Old School Love Completed G

Two Shot

Continued. . .

Just as she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand. He didn’t know why he said what he said but he knew one thing for sure, his words had hurt her. And things will never be same with her again.

“Riya stop.”

“Why Arjun? Please... don’t make me feel any more disgusted with myself.”

“You are getting me wrong. I ...I just want you to be clear with your feelings. What you really want! And whatever happened right now, right here... trust me Riya, it is one of the best things that have happened to me. I don’t regret an ounce of whatever transpired.” He blurted out in a single breath. And she believed him. She believed whatever he said because she just felt he of all people wouldn’t lie to her, or cheat on her or break her trust.

“okay.” She said in reply. She didn’t intend to say anything anymore. All she craved right now is peace and away from everything.

“Umm...do you mind dropping me at my place? I won’t ask you to stay.” She said and realized how pathetic that sounded.

“oh Riya... don’t be ridiculous. Let’s... let’s just go.”

She just went towards the bike and stood there realizing where did she kicked off her heels.

“Your heels.” She saw him holding the pair of her heels as he placed them on the ground. The journey back to her home was silent. He still asked her to hold him tight. And she did. He let her rest her head over his shoulder, without a trace of hesitation. She knew he was still trying to make her feel better. He stopped right in front of her home, outside the gate. She got down carefully tucking the devils spring with her one hand. Tonight was full of surprises. She expected him leave as soon as possible but he stayed. He was silent for a moment. She didn’t know what to make out of his silence. So she started towards the gate.

“Riya...”! He called out.

She didn’t turn.

“Just remember one thing, whatever your decisions, whatever it is that you want or whatever you chose, I will be with you...” she froze at the intensity of the words. She just wanted to run back to him immediately and embrace him forever. But she knew she has crossed enough of her limits tonight.

“Just never stop counting on me...”! His last words brought tears in her eyes and she knew if she will turn, all the boundaries he’s guarding just for her sanity will break at the blink of an eye.

“Good night Arjun.” She said in a tight voice, not letting him know how she’s breaking inside. She heard the bike roared with acceleration and the noise soon faded. She sighed and entered inside.

She changed quickly and gave herself a long steaming shower. She smiled at herself as she noticed the marks on her neck and collarbone. Her face changed colour as she blushed. He was oddly gentle with her. Never in her wildest thoughts had she ever imagined that someone like her would make someone like ACP Arjun Rawte fall heads over heel in love with her. She cursed herself for being confused with her life decisions. For letting Karan use her once again and for hurting Arjun, despite knowing his feelings.

After tonight, her insides were bubbling with a great sense of admiration and respect for the man. He had all the chance to take advantage of her tonight. She was literally asking for it. But he didn’t... which is what made her feel so small in her own eyes.

She decided one thing. She’d bring clarity to her life. And for that she’d have to choose. She knew whom she had chosen. First of all she had chosen herself. She had chosen to give herself all the happiness she deserves. Her doorbell rang constantly. She pulled on her robe and made her way towards the door. She just knew whoever’s at the door will never made it inside. When she opened the door, she was welcomed to a tired and disappointed face of Karan who was now looking at her with hopeful eyes.

“Why didn’t you come for dinner Riya? Are you still angry?” He asked.

“No I am not angry anymore Karan.” She said calmly. A smiled touched his lips as he started moving inside.

“Ah! Wait, we have to talk.” She said and made him stand outside the door.

“Yeah we can just talk inside.”

“No Karan, I don’t think you’d want to come inside after whatever we are going to talk.”

“Okay. Just tell me what is it?”

“You have to stop seeing me.” She said finally.

“Like why? You said you aren’t angry.”

“I am just not concerned about anything that relates you anymore Karan. In simple words,

leave me alone. I did a mistake giving you a second chance.”

Karan looked confused with whatever she was saying. His pretense only had managed to annoy her further.

“For God’s sake Karan stop playing with my life, I have had enough of your bullshit. Now just get the fcuk out of here.” She shouted on top of her voice. “And yes tell that bitch that she can keep you forever. You both just deserve each other.” With that she banged the door on his face. She didn’t care if he’s standing outside. She was just too tired that she didn’t know when she got to her bedroom slipped into deep slumber.

One month later...

“I bet she killed him out of jealousy as she found out he’s having an affair.” Sakshi Anand said, fairly doing any justice to the victim’s body. Arjun ignored her speculations. And mostly speculations like this, a referral that includes cheating or betrayal. His eyes travelled towards the head of research division of ETF. She looked like she least cared what Sakshi just said and resumed reading some papers she found from the crime scene. She looked like she’s at peace. He bet she is. Since past one month he did nothing but studied her only. She doesn’t anymore get angry with little things. She doesn’t anymore wait till late night to cry her heart out in her cubicle and of course without any mention of that shithead ex husband of hers. Certain things about her are changing. And he liked that change. He just hoped she now knows what she wants.

“I have to confirm what’s in this file. Care to drop me off... I mean obviously if you are free.” She said looking at him. It sounded too normal to the team. But he knows, after that night there is some sort of awkwardness between them.

“Can you just stop being this formal?” he asked her once they were out of the crime scene and marched towards the SUV.

“Well you draw the lines. Remember...?” she said.

He stopped at her words and registered what she just said. Does she think he is holding himself? And here he was waiting for her to make the first move. He knows, if Riya Mukherjee wants anything she will ask for it without hesitation. And that night she did ask him... and he was the one who turned her down. He also knows one more thing that Riya Mukherjee never begs for anything. He saw her moving ahead and followed.

He’ll have to talk to her because if he wouldn’t do it now, he might lose her forever. He got into the driving seat as she set the GPS for location. He started the SUV in silence. But he knew he was looking at anywhere but at the road. “Are you planning on getting someone killed? I can hire a hitman for that. You don’t have to run over” Her voice brought him out of the trance. “What?” “Why you are so out of focus Arjun?” she finally asked.

“I was just thinking about what you’ve said earlier.”

“What did I say?”

“You know that I wasn’t drawing lines.” She remained silent to that. “I am sorry... um... to make you uncomfortable that night. Can we be just normal like old times without feeling awkward?” She said after some minutes. What normal is she talking about? He was never normal with her! She always set him in a fit of inexplicable feelings. Nothing about his feelings for her is normal.

They never really talked about what happened between them that night. He didn’t ask her again what she chooses. She didn’t tell him either. But the awkwardness prevailed in an alarming manner that was hard to defer for both of them. Hence both of them knew that how important this conversation is.

“Uncomfortable? That’s the best you could come up with?” he was anything but uncomfortable that night. And she should have known. But isn’t he the one who sent her to that guilt trip? “I was anything but uncomfortable that night.”

“I understand.” She said.

“No you don’t. You don’t know why I did that. I know how difficult it’s for you to give up on something. I didn’t want you to get into something with a half heart. I didn’t want you get into something that will suffocate you later. I didn’t want you to regret once again Riya...” he said hoping she will understand.

“I always thought, there is nothing that can kill an old school love.” He silently listens to her.

“But you forgot you aren’t anymore in school right?” he asked.

“Yeah! Kind of. I also thought there is only one true love...”

“Well it depends you know who you love. There is nothing true or wrong in love...it’s always about people and the people we choose...” she mulled over what he said and he wasn’t saying anything wrong.

“Remember you asked me something?” she asked him.

“Yeah what?”

“What makes you happy Arjun?” And finally he knew what she meant.

“You really want to know?” he asked her and abruptly stopped the SUV.

“This is not the right location.” Riya said looking confused.

“They say a loyal man who’s in love can never kiss and drive at the same time.” He said with utmost honesty in his voice making her think deep as to what he really meant. And before she could register what he meant, he captured her lips, desperately getting off the seat belt. And this time she knew, he wasn’t planning on to stop. Location be damned! Her mind screamed as she realised she’s on the verge of losing all her bottled up emotions. Her hands loosened the seat belt as she felt free. Finally free as her heart taking a free fall for this man who’s kissing her senseless. Long before she had realised what she wanted. And she can say proudly she wanted him for life. There is no denial to it anymore.

“You are indeed very loyal Arjun.” She winked at him when he finally looked at her after breaking the kiss. And damn that blush. Did he ever see her blushing like this?

“You didn’t notice I said a loyal man in love Riya!”

“I noticed that too...”

“Any comments on that?”

The colours on her face took a deeper shade.

“You are not the shy type. Don’t even try that with me.” He scoffed.

“Well it’s mutual and why dear? As a human I am allowed to blush.” She asked playfully.

“Not when you look like this. Blushing should be illegal”! He said in a strained voice.

“Look like?”

“I can’t wait till we...”!

“We get to the back seat...?” and he laughed too hard with her reply. She joined in. They both laughed till their stomach hurt. Of all other things he didn’t expect such a comeback from her.

“Let’s meet at Ravens tonight", he proposed as he started the SUV.

“Sure.”

“And Riya...”!

“What Arjun?”

“Please don’t come wearing those Eiffel Tower heels of yours.”

“In one condition Arjun.”

“Condition?”

“Yeah!”

“What?”

“You will let me ride.”

“Are you sure we are talking about my bike.”

“Hell yeah.” She said and they burst into another fit of laughter. She looked at Arjun with a new found feeling after so long. A feeling that made her feel she deserve everything. He makes her feel worthy of things she didn’t think she deserve. And that made her happy. Lately she came to the realization that things don’t last forever. There is no one true love. Letting go could bring peace too. She started living in the moment. She and Arjun never promised any forever. They just remained with each other...