Story (1) - If only he knew [Completed] - Page 10

"What's up soda pop?"

I wrinkle my nose at my best friend Maya.

"Can you cut the crappy one liners?"

"Can you cut your expression? You seem like you want to go to the loo"

"Thanks for understanding my emotions so much" I deadpan while she simply sips her cool drink.

Maya and I stayed friends post school, post us pursuing different careers. She was my constant in this entire drama of growing up to be an adult. I was there with her through a couple of heart breaks until she met Dhiraj, dated for solid five years and married just last year.

Ever since she was trying to get me to date all her eligible colleagues and had been quite subtly (or not) have been inviting me to house parties, where I'm the obvious single girl.

"What's going on?" She asks looking at me concerned.

"Nothing. Just"

I look around at my brother and Lisa and feel warmth in my heart. Last night wedding kept me busy, having me run around whilst today morning's had been such a sweet ceremony.

When Vicky and Lisa spoke their vows, I teared up.

Here and now, as I see them having their first dance, and knowing the dance floor open up for others super soon, I see my aunt having a young chap by her elbow ready to nudge him towards me.

"Seriously, why is everyone making it their life ambition to get me hooked?" I ask.

Maya looks at me guiltily.

"Maybe we want the best for you"

"You're making my life miserable, rubbing it on my face that my life sucks"

"Do you feel your life sucks being single?"

"No"

"Are you sure?"

I sigh. "I see you and Dhiraj and it warms my heart. I don't actually shy away from a relationship or getting married but this settling down thing unnerves me.

I don't want to settle down. I want to find my match like you found in Dhiraj"

"And how is that going to happen if you don't give anyone a chance?"

I didn't reply. I know she was right, but I don't know. Dating is hard. I don't want to put up such effort. Yet, I would not want to settle down. Such irony.

"I think I know what the problem is" I heard her say and follow her gaze to find Maan talking with his smiling mother.

"No"

"What? It's an open secret you like him"

"It was a crush"

"And again, I don't blame you" she gives a dream sigh, looking at him.

"Maya" I say laughing "I moved on"

"Really? The way I see you never talk about it, I believe you have strong feelings"

I laugh again. "I'm not that intense to hold onto a fleeting crush that happened a decade ago"

"Then tell me what happened?"

"You know"

"No I don't. I don't know why you suddenly had your heart broken"

"I went to his home" I told her feeling embarrassed "And saw him with Radhika and assumed he got back with her"

"Who Radhika?"

"His then ex"

"Oh the senior? Wasn't she married a couple of years ago?"

"I don't know."

"She did. Anyway, that's besides the point. What next?"

"Nothing, I later got to know they weren't together and it was a misunderstanding"

"Then what's the problem"

"They shifted from the town Maya. I never thought I would see him again"

Silence prevailed.

"If Radhika wasn't there that day, what would have happened?"

"Definitely not a duet" I deadpan. On receiving a smack on my head, I sigh. "I wanted to strike a friendship with him, if not anything. I took him a gift. Now that I think about it, I'm glad it ended that way. I was so stupid back then. Gift and all"

"What was the gift?"

"A pen, with his initials engraved on them, in a beautiful cursive MK which went ironically missing after I ran away from his home. I might have dropped it somewhere and I hope I didn't drop it at his home.

Not that he would know it's me even if he finds it. Well, not unless he checks for the inside part of the Pen's clip. There were my initials snugly engraved, saying GH.

Who would be that subtle to understand anyway? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't. He can't see my obvious feelings that I carried on my sleeve back then"

Maya sighed. "I really wish this ship sailed"

I smile at her and see the young chap my aunt was trying to set me up with walk towards me resolutely for a dance.

"Time to run" I tell her and leave quickly but not soon enough I guess because in my hurry of wanting to slip away and run in the opposite direction, I almost bump into Maan who looks at me with a smile.

Looking at the dance floor he asks, "Care to join for a dance?"