Without any recommendations,donations I got it with full scholarship.Yayyy!

She hugs him and he hugs her back happy for her,

Karan: That's great! Congratulations.

Preetha: Thank you! Now tell me what's your's? Yesterday you told you have something to tell.

Remembering that he also becomes excited,

Karan: I was appointed as an educator in Oxford.

Preetha: Oh my god! That's superb.

She hugs him again.They both enjoy their moment with each other when Karan comes out of hug,

Karan: So I think we have two super news and.....

He looks at her suggestively and she understands,

Preetha: And this calls for a celebration.

Karan: Right.Where do you wanna go first?

Preetha(happy): Church!

Karan(confused): You go to Church?

Preetha: Yes.I am from a secular country you know!

She winks and he shakes his head at her taunt, she thinks Karan doesn't like India much,

Karan: Whatever.Ready dragon?

Preetha: Yup! Creep!

She says excited while he starts the car and they drive off.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

It's one of the prettiest churches in the capital city and Preetha decides to visit the shrine.

They both are in awe seeing the brick and stone exteriors and mosaic interiors.After touring it ,they both step inside,

Karan: What do we do now?

Preetha: First lighten the candles,kneel down and then pray.

They lighten the candles and she walks to kneel down but he doesn't follow her,

Preetha: Come.

Karan: I don't have anything to wish you go.

Preetha: Are you sure? Maybe you want something or someone like a girl friend.

Karan immediately remembers the conversation he had with his sister,

Karan: No thanks!

She laughs but controls,

Preetha: Just kidding. But know that God will grant your wish only when you ask.

Saying she moves front and kneels down to pray while Karan stares at her.He likes her that's for sure but he doesn't know to what extent.

Preetha comes back to him with a smile on her face,they both move out ready to spend a wonderful day.

They enjoy the day to its fullest and its 8'O clock at night when Preetha is standing on the walkway.

Karan went to get her hot chocolate and she is there waiting for him.As she sees around looking around the busy city she thinks about the last few weeks.

Enrolling to the program is one of the best decisions she ever took.She met high class Professors, learnt new things, acquainted many friends and importantly she crossed with Karan.

Karan......he is an all in one package.A good friend,guide,brother everything one wanted to be.She didn't even know how a stranger at once became one of the closest people that too within a span of three weeks.Sometimes people suddenly barge in and make themselves an integral part.It all looked strange but she liked it.

She is in another world when she hears,

"Bhoooooo"

It's not a big sound as he did that in her ear.She rolls her eyes knowing who is that,

Preetha: Should I be scared?

Karan: No.Dragons don't get scared infact they scare everyone.

He chuckles while she sighs knowing its impossible to make him stop saying that,so she focuses on finishing the hot chocolate,

Karan: Now where to M'lady?

Preetha: Mmmm.....

She looks around as she sees the famous bridge,

Preetha: A walk on London Bridge!

She declares with a big smile but he doesn't respond with the same,

Karan: We can take the car.Why walk?

Preetha: I want to.C'mon!

Karan: No. It's so long and I think we won't able to walk.

Preetha: We are not 60 Karan.

Karan: Yes but.....

Preetha: What's your problem?

Karan(unsure): What if it falls down while we are on it?

Preetha(confused): Why would it fall?

Karan: Didn't you hear London bridge is falling down falling down falling down?

For a minute she didn't believe what he said but once she did she bursts into laughter,

Preetha: Oh my god! That's a children rhyme Karan.

Karan: I know but my kindergarten teacher told us so visually that I believe it will fall down one day.

Preetha: That's not true.

Karan: Yes but it's just my notion.

She takes her time to laugh at his face and words embarrassing Karan,

Karan: Stop laughing.

After a good few minutes,she stops,

Preetha: Then it's time to throw your notion in the river.C'mon!

She grabs his arm and drags him to the glowing London Bridge which is standing proudly across the Thames river.

Once they are at the starting,he heavily sighs and takes a step after her.They continue until she stops at the middle,

Preetha: See did anything happen to it?

Karan: Not yet!

Preetha: Not gonna happen anytime soon!

She leaves his arm and looks ahead bracing the spell bounding sight the city is offering.

Preetha: How beautiful!

Karan: Hmmm!

She exclaims seeing the sighs while he doesn't even listen what she said as he is busy staring her.She suddenly remembers something,

Preetha: Wait that mean you didn't travel on London Bridge till now?

Karan: Not like that.I maximum avoid this route but if it is impossible then I drive fast.

Preetha: Its hard to digest that the great Karan Luthra believes such a childish thing.

She giggles,

Karan: I know I know now don't spill the beans.Nobody knows about it!

Preetha: Then why did you tell me?

Karan is taken aback by her question,

Preetha: Hmm?

Preetha: Ham apke hein kaun?

These are the first hindi words she spoke and Karan never expected them from her.

That question and her eyes meant something more to him as he didn't know what to answer.

She is right why did he tell her? He knew it's a silly thing that's why he didn't tell anyone  but he also couldn't forget about his notion.When he is saying to her he didn't even hesitate just shared it.But why?

They both are looking at eachother when the sudden gust of wind brings them back into the present world,

Karan: When are you joining?

He changes the topic,

Preetha: My friend told me after a week.He is more excited and happy than me.

Karan: I am happy for you.

Preetha: When are you joining?

Karan: After two days,I was trying for it since a long time and now I got acceptance letter.Its like my dream come true.

Preetha: I am sure you would be the hot shot lecturer and would have number of fans at your beck and call.

Karan: When are you leaving then ?

Preetha: Where?

Karan: Mumbai?

Preetha: Huh?

Karan: You have college after a week right.

Preetha then realizes her program is completed and she has to join college in Mumbai.Which means she is leaving.

Preetha: H....h....ha!

Karan looks at her and she remembered what he asked earlier,

Preetha: After 2 days.

Karan: Hmmm.

Silence ensued after their conversation amidst the strong winds and blaring horns when Karan decides to lighten the air,

Karan: I guess this is also turned to be your farewell party.

Preetha: Ha? Won't you come to airport to send me off?

Karan: Its my joining date.Probably I can't.

Preetha: Ohhhh!

The same happens again and they decide to leave the place.

This time Preetha is not holding his hand, Karan is not looking at her as they both walk with an unseen gap between them.

Karan drops her at her home and drives to his.

The next two day goes by packing their belongings,Preetha waits for Karan till the last minute at the airport but he doesn't show up.Disappointed,she boards her flight,

Mahi: Mickey? You ok?

She didn't know why that simple question seemed so difficult to answer.

Preetha: Yes di!

It felt like she is lying but why would she when everything is happening according to her plan? Sighing she lays down on her shoulder closing her heavy eyes.

The next ten days were a handful to Preetha.Settling in college, resuming her office works hadn't gave her much free time.Amidst all the busy things,she had an unsettling feeling.

It's the second week of her 1st year MBA and she is walking to the class languidly,

Preetha(mind): Why isn't this college not exciting me? Why am I so silent? I am all fine and ok in London then what happened now? I used to feel thrilled everyday to go to the Uni.I even waited for Karan to come quick.But now this all looks normal.Like a routine thing.Why?

Is it because of college or...... Karan?

Did I expect more from him?

She turns the corner,

Preetha(mind): Maybe I did.What to do? He is so good.Who wouldn't like him? I mean I  was comfortable and......happy.He made all the days learnable and enjoyable.I miss them now.

I miss him.

We didn't even talk after that and I didn't even bid him a proper bye.When will I talk with him? When will we meet again? Or Will we ever meet......again?

Frowning and frustrated,she enters the class 5 mins beforr only to get shocked seeing the person in her mind looking at her directly.

Her eyes widen seeing him thinking she is imagining which completely proved wrong by his voice,

'Will you keep standing there Ms.Arora?'

And continues in the next part......

Their story is lovely.

18th - Tomorrow makes my second birthday with you and I am so happy that you have been a part of my wonderful journey.Thank you so much for all the comments and votes.Hope this year would be another best year.

How's my birthday gift to you?