I’ll wait, will you?

Tears travelled down her cheeks, she smiled and wished Ojas Good Luck for his journey to the city which never sleeps; Mumbai. Kadambari watched the train moving away from her. Actually not the train, but Ojas. She was weeping inside and smiling outside. Soon, train lost her vision and whistled away to Ojas’s destination. She won’t be seeing him for a year now. Kadambari returned home with her parents and filled some pages of a notebook, kept it under her pillow and went to sleep, considering it the best source of distraction.

Kadambari and Ojas were childhood friends and last week they had got engaged. Just the day after their engagement, Ojas received his Offer Letter.

Dear Ojas,
We are glad to inform you that we have out listed you for the job you have applied for. We would appreciate if you join our Office next week.........................
.........., Mumbai

In a small village like theirs, where no story remains untouched, their love somehow managed to hide from others and from them as well. Though, they were best friends since childhood, they remained unaware of the immense love they had for each other. They played together, studied together, talked for hours but never realised that a part of them wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

Some years back during their summer vacations, Kadambari and her family planned a month’s trip to her Maternal Grandparent’s home. However, unlike every year, Ojas had to stay at home for his tuitions. This was the last and the most crucial year of school and he won’t take any risk regarding his results. A day before leaving for her Grandparent’s home, Kadambari visited him and he bid her Goodbye.

Ojas's first week’s schedule was totally packed with studies & daily routine without a trace of Kadambari. His tuitions were off the next day, so he was glad that he could get some rest. Next morning, he woke up, got ready and cycled to Kadambari’s house. He knocked at the door and in a while, realised it was locked. He had almost forgotten that his best friend is not at her home to unload a week’s burden from his head.

Monday sneaked in; this time, packed with studies, daily routine, but with  subtle anxious feelings forcing him to miss Kadambari. This month seemed the biggest one. Not a single day passed, when his heart would remind him of Kadambari. He was certainly in love and had realised how badly he wants to spend his life with her. 

Days passed and his eagerness to meet her back, grew stronger. The month was hard to pass, but beautiful; for he knew his heart is beating hard for someone right now.

The month passed, and in evening Ojas was returning back to his home from his classes. On the door, he found Kadambari, standing with a bright smile. Ojas wanted to embrace her, but he had to resist his happiness for some time, so he greeted her, and they had dinner at his home. Later, he decided to walk her home. On the way, Ojas held her hand and poured out his feelings. Kadambari, on the other hand, was listening to him carefully, unaware of her cheeks turning pink.

* * * * *

She said yes.

 * * * * *

Both of them graduated and told their parents who were more than happy, as if they had dreamt of this day, since both were kids. A few months after their graduation they got engaged and when they were meant to be together, life decided to surprise them with a test. Ojas had to leave for Mumbai.

Kadambari managed to sleep that day, with a hope to see Ojas soon. She started working in the village, as a teacher in a government school. Those kids were full of life and in a way, completed her. Though life was difficult, but she had learnt to deal with it; the kids were the major source of her strength now. 

Every night, she scribbled something in her notebook and kept it back under the pillow with hope shining in her eyes. 

Whenever Postman Chacha knocked their door, she used to rush from whichever corner of the house she is in, expecting it was Ojas's letter. Whenever the letter belonged to her, Chacha nodded with a smile. Her face used to glitter brighter like a diamond at that moment. 

Although she was filled with hope, but certainly there were insecurities which sometimes overpowered her. Distance always reminded her of chances of losing Ojas. But then, she would close her eyes, remember the time they had spent together and remind herself, “He will come soon”.

Months passed and everyday brought a different emotional trail. However, her Notebook was a constant companion during every trail. No one new, except her, what the notebook carried.

Day by day, her hope was weakening. She felt, the relation they shared was slipping out from her life. No matter, how hard she tried, her heart started filling up with negativity.

She still loved Ojas with all her heart, but at the same time, she was terrified. She was unsure about Ojas's love.

One night, after her dinner an unusual happiness was sparkling on her face. She reached her room, pulled out her notebook, crossed the date, and kept it back smiling.All her insecurities, all the uncertainties she carried for their relationships, all the nights bearing tears of the old memories, diminished in a moment.

365 days have passed, tomorrow Ojas will be back. The wait is about to get over. 

No one knew, the notebook was sourcing a Calender of hope since a year.