Last Seen: Recently

Slurping the last trace of lentil curry, he hastily placed the plate in the kitchen sink, enunciating,

"I am done mom, the food was good!!"

and stepped towards his room briskly when his mom said:

"Adi, where are you heading in such a hurry? Don't you wanna watch some TV together?"

"No mom, I have got some important work to do, I'm going to my room for it, goodnight mom, goodnight dad, love you."

He rushed towards the stairway after saying this.

"Isn't he a bit too occupied with 'some important work' lately?", his mom asked his dad, and he replied:

"Well, around his age even I was occupied with your 'some important work too' wasn't I?"

"Shut up already!" The lady remarked with a blush.

Inside his room closing the door, lying prone on his bed, staring on the heart themed chat screens he was waiting impatiently for the Last Seen: Recently to Online.

His wait ended 5 minutes later with a "Hi" from the other side, and here's how it went:

She: Hi Adi

He: Hi Jhanavi

She: So what were you doing?

He: Waiting for your message.

She: Ohho, so you were basically doing nothing?

He: Not at all, instead I was multitasking, I read old messages, then liked your story and even commented on your post too.

She: To much of work isn't it? Must have gotten tired by now Adi!

He: I mean it wasn't much, but rather important, you see, even though it's a job requiring skill and attention, I'd do it for you completely free of cost!!

She: Haha, thanks tons!! Flattery is your second name isn't it?

He: And beautiful is your first, isn't it?

She: Someone is trying to flirt, I see...

He: What do you mean trying? I am flirting miss.

And the talks go on, sometimes from the night 10 till 2,

She: And you know what happened today? Shikha and I went for shopping and I got some really cute earrings.

He: Oh then send a picture na!!

sometimes in the noon,

She: Which one should I wear today?

He: Whichever one you want to beautify further.

She: Quit flirting and answer seriously

He: I mean that was serious, but here's the thing I am a guy, my own wardrobe has 15 t-shirts and 12 trousers yet I end up wearing same three pairs throughout the existence, how can I choose between your two dresses?

sometimes in the dusk

He: What is something you have on your bucket list, apart from the your career?

She: I want to buy a house for my parents. You?

He: I've lived my life in this same street under same roof, I wanna roam the world once.

or maybe in the morn,

He: Good Morning!!!

She: "Good Morning. Someone woke up early today."

He: Yeah, wanted to say you all the best for your exam! Don't stress much, stay calm and give your best.

She: Aww thanks.

Starting off as a small interaction over the internet, a few messages, calls and voice notes later, both found themselves really fond of each other for sure.

And then one day suddenly, her message didn't arrive, he thought she might be busy but something seemed off, it went from morning to noon to evening, his worry became anxiety, heart pounding as if it were going to come out.

It all was, but stuck on Last Seen: Recently

And then to his relief, came a message.

She: Hey...

He: Where were you? I was so tensed all day, you didn't reply to or send any message. Are you okay? Everything alright?

She: I am sorry, I...

He: What happened?

She: Please don't panic, it's just that... I met an accident today.

He: What? How? When? Where? You alright? Please tell me it isn't something too serious.

She: Yeah, it isn't something to worry too much about, a bike rider hit me while crossing the road, someone managed to pull me from behind, so I didn't got injured severely, but got some minor injuries over my legs and right arm.

He: These bloody bikers don't have any sense and care for people's lives. If I get to see him I'd beat him to the pulp.

She: Don't be too mad Adi, actually his bike breaks suddenly had stopped working, it's good he wasn't at a high speed,so he managed to stop.

He: So how're you now?

She: The doctors have advised a week of rest. Seems like I'm gonna be bored for a week now.

He: IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOUR POINT OF CONCERN IS?

She: Sorry baba, I was just joking.

He: I was so scared, glad you're okay.

She: Adi.... Thanks for this care..

And once again with the chats, the week long period began and passed before either of them could notice, he used to send her jokes, memes, funny clips, recovery wishes and what not to make her feel less lonely in her boredom.

Long before she knew, she recovered and came back into her usual routine, it was around the time for both of their semester exams were around the corner, the chats decreased as they began getting more busy in their offline lives.

Sometimes she called but her missed it due to the commitments he had, and vice versa. Usual long chats turned into short good morning and good night messages, and somewhere it subconsciously was bothering both of them.

Within this clouded phase somewhere, stemmed a thought in Adi's heart that lead to a decisive conclusion he fixated at, and it was what led to the main topic of their chat after exams,

She: Finally, it feels relaxed doesn't it?

He: Hmm sure does...

She: What happened, you seem a bit off?

He: I Love You.

She: ...Wh- wai- WAIT WHAT?????

He: Yeah, it's simple, I love you Jahanvi.

She: Adi you haven't even seen me in real life. In practice, we don't even know each other.

He: Yeah, I know we haven't met, but that doesn't mean I don't know you or you don't know me? We have called, video called, talked, shared laughs and sorrows, we trust and respect each other, apart from physical presence, what else do we miss?

She: Yeah but, won't it be complicated? Long distance? Online? Not even meeting?

He: Yeah, long distance, online, not even meeting, ISN'T THAT JUST THE SAME AS NOW?

She: But what if we get more busy offline? What if things don't work out? What if we argue?

He: We didn't talk in this phase either, did it fail? Did it not work out? If it doesn't work out we can make it work, and if we argue, I'd apologise first, is that fine? *chuckles*

She: And how are your so sure that it is love and not mere attraction?

He: Because you were stressed too when I didn't message and disappeared suddenly.

Because you too stayed awake till 2 listening to me and comforting me in my emotional breakdowns from past traumas, even when you didn't need to.

Because you too waited and stayed patient when I wasn't here and maybe you wanted/needed to talk, as you know it'd happen again too. It's life, we get busy.

And because you are worried that it may not work out, instead of denying that you love me.

You know you love me as much as I do, everything can fail, every relationship can, I just want to make sure, if I fail, I fail doing the thing I want the most. And I want to be with you.

She: Adi... are you sure?

He: Remember my dream? I want to roam the world? I want to roam the world, with you Jahanvi.

_______________________________________________

He: Where are you till now?

She: Just reaching baba.

He: We'll be late.

She: Adi, the flight ain't gonna fly away before departure time.

He: Only if you manage to make it by then.

She: Ohh is it so? Why don't you look to your left then?

Startled yet again, after a year of marriage, well that's how he becomes each time witnessing her, he waves at her and proceeds towards her, but reaches out to close his phone screen first, seeming the same old theme and the dream turning true, as the activity status of hers read again:

Last Seen: Recently.