a love that blossomed .....

The story of Vikram and Priyanka, two young hearts, both civil services aspirant and staying in the same city unknown to each other till they were brought together by the tradition of arranged marriage, and their connection grew deeper with every passing moment. Yet we don’t know what’s there in the future. It’s a story of how an arranged marriage setup can turn into something magical, something eternal, something we call love—sometimes never experienced before. A pure fiction in the making, but many of us can relate to this as such stories are pretty omniscient. It all started on a warm afternoon in Pune, where their families introduced them with hopeful smiles. The air was thick with expectations, but when he saw her, something stirred inside him. She sat across from him, her smile tomboyish but shy yet warm, her eyes curious yet gentle. They exchanged polite words, feeling the weight of their families’ gazes. He: “So, Priyanka, do you like Pune? I mean, you stay here since last so many years?” She: “Yes, it’s nice… I like the vibe. But I’m more of a small-town girl in heart, you know?” Her voice was soft, and he felt a strange comfort in it. He wanted to keep talking, to know more about this girl who seemed so different yet so familiar. Their families met a few more times in Pune, giving them chances to sit together and talk. Each meeting left him more in awe of her. She seemed perfect—checking all the boxes, not just for him but for his entire family. How could a girl from a small town be so flawless? He couldn’t forget their first proper meeting at the CCD on Law College Road. He walked in, and there she was—stunning, the way she carried herself so gracefully. Her style, her way of speaking, her love for books, her heart for the downtrodden—what wasn’t there to like? They talked for hours that day, losing track of time, sharing everything from silly habits to big dreams. Two questions she asked stayed with him: She: “What is the ultimate aim of your life?” She: “How do you see us spending 40 years together?” Those weren’t just questions—they felt like doors to her soul, and still rings in Vikram's mind. He: “I think… my aim is to make a difference, maybe through my work. And 40 years with you? I see laughter, support… a home full of love.” She: “That’s beautiful, Vikram. I want the same… a life where we grow together, always.” Her eyes lit up, and he felt a connection, a quiet understanding that made his heart race. After that, his brother sneaked her number to him, and they started meeting again, always at CCDs. It became their little world. He’d wait for her, his heart thumping with anticipation. One day, he messaged her: He: “Waiting @ CCD” She: “Yeah..@Deccan.. will be there in some 10-15 mins.. sorry but in traffic…” When she arrived, her smile was like sunshine, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and innocence. They talked for hours again, though it felt like minutes. He: “You know, I didn’t think I’d enjoy these meetings so much… but with you, it’s different.” She: “Same here, Vikram. I feel… comfortable with you.” As they parted, she sent him a message that lingered in his mind: She: “Well, whatever it might be but we two are gonna inform each other.. right ?? I mean our respective decisions will be first conveyed to each other…?? not via families…” He loved how she wanted them to be honest with each other, no family in between. It felt bold, different, and it made him admire her even more. Their chats started spilling over into long phone calls and endless WhatsApp messages. One evening, his phone buzzed with her name. She: “Hi.. Your phone seems busy.. it is alright to meet? .. let’s decide time and place.. Priyanka..” Her directness surprised him, but he liked it. They planned to meet the next day at 12, but a lecture delayed him. He: “Hi I can come AFR 12. Sorry I need to attend lecture till 1130” She was understanding, and they rescheduled to meet at Deccan. That day at CCD, he couldn’t stop staring at her—her elegance, her witty answers, the way she looked at him. He could feel she liked him too. She: “You’re staring, Vikram. Is something on my face?” He: “No, no… just… you look really nice today.” She blushed, and he felt his cheeks heat up too. They laughed it off, but that moment felt like a small step closer. The next day, she messaged again, her words simple but sweet: She: “Hi Can I ask you for one thing ??” He: “Pls Ask” She: “Smile Please :-) ..” It made him grin like an idiot. They were still getting to know each other, but every moment pulled them closer. One morning, on Independence Day, he was at a friend’s place near where she lived. She sent him a message that warmed his heart: She: “Good Morning… We are witnessing the morning at same place.. jus few concret blocks apart… we may be r hearin sounds of same Birds.. same weather…⛅ Happy Independence Day.. Jai Hind!!🇮🇳” He: “Very Gm…Hopefully that small distance will disappear soon…..” She: “I hope so too… it feels strange, being so close but not together.” It felt like the universe was teasing them, keeping them so near yet apart. He spent that morning thinking about her, wondering what it would be like to close that distance for good. Over the next few weeks, they met whenever they could, stealing moments between their busy schedules. They’d sit at CCD, sipping coffee, talking about everything and nothing. One day, she got playful: She: “Want to have some fun?” Then she sent a photo—her mischievous smile lighting it up. His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t stop laughing. Her energy was infectious. They started getting more comfortable, teasing each other. She sent him a picture with two little girls one morning: She: “GM From Shreya and Naina too..” Shreya and Naina were two cute girls her nieces. He’d seen them on Facebook and teased her: He: “Arjun’s kaka says hi too!” I started conversation wid name of my nephew.. She: “I m talking wid Arjun..right ??” He: “U know na ki Arjun’s kaka is not as smart as Arjun he coulnt understand what mean by My xxx x??” She laughed, calling him “Arjun’s Kaka” back, and they kept joking. It was light, fun, but he could feel them growing closer. She: “You’re so innocent, Vikram. But I like that about you.” He: “And I like how you make me laugh, Priyanka. Always.” They started sharing more about their lives—their fears, their dreams, their little quirks. One evening, as they walked out of CCD, he noticed how the setting sun caught her hair, making it glow. He: “Priyanka, you look… I don’t know how to say it… like a dream.” She: “Vikram, stop! You’re making me shy… but thank you.” They laughed, but he could feel the air between them shifting, becoming warmer, more intimate. He wanted to hold her hand, but he held back, not sure if she was ready. Then came a moment that showed how much she trusted him. After one of their meet-ups, he’d said something without thinking: “Priyanka, how can someone be so perfect? Sometimes I wonder, are you real or just projecting this image?” He meant it as a compliment, but it didn’t land right. The next morning, she messaged him, her words heavy: She: “Good Morning. .m anxious.. considering you a Friend with whom i think i need to share something from my persnal treasure.. (wid d trust of secrecy) . I cannot Now elaborate u what does Love,Life companion mean to me.. it’s beyond these wordly affairs..It’s unique..v beautiful.. we were trying to know each other..but When you said I was Projecting myself.. tht hurt a lot..!! honestly i found an unprecedented association b/w us… two persons shd envisage themselves Happy, loved,at peace together at any possible place.. liking themselves as a person involves this.. much more to say bt i knw d limitations.. .and you know this time consuming process n all making me uncomfortable.. I want both d families to involve happily..” He felt awful. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He replied quickly: He: “Priyanka, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. You’re real to me—more real than anything.” She: “Thank you, Vikram… I just… I want us to be honest with each other, always.” She softened, but he could tell she wanted them to move faster. Once, she even said: She: “Pl cross d road my brown honey.” It was her way of nudging him to take the next step, and he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness at the thought. Their meetings became more frequent, and CCDs turned into their special place. One evening, they grabbed coffee at a cozy cafe, and he offered to take her for a ride on his Pulsar. She hesitated at first, but then agreed. She: “I’ve never been on a bike before… I’m a little scared.” He: “Don’t worry, Priyanka. I’ll go slow. Just hold on to me.” She climbed on, her hands lightly resting on his shoulders. He could feel her nervousness, but also her trust. When they stopped, he caught her reflection in the bike’s mirror as she got off—shy, excited, trying not to touch him too much. She: “That was fun, Vikram! But I was so nervous… I didn’t want to hold on too tight.” He: “You can hold on as tight as you want, Priyanka. I’ll keep you safe.” She smiled, her cheeks pink. Later, they sat in Joggers Park, the quiet wrapping around them. He looked into her eyes, and it hit him—he was in love. He: “M very happy today” She smiled, her eyes glowing with the same feeling. She: “My smiles were to show my Happiness only…” They hugged that night—their first real hug. It was tender, electric, like a current running through them. Walking side by side, he could feel her closeness pulling him in. That moment marked the start of them as a couple. He: “Priyanka, I’ve never felt like this before… with anyone.” She: “Me neither, Vikram. It feels… right.” After that, they grew even closer. She started getting more comfortable, teasing him, even sharing wild little fantasies, then checking if he was okay with it. One night, she got super casual, joking about some outrageous ideas, but the next morning, she backtracked: She: “Vikram, I am serious.. i always find it cheap n third grade peoples’ willingness to do such acts… How can it be my wildest fantacy.. I don’t hv any wildest fantacy in reality.. Honestly.. My fantacies hv always been practical and moral.. that was just for d sake of joke but it can not be a joke if it makes us feel bad.. whn u said it i realised it’s unbearableness… I sincerely apologise for this.. And this has been permanantly deleted..!” He laughed it off, reassuring her: He: “It’s fine, Priyanka. I know you were just playing. I love how honest you are.” She: “Thank you… I just don’t want you to think I’m someone I’m not.” She whispered back, her voice soft in his ear: She: “I am Only Your Priyanka.” Then, with a giggle: She: “No one else had said and No one else would say her his except you B… :-)” He: “What’s this B?” She: “baaaaby Can I call you?” It was the first time anyone called him “baby,” and he melted. She started throwing out nicknames—Shona, Ahudu, even Mr. Homesick or Lalasaheb when she wanted to tease him. He called her Pinky, Mau, or Yanks when he was annoyed. Shona was his favorite, though. He: “Shona, huh? I like that… but only when you say it.” She: “Good, because it’s only for you, my Shona.” Their chats grew more playful, more intimate. He asked her for a picture: He: “Send ur pic in saree” She sent one in jeans instead—hot, but still so graceful. She: sent her picture He: “Looking gr8 Priyanka frm Arjun” She: “yeeeaeee…….thank u Arjun..” He asked again later, and this time she sent one in a saree—breathtaking. She: sent her pic in saree She: “For Arjun.. cz he’s seen me first in this first tym…” He: “Looking gr8 Priyanka frm Arjun” He: “Kaka wanted to give sme special comment…. But i told him wait 4 a while… U dont know him… Thanchya pasun jara japun …. Arjun” She: “ohhh realllyyy… thank u yaar… i m so relieved tht u r there… waise i won’t worry.. tum hona kakape watch rakhne ke liye…” She: “meri side rahoge na tum ?? pleaaase Arjun … be on my side” Her trust in him felt like a gift. He: “I ll always thr wid u Priyanka” He: “Dont worry” She: “awww m so lucky…..😎” He: “No, I’m the lucky one, Priyanka. To have you.” She: “We’re both lucky, then.” They kept meeting—gardens, cafes, anywhere they could steal time. One evening, she sent him a riddle: She: “Solve this: A guy came back home from a business trip to his beautiful wife. He clicked this picture of hers as soon as he got back. After a few days he killed his wife and put this photo in her pocket after killing her!! During his trial, he said that he killed his wife because she was cheating on him. The prosecutor asked, ‘What proof do you have?’ The husband said, ‘That photo is the proof. Look carefully.’ Question - What did the man see in the picture that made him kill his wife? Solve this sherlock…” He stared at the photo, clueless. He: “No clue” She: “Aren’t you able to see.. there is one man in the pic.. dekho jara barikise…” He zoomed in—there, in her eyes’ reflection, was a faint outline of a guy. He gasped. He: “Hidden in bed. Can see his eyes???” She: “Yes! You got it… my Sherlock.” She’d outsmarted him, and he loved it. They spent the rest of that evening laughing, teasing each other about who was the better detective. Their connection kept deepening, but it wasn’t always easy. Studies, family pressures, the uncertainty of the future—it all weighed on them. But they faced it together, talking it out, finding strength in each other. One night, he got nervous again: He: “M shivering” She: “tashi tar mi tar whats app ni pan shiverin chi jhalak pahileli… kenva sanga” He grinned, remembering how shaky he’d been early on. He: “Mazi Priyanka tenva?” She: “hmmmmmmm” She: “barobar…” He: “You always know how to make me feel better, Priyanka.” She: “That’s because I care, Vikram… a lot.” But their secret was getting heavy. Their families knew they liked each other, but not how deep it ran. The pressure built, and they couldn’t hide forever. One night, they sat in Joggers Park, the stars above them, and made a decision—they’d tell their families. She was heading to Pathardi where families of both of them were staying during his parents’ planned to meet her. She: “Hello there… I’ll be heading towards Pathardi @night.. your family and me to meet day after 2m… :-) hv a gud day ahead…!!” He: “:-) :-) Happy journey n all the best…. Do inform me whn ur back ….” She: “I will… I’m nervous, Vikram. What if they don’t like me?” He: “They’ll love you, Priyanka. How could they not?” Waiting for her return was torture. He couldn’t focus on his studies, his mind replaying their moments together. When she got back, she messaged him: She: “Hi..Please let me knw further modus operandi… :-)” They met at a cafe, nerves buzzing. He told her his family’s reaction—mostly good, but his mom had a small issue with her being non-vegetarian. Her face dropped. He: “It’s nothing big to me, Priyanka. I respect you—your choices, everything.” She: “Thank you, Vikram… that means a lot. I just want them to accept me.” She nodded, trusting him. When their families found out they’d been meeting secretly, they were shocked—but they saw their love. After talks and tears, they blessed them. They were free. He: “We did it, Priyanka… they said yes!” She: “I can’t believe it… we’re really going to be together.” Now that they were official, their love grew wilder. They started dreaming about their future together. She: “what do u think will we able to do after conclusion ??” He: “I feel after conclusion it ll be more difficult for us to study” She: “hehe..😀” He: “Priyanka माझा नात्यांवर नाही पण माणूस आणि माणुसकी यांच्या वर पूर्ण विश्वास आहे.” She: “Mag ya natyala aayushyat eka navin mansacha pravesh hoel.. ani jo ki tumchya sobat asel… nehmi.. asa bagha..simply” He: “I can’t wait for that, Priyanka… a life with you.” She: “Me too, Vikram. It’s all I dream about now.” They studied together, stole kisses, pushed each other forward. She: “whr r u shona ?? taking bath ?? Ahudu Medical Science for three hours… :-) And i’ll do economy.. let’s see who wins… okay ??” He: “Mag kai” He: smilies smilies She: “ohhh these smileys…” He: “They’re for you, Shona… because you make me smile.” She: “Aww, you’re too sweet, my Ahudu.” One evening in Joggers Park, the air felt alive. That bench where they’d hugged first—it held so many memories. They kissed there, the world fading away. She: “Awesome evening…” He: “Ya… Waiting to it to last for ever” He: “Priyanka, I want every evening to be like this… with you.” She: “It will be, Vikram. I promise.” Their stolen moments weren’t enough anymore. They’d grown so close, their connection so deep, that they longed to be even closer. One night, they gave in to the pull between them. It was beautiful, tender—a perfect expression of everything they’d built. Lying there after, holding her close, he felt whole. He: “Vikram tumachya evadha bhari nahi Priyanka” She: “Vikram Vikram Vikram” He pulled her close, whispering: He: “Pri...ya..nnnnka...” She: “My neck…. Hair…………. hands…………… back………….. and tummy………..” He: “All mine too now, huh?” She: “each of these are not only mine now… They were only mine up till now…..sacrosant… Sharing them with you was out of my control… Oh my goodness….!!!” She: “i am feeling them twice now…………..” He: “Priyanka, I’ve never felt so close … I love you.” She: “I love you too, Vikram… so much.” They melted into each other, their hearts beating as one. Her love for him grew deeper, sometimes overwhelming him. On his birthday, she went all out—messages every hour. At midnight, as they cut the cake together: She: “Shonulyaa……. :-* :-* <3<3<3Happy Birthday <3<3<3” The last one at 11 p.m.: She: “Happy Birthday Shona.. <3” He: “Pinky zala ki birthday ata <” She: “I will keep doing this till 12 baby… ;-)” She: “3rd September is the Best Day… It has given me My Love…♡ Born day My Vikram.. Shonula.. :-* ♥Happy Birthday… ♥” He: “Priyanka, you’ve made this the best birthday ever.” She: “Only for you, my love… always.” Five years later, these moments still live in his heart. Priyanka, his love, his life—their story is eternal