Tickets of love

"I love you." Darsh expressed his feelings in those three words.

The bus speed dropped suddenly due to speed breakers.

All passengers inside the bus felt the jerk, but Shreya was moreover surprised by the sudden proposal from Darsh, that too inside a bus!

"What?" Looking at Darsh's face, Shreya surprisingly asked.

"You heard me!" Darsh acknowledged.

"That was unexpected," Shreya added.

"So is life!" Darsh answered.

"Mr. Irresponsible, I hope you're not joking." Shreya added.

"I may be irresponsible, but I've never been this serious before." Darsh quickly replied.

Both were silent for a few moments, looking into each other's eyes.

Meanwhile, the conductor voiced, "Tickets please!"

Shreya looked up at the conductor. She turned to Darsh and pointing her eyes towards the conductor, she acknowledged with a smile, "Well. There comes your first responsibility."

First time in their life, Shreya demanded something. Darsh understood Shreya's metaphor. Darsh happily bought the two tickets - his tickets of love.

Years later, handling those tickets in hand, Darsh relived the start of the journey of his love life - when he had proposed to Shreya first time. The conductor announced the last stop. Thus, old Darsh got down from the bus and started walking.

He walked a few miles and reached Shreya.

Darsh seated next to Shreya and initiated his words, "See, I'm on time, again! By the way, I found these old tickets from an old book. Remember these? I told you, I didn't lose it. I'm responsible."

He kept talking to Shreya for hours. For the world, it was a grave, but for the old man, it was his Shreya. Their love story never had a red rose like others, but two old tickets which were punched with the first responsibility of love.