Part 2

2 years ago

The.Wanderer

@The.Wanderer

She just stood there smiling like an idiot. Vibha's heart was hammering. She couldn't believe that Rohan, her best friend had just asked her out on a date. Her legs felt like jelly. When she managed to find some balance, she staggered to the sofa and fell on it. She managed to calm her racing heart finally. Still it fluttered every time she thought about how Rohan had looked at her when he said goodbye. 

Rohan had the most perfect eyes. Round, and looked naturally curious. His demeanor was such that he could make anyone feel special. Whenever he spoke with someone, it seemed like he had eyes only for them. Whenever he smiled, it seemed like he was smiling for her. When he laughed, his eyes lit up. 

One wink from him would send her heart fluttering. And one smile made her weak in the knees. He was gentleman. Polite, courteous, friendly. 

When she first met him, she thought this behaviour was flirty. But as she grew closer to him, she found out that's who he was. Always. It wasn't a mask to impress girls. 

His voice would make anyone's heart flutter. First time she met him, she heard him before he came in front of her. Thinking that he was alone, he was singing a song softly. 

She was there quite accidentally. For a moment her heart stopped beating and then continued at an accelerated pace. He had a melodious voice. And it was driving her crazy. Unable to take it anymore she rounded the corner, there he stood with his back to her. 

She had tapped him on his shoulder once and he had jumped. She had complimented him on his singing and he had smiles genuinely. One smile and her heart was lost forever. 

Next day she realised that they both were working on the same team in the office and while office romance was not exactly forbidden, it did spoil the team dynamics. She had seen too many fallouts to risk this herself. To make matters worse, she was promoted to being the team leader and project head effectively making her Rohan's immediate boss. 

She wasn't sure how he would react to a female leader, but he took it sportingly enough. Although they had same work experience, she was his senior in this firm. He proved to be an eager and quick learner. They developed a beautiful friendship and as it grew, she pushed her little crush back. Their friendship was far too precious for her to risk making her crush her priority. 

Rohan steadily grew in the firm. Soon their project was completed and Rohan was transferred to another project. This time as the project head. Vibha was assigned another project to lead. Even as they got busier, their friendship grew stronger. 

A few months ago, he had started talking about this beautiful crush of his and how he didn't have courage enough to make the move. Each time he spoke, Vibha would feel a pang of jealousy. Although she kept her expressions under control, her hands would ball into fists. She contemplated expressing her feelings many times and but each time she chickened out. 

Finally Rohan had mustered up the courage to ask his crush out. It turned out he wanted to ask her out. Duh! All the heart burn over the past few months over his "super secret, super beautiful crush" was for nothing. She now realised that she was envying herself all this while. 

"Silly," she smacked herself on her head. 

Just then her doorbell rang and she was brought back to the reality. Seeing Rohan standing outside sudden panic siezed her. What if the proposal was a prank? Rohan wouldn't play such a cruel prank on her, a firm voice in her head said. 

But as they say, fears are irrational. And hence once again her heart was hammering, but for a vastly different reason. With trembling fingers she opened the door. 

"Hey!" Rohan's voice always made her feel like melting. But today it sounded extra enticing. 

Despite her fears, she blushed. 

"Hi," she replied. 

"Just wanted to hear your voice again," Rohan told her and that sent her heart fluttering again. 

"Oh," she mustered to say. 

"What! Vibs, say something," Rohan exclaimed. 

"What?" she questioned him. 

"Anything," he replied. 

She looked away, unable to meet his eyes. 

"Hey now don't go all shy and hesitant on me. I am still the same Rohan you always bully."

"No," she whispered. "You are MY Rohan now."

"Oooh someone's getting possessive," Rohan teased her. 

"Yes," she replied. 

"Can I come in?" he asked. 

She realised that they were still in the rdoor and she stepped aside to let him in. He went and settled on the sofa and patted the seat beside her. She say beside him, still rather pink in face.  

"How long have you fancied me?" His question startled her. 

"Umm pretty much since we met," she confessed. 

" Ghosh! What an idiot I am!" Rohan exclaimed. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"Because I didn't want to spoil what we already had," she replied. 

"I see."

"When did you realise...?" She trailed off leaving the question hanging. 

"Since very early on in our friendship," he confessed. "All those talks about this beautiful crush of mine? They were to incite a reaction out of you. But to no avail. The only indicator that they bothered you were the way your eyes flashed everytime this crush was mentioned. You have very expressive eyes, you know."

He was looking into her eyes and her heart was merrily fluttering away. 

"What brings you back?" she asked. 

"I wanted to see you again. To hear your voice again," he replied. 

"Well..." she began. "Well now that you have accomplished that, you may leave."

Rohan was startled to hear this. She had lost some of her intial shyness and he could she was almost back to normal save for the redness of her cheeks. He was even more startled when she yanked him to his feet and shoved him towards the door. 

"Hey! I had more respect as your best friend," he complained. 

"I need to have food and then sleep," told him as she diposited him outside her door. 

"Okay. Bye then. See you tomorrow," he promised. 

" Bye." 

She was about to shut the door when he turned his cheek towards her. 

"One for the road?" he requested. 

She looked around and saw that there was no one around. She quickly pecked him on the cheek. 

"Haye! One more for good luck?" He turned his other cheek to her and she shoved him and closed the door.

Both were laughing by then.