Bonus  1:

“So, Irfan.. when you said you loved me..”

“Love. I love you. Present tense.”

“Okay, yes. When you said that, were you like 70-80% sure? Or maybe like 95%?”

“Hmm.. let me think. Yeah, that's not accurate. I think I was around 101% sure.. Now, why are you laughing?”

“I.. I just can't help it. Seriously? Are you lying to me?”

“I believe I'm lying next to you. Not 'to you’..”

“Stop it. Today was weird as it is. No need for you to add to that. Answer straight.”

“Ok. Shoot.”

“Do you really, really believe that you fell in love with me in under 24 hours?”

“Well, good point. Counter point: didn't you fall in love with me too?”

“Well, yes.. but..”

“But?”

“But that's me. I'm impulsive like that.”

“Then Meetha, I am impulsive too. I mean, look at me, alone in a room with a girl I just met yesterday. Ooh.. how scandalous! Ouch!”

“Gotta say, I like this idea of yours to push the cots closer like this. So convenient for retribution!”

“This wasn't what I had in mind! Do you also hit Mithun like this?”

“Haha.. He has it worse than you could ever imagine.”

“You are a scary big sister. But Mithun probably deserves half of it. Speaking from a younger brother's pov.”

“True. That idiot never keeps to himself. He annoys the shit out of me! Buffalo! Pch.. but I miss him. I kinda wish he would come back.”

“Hey.. Do you wanna call him?”

“Mhm.. no.. I probably gave him enough stress for a week when we talked yesterday. If I tell him what happened today, he might faint.”

“He'll probably be in his hospital.. So you know, help will be available. What? Don't look at me like that! I was simply telling the truth!”

“Anyways, I'm not gonna discuss my love life with my family when they all are abroad, busy with their own lives. If they wanna know, let them come back.”

“Meetha.. that's not fair..”

“I know. But.. I miss them. Am I not allowed to?”

“Hey, you need not be ‘allowed’ to feel your feelings. They are your right. I'm just saying, be a bit open with your family.”

“Later. Not now.”

“Fine. What do you want to do now? Considering we're alone in a room– Ouch! I am not liking this ‘closer cots’ idea very much!”

“Behave yourself, Qureshi. Be the gentleman you were yesterday.”

“That gentleman was insanely tired. Now he's full of energy, most of which he got from the dramatic love confession he received today.”

“Oh stop it!”

“You look so so beautiful when you blush like that, Meethu.”

“.....”

“Meetha.. What happened? Did I do something wrong? Why are your eyes damp? I'm sorry I just called it because I thought you liked it–”

“My family calls me that. Mostly dad and Mithun.”

“Oh, sorry. I think I overstepped–”

“No, no. Call me that again, please.”

“You sure? I'm still very confused about that.”

“Call me na?”

“Meethu?”

“Like that. Muah.”

“Wow! That was unexpected. Meethu!”

“Mmmmwah.”

“Finally, some good out of the closer cots!”

“Shut up and kiss me, Qureshi.”

***

Bonus  2:

“This is a very bad idea, Meetha. I want you to know that I don't like this one bit.”

“Seriously? You call yourself an adventurer?”

“Yaar, this is borderline illegal. If we get caught–”

“That is a very slightly probable ‘if’ situation.”

“Climbing the ‘out of bounds’ tower of the Charminar? Aren't we way up enough? Why do you still wanna climb?”

“The balcony is crowded. I don't want to stand there. I want to be higher up.”

“Whyyy?”

“Because, a guy I met on a train told me to live with uncertainty.”

“I wish I kept my mouth shut and not talked to strange, broody girls on the train.”

“Shh. Less talk, more walk.”

“Okay, we are officially in the tallest tower of Charminar that nobody has visited in a hundred years. Happy? Let's go back before someone sees us.”

“Just a minute na.. I wanna enjoy the view.”

“It's just three metres of elevation from the tourist balcony. Same sky, same shops, same view..”

“Stop. Look!”

“Wow… I mean.. really Wow! What!? Why can't I say anything?”

“It's breathtaking, Irfan. It's right to be speechless at such a splendid view.”

“Right? The sunset is making it look so magical. I've been here so many times, but it never seemed this wonderful to me. So it is true, adrenaline is indeed the hormone of life.”

“Haha, the forbidding makes it fun.”

“Yeah..”

“Can I lean on your shoulder?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

“Nope, rhetorical question. Thanks.”

“Hmm.. feels nice.”

“Same. I love this magic city so much, Irfan.”

“This city is what dreams are made of. Mine has come true.”

“What? Of becoming a musician in the industry?”

“Yes, that too..”

“That too? Then what was your dream?”

“To find someone to spend the rest of my life with.”

“...”

“Are you shocked or spooked? Meetha, you don't have to feel that way at all. I just wanted to say it out loud. Don't feel pressurised, please.”

“No no.. I was not shocked, spooked or pressurised. I don't know how to describe it. It's like a skip of the beat, a sudden surge. I liked it, and I also can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you.”

“Me too. Okay.. view enjoyed. Now can we go back?”

“Arerererey! You are one scaredy-cat, Qureshi. Fine, let's go back.”

“Shit! Meetha, somebody is coming up the stairs!”

“What!? What do we do?”

“Shhh! Hide! Into that nook, quick!”

“...”

“...”

“I–”

“Shhh!”

“Umm.. Irfan.. I think..”

“Not now.”

“Oi! The security is gone.”

“Oh.. huh.. hehe..”

“Now can you stop suffocating me and move away a bit?”

“Oops.. sorry..”

“You still haven't moved.”

“Uh.. huh..”

“...”

“...”

“Irfan.. what's going on in that sneaky brain of yours?”

“Nothing.. I'm just.. it's just.. your perfume..”

“I am not wearing perfume. Try something else, romeo!”

“I'm serious. Your scent is intoxicating.”

“What are you doing!? It's tickling! Stop, someone could hear us..”

“I can't, my hands seem to act on their own.. They can't get away from your face..”

“Uh-Huh..”

“Meethu..”

“Mm..?”

“How do you feel about kissing in historical monuments?”

“Hmm, I don't have opinions on that..”

“Well, kiss me and rethink.”

***

Bonus  3:

“Mithun!! Am I visible? Is it buffering a lot?”

“Nope. The quality is good. You look hideous as usual.”

“Aww.. you said ‘hideous’ and not ‘abhorrent’. Missing me?”

“Dream on, dork– Meetha!! There's something behind you!!!”

“Ha.ha. Very funny.”

“Shit, I'm serious! Look behind you! There's someone in our house!!”

“Ufff…”

“Why are you sighing like that!? Meethu I'm not joking. Call the police, now!”

“Irfan..! Can you come here please? Enough with the photobombing.”

“What!? That train guy Irfan is in our house? What's happening?”

“Hi Mithun, nice to meet you. Meetha's told a lot about you. How's San Jose?”

“Um, hi.”

“Mithun, be nice. This is Irfan Qureshi, musician and YouTuber. He's my boyfriend.”

“Oh?”

“Well.. Irfan and I, we're in love.”

“Whaaaaat?? When did that happen?”

“Well, not long after I TALKED ABOUT MY FEELINGS TO YOU, YOU IDIOT!! CAN'T YOUR BRAIN REMEMBER A SINGLE PIECE OF INFORMATION ABOUT ME?”

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Irfan bhai, congratulations. No returns, no refund.”

“Not asking! So, when are you planning to come back, Doctor Mithun?”

“Not for another year, Dude. Meetha yaar, do you want mom and dad to come back? I mean, you won't be able to date freely. For instance, you can't bring your boyfriend to our house like this.”

“You conniving fox, only you could come up with such twisted ideas. Fine, keep mom and dad there itself! Happy?”

“Hey, I'm doing this for you, Meethu! Do you know my dating life is almost non-existent with Mom around? It's already bad that I work 12 hour shifts and have no time for clubs and such. Mom's cutting off the little free time I have for myself.”

“Really ? That's rough Mithu. Are you resting well? Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want to practise for a talk with mom about boundaries?”

“Naaah, it's fine. I love her food so much to protest. Irfan, please take care of Meetha until we come back. Thank you for saving her and keeping her safe in Hyderabad. Our family owes you.”

“Well, you all can give your approval and we'll call it even.”

“Meetha, I like him. When are you gonna introduce him to mom and dad?”

“Well, when they return.”

“What!? C'mon that's ridiculous. It's not good to have grudges like that.”

“No, I'm perfectly normal and non-grudging. I just don't have the energy to tell them now. Over the phone. I want the meeting to happen in person. Is it okay for you, Irfan?”

“It's fine by me, Meethu.”

“Woah! You call her Meethu too!?”

“Yes he does. Shut up.”

“So it's indeed serious. Good for you, nerd! Say hi to Daya for me. At least he's cooler than you!”

“He's smarter than you, too. Now shoo! Go study or consult or operate or something!”

“Haha, bye di, bye Irfan bhai! Let's talk later!!”

“Bye doc! Take care.”

“.....”

“Wow… it's literally like watching Prime time debates. You and Mithun don't hold back at all, do you?”

“Hahah, no we don't. We're born to annoy each other. That's the siblings pact.”

“Your sibling is taking our news really well, don't you think?”

“Yeah? You should've heard him when I first told about you. He was shrieking like a goat!”

“Hahahah! I like that he's protective about you. So, have you unpacked your bags? You had bought so many things in Hyderabad..”

“I'm doing it. Thanks for coming to stay with me, you sure your parents won't mind?”

“They won't, really. Privileges of being the youngest.”

“So, what do you think of my home?”

“It's beautiful. And very well kept, I must say. Not a smidge of dust. You really do know how to run a household.”

“I.. I spent so many hours learning about it.. I wanted to do a good job, you know, once I'm married.. It was my dream.”

“Come here. You don't have to beat yourself up like that. A home is a home, even if it isn't spotless and sparkling. Meethu, I want you to follow your academic passion and become a great microbiologist. It isn't right for a brilliant mind like yours to be reduced to a housekeeper.”

“You.. you really think so?”

“I believe so. And I'm waiting for you to introduce me to Daya.”

“Hahaha.. Let's go to my lab tomorrow.”

“Hmm.”

“Irfan, really, thank you so much for saying that.”

“No thanks needed. A hug might be nice though..”

“Oh I'll do you one better"

“Much appreciated!”

*****

So... what did you think of the story? Was it upto your expectations, or did it fall short anywhere?

Which other story do you think I should restart?
உயிர்வரை தேடிச்சென்று
அதர்ப்பெருநெறி
அழகிய கனாக்காலம்
காதல்கொள்ள வாராயோ

Do vote for your favourite. Also do vote for this one too!

Love,
Madhu.