A/N

Epilogue is in first person POV, and this is Ajay's.

***************************************************************************************

I gave a cursory glance at all the people around when I heard someone call me. I noticed a raised hand of a known face smiling at me from a corner table.

Though my heart accelerated at a staccato rhythm, my mind went blank. It had been four years since that smile captured my heart, three years since I saw her in person and two years since I spoke to her.

I blinked to digest the fact that Anya Rao was indeed here and calling me in a very annoying manner. I never disliked my surname more than now.

I took a moment to study her. She was the same but sophisticated in a classy business outfit with subtle makeup. The only stand out feature was her lipstick —a neutral lipstick.

In the past, she always had blood-red lips as a sign of assertion? Courage? Defiance? I don't know. I often wished she would drop that shade which left perpetual colour on my lips following a heavy make-out session. Make-out session? I chastised myself at my line of thought.

I watched her some more as I moved towards her. I couldn't help but wonder if this new lip colour was for a significant someone in her life, someone with shared interests from her budding NGO. Was she dating? Was she engaged to marry?

I knew she wasn't married, news of that kind would've certainly travelled around. I sounded like a sloppy lovesick puppy. Long-buried memories of our years together and apart flashed through my mind.

"It's still the same," were her first words.

My heart cartwheeled when I heard her voice, and before my brain deceived me in generating full sentences or even monosyllables, I diverted my mind to her words and asked, "What's the same?"

"Women swooning in your vicinity and your lack of interest in them," she spoke in amusement.

"Am I affecting you as well?" I asked, silencing both of us.

"I'm just kidding," I awkwardly ended as I sat down. But some part of my mind longed for her reply, even a witty one at that. There was a time when she never let such questions drift away. Her sharp responses and my comebacks would lengthen the same conversation for hours together with each of us laughing our hearts out.

"Blue suit seems to suit you," she quipped, eliminating the uncomfortable silence.

I shook my head, "Still using very poor puns, I see. Thank you for the subtle compliment though. How are you, Anya?" I asked.

"I'm fine, and what about you?"

It was annoying that she was not yet saying my name.

"Good," I said and tried to hold her gaze, but she kept darting it towards her coffee. Aha! Coffee! I guess no one can beat the Kaapi.

"You look more than fine. Very urbane," I observed.

"I guess a lot of exposure to C-Class executives does that," she replied coolly. Personal observations were never a problem between us, and I was glad it was quite the same.

"So I take it, the NGO is a success?" I enquired. I knew it was beyond mere success. I followed her career very closely and was proud of her.

"You could say that," she brushed it aside in her usual fashion, making light of things that concerned her, "What are you up to?"

I shrugged, "Nothing much to report from my side. It's still the same." Except that Satya started a small startup, and I got his place at the bank. Dilip got sacked for his unacceptable behaviour. But everything else, including my Friday evening ritual, was the same.

"Why are you in Bangalore? I mean I thought you worked from Mangalore."

"I'm here for this meeting with some construction company. We are planning to help them to make environment-friendly choices right from building material to waste disposal. We are here to prove that proper waste management could lead to an alternate source of income, and water management could save money. So far, we've been only part of Corporate Social Responsibilities activities for various companies. But this project is big," her passionate explanation floored me.

"That's really, really admirable," I said in awe.

Soon conversation shifted from topic to topic, and we both inadvertently shared our relationship status. I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time since I met her that evening.

As we drank our filter Kaapi both being devout coffee addicts, she peeked at me when she thought I wouldn't notice. But I always noticed her. Something more sensual than sex is a fleeting glimpse.

"You know, I had a small wish to meet you here?" she said. I held my breath and stared at her. She did not notice me and continued, "But never thought it will come true so early in this trip."

"You could've called me," I managed to say battling a whirlwind of emotions within me.

"I didn't know where we both stood and left it for fate to decide."

"My feelings from three years ago still hold the same..." I muttered with a hopeful look. She took a sharp breath, but before she could respond her attention was diverted by her phone.

She spent a minute on it and sighed in relief, "Today's meeting got postponed to tomorrow morning. Just give me a minute, I'll inform my team."

"Hey, Chandra! Yeah, I read through the document and took notes. No problem...But the meeting is pushed to tomorrow morning. Wow, ok...Hahahaha, that's so like him..." she moved away from the table to finish the call.

My gaze lingered on her, wondering if this three-year gap was necessary. Of course, she was settled now. Her once tired eyes looked lively, and she radiated satisfaction. It was as if she found her true calling.

As for me, I'm the same. Older and a bit wiser perhaps? So I decided to seize this opportunity to never let her go.

"What plans for the evening, Anya?" I asked her when she was back from the call, determined to prolong this chance encounter.

"Nothing as of now. What about you?" she asked and then exclaimed, "Oh! I'm so sorry! Don't you need to go back to the office?"

"Nah, I texted my team that I'm leaving early."

She smiled and shook her head. We finished our coffees and moved to the exit. I held the door open for us to leave.

I was not sure if she realised how close we were to my apartment, and I very much wanted to take her there if she didn't object.

I walked close to her, occasionally brushing my arms against hers as she looked at me with a ghost of a smile. She was yet to call my name. Was it intentional?

"This street looks familiar, are we going to your apartment?" she questioned after we walked for a while.

"Yeah, I thought you knew. Is it fine with you?" I asked her slyly. Though she narrowed her gaze at me, her lips curved into a familiar smile. As we moved through the evening hustle and bustle of the city roads, she subtly leaned into me to avoid crowd, and I laid a protective arm at the small of her back. We both knew it was all pretence to stay as close as possible.

She had a distant look on her face as she took stock of my apartment and moved to her once favourite balcony, "Everything is the same. Not a thing out of place. That reminds me, how are your mother and Anu?"

"They are fine. Amma is staying with Anu these days. They are busy with wedding preparations."

"Oh yeah. I heard of that. How is it going?"

"No idea. I'm staying as far away as possible from those things," I dismissed.

We lapsed into silence gazing everywhere but at each other. Yet once in a while, sneaking a peek.

"Why haven't you called my name yet?" I asked, breaking the heated silence, taking her hands into mine. She came to me without hesitation.

"Trust me, that's all I think about, Mr Mullapudi," she teased, but she stared at my eyes. I was equally lost in her boundless black eyes. We were so close to each other that I could kiss her with the slightest tilt of my head.

"Then why aren't you saying it?"

"I might not just stop there. I would..." she trailed.

Before I made up my mind, she was already kissing me.

My instincts took over. I grasped her face and deepened the kiss without further ado. At once, she threaded her fingers through my hair, tousling it even further. My hands were all over her. I touched her neck, shoulders and traced them down to her waist. I threw my arms around her and held her close to me. I wanted to meld her into me without having to part from her again.

"Please say my name," I pleaded, breaking the kiss to draw in air.

"I don't think I could say only your name," she breathed and wound her arms around my shoulders. She dropped small kisses on my cheek, then my jaw and then my chin.

"Why?" I managed to ask.

"Because I love you, Ajay. I've been in love with you for quite some time now. I don't think I can imagine a life without you in it. Ajay, I love you," she whispered into my mouth.

"I love you too," I muttered and sealed her mouth with mine. 

                          **THE END**

IF you've enjoyed the chapter and the book please VOTE, SHARE and COMMENT.

Thank you all for your constant support and great inputs. Your votes and comments have helped me to finish the book satisfactorily.