## Story: **Waiting for You**

Winter afternoon. The surroundings are shrouded in fog. I leave the office and stand for the bus like every day. I wrap my shawl tightly in the light cold air. Just then, a soft, familiar voice comes from the side—“The color of your shawl is quite beautiful!”

I turn around. An unfamiliar boy. Wearing a plain shirt, a bag around his neck. A strange warmth in his eyes. Hearing such a direct compliment made me a little dizzy. I replied, “Thank you.”

The boy smiled and said, “I am Rudra. I work in the office next door. I often see you standing here.”

I didn’t say anything, just smiled and shook my head. Then the bus arrived. I thought to myself, the boy is strange!

### Second day

The next day, I stood at the bus stop again. Rudra seemed to be waiting. He approached me and said, “May I know your name?”

I hesitated a little and said, “Nandini.”

He smiled and said, “Nandini is a very beautiful name. But not as beautiful as you.”

I was surprised. How could someone speak so easily like this! But I didn’t say anything. The bus arrived, I got on. But Rudra’s warm smile stayed in my mind all day.

### The beginning of friendship

After that, I met Rudra almost every day. He was Reed more.....