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*Flashbacks are in Italic
"No..not this one. This is too big. I told you, I want something special!", exclaimed Arjun Mehra. The salesgirl stared at him for a moment and then turned her helpless look towards the man who was standing behind Arjun. His personal assistant, Neil Malhotra.
"Sir,", Neil laid his hand on Arjun's shoulder, who looked at him with a frown on his face, "What?", asked Arjun.
Clearing his throat, Neil said, "Sir, you are confusing Miss Sakshi, here.", he pointed at the sales girl, "please specify what kind of ring do you want and for what purpose."
Arjun sighed and then closed his eyes, even with his closed eyes he could see her, crystal clear. Smiling at him, sometimes teasing but all the time loving.
Arjun smiled, his earlier irritation vanishing, "I need a promise ring.", he declared, "A platinum band that has a chocolate rock in the middle. Can you do that please? I need in asap."
The sales-girl, Sakshi sighed in relief, thanking Neil silently with a nod. "Okay sir, your ring will be ready by next Monday. I hope that's okay with you."
"Yeah, next Monday, hhmm..okay, but if possible try making it ready sooner. I need it very soon because I need to fulfil a promise that I made years ago.", Arjun smiled one last time and after doing the necessary payments, he and Neil walked out of the jewellery store.
"Ahem..excuse me sir!", said Neil.
"Yes?"
"Sir, I wanted to ask it before but never did, but now I am totally curious. What promise were you talking about? Who's that lucky girl?"
Arjun chuckled and replied, "I am the lucky one Neil, it's because of her that I am here. Everybody loves the young, successful entrepreneur Arjun Mehra, but she's the only one who loved Arjun. The real me."
"Sir, if you don't mind can you please tell me about your story. I mean..if you don't mind."
"Oh come on", Arjun threw his arm around Neil's shoulder and started telling, "It started 14 years ago, when I was 16 and in school..."
"Hey dude!", Arjun bumped fists with his friends who were chatting in the parking lot.
"So what's up? Heard that a new chick is coming? Rumours are she's hot! As in hot hot!", Daksh, one of Arjun's friend commented.
"Really! She might be like those bimbos!", shrugged Arjun.
"Naw...she's a real beauty, oh see there she is..", Nikhil pointed at someone.
Arjun looked into the direction, Nikhil's finger was pointing and saw a girl standing there. She was dressed in the school uniform, navy blue colored plated skirt, cream white shirt and belle flat style shoes. She had her back facing Arjun.
Arjun tilted his head, trying to see the girl's face but couldn't. Luck was with him today as the girl herself turned around, making herself a sight for Arjuns' sore eyes.
"Wow!", Arjun whispered. He was awe-struck by the girl's beauty. She was angelic and innocent like a baby. They weren't rumours, they were just plain truth. The new girl was indeed beautiful and hot, in a natural way.
"Told ya!", Daksh slapped his back.
"So you were a goner at the first sight!", Neil commented but when he realised what he had said, he immediately apologized, "Sorry sir that was just.."
"It's okay. You said the truth only. Indeed I was a goner, she was, no..she is a real beauty after-all."
"So, what's her name by the way?"
"Radhika.", Arjun sighed, sounding utterly and completely in love.
"So you asked her out, or something?"
"Only if she talked back!", grinned Arjun, "She used to be shy and quiet, never the talkative one. Whenever I tried to talk to her, it will appear as if I was having a one-sided conversation."
"So how did you..uumm you know?"
"I started following her!"
"What!"
"Yes, it might sound a bit stalker-ish, but nevertheless, I followed her around, grabbing every opportunity to talk to her. Never left her side.", Arjun chuckled, "and one day, she had to reply back!"
Neil narrowed his eyes at Arjun, as he chuckled and continued..
"Why are you following me?", Radhika asked. Her tone had the tint of frustration in it.
"Then why don't you talk to me?", shrugged Arjun.
"What do you want?"
"Just friendship. Can't we be friends?"
"I don't do friendship with boys!"
"I haven't had a girl friend before.", Arjun said. Radhika stared at him open-mouthed and then Arjun realised what he had said, "Sorry I meant a girl as a friend. Friend only."
"Nothing more?"
"No nothing!"
"Okay..", said Radhika and now it was Arjun who stood open-mouthed. "What? Just like that?"
"See, every guy who tried to talk to me wanted something from me, that I don't want to get indulge in. But you asked for friendship only, so here we are friends!", Radhika held out her hand.
Arjun grinned the cheesiest grin possible. He shook hands with Radhika and said, "Friends!"
"Ahaan, done with the first stage already! So when did you propose her. Did she agree or broke your friendship?"
"It happened after 2 years of our friendship. I was done with school and had to go to college and she still had one year left. She was helping with the farewell party decorations, I proposed her there, in the school ground, in front of half of the school."
"Really?"
Radhika was tying the balloons together, forming a balloon cluster when Arjun came, he had his hands behind his back. Radhika, when saw him, smiled brightly and gestured his to come forward.
"Look here comes the would-be college guy!", she tried to kiss his cheek but Arjun backed a step.
Radhika frowned and asked, "Arjun! What's wrong? You look nervous."
"I..", Arjun stuttered. He clenched the four leafed clover bouquet that he was hiding behind his back.
"Arjun?"
"Radhika, I knew you wanted just friendship and even after 2 years you are content with it, but I am not!", said Arjun and Radhika just stared at him. "I want more Radhika, I want more of you, more of us."
"Arjun..", Radhika whispered.
"I know that after this I might lose our friendship but if I'll not say it now, I won't be able to live with it..Radhika..", Arjun bent on his one knee and continued, "I like you, like you a lot. Will you please be mine? Mine girlfriend?"
Radhika's eyes widened and her lips started quivering. Arjun closed his eyes and started mind-chanting, "Please don't say no. Say yes please!" And after two minutes of wait, he heard her whisper;
"Yes!", Arjuns's eyes flew open and he stared at Radhika, who was smiling brightly at him. "Yes?", he asked.
"Yes.", she nodded. Arjun laughed and stood up straight. Handing the bouquet to Radhika, he hugged her tight and twirled her around.
"You picked my favourites! Thank you!"
"I love doing things that make you smile, and I'll never stop doing that!", Arjun sighed and buried his head in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent.
"Wow! That was cool! So what happened next?", asked Neil.
Arjun smiled, a bit sadly and then said, "Those were the best days of my life. We were girlfriend boyfriend now, officially. But then, I had to leave."
"Leave? Why?"
"After one year at college, I got scholarship to study here in NYU. I was happy, really, that was my dream after-all. But guess what, priorities did changed. I wanted to go, but then I didn't wanted to leave too."
Arjun and Radhika were lying together on the grass. Radhika had her arms around Arjun's waist and Arjun was caressing her hair.
"This is your dream Arjun! You should go."
"You want me gone?"
Radhika raised her head from his chest and said, "No, I don't. But your dream is equally important. And your dream is mine dream too!"
"But I don't want to leave you here! I won't be able to live without you!", exclaimed Arjun.
Radhika sighed and cupped his cheek, "I know, and even I won't be able to live without you. But you had leave honey. You'll come back right?"
"But still.."
"No! You have to go. Fulfil your dream, for you, for your parents, for me.", Radhika smiled and kissed his forehead.
"Fine.", Arjun sighed.
"But promise me, you'll come back for me. I'll be waiting for you!", Radhika raise her hand and bend her pinky finger in form of a hook.
"Promise!", Arjun smiled, and hooked his pinky finger with hers. Sealing the promise with their hooked fingers.
"I love you Arjun!"
"Love you too, honey!"
"And that's how, I came here! 11 years before, I came here, in New York, to study. After studying for the next 4 more years, I started my internship here, at The Robinsons. After my internship I started my own business, and see after 7 years I am here, successful but still incomplete.", Arjun smiled pointing at him.
"You never called her in all these years? Never tried to contact her?", asked Neil.
"Nope. That was a part of our promise. We won't contact each other, because if we did we won't be able to stop from meeting each other and you know the things would have turned differently."
"I understand", smiled Neil.
"So now, I am going back! To fulfil my earlier made promise and with the new promise ring, i am going to make a new promise to her!"
"What promise?"
"Of never leaving her again!", Arjun smiled and Neil nodded in approval.
"Radhika!!", yelled Radhika's mother.
"What?", asked Radhika.
"Why did you reject the proposal? That boy was perfect for you!"
"Mom, I had told you before, I won't marry anyone else than Arjun!"
"Not that boy again! I am telling you, he destroyed your life!", he mother chastised.
"Mom please. Arjun never breaks a promise. I know he'll come back!", said Radhika, wiping the single tear that flowed down her cheek. Traitor.
"Honey..", Radhika's mother sighed and sat beside her, "It's been 14 years darling. Are you sure he'll come back. I just don't want you to be left alone sweetheart. You know I love you, and am worried for you."
Radhika took her mother's hand in hers and said, "I know Mom, and I know Arjun too. Believe me he'll come back."
"Okay, just 2 months more, after that you have to marry the guy I chose for you! Okay."
Radhika just smiled and walked out of the house. She went to the lakeside and stood staring at nothing in particular. Hugging herself, she rubbed her arms when she heard him.
"I was hoping you'll come here! It's been out favourite spot after-all."
Radhika turned around, she could feel her heart bursting with immense joy, "Arjun?", she whisper-asked.
There in front of her stood Arjun with the cutest grin on his face. He nodded in positive and opened his arms for Radhika.
Radhika ran towards him and hugged him tightly with all the might she could muster."You came!" she cried happily.
"I did.", Arjun hugged her back, more tightly. He kissed her head and said, "I had to. Hadn't I promised you?"
"Love you so much Arjun!"
"I know.", Arjun pulled back but still had his arms around her waist.
"I know Radhika, it's been 14 years that we last saw each other. Things may have changed but my love for you haven't. I still love you as I used to."
"I love you too, more than before." Radhika smiled and pecked his lips lightly. But Arjun was in no mood to leave her soon. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately. Their lips melded in perfection, and the tremors of love shook their insides. There was no need to light the sparks and the love, Arjun and Radhika shared was already sparkling.
Radhika broke the kiss, but Arjun still pecked her few times, before finally pulling back.
"I brought you something."
"What?"
Arjun took out the navy blue velvet box and opened it in front of her. There in the box rested the platinum ring that had the chocolate rock in the middle. The promise ring.
"Radhika..", he held her hand and slide the ring in her finger, "This is a promise ring. It represents the promise I am now making to you."
"What promise?", Radhika asked, rubbing her new ring lovingly.
"The promise, to never leave you again!"
Radhika smiled and kissed Arjun again.
"I love you Arjun!"
"Love you too, honey!"
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