It was the last day of Durga Puja—a day meant for celebration, togetherness, and joy. We were all getting ready to watch a movie, the excitement buzzing in the air. Everyone was almost set, including me. I looked at myself one last time and, like always, asked him, “How am I looking?” But he was on a call. He didn’t even look at me. That small moment stung more than I expected.

  As we stepped out, I thought he’d sit beside me in the car, like he always did. But instead, he said he’d ride the bike and follow us. I was upset. I had wanted him next to me, sharing smiles, holding hands. But he was gone, cruising behind us, while I sat in silence the whole way to the theatre.

  When we arrived, he was back to teasing me like always, reaching out to hold my hand. But I pulled away. I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened. Inside the theatre, we sat side by side, but a thick silence wrapped around us. The kind that can ruin even the most beautiful of days.

  Finally, I broke it. “Why did you do this?”

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  He looked puzzled. “What did I do?”

  “You know what I’m talking about,” I said.

  He looked down. “I just wanted to ride the bike. I wanted to experience that.”

  I said nothing more. And neither did he.

  But things slowly shifted after the movie. On our way back, the distance began to melt. We laughed again, took pictures, and everything felt back to normal. Everything… except one small, meaningful change—he sat beside me in the car this time. That simple act meant the world.

  Later, when we reached home, we all made a spontaneous plan to leave for Mandarmani at 5 in the morning. After everyone settled down, I found myself sitting with him on the sofa, still soaking in the evening.

  And then, out of nowhere, he asked, “What are we?”

  I looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

  He repeated, “Like… why do you get upset? Why do you get jealous? Huh?”

  I smiled, but didn’t reply.

  Then came a message on my phone. A text from him:

  “Do you wanna be my girlfriend?”

  My heart skipped a beat. I typed: “Yes.”

  He looked at me with wide eyes, excitement dancing in them.

  “Really? You’re my girlfriend?”

  I nodded.

  He wanted to hug me, I could see it in his eyes. But we were surrounded by people, so he held it back. Still, the sparkle in his eyes and the joy in his voice said it all.

  And just like that, in the most unexpected, gentle way—he proposed. And I said yes.