|| PART 1 ||
A few years ago in a college bar in a small university town, Manvi's POV
Buy all of the things I never had
Uh, I wanna be on the cover of... Forbes magazine
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
"Wow, man! Talk about being drunk and happy in tipsy-land." Rinky my girl friend comments looking at the guy on the stage.
His eyes gleamed with a strange delight was his friends were cheering up for him. He must be around 21-22. He was wearing a pale blue shirt and white pants and he looked like he'd been partying for a while now. His shirt was untucked with an open neck and he was singing the song like he really meant it. He was holding the mike in one of his hands he raises his other hand in air as he was gently tapping his foot on the ground.
It was karaoke night at starbusters, the college club of the university. And it was jam packed as tomorrow is the start of classes.
"He is kinda hot though." Swetha remarked raising her eyes to check him out - That means a lot. Swetha is a no-nonsense kind of girl. She is beautiful, smart and knows what she wants from life. She doesn't take shit from anyone. And looks don't do much to her.
"Really?" I looked up the guy of the stage again. The first thing that catches my attention is his smile and the way his eyes had a tiny spark in them.
"He is ok." I tell Swetha.
He was actually pretty fricking hawt. But, I didn't say it out loud. Because they will tease me with this guy whose name even we didn't know, till the end of time. I am not kidding. They still tease me with the guy I had my high school crush on -Cooper. Obviously because, that was the only time I had feelings for opposite sex. I had never gone out with him nor did I never even talk with him. Well, except for this time when it was raining and he offered to drop me home just out of a basic humanity towards a lonely girl on a dark deserted road - it was nothing. But, that was my closest interaction with boys, period.
Swetha says I am a dreamy girl and I am terribly delusional because of all the romantic novels I read and all the romantic movies I watch. She has more experience than me in relationships department and all her experience made her deduce one single fact and she keeps saying it over and over again - GUYS NEED SEX AND GIRLS NEED ROMANCE.
Could things get any more crude? - Sorry, but I humbly disagree.
When I was riding home with Cooper that night, I had felt my heart race. The stars in the sky were brighter and the wind that was blowing through my hair had some strange magic in it - it made my skin all tingly.
When he stopped his car in front of my house, I hadn't even notice that we had arrived or the fact that my parents standing in the lawn waiting for me. My whole brain was focused on making the time stop and freezing the moment. I must have fumbled to open the stupid door atleast ten times, before I managed to climb out of the car.
And when he said bye, that single three letter word was like a death sentence to me - it broke my heart.
Two years later, when I ran into him, he had asked me out at that time. Apparently, he had heard from my friend's friend's brother's friend that I had a crush on him. Weird thing - I didn't feel the same anymore. In short, the 'moment' was gone.
So, even though, I don't have a lot of experience with boys, I really think that love is a matter of heart. Matters of heart are to be left to our heart and we should just wait - wait for that right moment, to meet the right person and seize that day.
Carpe diem!
Alright, maybe I am being dramatic - a tad bit anyway, but I really felt all those things. And, I feel that is how it is supposed to be. I looked at the guy on the stage once again. There is like a strange pull towards him. I mean guys are usually good-looking or plain-looking. I haven't really experienced this pull in a long time ever - never after Cooper anyway. What is it about this guy?
Oh everyyy time I close my eyes...
I see my name in shining lights...
A different city every night oh ...
I swear the world better prepare ...
For when I'm a billionaire!!!!!!
Oh oooh oh oooh for when I'm a Billionaire
Oh oooh oh oooh for when I'm a Billionaire
Oh boy!
~~~
On the other side of the bar, Virat's POV
"That was pretty good. Are you trying to get laid? with my roommate?" my brother asks me as I come off the stage to a huge around of applause.
I just smirked at him.
"No you didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Viren looks at me shocked. "Tell me you didn't!" He asks still reeling. Me and Viren's roommate Stephnie totally rocked it last night. By the way, where is she? I hope she is not around. Don't really want to see her before I start back to New York. Awkward!
"Ok. We didn't" I smiled looking away.
"Why, how? What is it with you and girls?" my brother dramatically bangs the bar counter we were sitting at.
"I am a genuine guy." I shrugged.
"You are a f**king stray dog." he retorts.
"Woah brother! That was pretty harsh. Is that jealously I smell?"
"f**k off!"
"Tell you what. Let's get you laid today. I am going to be your wing man! How about that?"
"Oh puhlease! You are not going to use that as a cover-up to launch our own parachute."
"You don't think very much of me, do you?" I ask Viren who almost passed out. His head hit the bar and I think it is time to order the last drink of tonight.
"Let's get you home brother. I think we have had enough fun for the weekend."
I call the server and that's when I heard her.
Don't ask me, I'll never tell
I looked to you as it fell,
And now you're in my way..
I'd trade my soul for a wish,
Pennies and dimes for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this,
But now you're in my way...
'Sexy' is the only word I could think of. She had the most alluring eyes and the most beautiful smile. She was wearing a bracelet with shiny things hanging off it. Why am I noticing bracelets again? Maybe because of the way they were reflecting light on her face. Crazy! She was wearing a peachy top over some really tight jeans. God! She should not be wearing those jeans. They just hug her in all the right places.
Your stare was holdin',
Ripped jeans, skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Where you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you,
And this is crazy,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?
She climbs off the stage to the hoots and whistles. A girl like that cannot just sing that song and not expect a guy like me to walk to her.
"Your tab is closed sir." The server calls me. I turn around and look at Viren collaring the server for another drink.
"Hey, can you get this guy another drink. I will be right back."
"Ofcourse sir, but you have to clear this bill first." The server insists.
"Bhai, take my wallet. Pay the dude. I will be right back." I tell Viren and run out.
I just see her walking out with her girlfriends.
Hey, you can't leave!!
~~~
Outside the bar, Manvi's POV
"Hi, you never gave me your number?" someone behind me asks.
I turn to look who it was - it is that hot guy, who was singing on the stage. He was standing in front of me catching his breath, hunching forward with his hands of his knees. Did he just run out to talk to me?
"Excuse me?" This is too amazing. I am never this lucky.
"You sang 'call me maybe' but I never got the number. Somebody said you were passing it around. Can I get it too?" He explained.
"Oh?" I look at him stunned. I look down and smile - such a flirt! "Sorry, I try to stay away from billionaires. They are very materialistic and soul less."
He smiles a really wide one with a 'So, you noticed me' expression.
"Ouch! That hurt." He says hitting his heart with his fist dramatically.
He then quickly pats his shirt pockets and then his pants pretending to search for something. "You know what, you are in luck - I just renounced all my wealth to the bartender a few minutes ago. He shows his thumb towards the bar while dropping his head back with a half smile."
"Mannu, are you coming?" Swetha calls for me. She had called a cab and was waiting for me on the pavement.
"Hey don't go. I usually don't do this. But, can I buy you a drink?" he asks with his thumbs in his pant pockets, raising both his shoulders and looking at me expectingly.
"You just say you were broke?" I smile. "I got to go. Maybe some other time" I show my thumb towards Swetha who was waiting for me impatiently dropping my head back with a small smile.
"Maybe I will hold you to that. Just one small request..."
"What?"
"Don't go throwing money in wells for a kiss. I accept credit." he tells me with a sincere at the same time a killer crooked smile.
What? I open my mouth to argue but then close it. You just can't argue with a person who knows he just said the most absurd thing and is grinning about it proudly.
"Bye weird stranger on the footpath!" I roll my eyes and get into the cab looking at him for one last time. He winks at me!!!!!!!!!!
"Bye beautiful girl in the bar." He shouts after me.
~~~
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
