"Juli, you are mine, nobody can single out you from me. I love you to the moon and back. You are the wings beneath my flight. You are my sunshine. Don't shed your winsome tears in front of me," Jude yelled with a look of despair in his lustrous brown eyes.

"Oh! Jude, Jude, Jude!! Trust me, I am not crying because I doubt you in any case. You know very well that I am scared. I am scared of my sanity, my people, and everyone I love," she spoke, trying to prevent a tear from dropping her eye.

Jude frantically searched through his pocket until he finally produced a pristine white handkerchief. Meanwhile, Juli struggled to regain her composure, her emotions swirling within her, rendering her unable to speak. Her whole bearing conveyed the depth of her inner turmoil.

Her attractive face revealed everything, now red from excessive crying. Her golden locks were strewn across her face like clouds of uncertainty. The tears fell like rain on a cloudy day. Jude gently wiped her watery eyes with his hankie, offering solace. Unable to hold back any longer, Juli clutched him in her arms and began sobbing even more.

"What are you doing, my dear? Don't let all my efforts to calm you go down the drain. Don't act childish, stop crying. I will talk to your parents tomorrow," Jude retorted while freeing himself from her clutch.

"What are you saying? They will not agree. I have discussed it with them several times but to no avail. You should forget me and marry Celia, your childhood mate. Don't ruin your life because of me. I swear Celia is an eligible match for you. She is beautiful, rich, and prosperous. A hundred times better than me. Forget me once and for all, "Juli hurled sincere advice with a lump in her throat.

" You are my first love. I will either marry you or not marry at all. You need to understand my feelings. I must assure your parents. I am hunting for jobs day and night. One day I will find an applicable job and gain the trust of your domitable parents," Jude assured her.

Juli threw a doubtful glance at him.

She scrutinized him from top to bottom and uttered," Formidable !! No, they are not formidable. They are obstinate. May God bless you with victory in your endeavors. It's time for me to return home, otherwise, I will be bombarded with several canny questions when I get back, or they might even kill me."

She stood up to take leave. Jude also left his seat to present a peck on her forehead. Both of them left the place hand in hand. Jude escorted her on his motorbike, remembering to drop her a few steps before her home. He was not in favor of leaving her alone despite her constant protests.

Stella, her middle-aged mother, was peeping curiously from the barred window. It was already 9.00 pm, and her mind was full of anticipation. Her messy hair was tied into a bun, and a few wrinkles were visible on her otherwise clean face. Though she possessed a milky white complexion that her daughter had inherited. She was bored staring at the dull naked sky with a single star below the bright shiny moon. Her actions seemed like those of a spy. She stood up to stroll here and there aimlessly. Suddenly, her feet halted at the dim sound of a motorbike. She rushed to open the main gate and noticed what she didn't have to notice.

She cried in her heart, "Oh my my! This girl will never understand my feelings. She will never leave this silly vagabond."

Juli was taken by surprise. After saying goodbye to her boyfriend, she walked slowly towards the entrance, only to find her mother standing there. She was speechless, her heart heavy with dread. Dropping her eyelids, she stood motionless, bracing herself for the impending reprimand, feeling like a criminal in the presence of the judge.

Stella was no stranger to this kind of situation. She motioned for Juli to come inside and closed the door firmly behind her. Juli entered the house as if she were a thief, expecting harsh condemnation from her father. Her mother's face was a tempest of anger, making it daunting to face her. Juli tossed her handbag onto the bed and hurried to the washroom. After changing out of her nightgown, she sat at the dinner table, filled with apprehension as she waited for food. Despite her anger, Stella silently served her daughter.

A stern, rigid voice interrupted from one of the bedrooms, "Is she back home? "

"Yes", her mother replied softly.

It was a starry night. Silence prevailed everywhere, except the hooting of the owl outside. Juli munched her toast, examining the temper of her mother.

Finally, she spoke to break the unwanted silence, "Mom, I have broken all ties with Jude. He is no longer my boyfriend. You may marry me wherever you want. "

The next moment she started crying.

Stella instantly retorted, "OK, so this is your final decision. You have broken ties but still, you are shedding your precious tears for that cool brat. He is living on his father's income but for how long..."

"Mom, please no more of it. Stop it. I assure you, you will not hear about him from me," she placed her palm on her mother's pinkish lips to stop her from speaking further.

Juli kept herself occupied with household tasks, assisting her mother in the kitchen, tending to the garden, and taking walks in the morning and evening. She hoped that by staying busy, she could erase all the memories of Jude from her mind for good. Her furry baby proved great company for her in reducing her sorrow. He was always there to keep her jolly. She stopped talking to her friends over calls, chats, and messages to draw a blank circle related to her old memories that consisted of her lover. Although she tried to maintain a pleasant appearance, a hint of sadness lingered on her face.

George, her father, was a man of few words, always dressed in a formal suit. As a serious lawyer, he was commonly known for his strictness. He had arranged a marriage for his elder daughter with a doctor and was unwilling to compromise with his second-born child. Despite understanding his daughter's struggles, he never approached her to talk. He had already made his decision clear to his wife, and for him, that was sufficient. He was a duty-bound man who had never taken a single leave from his work.