《Krishna's Dimension (Ft.21st Century)》


 [CHAPTER - 1] His Introduction!!

    "Can I ask you something?"


    Standing before the dark, Shyam-colored deity, I asked softly. It had been a long time since I returned to my village, and this morning, when I went out for a walk alone, I found myself far from home, drawn to a temple of Girdhari.


    I had been thinking of Him since the morning, feeling an inexplicable urge to meet Him. Perhaps it was because He, too, wished to see me today. Nature seemed to be sending His letters to me-the whisper of the leaves felt like His breath, and the birds'' songs like the sound of His flute.


    Walking alone was just an excuse. I loved strolling quietly, having unspoken conversations with Him in my heart. Whenever I saw a flower along the way, I would pluck it, thinking I would offer it to Him. I had gathered quite a bouquet by the time I reached the temple, though He had not appeared. Yet, for some reason, I couldn''t stop smiling. Maybe it was because butterflies, hidden in His name, fluttered inside me, filling me with a lightness and brightness I couldn''t explain.


    As I wandered, a small, secluded temple appeared before me on the quiet path. Hesitating for a moment, I stepped inside and found it completely empty. The old architecture suggested that it had been here for centuries. I moved forward cautiously, absorbing the eerie silence. The temple was mostly dark, except for a glowing blue light coming from ahead, as if the night''s dark moon had turned blue instead of golden. I couldn''t make out what was before me due to the radiance, but as I moved closer, I saw it-the dark, Shyam-colored idol of Krishna, the flowers which I plucked for him fell down as I was so lost in the beauty of krishna''s Idol.


    He was beautiful, more precious than gold. The deity''s intricate features seemed sculpted with the utmost care, every detail so perfect it seemed as though He could come to life at any moment. My heart raced with excitement as I gazed at Him, fighting the urge to rush forward and embrace Him. As I took slow steps toward the idol, I could feel a tremble in my legs and my heartbeat thundering in my ears. Yet, even in my growing nervousness, there was an overwhelming sense of familiarity, as though I was returning to someone I already knew intimately.


    Tears flowed freely as I neared Him, though I didn''t know why. My feet wouldn''t stop, nor could I contain the flood of thoughts racing through my mind. I raised my hand toward the statue, and at that moment, I heard a whisper, as if someone were speaking softly into my ear. Everything around me seemed to disappear into silence. The voice was unlike anything I had ever heard.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Who are you talking to over there? I''m right here..."


    That whisper, that sweet, intoxicating voice-it felt as though my soul had been waiting its entire life just to hear it. In that moment, I thought,I can die peacefully now. There''s nothing more to want from life.


    I hadn''t even turned to look at Him yet, and already I was lost. What would happen when I finally saw Him? Slowly, I turned around, and I didn''t have to do anything-He did it all. As soon as I turned, my trembling legs gave way, and He moved forward to catch me. But little did He know, His touch only made things worse.


    Yes, it was Him-Shyam... Our beloved Krishna, moon in the night sky, but this time in human form.


    My gaze was locked on His face, unable to pull away. It was as if I had booked a front-row seat to a masterpiece show, and I couldn''t help but study every detail of that masterpiece art. His eyes met mine, and although I felt shy, but I couldn''t tear myself away. So, I let my eyes drift down to His lips instead, and just as I did, He let go of me and I fell down.


    "Ahhh!" I cried out softly as I hit the ground, more out of surprise than pain.


    "If you give someone a finger, they''ll take your whole hand," He said, extending His hand to help me up, a mischievous grin on His face.


    I felt a rush of embarrassment and frustration, so I stayed seated on the ground, pouting. How could someone so beautiful, so divine, behave like this? I had never imagined Krishna would be so... sarcastic like this!


    As I finally took a closer look at Him, I noticed something odd. He wasn''t exactly how I had always imagined.


    "Are you really Krishna?" I asked from where I sat.


    He crouched down to my level, locking eyes with me again, and replied with a smirk, "Do you need me to show you my Aadhar card to prove it?"


    Who answers like that? All my life, I had imagined Krishna wearing a bright yellow dhoti, a mala , a peacock feather , His form gentle and serene. But this Krishna? He was dressed in a stylish black and white shirt and jeans type pant, modern and effortless. I hadn''t even noticed His clothes earlier-I had been too entranced by His face beauty. He was so different from what I had imagined but infinitely more captivating.


    If He ever reads this, He might think that I''m only fascinated by His beauty, but I would like to tell Him otherwise.... It''s not just His beauty; it''s Him-His entire existence-that I love.... I love him in his all form..... And if He insists on hearing some more praise lines for his new look, I''d prefer to whisper it privately, not in front of the world,... lest He starts thinking too highly of Himself! I don''t want him to be much overconfident.

 [CHAPTER -2] His sarcasm !!

    "Do you really need me to show you my Aadhar card now?" he said, making a face as he leaned a little closer to me.


    I shook my head, unable to speak. My voice had disappeared the moment I laid eyes on him. With Nervousness, I stepped back a bit.


    "Why are you acting like I''m here to pick you up...? What do you call it? Oh yes, kidnap!"


    What was he saying? I vaguely remembered angrily threatening to kidnap him once-"I''ll kidnap you if I have to!"-and now, was he really planning on doing it? Wait a minute... Is this some kind of dream? Or is this revenge for all the ridiculous things I''ve said to him over the years? Why would a god have nothing better to do than come to me over such silly matters? If he remembers that, who knows what else he''s keeping track of?....


    Embarrassed, I lowered my head, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as flashes of every childish thing I''d ever said to him began replaying in my mind.


    "So... shall I actually kidnap you?" he whispered playfully in my ear, his breath warm against my skin.


    I tightly shut my eyes in response.


    "Oh come on, you''re actually scared!" he chuckled. "What happened to the brave little girl who used to threaten me?"


    Who calls someone "little girl"? I was thinking ... I am now officially an adult. Earlier I had a whole speech planned for the day I would meet him, but now, facing him, it was like he cast a spell that made all my words vanish. On one hand, I worried about whether I was offending him by not touching his feet out of respect.... I must not forget he is god. On the other, I felt embarrassed beyond belief... How could I be so childish. I didn''t know what to do or say.


    I hesitantly opened my eyes and, gathering some courage, I stood up, bent forward to touch his feet. But before I could, he grabbed my hand firmly and pulled me down beside him, seating me on the ground next to him.


    "Oh come on, ''little girl''-you just turned me into a babaji now!" he said, teasing me with a grin.


    "I haven''t forgotten your threats. These very hands once promised to grab me!... Now they want to bow in respect? I am so confused ...." He was trying to hide his laugh while saying.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Just as I feared-he had remembered everything! He was opening the pages of my past right in front of me, and I wasn''t sure whether to be mad or laugh. How was I supposed to be upset with him when just looking into his eyes made me forget everything else?


    "Oh, so.... now you don''t want to talk to me?" he continued, mimicking my voice. "Remember all those times you yelled at me, demanding I come to meet you? ''How can you be god if you don''t come see me?! If you don''t love me, then just say so!''....Why you are not coming krishna" he was mimicking me.


    He was imitating me perfectly, word for word, and my face grew red with embarrassment. I didn''t realize he had kept such precise track of everything I''d ever said. I guess it''s good to keep track of things, but not like this!


    "Hey... can you at least give me a chance to explain?" I managed to say only that much in return.


    "Oh, is that right? Go ahead, I''m listening!" He dramatically placed his hands on his cheeks and gave me his full attention, almost mockingly. "Mam ...I''ve always listened to you, haven''t I? I''m a god, after all-what else do I have to do expect listening? But if I dare say a word, suddenly everyone''s gets offended! So go on, speak up!" he said, pouting.


    I had no idea what to say. My mind felt blank, like all of this was a dream. My complaints, which had once seemed so important, had disappeared, but his seemed to be in full force! But no matter what he said, he still looked so endearing and more beautiful while speaking.


    "Actually, you should keep talking..." I trailed off. "Wait a minute, don''t call me ''mam'' It sounds so weird!"


    "Oh? And who turned me into a ''guru'' in the first place?" he asked, standing up with a smile.


    "But... you are a god, aren''t you?" I replied, trying to defend myself.


    "Ah, I see... but I came here to meet my sakhi-my beloved friend. Perhaps you aren''t the right one. Maybe I''ve kidnapped the wrong girl!" he teased, his eyes twinkling mischievously.


    "No, no! It''s me!" I panicked, suddenly afraid that he might leave. I struggled to stand, unsure of what would happen next.


    "So... shall I really pick you up you then?" he asked, leaning in again with a whispering note, with that playful smile.


    "What?!" I gasped, feeling a flutter in my stomach from the way he looked at me and the softness of his voice.


    "Oh, I meant to help you stand up, of course," he laughed, Giving me his hand to stand up.


    "What did you think I was talking about? You modern-day people always have your minds filled with nonsense!" he said, rolling his eyes dramatically.


    "I didn''t think anything!" I muttered under my breath. "You''re the one coming up with all these ideas and putting the blame on me!"


    "Can''t I at least get a chance to hear that sweet voice of yours... Speak little bit louder?" He teased, pulling at both my cheeks.

 [CHAPTER - 3] The challenge !!

    I just stared at him, frozen in place like a statue. His touch on my cheeks felt as soft as butter, and I could feel the heat rising as my cheeks turned red with embarrassment.


    "You''re blushing as if you''re all innocent now! Back when you had my photo, you squished my cheeks so hard they turned into tomatoes! And now, when I barely touch you, you''re acting all shy? What has this world come to?"


    "Why are you always on my case? No matter what I do or don''t do, you find something to criticize. What do you want from me?" I snapped, unable to hold back my frustration.


    "Oh, here it is, the real you! Look at yourself! You used to rant at me, nagging, scolding, giving me grief every single day. And now, when I''ve barely started talking, you''re already upset? Imagine how hard is for me to handle you every day!"


    "So, you are having hard time in handling Me .... Am I a burden for you? I thought you loved hearing me talk..." I said, my voice was soft and sad.


    "You silly girl... only I will handle you...No one else... And as for loving ..."


    "And? What?...." I asked, my heart hoping for an answer, my eyes searching his.


    "Well, I love... both sweet kheer and khichdi..... But .... right now, even water would be much better," he said, standing up and turning his face away.


    "What!?" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet.


    "Krishna! When will you come to meet me? When will you come to me, my Jagannath, my Girdhari!" he imitated me, his voice full of mockery. "Wasn''t this what you always shouted? And now that I''m here, you haven''t even offered me water, just endless talk! You can only offer"


    Unbelievable! He just kept going on and on, making fun of me. Without saying anything, I turned to fetch him water, but before I could leave, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back close to him. My head bumped against his chest, and I froze again....His sweet scent was all over my mind.... He moved back slightly, whispering, "What''s the rush to run away from me? Don''t you like me?"This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "N-no..." I stammered, squeezing my eyes shut.


    "So... you don''t like me?" He leaned in even closer, his breath tickling my ear.


    I took three steps back and shouted, "Do you want water or not!?"


    "You''re so amazing... I asked one thing, and you are answering me something else. Water can wait.....First, tell me-how do I look in this new look of mine?" He asked, stepping toward me with a mischievous smile.


    "You look... fine," I replied with a shy smile.


    "Oh, ''fine,'' is it only?.... That''s what you''ll say from a distance. Come here, see me from this angle. I know all the good angles, trust me!"


    "did You plan on staying here in the modern world or what... That''s why you are learning our world concept?" I teased, blushing even more.


    "If you want me to stay, I might just stay," he said, smiling warmly. "You asked me to come, so I did. When you feed me, I quietly eat it too... Without any questions... Whatever you say, I''ll do it."


    Who talks like this? How could I even think of asking him to leave? He always leaves me speechless with those answers... and then, with the way he looks at me, as if stealing my very soul with his gaze.


    "Why would I ask you to leave?" I whispered, blushing harder.


    "Are you sure you can take care of me? I''m expensive, you know. It won''t be easy to manage me."


    "Of course, everything will be fine! You just come along," I replied, my excitement bubbling over.


    "If you start slacking off and mistreating me, then... no, no... Prove it first! Show me you can handle it!"


    "Tell me what I have to do!" I challenged, suddenly feeling bold.


    "Come with me to my time. If you can take care of me there, then I''ll know you can manage it here too. I don''t take risks, you see. Especially after what I''ve seen of people in this century... They act tough in starting, but when we meet face-to-face, they can''t even speak!"


    "Oh, please... how much longer will you keep taunting me? Wherever you want to take me, I''m ready! And once I win the bet, we''ll see what will you do at my house under my supervision!" I muttered the last part under my breath.


    "Did you say something?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.


    "No, nothing... Let''s go am!"


    As he came closer, he took my hand in his, his touch gentle yet firm. "Don''t be afraid... just keep your eyes on mine," he whispered.


    "Remember, don''t meddle with anything while we''re there. If you do, things might get tricky for both of us. And time works differently there-no matter how long we stay, we''ll return here at the same moment we left. Got it?"


    His gaze locked with mine, his smile mysterious, as he leaned in even closer and whispered, "so you got all my points.... tell me if you feel scared...? "


    I just stood there, staring at him like a statue, completely spellbound by him.

 [CHAPTER-4] His timeline !!

    I was lost in his eyes. He took my hand, and then gently placed his soft palms over my eyes, making me close them. The moment he did, I felt like I was floating, like someone was carrying me through the air. Fear crept in, but the warmth of his touch calmed it, like a soothing balm over my soul. His touch felt like salvation. After a few moments, I felt everything become still and peaceful. He gently removed his hands, but I couldn''t bring myself to open my eyes. They felt too heavy.


    Suddenly, his voice, warm and teasing, whispered close to my ear, "What''s wrong? Are you scared?"


    I slowly opened my eyes, and there he was standing right in front of me. But this time, he wasn''t in the same getup like earlier. He was in the form which the whole world recognized-Krishna, the divine. His eyes were lined with kajal, making them look like the shores of an endless ocean. His face glowed with a soft, reddish hue, and there was a gentle, intoxicating fragrance in the air around him. I couldn''t move my eyes away from him. His adornments were so beautiful, I found myself wishing I could be a part of his attire-perhaps a piece of his jewelry, always close to him.


    The peacock feather in his crown shone more brilliantly than the gems that adorned him. His hair, tousled and rebellious, kept falling over his forehead, and I wished in my mind to push it back, to clear the way so I could gaze at him without interruption. His lips looked just as they always did, but they seemed to be on the verge of saying something.


    Oh! I had been so captivated by his appearance that I''d completely forgotten to listen to what he was saying.


    His voice, still as sweet as ever, broke through my thoughts. "I didn''t know I could make someone this beautiful!" he said, gazing at me with a hint of mischief.


    "What... what do you mean?" I asked, startled, looking down at myself.


    I gasped. I was dressed entirely differently-heavy, ornate clothes, jewelleries, my wrists adorned with bangles and bracelets. "When did you do this?" I asked, surprised.


    "When you were lost in thoughts about how beautiful you think I am....," he said with a teasing smile, walking behind me.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    (He can read my mind now? Of course, he can. How could I forget? He''s not just anyone-he''s God! I better be careful with what I think from now on. I blushed at the thought, feeling my face heat up.)


    Suddenly, he gave me a playful nudge and pushed me in front of a large mirror. Only then did I realize the room I was in-decorated with flowers, with large paintings hanging on the walls, depicting a woman whose face was always slightly obscured and blurred. Maybe she was someone Krishna knew as he know so many people and he got so many lovers already ? The thought made my heart twist with a strange sense of jealousy. Why was I feeling this way?


    Before I could dwell on it, he leaned in closer, his breath hot against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands appeared from behind, gently tugging at my cheeks as he whispered, "Why don''t you take a look at yourself for once, instead of just staring at me?"


    I turned to the mirror, and what I saw left me speechless. I looked like a princess straight out of a movie-royal, elegant, utterly transformed. I couldn''t believe it. Was this really me? Krishna had done this, dressed me in these grand clothes and jewels, and I hadn''t even noticed. I glanced back at him; I only reached up to his shoulders. The sight of myself standing beside him made me feel so shy that I couldn''t even look in the mirror.


    I quickly turned around, facing him. He was smiling, watching me with amusement. Before I could say anything, he gently swept the loose strands of my hair away from my face. By now, my cheeks were burning red. He always had this way of looking at me so full of love and a strange sense of belonging as if he knows me already, and too so deeply that each time he looked, it felt like falling in love over and over again.


    "This isn''t your modern-day 2024, you know," he said, stepping back with a mock-serious tone, like a teacher explaining to a student. "This is the Dwapar Yuga. And if you want to stay here, you''ll need to understand how things work first. Are you getting it?"


    "I already know everything about this place!" I said, my confidence bolstered through my excitement.


    "This isn''t a Star Plus soap opera! You can''t just survive here with TV knowledge," he teased, his tone playful but his eyes watchful. "One wrong move, and you''ll lose the bet. So be careful!!!!!"


    Ugh, why does he keep underestimating me? Sure, I''m no expert, but that doesn''t mean he has to keep scolding me. I pouted and nodded grudgingly.


    "I''m not only just your Krishna here," he continued, his voice softening as he placed a hand on my head gently. "I am also the Krishna of Dwapar Yuga. I have responsibilities here, too. That''s why I want to make sure you''re ready for this world timeline, so you don''t have any trouble in future intractions."


    The warmth in his voice melted away my irritation. His care for me was so genuine, so full of love, that I couldn''t stay mad.


    With that gentle touch, any lingering anger I had vanished, replaced by a sense of peace and love that only Krishna could bring.

 [CHAPTER - 5] Dwaparyugs First Encounter

    Before he could explain anything, the loud sound of a bell echoed from outside. He immediately turned towards the window at the edge of the room, his face went serious for a moment. Then, he looked at me and, with a mischievous smile, said, "Looks like someone else needs me more right now. Don''t leave the palace until I say so, alright? Take care of yourself!"


    As he teased me by tugging on my nose playfully, I could feel a mixture of emotions building up inside me.


    (How could I let him go now? What would I do alone here without him? I didn''t even know what to say. I hesitated, torn between wanting to stop him and the uncertainty of what words to use.)


    Just as he reached the door, I gathered some courage and softly asked, "Who else lives in this palace.....?"


    He paused, smiled knowingly, and with a wink, replied as he walked out, "Am I not enough for you? Do you really need someone else too?"


    Ughhhhhhh, he always says things that leave me speechless, and then doesn''t give me a chance to respond! He left so easily, without even telling me where I was or what to do without him.


    For somethime after he left, I stared at myself in the mirror for a while and then began exploring the room, admiring its decor. Suddenly, I heard a voice from outside the window.


    "Swami... Swami!" Startled, I peered out and saw a girl, dressed like a princess, riding a horse and calling out for someone. When she saw me, she stopped. My heart raced, and I quickly backed away from the window, hoping she would leave soon.


    For a few moments, everything was silent. But then I heard sounds, as if someone was climbing up the wall. My heartbeat quickened. New place, unfamiliar surroundings, and I was alone!


    I nervously approached the window again, and as I leaned forward to look, I suddenly felt a push and tumbled to the floor. A girl, the same princess-like figure I''d seen on the horse, climbed through the window. She looked about 19 or 20 years old, and she was stunning-far more beautiful than I was, adorned in heavy jewelry. How had she managed to climb up here so gracefully with those heavy glitters!!!!? I stared at her in confusion, unsure if she was the thief or if I was.


    She extended her hand to help me up. I took it, standing in awkward silence, not knowing what to say. She broke the silence first.


    "He was here, wasn''t he?"


    I assumed she was asking about Krishna. But still, I hesitated to answer. I simply stared at her, unsure of how to respond.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Are you the one?" she asked, looking me over more like suspecting me.


    I blinked, utterly confused by her question. What did she mean? I continued to look at her, hoping for some clarity.


    "Do you know where he is?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read me.


    "I... I don''t know where he went!" I replied softly.


    "Hmmmm, as usual.... He never tells anyone where he''s going!" she muttered, her expression frustrated.


    "Who... who are you, by the way?" I asked, trying to understand the situation.


    "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I am Princess Shreya of a small kingdom near kingdom Pushkar. I''m going to be his future wife," she said, blushing slightly. "You must have heard about the incident, right....? I''m one of the girls he''s going to marry. He''ll marry us all on different days. My turn is in about a month, but I just couldn''t stay away from him..... You know, ever since I first saw him, I''ve been under his spell. He''s like a hero straight out of a storybook-he saved me,.... saved all of us......Now, he''s not only the king of our hearts but will soon be my husband too!" She giggled shyly as she said the last part.


    I couldn''t help but smile as I watched her blush. She spoke with such innocence that even her cheeks had turned red.


    "Why are you smiling?.... You''ve already married him, haven''t you? Tell me, how is he?..... Do you know, I learned horse riding just for him! When I first saw him riding that white horse, I knew I had to match his grace. Now that our wedding is coming up....., I''m dreaming of riding alongside him-it would be magical....! I heard from my spies that he built this new palace, so I snuck in to see him..... Oh, and there''s another princess nearby, Rajkumari Prapti. She''s also going to marry him. She''s an excellent painter, you know? She''s even learning to cook for him! I thought I''d meet her too while I was here and maybe catch a glimpse of Swami''s paintings! done by her" She continued excitedly, barely pausing for breath. "It''s rare that my family let me to meet him... you know how it is with princes and princesses that we cant meet our future partner before marriage ..... Oh! I''m sorry, I''ve been talking non-stop, but I just can''t help it-I''m so happy.... And excited!"


    I chuckled lightly, finding her enthusiasm contagious. "No, no, it''s fine. I don''t mind listening at all! But... Krishna and I aren''t married. I''m ......."


    Before I could finish, she cut me off.


    "Wait, what? How can you just say his name like that? Don''t you know you''re not supposed to speak your future husband''s name so casually?" she scolded, looking at me with mock disapproval.


    I tried to explain her, "No, no... I''m not marrying him. I-"


    "Then what are you doing here in the palace? Who are you, then?" she asked, suddenly more serious, her eyes widening in surprise and full of curiosity.


    "I... I''m..." I stammered, not knowing what to say. How could I tell her the truth?


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    How will she handle this situation ? What if her truth will be out ??

 [CHAPTER - 6] Met his lovers!!

    "Why are you so nervous?" she asked in a playful tone. "Could it be that he... brought you here against your will?"


    replied, trying to keep my tone steady.


    "But why would he bring you to this palace? In middle of the forest.... Why not take you to the main palace in Dwarka?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Oh... this was the nearst place, so he brought me here. We''ll probably go to Dwarka soon. He has some work here for now."


    "Well, while you''re relaxing here, he probably won''t return until tomorrow. He''s at the main palace-it''s quite far from here! So why don''t you come with me to meet Princess Prapti? I wanted to see her, and you can meet her too! What are you going to do here all alone, anyway? I''ll bring you back by sunset."


    Not knowing how to refuse, I nodded before even thinking it through. As she started to leave, I suddenly remembered Krishna''s warning: *"One mistake could make you lose this game.... Be very careful!"* But it was too late; she was already halfway to her horse, and without another thought, I followed her.


    The palace was strangely quiet, with no guards in sight. I couldn''t help but wonder why this grand palace was hidden here in the middle of the forest. Lost in thought, I was startled as Princess Shreya''s voice snapped me back to reality.


    "Hurry up! This horse may wait for us, but the sun won''t... I need to bring you back too!" she said, gesturing for me to get on.


    With her help, I climbed onto the horse behind her, gripping her shoulders as she took the reins. I was nervous, never having been on a horse before, which she noticed, and she reassured me with a calm smile. And so we began our journey.


    Princess Prapti was staying in an outer palace of her kingdom, likely waiting for guests. Luckily, this meant we didn''t have to go too far. The guards recognized Princess Shreya, so they didn''t stop us. When we arrived, Princess Prapti greeted us with flowers, and I marveled at the place-it was like a movie set, but even more beautiful. The two princesses hugged, and after I introduced myself, they began talking about Krishna-how they imagined their lives with him after marriage, how eagerly they awaited the big day.... Princess Prapti even showed us a painting she had made of him, depicting the day he had come to them rescue on horseback. They chatted endlessly about Krishna, their excitement apparent in every word.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I couldn''t help but feel a strange pang of jealousy. How could they both be so happy sharing Krishna? Finally, I couldn''t resist asking, "Can I ask something, if you don''t mind? Don''t you feel jealous, with both of you marrying the same Krishna?"


    They both responded at once, laughing, "If he were only one person, we''d be jealous. But he''s more than that-he belongs to each of us individually!" I smiled at their response, but something still didn''t feel right to me.


    Before in my timeline, when I was alone with Krishna and his idol, I never felt this way... I never thought about him like sharing him with someone or like...., yet seeing how these women cherished him so deeply stirred something inside me. They were learning new skills and dedicating themselves entirely to him, while I... I couldn''t even manage to get up early for him. Lost in these thoughts, I didn''t realize when their conversation ended.


    After a loving farewell from Princess Prapti, we mounted the horse and set off once more. Everything was going smoothly until we heard the sudden sound of horses'' hooves in the distance. Within moments, a group of armed men appeared, galloping toward us. Before we could react, an arrow whizzed past, lodging itself in a tree nearby. I panicked, cursing Krishna for putting me in this situation while at the same time desperately wishing he were here.


    We managed to avoid the soldiers for a while, but darkness had fallen, and they were still chasing us. Even Princess Shreya didn''t seem to know who they were. Suddenly, the horse lost its balance in the dark, and we both tumbled to the ground.


    She quickly turned to me and said, "Head west to that cave. I''ll meet you tomorrow. I need to save this horse and myself too, or we''ll both be caught! Together ...Let''s distract the army"


    Before I could agree or protest, she rode off in the opposite direction, leaving me to head for the cave as she had instructed , she did some blast and ran off in other direction.i also ran in cave direction, but the forest was dark and eerie, and I was completely disoriented. Trembling with fear, I took cautious steps toward the cave when, suddenly, I felt someone grabbed me from the shadows and pull me into the darkness of cave like structure......


    --------

 [CHAPTER - 7] The Queen !!

    In the darkness, I couldn''t tell who it was. A firm hand was covering my mouth, and I could feel the texture of armor pressing against me. We stood in a silent corner for what felt like ages. My heart was pounding with fear, and I longed for Krishna, wishing he would appear and rescue me. Everything was so unfamiliar, and my mind was spinning. I just stood there, frozen.


    Once the silence settled, the stranger-whoever he was-grabbed my hand without a word and began leading me deeper into the dark cave. I wanted to ask who he was or where we were going, but I didn''t have the courage. All I wanted was to leave this place quietly, so I followed him in silence.


    Finally, after a short walk, we emerged from the cave, and I took a long breath of relief. Inside, I''d felt suffocated, with the darkness pressing down on me and the strange, musty smell. Outside, it was still night, but the full moon cast a bright, silvery glow over everything. The landscape looked almost surreal, and for a moment, I thought I was seeing the Earth of a different time, with its towering trees and creatures that seemed familiar yet different. The moonlight was more intense than I''d ever seen, and everything shimmered with a strange beauty, it was like I was in new Earth.


    Lost in the wonder of it all, I suddenly remembered the person who had brought me here. I turned, and in the moonlight, I could make out the figure clad in armor, face concealed. In a hushed tone, I managed to thank him, to which he only nodded in acknowledgment, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder before leading me to a horse tied nearby. He climbed on first and motioned for me to sit behind him. I hesitated, but there was no point in arguing. Alone in the forest, I had little choice but to go with him.


    The rhythmic pace of the horse soon began to lull me, and I drifted in and out of sleep. After some time, I jolted awake, feeling as though I''d been nudged.


    We had come to a halt before an astonishing sight-a palace, shining like gold even in the night. Was this heaven?...... The structure glimmered as if woven from dreams.


    He handed the reins of the horse to a nearby guard and signaled for me to follow him inside. I was too entranced to resist, following him, eyes wide as I took in the grandeur around me. The palace was filled with light despite the late night, with chandeliers and artwork beyond anything I had ever seen in my whole life time. Even the air was fragrant with something exotic and mesmerizing. He led me up to the second floor, where he entered a chamber, motioning for me to close the door behind me.


    As I turned around, I saw him removing his armor. When he lifted the helmet from his head, I gasped. Long, dark hair cascaded down, as if a lotus had bloomed right before my eyes.


    Her face radiated beauty, with eyes so innocent, like those of a newborn child. Once the armor was off, she looked like a queen draped in crimson, glowing like pure gold even without heavy adornments. I was left speechless, as if gazing at something divine. She smiled and spoke, "So, you are the one...!"


    Blushing, I nodded without knowing exactly why. I felt shy for reasons beyond me, like a child caught in an unexpected moment.


    I gathered the courage to ask, "Thank you so much for today, truly...but forgive me, I don''t recognize you."


    She gave a gentle smile. "Relax....This is indeed our first meeting, so how could you know me...? But I know quite a bit about you."


    "Really?!" My heart skipped a beat. Was she mistaking me for someone else?


    She continued with a knowing smile, "You are sakhi of him... well, now mine too."


    I blushed, hearing her call me sakhi. There was no reason to, yet I felt bashful in her presence.


    She laughed softly. "I''m sure you''ve heard of Sakha''s Bharya (wife), Rukmini."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    I stammered, "You... you are... you!"


    The words stumbled from my lips as I struggled to process it. I dropped to my knees, reaching to touch her feet in reverence, but she gently stopped me, pulling me into an embrace instead. "Your place is in my heart," she whispered.


    I was overwhelmed by emotion, hardly able to believe I was standing before her, the one I''d barely thought of... In my life time I don''t even remember her much and yet was now treating me with such warmth. I felt a pang of guilt, for she was offering me such genuine affection as though I were very dear to her.


    "Your Sakha would be arriving soon," she said with a gentle laugh. "He doesn''t know I brought you here. He went on to play his lila, thinking he could keep it a secret from me. But nothing escapes me."


    "Yet he asked me not to leave that place or do anything without his permission... What should I do now?" I asked nervously.


    She smiled reassuringly, "Now that you are here with me, I will take care of everything. Come, let''s prepare. You''ll meet him soon."


    She held my hand and guided me to a bathing chamber where her attendants were already waiting with garments and other preparations. Each one looked as enchanting as an apsara. Two attendants took me to a private corner of the bathing area, where they handed me some bathing robes. I was nervous and unfamiliar with the attire, but I gave it a try, awkwardly wrapping myself in the long fabric(dhoti). Peeking out of the curtain, I called for one of the attendants to help. She chuckled softly before showing me how to tie it properly.


    Dressed and shy, I emerged from the corner. Rukmini herself looked ethereal, her beauty enhanced by simplicity. She gestured for me to sit on the edge of a small water pool nearby. I walked over, adjusting my clothes shyly, and sat beside her.


    "Don''t be so nervous ...Here all are women" she laughed playfully and splashed a little water on me, making me smile.


    The attendants began to apply sandalwood paste, and I found myself struggling not to giggle at the ticklish sensation. Everything felt so strange, so dreamlike.


    Trying to distract myself from trickling sensation, I asked, "I''d love to hear the story of your love marriage, if you wouldn''t mind...?"


    She blushed deeply, her cheeks glowing as if lit by some inner fire, and I could see a shy, innocent happiness in her. She was like a young bride, each word about him revealing a world of love. As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with memories, and I found myself utterly enraptured. She told me stories of Krishna''s various moods, of how each gesture had made her fall deeper in love with him. At times, she''d stop mid-sentence, embarrassed, and I''d laugh softly at her endearing shyness.


    Lost in her stories, I hadn''t even noticed the attendants had finished applying the paste and other bathing process, later on Rukmini Sakhi went with some other attendens, and I was given to wear light pink clothes, I managed wearing it with the help of other, and they finished dressing me in a light pink garment.


    One of them handed me jewelry, perfumes, and ornaments, each piece delicate and finely crafted. Several attendants worked on my appearance at once, and I felt like a bride myself.


    After One of the attendants led me back to Rukmini Sakhi''s chamber, where she was seated before a mirror with her hair flowing freely. Only now did I notice her hair, thick and lustrous, like a midnight ocean. She looked even more radiant, a true goddess. I stood at the door, captivated by her beauty, until she gestured for me to come closer and close the door. The attendants had already left.


    "Sakhi, I chose this pearl necklace for you. Let me put it on you," she said, holding out a beautiful necklace of pearls. I blushed, taken aback by her kindness.


    "Thank you, but I should be the one praising you... Now I understand why he was so eager to meet you that time!" I said, teasingly. "Honestly, compared to you, Krishna himself is no match!"


    She laughed, a light in her eyes. "You flatter well, just like him."


    She placed the necklace around my neck and set a small black kajal dot behind my ear saying it will keep me away from all evil eyes, then I helped her to decorate her hairs with flowers.


    Just as we finished, there was a knock at the door. She gestured for me to hide behind the curtain, with a playful look in her eyes, and went to open it.


    Peeking through the curtain, I watched as Krishna entered from that big door, looking even more enchanting than usual. Dressed with more lavished items, he seemed more beautiful than ever, and after entering him , I could see Rukmini Sakhi blush deeply as she turned back to sit before her mirror. Krishna''s gaze never left her, as if he were seeing her for the first time like a teen lover.


    Closing the door without turning, he stepped behind her, his eyes filled with admiration, and knelt beside her, caressing her hair. She gazed at him, her shyness making her even more beautiful. Watching them, I too felt myself blush, even from behind the curtain. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling as though I were intruding their private moment.


    Just then, I heard Krishna''s voice, soft and playful echoed. "So, where have you hidden our secret guest?"

 [CHAPTER - 8] My Second Chance !!

    So, I closed my eyes. Just then, I heard Krishna''s voice, "So, where have you hidden our guest?"


    I could hear Rukmini Sakhi laughing softly, and as I opened my eyes, I saw them both standing there, they took curtain in their hands, looking straight at me. I looked at them like a guilty child caught in the act, offering a sheepish smile.


    "Have you followed me all the way here?" Krishna teased, a playful glint in his eyes.


    "Oh, no, I just........" I stammered, but before I could finish, Rukmini Sakhi stepped in to save me, saying, "I brought her here! ....You never planned to introduce us by your side, so I took the liberty." She looked at him with a charming, sideways glance.


    "Is that so?.... Have I ever kept any secret from you ? Every meeting has its right moment, after all!...." Krishna replied, looking at me with a playful smirk. Then, with a feigned seriousness, he added, "You do realize you''ve made a mistake, don''t you? And for that, there will be a price to pay!"


    "But I told you, I brought her here! She''s here under my responsibility," Rukmini Sakhi insisted, gently stroking my head.


    "Look at her," Krishna continued, smiling mischievously. "She couldn''t handle it herself, so how will she manage someone else?...Like me!!"


    "You can''t defeat her so easily while she''s under my protection! She deserves another chance!" Rukmini Sakhi retorted, looking directly into Krishna''s eyes.


    "Well! You''ve already won her over to your side and became her Sakhi. And if my beloved asks me something , how can I refuse to you ...My priya ?" Krishna said, glancing affectionately at Rukmini Sakhi, then casting his gaze my way as if doing me a grand favor.


    "Thank you very much!" I said, smiling gratefully at both of them.


    "Don''t be so quick to celebrate," Krishna said with a mysterious smile. "You may not have lost, but there''s still a price to pay!" It seemed as if some mischievous plan was forming in his mind.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I''m ready for whatever price I must pay!" I replied eagerly.


    Rukmini Sakhi placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "Just take care of yourself... because he..."


    But before she could finish, Krishna interrupted, "Enough!.... You''ve done your part. From now on, she''ll stay within my sight...Every single second I will keep my eye on her..... One more mistake, and..." His voice took on a slightly menacing tone.


    "Oh, don''t scare her so much," Rukmini Sakhi said, glancing at me. "Just look at her face....."


    "I''ve barely said anything, and already she''s so tensed," Krishna chuckled, shaking his head. "Imagine how she''ll react when it''s time to actually face the challenge. Perhaps it would be best to just surrender to your defeat."


    "Oh...., no.....!" I shot back defiantly, despite the nervous flutter in my chest. "I''m not one to back down. Time will tell who wins and who loses!"


    Amused, Krishna looked at Rukmini sakhi , then leaned toward her ear and whispered something. Though I couldn''t hear what he said, it brought a pretty beautiful smile to her face.


    "I''ll be back soon after finishing a task," Krishna said softly, looking at Rukmini Sakhi with a smile.


    "Take care of yourself-and my Sakhi....," she replied shyly.


    "Would I ever ignore your request?" Krishna teased, glancing romantically into Rukmini Sakhi''s Eye. "I''ll keep an eye on her like she''s my own Sakhi... but My Dear !!! Just be sure to take care of yourself as well. You know how much I worry about you...!" His teasing made me blush just hearing it.


    "That''s exactly what I''m afraid of..." Rukmini replied with a smile, bidding him goodbye. They were engaged in their sweet good-bye conversation, but I quietly excused myself from there and went outside, as I was feeling like an intruder in their intimate moment.


    Once I went outside, I started admiring the palace''s intricate carvings to pass my time. Suddenly, Krishna tapped me on the shoulder, leaned close, and murmured, "ohhh....Leaving so soon?? Do you want me to escort you back in your time?"


    Would he always keep reminding me of my mistake? My mind raced, but I kept silent.


    "I''m not letting go of you that easily," I replied, trying to sound playful.


    "Well, neither will I let you go so easily!" he said, pulling at my cheeks with a teasing tone. Then he walked on ahead, and I followed, blushing, wondering just what sort of price I''d have to pay.


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    To be continued......


    (What price I have to pay now ?????.... Why he is making this much suspence .... Should I ask him directly ??? Wait ... What if he will make fun of me ... Why can''t he give a simple and direct answer of anything !!!??)

 [CHAPTER - 9] His words!!

    As Krishna and I walked, he climbed onto a white horse, laughing as he looked down at me. "By now, you''ve surely learned how to ride a horse, haven''t you?" he teased, clearly aiming to provoke me. I knew he was just ribbing me, but what could I say? After all, he somehow seemed to know every little thing about me, even the things he hadn''t seen firsthand. Then it hit me-of course! He''s God Krishna. And as they say, being divine comes with its perks...and maybe some downsides. With a slight smile, I mulled this over.


    But Krishna interrupted my thoughts, shaking his head as he said, "So not only do you make mistakes, but you even have the nerve to celebrate them with a smile! Typical of you folks from the Kaliyuga!"


    Unbelievable! I wanted to argue back, but I knew better, especially since, admittedly, the mistake was mine. If it weren''t, I''d definitely show him what us ''Kaliyuga'' folks are capable of.


    Krishna, as if reading my mind, chuckled and replied, "Oh, trust me, I can do a lot too. But for now, you should focus on preparing to face your punishment."


    "Wait... are you reading my thoughts?" I asked, taken aback.


    "Let''s just leave it...., for now, both I and this poor horse are eagerly waiting to get going. Hurry up, or else......."


    So, he intended to throw out threats at every turn?..... Sighing, I climbed up on the horse, resting my hand on his shoulder. But he caught my wrist in mid-motion, grinning as he instructed, "Oh no,...... not behind me. You sit up front. If you disappear again, I won''t go through all that effort to bring you back......"


    "But... front????" I stammered. Before I could protest, he had already lifted me onto the front of the saddle. Riding a horse already made me nervous, and sitting upfront only amplified that unease. With every jolt, Krishna''s face brushed my neck, and I could feel his warm breath against my skin. Each touch sent a shiver through me,......my heart raced, and I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. To make matters worse, every so often, he''d lean in, whispering softly into my ears, "Is everything alright?" His voice, so close to my ear, only heightened my flustered state.


    I tried to calm myself all the way, I didn''t even realize when we reached our destination. Honestly, I wouldn''t have minded if the journey had taken a little longer. We stopped in front of the same palace where he''d brought me before. Without a word, I followed him, suppressing my emotions and simply admiring him from back, feeling both shy and a little mesmerized. There''s something irresistible about Krishna, not just from the front but even from behind, his every angle is beautiful.


    He entered through the entrance of the room, sat down on the bed near me, I was standing at the corner of the bed silently and, with a playful hint of fake anger, he said, "So... are you just going to stand there? I didn''t bring you here to just laze around."


    I rolled my eyes, sighing as I replied, "Well, how am I supposed to know what to do if you don''t tell me?"


    "Oh, so now you only do what I tell you, hmm? Since when did you become so obedient?" he laughed, pulling me down to sit beside him with a mischievous grin.


    "Well... since every little thing I do seems to bother you, I figured I''d better ask first," I mumbled, feeling my face grow warm again.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Fine, then," he began, tracing his fingers gently over mine as he took my hands into his. "Let''s talk about your punishment." His tone was soft, his touch tender, and for a moment, I found it hard to believe he was discussing any form of punishment. But I nodded, letting him know I was listening.


    "So.......," he continued, "you''re familiar with Princess Shreya, aren''t you? Our wedding is scheduled for next month. Since you''ll be here until then, I want you to oversee the cleaning of the new palace that''s being built for the occasion. You can get help from the servants, but you''ll be in charge. And remember, I''ll be watching your every move....." Krishna''s gaze grew intense as he warned, "One more mistake, and... well, you know."


    "What kind of punishment is this....?" I exclaimed, startled.


    "Why, did you expect a punishment of your choice....?" he teased. "Surely you want your new friend, Princess Shreya, to be happy after our wedding? If you do well, I might even hire you to oversee the decorations for Princess Prapti ''s upcoming wedding, too." He squeezed my hand, laughing as I glared at him, feeling a pang of jealousy at his words.


    He might be holding my hand, but he was talking about someone else! Irritated, I yanked my hand away, turning away from him as I grumbled, "Don''t worry, everything will be done on time,.... your highness!!!." I sarcastically a answered.


    "Oh, is someone jealous?" he laughed, he sat down in front of me kneeling .... And pullef me closer by holding my hands by his one hand and with his other hand, he cupped my face, turning me to face him. His gaze softened as he asked, "Are you... feeling jealous?" His words seemed to melt all my irritation, and I felt my eyes well up with emotion.


    Tenderly wiping away my tears, he said, "You know,....just as I am one with everyone, each of you is a part of me. I see no difference among you.... For me everyone is almost same .... Same as the essence of my love.... In love, there is no room for comparison or hierarchy. When you understand your true self, you''ll understand my love..... You will understand eventhough there are many rivers but all of them having same water component in them... " Though his words were deep.... I didn''t understood the meaning, But I found comfort in them, so I smiled softly.


    "Now," he added, a twinkle of mischief in his eye, "as much as I adore love, it doesn''t fill the belly. Shall we eat?"


    His words made me laugh. How could he go from profound to playful so effortlessly?


    "Aren''t you prepared the meal?" he asked, pretending to be annoyed. "Looks like I''ll have to take care of everything myself. Who''s looking after whom here, I wonder.......?"


    With that, he left to fetch the food, leaving me both flustered and excited. When he returned, he fed me with his own hands, and I thought I could stay like that forever....It was so wonderful. Though, in my nervousness, I only accepted a couple of bites before pulling the plate towards myself, afraid his hand might accidentally get hurt. But I did regret not offering to feed him in return.


    When we were done, he took the plate from my hands, refusing to let me help clean up. Despite my protests, he insisted, giving me a few more playful jabs as he left from the door. Though before he made some instructions about preparing the lotus flowers from the lake for tomorrow''s rituals for worshipping, his words felt like the sweetest music to my ears.


    After he left, I waited for him, half-hoping he''d return lying in bed thinking about him. I didn''t know why, but I longed for him to come back, even if just for a moment. Yet, he didn''t return, and eventually, I drifted to sleep.


    The next morning, a koel''s call woke me. Still sleepy, I remembered Krishna''s words about the lotus flowers. As , in this dwapar''s timeline, Without a clock to keep track of time I felt confused, So I rushed to dress and set off.


    Wandering here and there ... I was so confused as there was no locals to ask about lake destination... So I searched by my own, I finally found a lake brimming with lotuses. Eagerly, I stepped into the water, up to my knees, reaching out to pluck one. But just as I touched it, the flower lifted itself, Krishna himself emerging from beneath!


    Seeing him appear so unexpectedly, I let out a scream, stumbling in shock. Before I knew it, his arms were around me, steadying me. Lost in his gaze, I realized how effortlessly I had fallen into his embrace arms.


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 [CHAPTER - 10] The lotus Chaos!!

    Recap


    As I remembered him and reached out to pluck the lotus, it suddenly flew out of my grasp, as if lifted by the wind. Underneath it was Krishna, who had been submerged in the water. He emerged suddenly, and seeing him made me scream in shock. My foot slipped, and before I knew it, I was in his arms.


    I could feel the gentle touch of his fingers on my waist, sending a ticklish sensation through me. The lotus I had come to pluck from the pond was now vanished, and I found myself cradled in the arms of the true and more beautiful lotus. I stood there, silently staring at him. His damp eyelashes, water dripping from his forehead, the shine of his wet nose-all made him glow. His lips, now an even deeper shade of red, perfectly complemented the beauty of the pink lotus. My heart and mind were racing in unison, pounding with every second. I was so close to his chest, and the fragrance of Krishna mixed with the water, casting a spell over me. My eyes couldn''t pull away from him, and in that cool water, his touch felt like the warmth of the sun in winter.


    Before I could realize what is happening, his one hand was already on my cheek. I could feel his fingers brush near my ears as he gently tucked a strand of my hair behind them. He gazed at me with such intensity that even shame would feel shy. His eyes, glistening from the water, sparkled even more, causing my nervousness to grow. But I wanted to take a step closer, to feel his touch more deeply. My gaze wandered again, tracing his wet body''s parts which were shining bright in the daylight resembled the beauty of a full moon like night time. Suddenly, my heart raced even faster when I stuck looking at him blankly out of nowhere, and I closed my eyes out of embarrassment as he stretched his eyebrow out of sudden in a teasing and questioning way. I couldn''t understand why the one who always talked so much was now attacking me with just his eyes.


    As soon as I shut my eyes, I felt his fingers gently caress my neck. His other hand was still resting on my waist, sending waves of tickling sensations through my entire body. My breathing quickened, and I became so nervous, words can''t describe it. But strangely, I liked it. For the first time, I wished that this nervousness would stay with me forever. His fingers pressed lightly on my neck-not enough to hurt, but just enough to make my heart stop. The ticklish sensation on my waist turned into something like an electric current. I wanted to open my eyes and look at him, but my shyness was overwhelming. Summoning all my courage, I gently tried to push him away without opening my eyes. But the more I tried to move away, the more he pulled me back towards him. His hand on my waist lightly nudged me back into his chest.


    My head bumped into his chest, making me feel even more embarrassed, and as my nose pressed against him, I couldn''t help but laugh. Trying to keep my lips slightly apart from him, I giggled softly. He removed his hand from my neck and gently placed it on my head, giving me some support as he moved me back a little. Staring into my eyes again, he leaned in closer. His lips came near my ear, and in a teasing whisper, he said, "If you didn''t want to work, you could''ve just told me. Was attempting suicide really necessary?"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Instead of anger, his teasing words filled me with embarrassment because his warm breath was soothing my very soul. And as he spoke, he came even closer. His whisper felt like it would be the end of me. Then, once again, he taunted, "Do you enjoy this type of behavior? Clinging to a man while he''s bathing?"


    "No! You were the one who caught me here... I didn''t do anything!" I immediately blurted out in reaction of embarrassment, and in my haste, my lips accidentally brushed against his shoulder. Out of fear, I tried to push him away again. But this time, he pulled me back with a bit more force, and my entire face pressed against his chest.


    My mind went completely blank. In a soft voice, I asked, "What are you doing?"


    He raised his voice slightly and said, "There''s no gratitude left in the world of kalyug''s People. Fine, I''ll let you go!"


    With that, he suddenly released me, and I fell into the water. I looked up at him, my eyes questioning his sudden change in behavior, but he just stood there, staring at me as I lay in the water. That''s when I realized that my foot had been tangled in a vine underwater for quite some time. I had been so lost in Krishna''s presence amd his magical touch that I didn''t notice. Now, as I fell, the vine scraped my foot, causing some pain.


    I lifted my leg and saw that it was red wound from the scrape on my ankle side. Krishna bent down slightly, looking at me, and said, "See, now you understand why I was saving you. But to you, I''m always the one in the wrong, aren''t I?... Now do you see,... everything I do is for your own good."


    "But see what good thing you have done.?.." I asked softly, looking down at the water.


    "Well, I didn''t do anything bad also, did I?" he replied with a mischievous smile.


    "I only came to pluck a lotus, and here you are, getting me all tangled up!" I muttered, pouting.


    "You should be the one answering that. What were you doing here, in a place where I was already bathing? There are plenty of ponds around here, but why this is the only one you chose?..... For a lotus? ....And let me remind you, the time for worshiping has long passed in the morning. I told you to come at Brahma Muhurta, didn''t I?.... Even earlier than that!"


    "I''m new here... I didn''t know which pond was where! And I didn''t know about the time either," I replied, playing innocent.


    He placed his hand on his head in exasperation. "Oh, so this is also my fault now? Fine, let''s forget all that. But remember, you''re here under my responsibility. If you keep getting yourself hurt like this, what will people say about me?..... Thanks to you,... my reputation will be ruined. You came here to take care of me, didn''t you?..... Or was it the other way around....am I here to take care of you?"


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 [CHAPTER - 11] His magic trick!!

    As I opened my mouth to respond, he suddenly placed his wet palm over my lips, pressing down so that I couldn''t say a word. His hand was so large that it covered nearly my entire face, and all I could do was gaze at him in silent amazement. Moving closer, he whispered, "Would you like to see a bit of magic?"


    His words surprised me, and though I didn''t fully understand his meaning, I nodded in agreement. I knew I couldn''t say no to him, anyway. He smiled then, as if he''d been given a precious gift.


    "Are you ready?" he asked, flashing a broad smile. His hand still covered my mouth, yet instead of feeling restrained, I felt a strange peace. I nodded again.


    "Someone''s coming soon, someone who loves to watch me from afar," he said in a hushed tone, his eyes mischievous. "But now, just wait and see what I do." With that, he plunged into the water, splashing droplets onto me. My injured leg was forgotten in the excitement, and I waited eagerly for him to resurface.


    Then, I heard movement behind me. Before I could turn, he appeared, grasping my shoulders from behind. An electric thrill raced through me. He leaned close, whispering near my ear, "Can''t you bear to be away from me for even a moment ?" The warmth of his touch and his breath near my skin stirred something within me. I could feel myself blushing deeply.


    "I didn''t want to see you; I wanted to see your magic!" I said softly, lowering my gaze trying to cover-up.


    "Oh, is that so?" he teased near my ear, his tone so tender that I could almost melt. "If you''re so fond of magic, then I''ll become magic itself for you." Just as I began to soften under his gaze, he burst into laughter, a wide grin on his face, while coming in front of me.


    I looked away in embarrassment, unable to meet his eyes. But then, he took another dive, emerging only a moment later, laughing again. Before I could process what he was up to, another version of him appeared beside him. They looked nearly identical, but there was a subtle difference in their expressions and attire. I stared, stunned, and before I could ask anything, a third Krishna emerged from the water-similar to the others yet distinct, with slight variations in his appearance.


    One of them, the first one to appear, spoke with a grin, "This is just the beginning of the magic. Don''t be surprised; there''s much more to come! When people play games with me, I play along. But remember, you have to do as I say as now you are also part of my game." He gestured toward the pathway by the pond. "Princess Prapti will come this way soon. Just keep her here by the pond for a bit, alright?"


    Before I could respond, two of the Krishnas disappeared underwater, while the third hid behind a nearby tree. Just then, Princess Prapti arrived on her brown horse. I struck up a conversation with her, trying to delay her as instructed near the pond bank. She seemed charmed, and I managed to hold her attention, though I felt somewhat awkward to do it.


    From somewhere behind her, I saw Krishna sneaking up from the trew, whispering something inaudible. Yet whatever he said made Princess Prapti blush so deeply that her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. She hadn''t even turned around, yet she was smiling shyly. Krishna, holding a delicate pink flower, tucked it into her hair, whispered a few more words, and led her horse away down another path. Blushing, Princess Prapti glanced back at me and murmured that she had something important to attend to before following Krishna.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Before I could gather my thoughts, another Krishna surfaced from the water and said, "This time, call the next visitor over to you." He hid behind the tree again, and soon enough, I saw Princess Shreya approaching on her white horse. I greeted her and invited her closer to help me. Just as she was about to look at my injured leg, Krishna appeared from the tree and gestured for me to remain silent.


    Shreya was examining my leg when Krishna, suddenly raising his voice from behind her and startled her. "Does your father know you''ve come to our area?" he demanded. Princess Shreya fell silent, nervous and slightly embarrassed.


    "master...is it really you?" she stammered, her voice trembling.


    "Why are you so startled?" he asked, sounding slightly authoritative. "Weren''t you here to meet me?"


    "No..." she replied, flustered.


    "So there''s someone else special you''ve traveled all this way to see?" Krishna teased with a smile.


    Shreya, blushing, managed to say, "Swami, there is no one .... Only you ....." She looked incredibly sweet, glancing shyly while responding.


    Just as she was about to turn around to see him, Krishna suddenly exclaimed, "What are you doing?!" Shreya froze, her eyes wide with surprise. "Forgive me, Swami," she said in a barely audible voice.


    "Why are you teasing her so much?" I blurted out, unable to hold back.


    "Our wedding is just days away," he explained. "It''s tradition, isn''t it, that the bride and groom shouldn''t see each other before then?" Saying this, he lifted her corner of Saree(saree ka pallu I mean) gently, covering her face as ghunghat, and added tenderly, "Have a bit more patience, my dear; I''m also waiting, too." Through the thin fabric, I could see Princess Shreya smiling shyly and blushingly.


    Afterward, he offered to escort her home, lifting her onto her horse. When I''d first met Princess Shreya, she''d been an expert rider, full of confidence. Yet now, she seemed soft and delicate, transformed into someone else entirely. I thought she would at least bid me goodbye, but it was as if she didn''t even notice my presence after meeting krishna. As they rode away, I felt a pang of sadness watching them leave.


    Just then, another Krishna emerged from the water, throwing fuel on the fire. "Isn''t that your Sakhi?" he asked with a grin.


    "Yes, so what?" I replied, my face falling.


    "Didn''t seem like it she is your sakhi," he said, laughing.


    "And you....," I retorted, "don''t seem like the Krishna I know. You have such special relationships with everyone, don''t you?"


    He grinned. "I may be one, yet I am many. And even when I am many, I am still one..... I belong to everyone, yet I am only yours. And though I am yours, I belong to everyone. Don''t forget who your Sakha is." He twirled his hand in the air with an amused smile.


    "Well, it was all right, I guess. You just keep everyone guessing... With your playfull words, don''t you? What would it have mattered if you''d let her catch a glimpse of you?" I asked, unable to hold back my curiosity.


    "It wouldn''t have changed anything, but a meeting like this, can effect our another fated meeting joy" he replied, his gaze gentle. "The taste of water is most delightful when we''re truly thirsty. The joy of a meeting is best savored at the right moment. And that perfect moment is decided by the universe itself."


    I couldn''t help but roll my eyes a little. "You only know to tease,you are really a trickster.....!!!" I said, trying to sound exasperated, though I knew I was failing.


    "Then I''ll leave you to your these type of thoughts.... I already took bath two times and here''s you who can''t even wake up on your own.... How will you manage to take care of me," he said, laughing softly. "But tell me, with your injured leg, how will you get back to your room? I''ve heard there are crocodiles here sometimes during the day. I''d help, but I''m just a trickster, after all. Figure out your own way of going to the room alone now!" And with a final, mischievous grin, he looked toward the path out of the water leaving me scared.


    ¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ


    Whyyy he is doing this to me ?? Now how will I go to my room ? Should I ask him help ? Or there is any way ... Please someone help me.... If I will ask him help then surely he will taunt me a lot .... But without asking his help how will I manage ??

 [CHAPTER - 12] That incident!!

    "Why are you troubling me....?" I muttered, trying to stand up. But, strangely, I couldn''t. Before I could grasp what was happening, Krishna lifted me into his arms, just like in the movies. My heart raced as I looked at him, flustered.


    "What...what are you doing?" I stammered, caught off guard by the closeness. With a soft, teasing smile, he locked eyes with mine and whispered, "Its .... Better to be in my arms than a crocodile''s, don''t you think?" He chuckled, holding back a laugh, and I, blushing fiercely, tried to look anywhere trying my best to avoid eye contact. I felt heavier somehow, as if all my nerves had gathered right here in this moment. My hands remained glued to my stomach out of nervousness, but his teasing voice broke through, "If you fall, don''t blame me!"


    "But you''re holding me-how could I fall?" I managed, still trying to suppress my flustered tone.


    "But you are not holding me.... Can''t you see.... You''re making me carry all the weight!..... Don''t you see I''m struggling here?" He pulled me closer to emphasize his point. Hesitantly, I put my hands lightly on his shoulders, feeling a new wave of embarrassment.


    "If you want to hold me, then do it properly! You''ve barely touched me...Are you afraid of me??....," he said with a grin, and suddenly stopping right in the middle of the path.


    I felt a mixture of emotions-awkwardness and annoyance from his relentless teasing. Impulsively, I wrapped one arm around his neck, steadying myself by placing the other hand on his shoulder. This seemed to please him; he continued walking, looking straight ahead with a barely contained smirk.


    "Well, are you happy now....?" I mumbled under my breath.


    "Who must be happier???-the one carrying the weight or the one lounging like a queen?" he quipped, chuckling without looking at me.


    Yet, somehow at that moment, I couldn''t got mad seeing him laugh. As I was close to him in his arms, I noticed his face more clearly than ever before. His eyes were mesmerizing, deep like the ocean, and being so close felt like standing by the shore, with waves crashing just out of reach. I couldn''t bear the thought of this connection between shore and the ocean-its intensity scared me. His earrings swayed as he moved ... This was the first time I was noticing his earing with this much intensity. When I glanced at his lips, they looked softer, almost rosier...I was lost in their pinkish colour. I forgot my hand was wrapped around his neck, but it felt right at that moment... It was a different feeling that I can''t express in words. After some time I started wondering if my touch might bother him...or-.....Was causing pain......


    "Are you going to keep staring at me like this or will step down?" His voice snapped me back to reality. My heartbeat quickened, as if jolted. Oh, I was already back in the room-when did we even arrive? What must he think of stupid me....?


    "Sorry..." I stammered, loosening my grip from around his neck and looking down at the bed, trying my best to avoid eye contact. He gently set me down, but before stepping away, he leaned in and whispered into my ear, "Stay like this-I''ll be back with some ointment for your wound."


    Just when I manage to steady myself, his whispers undo me again, making my heart race and breath hitch. All I could manage was a soft hmmmm in reply. But as he turned to leave, my hair got tangled in his pendant. I looked up in surprise, fumbling to free my hair, panicking slightly. Seeing my distress, he cupped my face with his butterlike fingers, signaling for me to calm down, then set to untangle my hair himself from his pendant. Now, being so close to him, I felt a warmth, an unsteady comfort, like I was falling deeper into an unspoken bond. It was as if my heart had tangled with his, just like my hair. He bit his lip,while concentrating, his eyes was blinking slowly as he worked in untangling. For a moment, I wanted to stop time, hold his cute face, and finally pour out my heart to him-but a strange fear crept in. What if he misunderstood my feeling? What if I had to leave his side...... After confessing?


    When he finished, he stood beside the bed, giving me an exasperated look. "Seems like I had to do all the work alone here ..... What exactly did you come here to do....?"


    Just moments ago, he was so charming; now his teasing sparked a fresh wave of irritation. "It''s not like I try to mess things up myself-it just happens with heat of the moment!" I replied with a pout.


    "Why does it only happen with you?" he retorted, crossing his arms and studying me. "When we will go to your timeline , how will you manage to take care of me .....??? if this is how you are dealing with your so called heat of the Moment things ?"


    "Oh....., I''ll take care of you a way better than this-and without all these taunts!" I shot back, eyeing him defiantly.


    "Oh?" he teased, tapping my forehead lightly, "But right now, you can''t even take care of yourself. How will you take care of me?"


    "Just wait until I''m better!" I replied, sounding like a defiant child.


    "So that''s it, huh?" he said with a grin before walking out. A moment later, he returned with a small bowl of ointment. He sat down at the edge of the bed, reaching for my foot. I quickly pulled it back, shifting to sit on my knees. "Wait! What are you doing? This is wrong! Don''t touch my feet-it''s sinful!"


    "Oh, even better, then. Think of it as your punishment. Now, sit still and take it," he said, pressing his finger to my forehead to silence my protests, pulling my foot back towards him.


    "But you don''t understand. It''s sinful!..." I insisted, pulling my foot away again.


    "No, you don''t understand, Madam! Right now, you''re being punished, so do as I say, or else-well, you know.....," he said, deepening his voice in a mock-serious tone.


    "If you''re going to send me back, just send me! But I won''t let you touch my feet. I don''t like anyone touching the...m-especially you! You''re practically divine! .... God!!!!!" I folded my hands in earnest.


    "Ohhooooo!!!!, that''s how it is, huh? Alright, I''ll send you back soon enough! Looks like you lost this one chance, huh?" He laughed, hiding his smile behind his hand.


    "When you keep doing things I don''t like, what do you expect me to do?" Tears gathered in my eyes. I fought back the urge to cry in front of him, refusing to show him any more weakness...I don''t want to be a weak fellow in front of him.


    "Sakhi...why are you crying?" he said softly. "I''m still with you, right by your side. As long as I''m here, I won''t let you cry..... Now Come on-only just for you...... As You know how compassionate I am....Let''s tweak our deal a bit since I won''t be letting you go so easily," he said, placing his hand on my head with a mysterious smile.


    "What does that mean?" I asked, looking at him, bewildered.


    "It means," he replied, still smiling, "I''ll explain it to you bit by bit since you seem to be a slow vehicle in terms of working."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "So, what''s the meaning?" I asked


    "The meaning, Sakhi, is that you''re going to apply that ointment right now and be ready by morning. We have somewhere to go!" He gently brushed his hand across my cheek before turning to leave the room. I nodded, trying to make sense of his words, my heart was still racing but I don''t have the courage to ask him more this time.


    As I applied the ointment, I kept thinking about his words... about him. Everything felt tangled and confusing. Gradually later, my pain lessened, and the wound started to heal. He came twice to bring me food, placing it silently before leaving both times. I started to worry-was he upset with me? It wasn''t that I was afraid of him in asking, but I did fear causing him any trouble because of me. I ate quietly, but he even came to collect my plate. I felt so guilty; I wanted to tell him, "Just take me back-it would be better than you having to clean up after me like this!"


    Somehow, that day passed. The next morning, fear woke me before sunrise, and I realized my foot no longer hurt, the wound completely healed. I was determined not to make any mistakes this time. After bathing in the palace''s nearby bathhouse, I sat ready. A little later, he entered the room with a basket in hand and said, "Today, you have to do something for me.... Since you''re leaving soon, you might as well do a bit of work for me before you go!" He kept a serious expression.


    Hearing his words, I wanted to cry. I had no response. But I nodded, accepting the task with a heavy heart.


    "Oh! I''m not sending you far from me....., so don''t make sad face....like that I am bidding a good bye. If you''re going to do the work, do it happily-or tell me if you don''t want to do !"


    "But why are you scolding me?" I asked in a teary voice.


    "When did I scold you? I am just giving you a simple task.... Just do the work without making any face, with no excuses!!!!" He handed me the basket.


    "Alright, then!" His words brought relief, though I still felt anxious about what lay ahead.


    "This is the shagun for the wedding. Take it to Princess Shreya, who is staying at the nearby royal palace. I want you to handle this because you took up the responsibility for the wedding, so carry it out well!"


    I took the basket and replied, "Don''t worry! This time, I''ll make sure everything is done perfectly!"


    "There will be a guard waiting for you below-ride with him in the chariot. Return only when I send a message, and don''t go anywhere else. If you get lost again, it will be difficult to find you...." His tone was full of warning.


    I nodded quietly, looking at him with innocent eyes, aware I couldn''t afford another mistake.


    I came downstairs and quietly got into the chariot. Glancing up at the palace window, I noticed he was watching me. Startled, I looked away, focusing on the road ahead. My heart pounded as the chariot began to move, and all I could think of was his serious face. After some time, we arrived. The welcome was grand, and I felt genuinely delighted. Princess Shreya herself came to greet me at the palace entrance. Embracing me warmly, it felt as if I were an old friend. She told me that her swami (Krishna) had sent word of my arrival in advance. She was overjoyed to see the shagun basket and gifts from his side, her eyes was glistening with emotion and the room was filled with silence.


    To break the silence, I asked, "Sakhi, tell me about your first meeting with him. I''ve come with plenty of time today!"


    Hearing my question, she smiled, embracing the shagun gifts, and began to share her story.


    The dark, cold air of the prison wrapped around me like a cursed cloak. The walls were stained with the sorrows of countless others who had been taken by Narakasura''s forces, girls from noble families, innocent and bewildered, all herded here to a fate we barely dared to imagine. I could still remember the heavy footsteps as the guards dragged us down into the depths of his fortress, a place where the sun seemed to forget to shine, leaving only dampness and despair.


    In my confinement, I could feel the weight of suffering in the silence that hovered, broken only by soft cries or whispers. We were kept in a wide, stone chamber, bound by chains that scraped and bruised our wrists, and yet it was not just the chains on our hands and feet that held us-it was the chain of fear that Narakasura had cast upon our hearts. The thick, cloying darkness seemed alive, as though it fed off our dread. And every day we would wonder if we would ever feel the warmth of the sun, hear the songs of birds, or see our homes again.


    One night, I dreamt of a liberator, a valiant figure who would come to release us from this dark underworld. The image felt vivid yet far-fetched, like a tale woven for children. But in my dream, he rode upon a shining white horse, his form radiant as the first light of dawn, as if he were the prince I had read of in sacred stories. I awoke with a start, the memory lingering even as the dismal reality of my cell swallowed me whole.


    Surprisingly Then.... it happened in real ...... Shouts echoed down the stone corridors, louder and louder, like thunder rolling across the sky. Chains clanked as guards raced past in frenzy, fear etched onto their hardened faces. And then I saw him.


    Swami appeared in front of me... just as I had seen him in my dream, adorned with a crown, his skin like dark clouds on a monsoon night, his smile like the cool moonlight. His chariot gleamed in silver, and his horses, white as snow, pranced like they sensed their noble purpose. He moved with a divine grace, so different from anyone I had ever seen, his presence calming and fierce at once, a beacon of hope amidst our despair. His aura seemed to make the very walls tremble, as if the stones, too, knew they had met someone who could break their hold on us.


    The prison guards cowered before him. With a swift motion, Krishna lifted his bow, and swords later, and the room illuminated as if struck by lightning. His arrows seemed to blaze with light, scattering the dark and revealing the trembling forms of Narakasura''s soldiers, who dropped their weapons in awe and fear. No force could restrain him-no darkness could quell his light.


    I was one of the first he approached in that compartment. His eyes met mine, filled with warmth and a compassion that melted away every fear, every shackle that Narakasura had imposed. With a gentle smile, he extended his hand, and I felt the chains fall away, not just from my wrists, but from my soul. I knew then that freedom was not just physical-it was the release from the terror that had haunted us, the hope he rekindled in our hearts.


    As we stepped out into the open air, breathing in freedom for the first time, we gazed at him, our rescuer, the prince who had come not for riches or glory but to save us. The night was still, and the stars shone brighter than ever, as if witnessing a moment that would live on in our hearts forever.


    After the prison gates had fallen open and the echoes of battle faded, Swami turned to us, the thousands of girls who had been imprisoned, he spoke with a calm that eased the lingering shadows in our minds.


    He looked at each of us with profound compassion, as if he could see the torment we had endured. Some of the girls began to weep, not out of fear, but out of sheer relief, and Swami, with a warmth that felt like dawn breaking over a cold night, reassured each one of us. His voice, steady and soft, filled the air like the sound of a gentle river.


    "I am here for each of you," he said, his words wrapping us in their tenderness. "No one will be left without comfort, and no fear shall haunt your heart again." He promised that he would protect us, that we would never be forced to return to the darkness from which he had just freed us. And then, as he looked upon us, he made a vow that we never could have imagined.


    In a gesture of the utmost compassion, Swami promised to marry all of us. He understood the fate that society would impose on us, women who had been in captivity and might now be shunned or abandoned. His vow was not simply an act of marriage; it was a profound assurance of dignity, respect, and restoration. He would give us a new life, a life free from the stigma and suffering Narakasura had cast upon us.


    The earth seemed to hold its breath as he spoke. We looked at him, our savior and protector, and felt for the first time in our lives that we were cherished, that we were not broken or forgotten, but whole and worthy. With this promise, Swami did more than free us from physical chains; he freed us from the shame and fear that would have followed us even in freedom.


    With our hands folded, we bowed our heads to him in reverence, feeling both gratitude and wonder. In that moment, we knew that Swami''s love and compassion were boundless, and he had come not just to rescue us from Narakasura but to give us back our lives, our honor, and our hope. The stars above seemed to glow brighter, as if witnessing the divine promise that would echo for ages-a promise that transformed each of us from prisoners to cherished souls.


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ

 [CHAPTER - 13] Is this the end??!!

    After telling her story, she took a deep breath. Those memories were still alive within her, fresh in her mind. Meeting her, I understood how Krishna acts as a balm for those he loves. Initially, I felt jealous of Princess Shreya¡ªshe loved him so much, and they were soon to be wed, while all I received were his taunts. But truly, Krishna is beyond my understanding. He is as much mine as he is everyone¡¯s. Just because he belongs to everyone doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯ll belong any less to me. It felt like a part of him resided with me, a piece that gave me a profound connection to him.


    For the first time, I felt genuine joy for Princess Shreya. Holding her hand, I wished her all the best for her future. Like an old friend... Like my own Sakhi, I helped with her bridal preparations after that while we were discussing about marriage life. I wanted to give her a gift, something special, but I had nothing to offer that time. In the spirit of friendship, I removed a ring from my finger and handed it to her. I felt odd, gifting a wealthy princess something so personal and worn thing a second hand type of ..., It was embarrassing, but she pulled me into a warm embrace and accepted it without any shame . She was so genuine, so dear¡ªa feeling of pride arose within me, knowing Krishna¡¯s close ones held such beautiful souls... Now I get to know why all his lovers are so cute ... It''s because they all are reflection of his cuteness.


    We talked endlessly, and time flew by unnoticed. In that world at that time, I didn¡¯t feel like an outsider; it felt like I had been transported to a different era entirely and I belongs to here only ...I am not new here.


    One thing became clear to me: no matter the century is, the essence of love always remains timeless. True love transcends ages; it is universal and eternal. Love will always remain love. Even if the meaning of love has changed in the 21st century, its essence¡ªthe true feeling of love¡ªis timeless and ever-present. While many today may not value it, there will always be some who do, because when the Creator of the universe holds infinite love within, how could love ever disappear? Yes, sometimes we place our love in the wrong places, but love itself will never fade. When it finds the right path, it will blossom like a lotus in the mud, pure and immortal.


    Eventually, a soldier came to inform me that my chariot awaited. I had just finished applying Shreya¡¯s mehendi, engraving her beloved¡¯s Swami name on her hand. She couldn¡¯t accompany me outside due to the ceremony preparations, but she insisted on giving me parting royal gifts. I politely refused, promising that I wouldn¡¯t decline next time.


    As I exited the palace, I felt a strange lightness within me. A guard directed me to an old mango tree where my chariot was waiting. But upon reaching the spot, I found no one there. I turned to head back toward the palace, and got  bump right into him¡ªKrishna. His presence was so close; my forehead touched his chest. Embarrassed, I stepped back and shyly glanced at him.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Why were you heading back?¡± he asked, feigning annoyance as he took a step away from me. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d handle the arrangement of going back ? Or did you doubt my words that''s why you are going back?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­ I just feel a bit scared being alone,¡± I admitted, glancing at him.


    Taking another step toward me and then he started walking continuously toward me, he held my gaze. ¡°And when I¡¯m with you¡­ how do you feel? Are you scared of me too?¡±


    The way he looked at me, so intensely, made my heart race. I tried diverting the conversation, mumbling by breaking the eye contact, ¡°Perhaps we should leave¡­ it¡¯s getting dark.¡±


    A subtle smile touched his lips as he listened to my words. Pointing toward the horse, he motioned for me to move forward. Walking alongside him, I told him about princess Shreya and how she was excited to meet you. When I asked why he hadn¡¯t come to see her himself, he repeated, as he always did, that he couldn¡¯t meet her until after the wedding as it his ritual in princess Shreya''s home that bride and groom can''t meet much before marriage and he is just following the rules  .


    We reached the horse, and he mounted it, placing me in front as he had did before also. The more I get to know about him, the more my heart start melting....... As we rode,in the middle of the way he suddenly leaned forward, resting his chin on my shoulder, his warm breath brushing against my neck. I was completely frozen, barely able to breathe. His hands, already near met ouching my elbows as he guided the horse through rope type thing, now I  felt closer than ever it was a different moment..... but I was embarrassed out of suddenness, unsure of what to do, so I lowered my gaze and lean forward away from him. He pulled back his body away from me, by whispering into my ear, "Sorry..... I was just a little tired..... I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± He didn¡¯t come close again for the rest of the journey. Oddly, I felt regret. He had only leaned forward because he was tired, and yet I had overthought the moment that time.


    When we arrived back at the palace, he accompanied me to my room, standing in silence as he looked at me with a intense gaze. To break the silence, I asked like a child, ¡°You nevertold me about the unfinished , hidden faces type of girl paintings hanging here. Who are they of?¡±


    His face grew serious as he replied, ¡°More important than knowing who they are of.... you must know the fact.... that this is your last day here¡­I mean  your last night......¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡± I stammered, ¡°But you said I had a month....!¡±


    His face remained impassive. ¡°You told me yesterday you wanted to go back. According to our agreement, I have no choice now.......¡±


    I couldn¡¯t find the words to beg him to let me stay. My heart wanted to fall to his feet and cry out for him to hold me back, but I felt too insignificant to ask. Was this truly our fate......? As I looked into his eyes, tears filled my own. I stared at him.... Passionately...., as if this is my last moment with him in this earth. Interrupting my thoughts, he gently placed his hand on my head patted on my hair and asked,


    ¡°So¡­ are you ready.....? Ready to go back alone....? Or is there a last wish you¡¯d like to share....?¡±


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


    A last wish?!! .... What should she ask ? Why he is playing these type of games .....!?

 [Chapter- 14] (21st Century)A New Beginning!!

    Hearing them talk about the last wish, my face was falling sad... Inside, I was feeling really terrible, but I couldn''t show it, because all this was happening because of me... I had lost the bet, so how could I ask to stay any longer?.... And just when I was starting to settle in here and was trying my best to adjust, I was having to go back!.... I was thinking all this to myself while watching him, then suddenly he pulled both my cheeks, teasing me and saying, "Why are you taking so long? Hurry up... I have a lot of work to do,..... Don''t you know how busy I am... Oh, pardon me, I forgot that you don''t know how to do any work, so how would you know about work....!"


    Saying that, he started laughing at me, showing his pearls teeth... I was feeling bad, and a little angry at him too... Earlier I had plucked a rose from Princess Shreya''s garden just for Krishna, thinking I''d give it to him happily... but now, in frustration, I held it out towards him and started saying, "Last wish, is it?... Then do one thing... Keep this rose with you as a memory of me!"


    "Just as a rose has thorns, so do you have anger... It''s perfectly fitting that you chose a flower that resembles you.....The rose!" he said, taking the rose, smelling it, then placing it in his crown and smiling. He then asked, "How do I look?"


    "Do you ever look bad? You always look good!" I muttered, pouting in a soft voice.


    "Ah! Now that''s something true you''ve said... Alright then, on account of that, I''ll send you off quickly... I need to get some sleep too... Finally, a good sleep after so many days, now that the biggest trouble is leaving....!" he laughed, pulling my nose.


    In anger, I shrugged his hand away and replied, "Then why did you call me if I was such a trouble for you ... I don''t even enjoy annoying you, you know... Just hurry up and let me go..."


    As sooner had I said that, he came up to me, placed one hand on my waist, and covered my eyes with the other. His touch sent a jolt through me again, the same feeling I had while coming here... I was feeling like I was floating in the air... I was scared, yet his touch was calming me... I was hearing a sound like the wind, and now and then, a bell would chime... Then suddenly, everything went quiet... My head felt dizzy; it seemed like I was going in circles... and slowly the feeling of his touch was gone...


    When I quickly opened my eyes, there was no one around me... the temple I had come to was no longer there... Everything seemed like a dream... My head was spinning... The flower I had plucked on my way to the temple for him was lying at my feet... To my amazement, it was still fresh as if nothing had happened... Picking up the flower, tears welled up in my eyes. I held it close to my heart and started recalling the moments I''d spent with him... Was all of it just a dream? I thought as I cried... After a while, I pulled myself together and made my way home. As soon as I reached, I washed my face, hiding any signs of tears so no one would notice. Everything around me was familiar... but coming back here felt strange... I was delighted to see my family, yet every time Krishna came to mind, I felt like crying. I was scolding myself for being so stupid, for making so many mistakes... To distract myself, I started helping my mom in the kitchen... I was just waiting for night time so I could go to my room and cry alone in the dark by holding the pillow... I couldn''t even explain to anyone what had happened, let alone express my sadness... So many times while helping my mother, I had held back my tears somehow.


    During dinner preparations, I made an excuse, saying I had a stomach ache and wouldn''t eat, as I had already eaten outside in the evening. I focused on serving food to everyone else. Just then, someone''s voice was heard outside... My father and grandfather went to open the door... I saw my father entering the room with a brown bag. I asked him whose it was... Before he could answer, my grandmother, who was standing behind me, spoke up, "Oh! I forgot to tell you... A relative''s son of ours got a new job in your city... so when you go back to your job after the holidays, take him along and arrange for a place for him to stay... There''s an empty room in your flat, right? You''d mentioned it..."


    Before my grandmother could finish, he, the person she was talking about, walked in with my grandfather... I was stunned the moment I saw him... It was none other than Krishna himself. He was wearing the same white and black clothes as the first time I met him. I was too happy to speak... I wanted to scream with joy... Somehow, I managed to control myself in front of my family... but I couldn''t hold back my happiness, so I ran to the bathroom... I locked the door and started dancing with joy... I imagined hugging Krishna, feeling ecstatic. His face, the one I had seen when he entered, kept flashing in my mind ... I was blushing so much I held by hands on my face to control my happiness... Pulling myself together, I went outside ....To meet him... When I went I find Krishna was eating with my family. My mom scolded me for disappearing so sudden when there was so much work left to do as guest had come... but her scolding didn''t affect me at all today... I kept glancing at Krishna secretly, feeling thrilled in my heart... I wanted to yell into his ear, but I couldn''t do that... And he wasn''t even looking at me, which made me angrier... When he was done eating and got up with his plate, I quickly took it from him and rushed to the kitchen. Finally, I had my revenge... He''d carried my plates for so long in his time; now I would show him what real service is...., I thought to myself, smiling as I placed the dishes in the sink. Just then, he came up behind me and whispered in my ear, "Meet me at 11:11... outside the back door... I have something important to discuss." And he walked away without waiting for my response, casually washing his hands near bathroom sink and sat with my family.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Mom seemed to enjoy chatting with him so much that she left all the kitchen work to me... Yes, I may be 24, but my heart is still a small child... I was so eager to meet Krishna that my excitement kept growing. Later, my mom came to help, and we finished cleaning up by 9:30. Just when I was about to go out and meet him, Mom sent me to make his bed. I didn''t leave any stone unturned in decorating the room... and even sprayed my favorite perfume at the end. I wanted Krishna to feel like he was in a 5-star room... I wanted to make sure his stay was perfect so that no complaints will be called by him.


    After decorating the room, as soon as I stepped outside, he entered without looking at me, as if he didn''t even know me!! My heart sank... Why was he purposely trying to bother me?!


    He had gone into his room and closed the door, so I couldn''t go there even if I wanted to... After all, what would a girl be doing in a guy''s room so late at night?


    I was sitting with my family, and they were taunting me, saying I should learn to talk to guests instead of disappearing into the bathroom. I wanted to tell them how eager I was to talk to him... Finally, I decided to speak to him tomorrow in front of my family and went to my room.


    It was already 10 p.m. I was too impatient to wait any longer. My mind was singing one song on loop: *"Saanwari Surat Mein Mohan, Dil Deewana Ho Gaya!"* I played it on my earphones, smiling as I thought about him, lost in imagination... By 10:45, all the lights in the house were off. I was feeling a mix of nerves and excitement... I tiptoed outside, using the faint light of my phone to find my way to the place he mentioned... It was an old shed of Cows where no one would come. I was watching the moon while waiting for him, checking my phone repeatedly...


    Earlier At 11:11 there was the time I used to wish for him to come to me, and now he was actually coming... Talking to the moon, I was sharing my happiness. He had been my silent companion every time I thought of Krishna.


    At 11:10, I closed my eyes as I always did... And the moment I opened them to check the time at 11:11, he was suddenly there in front of me, pulling my cheeks! It hurted me...., so I quickly grabbed his hands and pushed him away... Then I shyly looked at him, rubbing my cheeks. He teased me in that same sarcastic tone, "What are you doing here alone so late at night...? Oh, I forgot you must be used to this... meeting your boyfriend in the middle of the night, right?"


    Why does he do that... Hearing this, my face fell with frustration. I replied with an angry face, "You called me here... that''s why I came. Tell me, what''s so important?"


    Stepping closer, he gently moved my hair behind my ears and whispered, "Why? Aren''t you happy? I came back to be with you... If you don''t want, I''ll leave!"


    Then he suddenly pulled his hand away from me and started to walk away. I quickly grabbed his hand, looked into his eyes, and said, "Hey, no.......! When did I say that?"


    "Then why are you angry with me!?" He looked at me like a little kid, smiling as he noticed I was still holding his hand.


    Realizing my mistake, I was quickly letting go of his hand, blushing and saying, "So... you were coming back... for me!?"


    Hearing this, he was laughing first, then saying, "Why would I come back for you? You lost the bet! It was just because of that flower you gave me... the flower kept begging me to bring it to see you once!"


    "So that means... you''re leaving again?" I was asking, my voice breaking.


    "From today''s Sharad Purnima event to next year''s Sharad Purnima day.... will complete the one year,So I was made a contract for you until this time period... I came here ...Just so I could see if all those grand words of yours were true!...Or not .... Let''s see how you 21st-century folks handle hospitality. And besides, thanks to that flower, because of it I was getting to travel!"


    "Really!?! You''ll stay with me for a whole year!? I couldn''t believe it," I was saying, practically jumping with excitement.


    "Hold on-first, listen to the full deal. There''s one condition to this contract. Here, you''ll have to agree to everything I say. Refuse a single wish of mine, or repeat any old mistakes... or do any new ones... orrr anything like that, thennnnnnn... consider the contract overrrrrrr!"


    "So, in short, you just want to order me around and follow your order, huhhhhh?" I was muttering to myself.


    "What did you say?" he was asking, widening his eyes.


    "Nothing, nothing at all," I was replying with a nervous laugh.


    "I hear everything," he was saying, tapping my head from back. "Just because I don''t say anything doesn''t mean I don''t understand!"


    Taking a step away from him, I turned my gaze up to the moon, trying not to meet his eyes out of embarrassment.


    "So, is it your plan to leave me as a revenge....here with mosquitoes all night?" he was saying, waving the mosquitoes away.


    "I''m not stopping you,....Go ahead to your nice cozy room, which I made just for you!" I replied.


    "Everything is there in the room.... sbut the moon isn''t visible from there so I came here to get some good glimpses of my moon ..... Now as I got some good views of moon , so I can get to bed...!"


    He tugged at my left cheek, smiling mischievously, and was heading off to his room. And I looked at him for a while, and silently, was heading back to my own room through the back path so no one could get awake because of me.


    ¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ô


    So finallyyy a new journey started with krishna ....... Lets see what will krishna do in 21st century.... How will he manage here ....Sorry I mean our female lead will manage with him.


    Sayonaraaaaaaa??

 [Chapter - 15] He is just like a Dream!!

    After that quietly I lied on my bed, Lying on the bed, I was feeling restless... I couldn''t believe it-In this short period of time .... All these things happened to me....I had gone to Dwarka, and now he was here with me... Everything is feeling like a dream. I asked myself in my head while hugging a pillow, why he had chosen me.....


    I wasn''t even worthy of him. I am still 24 years old silly clumsy girl, but did I have the same burning passion for him that his most devoted followers had? Instead I was so lazy... I akways loved him less and fought with him more. I even complained him about everything, all the time....I am so annoying and clingy. So why had he chosen me still?


    As I was thinking about this, just as I was about to fall asleep, I suddenly remembered my online group. I often talked to them about Krishna. I had met them through Krishna''s name. I wondered if I should share this news with them... would it be okay? What if they felt lonely because of me? I knew they would be happy for me after hearing this news, but there was a strange confusion in my mind. I thought maybe I should talk to Krishna tomorrow for advice. With that thought, I casually ended my chat with them and went to sleep, thinking about him. Before sleeping, I decided that tomorrow morning, I would wake up earlier than Krishna and prepare everything for him-this time, I wasn''t going to give him any reason to complain!


    But my lazinesssss and sleepinesssss had other plans. The next thing I knew was a chaos was gonna be happen because...., I woke up at 7:30 AM, the last person to woke up in the entire house. As soon as I checked the time on my phone, my heart started racing. What if he was gone again because of laziness? What if he started lecturing me? I quickly straightened my clothes, brushed my hair with my hands, and nervously walked towards the courtyard, wondering what was going on there.


    But what I saw there was nothing like I had expected. Krishna was feeding my mother and grandmother with his own hands, and both of them were smiling as they ate. As soon as I came outside, everyone turned to look at me-(it was more staring to be honest) yes, Krishna was one of them! (Their team leader)


    "Good morning!!!" I said, lowering my gaze, speaking softly, and started walking towards the bathroom trying my best to avoid them. Just then, my mother called out to me from behind. "Look! Keshu has cooked the vegetables with his own hands, and in a new way....! Yesterday ....You asked for butter and didn''t even eat it once, but Keshu ate your portion today!"


    I looked at Krishna with a smile and said, "Wow! You''re quite talented, Keshu...!" and started moving ahead by highlighting keshu in a little bit loud tone.


    Then Keshu aka Krishna, said with a cute plus mischievous smile, "Auntie... at 8 AM, we start preparing lunch at our place, but as I can see you all have breakfast so late here...!"


    I knew he was throwing taunts at me. Hearing this, my mother scolded me, saying, "Nowadays no kids wake up early like you... all those of them stayed on the phone all night, so how could they wake up early in the morning? ....Do you know adduuuu


    , Keshu woke up this morning and, without even asking, took the broom from my hand and helped with the pooja too? You should also learn to wake up early when you go back to the city for work, and start exercising like him, it''s good for your health. Did you know he knows yoga too? He even taught the whole family yoga while you were sleeping!!!"


    I was glaring at Krishna, and he was trying to suppress his laughter by covering his mouth. I knew he was enjoying this!


    Looking at my face, my mother said, "Adduu, why are you getting angry? I know you''re here to relax in holidays, but doing yoga isn''t a bad thing. If you''re living near him then it''s not bad to learn new things.... As he works part time as yoga instructor, you can learn from him. Ohhhh!!! I forgot to introduce you two. You should get to know each other ....adduu will help you in adjusting new city don''t be worry (she said this by looking at Krishna)..... Meanwhile, let me make some namkeen (a type of snack) for you. Are you leaving by the morning bus the day after tomorrow?"


    I nodded, heading towards Krishna. My mother went to make the snacks, and my grandmother had gone to do something else. Now, it was just me and him. He smiled at me and said, "So, this is what you call hospitality? You slept in so late and left the guest to be taken care of by the family? At least your family isn''t like you!!!!!"


    "You never miss a chance to tease me, do you keshhuuu.....?" I said, rolling my eyes.


    "Look,.... what I do or don''t do isn''t as important as your shower!" He laughed. "Aren''t you not having shame...., coming to God ...The divine .... like this ....without washing your face ?!"


    "Huhhhhh....!!! Big talk,....big divine God!" I muttered under my breath.


    "Yes....I''m the big one here, not you..! Ohooooo .....I don''t know how I''ll be able to tolerate you for a whole year. Looks like I''ll have to find another arrangement!" he teased.


    "Krishna!!! Stop threatening me at every single step. I''m leaving now for bath....So be happy ....! No more mistakes from me after today...Will follow your each and every words !" I said by bowing my head.


    "Good! And by the way, I''m not Krishna. I''m Kesav Nandkishore Krishnan-K-N-K!" he announced proudly.


    "Does having a big name mean anything big too???? If The work stays the same then there no meaning !" I muttered under my breath with a pout.


    "At least I can do something! Unlike you, who can''t even get up by 8 AM without being lazy!" he hit me on the head, then suddenly said, "Oh, I already took a shower this morning. If I stay too close to you, I''ll become as lazy as you!"


    Saying this, he pretended to walk away from me. I glared at him, narrowed my eyes in anger, and said, " ohhhh please !!! I did wake up at 7:30, and yes, I''m leaving now byeee!"


    With that, I rushed off to take a shower in a silly attitude walk, my anger was mixed with a strange sense of love. I''ll admit, I enjoyed fighting with him. usually I don''t argue with everyone, but fighting with someone special is a different level of fun.


    When I returned from the shower, he was sitting with my family, chatting with them. I felt a bit happy, but I also felt like he needed just one moment to turn around and look at me!.... I was secretly enjoying their conversation from behind. Just then, some relatives came over, and I had to go with them. I didn''t want to go at all, but I couldn''t refuse. I tried to hurry back, but they made me sit with them. They had a daughter who was my age, and I was forced to stay there. Finally, I returned around 6 PM.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.Why was all this happening to me? Why couldn''t anyone let me have just two minutes to talk to him peacefully?


    When I got home, I saw Krishna had become everyone''s favorite. I don''t even know what he cooked for everyone, but they were all praising him. I hadn''t even gotten my share of the breakfast he made! Who had worse luck than me? I was thinking all this when my mother asked me to go to Krishna''s room to check on his stay and talk to the landlord on the phone.


    I was feeling so happy from inside at the idea of going to his room... But as I reached the door, I felt so shy, was hesitating to open it. Still, I gathered the courage and slowly opened it. My heart was pounding fast. I knew it was him, but still, every time I saw him or the with having the feeling to meet him, I feel a fresh excitement, as if I was meeting him after ages. And this wasn''t just once; it happened every single time whenever I see him. It felt like there was some special bond between us.


    Earlier, I used to imagine his arrival daily when he wasn''t here, knowing he was divine not a human...., yet there was a voice inside me that used to whispered stating to the fact that relation with a human and divine being can happen...., "He is your only love and lover." Even now, I couldn''t believe he was really here, right next to me. Lost in my thoughts, I almost forgot to step in, and as soon as I entered by opening the door, I saw him looking through his bag. The moment he noticed me, he shut his bag quickly, as if he was hiding something.


    Interrupting him abruptly, I asked, "What are you doing?" But before he could answer, my phone started ringing. It was a call from Chiku, his devoted lover and my online friend.


    I met her through a website dedicated to him. When he wasn''t around, she and I would talk about him, and she often wrote poems about him, which I loved. But the problem is I couldn''t understand why she was calling suddenly, especially since we hadn''t spoken much lately due to our busy schedules. She even texted yesterday saying she had an important meeting today.


    Just as I was staring at the phone screen, wondering, he peeked over my shoulder and said, "Answer it fast! It must be your boyfriend...don''t keep him waiting!"


    I frowned and said, "I don''t have a boyfriend, okay?" Meanwhile, the call had already ended.


    "So, who do you talk to on the phone all day....? What do you look at on there? Let me see.. !" Saying this, he snatched my phone and began examining it up and down.


    "Fine! Look at whatever you want!" I replied confidently.


    "Hmm, nice phone... I was thinking of getting one too. So, you understand what I mean, right?" he said, looking at the lock screen.


    "What do you mean?" I asked


    "I mean, someone should gift me a nice phone..." he said, holding the lock screen toward me. As soon as he did that, my face unlock triggered, and the phone opened.


    "But who will gift it to you?" I asked, surprisingly with genuineness.


    "So, you want me to ask for it directly....? You should already know what I need without me saying anything. Do I have to spell it out every time?... What kind of hospitality is this !!" he replied, shifting his gaze between the screen and me with a smirk.


    "Wow, not even a day here, and look at these demands!" I muttered under my breath.


    "What''s with that?You are having problems .....? Weren''t you the one praying at the temple every day with endless requests? ''Krishna, Krishna, please help me pass this time. I''ll study seriously next time,'' but the day to study never came, did it? .....And tell me, how could I help you pass an exam that you took yourself? And then, every little thing you''d call me: ''Krishna, Krishna, save me from this dog...This spider...,'' ''Krishna, Krishna, please get me to get a job,'' .... ''Krishna, Krishna, wake me up on time.''" He was mimicking me, making funny faces as he continued, "Now tell me, did I ever complain? I always gave you the best, and here you are, grumbling over a mere phone. Ungrateful! People these days!"


    Watching his expression while he spoke made me want to laugh, but I held it back and said, "Alright, alright! Don''t get so mad! Whatever you want, I''ll get it!"


    Ignoring my words completely, he looked at my phone and asked, "So, that call just now was from Chikuuu, right? Where do you two chat? Open that application for me."


    "You know her?" I blurted out in surprise.


    "What a silly question! You both gossip bad about me behind my back, don''t you? Today, I''ll find out the actual culprit !"


    Just then, a message from Chiku appeared on the top of the screen as notification, saying that she''d accidentally called at that time. Oh no! .... Now he''d know where we chat. But it wasn''t the bad gossiping about him that worried me-I was scared about something else.


    When he wasn''t around, I had asked her just before Sharad Purnima to help me confess my feelings for him. I was planning to confess my love on that very day. If he found out, I couldn''t imagine how he''d react... What if he thought I was thinking wrong about him? Especially sincewe met he''d never said anything romantic to me; what if he got upset and left...i dont want any wierd situation?


    Before he could open that message, I quickly snatched the phone from his hand, saying, "Wait, wait...there''s some important work-related stuff on here i have to do it now....!"


    He pulled me back by my hand, and I ended up sitting on the bed right where I was before. Then he took the phone from my hand and stood up, while I kept trying to jump up and grab it back. Suddenly, he leaned down, looked straight into my eyes, and my heartbeat quickened as he did so.


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    (PHOTO CREDIT - Printrest)


    His intense gaze was making me feel dizzy, and I felt like I might lose my balance. Just before that could happen, he handed the phone back to me and said firmly, "If it''s so difficult for you to show your phone, maybe you should also learn to start knocking the door before you come in."


    "What do you mean?" I asked innocently looking at him.


    "I mean, when you leave, close the door behind you. I have some important work now," he said, looking toward the door.


    "What important work...?" I asked, confused.


    "The same kind of ''important work'' your office has for you!" he replied, then turned me around facing my face at the door by my shoulders and gently pushed me toward the door from my back. He closed the door quickly behind me at my face as I stood outside.


    What the shit i had done now!!!!? I stood there by the closed door, berating myself. How was I going to make it up to him? It wasn''t that I didn''t want him to know that I loved him...Yes I love him..... ; I just didn''t want him to find out through random messages...like this. After all, even though he was divine, I loved him as though he was human ...like a real human lover..... And just like any woman who wanted to express her love towards a man, I felt the same nervousness and excitement. I only wished he could understand this and not be upset with me like this but wait how I didn''t let him know yet I love him...so should I first have him some hints or directly confess him? But till now he also didn''t showed any romantic side of him towards him.... why this is so confusing and why I am feeling so nervous in the name of confession. How should I tell to him....that he is just like a dream to me....a best dream ....the dream from which I don''t want to wake up.


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    (Photo credit - Printrest)


    ???????????????????????


    ¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î


    (Anyyyyy Idea how to confess love ???????????? and how can i get the idea he also like me romantically so I can confidently take the first step ....oh god please help...waitttt how he is God himself how can i ask help from himself....!!??)

 [Chapter-16] My first Bus Journey With Him!!

    Lost in thought, I was heading to the kitchen to help my mother with dinner, hoping this would be my chance to make things right with him tonight. I was planning how I could make him smile again tomorrow, remembering the fact that we''d soon be heading out together......just him and me....... The very thought made me blush out of sudden while working with my mummy in kitchen, and my mother noticed it, smiling at me curiously she asked me the reason....But..... I had to come up with a quick excuse, saying I''d just remembered a joke. How could I tell her that her daughter was weaving dreams of someone so dear in her mind.....?


    When dinner was ready, I went to his room to call him, but he wasn''t there. He''d already gone out with my grandfather. When I told my mother, she said he''d been invited for dinner at a neighbor''s house. Disheartened, I ate my meal quietly, wondering if he was truly that upset with me.


    After helping my mother clean up the kitchen, I went to my room. My mind was too restless with worry over Krishna.... So I was unable to fall asleep. So, I took out my phone and deleted all those messages that had led to this tension. I resolved to hand him my phone first thing tomorrow, hoping that would cool his anger. But would it be enough.... To see his smile again?


    I wanted to tell him how I feel whenever I see him everytime..... Yess I also want to confess my heart to him, but how could I make it special? I only had a year with him, and I wanted it to be unforgettable-something he couldn''t forget even if he tried..... Something that will bring smile on his cute face whenever he will try to remember..... I started searching Google and YouTube for unique ways to say "I love you" without actually saying it, but nothing seemed right. I didn''t want anything too modern or bold that might make him uncomfortable, so I shifted to looking for ideas from his devotees. Then it struck me-I could just ask my friend, Chiku, who was also devoted to him as his lover.


    Casually, I brought up the topic with her, asking for some subtle ways to confess. She suggested a poetic approach: on a moonless night, I should tell him how beautiful the moon looks, and when he points out that there is no moon, I''d say, "You are my moon....Why should I need any other moon to adore.... You are more beautiful then moon...." The message itself made me blush .... could I ever bring myself to say that to him? , Imagining this moment was making me giggle in the middle of night. Maybe not now, but someday, when the moment felt right I will definitely try this.


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    Thinking about it, I drifted off to sleep with a smile.


    I was Determined not to miss my chance tomorrow, So I set five alarms-3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, and 4:00 a.m. I had to be up before him. Strangely, I woke up at 2:00 a.m. and, no matter how hard I tried, after waking up I couldn''t fall back asleep. I didn''t want to go outside in the dark....As my parents will think I am doing crazy things will call me definatly pagal hogyi ladki (mad/mental girl) in their language, so I lay there on the bed, thinking about him, humming his bhajans softly to pass the time.


    Finally, at 4:00, I got ready and went outside to start cleaning with a broom. My mother was surprised to see me up so early and she assumed I was too anxious about our upcoming trip for tomorrow that''s why I was unable to sleep. I simply nodded, not able to explain my real reason.... How could I say the real reason ..... Eagerly, I began sweeping the courtyard, finishing quickly so I could go to his room.


    Later after finishing the courtyard cleaning, I went towards his door, Standing outside his door, I felt a sudden wave of shyness. I was holding the broom tightly, almost as if it was his hand, calming my jittery nerves. I playfully hugged the broom....As I was thinking so delusional that time, I caught myself at the mid-act of madnesses, I mentally scolded myself, and kept reminding myself to focus on my real targettttt which was him.


    Just as I was about to knock, I hesitated and was wondering what he might be doing inside. Curiosity got the better of me, and I pressed my ear to the door to listen what was happening inside. Suddenly, the door swung open, and there he stood opening the door. I Startled with embarssemt, and I hadn''t realized I was holding the broom vertically at that moment, which slipped down, falling right on his head.


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    I froze in shock, sinking to the ground in embarrassment as he began dusting off his hair, which had been messed up by the broom. But as he stood there, ruffling his hair With his fingers, I was entranced to see him he was looking justttt wowwwwwww.


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    He looked like he belonged in a movie, not just any movie, but one of those grand, timeless dramas-Bollywood, Tollywood, Hollywood,K drama ,J drama , C drama, Thai drama actors are nothing compared to this moment. In my mind, I was in a wrld crafted just for him, a place where only Krishna and I existed The K¡ñN¡ñK ''Keshav Nandkishor Krishnan''s Dimension Drama''.


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    "Oh, how foolish I was, getting lost in thoughts like these!" I was silently scolding myself in my mind, caught up in his beauty and forgetting that I had been the one to hit him with the broom. He gave me a sharp sideways glance and began to walk away without a word. Quickly, I scrambled to my feet up and called out after him.


    "Sorryyyy.....sorryyyyyyy......Aren''t you going to say anything?"


    "When my words only sound like taunts to others, what''s the point of speaking then....?" he said by facing his back to me as he faced the doorway. Was it possible for anyone to be so angry.....And still being this cute?


    I realized that moment I''d have to apologize now...It would be better, hoping it would calm him down. After all, he looked best with either laughing or arguing with me, nothing else like this being Mr.Serious!!


    "You were asking for my phone yesterday, weren''t you? Here, take it and see whatever you want," I said, holding out my phone and giving it to him.


    "That was yesterday. I don''t need it today!" he replied coldly as he moved away. Disheartened, I tucked the phone back into my pocket and began sweeping his room. As I swept the spot where he slept, Out of sudden I found myself kissing his bedsheet to which last night he slept , then blushingly..... I hurriedly left the room as I don''t want to caught. I didn''t know why I did it; maybe I just wanted to hug that sheet....But ended by doing this weird thing.


    But now I had to think about what to do next, so I began plotting new ways to make it up to him. I remembered he''d wanted a new phone, so I thought, why not buy him a gift instead? Maybe a new phone as a kind of peace offering will bring his smile back. So, I spent nearly an hour searching for best phone for him, but every option seemed out of reach. It wasn''t that I didn''t find anything good-I found plenty that I liked, but my budget didn''t agree to Like them as well. I''d only been in my job for less than a year, so I couldn''t ask my family for extra money either.


    Scrolling through my wishlist, I remembered that I''d chosen a phone for myself to buy in the Diwali sale. Why not gift that to him instead? I''d picked the best one within my budget for myself, so surely it would be the best for him too.


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    Without a second thought, I placed the order, having it delivered to my address in the city. I couldn''t wait until Diwali to see his smile back.


    Excitedly, I ran out to the kitchen, and found that my mother was scolding me for running back to bed after waking up so early. She''d been calling me for yoga practice with Keshuuuu since one hour. I quickly apologized and hurried off to find my Keshuuuuu, who was gathering his bath things in his room.


    Knocking on the door, I asked, "Can I come in?"


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    I''d thought about keeping it a surprise that I bought a new phone for him, but I couldn''t hold it in any longer , I just want to see his reaction...And his cute face but I couldn''t go to him without any good reason , and I figured this was the best excuse to see him and his smile.


    "It''s your house.....You can come and go whenever and wherever you want!!," he replied without looking at me, folding his clothes carefully, I slowly opened the door by listening his voice.


    "Heyhhhh !!!!, I''ve ordered a phone for you.... As you asked!" I announced excitedly from the doorway.


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    He came closed to me With his clothes in hand, and turned towards me, leaned down a little, blinked both eyes at me with a faint, sarcastic smile, and said, "Thank you, madam." Then, without another word, he went to bathe.


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    "Thank you, madam"...what was he trying to say? What did he mean by that? And why was he walking off like that, as if I didn''t exist? Just as I was trying to figure him out, my mother called from the kitchen, reminding me to start packing, since we''d be taking the 6:00 a.m. bus tomorrow. The bus would get me to the city by 1:00 or 2:00 p.m., and then I''d have to grab an auto from there. Everything would be fine, I told myself. After all, my best travel companion was him with me tomorrow.


    As I was packing, I couldn''t stop thinking about ways to make him smile again, but nothing came to mind. After packing and bathing, I went to the kitchen for lunch, but I found out that Krishna had already eaten and gone back to his room. Why was he doing this?.... How was I supposed to start a conversation? Dejected, I ate alone, then spent the afternoon chatting with family since I wasn''t sure when I''d be back again to meet them. Krishna kept coming out from his room in between to chat with everyone else, yet he was ignoring me...or maybe I was just overthinking it because Now and then, I caught him glancing me, but as soon as I met his eyes, he''d look away.


    Somehow, evening crept in, and we managed to finish dinner, stealing glances at each other all the while. Watching him eat filled me with a strange joy; who knew someone could look so adorable even while eating? No movie and drama hero could compare to him and his cuteness.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


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    Later, as I watched him heading to his room for sleeping, I couldn''t help but hum a tune in my head by looking at him from behind, "palatttttt!!!!!.......Tera dhyan kidhar h..... Tera ashiqq idhar h...." Because, after all, he was my real hero here, not me!!!


    That night, I couldn''t stop imagining us together on the bus. Just him and me.


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    I''d seen love blossom during travelling time in many movies, but tomorrow, it would be our own journey-the beginning of my story with him....Just me and him..... I was feeling so many butterflies from inside.... Inspired by a few ideas from Kdramas, I''d thought up a special moment to recreate with him tomorrow at the bus..... I could barely contain my excitement to try it .... And also I have prepared a special surprise for him.


    Lost in these thoughts, I drifted off to sleep, forgetting to set an alarm. My mother woke me around 4:30 a.m., but Krishna had already been up since 4:00, showered, and finished his prayers in home temple. By 5:30, I was ready to eat, but he had already gone to the kitchen


    for food, so I ate alone. Soon after, we both left for the bus stop.... I bowed to my family for good bye custom, promising them to visit soon, and then set off with Krishna, stepping into the journey I''d been dreaming of my first bus journey with himmmmm.


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    I was carrying a big suitcase-like bag called trolly bag in local language with a shoulder bag with me,


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    while Krishna only had a light school bag type.


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    I was wondering if he hadn''t brought enough clothes with him or if I''d have to manage his outfits too... Buying him new clothes.


    Well, I thought, that''s actually good; now I could choose his clothes by myself...Can see him in my favourite outfit! Lost in my own world, feeling happy with these thoughts, I looked over to see Krishna, he was staring quietly down the road. He looked so adorable even just waiting for the bus, and I found myself gazing-no, almost staring-at him.


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    Suddenly, he turned towards me, and I quickly looked away, embarrassed as I was caught by him staring.


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    (What was I even doing...Staring at him directly and then caught.....?) After Just then, he spoke.


    "Are you coming or not? The bus is already here!"


    Oh, God... Was I here to take care of him, or just stare at him...? I hurriedly started to climb onto the bus with my bags, but in my rush, I dropped my trolly bag on the stairs of the bus. He was right behind me that time, so he picked it up and told me to go ahead. As I walked down the aisle, my cheeks burned with embarrassment.


    What was wrong with me...? I just kept messing up due to my clumsiness. He handed my trollybag to the conductor to place up front with luggage, and then we headed to the empty two-seater near the back.


    He lifted his bag up by standing behind me near the seat and put it above our seats, and then when I tried to place mine there too, my height failed me. Noticing my struggle, he took my bag, and at that moment our hands brushed. I felt myself blush deeply as he placed the bag up for me, and I quickly slid into the window seat to hide my nervousness.


    Just then the bus started moving, we were jolted forward, and I fell against the seat while he stumbled into me, making our heads bump together!


    "Sorry...., sorry.....! Are you okay?" I asked, sitting up on the seat and rubbing my forehead.


    "No, no, I''m fine.....Are you okay? Did it hurt much?" he asked, looking at me with genuine concern.


    "It doesn''t hurt... but you know, there''s a old saying that heads shouldn''t bump like this..." I replied hesitantly, not wanting to miss the chance for another ''accidental'' touch.


    "Then... what should we do?" he asked, touching his own head with innocent curiosity.


    Why should I waste time in explaining....? I took my chance and leaned closer, bumping my head gently against his again before quickly sitting back, then I tried to explain myself with a playful excuse. "My mom says it has to be twice....So that nothing bad will happen,...!" I said by covering my mouth to hide my mischievous smile.


    "Well, if your mom says so, maybe she''s right!" he replied, rubbing the spot where I''d just touched him just now.... And he did a slight smile before looking away and settled on his seat.


    My heart was racing, and I could barely contain my excitement. Remembering His face, that innocent look of him.... when we bumped heads again-it was almost too much cute......I was melting even by remembering that moment. Suddenly, I remembered to try that one scene from the Kdrama that I decided yesterday night. Was this the perfect moment to try it out?! I took a deep breath and went for it.


    "Krishna, can you see something red on my hand here?" I said, extending my hand toward him.


    "Red?... Where?... I don''t see anything," he said, examining my hand closely.


    "I don''t know, it just feels little sore here," I said, moving my hand even closer to his.


    He leaned in and gently touched the spot I pointed to. "Maybe you hurt it because of the bag.........," he started to say. But before he could finish, I placed my palm onto his palm and said, "See how small my hand is compared to yours?"


    I felt my heart pounding as I touched his hand, pretending to compare. His hand felt so warm, and I was embarrassed to even look at his face...honestly .....I don''t have much courage left.


    "Well, yeah...., because ....I am older than you..." he murmured softly, moving closer to me. Then out of sudden He closed his fingers around mine, locking my hand in his.


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    My breath caught as he did this....I start having goosebumps all-around my body, I can feel his warmth of hands and a strange feeling growing inside me, I just froze for a moment.... and just then, the bus braked suddenly, making me almost hit my head on the seat in front, But he placed his hand out in time, so my head softly hit his hand instead. His head also bumped against the place where we were holding hands, and as the bus finally stopped, we lifted our heads at the same time, staring into each other''s eyes.


    This moment was giving me the feel like I am in middle of some movie. But before I could cherish it more, the conductor''s loud voice broke the silence, announcing a stop for lunch.


    Krishna turned his face forward quickly, by sitting properly on the seat. But then he looked back to me with a smile and said, "Well,.... I am not going anywhere ....So don''t worry I am well aware of our contract... so, You can let go of my hand now!"


    Blushing, quicky I pulled my hand back, turning to look out the window to hide my embarrassment. After a few moments, I looked back at him and offered him to grab some food together. He politely declined, but I was starving, so I took out a chips packet from my bag and began munching. Even though I offered him some, he refused again, so I continued eating. But as soon as I was down to the last chip, he playfully snatched it from my hand, grinning.


    "You only asked once! .... That''s shows you don''t want genuinely to me to have it !" he laughed, popping the last chip in his mouth.


    "Sorry! I''ll keep that in mind next time," I said, putting the empty chip packet away into my bag. Then He put my bag back up to the luggage place, and we settled back into our seats, but I could hardly keep my eyes off him. I noticed his wrist,


    how gentle it looked. I wanted so badly to reach out and hold it, but maybe that would be too much this time....As I already did so many stupid things already today.


    As the bus started up again, I sat back quietly, letting my mind drift.


    I was sitting there quietly, stealing side glances at him. Suddenly, I remembered I hadn''t called my mom to let her know we were halfway there. So I quickly called her to inform her, then I thought about listening to some music.


    Maybe, then just maybe, he and I could share my wired earphones .... But for it he must noticed me listening to music. That was my plan, at least, but he wasn''t even paying attention to me so I tried intensionally showing him up. I started carefully picking songs that might impress him, but after waiting so long and seeing he still hadn''t noticed, I simply played my playlist, that was filled with my favorite tracks.


    Suddenly Just then, "I Wanna Be Yours" started playing over my earphone, and to my surprise, he suddenly reached over, took one end of my earphone, and plugged it in his ears. With a playful smile, he said, "Let me hear the magical sounds from your magical device too."


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    As he listened, his smile grew, and seeing him smiling I asked, teasingly by looking at him, "Do you even understand English songs?"


    Hearing this, he chuckled, took out the earphone, and replied, "Whoever created these English songs is probably some human.... And that human is created by the same.... Who created you !"


    "Oh, I didn''t mean it that way!" I stammered, nervously winding the earphone wires around my fingers.


    "All languages...., all people-they''re all mine ....They belongs to me...... got it?" He said this with a grin, then closed his eyes as if he owned the world with a pride.


    I sat there feeling like I''d ruined a perfect moment with my silly question. I plugged my earphones back in again and suddenly got an idea .... If he really knows all the languages then I can confess my feeling to him almost everyday with non hindi songs, by doing it I can be stop being caught from embarrassing situation as the songs will be in another language...so that I can play innocent also while expressing my feeling to him. I blushed thinking about various songs which were running in my mind at that time.


    After sometime when I was busy in listening the songs suddenly he put his head on my shoulder... He was sleeping at that time or may be pretending ... I don''t know... But I moved little bit closer to him,Only to feel him resting his head gently on my shoulder more accurately..... Why would I let go this perfect moment with him !!!


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    But my heart almost stopped....as I Sitting so close to him.... I could feel my pulse racing, the heat rising in my cheeks...I can feel my goosebumps rising all over my body. I was too shy to look at him from the corner of my eye because even a slight movement might wake him up. Instead, I just looked at his hands, smiling softly to myself.


    Carefully, without disturbing him, I took out my phone to capture the moment-a quick selfie to remember this forever. But the moving bus made the photo come out blurry, so I recorded a short video instead, saving it secretly in a hidden folder and deleting it from the gallery to avoid getting caught if he checked my phone later.


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    He looked so adorable, so peaceful while asleep that I couldn''t even find words to describe his cuteness. It felt like I''d have to invent a whole new word for him to describe his cuteness... I wish this journey never ends with him.... But I was excited to show him my next surprise which I had prepared for him....


    ohhhh !!!! Krishna ...Your hairs smells so sweet ... I wish I could ...... Please please....My dear brain don''t get too much excited otherwise his sweet sleep will get interrupted because of me.


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    ????????????????????????

 [Chapter - 17] His Entry in my Apartment !!

    His head was resting on my shoulder on the bus, and my heart was entirely fixated on him. I didn''t even realize when, amidst weaving dreams with the rhythm of songs, the bus neared our destination. Gently, I placed my hand on his to wake him up. He stirred out of sudden, and end up rubbing his eyes in an innocent, half-asleep manner, looking at me with his sleepy eyes with such tenderness that my heart skipped a beat by looking at them. His nose had turned a soft pink, and his half-closed eyes held a unique beauty-but I couldn''t lose myself in his charm just yet.


    In a soft tone, I told him we had to get off the bus. He ran his fingers through his hair, adjusted his clothes a little bit, and stood up. First, he took my bag from the overhead compartment and handed it to me, then slung his own bag over his shoulder and moved forward. I followed behind him shyly looking him from behind ... His hairs upto his neck looks so cute on him, but now I was determined this time to take better care of him ....his beauty Plus cutesness and shoulder all the responsibilities myself so this time I will win over the contract of taking care of him with myself.


    As we reached the bus stairs, I nudged him gently forward and bent down to pick up my trolley bag which was placed in front. By picking up I realized It was heavier than I had expected, so I struggled with it carrying down to the bus entrance stairs. Seeing me struggle,he quickly grabbed the bag from me, laughing softly by showing his pearl teeth, and said, "Let me handle it. You can''t manage this too!"


    "Wait!!!!!!" I shot back with mock annoyance, "Do you think I can''t handle anything with myself?? .....I''ll manage.... just fine....No thanks !" Smirking mischievously, I took hold of the trolley handle and dragged it along determinedly on the busstand road.


    Now, we needed to find an auto-rickshaw to get to my flat area. The bus stand place was crowded, and several autos were parked nearby. I grabbed Krishna''s hand, guided him into one of the autos, and climbed in beside him. The auto driver loaded our luggage for us. After sitting on auto''s seat I was still holding Krishna''s hand absent mindedly , suddenly he placed his other hand over the our hand and, with a playful smirk with sarcasm, said, " That''s actually a Good thing ....you held my hand like this....; I was scared I might get lost in this heavy crowd!"


    I pulled my hand away instantly and clutched my shoulder bag instead, turning my face to the other side to hide the smile spreading across my lips.


    The auto was having some extra seat for other passenger, so a couple of other passengers climbed in with us later on. I didn''t mind them-except for one girl who kept glancing at Krishna. That annoyed me..... Not that I was jealous....! But really, who stares at someone like that? It was inappropriate...... Krishna, oblivious as ever, wasn''t paying attention to her; he was engrossed in gazing out the window, his eyes were wide with childlike curiosity at everything outside.


    When we finally reached the base of my apartment building and had retrieved our luggage, I noticed that girl giving Krishna another lingering look. It irritated me, but I brushed it off. The auto drove away, but her presence lingered annoyingly in my head. Lost in thought, I suddenly felt a tap on my head. Krishna, smirking, asked, "So, where''s your room?.... Here, ....or did you leave it back in the auto?"


    His teasing voice brought me back to reality. No matter who will look at him, he will remain mine. That thought warmed my heart as I glanced at him.


    My flat was on the fifth floor-the topmost level. The other two neighbors on my floor weren''t home, that was quite happy topic for me as it will give me some time to figure out what excuse to make about Krishna''s presence in my room.


    As we reached the lift, we discovered it was out of order ....Under maintaince. My heart sank.... I had neither the energy to climb the stairs nor the strength to lug the heavy trolley bag, especially with Krishna around. But he didn''t wait for me after finding out the lift is not working ....He put his light bag over his shoulder and he calmly started climb up the stairs, leaving me behind to handle the luggage.


    Frustrated, I muttered my frustration under my breath and followed him with the trolley and shoulder bag with a lot of struggle over the stairs. Krishna turned back, grinning mischievously. "Didn''t you say earlier you could handle everything alone....? do you need me now for something???"


    After struggling up one floor, I gave up and asked for his help. Even then, he didn''t make it go easy. With a smug smile, he grabbed one side of the trolley and handed me the other. "hold other side tightly!" he said, taunting me as we climbed the stairs. Huffing and puffing, and listening to his endless teasing, we finally reached the fifth floor. Dusting his hands off dramatically, he declared, "If I do all the work alone, then humans like you will grow lazy. Look at you-just by doing a little work, and here you''re already out of breath!"


    "Alright, alright!" I retorted, unlocking the door with a pout. "You''ve helped a little only; no need to keep rubbing it in."


    He examined the corridor and doorway curiously before saying, "Oh, so now my words are taunts? There was a time when you used to complain I didn''t talk enough over my idol, and now when I do by standing in front of you, it bothers you???? What kind of double sided human you are!!!" He mimicked me mockingly and laughed with his with teeth.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    As he was about to step inside with His still grinning face, quickly I grabbed his arm and pulled him back with his bag and said "Wait!!!!" I said dramatically. "I''m always ready to listen to your sweet nector like words, but for now, just stay here for two minutes!!!! Please...."


    Krishna stood confused at the door, his face was mixture of curiosity and suspicion, I quickly opened my bag and pulled out something special-a small pot (kalash) I had carried it all the way from home for this special surprise. I filled it with rice from a packet I had packed and carefully put few rose petals in my palm that I had saved for this special moment. Placing the pot right at Krishna''s feet, I stepped back, holding my phone up to record the scene.


    "What''s going on here?" he asked, standing in place with a puzzled expression.


    "You''re having your griha pravesh (housewarming ceremony)," I said dramatically, a mischievous grin on my face. "I want to capture this unforgettable moment when you..... stepped into my heart... sorry....I mean, my apartment-for the first time!"


    Hearing my words, he gave a shy, embarrassed smile, but played along with me. He entered the apartment with a slow, dramatic step, just like a new bride entering her marital home for the first time...Like a Indian television serial. I stood behind the camera, tossing rose petals at him and giggling uncontrollably at the sheer absurdity of the moment. His laughter filled the air, too, a melody I could never tire of.


    But then, just as the video was shaping up perfectly, he ruined it by exclaiming, "Miss Cameraperson, can you please forget me for a moment and focus on the layer of dust on this floor and desk!!!! ....Do you really expect me to live in such filth??? Don''t forget, I kept you in a grand palace, and now you are forcing me to live in this mess!"


    I quickly stopped the recording, grumbling under my breath, "Seems like I''ll need to find you a grand bungalow to meet your royal expectations."


    "If that will come within your budget, then please do it urgently !!!!" he teased, by pulling my cheek affectionately before wiping his dusty hands on my arm. He then wandered off to explore the apartment.


    Suddenly, he grabbed my phone and said loudly by playing with his hairs, "Now show me the video you just recorded! Let me see how amazing I look on camera."


    I couldn''t help but laugh at his confidence. Who else could praise themselves so unabashedly? Without a word, I handed him the phone. Thankfully, I had already deleted all the chats I didn''t want him to see, so I felt safe. But luck wasn''t on my side. Or maybe he was just too determined to catch me off guard.


    As he scrolled through the videos, he suddenly opened Instagram. "Let me check out this ''most popular thing'' of the this current era" he said, squinting at the app. "What''s so special about it that people waste their precious time here?"


    Watching him navigate Instagram...At first I was confident that there is no kind of chat to hide from him, but after a while I began to panic because he stumbled upon the Reels section and started scrolling with a serious face.


    "Ah-hhhha! So, this is how you spend your time-watching new boys all day!!!" he said, his tone dripping with mock accusation.


    Oh God, how was I supposed to explain? They weren''t random boys! They were from edits of movies, anime, and dramas that I used to watch! And anyway,... If he really want to check my phone ...Then he must start with youtube .... the real problem was that he hadn''t opened YouTube yet-there, at least, I could justify my interests towards him. But here? I looked guilty without reason.


    "No, it''s not like that!!!" I tried to snatch the phone, but he held it high, scrolling through more Reels and giving me sly side glances.


    "but your Instagram videos don''t justify your answer!!!" he retorted, clearly enjoying my flustered state.


    Before I could explain further, a K-drama kissing scene popped up on the screen before us. Embarrassed beyond measure, I quickly turned my face away, pretending to be utterly fascinated by the corner of the room as a excuse. Krishna, however, turned off the phone and handed it back to me may be with awkard expression .... I don''t know as I didn''t have courage to look into his face.


    "Take it and finish your office work" he said, his tone deliberately sarcastic.


    Without looking at him, I grabbed the phone and muttered, "I''ll get you some water. You must be tired after the long journey."


    I hurried to the kitchen, internally facepalming and berating myself... I was hitting my head with my own hands out of embarrassment. What would he think of me now? My stomach churned with nervousness as I filled a glass of water, took a deep breath, and returned to the room where he was sitting.


    He took the glass, drank a sip, and said, "Now, quickly bring me something to eat. I''m starving....So hard..... And set out my clothes-I need a shower. It''s so hot here!"


    "Where am I supposed to find your clothes?" I asked, genuinely confused.


    "You''ve taken on the responsibility of keeping me here, haven''t you? So, find a way for my clothes too!!" he teased, raising an eyebrow.


    "But... what about the clothes in your bag? What did you bring in the bag?"


    "Why does that matter to you...Right now.... I want to wear some fresh washed clothes after bath?" he said, smirking. "Just go look for something, and don''t forget to sort out warm food. I''m heading for a shower now."


    As he walked away by putting empty glass on the table, I stared after him in disbelief. One problem hadn''t even passed, and another was already here. Where was I supposed to get fresh clothes for him so quickly? ... As I don''t have stock fir boys clothes !!! ...And cooking wasn''t an easy option either as I am not a pro cook yet-if I ordered food on the first day, he''d mock me endlessly for that too.


    Standing in the middle of the room alone, I sighed deeply, wondering how I always managed to get into such impossible situations in front of him.


    ¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô


    How will female lead proove herself in front of him ???... What will happen next !!!???

 [Chapter - 18] Going shopping with him !!

    I was standing in the kitchen, putting rice in the pressure cooker to make khichdi because that was the quickest and easiest thing to prepare as this fast. While the khichdi was cooking, I was confused about whether or not to add extra chilies. I didn''t know how he preferred his food. Then I thought, He''s probably a spiritual person, so he must eat satvik food, and then I deliberately put less salt in it.


    As I was closing the cooker lid, my thoughts drifted to his clothes. Where am I supposed to arrange clothes for him so quickly? Ordering online wouldn''t work because it wouldn''t arrive on time. Then I remembered-just recently, I had bought an oversized shirt in the name of fashion. Though it looked huge on me.... (considering I barely reached Krishna''s shoulders), I wondered if it might still be too tight for him. I had only worn it once or twice or thrice before going home because if I had taken it home, my family would have mocked me endlessly, saying, "What kind of sack [jholaa] have you brought now?"


    Still, the idea of giving him something I had worn felt odd .... he is quite superior and Divine then me.... I was lost in these thoughts when someone knocked on the door. I left the cooker on the stove and hurried to check. I purposely opened the door halfway because I didn''t want any more trouble barging into my life at this moment.


    At the door, It was Sandy aka Sunanada, the landlord''s daughter. I greeted her reluctantly. She clearly wanted to come inside, but I somehow dodged the situation, telling her the house was a mess after being locked up for so long. I added that I hadn''t showered and promised to meet her in the evening.


    But eventually, she came to the point after I indirectly refused her to let in. Her question caught me completely off guard.


    "Wasn''t there a guy with you today? Where is he?" Sandy asked, leaning in, curiosity shining in her eyes.


    "Which... guy?" I stammered awkwardly.


    "Ohhhh, don''t lie! I saw him with you earlier when you two were entering! and just some moment ago I even saw him standing on the balcony just now-that''s why I came over!" she said, narrowing her eyes as though interrogating me.


    Sandy tilted her head, peeking inside the flat. "By the way, your ''friend'' looks oddly familiar. Have I seen him somewhere before?"


    I froze for a moment and then asked nervously, "Seen him before? Where?"


    She smirked. "I don''t remember exactly... maybe in some news article?"


    "News article?" My heart skipped a beat. Forcing a laugh, I replied, "Oh, come on! What would he have to do with the news? He''s just a small-town guy, new to the city."


    "Maybe," she said, glancing suspiciously toward the living room. "But be careful. These days, people can''t be trusted so easily."


    My heart started pounding harder. How was I supposed to handle this sudden wave of trouble? And Krishna! Why on earth had he gone out to the balcony? He should''ve been in the bathroom by now. Still, hiding my panic, I replied, "Oh, him! He''s just a relative from my hometown. He''s new here and hasn''t found a place to stay yet, so he''s living here for a few days."


    "He''s not your boyfriend, ..... then?" Sandy asked, her face lighting up.


    "Boy.....friend? .......No...., no!" I stammered again.


    "Good!" she exclaimed, suddenly with a cheerful smile. "You know, we''ve got space in our flat. The room opposite mine just became vacant a few days ago. Should I talk to someone about it for him?"


    Hearing her, I felt a mix of irritation and jealousy. ...But what could I say? It wasn''t like I had other options right now instead of listening her boring talk as she was the daughter of my landlord. I forced a smile and replied, "That''s so kind of you, but he just started out here in this new city and doesn''t really want to deal with finding a new flat yet because as you know how hard is to maintain the budget for village people. He''s comfortable here for now, and since we''re old relatives, it works well for both of us."


    Her face fell slightly, but she also masked it with a forced smile. "Oh, that''s nice. I guess you found yourself a flatmate too. And since he''s your old friend, I can also make a new friend, right?"


    "Of course,!!!" I said, glancing toward the bathroom, from where Krishna was stepping out.


    "Well then, I''ll see you around. Let me know if you need anything-oh, and take care of yourself and him!" She leaned in and peeked again before leaving.


    Feigning a glance at the clock, I said, "I should go shower now and get to cooking. I''ll see you later!"


    She tossed her hair and asked, "By the way, where is he? You didn''t answer that question earlier also!"


    "Oh, it''s just a small flat where he would be," I replied quickly. "He''s in the other room-the one I use as a storage area. It''s practically a storeroom, but he''s making done it for himself. you can Meet him in the evening!"


    Smiling faintly, I shut the door and turned around, only to find Krishna standing behind it, pretending to listen in. Startled, I jumped back.


    There he stood, draped in a light blue towel over his shoulder, wearing a white dhoti as bottom wear, water was dripping from his hair. He looked surprisingly good on it, but his expression was one of mock seriousness.


    "So, your plan is to shove me into the storeroom? That''s your grand hospitality? huhhhh" he asked, taking a step closer to me.


    I stepped back along the wall, looking at him innocently. "I could stay in the storeroom instead if you want!"


    "so this is your real plan to let people accuse me of kicking a poor, innocent looking girl ....who is not so innocent...out of her room? No thanks! i dont want to look a villain in your story " he teased, running a hand through his wet hair and laughing.


    I quickly added, "That room''s mostly used for books and pooja. You can take the bed from bedroom-I''ll sleep in the living room on sofa. I''m used to it anyway so i dont have any problem!"


    "Fine, but don''t blame me later!...Like other people who just blame god for their own decisions....!!!" he said, smirking. "By the way, why did you lie to your friend? You could''ve introduced me!"


    "Why were you even on the balcony at that time?" I snapped. "You don''t know much about the people around here!"


    "Jealous, are you huhhhh?" he asked, stepping closer. I leaned back against the wall, trying to steady my breath. How could I admit it to his face? that yesss i am really burnt from inside.


    "Why would I be jealous? Meet whoever you want. I''m just saying she''s not... suitable for you," I replied, staring into his eyes nervously.


    "And you think that you really know who''s right or wrong for me?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair from my face and looking directly into my eyes.


    "no.... i mean.... You should at least wear a shirt.... its not a good thing for a grown upboy to be shirtless like this in front of girl ....like this....," I mumbled, looking away as i want to change this topic of jealousy as fast as i can... and too his body charm was too crazy to resist it was making me feel so nervous around him like this and later I realized what shit I uttered out of nervousness to him .The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Ohhhh, so it''s fine for you to scroll through random guys on your phone and adoring them via screeen, but I can''t step out like this? and right now logically i am not even shirtless... i think the dirt lies in your mind .....ohhh please .... i do not think I am much safe here" he teased me by throwing the towel over his shoulder and covered his whole upper body through it and stepping back dramatically....trying to hide his upper full body with towel and by folding his hands.


    "I wasn''t saying that! I-" i was trying my best to cover his baseless allegation.


    "stop it... now i get your point! Get me something to wear before you start judging me again with your these! eyes... i just dont have shirt that time thats why i was not wearing it... and here you are creating fake sceneriosssss in your mind" he said by holding the towel tighter and pointing his two fingers to my eyes and start acting dramatically like he is scared from me and my eyes .


    Sighing, I rushed to the cupboard and handed him the oversized white shirt as I want to escape from his overacting as fast as possible because right now I was out of my defending words.


    when I came back with t shirt, He took it cautiously by stretching his half upper body by staying 7 foots step away from me and holding the t shirt with his two fingers ....


    <figure>


    </figure>


    and said dramatically, "please Stay back! I Don''t want you to judging me for this either with your these eyes again !" Then he start wearing the shirt which i gave him , he wore that T shirt by making a fake disgusting type of face by looking at me... omggg how can someone look this much good even by wearing a simple Tshirt i was thinking this while watching him wearing the tshirt


    "ummm.... i think its little bit short for me ... but looks ok," he muttered. "Let me go see how good I look." he said this by giving me teasing look


    And as he walked into the bedroom, I was adoring him from behind thinking -He looks good in anything. But for now, it''s better if he doesn''t know this is my old shirt or he will create a drama for this too ... but wait why was he is putting such a serious and fake alligation on me... its true i was looking at him with my eyes ... but not in a bad way i was just adoring his beautiful and handsome body... how can he say such thing about me... I am such a innocent girl....I am just pure like the oxygen.... I was thinking all this in the meantime cooker start whistling so i ran to the gas stove.


    I had just taken the cooker off the gas when he came out of the room after checking himself on mirror, exclaiming, "It''s almost 3 o''clock, and I''m still starving!"


    "Wait a bit... be patient... let it cool down a little. Then, I''ll open the cooker and serve," I replied, trying to calm him down from the kitchen itself.


    "Ah, well fine...., since I''ve already waited this long, what''s about few more minutes?" he muttered sarcastically, settling down on the sofa. Meanwhile, I started setting the plates and utensils on the table.


    A little while later, I served khichdi into two plates, placed them on the table in front of him, and handed him a spoon.


    "Oh! Just plain khichdi? Where''s the pickle and curd?" he asked by making a face.


    "There''s lemon pickle inside the kitchen; I''ll bring it. But we don''t have curd right now," I explained as I walked back into the kitchen to get the pickle. When I returned, he remarked, "Fine... I''ll manage this time only for you... as you know how much good I am in terms of adjustment."


    Soon after, I began eating by blowing on the hot food as I was so much hungry. But he just sat there, staring at me. I paused for a moment and looked at him, then asked, "What happened? Aren''t you going to eat?"


    "huhhh....You started eating before me!!" he grumbled, sulking as he put his first spoonful into his mouth. Then, almost immediately, he complained, "What is this? Is the Food made for the sick people? There''s no salt, no flavor!"


    "But you prefer simple food, don''t you?" I asked, puzzled.


    "Yes, but not this simple! There''s a difference between plain and tasteless. Never mind, I''ll eat it with pickle," he replied, melodramatically, before adding, "Leave it, you won''t understand the good cooking concept and taste!"


    "Oh, you are so modern!!! I didn''t know that!" I teased.


    "Of course, I''m modern as well traditional too..... After all, I have to keep up with my trendy devotees and lovers, don''t I?" he quipped with a smirk as he continued eating.


    We chatted about random things as we ate. Once we finished, I took the plates to the kitchen to wash them. When I came back, I saw him asleep on the sofa, looking like an innocent child. I stood there, watching him, later on when my mom called to check on me. I didn''t tell her that Krishna was staying with me; I only mentioned that he lived in the same flat complex. It didn''t feel great in lying to her, but I didn''t know what else to do that time.


    After the call, I emptied half of my almirah , rearranging my clothes to one side and leaving the other side empty-for him. Just like the space in my heart I had always reserved for him.


    By the time I finished, it was 5 PM. I went to wake him up, but he was already sitting on the sofa. I told him to get ready so we could buy a few clothes. He then went to take some clothes out of his bag and went to the bathroom. Meanwhile, I got ready in the bedroom.


    When I came out, I saw Krishna dressed in a white T-shirt with an open red button-up shirt over it, black jeans, and sunglasses. I couldn''t help but ask, "What''s this outfit? We''re just going to the nearby market!"


    "Well, I can''t just walk among people looking ordinary, can I? I have to maintain my charm," he replied, striking a pose with a wink.


    "Charm? Wowwwww!!" I teased by grabbing my purse. Then we locked the door and headed out. Walking beside him, I felt a happiness I couldn''t describe. It was like I had been waiting for this moment since forever.Earlier I used to imagine him with me at the market, and now that it was happening in real, it felt surreal like a dream.


    Outside a clothing store, he suddenly stopped and asked, "Get ready with money... are ready to spend for me hahahaaa?" he was laughing by walking inside with me. Nervously, I followed him, hoping he wouldn''t pick anything too expensive. He took his time, nitpicking like a chossy girl-"Not this, the color''s off... this fabric isn''t right...no...this one....that one..."-while I silently held all the clothes he selected like his bodyguard.


    When it was time to pay, he separated the clothes I was holding, choosing only the affordable ones. I smiled to myself, realizing how understanding he was. Maybe I had misjudged him all along, I was feeling guilty that time.


    As we left the shop, it began raining suddenly. I froze by looking at him, but he gave me a playful tap on the head. "Do you Want to get sick...Silly girl??" he scolded before grabbing my hand. We ran towards home, the rain was pouring over us. My heart raced-not because we were running, but because holding his hand felt like the whole universe was in my grasp and with raining nature was like giving me shower of love with love of my life.


    Even We are running so fast that time, but my mind was moving in slow motion. The raindrops soaked us, but it was my heart that felt drenched...That whole time my eyes were only and only looking at him... It feels like whole world just got vanished and he became mine whole life.


    When we reached the flat, he abruptly let go of my hand and started brushing off his wet clothes. Upstairs, he told me to change into dry clothes, as he did the same. When I returned, he was sitting on the sofa in his new outfit, looking so handsome that I went close to him to give him complimen. But before I could, he said, "It''s 7 PM. Go make something for dinner ... I am feeling hungry."


    Slightly annoyed at his impatience, I went to the kitchen, wondering what to cook. I decided to make khichdi again, this time with extra salt. I wasn''t in the mood for roti-sabzi, especially since I found making rotis a hassle.


    With the cooker on the stove for cooking, I sat beside him on the sofa in the meantime. "What do you usually do at this time? And when do you sleep?" he asked.


    I told him about my office routine and how my day went-from leaving at 9 AM to returning by 6 PM and sleeping around midnight. He listened all my daily routine with a smile, then, with a mysterious grin, asked, "Do you have office tomorrow?"


    "No, tomorrow''s Sunday .... so it is off," I replied.


    "Good.!!!! I have a surprise for you tomorrow," he said, smirking with a wink. Before I could ask what it was, the cooker''s whistle interrupted us, and I went to the kitchen.


    A little later, I served dinner, and this time, he ate without any complaints. When I asked about the surprise again, he said I''d find out tomorrow.


    Later, Despite my protests, he put his plate by himself to the kitchen sink, wished me goodnight, and went to his room, claiming he was exhausted.


    I wondered why he was sleeping so early-at 9 PM-even after napping during the day. But I didn''t ask as I don''t want to hear much taunts from his side. I lay on the sofa, scrolling through my phone suddenly after a while my friend Chikuu messaged, sending pictures of her decorated Dwarkadhish idol...Which she decorated by herself.


    Lost in conversation, I didn''t realize it was 11 PM. I hadn''t yet told Chiku about Krishna. Every time I planned to, but I forgot. Later, Putting on my earphones, I played Mine love Mine all mine (by Mitski) song on repeat by thinking about him. Somewhere in the music, sleep enveloped me, though my mind lingered on one thought-what surprise awaited me tomorrow?


    ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô


    Let''s see what surprise krishna planned for her ??


    And how will she make krishna satisfy with her efforts ??


    How will she confessed her love??


    And how will.........!!

 [Chapter-19] His Cute Surprise!!

    Last night, I had slept peacefully thinking and dreaming about surprise and his beautiful smile, but the morning was nothing short of a shock. My eyes were still closed when a loud ringing sound began echoing near my ears. Jolting awake, I was sitting up straight on the sofa, rubbing my eyes, trying to process what was happening. And there he was-Krishna-sitting on the floor right next to my head, ringing a bell(ghanti) with all his might!


    Waking up like that, I wasn''t able to comprehend what was going on. My heart was racing as if I''d just had a nightmare. While still rubbing my eyes, I asked him, "What time is it?"


    "It''s 10 o''clock, madam!" he replied with a mischievous smile while fixing my messy hair.


    It felt good to see him first thing in the morning, even if it was him in this chaotic way. I was staring at him like a fool, smiling for no reason. But suddenly, the realization hit me-it was 10 already! I threw his hand away, jumped onto the sofa, and yelled, "Oh no! I forgot to make breakfast! I''ll go right away and prepare it!" due to my pastnight cooking trauma.


    Before I could move, he grabbed my hand and gently pulled me back onto the sofa. "Relax, there''s no need for that right now," he said with a tone so soothing that it momentarily made me wonder if he had already made breakfast for me, just like in the movies.... Ohhh!!! How sweet he is!.


    But, of course, I had forgotten one crucial thing-Krishna was my real-life hero, not some cinematic prince charming. And my real-life hero never followed a script. In fact, what happened next left my mind reeling....


    "But Why ?" I asked him with a hint of innocence, still half-asleep as I want to hear that from his mouth.


    "Because it''s not time for breakfast yet...," he said, chuckling in a way that felt both comforting and teasing as he held up my phone to show me the time.


    "What?! ....It''s just 4:30 AM....?.!" I screamed and flopped back onto the sofa in disbelief.


    Without missing a beat, he grabbed my hand again, pulled me upright, and said with a devilish smile, "It''s not breakfast time; it''s yoga time!"


    "I don''t want to!" I said, pouting like a child, my voice laced with irritation. Who wakes someone up like that, after all and this much early for yoga ?? ?


    He smirked and replied, "I''m not asking; I''m not asking you .... I am telling you. Remember the contract?... Besides, I don''t like doing yoga alone. And I also don''t like lazy people like you...well, they both annoy me. But hey..., By this way, we can kill two birds with one stone!" His mischievous laughter filled the room as he playfully tugged at my cheeks.


    "Fine, I''ll go," I muttered grudgingly, shaking his hand off, and stomped toward the bathroom.


    Even then, he couldn''t leave me alone. He lightly tapped my back and teased, "That''s the spirit of a good girl! By the way, you haven''t told me yet-how was the surprise? I love surprises ...., you know!" His words were accompanied by that annoying sound of the bell, still ringing in his hands.


    I was fuming, but I managed to hide my frustration behind a forced smile and said, "Hoe can your surprises ever be bad?" With that, I stormed off into the bathroom to freshen up.


    When I came back and started looking for clothes to wear for yoga, I found him still grinning, his teeth on full display. "Hurry up! We need to leave before 5!" he kept saying like a drill sergeant.


    Finally ready, I asked him, puzzled, "Where are we going?"


    "For a morning walk!" he said, adjusting the tracksuit which he had bought the previous day. Only then did it click to me-so that''s why he bought the tracksuit with stylish clothes!


    "But you said we''d be doing yoga!" I protested, sitting on the sofa again, sulking.


    "Oh, lazy old woman! All you think about is sitting down on sofa!!. Do you ever consider giving your body some effort? Don''t you know warming up is essential before yoga? Oh, wait-you''ve never done like this before, have you? Forget yoga, you wouldn''t even know basic exercise routines!" he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the sofa before dragging me to the door.


    As we reached the door, I blurted out dramatically, "Wait! Wait!! I''m not going anywhere without you, Prabhu Ji!! I have Remembered your contract by heart..... At least let me lock the door!"


    He laughed at my sarcastic jab, and as I locked the door, I couldn''t help but smile. My earlier anger and sleepiness had already melted away.


    I was about to take the lift when he pulled me toward the stairs. Putting his arm around my shoulders, he said, "Did you forget, madam? We''re warming up, and this is part of it! And as for leaving me, ..., I won''t let you go anywhere anyway."


    His words felt like both a taunt and a compliment, leaving me blushing slightly. I lowered my head in embarrassment, but he didn''t stop. Still holding me close, he guided me down the stairs with still holding me through his hands on my shoulder from back and added, "I told you, didn''t I? My surprises are always as special as me. Look at you-how beautiful you look when you smile!"


    He kept his arm around me as we descended the stairs. All the while, he was whistling a tune-probably some melody I didn''t recognize. And as I followed him down, I was caught between two thoughts: Was he genuinely complimenting me, or was this just the calm before another storm?


    When we reached down, I was standing outside the building, looking at him. I asked, "So, tell me, what now?"


    Pulling a face, he replied, "Do one thing! Let''s go to the park, sit there, and gaze lovingly at each other. Why not? After all, we''re here to sit like two buffaloes...Just like as you do on your couch ...anyway.... Oh, come on now! Time''s ticking, hurry up!"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Though his idea and words seemed silly, I agreed in starting og his sentences-how nice it would be, just him and me. But no, he wanted to take a morning walk in the dark! The sun hadn''t even risen properly yet..., but his determination knew no bounds...He is too bad!!.


    While I was still lost in these thoughts, he gave me a gentle push from behind to get me moving. Then, in his jogging stride, he took off ahead. From behind, he looked like a baby deer sprinting around. As I lagged behind, walking slowly, he abruptly turned back, halted, and stared at me.


    "Now I understand the real problem!" he exclaimed dramatically.


    Pulling a black rubber band from his pocket, he stepped toward me, stopped just in front, and tied my loose hair into a ponytail by standing in front of me.


    "Do you need to show off your fashion sense even while running time? If you delay again, I''ll cut your hair off next time. Now hurry up!"


    Hearing his words, I sulked but followed him silently. Neither of us said anything. Who scolds like this? I was genuinely hurt about his threat to cut my hair...I was feeling like crying from inside.


    Suddenly, he stopped and grabbed my hand. Still fuming, I was looking straight ahead to the road as I walked, but his touch made me glare at him angrily. He stepped closer and softly said, "Don''t look at me. Look above."


    Reluctantly, I turned my gaze forward to his direction. There, the red sun was rising, spreading a fiery glow across the horizon. The scene, framed beneath the trees, was stunningly beautiful..Just like a dream. Leaning close to my ear, he whispered, "I just wanted to show you this. That''s why I rushed you. If I''d told you, how would it have been a surprise?... I really don''t wanted to hurt you"


    His words made me blush. I turned to look at him, he was looking so divine in front of sun....and suddenly I found he was also gazing at me with such tenderness. Suddenly after a while, he let go of my hand and, with a playful smile, said, "Shall we move on?"


    "But didn''t you say this was the surprise? Where are we going now?" I asked, confused.


    "Ohhhooo, this was just part one of the surprise. The real surprise is yoga! Let''s go!" he said, his eyes twinkling as he pointed ahead.


    "Ughhhhhh, I should''ve brought my phone to click a photo!" I muttered while walking beside him.


    "I''ve captured it in my eyes. Just tell me when you want to see it ... I will made you see the scene again ," he said with a faint smile, not even glancing at me.


    Blushing again, I walked quietly beside him. Soon, we reached the park, where he began my yoga lessons. At first, his theoretical explanations felt utterly boring... But I was still looking at him becausehe look so cute while speaking ... Specially his lips!!, but then he suddenly demonstrated a perfect balancing pose called Tulasan. I thought it looked easy until I tried it myself. That''s when I realized the struggle.


    <figure>


    </figure>


    He patiently made me do some basic poses, and I was completely worn out even by doing basic. How could someone push this hard on day one? Show some mercy pleaseeeee!


    <figure>


    </figure>


    Then came the five fast rounds of Surya Namaskar. By the last round, I folded my hands in surrender. He sat down laughing and resumed his theory, saying, "This pain is the real ras(essence)." and this is just basic yoga...I am planning for you...That you may become master of yoga.


    My back, my legs-everything was dead. I glared at him the whole time. On the way back, I held his hand, glaring even harder as I limped along, while he continued to smile.


    When we got home, I collapsed onto the sofa, ready for some peace... felt like dying.


    But no he don''t like my peace, he went to shower and when returned only to nag me, "Why are you Still sitting here??? I thought you''d have started cleaning by now. Hurry up-I hate mess!"


    "And I hate you!" I muttered under my breath.


    "Did you say something?" he asked with a smirk.


    "No!" I snapped and stormed off to fetch the broom.


    Even as I cleaned, he wouldn''t stop nitpicking. "You missed a spot here... and there...that....blah ...blah..." At that moment, I seriously considered that earlier one "accidentally" dropping the broom on his head must turned into intentionally this time. But instead going anything , I finished quitely sweeping and mopping, later on when I finished plopped back onto the sofa, but this time also he ordered me to take the shower by saying ....Any Dirt must Not sit on sofa again....What does he actually mean huhhhh.


    When I came back, exhausted and grumpy, I saw him in the kitchen cooking. That lifted my spirits a bit. I asked, "What are you making?"


    "First, go pray in the temple," he replied, pointing to the room.


    There, in the small home temple, was a statue of him! I silently thanked it, sang a quick aarti, and applied tilak before returning. He was sitting on the sofa with food.


    "Here, I made poha for you. You''ve worked so hard today. I can''t live in your house for free, after all," he said, bringing a spoonful to my mouth.


    "I can eat by myself!" I said shyly.


    "Your hands are tired. Let me feed you," he said lovingly, insisting.


    "When will you eat?" I asked, chewing.


    "A servant eats only after the master has eaten," he replied with mock innocence.


    Annoyed, I grabbed the spoon and plate from him and served him his own portion on another plate. "Fine! You eat yours, I''ll eat mine, and let''s end this conversation. And you Want me to feed you?" I asked mimicking him


    "No, no! Your hands are in pain. Why would I trouble you?" he teased.


    "Stop it! Just eat quietly," I said, nearly in tears.


    "As you command, ma''am," he said with a cheeky grin and started eating like a child.


    I moved away from him, sitting quietly to eat. His food was good-surprisingly too good. But who puts potatoes in poha? I didn''t understand..And it was quite spicy also... Some tomatoes were also there... I don''t like vegetables!!!!!! But this one was quite tasty.


    Finishing quickly, I snatched his empty plate, ignoring whatever nonsense he was about to spout, and rushed to the kitchen to clean up.


    When I came back, he stood up on the sofa and dramatically announced, "Let me massage your feet madam. They must be aching!"


    "No...., no....!" I yelled, running away as he chased me. We ran around the house like kids-climbing over the bed, throwing pillows, hiding behind the table. Finally, exhausted, I folded my hands in surrender. "Enough! I don''t feel any pain, see? I''m perfectly fit!"


    "Good! then Be ready for another yoga tomorrow... Let me do my important work it''s already 2pm ... See you in the evening with another surprise," he declared, shutting the room door in my face by twinkling his eyes, almost grinning.


    Frustrated, I stomped to the sofa and flopped down, vowing in frustration that never to go anywhere with him again specially for morning yoga...ohhhhhhhhh!!! God .... Sorry he is the real problem behind this pain .... My legs ...My back... My stomach ...It''s hurting... Thinking about it I fell into sleep as I was so tired because of his surprise session ... Hope so in evening ... The surprise would be less cute then morning one. Huhhhhhhhhh!!


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


    Hope so you all also like his surprise ?????? .... Let''s get ready for his next surprise ... ????????


    It''s hurting !!!!!!!

 [Chapter - 20] Golgappe Challenge !!

    I didn¡¯t know how long I had been sleeping so deeply. My body had been so exhausted since that the sleep had grown heavier. My eyes were still closed when I started hearing a faint whisper near my ears, saying, "Wake up!.... Listen Miss¡­wake up....Right!" Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw Krishna sitting cross-legged on the floor near my head. His hands were resting against his cheeks as if he had been waiting for me to wake up all this while. Seeing him with my sleepy eyes brought an involuntary smile to my face. Lazily, I asked, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what time it is,¡± he said, like a playful child. ¡°Right now, it¡¯s definitely not your sleeping time!.... Get up quickly!¡±


    I sat up, looking at him, and teasingly asked, ¡°Then whose time is it?¡±


    Pulling my cheek softly and pointing toward the bedroom door, he said, ¡°It¡¯s time for some....... go, look! Someone is waiting for you!¡±


    The door to the bedroom was closed, but there were rose petals scattered in a line, starting from the sofa near by feet side and leading into the bed room entrance. Surprised, I looked at him and asked, ¡°What is all this?¡±


    ¡°Well....!!,¡± he said with a mischievous smile, ¡°since you don¡¯t let me touch your feet..., I thought at least these flowers should get the honor!¡± He then tugged at my cheek with a laugh.


    I couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his cheeky remark. My laughter seemed to amuse him even more. He lightly patted my cheeks on both sides and said, ¡°Ahhhh! ....You¡¯re happy with seeing  just this much only ? Looks like I worked so hard for no reason....!!!¡±


    ¡°No, no! It¡¯s not so easy to impress me!¡± I teased back and walked toward the bedroom.


    When I entered the room, I was stunned. The entire room floor was covered with rose petals. Fairy lights and decorated items decorated the walls, creating a magical ambiance. On the bed, bedtable was there cake, neatly placed on it.


    ¡°What is all this?!¡± I exclaimed, turning to him in astonishment.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you like it?¡± he asked, sitting near the cake table on the bed.


    ¡°But why all of a sudden? As I remember... no one¡¯s birthday today, ?¡± I said, sitting on the bed across from him.


    ¡°Well, if really cutting a cake requires a birthday!!,¡± he said with a grin, ¡°then for you, I can celebrate my birthday today!¡± He laughed.


    ¡°Wait¡­ but where did the cake come from?!¡± I asked, leaning closer to inspect it.


    ¡°From the K-N-K bakery¡ª! That¡¯s me. I baked it all at home!¡± he said with a dramatic flair.


    ¡°And all this decoration?¡± I asked, gesturing at the lights and flowers.


    ¡°Ohhhhh for that!!, your phone helped me. You know those apps that let you order things at home instantly? I thought I¡¯d finally try one out!¡± he said, pulling my phone out of his pocket.


    ¡°And what about the password? The payment?¡± I asked, taking the phone from him.


    ¡°Well, what¡¯s yours is mine¡­and what¡¯s mine is also mine! .....So, everything magically worked out in just 4000 rupees!¡± he said, glancing at the cake proudly.


    ¡°4000? Isn¡¯t that¡­a bit much less?¡± I teased.


    ¡°What? Is 4000 rupees worth more than me now?¡± he asked, pretending to be hurt, his innocent eyes looking at me.


    ¡°Cut the cake already, and stop talking nonsense!¡± I said, blushing, trying to hide how overwhelmed I felt by his efforts.


    Before cutting the cake, he stopped and said, ¡°Wait, there¡¯s another gift for you!.... In my tradition...., the one whose birthday it is gives a gift to other..... So, here¡¯s something for you. But you¡¯ll have to give me a gift like this on your own birthday!¡± He laughed as he handed me a thick piece of paper. On it, he had painted my face while I was asleep, capturing my closed eyes and peaceful expression with vibrant colors.


    ¡°What is this?!¡± I asked, my voice quivering with emotion.


    ¡°You don¡¯t recognize yourself....? Sorry, I think I accidentally made you a little prettier than you are!¡± he teased, laughing again.


    Tears welled up in my eyes. I held the painting in my hands and looked at him. Softly, I said, ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you like it? Why are you crying?¡± he asked, wiping my tears gently.


    ¡°Nobody has ever surprised me like this before,¡± I began, my voice trembling. ¡°All my friends¡­they¡¯ve only been with me for a short time. Every time, something would happen, and they¡¯d drift away. I used to think maybe I wasn¡¯t a good friend, maybe that¡¯s why people didn¡¯t like staying close to me or talking with me....May be I am boring .... May be I am...... But for the first time, I feel like I¡¯m special to someone¡­first time I felt what''s like to be......¡± Tears kept streaming down as I wiped them with my sleeve.


    ¡°Ohhooo, silly girl,!!!!¡± he said softly. ¡°Life is like a journey. Think of it like this¡ªlike your friends and you meet in school or college. You all travel together on the same bus until you reach the school stop...It''s like a temporary stop. Then, from there some get off and board new buses to new stops according to their choices. But a few, despite being on different buses, promise to stay with you because their destination is the same as yours. You can¡¯t force someone to join you on your journey. Those who truly want to, ....will stay...No matter what....Even if your destination will be different they will support you. And as for being a good friend, remember¡ªnot everyone loves the color red. Some people may love it passionately, while others may not like it at all. But as of now, what I know for sure is¡­I love the cake I made with my own hands!¡± He sat by the cake, guiding my hand to hold the knife with his, and together we cut the cake.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    He fed me the first bite, then ate the other half himself, smiling cheekily. "Ummmm ... I think suddenly .... The cake became, maybe bit too sweet,¡± he said, laughing as he began cutting the rest of the cake into smaller pieces and storing them in a large box.


    I sat there, holding the painting, watching him with a flood of emotions. My heart whispered, Krishna... You are my destination, the one I wish to reach in the end,.....and you are also my companion, the one with whom I wish to journey toward that destination. Tears brimmed in my eyes again as I took another bite of the cake.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry while eating, or the cake will turn salty instead of sweet!¡± he teased. His words made me laugh, and for a moment, the world felt perfect.


    As he packed the leftover cake into a container, Krishna began preparing to leave, urging me to get ready as well. When I asked him where we were going and for whom the cake was, he dramatically feigned emotional blackmail, saying, ¡°What...? Don¡¯t you trust me ....


    Why are you  asking so many questions?¡±


    It was already 5 PM. Smiling at his antics, I decided to quietly comply. My body still ached from yoga earlier, but his cake had somewhat lessened the pain. Yet, I was silently thinking that if he kept giving surprises, when would I ever get a chance to do something special for him?...its my turn now to do something for him....  Determined, I resolved to plan something soon. With that thought, I got ready and left with him.


    As soon as we stepped outside, he excitedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s have golgappas! I want to see if your spicy tongue can handle the spiciest golagappaaa too!¡±


    ¡°But how can you eat them...As you are?¡± I asked, teasingly.


    ¡°With my mouth, obviously!¡± he retorted, pulling a mock face. ¡°Humans eat with their mouths, don¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°No, I meant¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough of your ¡®meant¡¯!¡± he cut me off and called out to the vendor, ¡°Baba, make two plates of the spiciest golgappas you have!¡±


    We began eating. By the eighth golgappa, his nose had turned bright red, and he started to wince as the spice got to him. ¡°Sii ....sii,¡± he muttered under his breath. I was struggling too, but I didn¡¯t let it show in front of him. As we walked further, I couldn¡¯t stop laughing at his plight. The water he drank made his situation worse, so we decided to get ice cream. He quickly finished his butterscotch cone because of the earlier spicey, but when I got distracted, he snatched my chocolate cone and devoured it with a laugh.


    ¡°Oh my God!!!! Wait ....Now, who do I complain to about you?¡± I exclaimed, feigning frustration.


    ¡°Wow, you can¡¯t even share one ice cream with me...., but then you¡¯ll go to the temple and ask for a new laptop, huh?¡±


    I rolled my eyes, recalling all the silly things I had asked him for in the past. But now, I had my very own personal ATM by my side¡ªno need to ask anyone else for anything else. Smiling to myself, I followed him as we continued walking.


    He led me to a slum area I hadn¡¯t visited before. There, he distributed the cake to children, telling them it was for his birthday. Watching him play with the little ones, lifting them in his arms, he looked so pure and joyful. It was as if two children were playing together.


    But, of course, he couldn¡¯t resist teasing me. He kept calling over stray dogs, knowing I was scared of them. Afterward, we stopped at a supermarket where he picked up his daily essentials. ¡°This city¡¯s pollution is ruining my delicate skin,¡± he remarked dramatically as he filled the cart with more creams and lotions than I, a girl, owned. And, of course, I ended up paying the bill.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Sandy appeared out of nowhere. She began chatting with him, smiling coyly. And he? He wasn¡¯t holding back his smiles either. My jealousy flared. Thankfully, he refused her suggestion to move into a new flat, which gave me some relief. But then she dropped the bomb.


    Sandy said ¡°Are you looking for a yoga job right now? Our society needs a yoga teacher. You could join part-time in the mornings!¡±


    Krishna replied with a smile ¡°That sounds great! I love waking up early,¡± he said, glancing at me.


    I stood there, silently controlling my expressions.


    ¡°Give me your number. I¡¯ll text you the details for tomorrow¡¯s trial class.¡± she said by playing with her hair.


    ¡° ohhhhh!!! My old number isn¡¯t working; as I lost my phone. I¡¯ve been using hers for now,¡± he said, gesturing toward me.


    ¡°Oh, how unfortunate! Never mind, I¡¯ll text her then.¡± she made a face by looking at me.


    I was trying my hard to stood there .... But I couldn¡¯t bear it anymore... When she asked Krishna to join her for a snack, that moment I made up an excuse about stomach pain and insisted on going home. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t stay with her long.


    On the way back, I didn¡¯t say a word to him. He kept talking, trying to lighten the mood, but I was too annoyed to respond. However, as we neared home, I started feeling guilty. He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, after all...He was just replying her. I resumed talking to him, as usual, putting my jealousy aside.


    Back at home, he made me wash my hands and feet and then sat me down for the evening prayers. Later, I decided to make something special for him¡ªa recipe my friend Chiku had shared, one that Dwarkadhish loved. With the help of YouTube, I got started, adding tomatoes just as Chiku had suggested. Krishna insisted on kneading the wheat floor for roti on his own  and soon after, he began narrating the story of his devotee, Narsi Mehta jj. He grew emotional while recounting it but quickly hid his tears and ran to the bathroom. Little did he know.... that no matter how tough he pretended to be, he was as soft as butter.


    Dinner was ready, and I had made at least ten rotis. Krishna separated the first one for the cow, as was customary, and helped me set the table. When I asked why he was doing the work, he sarcastically smiled and said, "doing work makes the body healthy ....Or else I will be lazy be like you ¡±


    After dinner, I snatched his plate and hurried to the kitchen to wash it, wanting to do something for him...As I don''t want to see him work more. By the time I returned, he had already gone to the room and was shouting from inside that don''t forget to clean this flowers tomorrow. I nodded and went to sofa  and fell asleep scrolling through my phone, knowing I had to wake up early for work the next day for my office.


    The next morning, I woke up to the sounds of him bustling around. He stepped out of the bathroom, adjusting his tracksuit leading toward the bedroom. Without saying a word, I got up and started tying my hair. When he saw me, he smirked, ¡°Wow, did the sun rise early today.....?¡±


    I didn¡¯t reply. My real reason for waking up early was Sandy. She had texted last night that she¡¯d be at the park at 6 AM, and I wasn¡¯t about to leave Krishna alone with her.


    We set off for the morning walk. Along the way, I plucked a flower and handed it to him blushingly. He tucked it behind his ear, looking so adorable. My two flowers,..... I thought, stealing glances at him. Whenever he caught me staring, I quickly looked away and ran ahead.


    At the park, he guided everyone through easy yoga poses,... I don''t know why was that heavy special yoga class was for me yesterday??


    But Sandy......? She kept making intentional mistakes so he¡¯d come over closer to correct her. My anger simmered. At the end, she handed him a Dairy Milk Silk as a token of thanks and, insisting me  leave for work, effectively sent me away. Watching him eat the chocolate with her was infuriating.


    Back home, I freshened up, prayed, and made oats for breakfast. As I got ready for work, Krishna returned and asked about breakfast. Sarcastically, I said, ¡°What? Wasn¡¯t the chocolate enough for you?¡± Then I told him where the food was and left for the office, trying to shake off my irritation.


    At work, I found it hard to focus. My thoughts kept drifting to him. His new phone was arriving tomorrow ...The notification about that popped up, and I couldn¡¯t wait to give him a surprise. Smiling to myself, I finished my tasks and headed home, eager to see him again.


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


    I Loved seeing his running red rose while eating gollgape ... He looks really too adorable while eating ... His lips becomes more red because of spicy ... He was too stunned to speak while having spicy in his mouth ....The round big golgappa made his mouth looks like big golgappaaaaaaaa?? .... He is My Mr. golgappuuu....hehe

 [Chapter - 21] His New Phone!!

    While returning home from the office, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Krishna. I kept wondering what he might have been doing all day alone at home. Was he bored? .....These thoughts swirled in my head as I reached the flat and rang the doorbell. The door opened after two or three rings, and suddenly, a shower of dried rose petals fell over me. Behind the door, Krishna stood, smiling mischievously as he performed his little act.


    The sight of his smiling face immediately washed away all my exhaustion and irritation from the day. I dropped my bag on the sofa, sat beside it, and teased him, "Oh! What ...... a grand welcome!! Sir..."


    "Well;!! , you never bother to clean the flowers from my room, so I thought I''d drop them on you. Maybe now this lazy girl will clean them...!" he said, tossing more petals at me from his pocket.


    "At least I got to experience a flower shower,....By a flower himself....!" I said, playfully provoking him.


    "What are you saying...Can you repeat!! ?" he asked, pretending not to understand as he moved closer to me.


    "I''m going to grab some water first and then take a little rest," I replied, laughing and diverting the topic before walking away.


    When I returned, fresh-faced after washing up, I found him standing in front of me, holding chapati mixveg rolls. He said he had made them himself for me. Honestly, I felt a bit embarrassed seeing him handle the household chores, but at the same time, it warmed my heart. I didn''t say much and quietly ate the rolls. Afterward, as usual, he dragged me out for a walk despite my protests.


    The most surprising part of the evening was how easily he mingled with the aunties and uncles in our society .... Like everywhere he was going and start greeting them out of nowhere in middle of our conversation ''Namaste Aunty ji... how is your pain now?''. It seemed as though he had known them forever. Meanwhile, here I was, not even acquainted with all the residents of my own building after so long.


    "How do you know all these people?" I asked him as we walked.


    "They called me for another yoga session after you left. The paymentis per batch now, and deal is done with three batches a day, it''s not bad, right?" he replied, glancing at me with a proud grin.


    "You''ve already made so yourself


    (Jugad) adjustable here!" I teased him.


    "Well,...!!! I''m not shameless like you, living at someone''s place without paying rent," he quipped, playfully smacking the back of my head.


    "Oh really? Tell me how much rent you owe!" I demanded, pretending to be annoyed.


    "Still....You wouldn''t be able to afford it,!!" he said, still smiling as he looked straight ahead.


    "Try me!" I insisted.


    "It would take you a whole lifetime to repay it if I told you,..." he said, his smile widening.


    "Then I guess I''ll just have to spend my whole life with you to pay the rent," I said shyly.


    "Do you really think I could tolerate you for an entire lifetime...?" he suddenly stopped walking and asked, So dramatically.


    "It''s a matter of courage to stay with me.... If you don''t have the guts, then what can I do?" I teased back, glancing at him as I walked ahead.


    He ran to catch up me , leaned close to my ear, and whispered, "Fine....Time will tell....right!!! " Then, without waiting for my reaction, he darted into a nearby shop.


    After A little more shopping... later, we headed home as the evening deepened after watching the sunset together. After coming back, we washed up and performed the evening prayer (Sandhya poojan) together. Then, as always, we prepared dinner, shared some lighthearted conversations, and retreated to our respective rooms for the night.


    I couldn''t help but wonder why he always went to bed so early. It was such a mystery to me, but perhaps, that''s just another part of what made him... Krishna.


    Early in the morning, I was woken up again because of Sandy. She had messaged last night, insisting that Keshav should be sent to her again. "Who does she think she is .... And who is keshav to her....?" I thought, simmering with anger... I don''t like the way she talk to him and about him. This frustration boiled within me while I dragged myself to the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar, so I pushed it open completely. And there he was-Krishna-brushing his teeth in the corner. But lost in my thoughts about Sandy, I hadn''t even noticed him at first. It was only when I closed the door behind and put toothpaste on my brush ....that time ....my eyes fell on him, and I let out a loud shriek.


    "Aaaaaaaaaaaa!"


    "What? ....What happened?" he responded, startled, still gargling.


    "You are here....????!" I stammered, pointing at him.


    "Of course, I''m here, brushing my teeth," he replied casually, rinsing his mouth.


    "But... but I didn''t expect you!" I stuttered.


    "Why? Did you think I was cooking in here?" he teased, washing his brush.


    I glared at him. "But you''re brushing your teeth-"


    "Are you drunk this early in the morning? ....Hurry up! ...Get ready for the morning walk," he said, smirking as he wiped his wet hands on my cheeks before walking out of the bathroom.


    "What''s wrong with me!" I muttered, slamming the door shut, shaking my head at my own absentmindedness. How could I be so distracted!


    Once I got ready, we set off for our morning walk. As usual, I plucked a flower along the way and handed it to him. Together, we stood in silence, watching the sunrise, with me enjoying the sight of my "sun" standing next to the rising sun. However, seeing him chatting animatedly with Sandy again started to irritate me. Thankfully, there were other people around this time, and her clinginess didn''t bother me as much as he was busy with other people during the session.


    The yoga session ran longer than usual, so I had to leave early, leaving Krishna alone with Sandy was bothering me. Back at the room, I freshened up, did my prayers, and prepared breakfast for both of us. As I waited for him, I felt a strange heaviness in my heart. When he didn''t return, I left for work feeling restless. My day at the office felt off. The weight in my chest only grew heavier, and my boss''s scolding added fuel to my already miserable mood.


    I sat at my desk with my head buried in my arms, looking utterly defeated, when a delivery boy''s call snapped me out of my gloom. I quickly shared the OTP, instructing him to deliver the package to Krishna at home. For some reason, that small act made me feel better, a tiny flicker of light in my otherwise nightmare day.


    The day crawled by, and by the time I headed home, the walk seemed endless and time consuming. I couldn''t stop wondering how Krishna would react to the delivery.... Would he be pleased by the new phone? Or Annoyed? The anticipation gnawed at me.


    As I reached the door and rang the bell, it flew open almost instantly. Krishna stood there with his phone''s camera pointed at me. "You look so much fairer in this video!" he exclaimed, grinning mischievously.


    I rolled my eyes, tossing my bag onto the sofa. "You don''t even know how to use the camera properly...So stop commenting," I muttered, reaching for the water bottle on the table.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Wait, just like this ....hold still!" he said, pretending to snap my photo as I drank water.


    "Stop it! You''re going to make me spill the water!" I scolded, annoyed.


    But he didn''t stop. And sure enough, the water splashed onto his pants. Bursting into laughter, I teased, "Serves you right!!!! Now that''s some karma points!"


    "You did that on purpose, didn''t you?" he accused, wiping the water on my clothes with exaggerated drama.


    I watched him .... As he was showing me new phone features that he discovered today .... he showed me something excitedly, like a little boy sharing a newfound treasure. As he spoke, my irritation melted into a warm sense of contentment.


    Suddenly A playful idea struck inside me. "Let''s test the phone''s speaker quality!" I suggested.


    "How?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Give me the phone!" I demanded. Taking it, I opened YouTube and played ''I Love You'' from the Bodyguard movie at full volume. I couldn''t help sneaking glances at him as the song played. My heart raced with excitement and a mischievous grin spread across my face. Krishna, however, stood with his eyes closed, pretending to listen intently without a single reaction.


    When the song ended, he finally opened his eyes. I asked, shyly, "So... what do you think?"


    "The speaker is good," he replied nonchalantly, taking the phone from me. His hand brushed mine briefly, and I felt a rush of warmth. But then he said something that shattered the moment. "By the way, you can get me a new phone number simcard under your name..... Actually Sandy wanted my contact number."


    I froze, staring at him. "Why don''t you just ask her to get a new sim card.....directly then?" I snapped, trying to hide my hurt. I got up to leave, but he caught my hand.


    "If you want,.... Then I''ll call you also from my new number," he said softly, his expression was innocent, as if he didn''t understand why I was upset.


    " talk to me also???? What does also even mean?" I retorted, turning away my head. "If someone else is more important to you...., go talk to them ....! Don''t bother doing me any favors... I don''t want to be an second option ....!"


    "Wait a minute... Are you jealous?" he teased, tilting my face toward him.


    "Jealous?.... Of her? ....Never!" I stammered, my voice faltering.


    "If you say so...," he said, smirking. "But don''t worry, I''ll stop talking to her if it makes you happy. After all, I''m your servant, right Mam?" He dramatically folded his hands, making me laugh despite myself.


    "Stop it... just stop now! ....Oh wait, I just remembered-there''s something I need to show you!" I said, snatching the phone from his hand.


    "What??" he asked, leaning closer to look at the phone screen.


    "Look at this... it''s the Wattpad app! It''s downloading... there are tons of stories about you on it. Wait, let me show you myself!" I said eagerly, scrolling through the screen.


    "I already know about it!!!," he replied with a sly smile. "I''ve seen it on your phone before, and I also already know who''s writing what about me."


    "Oh, really?! You''re so omniscient, aren''t you?..... I totally forgot you''re basically a god!" I teased, grinning mischievously.


    "If someone writes about me, do you really think it won''t reach me? I keep track of everything. The only difference is, I choose not to say anything," he said, snatching the phone back from me.


    "Speaking of which... should I tell Chikuuu about you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked at him.


    "Do you really not want me to have a moment of peace?.... If you tell her I''m here with you, she''ll start pestering Dwarkadhish Ji about me..... That''ll create chaos for him, and in the end, all the blame-and extra work-will fall on me!..... So please, just sit quietly and let keep it as a secret!" he said, clicking on "<u>Create Account</u>" while shaking his head.


    "But... this isn''t right! I don''t feel good hiding this from her," I said, peeking over his shoulder at the phone screen.


    "And do you think she tells you everything....? Did she tell you she''s planning a date with Dwarkadhish Ji? She''s hiding plenty from you too. If you tell her about me, her dating schedule will get messed up, and then the blame will fall on me yet again. So, sit quietly, let his dwarikadhish ji handle his matters, and let me handle mine!" he said, hiding the phone from me while typing furiously.


    "But aren''t you both one and the same?" I asked, puzzled.


    "I am... and I''m not. I''m here with you right now, and I''m with her too. Everyone gets their time with me as per their own circumstances. Just like marriages don''t start with the phere(a marriage ritual) right away-everything has its time.


    Now, stop distracting me and tell me Chiku''s Wattpad ID. I need to make sure her story reaches her beloved Dwarkadhish!" he said, pulling the phone back toward himself.


    "Wait a second... but what''s your Wattpad ID? Tell me that first!!!" I demanded, leaning closer to see the screen.


    "Shhh! I don''t trust you at all," he said, smirking. "And anyway, I''m not exactly new here. I''ve just created a new account..... And just so you know, I already know all about Cheeku''s ID-and everyone else''s account for that matter also.


    But now it''s time for some mischief!!!! ! From this new account of mine, I''ll explore the lovely, enchanting stories and poems my dear writers have crafted... hahaha!!!!" he laughed, slipping the phone into his pocket and dramatically laughing by moving his hand.


    "I have a question....Do you think!!!," I asked excitedly, "you could ever make their stories come true?"


    "Ah! Who knows... maybe in some universe, their stories are coming true," he said with a wistful smile. "But remember-writers don''t choose stories; stories choose writers." He paused, running his hand gently through my hair. "However, that one thing you wrote about me once-the one you never showed to anyone-that hasn''t come true...yet."


    His words hung in the air, leaving me wondering what he meant as I looked at him, my heart fluttering like the pages of that hidden story.


    "That wasn''t meant for you...!!!" Saying this, I ran off, blushing, and locked myself in the bathroom. Placing my hands over my flushed cheeks, I stood there reminiscing about the old days. I remembered how I used to call out to him, write letters for him. He knew it all-yet, I couldn''t understand why he is pretending to be unaware about my feeling.


    The evening came, and like every day, we went for a walk, followed by the evening prayer, dinner, and then off to bed. The next day began again with morning walk.... offering a rose to my cute rose, heading out for a morning walk with it, and almost daily .... It goes with stealing glances at him while burning with jealousy over Sandy. Afterward, it was the usual rush to the office, returning by evening, and repeating the same evening routine all over again.


    Our days were flowing together like this-laughing, fighting, teasing each other. Now he knew that I was jealous of Sandy, and so he deliberately teased me even more by her name. And then there were the Sundays-when everyone else got a break from yoga, but I had to attend "extra-special" classes, as he called them... That these special classes are only for special people like me. These classes were so special that my body endured an entire month''s worth of yoga in just one day!... But to be honest doing yoga was improving my physical health very much.


    Every morning my favorite part would be, how I would "accidentally" bump into him. And whenever I surprised him by returning early from the office, my day felt complete. Sometimes, his little quirksand surprises made me fall even harder for him- I remember the time when I caught him sneaking butter from the fridge at midnight..... And how he covered up it by saying "I was taking it out for you because I knew you''d wake up soon!" he claimed. How much fun it was to annoy him that night!


    I also remember the time when I accidentally slapped his cheek while trying to kill a mosquito. The whole day, he made a fuss dramatically, pretending his tooth was broken! He always made a scene over my mistakes, but when it came to his own, he''d skillfully change the subject.


    Oh, and how could I forget? During office hours, whenever he called to ask, "What should I cook for lunch?" or "I''m heading to yoga, should I pick something up from market?"-his voice over the phone sounded so melodious and so so .... Addicting...., even more enchanting than in person. I secretly recorded his voice just to listen to it while working; it was my motivation to get through the day.


    Days passed, and Diwali arrived. It was my first Diwali away from home. I felt a little homesick, but he lifted my spirits. Together, we decorated the house with flowers and oil lamps called Diyas. Working alongside him had its own charm-especially when he would mummer into a song in between tasks. His singing transported me to another world. I wished he would someday let me rest my head in his lap and sing for me.


    On the day of Diwali, he looked stunning in a red kurta. Oh,..... how handsome he was! I couldn''t take my eyes off him. His hair, his cheeks.....-I wanted to reach out and touch them. But what excuse could I find to get closer to him?


    We made desi ghee laddoos together and went around the neighborhood distributing them. Thanks to him, I had become quite well-known in the area. Everyone knew him from yoga, and since he stayed with me, they recognized me too, thinking he was my relative from the village.


    At one house, an aunt commented that we made a lovely couple. My heart swelled with joy, but I eagerly waited for his response. He said nothing, though. The lights of the diyas made him glow even more that night.


    Sandy, of course how can I forget , didn''t miss her chance to grab attention. She took a photo with him clicked by me...and flaunted her pink dress. She started her usual drama, showing off before me. Somehow, I managed to escape her and reached the last house. There, an elderly lady gave us prasadam from Vrindavan, reminding me of my wish to visit the place that I told her before.


    Excitedly, I brought it up of costing vrindavan with him once we got back to our room. But he remained silent. After a pause, he simply said, "Let''s leave it for now....," and walked out as some children called for him.


    I stood there, puzzled, trying to understand why he said that. Lost in thought, I absentmindedly popped the last laddoo into my mouth, my eyes trailing after him as he disappeared out of the room.


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ

 [Chapter - 22] ShreeVrindavan Dham !!

    We had spent so much time together already that I hadn''t even realized how quickly the days were passing. I was beginning to worry-what if a whole year flew by like this? And yet, despite all this time, I still hadn''t been able to confess my feelings properly.


    Every time I tried, my body would tremble, and an inexplicable fear would take over me. Perhaps a visit to Vrindavan, under the blessings of Radharani, would give me the courage to finally speak my heart. I started plotting-maybe I could take him there without telling him. That way, he wouldn''t refuse. Or maybe I''d come up with some other plan. I had to think of something.


    That night, when Krishna returned, I sat next to him and casually asked,


    "If I ask you for something, will you give it to me?"


    "What kind of strange question is that?" he replied, narrowing his eyes at me.


    "Just answer!" I insisted, my eyes shimmering with anticipation.


    "That depends on what you''re asking for."


    "Think of it as a Diwali gift and just say yes! Please?" I begged, folding my hands dramatically.


    "Alright," he said with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. "But if I agree to your gift, you''ll have to promise to do something for me in return. Deal?"


    "Fine! Whatever you say,... I''ll agree to it. Now tell me, what do I have to do?" I replied with a grin.


    "First, I''ll fulfill your request. As for my condition, the right time will reveal that to you," he said teasingly, pulling my cheek and flashing a mischievous smile.


    "Okay, okay! So, you have to come somewhere with me. Be ready,!! no questions and answering session will be done by you in between !" I said, gently pushing his hand away from my face.


    "You sound like you''re planning to kidnap me," he said, giving me a sly, sideways glance.


    "Think of it as kidnapping, then!" I replied, pulling at his rosy cheeks this time.


    "If my kidnapper will be you...., Then I have no objections,!!" he said, looking straight into my eyes.


    His gaze sent my heart racing. I quickly pulled my hand back from his face and placed it nervously in my lap. Trying to hide my flustered state, I changed the topic and started rambling about random things. I didn''t know why, but confessing my love to him always made me anxious.


    A week later, I had booked train tickets and somehow managed to get a week-long leave from work. I hadn''t taken many days off for Diwali this year, so this worked in my favor. With everything planned out, we set off for Vrindavan.


    I still hadn''t told him where we were going, and as promised, he hadn''t asked any questions about it. He quietly sat by the window on the lower berth of the train. It was 4 a.m., and we were just an hour away from Vrindavan. I climbed down from my upper berth and sat beside him.


    "So you are unable to sleep?" I asked, pulling out a lip balm from my purse.


    "I can''t sleep in a moving train.... I need peace to sleep," he replied, glancing at me.


    "Don''t worry; we''ll reach soon," I said while applying the lip balm.


    "Why are you putting on lipstick so early in the morning?" he asked, looking surprised.


    "This isn''t lipstick; it''s lip balm-strawberry flavored. Maybe the tint makes it look like lipstick. Want to try?" I teased, holding it out to him.


    "It may be called lip balm, but it works like lipstick. Changing the name doesn''t change its nature," he said with a smile, turning to look out of the window.


    Sometimes, I didn''t understand what he said, but it felt like he was teasing me.


    We sat quietly for a while, watching the scenery outside. Just then, my phone pinged with a notification that Mathura Junction was approaching. I used this chance to distract him-I plugged earphones into his ears and pulled the curtain over the window. Successfully keeping his attention elsewhere....As I want to give him a surprise...., I felt a sense of triumph as the train pulled into Vrindavan station.


    "Get up quickly; we''ve reached!" I urged him to get off the train.


    As we stepped down, he grumbled,


    "Why do you rush everything? ...You could''ve told me where we were getting off;.... I wouldn''t have been shoved around like this....Where are we, anyway.......?"


    He paused mid-sentence when he spotted the signboard that read Vrindavan.


    "You were saying something?" I asked, teasing him with a playful smile.


    "Let''s just... keep going," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.... I could see some kind of strange nervousness on his face.


    As we stepped out of the station, we got into an auto-rickshaw. Krishna remained silent the entire way, staring out of the window as though searching for something lost. He seemed distant, almost as if lost in his own world. When the auto stopped at our destination, Krishna got down first, and to my surprise, he crouched down and touched the soil of Vrindavan. It felt as though he was meeting an old friend after ages. He took a pinch of the soil, applied it to his forehead, and slipped a small stone into his pocket. Watching him, I, too, bowed down to the vrindavan soil in reverence.


    We decided to visit a nearby temple first, as it was close to our hotel and the morning aarti was about to begin. Upon entering the temple, Krishna took a deep breath and closed his eyes during the aarti. I couldn''t understand what he was thinking; the expressions on his face were unreadable. The temple resounded with chants of his name, but in the middle of it all, he suddenly stepped outside. Puzzled, I followed him.


    "Why did you come out? Aren''t you happy?" I asked him in a concerned tone.


    "Can we go back now?....You''ve done the darshan, haven''t you?" he asked, looking at me with a strange restlessness.


    "Why do you want to leave? What''s bothering you...?" I pressed, but he kept insisting on leaving.


    When he didn''t budge, I finally grabbed his hand and said firmly,


    "If I mean anything to you, then tell me the truth. Why are you feeling so uneasy out of sudden?"


    "I don''t know ....How can I explain this to you?" he began, pulling his hand away. "Ever since we came here,.... I feel like I''m losing control over myself.... And being here with you... I don''t want to..."


    I didn''t let him finish. I held his hand again and said,


    "Stop worrying about me. Don''t you want me to meet your loved ones?.... Don''t you want to introduce me to them? ....I didn''t come here just to wander around with you..... I came to meet your people!"Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He looked at me for a moment, he was thinking something , then suddenly smiled.


    "Will you meet my sister?" he asked softly.


    "Shubhadra Di?" I asked, surprised.


    "No... my elder sister, Maanvi Didi!" he said, squeezing my hand with excitement.


    "Who is she?" I asked, confused.


    "You''ll find out....soon...Why do you ask so many questions....?" he said, looking around eagerly. "She must be on her way now!"


    A short while later, a woman approached us, holding a child in her arms. Krishna pointed at her and said,


    "Look, my nephew(bhanja) is coming too! Can you stop them for me? I''m scared of Didi''s scolding!!," he added with a sheepish grin.


    As she came closer, I stopped her on the temple path and pretended to need directions. While she was helping us, the child in her arms suddenly began crying uncontrollably. She struggled to calm him, her hands already full with a bag of offerings. Seeing her predicament, Krishna asked if he could hold the child. The moment the baby was in Krishna''s arms, he stopped crying and calmed down immediately.


    "That''s strange....," she said, surprised. "He''s never done that before....And.... He doesn''t go to strangers so easily!"


    "Didi...Maybe it''s because of an old connection," Krishna replied, cradling the baby lovingly. "By the way, can I call you Didi?"


    "Of course," she said with a smile. "You''re like a younger brother to me...Even.... I came here in this temple to meet my little brother, Kanhaiyaa .... I almost skipped coming this morning because I overslept, but then I thought he might be angry and will make faces towards ke afterwards.... He''s more troublesome than this little babu!" she added, laughing.


    "True....True!" I said, laughing and covering my mouth.


    "Are you seriously badmouthing for your innocent little brother in public, Didi?" Krishna protested, feigning offense. "I''m sure he must be a great uncle (mama)!"


    "Yes yes..., sure,...." she said, rolling her eyes sarcastically. "He''s just like this little babu- or you can say he is more little then babu ... He is so stubborn...And have his own tantrums!!"


    "But if he can''t share his heart with his elder sister, then who else will he turn to...?" Krishna replied in a childlike tone with puppy eyes.


    "Why are you defending him so much?" she asked, laughing.


    "Because ....I have an elder sister too. I know the struggles of being the younger one," Krishna said with a grin.


    "Alright.., fair enough," she said smiling. "I''d better head inside now.....Time is running so fast today.... If Kanhiyaa gets upset, it''ll be more trouble... To make him happy.... and There''s so much work to do today!"


    "We''ll join you inside, Didi,!!" Krishna offered. "I''ll carry the little babu.... Seeing him reminds me of my own nephew back home!"


    She agreed, and we went inside together. I did another round of darshan, but Krishna had completely transformed-he was playing with the child, holding him close as if he couldn''t bear to part with him for even a moment.


    When we stepped out, Krishna handed the baby back to her and said,


    "Didi, I bought this chain for my nephew back home, but seeing your son reminded me of him.....Can I gift it to him, from his uncle(mama) side?"


    "Why don''t you put it on him yourself, Bhaiya?" she replied with a warm smile.


    And so he did, his eyes sparkling with joy.... He was continuously smiling and looking at didi and baby.


    The three of them were looking so beautiful together. Krishna was smiling brightly as he put the chain on the child. After that, we bid farewell to them... Krishna touched the didi feet before going and kissed on little babu small hands.


    Later, I told Krishna we should head back to the hotel. But Krishna, with a mischievous grin, said, "If we are staying here, let''s stay properly." He then took me to a dharamshala named Shri Ju, where we stayed in a shared room with other devotees.


    After settling our belongings, we roamed around the area together. Krishna narrated stories and his bond about every person who were roaming in street of vrindavan we passed, as if they were all part of his family. He spoke of countless mothers, sisters, brothers, friends, and even lovers with such intimacy that it felt like he truly knew them with so closeness... Along me He even took initiative to talk with most of them. Those seven days felt nothing less than heaven to me.


    He guided me through the narrow lanes of Vrindavan, reliving his childhood tales. He showed me the spots where Yashoda Maiya used to chase him, where he hid, and even the places where he secretly used to met Radha Rani. Together, we explored both secret and famous places-like Keshi Ghat, Prem Mandir, ISKCON Temple, Nidhivan Ju, Radha Raman Ju, Madan Mohan Ju Temple, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Shri Radha Damodar Temple, and Rangaji Temple.


    In the last three days, we even visited Barsana. I still remember Krishna''s flushed cheeks when we were inside Shri Ji''s palace. He didn''t say much there-just kept smiling endlessly. He was watching shreeju every art and photo like a admirer.His silence, combined with his radiant smile, made the moment unforgettable....


    I remember on One of the day, Krishna took me to the house of one of his Maiya. It was mid-day when we arrived, and she was resting on a bed. Krishna walked in and, in his playful tone, said, "Maiya, are you going to sleep without eating today...?"


    Hearing his voice, she sat up and tried to recognize him. Krishna approached her, touched her feet, and said, "I''m the son of Pandit Ji... Have you forgotten? He sent food for you from the temple feast(bhandara) today!.... And this is my friend-she has come from far away to have darshan, so I brought her here too," he added, pointing towards me. The love in his eyes as he looked at Maiya was unmissable.


    I took the prasadam inside to serve it on a plate, and when I returned, I saw Krishna holding Maiya''s hand with tears in his eyes. He was gently caressing her hand, repeatedly asking her, "Why don''t you take care of yourself, Maiya?" When Maiya replied, "My Thakur takes care of me," Krishna''s tears began flowing. "Your Thakur is so small, Maiya....You must take care of yourself.....Look at your hands-they are so frail..... You don''t eat properly, do you...?" he said, his voice trembling.


    When I entered the room, Krishna quickly wiped his tears and pretended that something had fallen into his eyes. Then, with such tenderness, he began feeding Maiya with his own hands, even eating her leftovers with no hesitation. Watching him, I couldn''t hold back my own tears. At that moment, I realized why I loved Krishna. It wasn''t just admiration-it was a connection beyond logic or time...It was connection of love a pure love....I watched them from behind the door ...Krishna was hugging his maiya like a 1 year old baby....I don''t think words can describe those moments .... It just felt like I am seeing spring season in this December.


    Who says I''m meeting Krishna for the first time? I have met him many time earlier also.... this was not the first time seeing him... I have seen him already....-in the eyes of his devotees, I have heard his melodies voice earlier ..... in the sweetness of his devotees voices singing his bhajans and poems .....,I have felt his touch warmth earlier also .... in their blessings of his lovers that touch the heart like his gentle caress.


    Coming to Vrindavan made me realize why I loved him so much..... I think I can now say.... I am the luckiest person who have seen love with my eyes which is known as abstract feeling ....I have seen love in the form of krishna ....Sometime I think.... If his devotees carried such immense love in themselves like a river, imagine the ocean of love that Krishna himself must be...He is the source of love. That day, I tasted a tiny drop from that ocean-a feeling so profound...So divine.... that it cannot be described in words.


    Another vivid memory was from the time we sat by the Yamuna River. Krishna scooped some water into his hand, touched it to his forehead, kissed it from his rosy lips, and whispered something I couldn''t hear to the Yamuna''s ju water . I kept gazing at him, my heartbeat quickening with every passing moment. Then I noticed Krishna staring at a girl across the river ghat, his eyes brimming with tears. I urged him to go to her, but he simply said, "I want to meet her too, but not now.....Do you think it''s fun to play hide and seek with your loved ones? It''s so hard to be so close to someone you love and yet hold yourself back. That''s why I wait for the perfect reunion... so that there will be no going back.....and....." Before finishing his sentence, he walked away, hiding his inner emotions...His eyes were shining in sunlight because of tears. I stayed behind, glancing back and forth between Krishna and the girl.


    On our way to the station, we came across a Sufi man singing songs of devotion to his God(allah). Krishna sat near him, listening intently. When the song ended, Krishna smiled, gently touched his hand, and gave him some money. As the man blessed him, Krishna''s eyes filled with tears again, though he tried to hide them.


    Later, on the train, I couldn''t resist asking him, "That man wasn''t even your devotee. Why did you meet him?"


    Krishna replied with a smile, "If someone calls me by another name, does it change...who I am???.... You may or may not believe in me, but I consider you mine regardless."


    His words brought a smile to my face. How strange it is that we humans divide God into so many fragments, forgetting that the creator is one and the same,.... no matter what name you call him by.


    As the train journeyed on, I found myself lost in the memories of Vrindavan. When we reached our room, Krishna just kept smiling silently, as though carrying the entire world''s happiness in his heart.... He didn''t spoke much to me...But his eyes and smile was telling so many unspoken words.


    ¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô¡ñ¡ô


    ??Krishnaaa ..... Thank you for making me write this ....!!??


    ??Radhe Radhe??

 [Chapter - 23] Meet my boyfriend !!

    These days,  I was spending my good time with Krishna, but after returning from Vrindavan I noticed, I discovered a new side of him. The side which Krishna always hide behind his witty smile....,I got to know about ..... the Krishna I had fallen in love with....the Krishna who was mine.


    In Vrindavan, I had gone with the intention of confessing my feelings to him, but maybe some feelings are better left in the heart. I thought, perhaps I would tell him the day before he left at the end of the contract day, so there wouldn''t be any regrets.


    Who knows? Maybe if I confessed then, he would stay....But the strange fear lingered-what if this sweet and sour friendship between us got ruined? Right now, I could speak to him so freely about anything, but after confessing, how would I even talk to him?


    Often, I would just look at him and debate in my head-should I say it, or shouldn''t I? Sometimes, I wished he could just read my heart himself. Why was he making me suffer like this? And then I thought, maybe he only considered me a friend.


    After we returned from Vrindavan, life went back to how it used to be. But I tried to make every day special for him. Some days, I cooked something new for him, and other days, I dressed him in new clothes. Giving him flowers and expressing my feelings through songs had become a daily ritual. Yet, every time, he acted as though he didn''t understand...He just act fool..... And to top it off, he would tease me by bringing up Sandy''s name, adding fuel to the fire.


    Our days were passing like this until, one day, I suddenly received a message about my college reunion. It was perfectly timed with the winter break at my office, which ran from December 24 to January 2. One of my old friends, who worked at a different branch of my office, also knew about it. I couldn''t say no, even though I didn''t feel like going. On top of that, Krishna was with me, and I wasn''t sure what to do at that moment.... I don''t want to leave krishna alone.


    When I asked Krishna about it, I asked, "It''s a girls'' trip. Should I go or not?"


    "Why are you overthinking? Go. It''ll be fun!" he said casually.


    "But you... I don''t feel good leaving you behind alone like this....," I said, pouting.


    "Who said I wouldn''t come along?" he said, sitting on the sofa with a sly smile.


    "But I told you, it''s a girls'' trip. What would you even do there?" I asked, sitting next to him.


    "I''m not saying I''ll join your girls'' trip. I''m saying let''s go to Shimla.... Anyway, this city''s air feels a bit stale. Let''s breathe in some mountain air for a change," he said, brushing my hair with his hand and smiling.


    "But you''ll be alone there? How will you manage....Without me?" I asked, concerned.


    "Alone? .....You''ll arrange the hotel and stuff for me, won''t you....? I already know all the places I want to visit. You don''t need to worry about me-worry about yourself. Just make sure the hotel is decent!" he said, patting my back.


    "Alright then, let''s go!" I said, standing up excitedly.


    Krishna coming along was more than I could have hoped for. And it wasn''t like we wouldn''t get to spend time together there. I could introduce him to my friends as a friend. But then again, would that be appropriate on a girls'' trip? My overthinking had begun again, but for now, the only thing that mattered was that he was coming along.


    We shopped for winter clothes-some online, some offline-and packed everything by the 24th. Half of the journey was by train, and the other half by bus. The train ride went smoothly, but the bus ride through the mountains was a nightmare for me. The bus snaked along the narrow mountain roads, the world outside tilting with every curve. The pine trees blurred into streaks of green as my stomach churned relentlessly. The sharp, cool scent of the mountains mingled with the diesel fumes, making me lean over my seat, desperate for relief.


    The winding roads made me nauseous, and I couldn''t stop my vomiting. I avoided his gaze, burying my face in my hands as the nausea subsided. Yet, Krishna''s hand never left my back-a silent anchor, grounding me with every gentle pat. His steady rhythm said what words never could: ''It''s okay, I''m here.''" At one point, I rested my head on his shoulder and dozed off during the ride.


    When the bus stopped, Krishna practically carried me out by giving me support. I was so weak, and if he hadn''t been there, I had no idea how I would''ve managed on my own.


    At that point, I didn''t have the courage to meet my friends directly, so Krishna and I had rented a nearby hotel room where he could stay while I met them. It wasn''t that I felt awkward about telling my friends about Krishna, but I was unsure how to bring it up after all these years to them. I decided to get ready in Krishna''s room and left, thinking I would tell my friends the next morning that a "friend" wanted to join us on the trip.


    As I was about to leave, Krishna was lying on the bed, watching me with an amused smile. I paused and asked, "What''s so funny?" But he said nothing, just kept smiling.


    I stepped out and made my way to the hotel my friends had told me about. It was around 6 in the evening, and the plan was to meet at 7. Though they had been calling me to join them early, I deliberately delayed. When I reached, I saw they had booked a large table for dinner. And it wasn''t just girls-there were boys there too. I hesitated for a moment before walking up to them.


    One by one, they hugged me. It felt good to see everyone after such a long time, though they all seemed a bit different as we were meeting since a long time.


    As I took a seat, I commented, "I thought this was supposed to be a girls'' trip!"


    Alia, sitting across from me, smirked and said, "Oh, come on,... Adduuuu. If we''d told you the guys were coming too,.... you wouldn''t have brought anyone anyway!" Everyone burst into laughter at her words.


    Then another friend, sitting next to me, added, "As You know...., some of us are married now, and the rest have boyfriends, so we all just brought them along. Sorry, we forgot to tell you!"


    I just gave a faint smile, unsure of what to say. This was precisely why I hadn''t wanted to come. These days, being single felt like committing a crime.


    Alia again chimed in, "Even if we had told her..., she wouldn''t have brought anyone! Come on, Aduuu, it''s high time you get a boyfriend. Oh, wait-I forgot, you''re all about arranged marriage!" Their laughter echoed again, but before I could respond, the boyfriend of my friend Tanya next to her spoke up.


    "Hey,.... there''s nothing wrong with arranged marriages.... if that''s what she wants!" he said, and my friend Tanya also supported him, because they both were my old friends.


    I picked up the glass of water in front of me, hoping to hide my nervousness.


    Just then, a familiar voice called from behind, "Babyyyy... so here you are! .....I''ve been trying your phone since long!"


    I frozed.... My heart skipped a beat when I listened the voice. Turning around, I saw Krishna walking toward me, phone in hand. He was wearing a sleek black long coat and black pants, looking effortlessly confident.....As he approached me, the water I was drinking got stuck in my throat. My mind was stuck on one word-baby.


    Krishna slid into the empty chair beside me, his hand brushing my back lightly. ''What''s wrong, baby? Please...Drink carefully,'' he murmured, his tone equal parts teasing and concerned. ''And why didn''t you answer my calls?... You know I am worry about you....!!.'' His voice was casual, but the way he leaned in made my pulse quicken."


    I was still in shock, trying to process what was happening. "S-sorry... it must''ve been on silent," I muttered.


    Before I could regain my composure, Alia burst out, "Oh my god! You never told us about him..! Addduuu!!!, you''ve been hiding things from us!... How long has this been going on?"


    Everyone at the table was staring at us now. Including Krishna, we were about 12 people. I opened my mouth to respond, but Krishna spoke first interrupting me.


    " Actually It''s been long while...," he said smoothly by looking at me, "but she''s always so scared that someone will cast an evil eye on our relationship.... She wanted to keep it private until it became permanent. But I told her, why hide it from such close friends...? Right, baby? I did the right thing, didn''t I?"


    Hearing him call me baby again felt strange, and his words were even stranger. It wasn''t that I wasn''t happy-of course, I was-but everything was happening so suddenly that it felt more shocking than joyful.


    I nodded silently, unable to think clearly.


    Alia grinned from across the table and said, "Well !!, Adduuu, introduce your secret boyfriend to us! What''s his name, ?"


    "Keshav !!," I quickly answered, smiling nervously as I nudged Krishna under the table with my elbow.


    Everyone at the table had begun introducing themselves to Keshav aka Krishna , one by one. As always, Krishna started chatting with everyone, laughing and smiling in his usual charming way. I wasn''t bothered by his conversations, but the stories he was telling-how we first met, what happened here, what happened there...how he fell I love ...Blah blah....-along with his repeated use of the word baby, were making my heart race. Honestly, I couldn''t digest any of it. And when he said baby again, I had had enough this time. I stomped on his foot with my sandal.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Ahhhhhh!" he yelped, startled.


    I looked at him and said firmly, "Your leg must be hurting from all the traveling..... Let''s go rest now-it''s getting late anyway."


    Krishna smiled slyly and replied, "Come on...., let''s at least finish dinner first. What''s the hurry?"


    Before I could respond, Alia interjected with a teasing grin, "Relax, Adduuu! No one''s stealing your Secret boyfriend, okay?"


    To this, Krishna instantly grabbed my hand and said confidently and dramatically with a wink by directly looking into my eyes, "And no one can steal me...., because my heart is already stolen... by my honey."


    My face turned completely red. My friends were howling with laughter at my embarrassment. I didn''t have the courage to look at Krishna or respond to him. I felt both amused and mortified. Stealing a sideways glance at him, I couldn''t help but wonder what weed he taken before showing up tonight.


    When dinner arrived, we ate together. But just as I thought I''d survived the ordeal, Krishna took a tissue and gently wiped my mouth in front of everyone. I kept blushing, unsure how to react, while he acted like a perfect boyfriend.


    Then, out of nowhere, Krishna stood up and announced dramatically, "Tonight''s dinner is on me...! This day is very special to me. On this Christmas Day, December 25th..., I got the chance to disclose my feelings in front of everyone....This is the best gift I could ever ask for Christmas!"


    He turned to look at me with such affection that I didn''t know how to hide my emotions. To calm myself, I gulped down quickly an entire glass of water.


    As we were about to leave, Krishna handed me his wallet and said, "Baby!!, here''s my wallet. You handle the payment while I go take the luggage up to the room."


    With Tanya''s boyfriend, Krishna left for the room, leaving me surrounded by my curious friends. They formed a circle around me and bombarded me with questions. While I kept smiling outwardly, only I knew how anxious I felt inside.


    After saying goodnight to everyone, I finally made my way to my hotel room. The door was already slightly open, so I didn''t have to knock. As I stepped in, I saw Krishna sitting on the bed, his legs dangling off the edge, as if he had been waiting for me.


    The moment I entered, he exclaimed, "Baby, where were you ....I was waiting for you ....!"


    Hearing his words, I quickly shut the door behind me and, in a serious tone, asked, "What''s weed gotten into you all of a sudden?"


    "Why?.... Don''t all boyfriends call their girlfriends.... baby? Did I say something wrong?" he asked, walking toward me with a mischievous smile.


    My heart started pounding again. "You... my boyfriend?" I stammered.


    "Why not?... Can''t I be your boyfriend, baby?" he whispered into my ear, his voice soft and teasing.


    I closed my eyes in panic. I couldn''t figure out what to say. My voice failed me. And to make matters worse, he was wearing a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. I couldn''t even look straight at him as his neck and chest was making me more nervous, and I can''t look up into his eyes too... Because I was feeling like I can faint any moment.


    After a brief silence, he suddenly broke the tension. "So? How did you like my boyfriend acting?"


    I opened my eyes, startled. Krishna had stepped back and was now standing with his arms spread wide, grinning like he was in a movie.


    "What... do you mean?" I asked, confused.


    "I mean...," he began dramatically, "when I saw everyone teasing you about not having a boyfriend..., I thought I''d help you out a bit. I''ve played many roles in my life, but never did a boyfriend role..... So I figured, why not take the opportunity to give it a shot?"


    He delivered his line with such flair, he might as well have been a movie hero.


    "Do you even know what being a boyfriend means?" I asked, half-amused, half-frustrated. "You''ve dragged me into this big lie.... You''re only here for a year on a contract. What will happen to me after that?"


    "Don''t worry about that," he said casually. "When I leave, I''ll erase everyone''s memories-except yours, of course-so no one will ask you any questions. As for whether I understand or not....what it means to be a boyfriend, I''ll prove it to you. Just wait and watch what a perfect boyfriend is!"


    "This isn''t funny," I said, pouting. "You don''t belong in this time era, Krishna...... Things are different here!"


    He smiled, cupped my cheek, and said, "Consider this my Diwali gift to you. Say yes to being my girlfriend-without asking any questions-and I''ll show you what a great boyfriend truly is."


    I sighed, mumbling to myself, "This is ridiculous." It wasn''t that I had a problem with him. In fact, I wanted to confess my feelings to him for real. But I''d imagined doing it in some grand, heartfelt way. Now, it felt like I was in the middle of some bizarre rom-com.


    Sensing my hesitation, Krishna chuckled and said, "Oh, I get it. You''re scared you won''t able to make a good girlfriend..... Don''t worry, baby. I''ll teach you everything!"


    He gently tucked my hair behind my ear, making my heart skip a beat.


    "By the way," I asked shyly, "where did you learn this whole baby....baby thing?"


    He smiled warmly. "Oh, come on, baby.... I might be new to this time, but I''m not clueless. Just trust me-I''ll show you how many things more.... I have many sources other then google...hehe."


    I looked at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. Deep down, I knew I didn''t want to stop him. But the real question was: should I wait for the right moment to confess my feelings, or was this the moment I''d been waiting for all along..... Or should I play this game along him.... And make this as opportunity?


    He had smiled mischievously, tapping my nose lightly as he said, "Oh,.... it''s just like in those movies you like to watch.....Don''t all lovers give each other nicknames? ....I came up with one for you-B.B., short form of my Baby Baka......It''s... Baby, when we''re in front of others, and Baka just for you... because you''re my Baka. And It means cute!"


    I rolled my eyes, pouting. "Yeah,.... yeah, ...make fun of me that''s all you want!... And don''t try to fool me.....I know Baka means fool in Japanese!"


    His expression turned mock-surprised. "Oh no!....I thought Baka meant cute. Never mind that..... Now, you better come up with a cute nickname for your adorable boyfriend too..... Only then will I get fully into character!" he said dramatically, plopping himself down on the bed.


    "Fine, fine. I''ll think about it. Now I''m going to change!" I said, grabbing my clothes and heading to the bathroom. The moment I shut the door behind me, I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream of pure joy. I couldn''t let him see how happy I was; it might ruin whatever this crazy thing was that was happening between us.


    When I came out, Krishna was sitting cross-legged on the bed with his phone propped up against a pillow. Seeing me, he grinned and said, "Alright then! Let''s go on our first movie date!"


    I walked over, laughing, and handed him his wallet. "First, tell me this-how come you suddenly have money today....? Weren''t you always borrowing from me always before?"


    He smirked. "Earlier was different..... Now I''ve taken on the responsibility of being the perfect boyfriend..... And here you are, wasting precious time talking about money instead of sitting with me to enjoy the moment!....How unromantic girlfriend you are !!!!"


    "Oh really...? Why do we even need a movie? ....Let''s just look at each other instead,...!! Seeing you is better then watching a movie" I teased with my dumb pickup line.


    His eyes lit up with mischief as he grabbed my hand, pulling me close. "I was thinking of watching a horror movie so you''d hold on to me when you got scared.... But if you want to just look at me, I''m totally okay with that too," he said, pulling me to sit beside him.


    Flustered, I quickly stood up. "No, no! I''m feeling sleepy now. I think I''ll go to that little sofa and sleep."


    Before I could move away, Krishna grabbed my hand again, gently but firmly, and made me sit back on the bed. "If you will sleep so far away, how am I supposed to feel like a real boyfriend...? Even if it''s just for a little while, let me help to really get into character..... I''m still new to this, and I need practice....!"


    Blushing furiously, I mumbled, "Fine! You stay on that side of the bed, and I''ll stay on this side, okay?" I curled up at one edge, hiding my face in the pillow as I smiled to myself. Krishna turned off the lights and lay down on the other side.


    The room fell quiet for a while, and I thought maybe he had fallen asleep. But suddenly, his voice broke the silence. "Hey....... I saw in a movie once that boyfriends kiss their girlfriends goodnight so after that she can get a better sleep. I was wondering if it''s true or not... does it really works or not..... If you Would not mind... Can I try......?" His voice trailed off after reaching to last sentence, and becomes soft and hesitant.


    "In the icy chill of Shimla''s December, a new kind of warmth stirred within me....a warmth that no blanket could replicate. It wasn''t the cold that kept me awake that night but the heat rising in my chest, a mix of nervous anticipation and overwhelming emotions.....At least that time we have two different blankets... Else I would forget how to breath.... His innocent yet daring question had shaken me to my core, leaving me breathless as if I had just stepped to the edge of a cliff.


    When I whispered my soft, almost inaudible yes, I tried desperately to conceal the joy bubbling inside me. But the moment the word left my lips, I felt his presence and fragrance, closing the distance between us. Each movement of his drew him closer, and with every inch, it felt as if my very soul was being drawn out, leaving me weightless and vulnerable.


    I could feel the faint brush of his hand against my back through my heavy sweater, a barely-there sensation that sent a shiver down my spine. Slowly, deliberately, his face moved closer to mine. I could hear his uneven, deep and cozy breaths, each one tangling with my own racing heartbeat. My chest tightened as my nervousness escalated into something I could no longer control.


    Unable to handle the intensity, I closed my eyes tightly, surrendering to the moment. And then it finally happened-his lips, soft and featherlight, grazed my cheek..... Time felt frozed....It wasn''t just a kiss....it was an electric current that coursed through my entire being, awakening emotions I didn''t even know I was capable of handling that feeling..... In that fleeting moment, it felt as though my very soul had left my body, as if I had ceased to exist anywhere but in the warmth of his touch.


    Just as quickly as it came, it was gone. He pulled away, retreating to his side of the bed without uttering a single word. The silence that followed was deafening, yet my world became noisy by his warm touch. My heart raced wildly, and my cheeks burned with the imprint of his lips-a weight I could still feel long after the touch had ended.


    I instinctively raised my hand to my red cheek, placing it gently over the spot where his kiss lingered. The warmth of that moment refused to fade, filling me with a giddy mix of disbelief and elation. My breathing was uneven, my body trembling as if my very life force had been shaken.


    I couldn''t bring myself to turn toward him, couldn''t summon the courage to meet his gaze even in the darkness. Instead, I lay there, clutching the memory of his touch close to my heart by cuddling myself with pillow. Somewhere amidst the chaos of my emotions, a small, involuntary smile spread across my lips. My fingers softly traced the spot on my cheek, trying to hold onto the fleeting magic of the moment.


    And even as sleep finally claimed me thinking this was the dream or is this real...., But I knew one thing-this night would be etched in my memory forever even in afterlife also.


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    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ

 [Chapter - 24] Our New year celebration !!

    I didn''t even realize when morning came. After yesterday''s journey, exhaustion had completely taken over me. As soon as I woke up, I thought maybe the heaviness I felt was just from fatigue. But something was strange-why hadn''t Krishna woken me up yet?.... Slowly, I opened my eyes, and what I saw made my breath hitch. My face was turned toward his side, and there he was, peeking out from under his blanket, smiling at me looking directly into my face.


    The moment our eyes met, I froze, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Without thinking, I quickly pulled the blanket over my face, trying to hide from his gaze.


    "ohhh..., baby! Why are you hiding your face? Let me see you.... You look so adorable when you''re sleeping!" he said, his voice playful yet tender.


    "You have no shame, do you?.... Staring at someone while they''re asleep!" I mumbled shyly from under the blanket, my voice muffled.


    "I wasn''t staring at someone''s girl; ....I was just looking at my girlfriend pretty face,...My honey babybaka " he teased. "Now come on,... remove that blanket right now!"


    Before I could react, he tugged at the blanket, pulling it away from my face. I tried to pull it back, but he was faster,.... laughing at my struggle of hiding my face.


    "Fine, if you really want to stay under the blanket,...then I''ll just join you in there," he said with a mischievous grin. "Oh, please.... don''t look so surprise..... I know that''s exactly what you were secretly hoping for!" He continued with the grin.


    "What nonsense!... I''m not like you!" I retorted, flustered hiding my face. And suddenly In one swift move, I grabbed the blanket and threw it over his head, standing on the bed as I laughed at his surprised expression.


    When he finally managed to pull the blanket off, his hair was all disheveled. And honestly, I couldn''t help but think how utterly adorable he looked like that-messy hair and surprise face expression.


    "You''re right-you''re not like me.... You''re way more dangerous!" he said, narrowing his eyes at me playfully, his lips curling into a knowing smile.


    "Leave that..... Tell me, aren''t you doing yoga today?" I asked, trying to change the subject and calm my racing heart.


    "Ahhh....., I''m feeling unwell today, as I am sufferin from a severe case of love sickness.... I think I need to visit my beloved honey for treatment," he said dramatically, suddenly lying down in my lap.


    My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. He had a way of catching me off guard, flooding me with emotions... That I didn''t know how to process so early , especially in the morning! "Come on...., we''re getting late. Everyone must be waiting," I stammered, awkwardly moving my hands away to avoid accidentally touching his head.


    "Go on then....," he said with a pout, sitting up. "Go to everyone else... Expect me.... You care about them more than me.... anyway....By the way, how was your sleep last night?"


    "It was... good," I replied, unable to meet his gaze as my cheeks grew warmer.


    "Really?... That''s great.... And ....by the way you''re not going to ask how I slept?" he said, feigning offense.


    "Fine.... Tell me How did you sleep?" I asked, pretending not to care, though my curiosity betrayed me.


    "I didn''t sleep at all," he said with a playful smirk. "You kept tossing and turning all night-dropping the blanket, knocking over the pillow.... How was I supposed to sleep peacefully with all that going on? And you! You were sleeping like a queen while I struggled all night. But maybe... maybe tonight I''ll try your method and see if it works for me."


    I could only stare at him, flustered and tongue-tied. "I-I mean... It wasn''t that great a sleep for me too!" I stuttered, trying to deflect. "I... I need to go to the bathroom! Its... Emergency!" With that, I bolted from the room, leaving him laughing behind me.


    Once inside the bathroom, I leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath. Turning to the mirror, I caught my reflection, and a smile spread across my face before I could stop it. My fingers unconsciously brushed against my cheek-the very spot where his lips had landed yesterday.


    The memory of his touch made my heart race all over again. How was I supposed to handle him when just his words left me so breathless? I splashed my face with cold water, again and again, trying to shake off the blush that refused to fade. But every time I looked in the mirror, that shy, silly smile returned.


    As I stepped out of the bathroom, I realized he wasn''t in the room anymore.


    To be honest, his absence was unsettling. Even a moment without him felt unbearable, and yet, whenever he was near, I struggled to keep control over myself. I constantly feared that I might do something foolish in his presence. I was so cautious, worried about what he might think of me-what if he found me strange? ...Worse, what if he left me like everyone else had?


    These thoughts swirled in my mind as I busied myself getting ready. A message had just popped up in our group chat; my friends planned to explore Shimla''s market at noon. While dressing, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and couldn''t help but smile, my cheeks warming up red as I thought about him.


    Suddenly, I felt something warm drape over my shoulders. Startled, I turned to see Krishna standing behind me, wrapping a bright red muffler around my neck from the back.


    "This muffler will do the work of mine... As I can''t hug you frequently," he said, his voice was soft whisper but teasing one.


    "You... when did you come in...?" I asked, startled, spinning around so quickly that I bumped into his chest.


    "When you were smiling to yourself, lost in thoughts of me,..." he replied smugly, adjusting the muffler and looking straight into my eyes.


    My heart raced, and panic set in. In a flustered moment, I stomped on his foot with my shoe. "Don''t you think... don''t you think you''re rushing into things a little too fast? ...I mean, this is all... strange."


    He stepped back, pretending to wince, his playful expression fading into one of exaggerated hurt. "Wait... so you find my love-I mean my boyfriend character''s love-strange?".... sighed dramatically, putting a hand to his chest. "You''re right. Probably I''ve clearly failed as a boyfriend."


    "That''s not... what I meant!" I protested, stepping toward him, alarmed by his sudden change in tone.


    But Krishna was already turning away, his shoulders slumping. "It''s okay.... I understand. If my love feels strange to you, then I''ve failed.... May be I''m not a good boyfriend... But I can''t let myself hurt you more with my strange kind of love....You deserve to be happy, even if it''s not with me."


    He began walking toward the door, his voice breaking slightly as he added, "Go ahead, live your life baby....(jao baby jao jilo apni jindagi....) I''ll just... step back."


    "Wait! Listen to me!" I hurried after him, my heart pounding.


    "Please, don''t say anything....," he interrupted, his hand already on the doorknob. "I can''t bear anymore to see your throat upset because of me... Don''t waste your words for me.... Just eat the food I brought for you. I''ll be downstairs, waiting. Take your time."


    With that, he left, closing the door behind him before I could say another word.


    I stood there, staring at the door in disbelief, before slumping onto the bed, holding my head in my hands. What just happened? How did this go so wrong? I hadn''t meant to upset him. I was only trying to express my confusion, but now... now he thought something else ... I made the whole situation uncomfortable.


    My appetite was gone, but I forced myself to eat the food he had brought, guilt weighing heavily on me with every bite. Once I finished, I took a deep breath and headed downstairs, determined to make things right.


    When I reached downstairs, I saw him leaning casually against the wall near the reception, scrolling through his phone. As soon as he noticed me, he slid the phone into his pocket and asked, "There''s still half an hour until 12.... Why did you come down so early?"


    "you are alone here too.... so I ..." said softly, trying to hide my smile.


    "Well... now you''ll have to spend the next half hour feeling uncomfortable and awkward with me..... I didn''t want to make you miserable..., you know," he replied with a serious tone, his expression unreadable.


    "No... it''s not like that. I''m fine!" I said quickly, trying to smile and lighten the mood, hoping to fix the tension between us.


    "There''s no need to lie....," he said with a pout, clearly not convinced.


    "Forget all that.... Let''s have some tea!" I suggested, eager to change the subject and distract him.


    He simply nodded without saying a word, and we walked to a small tea stall nearby. I kept talking the entire way, trying to fill the silence, while he only responded with brief "yes" or "no" answers. It was like he was there but not fully present.


    After we finished our tea, I reached into my purse to pay, but before I could, he stopped me. Grabbing my hand, he paid for the tea himself and said, "I may have failed at being a good boyfriend, .... but I won''t let anyone call me stingy (kanjoos).... Even if it''s from a distance, I''ll fulfill my responsibilities of being your boyfriend..... I''m not giving up....!"


    He said it so loudly, with a hint of theatrical drama, that the people around us started staring. Embarrassed, I grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward the hotel.


    "What are you doing? Everyone was watching us!" I scolded him as I let go of his hand, trying to regain composure.


    "Oh, I see!... So now even walking with me embarrasses you? Am I really such a terrible boyfriend?" he said, clutching his chest like his heart was breaking.


    "No, that''s not it...Was...." I started to explain, but he cut me off.


    "It''s fine.....You can Tell me the truth.... My soft heart is strong enough to handle it.....Look, your friends are coming this way, but don''t worry..... I promise I won''t do anything to embarrass you in front of them." He shot me a pointed look, dripping with sarcasm, and then walked toward my friends, immediately switching to a cheerful demeanor as if nothing had happened.


    Later, when we went out to explore the market, all my friends were holding their boyfriends'' hands. Feeling a little out of place, I turned to him and said, "Look at everyone,.... they are holding their boyfriends'' hands. ...If we don''t do it..., we''ll stand out. Should I... should I hold your hand?" I asked, trying to sound innocent, seizing the moment.


    "I''m ready to do anything that makes you happy.....!!! ," he said without any expression, pressing his lips may to hide his smile.


    Before he could finish speaking, I reached out and wrapped my small fingers around his hand, which was larger and warmer than mine. The sensation was soft, almost like touching cotton. Though I had held his hand before...., but this time felt different-intentional, intimate, and in the middle of a busy market...Its like I was dreaming.... My cheeks burned with blushing, as the moment felt incredibly special to me.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    We stopped at a sunglasses shop where I made him try on different pairs while I snapped pictures of him. He kept protesting but reluctantly played along. Later, we joined the group of my friends for lunch and explored a few more nearby spots before heading back to the hotel in the evening.


    Throughout the outing, Krishna behaved normally in front of everyone, blending in seamlessly with the group with his charm. But whenever we were alone, he would retreat into silence, reminding me my guilt again and again.


    The awkwardness reached its peak that night when he built a wall of pillows between us on the bed saying ..... "You said today''s morning that you didn''t sleep well.... So, let''s make a barrier to ensure we both get proper rest tonight," he said, arranging the pillows firmly.


    "There''s no need for that!" I protested, trying to remove the barrier.


    "Ohhh.... you say that now," he replied, grabbing the pillows back. "But last night, in your sleep, you touched me here and there so many times. I didn''t say a word because I''m a good boyfriend....., but if you accuse me of something later on...., I can''t take that risk. No more baseless allegations for innocent me!"


    He finished building the wall, turned his back to me, and pulled his blanket over himself, leaving me speechless. I could only stare at the ridiculous pillow wall between us, a mix of frustration and amusement bubbling inside me.


    I was sitting with my head in my hands, cursing myself over and over again. For the next three or four days, Krishna had been acting the same way-distant and aloof. But instead of giving up, I had started trying harder to get closer to him.


    When we went to the lake, I deliberately asked him to take a photo with me in front of everyone, knowing he wouldn''t refuse in such a situation.


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    (Credit - Kdrama Doctor slump)


    I also fed him with my own hands in front of everyone, held his hand repeatedly, and tried every way I could think of to win him over. I even used a bunch of cheesy pick-up lines for him.


    But he? ....Oh, he was basking in all the attention, playing along but refusing to let his guard down. When I finally mustered up the courage to use the pick-up line that chikkuu told me.... about how he was my "moon" and I didn''t need to see the real moon anymore, but he crushed my heart by replying, "You''re absolutely right-I''m like the moon. Just like everyone admires the moon from a distance, you like me only from afar..... That''s what you meant, didn''t you?"


    Saying this, he pouted dramatically and walked ahead, leaving me standing there stunned.


    For the past three or four days, I had been feeling as though that instead of me .... he was my girlfriend and I was his boyfriend.... It was strange-he was showing more tantrums just like how girls shows to boys ... But wait... wait...was I really starting to think of him as my boyfriend.....?


    When this realization struck me, something inside me shifted. Every time I looked at him, a new, indescribable feeling began to bloom within me. It wasn''t something I could articulate with words, but it was powerful, overwhelming, and deeply confusing.


    It was as if my heart had begun crafting a story of its own-a story where I could no longer ignore how my emotions were changing. Something about him, about us, had started to feel undeniably different, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. A feeling which start having a tag. The moment that realization hit me, I began to see him in a completely different light.


    December 31st was an unforgettable night for me. As we all sat around waiting for the clock to strike midnight, each of my friends sat close to their respective boyfriends. When the clock hit 12, fireworks lit up the night sky, filling it with shimmering colors.


    But my gaze wasn''t on the fireworks-it was fixed on Krishna. I was watching him intently, trying to summon the courage to finally tell him, Yes, I love you so much.


    Just as I was about to speak, he suddenly turned his gaze from the sky to me. My heart skipped a beat, and those words I had gathered with so much difficulty froze in my throat. My nervousness kept me silent.


    It was freezing outside that night, so Krishna took off his jacket and wrapped it around me without a word. Seizing the moment, I moved closer to him, pretending to shiver even more from the cold, just to be near him.


    We sat like that for a while, enjoying the warmth of the jacket and each other''s silent company. Suddenly, Alia broke the moment by exclaiming, "Let''s play Truth or Dare!... None of us are sleepy anyway!"


    Everyone agreed to her suggestion almost immediately. Krishna also stood up to join them, but before he could move, I grabbed his hand and said, "Do you even know what that game is? .. Let''s just skip it!"


    "Don''t worry. I won''t make you feel awkward because of me,..." he said with a smile and walked off to join the others, leaving me no choice but to follow him,I was scolding myself for not stopping him.


    The game began, and at first, everything was light-hearted and fun. The questions and dares were manageable, like when someone asked me which song came to my mind whenever I looked at Krishna. I had shyly answered "Blue Song by yung kai."


    Everything was going smoothly-until the game took a sudden turn. Now, the dares were turning into the ones that were specially meant for couples. I could feel the tension creeping in, and my heart started racing as I realized the situation we were heading into.


    The scene was unfolding like a moment straight out of a dramatic movie. As one couple in front of us kissed during their dare, I had been nervously looking around, trying to avoid Krishna''s gaze. I managed to avoid eye contact during everyone else''s turns, but when my turn came, my heart sank.


    To make matters worse, our dare was the last one of the night, and everyone was already getting ready to head back to their rooms. The tension hung in the air as we stood there, knowing our challenge wasn''t going to be simple. Tanya, who had brought a box of strawberries earlier that afternoon, suggested something unexpected. The dare was set: Krishna had to hold one strawberry between his lips, and I had to take it from him-using my lips. But there was one crucial rule: not a single atom of our lips could touch during the exchange of strawberry. If we failed this challenge...., then....Krishna would have to carry me all the way back to our room, in his arms, as the penalty.


    At first, I tried to refuse, blushing furiously, but Krishna calmly picked up a strawberry, placed it lightly on his lips, and said with the soft whisper, "Trust me....." His voice was steady and deep, almost hypnotic, and I felt like I had no choice but to go along with it. Forcing an awkward smile, I turned my chair toward him and sat down, my heart pounding like a drum.


    Everyone around us was laughing, teasing, and cheering us on, making my embarrassment skyrocket. I could feel my cheeks burning, and I couldn''t bring myself to look directly at him. Finally, I lifted my gaze and found him leaning slightly toward me with strawberry into his lips, sitting on the edge of his chair. His eyes met mine, steady and confident, as if he was entirely unaffected by the absurdity of the situation.


    But what about me...? My heart was on the verge of giving out. I couldn''t make myself lean forward....; my lips refused to move closer to the strawberry resting so temptingly on his lips....My breath and heart rate both became restless by seeing leaning too close to me..... Everyone''s eyes were on us, and the pressure was unbearable.


    Then, suddenly, Krishna placed one hand gently on my waist and the other lightly on the back of my neck. My entire body froze as electricity seemed to course through me at his touch. My breath caught, and I thought in my mind, This is it..... This is how I will die-from my sheer nervousness.


    His hands pressed slightly, urging me closer. I closed my eyes tightly, unable to face what was happening. My lips hesitantly reached for the strawberry, and then.......the disaster occurred.


    In my panic, I accidentally brushed against his soft butter like rozy lips while grabbing the strawberry. The moment our lips touched, even for the briefest instant, my eyes flew open in shock....My hands were holding my own jacket so tightly out of nervousness. My heart felt like it had skipped a thousand beats. But before I could process what had just happened, I panicked further and swallowed the entire strawberry in one go.


    It got stuck in my throat. The room erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to get me water, their teasing forgotten in their concern. Meanwhile, I was coughing and sputtering, my embarrassment reaching a whole new level. Once I finally managed to catch my breath, my friends immediately started teasing me again.


    "Who gets this much shy around their own boyfriend.....?" they laughed. "You are behaving like it''s your first time... !" they start teasing me with more things this and that ...I turned into red tomato ...And was feeling warm due to my embarssment.


    Krishna, meanwhile, was quietly watching me with a small, knowing smile on his face....And was patting me on my back to get me relax. And though I was still mortified, I couldn''t help but steal a glance at him, my mind racing with thoughts that I wasn''t quite ready to admit to myself.


    The conversation had finally ended, and after exchanging New Year wishes once more, we started heading toward the room, just as per the bet.... Krishna had picked me up in his arms, he effortlessly carried me. My head rested slightly below his shoulder, while one of his hands supported my back and the other held my legs securely. My friends, walking behind us, were teasing us incessantly, their laughter echoing in the corridor.


    I found myself looking up at him from this close angle, and my gaze kept getting stuck on his lips. No matter how hard I tried to look elsewhere, my eyes refused to obey me. His red lips seemed to have an inexplicable pull on me, as if they were calling out to me.


    The silence between us felt heavy, almost deafening. He wasn''t saying a word, just quietly looking ahead, his face was unreadable. When we finally reached the room, he gently set me down and, with a soft, almost regretful tone, said, "I''m sorry... I couldn''t win for you...."


    Before I could say anything, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, lost in my thoughts.


    I sat on the bed, my fingers unconsciously brushing over my lips as the memory of that moment replayed in my mind. My cheeks grew warm with a mix of embarrassment and something I couldn''t quite name. After changing in the bathroom, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. My lips... my traitorous lips wouldn''t let me forget what had happened. A small smile crept onto my face before I shook my head, scolding myself.


    "It was just an accident... nothing more....It doesn''t even count as a kiss.....It is nothing .... ," I muttered to myself, trying to convince my racing heart. But deep down, I knew.......


    When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Krishna sitting casually with a box of strawberries in his hand, eating one by one as if nothing had happened.


    As soon as he noticed me, he held out the box towards me and said, "Heyy ...Wanna have one??." His tone was calm, almost indifferent, like the events from earlier had been wiped from his memory.


    I quickly looked away, my face heating up again. "What are you doing.... eating strawberries in the middle of the night? ....and ....I''m not hungry...!" I muttered, pretending to busy myself by packing my clothes into my bag.


    He smirked, completely unfazed. "I thought you liked strawberries.....After all,... you have a lip balm with the same flavor, don''t you?" His casual remark sent my heart into overdrive.


    "What?!...." I blurted out, quickly covering my mouth with my hand, horrified at my own reaction.


    "I''m feeling sleepy... you can eat it tomorrow... just move aside... now...!" I was saying while placing my pillow on the bed, avoiding his gaze entirely. I was still caught in the whirlwind of everything that had happened.


    "Alright, sleep then... I''ll turn off the light.... And listen, don''t forget to place a pillow between us... I don''t like invading other people space unnecessarily....!" he was saying this as he walked toward the switch, his voice was calm but laced with his usual playful undertone.


    "Okay..." I murmured softly, the shyness evident in my voice, my cheeks still flushed.


    Just then, he turned on his phone, in the dark room.....and He handed it toward me, holding it out by laying down at other side of the bed, and said, "That song you mentioned earlier... the one you said dedicated for me.... Let me listen to it..... I''m just curious."


    I silently took his phone, avoiding his eyes, and played up the song for him. Holding the phone , I layed down into my space, my heart pounding from the weight of unspoken emotions.


    As the song began to play, a profound stillness settled between us. The only sound in the room was the melody weaving through the darkness. I closed my eyes, the lyrics wrapping around me like a soft embrace. Slowly, my mind wandered to the moments I had shared with Krishna. Every glance, every word, every accidental touch replayed in my head like scenes from a movie.


    As the final paragraph of the song faded into the quiet,


    My love will always stay by you...


    I''ll keep it safe so don''t you worry a thing,


    I''ll tell you I love you more


    It''s stuck with you forever so promise you won''t let it go


    I''ll trust the universe will always bring me to you


    I''ll imagine we fell in love


    I''ll nap under moonlight skies with you


    I think I''ll picture us, you with the waves


    The oceans colors on your face


    I''ll leave my heart with your air


    So let me fly with you


    Will you be forever with me?


    Suddenly after the last line, his voice broke through my reverie, pulling me back into the present.


    "Yes....... I mean, I have to admit, you have pretty great taste in music,.....Good night...bakaa!!"he said, his voice was soft yet playful, as the words melted into the dim stillness of the room. Without waiting for a response, he reached out in the darkness, gently taking the phone from my hand. His fingers brushed mine for the briefest moment, sending a wave of warmth through me.


    And just like that, he turned away and silently headed to his side of the bed, leaving me alone with my swirling emotions.


    I sat there, frozen, my gaze following him as he disappeared into the shadows. My mind, however, was entirely fixated on the spot where his hand had briefly touched mine.


    A nervous, shyly smile tugged at my lips as I leaned forward and buried my face in my pillow. My heart was racing, my thoughts looping through every little detail of what had happened that night-every glance, every accidental touch, every unspoken moment.... that seemed to scream louder than words ever could.


    As I closed my eyes, I allowed myself to sink into those memories, reliving the spark of his presence in every heartbeat. I can''t believe I am here with my love.... with my crush ....I am here with the one to whom I used to adore from far.... yes today I can say I have my own moon with me. The soft pillow cradled my flushed cheeks as I drifted off into sleep while cherishing his touch.


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    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


    Moral of the chapter -


    don''t ever question for clingy love and care of your boyfriend.... hehe ????....or be ready to treat him like how a Kdrama Ceo treat his girlfriend .


    And if you want you can listen that song.....Blue by yung kai

 [Chapter - 25] His new nickname !!

    I hadn''t even realized when morning arrived. It felt like my sleep was quite incomplete, but Krishna''s rustling woke me up. As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw him putting on a jacket, already dressed to go out. From the comfort of my blanket, I asked, "Where are you going this early in the morning?"


    He zipped up his jacket, flashing me a smile, and said, "I''m going to see the season''s first snowfall.... It didn''t snow this year until now, and look-it''s finally happening on January 1st.... Almost like it was waiting for today."


    "You were really planning to go without me????" I asked, pouting slightly.


    "I thought you''d prefer sleeping over watching the snow," he replied, tying his shoelaces with the same teasing smile.


    "Well, yes, I do love sleeping," I said, sitting up and blushing a little, "but if it''s about going somewhere with you, I''ll always prefer that-whether it''s to see the snowfall or... anything else." I trailed off, stepping closer to him.


    "Anything else?... What does that mean?" he asked, tilting his head and locking his eyes on mine.


    "I''ll tell you that later......! For now, let me get ready,... Please wait for me!!" I said, playfully dodging his gaze and rushing into the bathroom, my cheeks burning. As I got ready, I couldn''t help but smile to myself, replaying the conversation in my head.


    When I came out, I saw Krishna sitting on the bed, waiting for me patiently. As I put on the red muffler he had given me, I caught him silently smiling at me from behind. He didn''t say a word, but that gentle smile spoke volumes. Then, we headed outside together.


    As soon as we stepped out, the world around us was blanketed in white. The ground shimmered with fresh snow, and soft flakes were falling from the sky like delicate pieces of cotton. Snow was gathering on our shoulders, too.


    I gently brushed the snow off from Krishna''s shoulder and said, "You know,....I''ve heard that if two people watch the season''s first snowfall together, they will fall in love...."


    He looked at me, amused with a smile, as he gathered snow in his hands. "That''s something new I''ve heard today," he said, shaping the snow absentmindedly.


    "But I have a question,!!!" I said, pretending to look serious.


    "What is it?" he asked, glancing at me curiously.


    "What will happens if the two people are already in love ...And when they watch the season first snowfall together?will they fall in love again ??" I asked innocently, my cheeks warming as I looked up at him.


    He gave me a calm, neutral look and replied, "I wouldn''t know. Maybe you should ask those who are already in love."


    "Well, that''s why I''m asking you!" I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I looked away, shyly.


    But Krishna, with the teasing smile, shook his head and said, "This isn''t my first season snowfall with someone ....I was in Japan yesterday, and I saw snow already there,....so I don''t have an answer for you." With that, he turned and walked ahead, leaving me speechless.


    My heart sank a little. Who acts this rude? ....But I wasn''t going to give up so easily. Scooping up a handful of snow, I rolled it into a ball and threw it at his back. "Fine, maybe you''ve seen your season''s first snow before,


    .. but I bet you haven''t been hit by a snowball yet.... Congratulations for getting season''s first snow ball hit!"


    He froze for a second, then turned around, his eyes glinting mischievously. "You''re in trouble now," he said as I threw two more snowballs at him. Laughing, he chased after me, and soon, we were locked in a playful snowball fight.


    The snow was deep, and I kept sinking with every step, but Krishna would always catch me before I could fall. With him, it felt like I was reliving my childhood-a carefree joy I hadn''t experienced in so long.


    A little later, my friends joined us, and we all began playing in the snow together. Of course, they didn''t miss a chance to tease me about last night, but even their teasing couldn''t wipe the grin off my face....I glanced at krishna everytime after their teasing... Thinking about did he really forget about previous night chaos??....Still Everything about that moment-Krishna, the snow, and the laughter-felt perfect, like a memory I''d cherish forever.


    We had lunch with everyone during the day, and by evening, we were on a bus back to the city flat. Krishna wasn''t talking much during the journey; he was just listening to me now and then and smiling softly, as if lost in some thought. It seemed like some memory was occupying his mind.


    The next morning, we reached the city by train. During the train ride, I had been plotting a mischievous plan-a plan to strike a bold arrow straight at Krishna''s heart.


    As soon as we reached the flat, I made my first move. Sitting on the couch, I said dramatically, "Wow!.... This year is turning out to be so special for me!"


    Krishna, who was sitting beside me, unlacing his shoes, glanced at me and asked, "Why? ...What happened?"


    "Remember how I told you the first snowfall of the year makes people fall in love?... Well, guess what! Tomorrow, there''s a New Year''s program at my office, and my old crush is coming there..... Can you believe it? After so many years, I''ll finally see him again. His cute black beard... oh god!!!, it suits him so well.... He''s so charming!" I said, pretending to hide my smile as I added a dramatic touch to my words.


    "That''s great... enjoy yourself," Krishna said nonchalantly as he stood up, clearly trying to mask his reaction.


    "I wonder how he looks now with that beard and body,!!!" I continued, trying to provoke him further. "What do you think? ....Don''t you think guys look good with beards?" I asked innocently, looking at him with wide eyes.


    "Do you like guys with beards..?" he asked, turning back to face me, his expression unreadable.


    "Well, I don''t know about all guys,... but it definitely looks great on him," I said with a sly smile before walking into my room to unpack, leaving Krishna sitting on the couch, lost in thought.


    That evening, we cooked dinner together again, just like before. I kept teasing him subtly with comments about the bearded guy, but Krishna stayed quiet, brushing them off with his usual calm demeanor. Later, I went to sleep on the couch while Krishna silently went to his room.


    The next morning, his usual rustling woke me up again. This time, it was coming from the bathroom. Curious, I walked over and noticed the bathroom door was slightly open. Peeking inside, I saw Krishna standing in front of the mirror and was doing shaving. His cheeks were covered in white shaving cream, and I had to stifle my laughter with my hands to hide it.


    Hiding my grin, I asked, "Since when did you start shaving?"


    Without looking at me, he replied coolly, "Oh, I just don''t like keep a beard..... I''m just grooming myself, you know... hygiene and all....I do it daily ...Nothing new today!!" His tone was calm, almost detached, but I knew better. My arrow had hit its right mark, and I could see right through his act.


    Smiling to myself, I decided to push a little further. "Oh, I forgot to tell you," I said casually. "The party is near your yoga camp classes..., so why don''t you come along? You could get a glimpse of a 21st-century party too!"


    He wiped off the shaving cream and said, "Alright. If you''re insisting, I''ll come. Let''s see what these parties are like.!!!"


    I left the bathroom, struggling to hold back my laughter. Krishna''s reaction had been priceless, and I could tell my plan was working.


    That day, I took extra care to get ready. I wore something elegant, letting my appearance speak for itself. When I stepped out, Krishna glanced at me but didn''t say a word. On the way to the party, I brought up the bearded guy again, just to see his reaction. Krishna, as usual, listened quietly, not uttering a single word, but his silence spoke volumes.


    My game had begun, and I couldn''t wait to see where it would lead. The air between us was charged with unspoken emotions, and I knew something was about to shift.


    As we arrived at the party venue, I stopped Krishna just before entering and said, "I just got a message... the party is starting a little late.... Let''s go this way for a while.... You can see the whole city from there!"


    Krishna followed me silently, without a word. We walked to the edge of the slope and sat under a tree, gazing at the sprawling city below us. The view was mesmerizing, but my mind was occupied with my next move. I decided it was time to play my final card.


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!Pretending to type something on my phone, I started acting shy, glancing at him occasionally to gauge his reaction. At first, he ignored me, but as I exaggerated my gestures, he finally broke his silence.


    "Who are you talking to? Is it that bearded guy of yours?" he asked, trying to sound casual but with a hint of irritation in his voice.


    I looked up at him and smiled slightly, pretending to be caught off guard. Then, without a word, I held out my phone so he could see the screen. I had deliberately started dialing a number with a name that wasn''t his, the name was written with a heart emoji next to it.


    He leaned closer, squinting at the screen, and was about to say, "Who is this Kish... mish...!?" suddenly his own phone buzzed at that moment. Confused, he pulled it out and saw my name flashing on the screen, saved as Baby Baka.


    I quickly cut the call on my phone and turned to him, locking eyes. "Can I call you Kishhmishh...? You know, girlfriends give their boyfriends cute nicknames, right?.... And I don''t want to be a bad girlfriend who hurts her boyfriend''s feelings...."


    He stared at me for a moment before a smile broke across his face. "Kishmish, huhhh?" he repeated, clearly amused.


    "I''m sorry for... everything that happened earlier," I began hesitantly, but before I could finish, he interrupted.


    "Why are you apologizing when you''ve done nothing wrong....? If anyone made a mistake, it was me!" Krishna said, slipping back into his usual teasing tone.


    "Quiet....!" I said softly, pressing my finger to his lips to silence him. The sudden touch made both of us freeze. Our eyes met, and the tenderness in his gaze made my heart race uncontrollably. His lips were warm against my finger, and for a moment, time stood still. Overwhelmed, I pulled my hand back, blushing furiously. To mask my nervousness, I quickly stood up and turned away. "Let''s go, Krishna... the party must have started by now."


    As I began walking, I heard him calling me from behind, still seated under the tree. "Don''t call me Krishna... call me what you just said a while ago."


    I turned back, my cheeks burning, and shyly said, "So.. Kishmish... shall we go?"


    He chuckled, stood up, and walked toward me. Together, we made our way to the party. I was blushing so hard I couldn''t even think of what to say to him.


    At the party, I stayed close to Krishna, chatting casually with the people around us. Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder, calling my name. Both Krishna and I turned around at the same time to see... him. He was My old friend-the bearded guy whom I had been teasing Krishna about.


    I smiled and shook hands with him by keeping my composure. But when he glanced at Krishna and asked, "Who''s this?" I felt a surge of courage. I reached for Krishna''s hand, looked into his eyes,and with a pride smile said, "He''s my boyfriend..."


    Krishna''s expression shifted in an instant-he looked startled, then quickly smiled, trying to hide his surprise. He extended his hand and shook my friend''s, his grip was firm yet polite. The three of us exchanged pleasantries for a while before Krishna excused himself, saying he had to leave for his yoga classes.


    As he was about to leave, I stood on my tiptoes and leaned close to his ear, whispering, "Can I tell you something?.... Whether you keep a beard or not, you''ll always look good to me.... Because no matter what, I''ll be always your girlfriend."


    Krishna turned to me, his smile was soft and genuine. He waved as he walked away, but every few steps, he turned back to look at me, waving again and again. My heart melted every time he glanced back. He looked so endearing, so boyishly sweet, that I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around him. But I stayed rooted to the spot, watching him leave, my heart was full of emotion, my cheeks flushed, and my mind replaying the moment over and over.


    That night, I had come home late because of the party. I had already messaged Krishna from the office, letting him know I''d be delayed. When I finally got home, I found that he had prepared dinner for me. Though I wasn''t hungry, the thought of eating something made by him left me with no choice but to sit down and eat with excitement.


    Later that night, our conversation was casual-just the usual exchanges about how the day had gone. After finishing the dishes, I stepped out to find Krishna in his room. Hesitating slightly, I walked to his door, pretending to act innocent, and said shyly, "Kishmish... listen... it''s cold on the sofa outside, and if you don''t mind, could I sleep in this room tonight?"


    "Of course,!!! come in...!" he said, moving a pillow aside to make space for me.


    Blushing, I slipped under the same blanket of him, turning off the light as I lay down. Krishna had already turned to his side, his back was facing me. With only one blanket between us and no extra pillows, there was no barrier tonight-not even the makeshift wall of pillows that we usually kept between us.


    Breaking the silence in the room, I said nervously, "Kishmish... I left my pillow on the sofa outside....And, you know, I can''t sleep without holding a pillow.... So, if in sleep I accidentally grab onto you instead....,please don''t mind." My voice trembled slightly as I tried to control my heartbeat.


    "You can hold me now also....if you like...," he said softly, without even turning around. "It''ll help you sleep better."


    My heart leaped at his words....As If I was waiting for this answer. Slowly, hesitantly, I slid closer to him, slipping my one arm around his waist and holding him tightly. "Are you comfortable,?" I asked timidly, my voice was barely above a whisper.


    As I held him, it felt like I''d entered heaven itself. Krishna placed his hand over mine, gently stroking it for a while... He suddenly turned toward me, his eyes glinting with an intensity that made my heart race. With one swift movement, he slid one arm under my waist, the other resting firmly on my shoulder. He pulled me closer, enveloping me in his embrace.


    As his warmth surrounded me with coziness, he leaned in, his breath grazing my ear, and whispered softly, "Why only a pillow....? I could be your blanket too."


    My head rested against his chest, and I could clearly hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was so vivid, so alive, that it felt like it was echoing inside me. At that moment, his words lingered in my mind, their warmth spreading through me like a gentle fire.


    I tightened my hold around him, almost as if I were afraid he would disappear....His touch ...His presence ...would make the world seem blurred.... The sound of his heartbeat began to blend seamlessly with mine, the two rhythms entwining, until I couldn''t tell one from the other. Somewhere in that symphony of heartbeats, I drifted into the most peaceful sleep I had ever known.


    The next morning, I woke and found Krishna gone from the bed. He was already getting ready for his morning walk. Smiling to myself, I began to get ready too,.... this time he deliberately turned on the lights of the room, for making sure I would woke up without him having to say a word.


    During the walk, I went to pick a flower for him, as I always did, but this time, he beat me to it. Plucking it first, our hands accidentally touch in that process, after picking that up....he tucked it gently into my hair and said, "This suits on you much better than me....."


    I was left speechless, blushing furiously as I avoided his gaze. Smiling to myself, I followed him toward the yoga class. Once we were there, Krishna removed the flower from my hair, saying, "You focus on your yoga....I''ll take care of my flower."


    At the end of the class, he approached me with that flower in hand, but before he could give it back, Sandy interrupted, teasingly asking, "Is that flower for me?"


    Krishna glanced at me, then firmly took my hand, placed the flower back in my hair, and kissed my hand softly. "This flower-and I-both belong to her," he said, his voice steady and sure.


    Sandy smiled awkwardly, clearly taken aback, and began bombarding us with questions: When did this start? ....Why did you lie earlier about not being together?.... I was running late for the office, so I left Krishna to deal with her questions on his own.


    Since that day, it felt as if something had changed between us, something unspoken but deeply felt. Earlier, the nervousness I used to feel whenever I was near him had transformed into a calming sense of peace. The mere thought of spending a night without hearing his voice or feeling his presence had become unbearable. Every day, I found myself bringing him little gifts, calling him lovingly by my favorite nickname for him-Kishmishhh. I often wondered how he felt about all this. He never shared his real emotions...Why he so mysterious ....Sometime I feel like he is hiding something from me....? Did my gestures touch his heart the way his presence touched mine?


    We even celebrated Makar Sankranti together. It was a day I would never forget. First, we prepared the festive dishes together, standing side by side in the kitchen as if time itself had slowed down for us. After the pooja, we went up to the terrace to fly kites. He flew the kite while I stood beside him holding the charkhi. I watching his every move..... He looked so charming from behind, engrossed in maneuvering the kite with such skill and joy. From time to time, he turned to teach me how to fly the kite, his hands gently guiding mine.


    Of course, Sandy still found excuses to hover around him, just as she always did. But surprisingly, it didn''t bother me as much anymore. My heart had found its solace, and nothing else seemed to matter.


    Soon, February arrived with-Valentine''s week. We spent more time together, pretending to play the roles of boyfriend and girlfriend, though it hardly felt like an act anymore. I confessed my feelings to him in subtle ways, taking full advantage of the romantic occasion.....On one of the day even our surprises collided...I brought him kheer from outside and he also made kheer for me at home... It was a lovely day of exchanging each other kheers together and seeing him eating was next level cinema.


    On Kiss Day, I decided to tease him. "You''re celebrating all the other days-aren''t you going to celebrate Kiss Day too?"


    He looked at me with a mischievous smile, Suddenly leaned back slightly, and then, pointing his fingers to his lips and gesturing toward me, said, "Here, have a flying kiss!"


    "What?!" I blurted out, caught off guard.


    "Is there any problem with it....? A flying kiss counts in kisses too, doesn''t it? .... Do, you had something else in mind...???" he said, raising an eyebrow teasingly.


    "No, no! I meant the same thing! ....Stop misinterpreting things !!!.....!!!" I stammered, turning away to hide my embarrassment.


    As I tried to walk off, he called out, "Wait!.... My Baby Baka, where''s mine?"


    Blushing furiously, I turned back, quickly blew him a kiss, and ran off, my heart racing. I couldn''t stop thinking, What must he think of me....?


    The entire month of February flew by in a blur of happiness. Time truly does pass faster when you''re with someone you love. But as March approached and the festival of Holi neared, I felt a growing heaviness in my heart. I had to go home for a week to attend family rituals, and this time I couldn''t take Krishna with me this time.


    When I told him about it, he simply said he couldn''t come, as he had special yoga classes with international students during Holi. His words left me with no choice. I packed my bags with a heavy heart and went to the bus stop with him.


    As the bus prepared to leave, I couldn''t hold back anymore. I hugged him tightly, hiding my tears, and whispered, "Take care of yourself kisshuuu."


    He stroked my hair gently and replied, "You too...."


    As he walked away, the distance between us grew, and my tears finally spilled over as the bus start moving. Memories of our bus rides together flooded my mind. I pulled out my phone, scrolling through his photos, debating whether to call him. In my mind these questions were going on..... ''Am I being too desperate? Or Too clingy? .... What if he think I am so irritating...Should I call him now?!!!!''


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


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    So what do you think....


    Is it ok to call your boyfriend at any time...??


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    Sayonaraaaaaa??

 [Chapter -26] Mr.Postman !!

    Sitting on the bus, I just couldn''t contain myself. Again and again, I found myself scrolling through his pictures on WhatsApp and Phone gallery, his face etched in my memory after seeing them. Halfway through the journey, the bus came to a sudden halt with a sharp brake. In that jolt, my trembling hand accidentally hit the video call option on our chat.


    As soon as I saw "Ringing" appear on the screen, I felt like I was about to have a heart attack. Panicking, I quickly disconnected the call and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. But just as I exhaled, my phone lit up with his voice call.


    I answered softly, almost whispering, "Hello....?"


    From the other end came his voice-the voice that held a magic sweeter than honey, softer than clouds, and intoxicating like the first sip of tea. "Where have you reached....?" he asked.


    For a brief moment, I wanted to blurt out, I want to reach your heart-just show me the way. But I composed myself and replied, "The bus is only reached halfway....."


    "Hmm... did you call me earlier?" he inquired.


    "Oh,....that was a mistake. I didn''t mean to!....So... You''ve reached home, right?" I asked, concern lacing my tone.


    "Yes, a while ago..... Right now....I''m just working on tomorrow''s report-the one for the yoga conference," he replied, his voice carrying faint sounds of movement in the background.


    "Oh..., okay!!. You carry on with your work..... I''ll try to get some sleep for a while.... Bye," I said quickly, wanting to end the call before my emotions got the better of me.


    But before I could hang up, he said in that gentle tone of his, "Why are you cutting the call? ....Anyway You don''t sleep on buses .....so.... In the meantime We can talk to each other while I work .....!!"


    Hearing those words, an uncontrollable smile spread across my face-a smile so big, so genuine, that no effort could hide it....Even after covering my mouth with my little palms.


    I didn''t even realize how much we were talking or what we were even talking about. The entire journey had turned into a flowing river of conversations with him. His words were like waves, pulling me in deeper and deeper. I talked to him so much that my phone''s battery eventually drained. I had glanced at the screen before it shut off-there were still two hours left in my journey, and I had already spent two hours on the call.


    Placing my hand over my heart, I finally ended the call. His last words before the line went dead were, "Call me as soon as you reach home!!." Those words kept replaying in my mind, and I couldn''t help but blush.


    Earlier, I used to wonder how people could talk on the phone for four or five hours straight. I''d often think, Where do they even find so much to say....From where they find such infinite topics....? But now I understood. It wasn''t the endless topics-it was the magic of them. That voice, that presence, made even the most mundane words feel magical, making it impossible to end the call. Even the silliest, most pointless conversations felt essential, as though every word they said to each other carried weight.


    Then, a curious thought crossed my mind. But wait,.... he''s God, isn''t he? Wouldn''t he already know when I get home? So why did he ask me to call him? The thought brought an uncontrollable smile to my face.


    I sat by the window, looking at the trees, the passing fields, and even the animals outside. Yet somehow, no matter where my gaze landed, all I could see was him. His presence seemed to surround me, linger in the air I breathed. I didn''t even know why, but I couldn''t stop smiling. It was as if my heart had learned a new rhythm-one that beat only for him.


    When I reached home, an overwhelming happiness filled my heart as I saw my family after so long. Everyone was asking about me, how I had been, and even about Keshav. I hadn''t told them yet that we were living together under the same roof. I couldn''t even imagine what chaos that revelation might cause.


    My cousins had also come over, and I found myself immersed in endless conversations with them. Amidst all this, I pretended to charge my phone but secretly messaged Krishna to let him know I had reached home safely. For a moment, I considered removing the heart emoji next to his name in case someone checked my phone. But then I reminded myself that my family trusted me completely....That it''s impossible for an girl like me to have a boyfriend.... Who would even suspect anything hehe,.......?


    Talking to Krishna was difficult during the day because I had to spend most of my time with relatives. The only time I got to connect with him was briefly in the morning or at night. Since fewer cousins had come this time, so I had a room to myself. My mornings often began with his messages or calls, and my nights ended with the lullaby of his voice.


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    There were times when I would doze off and yawn during the day, and my mom would teasingly ask, "What do you do at night that you''re always so tired?" I couldn''t say anything in response, but inside, I was laughing, my lips struggling to suppress a shy smile.


    I kept rereading our chats countless times throughout the day, holding onto those words as if they were treasures. I missed him terribly, but every night when I heard his voice over the call, I found myself wishing I could pull him out of the phone and wrap him in my arms.


    I felt as though I was losing my mind. I would smile at random moments, just thinking about him. Every notification sound from my phone would send my heart racing, hoping it was a message from him. Often, I would put on my earphones and listen to "Abhi Kuch Dino Se...." by Mohit Chauhan, blushing with every word. The song perfectly mirrored my emotions.


    It was undeniable now-I was deeply, helplessly in love. I didn''t know what had come over me, but I had surrendered completely to this sweet madness.


    The most unexpected surprise came on Holi. That morning, I was stirred awake by the sound of someone whispering in my ear. As I slowly opened my eyes, there he was-Krishna-sitting right by my bed with his face inches from mine. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. After all, we had spoken on the phone just last night, and I had often dreamed of him showing up like this. Half-asleep, still lying down with my eyes barely open, I mumbled, "Is this a dream or reality? I must be losing my mind..... I see you everywhere!"


    He smiled softly, brushing his hand gently through my hair, and said, "You can think of it as a dream."


    "You''re so adorable, even in my dreams!" I replied, lazily tugging at his cheeks while lying there. I was convinced this wasn''t real-just another one of my vivid fantasies.


    "I''ve come to put the first color of Holi on you!" he declared, holding out a fistful of pink-colored powder in front of me.


    Instantly, I let go my hand from his cheek, snatched the color from his hand, and smeared it all over his face. "Look who won now! I put the first color on you!" I teased with triumph in my voice.


    "And what''s my punishment for losing you, ma''am?" he asked playfully, holding the very hand I had just used to color his face.


    "Punishment!!!?" I raised an eyebrow mischievously. "This!..." I quickly sat up, grabbed his face with both hands, and pulled him closer, rubbing my cheek against his cheeks to smear the color. "This is how! Your punishment is served!" I announced with mock satisfaction.


    He gently pushed me back down onto the bed, leaning closer without saying a word. His lips brushed my forehead in the softest of kisses before he whispered in my ear, "For this type of punishments I am always ready to loose...!!"


    And at that moment, it felt as though a jolt of electricity ran through my entire body. A wave of emotion swept over me, leaving me breathless. Suddenly, I sat upright, convinced myself that it was all just a dream because I could see my whole room empty ..... I felt so giddy with happiness, thinking how perfect this sweet little fantasy was to start my day.


    But when I went downstairs, my family stared at me with curious expressions. They questioned why I had already played Holi so early in the morning and, more importantly, with whom. Confused, I touched my cheek-and there it was, the same pink color from my "dream."


    Flashes of what I thought was a dream came rushing back. I didn''t know whether to blush or feel embarrassed. Later, when I confronted Krishna about it, he played innocent, claiming he had done nothing at all. To make things worse, he teased me mercilessly, saying, "So, other than your boyfriend, who else were you playing Holi with....?"


    That mischievous grin of his drove me mad. But deep inside, I couldn''t stop smiling, knowing that the line between dreams and reality had blurred in the most magical way that morning.


    The week of Holi had been unfolding in ways I couldn''t have imagined. Our conversations on the phone had deepened, filled with laughter and moments of unspoken emotions. By then, I was longing to meet him again. When I was returning to the city, he called in the half way and told me not to go straight to my room. Instead, he gave me the address of a place that sounded like a hotel and asked me to meet him there.


    Carrying my bag, I made my way to the location he had mentioned. But when I arrived, he wasn''t there. I tried calling him, but he wasn''t picking up, which only heightened my frustration and anticipation. I placed my bag on a chair, pacing back and forth, my phone was in my hand, trying to reach him by calling. After what felt like forever, he finally answered the call. His voice on the other end carried that familiar mischief as he said, "Turn around....!!!"


    I spun around and saw him standing there, one hand holding his phone and the other waving at me with a playful grin. My heart skipped a beat....Seeing him coming closer to me, it felt like he was movie hero and it''s his entry scene.....But as I took a closer look, I was startled-he looked different..... His face had changed little bit..... There was a faint mustache above his lips and a light stubble on his cheeks.


    I hurried over to him, my surprise evident. Sitting down on the chair next to my bag, I asked, "What happened to you?.... Why do you look so different....From earlier?"


    He ran his hand across his face with a sly smile and asked, "Why? Don''t I look good like this?"


    "You do, but I never imagined you looking like this. It''s just... surprising," I replied, studying his face and smiling despite myself.


    "Do you want to touch it....To know better.....?" he teased, leaning closer toward me.


    "No, no!" I quickly leaned back, glancing around. The people around us were enough to make me shy, and his playful words were turning my cheeks red.Stolen novel; please report.


    When I asked why he had called me here so suddenly, he explained that the hotel belonged to one of his devotees. He had been thinking to visit for some time and thought it would be the perfect place to give me a surprise.


    Curious, I asked, "What surprise?"


    He paused, a mischievous smile spreading across his face before he said, "I came here on this time era not only to meet you,... but also for another task."


    "What task?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    "To be a postman!!," he said, grinning.


    I blinked, confused. "Postman? What do you mean?"


    "I''ve been working on something in secret...In my room...You might have noticed it.... sometime in my bag there were some papers ...," he began, his tone turning serious yet laced with excitement. "I''ve been compiling a list of 108 people.... Their Thakur has sent them gifts, offerings meant just for them. And now, I have to deliver those gifts-with you."


    "What?... But you''re Thakur yourself. What are you saying? And how am I supposed to leave everything-my job, my responsibilities-to do this?" I asked, overwhelmed by his words.


    "Even though there is only one Thakur, everyone''s connection to Him is unique....Those connections are infinite directly proportional to Infinite Thakurs. Example...You''re here in this place, but you''ve never been to Japan. Does that mean Japan doesn''t exist? In the same way, you may not know another dimension of Thakur, but that doesn''t mean it doesn''t exist," he explained, his words mysterious yet strangely compelling.


    I shook my head, still lost. "I don''t understand any of this," I admitted, making a face.


    "You don''t need to understand everything right now," he said, leaning back in his chair. "All you need to know is that you''re coming with me to deliver these 108 gifts."


    "But what about my job?" I asked anxiously.


    He didn''t answer right away. Instead, he held up his fingers and began counting, "One... two... three..."


    As soon as he said three, my phone buzzed. It was a call from my office. To my utter surprise, I learned that I''d been transferred to a fieldwork position, which meant I would now be traveling to different locations as part of my job.


    "How did you do that?" I asked him, half-laughing, half-stunned.


    "Don''t forget, you''re in the dimension of K.N.K. here !! ," he said with a wink. "In this dimension, little miracles like this are nothing out of the ordinary..... So, are you ready to become my postwoman ?"


    His words left me both thrilled and bewildered, but as I looked into his eyes, I knew there was no turning back. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready to dive into this journey with him.


    As he laughed openly, his joyous laughter filling the air, I couldn''t help but smile back at him. My heart was pounding like a drum, its rhythm almost deafening in the silence between us. Everything felt surreal, like a dream I didn''t want to wake from. Within a week, we had set out on our journey toward the first destination.


    Back home, my family believed and was assured that I was traveling for work as part of a company assignment, which eased their concerns. The list of 108 people spanned across the farthest corners of India. I didn''t remember all the names, but a few had etched themselves into my memory: Pihu, Akshu, Uma, Shree, Disha, Divya, Nimisha, Sonal, Pari, Saumya, Mahak, Haripriya, Muskan, Gauri, Vandita, Kritika , Sathvika, Priya, Sneha, Priya, Anshika, Krishnamayi, Geetashri... and of course, Chiku.......And many more.... Oh, how could I forget Chiku? When Krishna first mentioned her name, I felt a surge of happiness. Imagining Meeting her for the first time-and that too with Krishna by my side-felt nothing short of miraculous.


    Our journey began, crisscrossing through the vibrant parts of India. As we traveled from one devotee to another, Krishna kept teasing me, his playful tone lighting up even the dullest of moments. He joked about his newfound role as an "international postman." Apparently, he had been offered a larger contract but had deliberately chosen only a one-year instead because, as he claimed, working with his co-partner was too much of a hassle! His words were laced with that trademark mischief, and his laughter often echoed through our conversations.


    With every stop, we continued our journey, his laughter weaving through the air as we met each devotee. Each one was unique, and yet, their love for him was boundless and pure. Krishna, with that ever-charming smile of his, carried gifts for every single one of them-a pair of anklets for one, bangles for another, a letter, a sari, a sacred idol for some. Each present felt as though it was handpicked with divine care, and message.... an extension of Divine love.


    We presented these offerings to each devotee as prasad a token of his boundless love. Their eyes lit up with devotion as they received their thakur''s gifts, their hands trembling slightly as if they were touching something sacred.


    Krishna, meanwhile, was speaking to them in ways that baffled me. His words often sounded like riddles, as though they held meanings that only the devotees could decipher. I couldn''t understand a single line of it, but their expressions told me everything. Faces softened with gratitude, eyes glimmered with a mix of joy and reverence, and a light seemed to radiate from within them. It was clear that Krishna''s words were not just conversations-they were answers to long-held questions, unspoken prayers whispered in the stillness of their hearts.


    As we continued our journey, I marveled at the magic unfolding before me. Every village, every home was a new adventure, filled with stories and lives touched by Krishna''s presence. The roads were dusty, the paths winding, and yet, it felt as though we were walking in a divine rhythm, a journey that was both earthly and celestial. At times, Krishna would stop to point out something-a bird singing on a high branch, a flower blooming by the roadside-and I would find myself lost in his world, wondering how even the simplest things seemed to come alive in his company.


    As the days passed, I noticed something remarkable. Krishna wasn''t just giving gifts-he was transforming lives. Those who received his blessings seemed lighter, freer, as though he had lifted an invisible weight from their souls. And their devotion only deepened, their smiles growing brighter with every word he spoke.


    I couldn''t help but notice the twinkle in Krishna''s eyes as he watched them. It was a look of pure, unconditional love, as though he carried each of their burdens in his heart. And though he teased me endlessly, pulling me into his playful antics, there were moments when he would glance at me, his gaze soft and knowing, as if to remind me that I, too, was part of this divine adventure.


    And as we moved forward, I found myself wondering-what gift would Krishna give me? What message did he have for my heart? The answer, I felt, lay not in words or presents but in the very journey itself-a journey of discovering him, his world, and, perhaps, a part of myself.


    Every place we visited became a new chapter in my life. With Krishna by my side, holding my hand as we walked through unknown cities and unfamiliar streets, I felt an inexplicable sense of belonging. Nights were the sweetest; falling asleep while holding onto him, feeling his presence even in the quiet, became a comfort I couldn''t live without. His shadow had become an inseparable part of my existence.


    But as the days passed, my heart began to grow heavier. Each tick of the clock brought us closer to the inevitable. The next Sharad Purnima-the day he had to leave-was now just a month away. How I wished I could stop time! Or better yet, stop him. A part of me clung to the desperate hope that if I confessed my feelings to him the day before he was supposed to leave, maybe-just maybe-he would choose to stay!!.


    With this fear and longing tangled inside me, I tried my best to stay in the present, to live each moment with him to the fullest. Even as my heart trembled with the dread of losing him, I held on to the fleeting happiness his presence brought. Every step of our journey, every smile we exchanged, every moment spent in his company-it was a treasure I was determined to carry with me for eternity.


    Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about Chiku! When we went to meet her, I found myself utterly confused about how to introduce Krishna to her. Should I call him a friend? But then, she might ask why I had never mentioned such a close friend with whom I traveled so much. Should I call him my boyfriend? Then she might wonder why I had kept something so important hidden from her for so long. And if I told her he was Krishna, the Dwarkadhish himself, she''d probably look at me like I''d lost my mind...Or her Dwarikadhish surprise date for her might ruined.... That krishna mentioned to me earlier.


    So, I chose the safest option-I introduced him as my colleague. I told her that he was from this area, and since we happened to be nearby, I thought of visiting her with him. It seemed like a believable excuse. I handed her a beautiful kamarband (waist ornament) sent by her Thakur. I told Chiku that I had brought it for her from Dwarka, saying it reminded me of her when I saw it. She looked puzzled for a moment, unsure whether to believe me.


    Just then, Krishna spoke up with his usual enigmatic tone, "Who knows? Maybe there''s a special reason behind giving this to you. May be not now, you''ll understand later on....."


    Both Chiku and I turned to look at him, trying to decipher what he meant, but he had already deflected the conversation. We spent some time talking about Shyam (Krishna) and matters of devotion. At one point, I left to get ice cream for all three of us. When I returned, I overheard part of their conversation. Chiku was asking Krishna when her Thakur would call her to meet him.


    Krishna replied, "When a devotee calls, it becomes a necessity for him to come....."


    Hearing just that one sentence made my heart race uncontrollably. It felt as though my ears had stopped working, my mind drowning in its own chaotic thoughts. Was Krishna with me out of obligation... Necessity? Was it because I wanted him to be with me? Did I selfishly expect him to stay with me, love me, and be mine?...Am I just selfish ???


    Was everything he''d done so far just a duty he was bound to fulfill? Did all those sweet words, those moments of love, mean nothing? Was I never his choice ??? Had this all been an act-a role he was playing as my perfect boyfriend?


    Questions began swirling in my mind, endless and overwhelming. Somehow, I managed to compose myself and joined them, pretending everything was normal. I spoke and behaved as though nothing had changed. We eventually said goodbye to Chiku and returned to the hotel provided by my company.


    Krishna acted no differently toward me. He was just as loving, just as playful. But inside, I couldn''t stop replaying his words. Every time he came close or said something affectionate, I couldn''t help but wonder-was this real? Or was it just part of his obligation, something he had no choice but to do?


    In a week, my fieldwork contract ended, and we returned to the city together. But something had shifted in me. I began to distance myself from Krishna, though my heart ached with every step I took away from him.


    At night time, lying beside him, I would have terrifying dreams where he was leaving me. In those moments, I would wake up in a panic and cling tightly to him, as if holding him could stop time, stop fate. I kept questioning myself-was I being selfish? Was I expecting too much?...Will he leave me soon....???


    But Krishna''s behavior never changed. He was the same as always-kind, gentle, and loving. But inside, I was breaking. The fear of losing him and the doubt that perhaps he was only staying with me out of duty consumed me. I wanted to believe in his love, but my heart was too scared to accept it fully....And I was too scared to confront him directly.... Because only 1 month was left for me to be with him


    I was barely holding myself together to make my situation worst... I got a call from home. My parents told me they had started looking for a match for me. They had even found someone they liked-a boy working as the branch head of a big company. They wanted me to meet him and see if I approved. They had already shared my number with him, and he would contact me soon. They said I should at least meet him once.


    Not long after the call, I received a message from an unknown number. It was a simple "Hi" followed by the address of a caf¨¦ where I was supposed to meet him in two days. My head felt like it was about to burst. Was all this happening because Krishna''s one-year contract was nearing its end? .... I couldn''t make sense of anything anymore.


    My over thinking was making me go crazy So, I shared the news with Krishna, hoping for some comfort. But his response left me stunned.


    With a playful smile, he said, "Oh wow! congratulations!! ....That''s such wonderful news!"


    His casual reaction pierced through me. "You''re okay with this?.... You really don''t mind? ...Aren''t you supposed to be my boyfriend?" The words spilled out of me, raw and unfiltered, straight from my aching heart.


    Still smiling, he replied, "I was your boyfriend. Now I''ll get to be your ex-boyfriend. Isn''t that great? Another role to play, something new to learn!" He tugged at my nose gently, as if all this was just a joke to him.


    Anger and hurt bubbled up inside me. "Who in their right mind would be happy about becoming someone''s ex?....Are you talking this insane because of sudden shock ??" I said, brushing his hand away and turning my face from him.


    He leaned closer, undeterred by my frustration. "Oh, come on. Wasn''t I a great boyfriend to you? Let me be a great ex too..... And hey,.... I''m so curious to meet your future husband. But,....You know what " he added, pinching my cheek in that infuriatingly playful way, "I''ll definitely miss my babybaka."


    I couldn''t take it anymore. "Stop acting like you''re so excited about this!...This is not something about to get curious.....!!" I snapped, moving away from him. Without another word, I went to the bathroom, locking the door behind me as tears streamed down my face.


    I cried silently, my heart breaking in ways I couldn''t explain. A part of me wanted to beg him to stay, to tell him not to let me go. But I was terrified that if I asked him to stay, it would be out of obligation, not love. I couldn''t bear the thought of forcing him to stay with me. Hadn''t I already caused him enough trouble by pulling him into my world?


    I pressed my hands against the cold sink, trying to calm my racing heart. The weight of unspoken emotions was suffocating me. How could he act so indifferent when my world was falling apart? .....How could he smile when I was breaking inside?Do he really want me to get marry to someone else?.... these doubtfull like questions start echoing in my mind.


    To be continued...........


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    These type of questions put a lover into existential crises .... That does he/she is burden to their lover ?!..... The doubt they could not express in words ..... But it comes out through their actions ....So it''s better to assure your loved ones that they are not their option ....They are their choice....It''s not that bad thing to express your inner love sometime through words too!!.


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    Sayoonaraaaaa??

 [Chapter-27] Wedding Fever !!

    When I was crying alone in the bathroom, Krishna couldn''t even bear that. He banged on the door with such insistence that I had no choice but to let him in. The moment the door opened, he pushed me aside from the washbasin and started washing his hands as if nothing had happened. For the next two days, he didn''t leave me alone for even a moment, Not once. But the night... oh, the night was something else entirely. I was lying on the bed with my back turned to him, trying to distance myself, trying to hide the storm inside me. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt his hands-both of them-firmly wrap around my waist. He pulled me toward him with a strength and urgency that left me breathless, pressing me against his chest.


    His grip tightened, almost to the point where I felt like I couldn''t breathe, my heart pounding louder with each passing second. His breath was warm against my neck, and the sound of it sent shivers cascading through my body. Waves of emotion, of something indescribable, surged through me, rendering me completely helpless in his hold.


    He leaned closer, his lips brushing softly against my ear, and in a low, husky whisper, he said, "For now,.... you''re still my baby, my Baka."


    And just as he said those words, he pulled me even closer, as if he could somehow merge my existence with his own. The warmth of his embrace enveloped me, his presence so overwhelming that it was impossible to think of anything else.


    Tears welled up in my eyes again. The thought of being apart from him, of losing this warmth, this closeness, was unbearable. Yet I said nothing. I stayed silent, savoring every second of this moment, knowing full well that tomorrow, everything could change. For now, I let myself feel it all-the pain, the love, the inevitability. Because who knew if this moment would ever come again? (Kal ho n ho....)


    Those two days with Krishna felt as though they were the final days of my life. Every moment seemed fleeting, slipping through my fingers like sand. I was watching him so intently in those two days-more than I had in the entire year we''d spent together. How I wished I could stop him, confess everything bottled up inside me. But I couldn''t bear the thought of being a burden to him anymore.


    And then, the dreaded day arrived. The day I had to meet the boy my family had chosen for me. My heart felt like it was shattering into pieces as I forced myself to get ready. But Krishna-he was taking his time, adorning himself as though he was the one going on a date. Watching him stand in front of the mirror, meticulously fixing his hair, made my blood boil. Locking the door behind us, I snapped at him angrily, "The boy is coming to meet me, not you!"


    He smirked, draping his arm casually around my shoulder as we walked. "Oh...., but the boy needs to know what great taste you have in men... It''s important for him to understand the level he''s competing with.... You wouldn''t get it-it''s a guy type of thing."


    I pushed his arm off my neck with a huff. "Why don''t you marry him, then, if you''re so excited about this whole thing?!" I stomped ahead, refusing to look back at him.


    Krishna, undeterred, followed me like a shadow, trying to calm me down, but I ignored him completely. By the time we reached the caf¨¦, I was fuming. Sitting at a table, I turned to him and hissed, "You know what? ....The moment he sees you here with me, he''ll call off the wedding himself. Thats Good actually!....It will probably Saves me from the trouble!"


    Krishna chuckled, his mischievous eyes twinkling. "Oh, don''t be like that..... Why would he say no? ....But fine, I''ll sit at another table....Happy now?" He moved to a table across from me, and to my annoyance, kept grinning at me from there.


    Meanwhile, I was trying to call the boy. His phone was switched off. My frustration doubled as Krishna sat across the room, his amused smile only fueling my irritation. After an hour of waiting and no sign of the boy, I couldn''t hold it in any longer. I marched up to Krishna, with a annoyed face.


    "This is all your fault....!" I blurted out.


    He blinked at me with mock innocence. "What did I do?" he asked, tilting his head like a confused child.


    "You! Just shut up! ....Not one word out of you now!" I snapped, my anger and frustration reaching their peak.


    Krishna, wide-eyed like a scolded child, pressed a finger to his lips and stared at me silently. His exaggerated compliance only made me angrier.


    I pulled out my phone and called my mother. "Mummy! Where is this boy? I''ve been waiting for over an hour! His phone is switched off!"


    "That''s strange," my mother said, sounding surprised. "Just a while ago, he texted us that he liked you..... Wait-are you really alone there?"


    Her words hit me like a thunderclap. I froze, my phone slipping slightly in my hand as I turned to look at Krishna, who was now sipping on a coffee, his smile was unshaken....I started looking here and there to search for that boy.


    "I... I am alone, Mummy.... Just Keshav is here at the caf¨¦ too... I happened to run into him accidentally......,and this......" I blurted out, trying to cover up my mistake, but before I could say more, my mother interrupted me.


    "You fool... He is the boy! .....What on earth are you two doing there....Playing hide and seek?!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp and impatient.


    "WHAT?!!!!!!" I screamed so loudly that heads turned in the caf¨¦. My heart stopped, my breath caught in my chest.


    "He specifically asked us not to reveal his name. He wanted to meet you directly....... Alright, now you two talk. I''ll hang up," she said quickly before ending the call.


    I stood there, frozen, my mind refusing to process what had just happened. Slowly, I turned to look at Krishna, my eyes wide with disbelief. I couldn''t blink, couldn''t move, couldn''t breathe. The phone slipped from my numb fingers, clattering to the floor.


    Krishna, who was pretending to be clueless, picked it up with his usual innocence and asked, "What happened? You look like you''ve seen a ghost."


    "You... you''re... YOU are him!" I stammered, my voice shaking, my eyes still locked on him as though he were some kind of mirage.


    "Who?!" he asked, feigning ignorance, the corner of his mouth twitching with suppressed amusement.


    "You''re HIM! My... my...That boy!" I screamed again so loudly, this time unable to contain the mix of shock, joy, and disbelief. I jumped up from my chair, unable to sit still.


    Krishna quickly placed his hand over my mouth, looking around apologetically at the other caf¨¦ patrons. "Shh! Keep your voice down! Who are you talking about?"


    Removing his hand, I grabbed his wrist and said, "You! My future husband!" My voice softened, my gaze steady as I looked into his eyes.


    "Oh? Say that again... I don''t think I heard you properly," he teased, blinking dramatically as a mischievous smile spread across his face.


    "This... this has to be a dream!" I muttered, pinching my arm hard to wake myself up.


    "Congratulations, my future wife," he said with a laugh, pulling my cheeks affectionately. "This dream is going to be your reality very soon."


    "You... you''ve been acting this whole time, haven''t you?" I said, my lips forming a pout as I stared at him accusingly.


    "I told you the truth earlier also.....!" he replied, his voice light and playful. "I was your boyfriend, and now I''m about to become your ex-boyfriend... because soon, I''ll be your husband! It''s always you who kept refusing to talk about marriage!" He batted his eyes at me, his expression overly dramatic.


    "You could''ve just told me earlier!" I said, my voice breaking slightly as tears welled up in my eyes.


    "Why the tears now?" he asked gently, wiping them away with his thumb. "A boyfriend''s job is to give his girlfriend the best future, right? ...And who''s better for that than me for you? But if you cry like this, people will think I''m the bad guy!" His smile softened, his voice filled with warmth.


    I nodded, wiping my own tears and gathering my courage. "Alright, let''s go home," I said, grabbing my purse and holding his hand tightly as I led him out of the caf¨¦.


    "At least eat something first!" he said, half-laughing, but I shook my head.


    "My stomach''s full now," I replied, a small smile breaking through my emotions.


    As we walked together, hand in hand, my heart raced with every step. The world around me blurred, and all I could feel was him by my side. I didn''t know what was happening to me-whether it was the overwhelming joy, relief, or the anticipation of what was to come. But one thing was certain. My heart, my future, and my dreams had all found their home in him.


    The entire way, I had been holding his hand tightly, unable to suppress my emotions any longer. My heart felt like it was bursting, and I knew I couldn''t keep it all bottled up anymore.


    The moment we stepped into the room, I shut the door behind us with a sharp thud. Letting go of his hand, I leaned my back against the door and blurted out, "Why are you doing this?.... Just tell me the truth! ....Are you really staying with me against your will?" Tears began to stream down my face as I poured out my fears.


    He stood silently in front of me, gently wiping my tears without uttering a word. His fingers brushed against my cheeks, soft and soothing, but his silence only made my frustration grow.


    "Say something! Why don''t you speak?!" I said, my voice breaking into sobs.


    "Will you let me speak first?" he finally said, cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs lightly pressing into my cheeks as if to calm me.


    "I-I wasn''t stopping you... I am just...," I stammered, my voice still trembling.


    "Listen to me now...," he said softly, his fingers tenderly wiping away the tears that lingered on my skin. "What do you think? Do you really believe anything happens without my will?.... Yes, it''s true that gods are compelled to come when their devotees call upon them, but it''s also true that it''s the gods who orchestrate those calls.... I am the one who loves, and I am the lover too." His voice was low and steady, his words weaving warmth into my heart as his fingers continued to stroke my face.


    "Are you telling the truth?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my eyes searching his for reassurance.


    "Of course,!!" he said with a playful smile. "I became your boyfriend because I wanted to. ....And now, I''m becoming your husband because I''ve decided that too.....And let me make this clear-it''s not a request, it''s an order. Whether you accept it or not, that doesn''t change anything." His hands still cradled my face, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my cheeks.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "So... does that mean you''re staying longer than your ''contract''? You''re not going to leave me now?" I asked, my voice tinged with hope, my eyes desperate for an answer that wouldn''t shatter me.


    He smiled, his gaze soft yet firm. "Everyone who comes to Earth has to leave one day.... My contract, however, has been extended until our wedding. ''Thakurs''-or should I say, the other devotees Thakurs-were impressed with your work, so they asked me to give you the gift of marriage. But after that, I''ll have to leave again.......," he said, pressing my cheeks lightly as though trying to lessen the weight of his words.


    "Fine, fine, forget all that for now," I said quickly, brushing away the heaviness in the room. I wasn''t ready to dwell on that yet. "Tell me something else-what company are you really the CEO of, huh? Because I clearly missed that topic...That my parents told about ...The boy they choose for me is CEO...Did you lie to them?!" I teased, trying to shift the mood.


    The heaviness in my chest had started to lift. Knowing that, for however long, he was officially going to be mine was enough for now. It was more than I could have dreamed of. His presence alone, no matter the duration, felt like the most precious gift I could ever receive.


    He was gazing into my eyes, his voice low and steady as he said, "You''ve forgotten again, haven''t you? You''re in K.N.K''s dimension, and here, not just one company-everything is mine..... But do you know the most valuable thing I have?"


    "What?" I asked softly, curiosity and nervousness evident in my voice.


    "You......!," he replied, his words sending my heart racing. As he said it, he leaned in closer, his hand still caressing my cheek. His face was drawing nearer to mine, and I felt my breath hitch. His simple "you" had already stopped my world, and now my eyes betrayed me, focusing on his lips. They pulled me into a dreamlike haze, a world of my own making.


    Wait... was he going to kiss me? The thought flashed through my mind, making my heart pound even faster. Was this what they called the perfect moment in movies? But why did time feel so unbearably slow? Panic began to creep in. Did I brush my teeth properly this morning? Oh no,........this is my first time-what if I mess it up?...Shit I don''t know how to kiss Yet...If I would know about this moment then probably I must have seen some good tutorial online.... My thoughts were running wild that time..... God, why am I overthinking so much? If I keep staring at his lips like this, nothing will happen out of nervousness..... Okay, okay, calm down. Just close your eyes! I said to myself in my mind.


    So I did-I squeezed my eyes shut, pursed my lips, and waited... I Swallowed my own saliva out of nervousness.....Seconds felt like hours as I stood there, waiting for something... anything...... But when nothing happened, I hesitantly opened one eye, and then the other.


    To my utter embarrassment, I saw him casually sitting on the sofa, taking off his shoes. My cheeks turned crimson as I realized he had moved away without me even noticing. When had he let go his hands from my cheek? I had been so caught up in my own thoughts that I hadn''t realized a thing.


    He looked at me from where he sat and asked, "What are you still doing by the door?"


    Mortified, I pressed my lips tightly together to keep from screaming at myself and quickly stammered, "N-nothing! Just checking if the door is locked properly!" I gave the lamest excuse I could think of and did some overacting of checking the door and quickly bolted to my room, not waiting for his response.


    Once inside, I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face under a pillow to muffle my laughter. My cheeks were burning, and I couldn''t stop smiling at my own ridiculousness. I tried to stifle the grin, but it only grew wider. What was I even about to do out there?!


    Since that day, I had been feeling like I was living in heaven. Every little mistake I made started bringing me even more joy because when he scolded me, he would say, "You''re about to become my wife, and yet your attention is everywhere except on me...." Hearing that made it even sweeter to hug him-after all, he was now officially my fianc¨¦.... My future husband.


    Once, my family came over to meet me for finalize the wedding date. They wanted to discuss all the wedding details with me. That day was pure chaos, but the fun I had in hiding him-I can''t even begin to describe it. At one point, I had hidden him under the study table, but he couldn''t resist teasing me. He kept tickling my foot, making me burst out in laughter. In retaliation, I accidentally kicked him.


    "Oh my God! .....I''m so sorry!" I yelled suddenly, causing my parents to look at me, confused and worried. They asked what had happened, and I had to come up with some excuse, quickly distracting them with other conversations. Somehow, I managed to drag them out of the house and take them to the temple, just so he could sneak out without getting caught.


    But of course, he couldn''t resist making things more dramatic. Just a few hours later, he waltzed into the house, pretending to be the perfect, innocent future son-in-law(damad ji). "I thought I should introduce myself properly," he said, flashing his most charming smile. And oh, did he enjoy the royal treatment my parents gave him, soaking in every bit of attention like a king.


    Finally, a priest was called, and our wedding date was set for December 25th. When I asked about his family, he casually waved it off, saying they lived in a village and then everything had been arranged over the phone.


    "Who exactly is in your family?" I asked him one evening, curiosity tugging at me.


    He smirked, winked at me, and said, "You''ll meet everyone at the right time."


    His mysterious answer only made me more impatient, but his playful charm made it impossible to stay mad for long.


    Ever since I had learned that December 25th was the wedding date, I had started opening up to him even more. The pain of the days passing quickly was far outweighed by the excitement of the wedding. I had been obsessively watching videos of brides and grooms, and it was like I was possessed by this "wedding fever." One day, under the influence of this excitement, I ended up doing something completely ridiculous and embarassing with him.


    That day when We had been casually chatting about random things when, all of a sudden, an idea struck me. Without thinking, I gently pushed him toward the wall. Placing my hands on either side of him, pinning him against the wall, I locked eyes with him and, in a teasing tone, said, "You''re getting married, sure... but do you know what are things that is done after it.....?"


    He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk appearing on his face. "Hmm... I only know the theory so .... But if you''d like, we could try a practical .... right now," he replied, leaning closer to me.


    My playful arrow had backfired, hitting me instead! As he stepped closer, I instinctively started stepping back. His intense gaze never left mine, and with each step forward, he made my heartbeat race faster. Before I even realized it, I had backed into the bed. Sitting down, I began scooting backward, but he was following me on his knees, inching closer. My breath hitched, my heart felt like it would explode, and I had absolutely no idea what to do next.


    Finally, I panicked and shut my eyes tightly, and blurted "no!!!"... loudly, but instead of what I expected, he calmly laid down on my lap, looking utterly relaxed, and said, "Don''t you know how to give a good head massage?"


    I opened my eyes, utterly confused. "You wanted a head massage?" I asked, my voice trembling and my face frozen in an awkward smile.


    "Well, I heard that a good wife gives her husband great head massages. I just thought I''d see how good yours is! .....but Wait a minute... what were you thinking about ?" he asked, tilting his head in playful innocence, his eyes twinkling with mischief.


    "N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" I stammered, trying to recover. "I think my phone is ringing. I... I need to take this call!"


    I practically leaped off the bed and rushed out of the room, my face burning with embarrassment. Once I was alone, I buried my face in my hands, utterly mortified at my own thoughts. What had I been thinking?! My parents were probably right all along-watching too many movies and dramas was starting to mess with my head. This had to be one of the big side effects!


    As December 25th drew closer, it felt as if Santa Claus was about to give me the greatest gift of my life. I could barely contain my excitement. At Krishna''s suggestion, we had decided on a "destination wedding" at the Triyuginarayan Temple, the sacred site where Lord Shiva and Parvati were said to have been married.


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    Every year, many couples chose this holy place for their weddings. Our families had quickly agreed, enchanted by the idea of such a divine venue. And for me? I couldn''t have asked for anything more perfect-a wedding blessed directly by Shiva and Shakti themselves. Whatever my future would hold, I was ready to face it because this divine blessing felt like a promise that all would be well. And if it wasn''t? Well, I''d have a direct line to complain to ShivShakti !


    Three weeks before the wedding, I returned to my family home. Half the preparations were already done, leaving me to handle the final touches. Everyone kept teasing me, calling me "Mrs. Keshav," and I couldn''t help but blush. Honestly, wasn''t it the best feeling in the world to hear your name paired with theirs? It all felt like a dream-every moment magical and surreal.


    A few days later, my friend, Chiku, arrived. At first, she pouted and scolded me for not telling her about this "colleague-turned-fianc¨¦" earlier. I quickly placated her with the excuse that it was an arranged marriage. That seemed to satisfy her, and she didn''t press further.


    As the haldi ceremony approached, I received a message from Krishna. He specifically asked me to ensure that Chiku accompanied my family to his side of the ceremony for haldi exchange, wearing a yellow saree with that gifted waistband(kamarband). His request seemed oddly specific, and when I asked him why, he dodged the question at first. Sensing my skepticism, I told him, "Chiku won''t even agree to wear a saree unless you give me a good reason." That''s when he finally confessed the truth that Chiku was about to meet her lover -Krishna''s elder brother, meaning her Dwarikadhish''s Thakur.


    I was elated for Chiku! The idea that her love story was about to unfold at my wedding made everything even more special. But Krishna, ever the mischief-maker, strictly forbade me from saying anything to her. "It''s their own story. Let it play out naturally," he said with a teasing tone. As much as I wanted to jump in and share her joy, I respected his wish and decided to stay out of it.


    The excitement of the wedding was now doubled. With my love story reaching its pinnacle and Chiku''s about to begin, it truly felt like the gods themselves were orchestrating something extraordinary.


    It had been a challenge convincing Chiku to wear the saree and waistband that Krishna had requested. She threw every tantrum imaginable, but after a lot of persuasion, she finally agreed reluctantly.


    When she returned from Krishna''s house, I couldn''t wait to ask her what had happened. But instead of answering, she avoided my questions and started complaining about Krishna. Apparently, he had been teasing her relentlessly, calling her "Bhabhi" over and over again! She was clearly annoyed, but I couldn''t stop laughing at the thought.


    Curious, I brought up the matter with Krishna later. He, in his usual carefree tone, said, "Well, if a devar doesn''t call his own bhabhi ''Bhabhi,'' what else is he supposed to call her?" His playful words stayed with me, but what lingered even more deeply was a realization I had in that moment. All of us-Chiku, Krishna, his brother, and I-were walking our own unique paths, yet our journeys were intertwined. We were all playing roles in each other''s lives, supporting and guiding one another, even if unknowingly. It felt like destiny itself was crafting something bigger than we could comprehend....We all devotees play as a role of medium in each other journey to krishna''s Dimension.


    The next big step in this journey was our bus ride to Triyuginarayan Temple, the destination where Krishna and I would marry. During the ride, I saw Chiku''s Thakur-Krishna''s elder brother-Mr.Madhav Krishnan for the first time. He was a stark contrast to Krishna. While Krishna exuded playfulness and charm, his brother was more mature and serious. Yet, there was a kindness in his demeanor, and his sweet smile carried a quiet warmth with a divine calmness.


    I couldn''t help but notice the moment he deliberately chose the seat next to Chiku. Her expression was priceless-equal parts shock and confusion. I kept glancing at them, wondering what sort of silent conversation might be unfolding between them. When I whispered my observations to Krishna, he smirked and replied, "You should focus on your own wedding instead of poking your nose into theirs."


    Of course, Krishna couldn''t understand-gathering intel about a close friend''s love life is practically a sacred duty! But I held my tongue, letting the mysteries between Chiku and her Thakur unfold naturally.


    Meanwhile, Krishna, ever the opportunist, was thoroughly enjoying the situation. Since I couldn''t meet Thakur before the wedding out of tradition, Chiku''s Thakur used this as an excuse to visit Chiku again and again. Each time, he pretended it was for some crucial detail about his brother wedding preparations, but I knew better-he and my krishna was just finding reasons to tease her as much as he could.


    And me? I was aching to see Krishna every moment. I was counting down the days until the wedding, longing to be together in every sense. The waiting was agonizing, but at the same time, the anticipation made every moment sweeter. All I had left to do was endure until the day of the wedding-a day that now felt like it couldn''t come soon enough.


    ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ


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    See you guys....At the wedding....????


    Author''s Note


    For those who are thinking how two krishna is at one time.... actually .....they both are hari.... but are manifested into two different form.... according to their devotee manifestion....if you visited vrindavan you can see there are different thakurs.... but all have different forms.... so it is similar to it.....


    Sayoonaraaaaaaaaaaaaa??

 [Chapter - 28] The Awaited Reunion !!

    As the wedding day drew closer, my heartbeat was racing faster with every passing moment. A recurring question lingered in my mind-would Krishna truly leave after this? Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I wasn''t as nervous as before. There was a strange sense of trust within me this time. We had booked a hotel close to the temple, and Krishna''s relatives, whom I couldn''t recognize or comprehend, were arriving one after the other.


    Finally, the day of the wedding arrived. The auspicious time was set for the morning of December 25th. The night before, I couldn''t sleep at all. My restless thoughts led me to call Krishna, pestering him endlessly. In turn, he teased me with his playful words, making me forget my worries for a while. And then, the morning dawned-the morning when we were to be wed.


    For the first time in my life, I was wearing such a heavy bridal red lehenga. As I got ready, an indescribable joy blossomed inside me. Each time I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, a single thought crossed my mind-Would Krishna find me beautiful... ?


    When I finally saw him at the mandap, an unexpected wave of emotions overtook me, and tears welled up in my eyes. Dressed in his groom''s attire, he looked like a king-my king, the ruler of my heart. My tears flowed uncontrollably as he approached me, gently held my hand, and tried to calm me with a playful remark, "There''s still time for the farewell (vidai) save your tears for later!"


    His words brought a smile to my face. Sitting at the mandap, surrounded by the echoing chants of the priest''s mantras, I felt an otherworldly peace. I glanced sideways and saw his parents seated nearby. There was something so comforting about their presence, as if they were my own. Meanwhile, I kept stealing shy glances at Krishna, feeling my cheeks flush every time our eyes met.


    As the ceremony progressed, the sacred vows-the pheras-began...With each round my heartbeat was racing with the fire.... my soul felt like awakening with the words of promises. Later, I noticed Krishna''s elder brother, who was throwing flowers on us as well as on Chikuu during the pheras, much to the annoyance of Chikuu, who stood by glaring at him with a mix of frustration and hidden smiles. I couldn''t help but wonder what silent war was going on between the two of them!


    The farewell(Vidai) moment finally came, and I couldn''t hold back my tears. Even though I was going to be with Krishna, leaving behind the family that had stood by me through every challenge, even guiding me to Krishna''s devotion and love, was heart-wrenching.


    Later that evening, we had organized a Satyanaarayan Katha at a nearby temple. The wedding rituals had been completed by the afternoon, and now, for the first time, I sat beside Krishna, not as his beloved, but as his wife. It felt surreal. Was he really my husband now? I couldn''t believe it.


    The difference between before the wedding and now was overwhelming. During the Katha, I wore a sari paired with a sweater, as managing the heavy lehenga had become impossible for me.


    In that moment, sitting beside Krishna during Katha, I realized how profoundly my life had changed. Yet, amidst all the changes, one thing was certain-Krishna and I were now bound together, forever....My heart was telling me this again and again and I found myself blushing to my inner thoughts.


    After the katha ceremony, we sought blessings from the elders, and I met Krishna''s family for the very first time....When I bowed down to Krishna''s Mother ....I felt a sense of strange belongingness from her touch. Despite meeting them for the first time, it felt as though there was some deep, ancient connection between us. The love they showered on me was immense-so immense that I couldn''t put it into words. I felt as though I had entered a space filled with warmth and affection that felt both new and familiar.


    We had all sat together to eat later at night time, the air filled with laughter and conversation. Chiku, sitting next to me, leaned over and said, "You look so different now...." Before I could respond, Krishna, who was seated beside me, chimed in, "It''s the glow of the wedding..... Don''t I look different too?" And then, in front of everyone, he pretended to blush, acting as though he was embarrassed.


    Later, A romantic song suddenly started playing, and the others urged us to dance. I felt a flush of shyness creeping over me as I glanced at the family members around, but the moment my eyes met Krishna''s, the world faded away. Lost in the depth of his gaze, I felt my hesitation dissolve.


    It was such a beautiful moment-he held my finger and spun me gently, his eyes never leaving mine. Each twirl made me feel like I was floating in space, and every time I turned, I found myself looking into his eyes again. Holding his hand, swaying to the rhythm of the music, it felt as though I had stepped into a dream. The way he moved, his hands expressive, his feet perfectly in tune with the beat, was mesmerizing. I couldn''t take my eyes off him.


    Even as I stumbled, distracted by his charm, he would grasp my hand firmly and pull me back into the dance. For a moment, it felt like we were the part of a movie-a fairytale unfolding in real life.


    But then, after some time, the moment I had been dreading arrived. The thought that had haunted me all day whispered in my mind again-Would Krishna really leave now? As I walked toward the room, the question kept echoing in my head. My heart was racing, my mind filled with uncertainty. What would happen now?


    Everyone left me at the door, saying, "Krishna is waiting for you inside." My hands trembled as I reached for the door handle alone. With a deep breath, I pushed it open. Suddenly, a blinding light flooded my eyes, forcing me to shield them.


    When I managed to steady myself and open my eyes, I was no longer in the room. To my utter disbelief, I found myself standing in the temple-the same temple where it had all begun. The room, the door, everything had vanished.


    In front of me was the temple''s sanctum, and there stood the previous one shining blue(shyam) deity of Krishna, radiant in its divine glow. I was frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening. How did I get here? Where was everyone?


    I called out, "Krishna?.... Krishna!" My voice echoed in the empty temple, but there was no response. No sign of him. Panic began to set in. Was all of this just a dream? Had I imagined everything that had happened till now?


    But no...., I looked down and saw the sari I was wearing. I glanced at my hands, still adorned with mehndi. It couldn''t have been a dream. It was all real. But then, how did I end up here? What was happening to me?


    The questions swirled in my mind as I stood there, lost and desperate, calling out his name, hoping for an answer, hoping for him.


    When no answers came to my endless questions, I found myself returning to the place where it all had begun-the blue(Shyam) deity of Krishna. Last time, he had appeared before I could even touch it. Perhaps this time too, something similar would happen. Maybe the answers I was seeking lay within the deity itself. With this thought, I began walking toward it.


    As I reached closer, I searched for him, my eyes darting around the empty temple. But he wasn''t there. Turning back one last time, I called out his name, my voice trembling. When he still didn''t appear, I extended my shaking hand toward the deity. The moment my fingertips brushed against it, the deity began to dissolve into the air. The shimmering bright blue hue of the idol started spreading through me, seeping into my very being.


    I could feel something shifting inside me, something powerful and incomprehensible. The deity vanished completely, leaving nothing but that divine bluishness, which now covered every inch of my body. Tears began streaming from my eyes, unprovoked and unstoppable. My head and chest started aching faintly, as if the transformation wasn''t just external but deeply internal. Clutching my head, I whispered his name, "Krishnnnnn," before the pain overwhelmed me, forcing my eyes shut.


    In that very instant, I felt myself slipping into another world. A swirling black tunnel stretched endlessly before me, with a piercing white light speeding toward me. My heart pounded violently, my breathing became erratic. I wanted to open my eyes, to see where I was going, but I couldn''t. The light grew brighter, closer, until it enveloped me completely.


    And then, images began flashing before my eyes-so vivid, so intense, they felt like old memories. A sharp, ringing tttttnnnnnnn sound echoed in my ears, almost unbearable. What I was seeing felt strangely familiar, as though it was a part of me, fragments of my own soul. These weren''t strangers; these were my memories, even though the faces were unfamiliar.


    ______


    I saw myself in a family that traveled often, moving from one place to another. I looked younger, perhaps only thirteen or fourteen. Everything seemed ordinary until the scene shifted-I was riding in a bullock cart with my family when I heard a voice. That voice... it stirred something deep within me, something primal and inexplicable. It was as if I had been waiting for this voice my entire life. My heart recognized it before my mind could comprehend it.


    I turned, catching only a glimpse of a back and a hand. I couldn''t see his face, yet he felt like someone I had always known. There was an ache, a longing in my chest, as if something lost had finally been found. I watched, felt everything-the yearning, the joy, the sense of recognition-as though I was living it all again.


    The scene shifted again, and now it was night. In the divine glow of the thunder, I saw him clearly for the first time.....that boy which I saw earlier on bullock cart. It was Krishna-young, radiant teenager, his presence was otherworldly. His white garments shimmered like moonlight itself, making him look less like a human and more like a divine being. Seeing him in his youthful form felt like a blessing, an honor I couldn''t put into words. His innocence, his playful smile, the way he gently held a bird in his hands-it was all so pure, so breathtaking. I found myself hiding, watching him from afar, afraid to approach yet unable to look away.


    That feeling of secretly observing him, the thrill of our first accidental touch, the joy it brought me-it all came rushing back, vividly and intensely.


    While watching the memories.....I felt the pain of being hopelessly in love, of loving someone who seemed untouchable, unattainable. I saw myself writing letters to him, pouring my heart out, confessing my feelings in hidden words I could never say aloud. Krishna wasn''t just a person; he was magic, something beyond this world, and that magic drew me to him, made him impossible to forget.


    But then, I saw the moment I made my mistake-a mistake that had caused me so much pain. I had done something to him that I shouldn''t have, yet it brought me closer to him.


    I had decided to take full advantage of that moment, and one day, I finally confessed my one-sided love to him. The pain was searing, almost unbearable, as I heard his rejection. He had told me that he was bound by the chains of duty. I could feel my heart breaking as those words escaped his lips.


    That day, I had said to him, "Even if you are bound, I am free to love you..... Say no if you must, but I will still love you from far, without disturbing or burdening you."


    Then after having some debate.... He showed me his divine true form.....His divine form stood before me, his presence radiating the ethereal glow of a god who could grant anything-but not love. It was as if his very being was saying, "Ask for anything but I can''t give you love


    ...... I am a god; I can grant you any boon, but cant give love not at this time ....may be in future......"


    But what could a lover do with a future promised in gifts when all she desired was the present moment? Krishna, I wasn''t begging for your love. I was simply expressing my own. Perhaps that was my mistake-to expect the impossible from him.


    And so, that day, I decided to correct my mistake. I told him, "If you must grant me a boon, then grant me this: forget me completely, forget everything that has happened until now. At least then, I can love you freely, without restrictions. At least then, I can steal glances at you from afar, even if it is in secret. If my love troubles you, it''s better this way-you forget it."


    Every emotion overwhelmed me in that moment, and I felt the depth of my love for him and the pain it brought. That day, I had asked for only one thing: for him to read the three letters I had written .....I asked him to read those before the morning came, before he forgot everything. Only for one time.... I wanted him to see himself through the eyes of my love, only for just once.


    That night, as he went to wash his face, I sat under a tree, waiting for him with those three letters. Minutes turned into hours, but he didn''t return. I stayed awake all night, my eyes searching for him in the shadows of dark night, my ears straining to hear the faintest sound of his footsteps. Every rustle of the wind, every whisper of the night made me call out his name, hoping it was him.


    But he didn''t come.


    By the next morning, my body felt as though it was rooted to the ground. My feet refused to move. It felt like my very soul had been drained, as if life itself had abandoned me. I remained there, unable to think, unable to act.


    As night fell again, something stirred within me-a desperation I couldn''t understand. My trembling feet carried me to a nearby temple, a temple of Maa Kali, my family''s ancestral goddess. The dark, haunting silence of the temple mirrored the turmoil within me. I stood there, unsure of what to ask, unsure of what was left to hope for.


    Collapsing before the Maa idol, I cried out Krishna''s name, banging my head against the stone floor. The physical pain was nothing compared to the torment within me. My soul was heavy, weighed down by the love and loss I couldn''t bear to carry anymore.


    I didn''t realize when I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in my Maa...Maa kali''s lap. She was gently caressing my hair with so much love and care. In that moment, I remembered-the same tender touch I had felt from Krishna''s mother, who was present in the wedding .... who had been my mother-in-law. The memory stirred something deep within me.


    Maa pulled me into her embrace, and I broke down like a child, pouring out my pain to her. "Maa, I think all I''ve ever given Krishna is pain... only pain. I know I shouldn''t have made that mistake, but I did. Why did you save me, Maa? ....Why didn''t you let me die?.... I''m nothing but a sinner who causes hurt to everyone. Krishna is so hurt, so angry with me that he didn''t even come to see me one last time before forgetting me last night. Maa, please let me die... How can anyone force their love on their beloved? I''ve sinned. I''ve committed a terrible sin."


    Maa continued stroking my head and spoke with infinite love, "How could loving the one who already holds the love of the entire world be a sin? ..... My child, remember, what you see in this moment isn''t always the ultimate truth. Don''t forget, my daughter, sometimes an end is merely the beginning."


    Through my tears, I asked her, "But what if he''s not mine now? Doesn''t that mean he''ll never be mine later?" Maa smiled, her serene and knowing smile, and replied, "What is yours will always remain yours..... And what isn''t yours-what''s the harm in losing it?"


    Her words sent a chill down my spine. "So you mean he''s not mine, Maa? ....Should I forget him?" I asked with trembling desperation. But Maa, her voice still filled with gentleness, replied, "You already know the truth,.... my child. The one you love is not just yours; he belongs to the entire universe..... He is eternal-without beginning, without end..


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version... If your love is true, he will come to you in the form of that love..... It''s not necessary for everything to come to us immediately...... Sometimes delays have their own reasons..... Just as a flower isn''t comes in its true beauty until it has fully bloomed, so too does nature give us certain things only when they have reached their ultimate truth."


    But I couldn''t stop myself I replied "Maa, I don''t want his love out of obligation or force..... I only want him to feel my love, to accept me when he feels the same within..... I don''t want to bind him, Maa.....And yet, I''ve already trapped him in my love, forcing him to care for me because he''s God.... He has no choice now!"


    Maa smiled faintly, as if seeing through me. "Then tell me, my daughter, what do you truly want?" she asked softly.


    "I want Krishna to forget me," I said, my voice trembling. "I want him to forget me until he feels love for me within himself..... Until then, I will keep loving him, carrying my share of the love alone."


    I don''t know what she was thinking, but she finally nodded and said, "Very well, my child. I will place a part of your memories from this life as a key in a safe place. The day Krishna truly feels love, then this key will unite you both, and after that you will be free-completely free. Krishna will remember everything too at that moment....and will come back to you!!."


    Mother embraced me tightly one last time and then left me with a strange sense of peace. From next day, I kept pretending to be a stranger, watching Krishna from afar, hiding in the shadows. Days blurred into years as I quietly admired him from a distance and adore him like a one sided lover. Eventually, I left Dwapar Yuga behind, fading into anonymity.


    The birth death cycle continued....It seemed as though I had been reborn in Kaliyuga, but this time in a different place. Once again, I was a devotee of Krishna. Yet, by the end of that life, while I found devotion, I never truly found him....There was still something remaining.... In that life, too, I had no memories of the past. Life after life, birth after birth, Krishna always found his way into my existence. But somehow, every time, our union felt incomplete, like a story half-told. I couldn''t understand it that time.....but now I knew it was all happening because of me only. This infinite universe, this endless cycle of time-countless DwaparYugas, TretaYugas, Kaliyugas, and SatYugas came and went.


    In each of my lives, something new happened, yet sometimes echoes of the past lingered. I don''t know how many times I played that role in Dwapar Yuga. Each time, my one-sided love for Krishna was rejected in a new way. And then, everything would begin again, repeating endlessly.


    But this time, something felt different. This time, after Krishna had again rejected away from my love and when I again gone to meet maa.... Then after that, I secretly began to watch him again from far. One day, as I quietly placed roses in his room, a few guards spotted me. They accused me of being a thief and dragged me outside.


    I ran, hiding and escaping their pursuit. I didn''t want Krishna to see me like this. But while running, my foot struck a stone, and I stumbled. My head hit a large rock, and I fell to the ground.


    A crowd began to gather around me.....blood was flowing from by head..... Strangely, I couldn''t die, no matter how hard my body struggled. It was as if my soul was holding on to something, as if it was waiting for someone.....As if my soul was waiting for its real owner...real home.


    Then, suddenly, it happened-a miracle. Krishna appeared before me....The real owner of my soul.... My blurry eyes, already brimming with tears, met his..... But today, his eyes were filled with tears too, and it felt like my heart was being torn apart.


    I wanted to wipe those tears away from his face, to comfort him, but my body no longer had the strength. He knelt beside me, placed my head gently on his lap, and began to weep.


    With trembling hands, I tried to wipe his tears, but my strength faltered. Instead, I handed him those three letters I had written for him....In them all my one sided love essence was drafted. I don''t know why, but it felt like these letters were the key to my release.


    Krishna opened the letters and began to read them in a choked voice. As he reached the final words-words where I had teased him, warning him to not let that sleeping disorder consume him-I don''t know why, but I smiled at him for the last time and slipped into eternal sleep.


    ___


    Then, suddenly, I woke up....In this present time. My eyes fluttered open, and I realized I was still in the same temple, surrounded by the dim, flickering light of the oil lamps. Tears began streaming down my face on their own. My heart felt restless, filled with a longing I couldn''t comprehend.


    "What is happening to me?" I whispered, clutching my chest.


    And then, as if the universe had stilled for just a moment, I heard his voice-soft, sweet, and unmistakable.


    "Ramana Sakhi...!!"


    He said my name, and in that instant, it felt like my soul had been liberated. That single moment, that single word, held the release I had been waiting for across lifetimes.


    Though I couldn''t see him, his voice filled the temple. It surrounded me, soothed me, and gave me the peace I had craved for so long. It felt as though, in that one moment, my endless wait had come to an end.


    "Sakhi.....," he continued, his voice carrying both tenderness and pain, "did you think that by forgetting, you had eased my suffering?.... No, my dear,..... you only made it a thousand times heavier. Every time I crossed paths with you, I could feel it-that there was something incomplete, something missing. In every lifetime, I tried my best to meet you again, but that same incompleteness followed me, gnawed at me, and brought me unexplainable strange pain."


    Krishna''s words wrapped around my heart like a bittersweet melody. "You don''t remember," he went on, "but in Dwapar Yuga, there was a painting in your room-a portrait of a girl with only half her face visible. That girl was you. You would come to me incomplete, even in my dreams, and it would tore at me...... Do you know how excruciating that was for me?......The day of the incident, when they accused you of theft, you left behind one of your anklets in my room with roses. When I found it, I couldn''t stop my heart from sinking again. But this time, I decided to end this cycle of incompleteness."


    "I ran after you....saw you lying in the ground with pain.....I held you in my lap. I don''t know why, but my tears just wouldn''t stop. In that moment, it felt as though you were the answer to all the unspoken questions that had plagued my soul. I still remember your <u>last words</u> as you gazed at me: "Krishna... you are the most beautiful masterpiece of the artist I am in love with...!!!"


    "It was then that I realized... there was something extraordinary about you, something that set you apart from everyone else..... As I read your letters, I felt myself being carried away by emotions I couldn''t name or control. I didn''t know where they were taking me, but I didn''t resist. And when you took your last breath in my arms, smiling at me as though that smile carried the weight of lifetimes, my heart couldn''t help but smile back, even through the pain.


    "In that moment, everything became clear. I remembered everything I was meant to know. But perhaps it was destiny''s wish for it all to happen this way......That night, when you called me to read those letters, I wanted to come to you. I wanted to be there. But destiny had other plans-another game to play.


    "Your <u>last words</u> gave me the clarity I had been searching for across lifetimes. Through you, I finally saw myself... as I am. Do you know how rare that is? Most people get so lost in me that they forget who I truly am.... But you....saw the real me....!!"


    Krishna''s voice trembled as he continued, his words heavy with emotion. "I performed your final rites with my own hands. How I managed to stay composed, even I don''t know. Afterward, I went to the tree where this story began-the tree under which it all started. And there, as I touched the tree. I stepped into this present timeline through this temple on Sharad purnima day, crossing the fabric of time to find you again.


    "I saw the blue(shyam) deity of myself....that you had been drawn to-the one that held the key to your release, the gateway to our union. As I came here..... You also entered to this temple after a while..... Though your form had changed, you were still the same. Your face still carried the same innocence, the same light, as when you used to secretly watch me from the shadows in Dwapar Yuga.


    "When you reached out to touch the deity, I stopped you. Not because I wanted to hold you back, but because I wanted you to feel the love you had once shown me in those three letters. I wanted you to see that love not from your eyes, but from mine. I wanted you to feel my love as deeply as I had felt yours.


    "That''s why I took you back to Dwapar Yuga. I wanted you to meet the lover you had cherished in that era-the one you loved. But now, it was time for you to meet the lover who has always loved you. That''s why I orchestrated all of this-to show you the love that had been incomplete for so long, the love I could never express fully. And now, finally, after so many lifetimes, that love is about to be complete." He took a pause after his last word.


    ___


    "Where are you, Krishna? Come in front of me... I can''t take this anymore," I said in a voice filled with restless desperation, after his pause.....my eyes darting around as if searching for him in every corner.


    "Ramana..." a voice called from behind me. It was him. As I turned, there he stood, draped in the same white attire I had first seen him in-the moment I had fallen in love with him. My eyes filled with tears, and an overwhelming tide of emotions swept over me. I couldn''t comprehend how to put into words what I felt at that moment.


    "You... you look so beautiful!" I whispered, tears streaming down my face as I gazed at him.


    "Do I look beautiful only from afar? Wouldn''t you want to come closer and see for yourself?" he asked, a playful smile dancing on his lips.


    "Krishna....!" I shouted his name, and without a second thought, I ran toward him. It felt as though my feet were gliding through the air. When I reached him, I touched his face as if to confirm he was real. A wave of completeness began to wash over me. I studied every detail of his face, afraid he might disappear again. His eyes-those eyes that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. His unruly hairs locks that seemed to entangle my very soul. And his lips... oh, those lips.....I found myself drawn to them, unable to pull my gaze away. Taking a shaky breath, I whispered, "Sorry....Now I am unable to control...!!"


    I stepped closer to him, my hands moving instinctively toward his chest, my lips inching nearer to his. For the first time, despite my racing heart, my feet didn''t retreat. I kept moving forward, focusing only on his lips. In that moment, it felt like a river finally meeting the ocean, merging completely.


    As if reading my heartbeat, he whispered softly, "Me too....!!," his voice carrying the weight of lifetimes, a deep breath escaping his lips. Then, gently yet firmly, he cupped my face with one hand, his other hand resting on my waist. At his touch, my eyes closed instinctively, as though my very being surrendered to him. It felt as if I were ice melting under the first rays of the sun, dissolving entirely. But now, the ice had transformed into water, flowing freely, merging into the vastness of the ocean.


    When his soft, rose-like lips touched mine, the world around me disappeared. Time stood still. It wasn''t just a kiss-it was a union of souls, of energies, of lifetimes that had waited for this one eternal moment. I felt as though I had lost everything and gained everything all at once. The past and the future ceased to matter. I existed solely in the beauty of the present, in the perfection of that moment.


    I didn''t know how much time had passed by experiencing this reunion. The fear I had carried for so long of how I would handle my first kiss had vanished completely. I wasn''t thinking;.... I was simply feeling, surrendering.....I was tasting the sweet nectar of his love, a honey that was now wholly mine.


    One of his hands, which had rested on my waist, slowly moved to my face. His fingers brushed my cheek, tracing gentle lines that made my skin tingle. His other hand slid into my hair over the neck, sending a soft shiver down my spine. As he slightly pulled himself away, his forehead rested against mine.....I slowly opened my eyes.... Our breaths were mingled, shallow and uneven. I could feel the rhythm of his breath, his nearness pulling me into a trance.


    He tucked my hair behind my ear with a tenderness that made my heart ache. As I let out a long breath and tried to step back, needing to compose myself, he wrapped his arm tightly around my waist and pulled me back into his embrace. Resting his chin on my shoulder, he whispered in that magical, hypnotic voice of his, "Just stay like this for a little longer..."


    His breath tickled my ear, sending current wave through my body. His warmth, his touch-it all made me feel as though I were dissolving into him. He held me close, and for a while, neither of us moved. I could hear the sound of his breathing, his soft sighs mingled with faint sobs.


    And then, without understanding why, I began to cry too. My face pressed against his chest, tears streamed down my cheeks as my heart struggled to contain the overwhelming happiness of our union. It felt as though my body could no longer handle the sheer intensity of the moment, so it released everything in the form of tears from eyes.


    But when his quiet sobs didn''t stop, I pulled back slightly. Placing my hand on his face, I wiped his tears gently and asked, "Why are you crying?"


    Holding my hand in his, he smiled faintly and replied, "Because you''re crying too..."


    With tear-filled eyes, I looked at him, a shy smile spreading across my face. Suddenly, I leaned forward, kissed his lips, and pulled away from his grasp. Without waiting, I ran to the nearby stairs and sat down, blushing and smiling to myself.


    He walked slowly toward me, his footsteps deliberate and filled with an inexplicable calm. Sitting beside me without a word, he reached out, lifted me effortlessly by my legs, and placed me on his lap. I sat there, facing forward, unable to look at him. His presence behind me was overwhelming, and I could feel my hair brushing against his face.


    He gently wrapped his arms around my waist, as if securing me with the softest seatbelt, and slid his hands over mine hands, holding them firmly in his grasp. Then, with tender precision, he pressed his lips against one cheek and then the other, leaving my skin burning with warmth. Embarrassed, I pulled my hands free and covered my cheeks, by whispering, "What are you doing....?"


    "If you didn''t like it, that''s fine," he whispered near my ear, his voice filled with mischief. "But I like it. So, if you do it too,.....I certainly won''t mind."


    I shivered at his words, his warm breath against my ear making my heart race. Trying to divert the conversation, I said softly, "Leave all that... Tell me, did you really miss me this much? Did you truly forget about me? Or... were you avoiding me on purpose?"


    As soon as I said this, his grip on me tightened. My back pressed against his chest, and I could feel his heartbeat.


    "Actually....I loved the plot of your story," he said, his breath brushing against my ear. "So, I decided to become a character in it.... That''s the only reason I can sit here with you like this today." His voice carried a teasing, magical quality that ended with the softest laugh, sending waves of warmth through me.


    "So... this was all a game to you?" I said, pouting and turning my face slightly.


    "Don''t you enjoy playing games with me?" he murmured, resting his cheek against mine. His hands found mine again, holding them tightly as if he''d never let go.


    "No... That''s not that..." I whispered, pulling my cheek away slightly. "Actually, I was thinking... Should I write down everything that happened till today in a story?.....Maybe as those three letters?"


    "Why you want to do everything now....? And what''s the need of drafting our story.....? When I am with you here... why would you want to write anything down, or remember it for later on?..... Trust me... I wasn''t going anywhere, not for even a moment!" He gently pressed his cheek to mine again, pulling me even closer, his voice full of conviction.


    "You may be God... but you might not realize... that God blessed humans with the gift of art... so that even if they aren''t immortal... they could make something precious to them live forever through it. And... you..... are already eternal... but what I wish is for this world to look at you through my eyes, so that the love I hold for you in my heart becomes immortal, too!" I whispered, my face flushed with shyness.


    "Do whatever you want," he replied, his voice was low and magnetic. "But don''t take your hands away from mine...... Here, I''ll give you a magical pen. It''ll write on its own whatever you think. All you need to do is start remembering from the very beginning."


    He loosened his grip on me slightly, allowing me to relax, and then handed me the pen to control through my mind direction. I did as he said, closing my eyes and letting the memories flow. The pen began to move on its own, writing down every moment of our story. I watched as the words appeared before me, each one bringing back vivid memories of how I had first met Krishna, how I had spent time with him, how I had fallen in love with him all over again, and how those forgotten pieces of my heart had returned to me....when all these things were happening during that time Krishna kept looking at my face...making me blush more and more.


    As the pen reached the present moment, capturing everything that was happening now, I suddenly felt Krishna was doing something at side of my neck. Shivering, I turned my head slightly and asked, "What are you doing to my neck? ......And why isn''t the pen writing what I''m thinking anymore....?"


    "Not everything is meant for the readers....,B.B" he whispered with a playful chuckle. "Some moments are just for us.....Special moments,.... you know?.... Besides, not every detail needs to be shared with everyone."


    He paused for a moment, his voice growing softer, almost reverent. "Now, I need to ask you something. It''s your choice whether you want to spend the rest left of your life with me here on Earth-grow old with me, so I can hear your coughing fits in our later old years-or if you''d rather want right now to come with me to my dimension and stay with me forever.... Either way you choose, you''ll be with me always. But decide soon..... Finish your writing, and give me your answer....."


    "Let me think for a moment...!" I whispered back, my heart pounding at the weight of the decision. No matter what I chose, I knew I would always be with him. After all, Krishna had already given me the key to his dimension.... My journey to him was my destiny. Now, let''s see when and how you will discover the key of your Krishna''s dimension.


    ?radhika krishnasakhi


    The End


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    Ariiiiigaaaatooooooooo??


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