Happy Birthday Meera darling. 🥳 In India its 23rd already! So here it is, Rahul, as your birthday gift!! Couldn't think of anything fun, so it turned out a little contrived and boring but hey it's the thought that counts, right? 😆
Since you like to read a story written in first person (SM is fav for that reason, right?), I tried but realized soon it wasn't my cup of tea!! Hopefully you are not that disappointed!! Love you loads!🤗
My other super cute readers, this was a story written long time ago. I hope you enjoy this little (longggg and tiring??) extension. Thanks a lot for reading. Love, N. 🤗
An Update on Meera for Meera
"How can I get a C+ ? I know I didn't study that hard but history is pretty straight forward. Oh God!"
"M give it a rest. All afternoon you blabbered on and on about your C+. It's your fault. Before the test you stayed up all night and read "Breaking Dawn". You didn't at all study. So why whine now? You won't have my sympathy even if you break down and cry!" Rahul chuckled at his own witty last line, sipping his coke and rocking his chair.
I completely ignored him. How insensitive! I waited for the release of Breaking Dawn since forever and I had to read it the day it was released. He is just jealous! Sometimes his possessiveness annoys me to the core. How can he be jealous of Edward- a fictional character, a vampire?!! Uff!
"No, Meera. I. Am. Not. Jealous of that Edward of yours, if that's what you are thinking."
"Since when did you start reading minds? I thought only Edward could do that." I snapped back. "Were you listening to me at all? I have a serious problem here. This C+ is going to affect my GPA. I am applying for that Wilson Fellowship and a C+ would look really bad in my transcript! I might not get into a good grad program because of it. My whole life is in jeopardy!"
I held my head with both my hands and looked at him. There was no sign of empathy! He kept on smirking. I love his smile but now I felt like strangling him. My own stupidity and irresponsibility made me angry and his teasing smirks added fuel to the fire. I snarled at him, "You should know, I seriously hate it when you continuously go on with your stupid banters about Edward."
"There is no point in being angry with me. You should've thought about this before venturing into lala land with Edward, the night before the midterm!" Rahul's oh so cool attitude and his sultry humor nearly suffocated me with irritation! I knew I was the one in the wrong. But why can't he be sympathetic, and caring and share my sorrow about this pathetic C+?
It's really weird the way we squabble like an old married couple! All our friends tell us our understanding is surreal, we are like two pieces of a puzzle, a match made in heaven! Sometimes I think we are just too comfortable with other, like now, he has no fear of speaking his mind, never bothers to sugarcoat anything, gives it to me straight and raw even when he knows truth can be cruel and painful! Even though I make fun of guys buttering their girlfriends, going way over the top, at times like these, I feel I could use some syrupy, gluey ultra-sweet flattery from the man I love! I didn't respond to his harshness and looked away avoiding his eyes.
I could feel his eyes focused on me but I kept looking at other students throwing food at each other, joking around and a rare few who tried to study amidst such chaos. He leaned over the table and touched my hands. His hands were cold from holding his huge soda-glass filled with ice for too long but his voice had unmistakable warmth, "It will be fine M. Don't worry! Go and talk to Prof. Hubert. Ask if you can do some extra work, write a paper or something for extra credit. Also he curves the final grade. Andrew took his class last term and that's what he told me. So it will be fine. Just make sure you study hard before the final!"
I looked at him. My lips curled into a smile automatically in response to his beaming face. Yeah yeah ..I know I AM easy and it's pathetic! So much for a self proclaimed feisty feminist! All my annoyance evaporated in thin air, just like that. What can I do? A simple touch, a gentle smile or a sweet word makes my blood boil and tugs my heart. I can't help it. Why do I love him so much?
"Do you think I should go and see him?" I glanced at my watch. "It's his office hours now."
"It wouldn't hurt!" he agreed, "I will be here."
*******************
"I will think about it Meera. The whole class did poorly in this exam. If I let you write a paper for extra credit, then probably everybody would want to do so "
I couldn't conceal my disappointment and sadness. I just nodded realizing Dr. Hubert was only being fair. He smiled sympathetically, "Let me ponder over it a little. I will get back to you tonight! Okay?"
"Thank you Professor." I got out of his office. My heart sank even deeper. I felt as if the last ray of hope was taken away from me. I am a reasonably good student. This C+ is something my system is having trouble accepting. Completely dejected I slogged myself back towards the Cafeteria.
When I entered the Cafeteria, I saw Rahul and Sania laughing like crazies. I started walking toward them, and stopped seeing Sania hitting Rahul with her notebook and he held her hand in self defense, both of them laughing like maniacs. What's so funny! Why is he still holding her hand!
To be honest I didn't like Sania that much. She was the epitome of perfection, making people feel like midgets! No. I am not jealous. There is something uncanny about her. A straight A student who could easily win "Miss Universe" pageant without any effort whatsoever. I felt strange. Here I am struggling with this poor grade and a bleak future because of it, and my boyfriend who teased me about it all day is now paling with Miss Socalled Friend without any regard for my situation! Irritation burned inside me! Men! So Shallow! Can't resist pretty girls! But a part of my brain protested immediately. Uffo..Meera don't be stupid! Rahul is not like that at all. Is he really? Why is he still holding her hand and why is he smiling like that?
I went and sat on my old chair without looking at them. "Hey, how did it go?" Rahul and Sania asked in unison.
What? He told her about my grade? Oh God! This is outrageous! How can he do that? That's like stabbing me at my back! Why Rahul?
"I have to go" I declared abruptly, grabbed my backpack and rushed off. I heard Rahul's scream, "Hey M, wait up. Meeraaa, wait for me. I need to pay for the soda. What happened? Wait up!"
I ran as fast as I could. I had no control over this strange unknown emotion that engulfed me. I can't face him now! I wiped my stupid tears away and started running towards my dorm! But I realized if I go to my dorm, Rahul would be there in 5 minutes. I had to go somewhere else. I changed direction and started running toward the library. I saw a bus stopping in the bus-stand in front of me. I hopped on without thinking.
I sat at the very back. I didn't understand myself. My heart was shattered! I felt betrayed! I got off at the mall and sat at a coffee store. "How did it go" Both their voices kept on echoing in my ears! When I closed my eyes I saw them laughing, holding hands!
Oh God. I could hardly breathe. What was it that's making me this sad? I knew Rahul out and out. No. I didn't have an iota of doubt that he would ever flirt with Sania. They were just good friends. I just couldn't accept the fact that he would violate my privacy and tell Sania about my recent quandary. Any relationship started with love for sure, but the basic foundation was always mutual respect and trust. I felt let down and tears found their way down my cheeks. I ignored them. I didn't care if people stared. I was too sad to feel self-conscious.
Am I overreacting? Rahul sometimes teased me of being a drama-queen when I wanted to be cuddled and adored! But I knew deep down it was his casual approach to the whole thing. My problems didn't bother him at all and not only that, he went and shared my problems with other people without my consent. Were they laughing about me? Both of them ace in all the classes, so a C+ can be a matter of hilarity for them! I felt violated, insulted. The whole thing felt like a betrayal of my trust, my love.
I didn't know how long I sat there, I completely lost track of time. I came back to my senses when my stomach started growling. I looked at my watch. It was almost 6pm. I sighed, got up, wiped my tears and started walking toward the bus stop.
**************
I was lying on my bed in the dark! I had a terrible headache from hunger, I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I couldn't stop my tears. I felt so alone! I was angry at Rahul and strangely at the same time I wanted his hands wrapped around me.
Someone knocked on my door. Oh no, I can't talk to the girls who lived next door and listen to their boring rant about their boyfriends now. I didn't move hoping they would go away. But the knock persisted. "Meera open the door. I know you are inside. Please M? I want to talk to you. Please open the door!"
So he is here. Okay, I guess I should give him a chance to explain. I wiped my tears away, opened the door and stood aside to let him in. He was there with a pizza box. He wasn't smiling; kept on staring at me intently. "Hi M"
I didn't say anything, went sat on my bed. He came and sat in front of me, took my hand and kissed it, "Why did you run away? What happened? Did Hubert say something bad?" His voice had so much love and concern; tears welled in my eyes again.
I shook my head. It's happening again. I have no self respect! Gosh!! Each time he touched me I melted like ice-cream. My heart and head both sided with him, as if he had bribed them somehow. It was so not fair! I tried my best to hold on to my speedily fading anger and sadness, and looked down avoiding his gaze.
"Hey M, won't you tell me what's bothering you?" his soothing hypnotic voice made me even weak. "Well I have several hypotheses myself."
This is interesting. I sighed. "Why do you think I ran away?" I said finally, trying my best to prevent my tears from rolling down.
He smiled and rubbed his thumb over my chin. "Hypothesis number one, you thought Sania and I were secretly dating. But I ruled this out, because you know me better than that. I wouldn't be able to love anyone else even if I tried real hard and you know that very well. So that wasn't it."
"The second possibility, Prof. Hubert said something horrible. But I ran into Sam, Sam Deker, who is taking History with you. He went to see Hubert too and the Prof. decided he would have everybody write a paper and curve this midterm. So things are good there too."
Really! OMG OMG. I was so relieved but I was determined not to let Rahul off the hook so easily. So I stayed quiet and looked down at my hands idly laying on my lap entwined in his.
He continued, "Then I hit the wall. Couldn't find any reason why you would be mad at me and ignore me for this long. You always cling on to me." He smirked, "Well I am not complaining about that! It had to be something big. You even turned off your cell. Then it occurred to me. You thought I told Sania about your little C+ problem! This had to be the reason. Am I right?"
"Well, did you tell her?" I demanded coldly.
He started laughing. "Just as I thought! No, I didn't tell her about your grade. When she asked me where you were, I told her, you were auditioning for Bella's part in the next school drama. I made it up but she bought it. I didn't know that Sania was a serious Twilight junkie too. She was so anxious to try out for that part, she stayed back to know if you got it. When I told her Edward was a staid child molester because he was, what, a 110 year old haggard manipulating the minds of a 17 year old; she got so furious, she started hitting me with her notebook. You came back at that very moment." He paused, gazed into my eyes, held my face with both his hands and added, "Now since all that is out and cleared, can you smile please now and say sorry to me?"
I AM such a stupid fool! I looked at him. He was smiling his gorgeous smile. I smiled back, embraced him tightly and hid my face in his shoulder. Oh! I hated being angry at him. I felt his hands grabbing a lock of my hair and kissing it. I felt euphoric; my ears suddenly emitted hot air. I tightened my embrace around his shoulder and whispered "I am sorry. I didn't know what got into me. I was stressed and just jumped to conclusions I guess. I am sorry Rahul."
"Apology accepted! Now eat! You haven't eaten anything all day and were probably moping somewhere like a baby." He caressed my hair and kissed my forehead. It felt like home being in his arms! He squeezed my nose, opened the pizza box and picked up a slice close to my lips. I took a small bite while he continued with a serious face, "I missed you M and it really hurts when I know you are hurting. It hurts even more when I can't do anything about it or when I know I am the one causing you pain. Don't ever run away from me, okay?" I beamed at him. My stomach growled yet again. "Oops!" We both laughed. Rahul fed me as I leaned on him! I was the happiest girl on earth again!
"M, about my first hypothesis." I cut him off mid sentence, "What about your first hypothesis?" Now that things are back to normal, I knew he would start his bantering, this had to be about Sania and my stupidity!
"Tell me honestly, you weren't jealous a little bit, a tineey weeny bit?"
"No."
"Hmmm. Why? Shouldn't you feel a little possessive about me? Girls do like me, you know! Most people think I am good looking and charming!"
"Who? Nobody is that stupid! You can be adorable and charming, true, but you are quite stingy about it! And honestly you are not that great, you tease me 24/7, never flatter me, never shower me with compliments. No girl would put up with you." I continued to eat my pizza. He seemed to be lost in thought about his grim prospect of finding another girl, but he was struggling to keep his face straight and not burst out laughing. He was such a bad actor!
"Do you worry about me Rahul? What if you found me laughing and fighting with a guy. How would you feel?"
"You? With another guy? You are too boring M, no one would date you. I helplessly tolerate your feminist mumbo jumbo, and your super organized, minutely planned idealist view of life. What can I do? My weird brain finds those irresistibly cute! So no I am not at all worried about real men. But to be honest I do get a little jealous about Edward. I know its stupid but can't help it."
What a confession! I started laughing, "Why?"
"I don't know. When you talk about him, you do it with so much passion, your eyes gleam with excitement. You waited for Breaking Dawn as if it was a secret love letter from a lover in exile! You went to the bookstore at midnight to get your copy and read all night! I don't like it if something else is that important to you. What is so special about him? I don't get it!"
"Rahul, you are so delectable! Yumm" I giggled and pinched his cheeks. "Hmm..lets see…Edward is a sweet heart, he takes care of Bella as if she is the most delicate and fragile being in the world. He is a true romantic at heart who treats her with utmost respect and makes her feel special all the time. He is like the dream come true boy friend!" It dawned on me Rahul and Edward had so much in common, no wonder I love them both so much!
I looked at him and he was listening to me but his mind was somewhere else. He is such a baby! "Rahul", I touched his face and made him look into my eyes, "Remember long time ago I told my India Forum friends, you were better than Sharad, better than Edward? Well, I meant it. You are the one for me. Okay? Happy now?"
He flashed his teeth at me and hugged me so tight I couldn't breathe. I realized I didn't mind for a second that we were like an old married couple. We had the magic, the love and we were best friends. I ruffled his hair and winked at him "But just because I love you doesn't mean that you can tease me all the time! You should pamper me more often; otherwise I might run away again!"
"Pamper you? Like how?" before I could answer, my lips were sealed by his. My world started to quake, the room became blurry, and there were fireworks everywhere. I wanted time to stop and wrapped my hands around his shoulder. He let me free and whispered in my ears, "How am I doing?"
"Ummm" I couldn't find words, all my sensory powers were satiated with joy and delight and my neurons were too languid to respond.
"Not good? Hmmmm…How about this?" he smiled mischievously and started tickling me all of a sudden. I jumped up, my reverie ended in a flash! Between my uncontrollable laughter and quivering and vain efforts to stop his hands, I begged "Rahul please no, Rahul..please.."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
