C U 2MROW @ 9 (July 17, 2016)

 The net package had already done more than it’s worth. Walking with time they both had started doing things for each other. Saving money for mobile top up was one big thing. Love had also taught them sacrifice. Pia walked the distance to her college instead of hiring an auto and saved twenty rupees in a to and fro journey. On the ‘how’ and ‘why’ that her mother used to ask about her delay she used to discuss it with Mannu beforehand and pass the scrutiny easily. Excuses were often repeated and their life was kept very casual. They were kept as short and relevant as possible. Back in her room she used to curse herself for this new habit she had to inculcate deliberately to nourish the new relation. 

“Relax dear...What else can we do? Would mum accept the truth?” came Mannu’s generic reply and what else she had suffice her anxiety? In some hottest afternoons Mannu managed to  escape Mrs. K’s eyes to walk to the recharge shop as getting the bike started was too noisy. Dedication was quiet and it always overcame heat. For Mannu, as the school was over so was his pocket money. The savings to clear the debt of Vivi had been spent in recharges and apart from that Mannu used to collect coins that he found in the side envelopes of the cover of the refrigerator or on the kitchen slab. The coins there worked as a weight to the bill that was left to be tallied by Mrs. K and one rupee less didn’t bother his mother much. Mostly five rupee coins were found from the box near the bedside. More than thrice a ten rupee note had been taken secretly that too straight from Mrs.K’s purse. It went un noticed till now. Pia gave away her outing with college mates for vada paav or pani batasha. When Mannu assured her that he would get the recharge done and she should not reduce the charm in her life just for him, she would succinctly say that she no more relishes it. That the taste has become boring to her. It wasn’t the truth. Mannu knew that, but he was also sure that she'd never go back to that expense again. She had him as the priority. Further the savings were broken into parts and one of it was for the gift she would give him when they meet for the first time.  A full talk time top up for the third of every month took away a part of the savings too.  

Till today, all they had seen of each other was the 2cm display picture on the ORKUT profile. Talks were all that kept themselves together.

“Hum kab milenge, When we’ll meet?”

Pia’s innocent question left Mannu speechless. When was this virtual relation going to find its real life was known to none?