Pretend date one, two and three ... I have been with her to three pretend dates... and today... today is the fourth one. These dates came as a blessing to me... with each date I got to know her more... her likes and dislikes, some beautiful memories of her, her thought process, outlook towards life.

It was not easy for me to decide and then gather strength to propose her but today morning when I eavesdropped on her conversation with Vipul, a fellow cadet fine I know eavesdropping is wrong ... she became my source of strength.

"I don't think I will be able to continue this training anymore doc, it is testing me at all levels and although it was my dream, I don't think I will be able to fulfill it, I am not capable of doing it" I overheard Vipul sitting in the dispensary. He had sprained his ankle and I was going to check on him.

"Have you told your dream you want to live it..??" Monami replied to him. What does Monami mean and Monami, what is she doing here, where is the academy doctor...??? After a few moments my memory returned that she went on an off for two days and pleaded Monami to look after the dispensary to which she readily agreed. I know how soft hearted my to be- most probably girl is.

"I don't get it how do I tell my dream something which is non living that I want to live it...??" Vipul asked the question which was similar to the question running in my mind.

"With your diligence and resilience, tell your dream you will do anything to achieve it. Your dream is a non living person right, had it been a living one, what would have you done ..??? Go and told her right that you want to achieve her in a similar way tell your dreams by mentally reminding yourself that it is what you want to achieve, maybe you can put up motivation posters and never give up.."

"Tell your dream you want to achieve it" I repeated Monami's words in front of the mirror reminding myself that Monami is my dream and I need to tell her that I want her, I like her, I lo..lo..love her. I have fallen for her thoughts, her motivational skills I am no more just attracted to her and according to all the romantic novels I have read when you fall for a person's thoughts, it is love so now I love her.

I pull up the knot of my tie and take in a deep breathe mustering all the courage I have. I decided to practice my proposal before actually presenting it before her.

"Will you be my girlfriend Monami" too simple

"I am proposing you Monami" Proposing for what ...?? Date. Marriage. Business this sounds stupid.

"I love you Monami" too plain but these words hold deep meaning, but I guess I need to explain her the meaning behind these words because what if she has a different definition of love. My definition of love is stolen from romance novels may be she has stolen them from a different set of novels or maybe she has it of her own... then.. I need to explain her what my love means.

At that instant my phone rings causing an interruption in my proposal, I pick up the call as Monami was ringing.

After keeping my phone down I once again look in the mirror setting my hair "You just need to tell her what you feel and give her the definition of your love." and leave as she was waiting for me in the lawn.

***

"Monami what did you see in him that you fell in his love" I enquired curiously, though this is a question I did not want an answer to but I had to pave the way for my proposal because proposing her out of the blue seemed like a bad idea to me, I needed a build up.

"I.. I don't know exactly, to be very honest... He was one of the most handsome guys in college and almost all my friends used to crush on him so when he proposed me I couldn't refuse as all of my friends called it a great opportunity, I said yes. As time passed I grew more and more attached to him, he became a habit I don't realise when but maybe when we joined the same hospital. He used to take care of me, we used to take most of our breaks together, I guess that was our love. Honestly when we became friends you also took care of me making me realise that what was between me and him was not love. I know..."

I cut her short getting offended on my care which was full of love being compared to his. " I just don't care for you... it is much more than that.."

"Much more than that" she enquires me with a surprised tone..

"Yes" I shut my eyes tight "I was attracted to you from the time I saw you in the form, the your helpful nature, soft heartedness, approach towards life made me fall for you.. I started to like you and these pretend dates made me fall in love with you." I without pausing speak the lines in one breath.

"Y..you..you..you what...?"

I bend my head down in order to avoid eye contact.

"Y..you love me, you must be kidding right or it must be the love that is between friends.."

I shake my head slowly, "I love you Monami and I am not joking and it is not the love that is between friends. You have started to mean the world to me, your smile makes my day and when you are angry my entire focus is on how to make you happy again. I did things for you which I would have never in my dreams even thought of doing for myself."

I notice a big smile on her face, "I love you too Karan , I was hesitant to express thinking you must feel that you are just a rebound for me, but no your worry for me, your care for me, those gestures you do to make me smile, your love for me made me love you..."

"Y..you love me too.." I confirm it..because I couldn't believe my ears.

"Yes.. Karan why do you think I wanted to continue with our pretend dates when I told you I don't love him and after break-up he holds no position in my life. It was all to know you more, to admire you which made me fall for you."

"This is not a pretend date anymore"

"It is a date" she smiles whole-heartedly.

"It is a date then" I repeat a little surprised, a little shocked, a little happy still trying to sink in what happened.

We feed each other the first bite of our food marking the beginning of love... of our love.

The dinner was followed by an ice cream date. We walked on the lone road with our fingers entwined filling the empty spaces in our stomach with ice cream.

"This is added to the collection of my best memories" she took a selfie without me being aware of it and giggling when she showed it to me.

"I love you Monami. Stay by my side always... promise me ..."

She smiled at me freeing her hand she ran forward a little...

"Catch me if you can Karan" she screamed from a distance..

I run after her.. to catch her to not let her go away from me.

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