Lila’s graduation exams had just got over. She was getting bored sitting at home as there was not much to do. How she wished she had someone special to take her out on a date…movie…shopping…anywhere away from the confines of her room. She was almost 20 and very keen to flaunt a boyfriend in front of her friends. And why not? Isn’t that what they all did?

It’s not that guys hadn’t proposed to her, she just didn’t want any of them. Her heart never missed a beat when they were there. Now that shouldn’t happen if Mr Right is there with you! Infatuated, well she had been a number of times, but love? It was yet to happen to her.

Smart as she was, she knew sitting at home wouldn’t help. She needed to get acquainted with an eligible man first – you know start off by being friends…get to know the person better…go out with him a couple of times…and feel as if he is really the one for you.

Makar Shankranti was round the corner and her grandpa suggested she help him at his DVD store. Besides the usual fare of gifts and DVDs, grandpa was also selling kites as Shankranti was round the corner and he could do with some extra help. Too many people were coming to the shop to get kites of their favourite hues.

It was fun bossing around and Lila enjoyed it to the hilt. Lila hated girls who hooked up with customers and vowed that she would never do it. How wrong she was!

Mayank was a regular customer at the store. His dad owned the cyber cafe in the area and he would often drop in to chat with grandpa and also to pick up DVDs. Besides, he was always buying gifts or kites for someone or the other. Lila was nice to the regulars because they usually spent the most.

But with Mayank it was different. He was suave, smart and charismatic. And handsome too! Not like the other guys of his age – arrogant chauvinists! “He isn’t bad, I wouldn’t mind going around with him.” Lila thought and shied away at it! She ended up giving Mayank more free CDs than anyone else. She was never annoyed when he wanted to change a particular CD or a kite twice or thrice.

With the kite flying ceremony being a hit with the guys of the locality, he would often drop in for kites. Lila liked it when he came over. In fact, she always looked forward to it. And when Mayank stepped in, she could feel it with all of her being. …….This was so new a feeling that Lila didn’t know how to handle it.

It was Monday and Mayank dropped in with his nephew who wanted a blue kite. While the kid got busy selecting his kite, Mayank showed Lila his new phone. Lila checked it for a while and remarked, “You haven’t stored my number in here yet,” and typed in her number. As she handed it back to him, she said, “Make sure you save it and call me sometime.” He smiled.

Lila tried hard not to look back, but she wanted to see his reaction. When Mayank came to the counter, she asked him if he needed anything else. He replied, “Nothing as of now, but I have your number.” Lila just smiled, “Hope he didn’t think I was being too tacky.”

When he left he said, “I’ll call you later if I remember something.” Lila blushed. Grandpa knew she had a crush on him, but that was about it. He winked at her and said that Mayank would be back the next day for some more stuff. Lila knew he would call her.

She knew he was hers! Now all she had to do was find out how he felt.

True to his word, Mayank called the next day and they talked about random things and got to know each other better. Lila knew she was falling in love even more!

When Mayank went to the store the next day, Lila couldn’t stop smiling. She helped him choose a huge kite for himself and some coloured thread. All this while her heart was beating loudly, but she stayed composed.

Guess what happened the next day? He asked her is she would like to accompany him to his terrace during the kite flying ceremony. Lila was not sure if it could be considered a date, but she looked forward to it as if her life depended on it.

That night they chatted again and Lila was so happy. She was not a bit tired. The next day when Mayank walked in, Lila resisted the urge to go to him first and waited for him to come to her. He did and said, “What’s your favourite colour?” “Red, why?” she replied. “Cool…give me a red kite then?” As she did, she noticed the smile on his lips and felt on top of the world.

On Makar Shankranti, Lila got up early and offered her prayers with more devotion than she had ever felt….Please make him say those three words. He was there to pick her up in his bike. As they drove over to his place, she wished the ride would take more time! She would have stayed with him on his bike the whole day if she could.

On the way he bought her a bar of chocolate. It was such a small gesture, but there was just something mesmerizing about it too! And deep within her Lila knew that he felt the same way about her. At his place, he introduced her to everyone and Lila felt totally at home.

Mayank’s sister got some magazines for her to read as the boys got busy with their kites. As their screams filled the air, Lila saw Mayank going about flying his own kite with great dexterity. He managed to shoot down some seven or eight kites with his own one. She beamed with pride as he turned to look at her with every victory.

Lunch was just dhoklas as no one wanted to waste time on food. She loved it when Mayank got a plate of khandvis for just the two of them. She had never felt more special. They went back to the terrace and it was some hours since he came to her. How could he when everyone wanted Mayank bhaiyya to help them fly their kites! He was the expert after all.

Lila felt bored and a little dejected. She was lost in her own thoughts when she felt Mayank by her, all of a sudden. “Are you tired?” Mayank asked.

“A little, are you?” Lila replied. She didn’t want to go home as yet, but she knew she had to. It was late in the afternoon and both had things to do the next day.

Lila said, “I’m going home.”

“Cool, I will drop you.,” said Mayank.

As she turned to pick up her bag, she froze on her tracks! Why? She noticed the red kite by her bag. There was something scribbled on it… Lila the more I see you everyday…the deeper in love do I feel myself in. My heart is all yours…love you…

Lila was so overjoyed. Could it be true? “Sweetheart, I really love you,” he said.

“Mayank, are you feeling okay or are you simply tired?” Lila asked.

“A bit of both….but I think more in love than anything else,” he smiled.

And with this both of them burst into laughter. And then before she realised, he pressed her against the wall to place a kiss on her lips….and it was so much more beautiful than anything she had read in her Mills & Boons………she felt herself being swept off her feet. She moved closer to him and kissed him back with heart-felt ardour.

She whispered, “Mayank, I love you too!”

And as they climbed down the stairs, she couldn’t wait for him to take her in his arms again…Alas! They were no longer alone!! But she knew he would do that the next time they were together.

That night she thanked God before going off to sleep. Makar Shankranti would be one of her favourite festivals from now on.