Chapter 3 : Rain The rain was beating hard on her window pane as she stood to look at the sky that night. The sky, like her mind, seemed blurry in the rain. The truth was she was ready to get married but she could not shake that boy off her mind.There was something about him that was so boyish and exciting. He was matured yet kiddish, thoughtful yet hot-headed, mischievous yet serious at the same time. She had known him for 6 months and in those six months he had captivated her with his charm. Theirs was a long distance relationship that would never have worked out. He was in New York and she in LA. They met in person only twice in those six months. They talked to each other several times a day on the phone and IM and had gotten to know each other well in that process. After the first few months, they had agreed to remain friends, because as much as they enjoyed each other's virtual company, they were two very different individuals who would never have been able to get along in the long run. "Why am I being so silly?" she asked as a brilliant flash of lightning lit up the sky and she drew the curtains on the window. "After all, he doesn't want to get married to me and I don't want to get married to him, so why on earth am I even thinking about him?" "And what do I know, he might be busy chatting with other girls while I am here in Nepal" she wondered. Just then the phone in her room rang. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew it was Bibek. She decided not to answer the phone. It rang several times. She tried to hold firm but then it occurred to her that her mother might come running in and answer the phone and then it would all be a big embarrassment and a total disaster. She picked up the phone. "Hello, tya Anjana chha hola?" the voice on the other end was calm, confident and composed. "Ahhh ....mmm .... ma Anjana boleko" she couldn't believe she was stammering. A deafening peal of thunder roared across the sky and they both let out two soft cries of shock at the same time "Scary, huh?" he laughed "I know!" she replied laughing The engagement was set for the week before she was to fly back. She and Bibek had gotten to know each other a bit by then and she saw how this made everyone else around her happy. Their happiness was her happiness after all. Plus, Bibek was a really nice guy who had a good job and career ahead of him. He was caring, mild-mannered, cultured and witty. What more could she ask for? She laughed at herself - she had almost said no to him for the sake of that boy from NY whom she had first met on chat. How silly that would have been. Imagine getting married to a boy you meet on Sajha! "What are you thinking" Bikek asked "Nothing" she said " Just how happy I am that I met you"