Both Namrata and Akshay were accompanied by their respective friends who had come to take part in a youth revolution initiated by a man well past his seventies , to support him in his cause along with hundreds of others.

The place was swarming with people, exhausted yet inspired enough to make a change. Surprisingly, the youth formed a good number of the people present, and that was when Akshay Sachdeva had initiated a conversation with the lovely lady, after exchanging glances and courteous smiles.

‘Isn’t it surprising? I could never have imagined that youngsters of today actually care about politics’ Akshay shouted loud enough so that she could hear.

‘Yes, but we often underestimate their intentions and attitude. There are a substantial number of those who like to make a difference, and support someone for the right cause’

‘Good to know that you’re an optimist. The country needs many of those. I’m Akshay, by the way’

‘Namrata. Nice to meet you’

‘Would you like to carry this conversation further someplace else? It’s too noisy here’

Namrata eyed him suspiciously. ‘I hardly know you’ she said.

‘It’s hard killing time here even if you have the best intentions for the country. Besides, I want to know about your views on contemporary politics’

Namrata just smiled.

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It was in the stands at Lord’s, watching Dhoni hit a six and mesmerized by it, when Dhruv accidentally spilled the Cola over the girl sitting just ahead of him.

‘Watch it, you idiot. You’ve spoiled my precious dress’, Ankita said

‘Oops. Pardon me! But I couldn’t help it. Finally India have something to cheer about’

‘That’s okay. But you should learn to watch your step’

‘So Dhoni’s unbeaten innings didn’t help India one bit, did it? Your dress got spoiled for nothing’, Dhruv teased her playfully after the end of the match. India had shamefully lost another ODI against the home team.

‘I hate the Duckworth-Lewis method. It seems so bloody unfair’ she replied.

‘Either that, or the umpires are corrupt’.

‘I can’t believe it. I traveled all the way from Birmingham to watch the match, just to see India lose!’ It was hard to miss the disappointment in her voice.

‘Would you like some coffee to cheer yourself up?’ Dhruv smiled at her.

She looked in his eyes.

‘Get a life, loser. Leave me alone’!

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Kunal had just regained consciousness inside his ward at a Government hospital, and it didn’t take him long to realize that he was sharing his bed with another man.

‘Don’t move, I beg of you. My bones are killing me’ the man said.

‘All right. But where am I? How did I get here’?

‘We’re victims of a bomb blast that happened outside the High Court not so long ago. Thankfully, we’re alive’.

Memories suddenly flashed across Kunal’s mind. Today was the day he had proposed to her , the love of his life. The ‘I love you’ card that he gave Akanksha on the busy street was the last thing he did. And she had given him the smile. The smile was the last thing he remembered.