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Chapter 15

We both headed to the workshop early and started the long day. I was so glad when we got the 1 hour lunch break, I needed it badly. I saw Virat waiting for me by the canteen and walked over to him quickly, hugging him tightly. "Alright drama queen, let's get your ice-cream," he said sarcastically. We were back to being just best friends and teasing each other the entire day. He had made fun of me all week for my dress up. I had no time in the morning to match and just threw something on; he had said something about my dressing almost every day.

"Manvi, we should just grab a sandwich today, you look exhausted," he said putting a strand of hair behind my ears as we left for the day. I nodded my head, "yeah that's probably better, we have so much reading for tonight, ugh," I said remembering the 150 pages of case studies we were given to read through.

"Can I have two barbeque chicken sandwiches," I asked the lady when we reached the sandwich place.

"Barbeque, Manvi I wanted buffalo, you know I like spicy food," he said making a face at me.

"Yes and I also know that spicy food gives you ulcers," I retorted immediately glaring at him.

"Please," he started

"The answer is no, you can stop even thinking about it," I said not even letting him finish his thought.

"ugh I guess this is what I get for choosing a doctor as my life partner," he said sulking

"Toh jau na, who is forcing you to stay, kisi Bollywood actrees doond ke lau, Deepkia lau ka Katrina," I said mocking him.

He was about to retort when the waitress brought our sandwiches. He ate it quietly knowing there was no use arguing with me now. I was so happy these past few days that I thought nothing would come in the way. I talked to mummy later that night and unfortunately all my happiness twisted into tears as soon as I hung up the phone. Papa had lost his job. I lost all composure and hung up the phone crying. I didn't want to go back out in the living room because I knew Virat would ask me questions that I wouldn't be able to lie to. To my horror I heard him knock on the door and walk in to see me on the bed curled up and crying. He immediately rushed to my side, "Manvi, are you ok?" he asked pulling me up in a comforting embrace.

I nodded my head yes and wiped my tears, "I am fine Virat, tum jau, I will be out in a couple of minutes ok," I said heading to the bathroom. I felt his tight grip on me.

"are you sure, is everything ok with Uncle and Aunty, I know you just got off the phone with her," he asked still trying to get it out of me.

"Virat, honestly I am fine, please stop worrying. Give me a minute and I will be out," I said wiggling myself out of his grasp.

"Ook, let me know if you need anything, we have a lot of reading to still finish, come out soon ok," he was still worried, I would tell from his tone.

I rushed out of the bathroom quickly so he wouldn't suspect anything and tried to focus on the readings but all I could think about was papa. My eyes filled up reading a story about a patient that was sick but had no job to get treatment, I immediately thought of papa and my tears cascaded down my cheeks as I put the paper down. Virat immediately looked up hearing me sniffle and pulled me in his arms.

"are you sure you are ok Manvi, you are really scaring me now,"

"kuch nahi Virat, I am fine" I said trying to hide it again.

"I can help Uncle find another job; I know about his company, I really wanted to hear the truth from you though."

The last part of his sentence, he sounded so hurt. I looked up to see him with his chin on my head. "I really love you Manvi, I trust you to tell me these things when I go back to India. You know, after this week, I won't see you for a whole year. You have to be able to tell me these things; otherwise, how else are we going to keep up our relationship."

I thought long and hard about his words and sighed placing my hand on his chest, my head was still rested there too, "I am sorry Virat, I should have told you. I just didn't know how you would react. You have this empire business in India that Uncle owns, and papa just works at this small one. ," He stopped me immediately.

"Don't you dare get into this conversation ever again Manvi. Do you really think that I care that Uncle doesn't own his own business and dad does. That could be the least of my worries. For god sakes you have been crying since he got home and you didn't even think to tell me just because you thought Uncle had a lower position in his job than me. What did you think I was going to say, "oh Uncle just had that small job, he deserved to lose the job, my dad has a better business anyway,". He sounded mad now, his tone of voice made me feel so guilty. I got up crying again and ran into my room before he could stop me. I was laid on my bed still crying when he came in again. I heard him sigh seeing my state. He sat down trying to initiate conversation. I turned away immediately, ugh what was he doing here still. "Virat leave me alone, I get it, I don't know a thing about relationships," I said still remembering his words from earlier.

"I shouldn't have yelled Manvi, please maaf kardo." He was holding his ears now pouting.

I sighed and hugged him tightly, he was leaving in five days and here I was trying to push him away, "you sacred me, please don't yell at me again," I said sounding like a baby probably.

He sighed, "I promise, never again. Manvi, I just want you to understand that uncle and dad's salary difference has nothing to do with my love for you. I am always here for you and you don't ever have to feel alone ok. I wanted to talk to you about a job I found for Uncle. I came here with a proposal for starting a business too, dad wanted me to speak to some lawyers. I was going to talk to them this weekend but I want Uncle should open it; it would be the perfect opportunity for him to begin his own business. You know he has such a big background in computers, and he has his MBA too. It's not his fault he lost the job Manvi, his company could have done something a long time back and the managers let it collapse. Can I talk to him about this, only if you feel comfortable," he asked cupping my face.

"how do you always manage to make me feel better," I asked utterly confused at how quick I felt assured by his words.

He chuckled and brushed his shoulders off like a celebrity, "yeh to Virat ka kamal hai," he said dramatically.

I slapped his chest playfully, "acha bachu, Virat ka kamal, how many other girls have you flirted with saying this line," I said making a face at him.

"are honge yaar 5 ya 10 hazaar ladikyan, they used to die over my looks," he shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing. "ab kya kare you are the only monkey that my heart managed to fall in love with," he added smirking.

I glared at him, "MONKEY, rukho tum," I chased him around the entire room before we both landed on the bed laughing like little kids. "you feeling better, you look so pretty smiling" he said caressing my cheeks. I finally caught on to what he was trying to do.

"I love you Virat," I said realizing that this entire conversation was just a trick to get me to forget about Papa. "You can call him and ask about the business thing but I am really not sure how comfortable he will be taking your idea," I said worried. He kissed my gaal and rested me back on his chest, "I promise, I won't do anything without making sure he is completely comfortable," he said looking off in the distance apprehensively. He was worried about something else, I could tell by how tense his body was.

"Virat what's wrong, why are you so tense," I asked pulling myself out of his embrace.

"I won't get to spend much time with you if I go back home with you. I have an open ticket so I can go back whenever from whichever airport I want, but I wanted to spend some time with you alone before I left," he said pulling me even closer like I was going to disappear.

"we have the entire week together Virat, and Papa will need some help. Just remember as long as you do this for me, I will stay happy. One year will go by in no time and we will be together again," I said, my tears betraying my own words. He felt the tears and closed his eyes, "I am going to miss you so much Manvi, I don't know if I will be able to survive this," he said like he was contemplating on even going back.

"Virat, you have to go back, remember your first priority is to have a stable career so you can ask papa for my hand," I said confidently trying to be stronger for him. He nodded his head and kissed my hand sighing, "one more year and we will be together forever," he said cradling me in his arms like his long lost treasure. We stayed like that for a couple minutes before I finally broke the ice.

I stared at him for such a long time, "Virat how do you know all this about business? I thought you didn't like it?" I asked curiously

He chuckled, "Manvi I have an MBA too you know, business is something that I was good at but just really not interested in," he replied.

"and medicine is something you are?" I asked unbelievingly

"hey I like medicine, why are you being so suspicious about that," he acted offended and it just made me laugh.

"Virat, you sat there staring at me the entire day and you claim to like medicine, you are a nutcase," I replied giggling. He tackled me down on the bed and was now on top of me.

Oh my god, his gaze was so piercing. "Ok, so I was distracted today. You know what, I can't work when you look so pretty all day, it just doesn't add up," he said pulling me closer in his arms. I was melting minute by minute and he wasn't making it any easier. Focus Manvi Focus I kept telling myself.

"nice try mister, you made fun of my dressing all week so far, you expect me to believe that you actually think I looked pretty?" I said mocking him from all of this week. I tried distracting myself but it wasn't working at all, my eyes lingered on his lips and I remembered our kiss from yesterday. A tint of pink took over my cheeks as I took a deep breath trying to control my emotions while he retorted back.

"I mean if Deepika Padukone was there it would be so much better, but I guess I can deal with you too," he said knowing that I would get jealous.

I glared at him, "acha to jau apni Deepika ke paas, she will cook and take care of you," I said trying to wiggle out of his arms. I felt him hold my shoulder down and lift my chin up to his eye level, "but she doesn't have your heart Manvi, I wouldn't be happy with her or anyone else because they will be missing the purity and innocence that you have," he said cupping my face. I leaned in closer to him and placed both hands around his neck. His lips were on mine in no time. This kiss was so different from the one yesterday. It was so much more spontaneous, so passionate. I felt his hands feel me down to my waist and pull me closer as he rolled over on top of me giving soft kisses on my neck. I bit my lip from moaning but I finally couldn't control it anymore and let out a soft moan of his name. He immediately got off me and raked his fingers through is hair, "woh, I'm sorry, I just got carried away," he said looking ashamed at what he did. I got up and hugged him from behind, "tumhe haq hai," I said smiling. He smiled back and caressed my cheeks, "pata hai, yeh haq sirf mera hai, lekin shaadi ke baad," he said placing his head on my lap. "I really am going to miss you Manvi, you promise to call me every day? When you left India, I waited every day for your calls and you never called like you promised," I looked down and saw his eyes, they had this childlike innocence, it was like he was a little child that was promised something and then never given it. "Virat, I didn't know what to do with my emotions, I promise this time you will get your phone calls," I said playing with his hair. He sighed, "you paaka promise right, otherwise I will get on the next flight back here and stay with you," he said pouting. "No you will not, Virat you need to finish school, I can wait till next year, wapas aaugi to maar khaugi," I said sternly. He nodded his head, "ok ok baba, nahi aaungi. Ab chalo, I think we should at least read one of those case studies properly, we still have 130 of nonsense to read" he said making a face at the pile in the living room. "says the guy that loves medicine, it's his so called passion," I said reminding him of his words earlier.

"I said medicine was my passion not reading," he retorted picking up one of the packets.

"Case studies are very important, you can't really learn without them. So just out of curiosity are you going to try to become a doctor without even reading the patients background and symptoms," I said acting completely shocked. I bolted for my life running around the living room as he came after me for that joke. He finally caught up to me and tickled me until I finally gave up.

"Focus, tumhara passion hai na, you should love reading all these technical case studies" I said still giggling.

After a while we finally began studying. Every time I got tired he made a ridiculous joke and I did the same for him. We stayed up all night just laughing and studying for tomorrow. He really opened my eyes to love. I used to think that love was just a way to openly romance 24/7 and that's why I had always stayed away from it. Being with Virat made me realize, love doesn't have to just be romance, it can be laughing about the stupidest things, or just being there for someone that you care about, it was a feeling that came from the heart. My heart fluttered with all these thoughts and I fell into a deep sleep still wrapped in his arms, feeling safe, warm and most important of all loved.