A StayUncle story by a guest of ours. The best ones get awarded and featured on Juggernaut, the online book publisher. To write your own StayUncle story, click here

Message tone beeped-

“Reminder: Wear Salwar Suit tomorrow.”

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. How did I fall in love with this guy? I minced my teeth and replied-

“Yeah! And Sindoor. I REMEMBER!”

“Muah! I love you. Can’t wait to see you.”

Ved was flying down to Delhi, all the way from Bangalore. To celebrate my birthday.

Our first since we started dating. Long distance relationships can be a real menace. Skype was the only medium through which we saw each other.

It’s hard to express love over kilobytes and megabytes, so we decided we need to ‘see’ each other.

I waited for him at the airport. Butterflies tickling in my stomach. Making it even harder to look ‘normal’. When was the last time I saw him? School farewell? NO! Reunion. 3 years back. I prefer to keep moving whilst I wait. This divides my concentration.

I plod on the criss-cross flooring and every time I land my foot on the white box- “He loves me.” And on the black-“He loves me not.” My favourite game. I can almost decide everything in my life with this. Just when I was on the white one, my eyes wander around and settle on this guy. My guy!

We hugged each other like long lost brothers of kumbh-ka-mela which stayed quite long in the warmth of our first ‘physical’ touch. The aggrieved glances by onlookers told us to ‘get a room!’

“Oh, yes. We will.” So we quietly moved towards our cab.

“What’s the plan? Which hotel did you book?” Ved asked me.

“You’ll see.” I smirked.

It’s only after a few moments when his love potion wore off; he gave me a vexed look.

“Naina, I told you to wear something traditional today. Could you just for one day not be a spoiler? What on earth were you thinking while wearing this tube dress?”

“Ved, can we talk about this later. Please?”

He turned his head in disbelief, withdrew his hand from mine and decided to look outside.

All of a sudden, New-chaotic-Delhi was his point of interest and till we got down at the hotel, his unnerving silence made me anxious.

Our hotel was in the not-so-dingy lanes of Karol Bagh.

Ved eyed me suspiciously like I was going to be horribly-ashamed of my decision today. We moved to the reception and the receptionist welcomed us with a warm smile (No! Not like the Hotel Decent’s receptionist of Jab We Met).

Ved stood a little near towards the gate, as if ready to hop into the same cab we just got out of.

I knew exactly what his wicked mind would be thinking. But in the moment, I just let myself be me.

I showed the baldy receptionist my booking details and he asked for my photo identity proof. I think I heard some footsteps drawing closer. May Ved wanted to hear our conversation or drop in for a hustle. But surprisingly, there was none.

I signed the guest form (my first!) and the receptionist gave me his toothy smile, said thank you and waved hotel gatekeeper to help us with our room.

I was smiling without a sound and I could breathe Ved’s countless questions in the air.

I could feel his man ego crushing down. Just as we entered the room, he spat the first question, as if it had been suffocating him- “How did you do that?”

“Well, I am a charming girl. To some people, atleast.”

I said playfully.

“No! Honestly. What was that? No cross examination. No judgemental looks. Hassle free check-in. He didn’t even ask for my id proof. It feels like I just lost my manhood.”

I laughed for whole three minutes before I realised I was being a bitch.

“StayUncle”.

“Excuse me?”

“StayUncle. Hotels for couples in India.” I opened the website and showed it to him.

He kept on browsing about StayUncle until he digested the fact that this is the new reality of private space in India. And I pecked him for being so hilariously cute while he accepted his mistake.

Well, I don’t blame him. With no hotel check-in allowed for couples, that too with local address proof, I was sure I will have to disguise myself as a married woman with sindoor and bangles.

StayUncle came as the knight in shining armour and saved the day (birthday!) for me.