You + Me = Hum

A vintage high school building in Manali stood vacant. Heritage High, was a premium co-ed school in Manali. A group of school workers including a few janitors and a gardener sat in the garden outside, soaking in the bare minimal sunlight. It was a cold and breezy day. The school was off.

A tall man, in his late 30’s stood outside the school gate looking at the building almost reminiscing. The guard looked at him enquiringly. “The school is off today Sir!” the guard informed him.

“I know. But I wanted to come and see the school,” the man replied.

“Who are you?” the guard asked the man suited in a dark gray blazer and black trousers.

“My name is Aneesh Pratap. I used to study at this school.”

The guard thought for a moment, “Aneesh… Aneesh Pratap, Pratap Sir’s son?” Aneesh nodded.

“Sorry Sir. Please, you can go ahead.” The guard opened the gate.

Aneesh smiled and moved ahead. Aneesh was the son of now retired but the most respected principal of the school, Raghuvar Pratap.

Walking around the corridors and peeking into the empty classes, Aneesh recalled the good old days—reliving the funny antics, small incidents, friendships, and fights all etched in his memories to date.

But one friendship made him pause for a moment. Aneesh took a deep breath as he approached an empty classroom. The plate on the side wall read, 9th C.

Aneesh entered the classroom. The date from the day before—13/02/2025—on the corner of the blackboard prompted him to wipe it with the duster and rewrite the date to present-day:

14/02/2025. Valentine’s Day.

Aneesh turned around and gazed at the empty benches. Much to his surprise, the benches were the same all these years later. Aneesh moved to the back of the class to the cornermost bench next to the window. It was his bench. He sat on it.

His eyes continued to search for something… or someone.

“What or whom you are looking for… is here.”

A soft female voice diverted his attention. Aneesh turned to the side. A beautiful woman stood at the door, eyes fixated on him. It didn’t take much time for Aneesh to realize who it was. It was her. Aisha, his best friend and benchmate…or more.

“Aisha!” Aneesh was ecstatic.

“Aneesh!” she responded with a calm smile.

Aneesh got up and made space for her.

They shared glances at each other for a few moments before Aisha pointed at something. Their initials—AP for Aneesh Pratap & AK for Aisha Kapoor—were etched on the bench with a small heart carved next to it.

Aneesh recalled Aisha carving the initials with a compass from her geometry box. It was her last day in school as her family was relocating to the United States.

“Happy Birthday, Aashu!”

“You remembered?” Aneesh was surprised.

“How can I forget Valentine’s Day, the day of love and the day the love of my life was born!” Aisha responded with an angelic smile, gently placing her hand on his.

“So you didn’t…” Aneesh’s heart pounded at a crazy pace and he couldn’t finish his question.

“No… I didn’t marry… I could never do it,” Aisha declared proudly.

Aneesh looked down, almost apologetically.

“I did… but lost my wife Rashmi a three years ago to cancer. All this while when we were planning to start a family.” Aneesh shared emotionally. 

“I am so sorry.” Aisha wrapped her arms around him, hugging him.

“No, I am sorry Aisha. I had lost all hope of finding you and had never even dreamed of meeting you ever again, but your presence here today reinstated my faith in true love. I had assumed that you had moved on in life, without realizing that it was me who was weak all along. You were always the strongest one.”

“You were not weak, Aneesh, you were practical. And I appreciate that you think I am strong. But what kept me strong was the thought of seeing you again. You got married—that’s not being weak. I am happy you found someone and took the right call. Unfortunately, you lost her, but yet you are here in this moment, and that’s what makes you strong. That’s my Aashu.”

“Aisha, God knows I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in life, but I certainly don’t want to make another one by letting you go this time.” Aisha’s heart skipped a beat as Aneesh took her hand.

“Aisha Kapoor, will you give us another chance—will you marry me?”

Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as Aisha nodded, “Yes…yes! I’ll marry you.”

Aneesh hugged Aisha tightly as they sealed their future with a kiss.