"Let's get lost together"

“Are you seeing someone?” inquired her mom

“No, and how many times are you going to ask me the same question?” replied Jonita

“I am just asking to confirm, iss mein naraz hone wali baat nai hai beta” mom smiled

“Main naraz nai hun maa, but aap har baar ek hi sawaal kyu puchte ho. Aapko hamesha yeh bolun ki maa I m a failure in love” raged Jonita

“What did you just say? Why are being so negative about the marriage thing? Did we force you to do anything?” a swarm of question fired on Jonita

“Aap nai samjh rahe mumma, I never told that you are forcing thing or me. But, sorry I don’t agree to the concept of marrying a stranger” replied Jonita

“I also married your dad, he was a stranger and I had no idea what I was doing in life. I wanted to work, but I had responsibilities for which I gave up my dreams. Kabhi maine tumhe kaha ki give up your dreams. I also want you to experience the feeling of being loved. But beta kuch cheezen nai hoti hain humare haath mein” , here goes mom lecture

Dad enters the room in a heated conversation and everything subsides. Jonita drowns in her Kindle, reading ‘Into the Wild’.

“I am tired of this girl, kabhi baat hi nai karti apne problems ke bare mein. When you won’t tell us about it, how we would sense it or provide you with a solution” worried mom speaks to dad

“Ok, chalo… let’s make a deal. I would travel to any place I want for few months and no one will ask me to return and all that crap. In case, he wants to travel with me… he can choose a place and we would come to know about each other. Done?” Jonita in super-excited tone looks at her dad

“Yeh kya baat hai, India hai yeh… Tumhe yeh nai samjh aaraha kya?” Dad replied

“Wohi main keh rahi hun mom dad, India hai… I want to know his life… whether he loves mountains or sand, whether he loves seafood or thukpa, whether he loves cars or bikes, whether he is a book lover or just another photographer as a hobby. Aap mat baat karo Aunty se, I would talk to Sameer about this if you agree” Jonita tried explaining herself

The next moment, Sameer and Jonita were traveling to their favorite destination- Mcleodganj in the Northern part of India….

‘Hijr-e-yaara na satha bewajah’ playing the  background…

“You haven’t heard of this song?” Sameer asked Jonita in complete shock

“No, I haven’t.. But, I feel I kinda like it” Jonita smiled

“I knew it. Coke Studio is my favourite” Sameer replied

“Mine too, but any day… Coldplay” Jonita laughed

“English gaano ki baat nai ho rahi hai, bewakoof” Sameer laughed

Jonita was busy crossing every checklist point and giving marks to Sameer. It seemed like Sameer would win this competition… She secretly kept staring at him, while he was busy playing his guitar at the camp fire…

“For the first time, I want to lose in life… and I would love to lose my heart to Sameer” (message sent)- Jonita

“ J “ her Mom replied