John: Please… if I say… suppose… achcha long time back, we discussed that I’ll be coming to Kanpur and well, I am free the next weekend. So, am I invited Miss? Hmmm… yaaa… okay! where, to your house?

Jenny: Nooo!

John: Then where?

Jenny: Any mall…!

John: Next to your house?

Jenny: Nam…

John: Why?

Jenny: How come house? Are you mad?

John: Okay… aunty and uncle… Won’t be there… right?

Jenny: Haan, what? (Surprised).

John: So, what… Will we do in the mall? Hang around or watch a movie… or both?… As you say? Okay, both! Fine?

Jenny: Achcha…?

John: Should I bring a rose?

Jenny: A rose?

John: Okay… I’d say… a rose for a rose. Ha ha ha! Hmmm… what else should I bring? Chocolates! You told me, you like them. That will be a gift from me!

Jenny: No need to bring them, dear! Okay… Take care!

John: listen Jenny! CAN I BRING A RED ROSE FOR YOU? (Scared and happy).

Jenny: Why?

John: Why can’t I?

Jenny: I mean… I’m not your girlfriend… (gf)?

John: Why can’t you be one?

Jenny: Ohhh!

SILENCE

John: Listen, Jenny! I — I Love you.

Jenny:…?

John: Hmmm… I am waiting.

Jenny: I think, it’s not right.

John: What’s the point? What is not right?

Jenny: This?

John: Come on. You like me. You have a crush on me. So, you love me. We like talking to each other!

Jenny: Hmmm… (Thinking, and finally) okay, I love you!

John: I love you, too!

And he kissed her! and they talk till one on the phone.

Chapter 16

She wanted to touch him, feel him and kiss him, and so did he. The whole night passed by when Jenny had John and John had Jenny in their minds.

Amidst the never- ending traffic, the wide and clean roads, the big education hub of DU, the biggest shopping junction and the busy life of Delhi.

We now move on to John’s place, who is based in Noida and he studies in New Delhi.

A small comfortable house, with dad in service class—an engineer and mother working as a teacher—and a younger brother, makes for a small happy family.

Things are not as easy as they seem! John’s family is as conservative as one can imagine. His dad taking the lead, Mr. Samuels belonging to the service class is too busy with his job, which gives both his sons freedom as they never take an advantage of it. Mr. Samuels expects a lot from his elder son John who is good in studies and also expects him to help him in his father’s future engineering.

Dad always preaches him—“tea John, these first 15 years of your life are precious, utilise them to your best, focus on your career and never involve in mischievous activities and not even in girls! You’ll get better girls and have a far better life in future! Believe me, beta.” But John due to his age, fails to understand and commits errors which the story will unwind!