Ann lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling. The dim glow of the lantern cast shadows on the wall, but her mind replayed the same moment over and over—Dennis walking beside her, his voice steady, his eyes clear.
Why does his certainty disturb me? she thought, pulling the blanket closer. Most boys hesitate, they play games. But he… he looks at me as if he already knows my answer.
She turned to the window. Outside, the moonlight kissed the fields, the silence broken only by crickets. Her chest tightened with an unfamiliar flutter.
Ann's POV
Why do I feel as if I've already stepped into something deeper?
Meanwhile, at Jacob's house, Dennis sat with his cousin on the veranda. A kerosene lamp burned low between them.
"Jacob," Dennis said, his voice quieter than usual, "she didn't reject me. That means something, doesn't it?"
Jacob chuckled. "You're not used to uncertainty, are you? In work, in life—you plan, you decide. But Ann is not a project, Dennis. She's a person who guards her heart. Respect that."
Dennis leaned back, gazing at the dark sky. "I respect her more than she knows. That's why I didn't want to hide anything. If I want her in my life, her father must know. Her family must know."
Jacob studied his cousin. "And what about her? Do you want her heart as much as her family's blessing?"
Dennis's lips curved faintly. "More than anything."
The next morning, Ann's father noticed her quietness at the breakfast table.
"Ann," he said gently, "is everything alright? You've been lost in thought since last night."
She startled, forcing a smile. "Nothing, Appa. Just… tired from college."
Her mother exchanged a knowing glance with him but said nothing.
Arun, her little brother, piped up mischievously, "Maybe she's thinking of that city boy!"
"Arun!" Ann scolded, cheeks warming.
Her father chuckled, though his eyes lingered on her thoughtfully.
Later that day, while helping her mother in the courtyard, Ann finally broke the silence.
"Amma," she asked softly, "what do you think about Dennis?"
Her mother looked up from cutting vegetables, her expression calm but curious. "I think he's respectful. Brave too—coming with his parents so soon. But Ann, it is your heart that matters most. We will never push you into something you don't want."
Ann bit her lip. "What if… I don't know yet?"
Her mother smiled knowingly. "Then let time show you the answer. Sometimes the heart speaks slower than the mind."
That evening, Dennis sat with his parents in their guest room. His father folded his hands, thoughtful.
"Son, marriage is not only about love. It is about patience, responsibility, sacrifice."
"I know, Appa," Dennis said firmly. "And I am ready. I've built my career, I've taken care of myself. But when I look at Ann, I feel—" He hesitated, searching for words. "—I feel as if life will be incomplete without her."
His mother reached for his hand. "Then be patient, Dennis. If it is meant to be, Ann will see your sincerity."
Dennis nodded, but in his heart, he whispered: I will not let her slip away. Not when I've already seen what my life could be with her in it.
That night, as the village settled into sleep, Ann stood near her window again, listening to the rustle of the trees. Somewhere deep inside, she admitted a truth she hadn't dared to voice.
Ann's POV
Maybe… just maybe… my heart is already listening. Even if I pretend otherwise.
And far across the lane, Dennis sat by his window too, watching the same moon.
Dennis's POV
No matter how long it takes, I will wait for her answer. Because this is not just love—it is destiny knocking at my door.