He opened the door of the cab for her. They were getting late for the Airport.

He checked on his watch to see the time and realised that they are going to have a bad time in
convincing the ground staff at the airport for their late arrival.

'Have you checked everything Priya? Did you take your power bank? Did you..', Raj was about to
complete his sentence but abruptly stopped by Priya. She held his hand and asked him to be with her.

'Okay. I know you will be away from me for a long time. And I do panic in such circumstances. Look, I am
sorry for this indecisive behavior', he said

'Raj, I love you the way you are. You think your concern for me perturbs me everytime? I love to see that
love and care in your eyes', she said and slipped her fingers into his hand and clenched it strongly as if
she never wanted to go away from him. Even for a second.

'Sir, should I take the shortcut to the airport?', the driver asked Raj.

'Sir, Sir', the driver tried to catch Raj's attention. Raj was thinking

something and his eyes were moist. Priya took cognizance of it and asked him if everything is okay. He
said in affirmative and guided the driver. Meanwhile all throughout his mind, he was thinking had he
asked him to take the long way throughout, it would have let Priya miss her flight. At least, she could
have stayed with her for the next 24 hour till she could have got the next flight booked for her. But you
see, love is not about your selfish demands but about your partner's happiness. Someone who cannot
see a line of tension on her forehead will never be able to do something which can literally keep her
tensed for the next 24 hours.

They reached the airport in the next 15 minutes. Priya was getting real late. She hugged him for the final
time and was about to run towards the departure section. Raj took something out from his pocket. He
handed her over a packet of chocolates as a small token of gift. She kissed her and rushed towards the
gate. Raj was standing outside the gate and tried to take a look at her till her sight faded away in the
huge crowd and his eyes were unable to see her long beautiful hair. He could see her love going away
from him. Maybe, its in his destiny. Destiny, which was never in favor of him! Destiny which has rejected
his application for the LLM course in the States. Destiny which did not let him go with Priya and spend
the next 1 year with her. Lucky are those who have the privilege of holding their loved one wherever
and whenever they want. But, Raj was not so lucky. Destiny has something else for him in its store.
He got a message from Priya which read, Successfully checked in. Waiting for the boarding call. Take
care. Love you. And please text me after you reach home. And please please please, do not take that
900 series bus. Its scary and not at all safe. I want you to wait for me. Here on this earth and not above
the zenith. And, thanks for the chocolate. Love you and will miss you a lot! ;-).

That message brought a smile on his face. A smile which he still has on his face. That smile which comes
back the instance he thinks about that message. That final look she gave before entering for the check
in. That smile on her face to see Raj coming down to drop her irrespective of his busy schedule.

Nonetheless, there were 365 chocolates for her. 365 days away from each other. With the hope that she
will get the relevance of 365 pieces of chocolate. With the hope that she will eat one every day and
remember her for those 5 seconds. With the hope that he will get a hiccup during those 24 hours. With
the hope that it will leave a smile on his face and he will live happily with it. And with that hope, he
turned back and started walking towards the Exit gate and stopped at the exit point which read,
Welcome to Visakhapatnam, The City of Destiny'.

P. S. The story is purely fictional in nature! ;-)