I felt very peaceful seeing the old security guard with new shoes. Perhaps it was his blessings that I had got Rihana. 

He pointed towards his shoes and said, “Look beta, I have bought these shoes from the money you gave me. How do they look?”

“They are very nice, uncle. You look like a hero.” I smiled.

“Am I really looking like a hero?”

“Yes. These shoes look very good on you.”

“My wife has sent these laddoos for you. Have these.” He said, as he opened his tiffin box. There were 4 laddoos in the tiffin box. These were my favorite laddoos. I picked one. It was very tasty. I wanted to have one more. 

“Can I have one more?” I asked him.

“All these are for you only. She has made these with her own hands.” He smiled.

I was extremely happy. I had not seen my parents since childhood. And today someone had sent laddoos for me. It was a big thing for me. I ate all of them. 

“Tell aunty that the laddoos were very tasty. If she makes them again, please bring more for me.”

“Ok beta. I will tell her.”

“Ok uncle. Its office time now.” I left for my work desk.

After confessing my love to Rihana, I was very relieved. Anyone could see the happiness on my face.

I had an office friend, Akash, who was around my age, fair, and wore contact lenses. He teased me “What’s up bro… your face is glittering?”

He knew about my relation with Rihana and didn’t want to leave a chance to pull my leg. I said “Nothing special…. It’s a usual day”

“I know you are hiding something. Have you confessed your love to Rihana?”

I had shared all my thoughts about Rihana with her. I knew there was no point in hiding anything from him.

“Yes. I have confessed my love to her.” I smiled.

He got very excited, as if I had taken his marriage proposal to Rihana.

“And what did she say? He asked, looking in my eyes.

I thought, he has been pulling my leg for so long, so let me also play along a bit. I made a sad face, and said “She said that we can just be friends. She already has a boyfriend.”

I thought I had fooled him, but he was very smart.

“You think I am an idiot? From your face I can tell you that she doesn’t have a boyfriend. You are lying, aren’t you? Tell me the whole story, what did she say.”

My lie had been caught, so there was no point in lying further.

I smiled “She said that she also loved me.”

“She really said this?”

“Yes. She said she loves me a lot. I have also bought a nice top to gift her. And you know what…. this shirt I am wearing, this was gifted by her.”

“Wow… you owe me a party man. When are we celebrating with a bottle?”

“You know I don’t drink. You can have whatever you want, I will have a cold drink.”

He made a sad face, as if I had refused to do snake dance in his marriage. I had never drunk, and I wasn’t going to do it now.

“You have become straight before marriage…. Its Ok to do it sometimes.” He insisted.

“No yaar, I don’t drink. But you can go ahead. I will treat you.”

“Ok. Done for today evening.”

“Ok. Let’s do some work now.”

“Oh, sure. Though I doubt you will be able to work now,” he again pulled my leg.

“You’ve started again?” I half smiled.

“Ok, ok. I am leaving. Bye.” He left for his cabin, and I also went to my cabin to work.