I just...fell for her...!! (part 7; last part)

   'Are you kidding me?' Karthik retorted, 'you were with her all night, you talked to her, you listened to songs, but you forgot to ask her phone number?'
   'She even said I'm her friend' I said under my breath.
   'Have you changed your mind or what?' he asked picking up his file.
   'I love her more than ever now.'
   'Go and tell her that.'
   'But she's leaving today.'
   'And I'm leaving now,' he said and closed the door behind him.


   The trashing of the tides pierced the sound of the kids' giggling. I was at the beach which, contrary to the previous night, was full of people of all age groups. I was feeling lonely though. My phone beeped. It was around 5:30 in the evening. A message from Karthik was flashed on the screen. Come to vizag stn...urgntly!!
   Wow! He arranged a send off to Aishwarya I said to myself and hired an auto to the railway station. I reached platform no.10 on his instructions through SMSes.
   I saw him sitting on the bench; he was wearing the same formals that he wore for the interview this morning.
   'Is she leaving in this train?' I asked him. He nodded.
   'You've come here directly from the interview?' I asked again. He gave the same response.
   'Where's your file?' I asked, casually.
   He looked at me. 'Ah, they are coming,' he said excitedly.
   'Hey,' Ami came forward, 'what are you doing here?' she asked. I was looking at Aishwarya. She seemed happy at my presence.
   'We've come to give you guys a sendoff,' I said.
   'That's so sweet of you,' said Ami and threw her hands around me. I was taken aback by her gesture and so was Aishwarya. She swiftly boarded the train without looking at me. But my eyes followed her.
   I was there for half-an-hour talking to Ami, Karthik was busy talking to his girl. I didn't get a chance to talk to Aishwarya, all I could get was a few glances from her.She peeped out of window couple of times and before I could smile she took her eyes off.
                 Why is she avoiding me?
   The driver signalled that its time for the departure through the ear-deafening horn. My heart skipped a beat. Look at me Aishwarya. I want to talk to you.
   'Bye Sumeet,' Ami said with a hug and boarded the train.
   'Don't you want to talk to her?' Karthik whispered in my ear, 'Go get in the train.' I jumped into the train and my friend followed.
   'What?' Ami was surprised.
   'Just wanted to say bye,' I said looking at Aishwarya.
   'How will you get down now?' she sounded more happy than worried. I looked at Karthik and even he was anything but worried.
   'We'll get down at the next station,' he said calmly.
   'What if T.T....?'
   'Stop worrying,' Karthik chided and walked into the adjacent compartment. 'Where are you going now?' I asked but in vain.
   'Wow!' Ami exclaimed, 'it must be thrilling right? I will try it sometime.'
   Which part? I thought. I smiled, shrugging off.
   I didn't stop looking at Aishwarya and as I see it she was trying hard to avoid me. But why?
   And expectantly T.T. appeared expectantly. 'You look pale,' Ami noticed. I actually was.
'I'll go and look for Karthik,' saying so I left looking for him, who was lying on a berth. relaxed in the next compartment.
   'Ticket please,' I heard those dreaded lines after couple of minutes. I looked at him and was making up a story to escape the consequences.
   'Here,' KArthik flashed a wide sheet of paper resembling ticket. He checked them and left without expressing any objection. I looked at Karthik amazed. 'I bought the tickets,' he said coolly.
   'When?'
   'Today morning.'
   'Why didn't you tell me?' I charged towards him.
   'Wanted to give you a surprise,' he said laughing.
   'Surprise? I was scared to hell!' I punched on his arm. He continued laughing.
   'How did you to get them?'
   'When you were busy dating the coffee girl, I managed to get in contact with a broker who promised to give me tickets if I paid him a few extra bucks,' he laid back.
   I hugged him, 'Thanks, man.'
   'Get away, you freak. I'm not a gay like you,' he teased, 'I didn't do this to get a mushy hug from you. Go get your girl.' 
   'He didn't throw you off?' Ami welcomed me back. I sneered. She laughed and Aishwarya was witnessing silently. Why is she behaving so strange?

                                                                                                                                                                       

   'You guys busy?' it was Aishwarya, finally. But she was avoiding any eye contact.
   'No!'
   'Yes!' Both the answers came at the same time. No was from me and yes from Ami.
   'You can spare sometime for dinner, atleast,' she said irritatedly.
   'We'll eat together,' declared Ami. 
   'I can't. Karthik's all alone there.' It was over an hour now.

   'Sumeet,' I heard Ami calling. I had dinner with Karthik and he went back to sleep immediately.
   'I can't sleep when I'm travelling. Would you accompany me?' she asked and before I could answer anything  she pulled my hand, 'let's go.'
   As we were approaching her compartment, Aishwarya intersected us and her eyes directed her towards our interlocked hands. What the hell?!
   'You hitting on her?' she asked, she noticed my constant glances I guess.
   'No,' I blurted out.
   'Good. Else my brother will kill you,' she smiled notoriously.
   'Your brother?' I asked, shocked.
   'Yea,' she widened her eyes, 'her boyfriend Adni'k is my brother,' she announced. My fuse blew off. And I thought everything is falling in place for me! Thank God I didn't tell her anything about my interest in her brother's girl.
   'What happened?' she shook me.
   'Nothing,' I said faintly. I'm such an idiot to have thought that she will help me with Aishwarya!!


   It was morning and I went looking for Aishwarya first thing. I felt relieved looking at her standing alone at the door, while rest of her coterie were warming beds. 
   'Good morning,' I said trying to be cheerful. She didn't respond.
   'You angry with me?' I asked. 
   'Why would I be angry with you? Who are you, anyway?' she snapped.
   'I'm Sumeet. You said I'm your friend,' I smiled.
   She looked at me, was about to say something, instead she went back.
   'There's nothing between me and Ami, I swear,' I said, a little louder. 
   'Keep your voice low,' she moved towards me. 'What did I do?' I asked.
   'Why do you bother to know if I'm angry?' she was close to tears.
   'I do because...,' I held myself, 'I just do.'
   She turned and started to walk back; I held her hand. It was soft and cold.
   'Because I care about you. I want you to be happy,' I stopped to clear the lump in my throat, 'I want to make you happy!'
   She made no attempts to take her hand back. I moved forward and wiped off the warm tear off her cheek. 'And I care about you because I love you. I want to love you my whole life!'
   And thus, I proposed her, in a train running at the speed of 80kmph (our hearts beating faster though), between two open doors through which wind was battling to peep in, my one hand in hers and other on her cheek. I wanted to hear the same three words from her, so I stopped.
   'What's going on here?' I heard, from Ami. And the next thing that I strongly remembered was a tight slap across my face. 'I hate you' was the sound accompanying with it. Both from Ami, obviously. That was the last time I saw Aishwarya.
   Its four months now and I'm not over her. I was again at the point I started but with a few beautiful memories. Its 9th April today and my birthday. I didn't pick any calls last night and so my cell was filled with many missed calls and messages. My phone rang suddenly and unknowingly I pressed answer button. 'Happy birthday, Sumeet,' the voice said. Do I know this voice? 'I tried your number all night,' It said again.
'Aishwarya?' I said, my heart beating slow.
'I love you!' she said in a choked voice.
That was the most memorable day of my life that ended with a perfect kiss between me and Aishwarya!!

This isn't really the end of the story because love stories have no endings and in this special case their love has just begun!!!

I just...fell for her...!! (part 6)

'That was a nice song,' she smiled, 'simple but still touching. How come I never heard this song?'
'Well, simple things often go unnoticed among the worldly glitter,' I snapped.
'I agree,' she said with guilt in her voice and her hand up.
'Can you play it again?' she requested.
'I can do that all my life,' I said below my breath.
It started again and the magic was recreated again. She soaked herself in each word of it and I with every sight of her!
'I just can't get enough of it,' she said.
'I understand,' I played the song again.


'I want to walk,' she announced after sometime.
'Can I join?'
'Obviously!' she smiled.
We walked for sometime without uttering a single word, just exchanged glances whenever the water touched our feet. And whenever it happened, her expressions were priceless - her glistening eyes, innocent smile and her sweet short squeal.
She looked at me deeply and smiled. 'Thank you,' she said after a long silence.
'For?'
'I always wanted to come here at this time; but never had the guts to come down alone.' My question was still unanswered. 'I saw you walking down the road at around 10 and so had a chance of coming over here. Its better to be with the known stranger than being alone,' she added with a smile.
'Be with a known stranger than being alone,' I repeated.
'We are friends now, I hope.'
Why is God being so kind to me? I thought Why is everything falling in place for me?
Less than a month ago, I just had a picture of her to look at, but now I almost spent a night in her company; she calls me her friend. I wouldn't be surprised if I go insane.

                                                       
'What?' she called.
'Huh?'
'What are you thinking?'
'Life can be so surprising sometimes.'
'Yeah. I prefer the word mysterious, though,' she slowed down, 'Our decisions would've been better if life was predictable. If we knew what's in store for us.'
'Well I like it this way. Sometimes we should just let our fate play its game,' I recollected Karthik's words.
'You wouldn't be thinking that if you were in my place,' she said, her voice dripped in pain.
I stopped walking and for the first time stood infront of her and looked straight into her eyes, 'What is it?'
'Nothing,' she hung her face.
'Its about your relationship, isn't it?'
'I think, I rushed into a relationship with him; we were good friends and so presumed I would be happy with him. But...' she stopped midway and turned her face towards the sea.
I held her face and turned it back towards me. The moment I touched her face, I felt like a petal like softness and feared harming it. 'I won't push you, but want to tell you one thing- everyone wants to be happy, and in their pursuit they make some mistakes. There's no wrong in it. You always have a second chance!'
She looked at me, moved a bit closer to my face, but went back suddenly.
For a moment I thought she would kiss me, she instead nodded and smiled.
We sat there again looking at the sea and listening to the songs. 'Whoa, your playlist is full of slow romantic songs,' she remarked.
'I like such songs,' I said which earned a look of her peaked brows.
'What?' I asked. She shook her head innocently.

'WOW!' she exclaimed.
I felt a sudden gush of excitement in my heart at the sight of huge fireball peeping out from the sea, emitting rays which reflected on the surface of the sea, turning it into a blanket of sparks.
'Its so beautiful!' she was thrilled.
But sadness creeped into my heart that the time I had with her was up.
'So, you guys leaving today?' I asked.
'Yeah, today evening.' She looked at me differently. Didn't she want to go? I thought.
 I could hardly smile when she baded me good bye.
'Thanks for everything. Had the best time of my life,' she said before leaving.
I watched her till she was out of my sight, afraid that she might just walk out of my life!!

I just...fell for her...!! (part 5)

   'What the hell is she doing here?!' I said to myself.
   'You Sumeet, right?' she said, smiling a little more brightly than in the afternoon. I never thought these would be the first words I'll be hearing from her.
   It was Aishwarya!
   Yes, yes I'm Sumeet! I'm your Sumeet I wanted to shout, but could only manage to nod.
   'I won't disturb you,' she said again.
   I want you to disturb me I wanted to say, but this time my lips only broadened. What? Have you lost your power of speech? my heart chided.
   She sat a few feet away from me, on my right; her legs half stretched and hands curled around knees.She threw her hairs on her right, staring morosely at the sea. Her eyes brimmed with sadness. I didn't want to see her like this! She closed her eyes, fearing they might just drizzle, perhaps! A thin quiff, against her wish, swayed away from its peers; it teased her by touching her cheeks and brushing her lips occasionally. She looked like a beautiful painting with that dark blue background of the sky and sea with just a hint of difference in their shade. Her melancholic expressions added to the mystic of our surroundings.
   What is she thinking about? I thought About her boyfriend? More likely replied my heart. I don't really want her to love me. I can spend my whole life just looking at her and I would never complain! I told my heart. It had no reply.
   She opened her eyes and caught me staring at her, I smiled and she responded hesitatingly. 'Your friends must be wondering about you,' I said. She said something which was hushed by growling of sea.
   She moved a bit closer, 'They must be sleeping peacefully,' she replied, with a little laugh, 'but you must be thinking what am I doing here at this hour, na?' she added.
   'Do you read minds?' I said. She laughed. And then there was silence again(except for the roaring of the sea).
   'Its marvelous,' she mumbled a little louder.
   'I've never seen anything more beautiful,' I said looking at her. She was looking at the sea.
   'Its so..' she was looking for a word to complete her appraisal.
   'Serene,' I suggested.
   'Yeah,' she smiled gleefully.
         

                                                                     
   She looked at her feet, the water was touching them and ebbing away. It was amusing her and that fascinated me.
   'So you and Ami pretty close?' she asked.
   'This is the second time we've met actually,' I said with a little laugh, 'but we gelled quite well.'
   'Really?' she asked and looked eagerly at me.
   I nodded and went on to narrate our first meeting. She laughed hysterically. I was happy I could change her mood.
   'You seem to have a bad temper, should be careful with you,' she teased.
   'I was just disappointed about something,' I said, my head hung low in embarrassment.
   'So it was about a girl,' she said excitedly. I looked at her, surprised.
   'What?' she read my expressions, 'I read minds, you forgot?'
   'Ahan,' I exclaimed.
   'So, who's she?' she asked instantly, turning towards me; her eyes enthusiastic.
   Its you! I said without disturbing my lips. 'Someone I didn't know anything about,' I said stealing my  eyes away.
   'Now you know about her?'
   'Only that she has a boyfriend,' I said, my voice falling a tone lower.
   'You serious about her?' she asked sensing my dismay. I smiled assuringly.
   'You'll get her,' she said firmly.
   'Only if I deserve her,' I chipped in.
   'You do,' she said, 'I can see in your eyes how much you love her!'
   That moment, the way she was looking at me, I wanted to grab her in my arms and kiss her all night! But I held myself from doing anything crazy(you'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain came to my mind). She turned her gaze towards the sea.
   'And,' I said tentatively, 'you have a boyfriend?' She nodded, without looking at me.
   'I guess you are missing him,' I said. She didn't reply.
   I crossed the line I thought. 'Who cares?' she said after a long pause. She meant he definitely doesn't care if she misses him perhaps.
   'What are you listening to?' she was charged up, all of a sudden.
   'Bap Kennedy.' She made a question mark on her face. 'Irish singer,' I said, 'its an English song,' I added quickly.
   'Can I join?' she asked carefully.
   Hell yess!!! I wanted to jump in the air. 'Yeah, sure,' I said mildly, passing her right part of the earphone. She moved more closer; now she was just a few inches away from me. I played the song which replicated my situation. 

I can feel my heart and its fit to burst...

.....

wish I could fall on a night like this...

into your loving arms for a moonlight kiss...

.....

you got someone else...(felt a blow on my chest)

.....

I would trade it all...for a moonlight kiss....

Girl I would really trade my life, if not for a kiss, for a few more moments with you!! I thought looking at her.

 The night's not over yet. Its going to be a long one, for sure...!!! ;)

I just...fell for her...!! (part 4)

   'She is...,' she said, my heart throbbing intensely, 'my friend,' I could feel the cool sweat on my feet,                'Aishwarya.' As if this slow motion was not enough, it now felt like everything has stopped for a moment. I looked at her. Is that really her? Man, she's so beautiful! Her face looked so fresh, like a morning flower! Is that really her? my heart asked again.
   Ami's voice broke my reverie. 'He's Sumeet and his friend Karthik,' she said. Aishwarya smiled feebly and walked away to join her friends. Her swift vanishment created some uneasiness.
   'Hey, remember,' said Ami catching up with same excitement, 'you owe me a cup, sorry, half a of coffee.'
   'How about today evening?' I suggested, not able to stop my self from stealing a glance at Aishwarya! Ami noticed it, but acted unaware.

   'Fine with me,' she responded with a smile.
   'OK then, see you at chocolate room at R.K. beach..'
   '5:30,' she completed my words before joining her friends.
   'Finally,' said Karthik after Ami left, 'you are smiling.'
   I was grinning actually!

   'When will you girls be leaving?' I asked, stirring whatever little left of my coffee. We were there for more than half an hour, talking about our past years and everything. She was a lively person always smiling radiantly.
   'Tomorrow evening,' she said looking into my eyes. I hid my dissapointment. 'And you?' she asked.
   'I don't know. May be a couple of days,' I shrugged.
   'Hey, I hope you didn't mind Aishwarya's elusiveness,' she said, 'she's out of mood these days.'
   I was dying to bring up her topic from the moment we have come here. 'And why is that so?' I asked. We bonded so well in last half an hour that I didn't hesitate to ask her that after she initiated.
   'Her relationship is not going well.'
   I sighed showing sympathy but inside I was bursting with happiness.

   'But don't worry they'll be back together. They make a picture perfect couple,' she said. And my heart was bursting again with rather opposite feeling this time! She was right though, they did make a picture perfect couple. But you don't fall into love to pose for a perfect picture! my heart protested you fall in love just to love.
   I gulped down the last sip of the coffee.

                                 

   'How was your coffee date with the coffee girl?' Karthik teased.
   'It wasn't a date.'
   'You thought Aishwarya would come with her, didn't you?' he asked laying on the bed.
   'No, I didn't,' I lied.
   'Don't tell me Sumeet,' he laughed.
   'They are leaving tomorrow,' I said slowly.
   'So?' he sat up, 'you have a link with her now.'
   'Ami doesn't know anything. I didn't tell her.'
   'May be your words didn't, but your eyes surely did,' he laid back.
   'What do you mean?'
   'She saw you eyeing Aishwarya all through the lunch,' he smiled impishly.
   'How was your interview?' I quickly changed the topic.
   'It was good. I have a final round tomorrow,' he said confidently.
   'O.K. I'm going to the beach,' I said picking up my iPod and cell phone.
   'Now?' he was visibly shocked. It was 10:15 p.m. I nodded.
   I might be late,' I said, 'don't wait for me. Good night.'
   It was all dark around; though the sea was roaring fiercely, yet it was calm. I sat on the sand, as close as I can without getting wet. Stretching my legs, I plugged in the earphones and closed my eyes. Upon pressing the play button, Bryan Adams started singing 'When you love someone' I smiled and the lyrics went on,

When you love someone 

you'll do anything

you'll do all the crazy things 

that you cant explain...

    I was creaming the sand with my right hand, when I sensed someone coming. I turned back and saw someone, a few feet away, walking towards me. I tried hard to recognize the person in the dark and my eyes widened themselves upon discovering who it is.
    'What the hell is she doing here?!'