Published on 11th February 2021.

Word count : 2300 words

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- S H R U T I -

Turning my gaze towards the man, I looked at him and I knew that it could only be a dream. How can he be here, at my place?

"Shruti." My mumma took me out of my dreams, "Where are you lost? Just go and change." Running to my room, I closed the door and sprinkled water over my face.

How could he be the one?

Out of billions of males, why him?

Was I dreaming?

But then, it wasn't a dream!

Stripping my formals, I changed into another pair of clothes and walked out, carrying a smile on my face, which was ofcourse fake. How could someone smile while being shocked at the same time?

As the discussions took its place, I kept quite while constantly looking in his direction. How much did he change? His height was probably same. His facial features were great, just like the last time. At that time, his stubble was in the process of growing. And now, he had more of those manly features with beard.

What am I even doing?

Why was I acting like a creep?

"Should we let them talk alone?" I heard his mother saying. That was the reason she looked so familiar. As everyone agreed, my mother instructed me to take him to my room. But why my room? As I couldn't disagree her infront of everyone, I nodded and we walked to my room.

"Your room is beautiful." I heard him saying. I know my room is beautiful and I don't need a certificate for that! What am I even thinking?

"Thanks."

"It's you in the photo?" He asked, gazing at one of my childhood photos, hanging on the wall. I hummed and he nodded. Wasn't it supposed to be -'Oh! You looked same in childhood, just similar to how you were more than a decade back!'?

But he didn't remember me.

And it was obvious.

How and why would he remember me?

There was nothing between us. Everything ended even before starting. Nothing happened between us.

"I heard that you're a lawyer?"

"Corporate lawyer. And you?" I asked. I never really tried to find anything about him after he left the school. It was unnecessary. Grieving for something impossible is totally insane.

"Jewellery."

"Huh?"

"I design jewellery. That's what my company is about." He said and I nodded. Then no-one said anything. After an eternity of silence he finally broke it up. "Should I sit?"

All the time I was sitting and he was standing...

Why didn't I ask him to sit?

"Sure." I said and he sat beside me. And then we enquired about each other's life. Not me, it was him who asked everything. I couldn't open my mouth to ask anything.

"Umm... Do you any problem with this marriage?"

"Huh? No..." I said and he smiled.

He looked so good while smiling.

Stop your pervy thoughts, you woman!

"Then, let's tell them our decision." He said and I shook my head in positive. Going out, we told them about our decision and everyone was elated.

And why wouldn't they be?

My parents were finally going to see their daughter getting married after so man by hardships!

They left after lunch and I was busy thinking about him. Akriti pushed me by her shoulders and I looked at her. "And I bet you were busy thinking about him." She teased.

"I wasn't."

"Really? But how come you agreed to this proposal? What the hell is going on your mind?" She asked and I couldn't say anything.

It was true.

I've sent back proposals of seventeen men from our home. Sometimes, I told them about my imaginary boyfriends. While the other times, I've lied of being lame.

I know, it was so weird to say these things but I never got any other good idea to send them back.

Coming to present, I was shocked at my today's behaviour.

Why didn't I do anything? Why didn't I use any of my tricks and excuses? Why was I quiet all the time?

I don't understand it.

"Earth to Shruti... Where are you lost?"

"No where."

"Wait a minute. Did my little sister find him too handsome to resist?"

"No. No... It's nothing like that."

"Why do I think he looked too familiar? Do you know him?"

"I don't." I lied.

"You're sure?"

"Why would I lie?" I asked and she nodded.

"Mumma!" We heard Adit shouting. Running inside her room, we saw him stuck in the space between her bed and the wall.

"Why do you always do things like this? Can't you stay at a place?" Akriti shouted. She's really short-tempered and could lose her cool easily.

"Why are you scolding my grandson? You were more notorious than him in childhood." Mumma came inside and said.

"Mumma! You're supporting him?"

"No, I'm just scolding you. He's just three in age. What do you expect him to do?" Mumma said and Akriti rolled her eyes. "Are you listening?"

"Hmm... I am. Now, can I go?"

"Sure." Mumma said and she went out, carrying Adit.

"So... What made you agree this time?"

Even I don't know!

Why didn't I send him back?

"Nothing. I just thought to stop troubling you and papa from now." I lied.

"And what made you change your mind?"

"Nothing mumma! Stop asking so many questions."

"I'm a teacher. Habits never change."

"Mumma!"

"Okay, I won't tease you. I'm going out. Call him if you get some time." She teased and went out while chuckling.

I don't know why I didn't use any of my tactics this time.

What got into me?

It's not that he's my ex or something like that.

He never knew about my existence until now!

✨

"Uhm... I heard that you said yes?" Aditi said raising her brow. We were chilling together in the cafeteria.

"Who told you?"

"Akriti di."

"When did you both become friends? You're my friend, not hers."

"I just called her to ask about the progress. And it's not that I hate her. Coming back to our topic, what made you say yes?" Aditi asked.

"Can't she? Atleast she said it, not like someone who always push me back." Parth came with his coffee and said sarcastically. Aditi glared and he rolled his eyes.

"Stop it." I said.

"Yes, stop talking unnecessarily. Back to topic, what made you say yes?" She asked.

"I don't know. I just don't know why I couldn't open my mouth infront of him. I couldn't deny him."

"Who the hell is he? A superstar?"

"No..."

"What's his name?" Parth asked.

"Rishabh."

"Name is alright. But I bet his looks can't beat mine!" He said and Aditi crushed his toe with her heels. "What the..."

"Shut your mouth and let us talk." She said angrily to him and turned to me. "Let me check his profile. His full name?"

"Rishabh Randhawa." I said and she typed his name on her phone.

"Wait a minute! This name! I've heard this before." She shouted. Even Parth nodded with what she said. Now what could I say?

They'll just dig up my past.

"Isn't he our senior?" She shouted.

"Be quiet." I yelled.

"Okay, wasn't he our senior in school?" She asked and I hummed. "Isn't he the one who was two years older than us?" She asked and I again hummed. "Isn't he the one whom you liked?"

"Shut up!"

"Why should I? You're going to marry your crush! That's the reason you said yes..." She grinned.

"Calm down. He's not my crush."

"He was. Once upon a time he was your prince charming."

"Prince charming? It was a normal attraction. Moreover, I was just thirteen then."

"So? Love doesn't defy age. How can you be attracted to someone for three years straight? It's not attraction but love."

"I don't know."

"I don't know!" She mimicked me and laughed.

(Flashback)

"......Our life is a loan recieved from death with sleep as the daily interest on this loan." He said and everyone clapped at last. I knew no-one wanted to stand out in hot summer and listen to speeches. But for me it was different. I wanted to be out and listen to him.

It's been an year I started liking him.

All my childhood I knew students of only my class. But then on our sports day, my gaze went towards him, who was carrying the torch. As I saw him more and more, it grew into liking.

Even today, I don't know how someone could be excellent in everything!

He just got first rank in tenth boards in our district.

I mean wow!

And he's the captain of our school's volleyball team.

Again wow!

"Shruti." Aditi shook my shoulders and I hummed. "When will this good for nothing speech end."

"I don't know. But it's good."

"Good? Oh wait, you're too studious. Ofcourse you would like these speeches. Who am I even asking?"

"Do they like seeing us sweating?" Parth said in annoyance. He was standing in boys' line, which was just beside ours. As the assembly ended we went back to our class and attended our maths class. The periods went by while studying.

We had our games period just before our lunch. And that was the best period.

Why?

His class was having games period too!

And my mood was on its highest.

Sitting with a book on a bench, I started reading it while stealing glances from him. He was playing volleyball with his friends. And the way his hands worked on bouncing the ball, it took my heart away.

Who would believe that he's the same boy who topped in whole district?

"Shruti!" Aditi shouted, pulling me out from my dreamland. I was shocked to hell. "Whom were you watching? Let me find him too."

"I wasn't watching anyone. I was just gazing the sky."

"Oh really? But I've heard that the sky is up, not in our front!" She teased, annoying me.

"I was... I was just....."

"Hmm... I know. By the way, whom were you watching? They all are our seniors." She said, looking towards the volleyball court.

"I told you I wasn't."

"That boy?" She pointed towards one of them.

"No..."

"This means you were looking at one of them! Now tell me which one."

"I..."

"Radhika's brother?"

How come she know this?

"How do you-"

"I'm your best friend. I've seen you smiling when gives his speech. Nobody is this mad to smile in such a hot-humid weather." She said and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm mad?"

"Mad in love! Between, how long it's been?"

"Now when you know this, I don't want to lie. An year."

"What? You like him from an year? And still no progress?"

"I'm in no mood to be in relationship. Liking from back and being in a relationship are two different things."

"Okay!"

(Flashback ends)

"So... Are you really ready for this wedding?" Parth asked.

"I'm still not sure. I don't know what made me say yes. I wasn't able to deny, when he was in front of me."

"Mixed feelings!"

✨

"Shruti, are you sure you want to marry him? We don't want any problem in future. If you're sure, then it's okay. But if you aren't, you can take some time to think. It's all about your future." Akriti said while massaging my hairs and I hummed. "What happened to your plan of being lame or having various boyfriends?"

Wait a minute!

I never told anyone about this...

"How do you know this?"

"Do you think I don't know what you were upto all the time?"

"You really knew?" I asked and she nodded. "Did you tell mumma and papa about this?"

"No, I didn't. Do you want me to?"

"No....."

"Alright. Between, for that Rishabh guy, do you want to know more about him?" She asked and I nodded. "I would suggest you not to rush everything. Go on a date with him. If everything seems alright, you go!"

"Hmm..." I hummed and closed my eyes, until she disturbed me.

"Call him. Ask him for a date."

"But, I don't have his number."

"Really? What the hell? Why don't you have his number? You're going to marry him!"

"Don't shout on me. Give me a solution."

"You have his number, just check it in that data." She said, directing towards a file, kept on the table. Walking towards the file, I opened it and saw his photos and some basic information about him.

Saving his number in my phone, I opened the chat and started typing.

Hey! Remember me?

No... I couldn't type that. It looked so desperate.

Hello! How are you?

No... Hello is too old fashioned.

:

Hi! Shruti here.

Good... Simple and sophisticated.

I clicked on the arrow and message was sent in an instant.

Hope it goes good!

In a few seconds or so, his reply came.

Hi. I was just going to message you.

Do you mind if we go on a date?

"Woah! That was way too fast forward." Akriti shouted. All the time she was spying on me? "What are you doing? Reply him." She said and I averted my gaze towards my phone.

Sure. Tomorrow?

Hmm... In evening.

I'll pick you up at your house at seven.

Okay. Bye.

What's wrong with me? Why did I say bye this early?

Bye.

Going back to my room, I jumped upon my bed and closed my eyes. I took a deep breathe, thinking about all the incidents which took place today.

This day wasn't a dream, right?

I hope it was not...

I closed my eyes, mentally preparing myself for tomorrow's date.

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