A/N- So, here is the one shot written for the D3 creative writing contest. It was written for the category young love and on the theme of picture number 3. This one is dedicated to all my girls. You know who you guys are. And specially dedicated to Rini who turned old recently. This one shot is to celebrate that fact. A very belated birthday gift, my dear Rinz doll.
Valentine Vexation
Valentine's Day.The day of the lovers.A day that celebrated love of every manner and variety.Even the immature kind. Sharon scoffed at the horde of boys that thronged the corridors of the school trying to hand roses into the hands of every available girl around. She personally believed that a single day to celebrate an emotion that bonded every being on the planet was insufficient. The idea was juvenile, to say the least. She saw one of the guys in the horde heading towards her a rose in each hand. She threw an icy glare enough to freeze the desperado in his track. He had somehow gathered enough courage to approach her. That will teach him not to invest his bravado in stupid things.
"Whoa. Go easy on the glower, diva. You might accidentally burn someone." came a suave retort from behind her. She turned around and sure enough, it was him. She saw him trying to hide something behind his back. Her eyes narrowed at that. She had specifically warned him not to buy her anything. But yet she could not help the small bit of anticipation building in her gut. "No, it is not a gift for you." he said in a level tone. Wait, had she spoken her thoughts out loud???? No, she was pretty sure she didn't. She tried to voice her confusion. "No, you did not say anything out loud. It's just you have quite an expressive face, my lady." His reply came before she uttered a word. She never ceased to amaze at the ease with which he read her mind. This was why she did not believe in Valentine's Day. Because the feelings she had for this guy standing in front of her, feelings that threatened to encompass and overwhelm her entire being cannot be summed up in meager words or articulated in any inconsequential date quoted by the calendars.
Swayam watched the play of emotions on her face with wonder. Over the years, he had learnt to decipher the stories her face told. She scrunched up her nose when slightly perplexed, twisted her palms, when nervous. She blinked fast, three times in a row, when lying and cocked her head to the side if surprised. But the total adoration on her face at the moment, adoration for him made his heart halt. She encapsulated the grace of a swan and the self-indulgence of a cherub in her delicate frame. He had often sought adjectives to associate her with but never found any. And this Grecian goddess was his. Completely his.
Simmi broke his trance when she skipped her way to both of them. "Heya guys, so have you decided on it?" she inquired. Sharon was thoroughly confused. What were they supposed to decide exactly? Simmi caught the confused expression on her friend's face and turned to Swayam. "You haven't told her yet?" she asked. Sharon hated being kept out of the loop. She looked towards Swayam raising an eyebrow to know exactly what they were talking about. He produced two invitation cards from behind him and handed them over to her. "These are passes to a valentine's party. It is hosted in that new joint near our school." he said while gauging her reaction. "Yeah, all of us are going. So, you guys in?" Simmi quipped. Sharon saw Swayam fixating her with a gaze. Why had he agreed to the party in the first place? He hated alcoholic infested teenage parties. "This party is going to be pretty clean. The society organizing it is pretty respectable." He again answered her thoughts before she said a word. "And moreover, I won't risk your safety like that." he added in a quiet voice. Sharon smiled at the heartfelt concern in his voice. She was quite capable of handling herself in dire situations. But yet, Swayam with his soft apprehension never failed to make her feel precious. "I know." she said hoping to convey her complete trust in him by those two words. "Fine then."Simmi said excitedly, completely unaware of the mute exchange of words between the two. "We will meet up at six at the joint."
The party, as Swayam claimed was pretty clean. The decorations and theme were classy and suited her taste but none of these held her attention. The thing that engrossed her attention completely was the figure standing beside her. With a loose fitted white shirt draping his physique and wine red chinos hugging his legs, Swayam managed to leave the girls weak kneed and slack jawed. Armed with his endearing smile, impeccable manners and aristocratic features he was a charmer through and through. Someone out of an era when chivalry reigned supreme. Swayam led Sharon to a quiet corner. He had not yet wished her a happy valentine. But then he was aware of her skepticism on this regard.
Suddenly, commotion broke out in the hall as a group of guys entered the room started smashing everything in sight. One of them got up on the podium in front and started a lecture on how Valentine's Day was a western culture. How they would not tolerate the young celebrating something brought in by the English. Through the chaos prevailing, the only thing that reigned supreme in Swayam's mind was Sharon. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, stunned at the casual rudeness with which the troublemakers were handling their peers.
Sharon had never witnessed an act more outrageous in her whole life. These self-acclaimed "moral police" that wanted to safeguard the integrity of their "culture" were treating the girls in the room with utmost disregard. Bloody hypocrites. Sharon wanted to do something... anything to teach the losers a lesson. She made a move to go towards them but a firm grip on her hand prevented her from budging. "Not now. This isn't the place or time to create a scene." he whispered in her ears. Sharon shivered as his warm breath blew on her neck. She wanted to argue but the fear in his eyes stopped her short. Fear for her well-being. He did not care two cents for what happened to him. But if a hair on her head was harmed he would be out for blood. "For once, let it go. I want to get you out of here unharmed." the pleading in his voice made her stop struggling against his grip. Swayam was never one to compromise on his ethics but he was willing to do so. She knew he would curse himself later and his conscience would trouble him for not intervening. But he was willing to fight that battle with himself for her sake.
After what seemed to be an eternity of subdued tension, the police surrounded the hall and arrested the hoodlums. They were led out onto the street as Sharon saw the cops navigating the area. All the couples were seeking comfort in each other's arms. And amidst all this he stood, a silent vigilante canvassing her form for signs of discomfort. Sharon looked into his eyes to see them downcast. His mouth turned down into a frown. "I am sorry. I ruined your valentine." he said his face ridden with guilt. Sharon could not comprehend what he was talking about. "I brought you to this party. I compromised your safety." She could not believe he was beating himself up about this. But then it was natural, was it not????
It was a reflex reaction; completely impulsive, when she pressed her lips against his. It was an effort to bring the smile back on to his face. Swayam was at a loss as she claimed his lips in a kiss, in the hub of a busy street laden with cops and people. However, none of that mattered as she combed her hands through his hair. His hands shot out to grasp her petite waist and crush her soft form to his. Their lips danced in perfect sync as he tried to hold her closer still. Her hands made patterns on his nape as he drowned in the scent of wild roses surrounding her. He bit her lips lightly to coax her into parting her lips. She sighed softly and he took the opportunity to plunge into her hot mouth. She tasted of cinnamon and coffee, he noted. The noises in the background faded to an echo as they stood there engrossed in each other.
"Ahem!!" Sharon registered a throat clearing in the back ground. She reluctantly let go of Swayam to look into the face of an elderly looking cop. "Public kissing is not allowed." Sharon felt herself flush and heard Swayam chuckle in the background. They had attracted a lot of whooping viewers, it seemed. "I am sorry. But I have to take you two in custody for the moment." the cop said apologetically.
Sharon avoided looking at Swayam's face afraid of his reaction. But she stole a glance at him as they were escoretd into the police van. His eyes twinkled as he held her gaze in a hynotic gaze.
"Valentine in a police station. You are never happy with boring normal cliches. Are you? You just have to be the show stealer with the most amusing story." For a moment Sharon thought Swayam was mocking her, but the laughing tilt to his voice and the slight upward curve in his lips assured her he was kidding.
For all the sins comprehensible to Sharon, she never thought she would find herself in police custody for this particular one. Yet sometimes the unanticipated events turn out to be the most wonderful experiences ever. Maybe valentines day was not so bad afterall, Sharon mused to herself offhandedly.
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