It is for less than a second since I stare into his eyes..

The clock rings at ten o ' clock...

I quickly regain the composure and divert my gaze to the ceiling....

" Sam... I wish I could hug you now.."

He says in a stretch ,where his tone is husky and irresistible... More than that , his voice sounds like a plead ...

I hold myself strong that I shouldn't fall for his candy words...

" Now , who's Sam here?!"

My face turns flat to him...

This question would have devasted him.. He looks up at me instantly...

" What's this question..? You're my Sam.. you're my Suman.. "

He is clear ...

I nod negatively...

" You love Sam.. what if I am not Suman? In that case ,you would have abandoned your childhood love . Am I right ?"

He laughs at me in the very next moment...

" Sam... Don't even try.. it doesn't suit you.. you can't even pretend to be angry with me.. look at your eyes.. they invite me near you.. it's your lips say lies.. "

He tries to reduce the distance between us by stepping close to me...

I know this... He's right.. I am just talking against him but my senses behave just opposite... But , are my eyes that much obviously inviting him!?!

Shameless senses!!!!

Yet , I don't want to give up... I will try to maintain this - hide and seek...as for as I can...

Determined , I become stiff...

" Ikkummm"

I clear my throat deliberately...

" Stop there itself Shravan..." I warn him , showing my angry bird side which is fake truly..

He clucks and chuckles...

" Now ,what ?!"

" You didn't answer my question..."

I demand , averting my look to his face...

He huffs out deep and drag the chair to him...

Seating himself , he looks at me for sometime...

" Sam... I was a little boy when you embraced me with your warmth... You won't know how much I have missed that little girl's shoulders all through my life.. The consoling kiss she gave on my forehead when I left her , it equals nothing in this world... Still , I can feel it.."

He closes his eyes as though he senses the incident again... Thin smear of moist spreads over his closed lids..

" Sam... It will be funny if I say all these to someone.... "

He pauses and looks at me ...

"I never thought to get married as I already live with my Suman ' s thoughts.. when I met you , something in me told that you will understand my childhood love though it's amateur.. slowly , l began to see my Suman in you Sam... I was able to ...I don't know how ...!! Now , I understand it's all because what we were in our childhood.. "

" Eventually... The name is nothing Sam... You already live in my thoughts as Suman.. now , you're going to live with me as Sam... Suman or Sam... Finally , it's you and me... We are meant for together till eternity..."

He doesn't finish , I step close to him. I wish to say sorry embracing him tightly...

Before that ,

" Aaaaahhu....tch...."

A loud sneezing sound reverberates around the room...

I stop as if I have touched the fire...

Shravan points under the bed...

We both kneel at the same time to see who's there under the bed...

" Shravan bhaiya... !! I won... I won..."

Vikki is there , hiding under the bed... He must have hidden under bed when we started to play hide and seek..

I pout pitiful at Vikki ... " My God .. You are the winner..!!"

Shravan chuckles and we exchange peaceful smile...

" Vikki... Come out..." Shravan renders his hand to him...

The moment he comes out , Shravan picks him above his head and swirls in the wind...

" My chunky bubbly baby boy.... How are you?"

Shravan pampers him , pouting to kiss at his cheeks..

" Bhaiya... I told you already... I don't like you kissing me... you're making my cheeks wet..."

I snigger at Vikki' s statement... Although Vikki struggles to leave him free from Shravan's hold , Shravan repeatedly kisses him deliberately making his cheeks wet...

" Mummy...."

Vikki shouts at high tone to call Divya akka...

" I am going to leave you now ...I will see you later..."

Shravan let him go , kissing him again ... The next moment Vikki runs down without turning at Shravan...

Shravan laughs at his speed ... I join him in laughing...

He presses his lips and jerks at me...

" What else ... Babe..."

He calls me babe on the go as though he is used to it...

I mumble " babe ...!?"

" haan !! If I call you Sam , you will be angry as Suman... It goes vice versa... So , I call as my heart says babe.. "

I must accept I can't hide my rejoice , after hearing his cheesy words ...

" What ever !! Now go refresh yourself "

I cluck and throw the towel to him..

In a wink , he pulls me close to him.. Brushing his nose tip on my cheeks , he mumbles " My hands are engaged now"

His voice sends waves to my heart rather than to my ears.. He blows at my goose pumped neck softly.. While I struggle to get me back , he encircles me to him tightly ... Tabbing his lips on my nape of the neck , he continues to kiss my ear.. In that split second the hesitation and angry I had so far vanishes to nothing .

I close my eyes and lay my head on his chest..

" Shravan.. love me like this forever.." I whisper to his heart..

He cups my head even more close to his heart.. " until this heart beats , I will love you like this "

I sigh in peace..

The day passes well as everyone has good time in remembering our olden days. Shravan goes to Divya akka 's house to stay at night.

At midnight , we receive a call from hospital that granny encounters breathing problem again.. We have to rush to the hospital pertaining to the emergency situation.

All are worried to witness Granny's struggle...

Above all , My breath almost pause to hear granny's last wish..

" I should see suman with her husband.. I would leave this world peacefully if I see her with her life partner.. Get her married before I leave this world"

When granny comes up with her last wish in her death bed, everyone cry badly including me..

Although doctors assure that

granny ' s health is stable , we return home heavy hearted.

I go to bed thinking that I have to talk about this to Shravan ,the next morning itself.

But , what happens in the next morning is the worst which I least expected..

I clutch the side rail of the stair case not to slip off the ground when Amma insists me to get ready soon...

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