Heena dashed towards Santosh. She grabbed his arm and fled as fast as she could towards home. Tears kept rolling down Heena’s cheeks as she was running. Santosh was baffled with Heena’s reaction. 

After covering a considerable distance from the admin office, seeing nobody around, Heena paused as she was out of breath. She broke down into tears and fell on the ground immediately after she regained her breath. Santosh tried to lift her, “Why are you crying? I know you, Heena, if nothing else. From the last three weeks, I at least know what type of person you are. It's him who should be crying.”

“You don’t know anything!”, Heena cried in an angry voice, “Do you even realize what you have done. We had been bearing with this for years, and it probably wouldn’t have hurt any more today. I never wanted for you to get involved with our shit, but you had to go and become a hero. Now, now they will try to have their way with you too.”

Santosh smiled and picked up Heena and enveloped her in his arms, “I’d rather die than let you be hurt. Here! Look in my eyes and see for yourself.” Santosh gently pulled her chin up. Santosh then looked in her teary eyes and said, “I love you, Heena. I want to be with you the rest of my life. Now, don’t you ever think that I’d let anyone hurt my sweetheart.” 

Heena’s cheeks went pink. Tears started rolling down her cheeks once more, but this time it wasn’t remorse. Santosh kneeled down and took out the bouquet from his bag, “These rose petals might wither away over time, but my love for you shall only continue to bloom. I won’t love anyone even in death other than you.” Santosh stretched out his hands in order to give the bouquet, “I want to take your sorrow and grief for myself and give you my joy. Heena, will you marry this fool?”

Heena was bewildered by the whole situation. She didn’t know how to answer such a question, as this was the first time somebody proposed to her. She didn’t look at Santosh’s face, as she couldn’t face him without shutting her eyes with embarrassment.

“Don’t worry Heena, even if you reject me today, you shall rule my heart till the kingdom come. If you don’t want to say it, just accept the flowers or reject them, I would understand.”

As soon as Heena heard those words, she blushed and snatched the flowers as she rushed over to the house. Santosh had his answer, so he followed her with a victory smile on his face.

“So this is how everything went down.”, Santosh, paused as he narrated the entire events to Shilpi. “Good lord! You really didn’t omit anything. I am perplexed.”, Shilpi said as she gasped.

“Even though she has virtually agreed, but she won’t say it out until you agree, ma’am. So now the ball is in your court.”, Santosh looked at Shilpi with hopeful eyes.

“Firstly, you need to answer some of my questions honestly and straight forward. Is that okay?”

“You bet I am.”

“So answer this question, where will you live if you marry Heena, here or your home?”

“Well! I thought about that in advance, actually. But what happened today has forced me to tweak my answer a little. So to answer your question, no, I won’t live here.”, Santosh explained his plans to Shilpi.

“Hmm! Next question. Who are you, what is your family background. Tell me everything about yourself and your late parents. No omitting details.”

Shilpi continued the interrogation until midnight clock struck.

The next day, Heena came out of her room early morning for fetching water. As she walked out of her room, she found Shilpi waiting for her on the dining table. Shilpi gestured Heena to sit beside her. Heena reluctantly followed the instructions.

“Answer to me honestly, Moonlight, do you love him?”, Shilpi asked Heena in a soft and loving voice. Heena blushed and looked away from Shilpi.
Shilpi gently turned Heena’s face towards her, “Here! Look into my eyes and say that. I promise you, I shall compel with your wishes. I know you never asked me for anything. Even when you were a kid, you asked for anything. Now, when it is the matter concerning your life, I don’t want to undermine your wishes.”

“I, too, like him, Maa, but I don’t want to get married and leave you alone, especially when you are no more capable of taking care of yourself.”, Heena said in a quavering voice and clung on to Shilpi.

Shilpi caressed Heena’s hair and said in an adoring voice, “Don’t worry Moonlight, even I won’t be letting anyone take you away from me. After all, you are the only wealth your father left me. I won't trade you even for his life.” 

“I can’t believe him. He knew her so well in just a month that he already prepared for this.”, Shilpi said to herself.

“Now, I won’t take any more of your time, please do what you need to do.”, Shilpi told Heena as she let her go. Heena got up and went out to follow her daily schedule.

The morning sun shone bright. Everyone gathered in the dining for breakfast. Shilpi quietly munched on her breakfast. Santosh and Heena didn’t look at each other and did the same.

As soon as Shilpi finished with her bowl, she spoke, “So, Mr. Santosh Basu, where would prefer the wedding take place?” 

Santosh’s face lit up with joy and enthusiasm. He couldn’t eat any more. He jumped out of his seat and hugged Shilpi tight, “Thank You! Thank you, you don’t even know how much it means to me. You are the best! The best.” Shilpi smiled gleefully.
Santosh immediately left Shilpi and leapt over towards Heena and grabbed her out of love and excitement and kissed her on her forehead. Heena blushed red as she tried to get away from him out of bashfulness.

“Ahem!”, Shilpi cleared her throat out of shame, “Jeez! I am still here, Santosh. Dear lord! I don’t believe myself, I am marrying my moonlight to a calamity.”, she guffawed. Santosh tittered as he released Heena.

They all laughed heartily until their bellies started aching, after a very long time celebrations were going to take place in the house.