I have been to Viplav's room before but not secretly and not after 7. Two years we have been dating but I've never been in this room for more than 15 minutes. Its mostly me meeting him and going back down to where everyone can witness whatever we are doing.
Viplav's parents were incredibly lenient about a lot of things, but they drew the line at me and Viplav staying late in his room.
I felt a tiny pang of guilt as I flopped down on his bed. Viplav stayed rooted on the floor with his hands crossed and a mischievous smile on the face.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Nothing." Viplav replied, his voice softer this time"and more seductive, it would seem. He still had that playful smile on his face and dangerous glimmer in his eyes as he slowly walked towards the bed. His pace was slow like a tiger walking towards its prey and suddenly I didn't feel as confident as I did 20 minutes ago. "Nothing, just you sneaking in at 10 and laying in my bed."
I swallowed hard and my face heated up. There was nothing sexual with what Viplav had said but a part of me believed it to be an innuendo of some sort.
Viplav sat on the bed beside me, pulling me to him.
Oh dear lord, why I'm feeling so flushed. And hot.
Suddenly all my defences melted down like a chocolate when heated as Viplav placed his lips gently on mine. It was a sweet kiss that lasted only a minute but it was enough to set my heart on a run and my cheeks on fire.
"I love it when you blush." Amusement flickered in his Viplav's eye as I groaned after realizing what just happened. He tricked me! His was acting all seductive and not gonna deny, I was so seduced that I would have given him my cheery if he'd asked for it. Just kidding. Well not really.
I stood up from the bed and sat on the chair lying near to the bed. Viplav turned so he was facing me. "Well good to know my embarrassment is an entertainment for you."
Viplav laughed. "You wanna know why?"
"Do I?"
Viplav looked at me with a warm smile, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. "It's because whenever you blush it means that in some small way I have touched your soul and it feels like I've achieved more than I could have ever asked for."
My heart swelled with affection for this man even more than it could and I felt my eyes sting a little.
I stared at Viplav as a quote I read a while back popped in my head.
I said a little distracted, "Talking to him was like playing upon an exquisite violin."
Viplav raised his eyebrow. "I hope by 'him' you meant me because I still have my boxing gloves in the cupboard and all I need is his address."
I rolled my eyes as I leaned closer. "It's a quote by Oscar Wilde and it describes exactly how I feel when I talk to you."
Viplav watched me in silence for a moment. Possibly because I never really say things like this. "I never really hear you say stuff like that."
I scratched the side of my head and a blush crept on my face. "It's because I'm not you. I can't always form beautiful things to say that can set you on fire."
Viplav stared at me like he hoped I wasn't serious. "Darling you dont need words. Just touch me and it will set me on fire."
I stood from the chair and threw my hands up. It was 'Here we go again' gesture. "See! There you go again saying stuff like that! I mean do you have a scriptwriter hired for these types of situation?!"
Viplav stood up too with a soft chuckle. He put his arms on my hips and pulled me closer taking my breath away. "If you ever want to shut me up, just kiss me. It will shut down even the teeniest-tiniest thought process in my head."
And so I did. I kissed him.
It was 11 and I decided that I'll stay here, in Viplav's room for the night. Again something that I've never done before but today everything seemed exceptional.
I quickly ranged home to inform them that I was staying the night at Suwarna's place.
I told Suwarna that if she gets a call from home, then lie that I was indeed staying there. I felt bad but being wrapped in Viplav's arm as we sat on his sleeping chair near the window, looking at the stars took all my guilt away.
"Dhaani actually there is something I've to ask you."
"Mmhmm?" I murdered feeling a little tired. Laying my head back on Viplav's chest, I felt his heart rate pick up and a faint smile slipped on my face.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Viplav stroked my hair gently.
Proposing you. Out loud I said, "Nothing really."
"Well then you can tag along with me to the dinner right?"
My head jerked up. Oh no no no no no! You can't have plans tomorrow Viplav, I was going to propose you tomorrow and I can't and don't wanna wait anymore!
Instead I said, "Dinner with who?"
Viplav hesitated a little. "Raj. He's coming back from his hometown tomorrow. With his cousin-Mansi."
Sleep gone. Smile gone. Even my mind was gone as I sat back straighter so I can look Viplav in the eye. "Mansi?" My voice was getting a little higher. "The girl you dated, that Mansi?"
Viplav nodded tensely his adam apple bobbing.
Let me brief you with Mansi. Or rathe Vulture, that's what I call her. Mansi was Raj's cousin and Viplav's ex-girlfriend. They dated for around 2 months and then Viplav broke up with her because he didn't feel 'she was the right one'. Obviously it wasn't a mutual breakup because the last time she came here, she tried to get back together with Viplav unaware of the fact that he was dating me. Honestly speaking, I know Viplav had an active dating life before he met me and had probably been with more women than you can count and I never mind it. And I wouldn't have even mind Mansi being close to Viplav if it wasn't for the fact that she was still very much in love with Viplav and this dumbo was too naiv to see it.
I felt my eyes narrow and I got up from Viplav's arms. He got up to his feet quickly too.
"Oh so you wanna have a dinner with her?!" I snapped.
The Jealous side of Dhaani was taking control of my mind and I took a deep breath trying to get myself in check.
Last time she came, she tried to make me feel miserable by always trying to find ways to humiliate me and even though I told Viplav she's still in love with him, he wouldn't believe me.
Viplav cupped a hand over the back of his neck, looking very much like he knew he should choose his next words carefully. "Look darling, Raj asked me if wants to have dinner together tomorrow- that's when he's coming back from his cousin's house and I said yes cause I've not seen him since 23 days. It was later he told me Mansi wants to come too cause she hasn't seen everybody here from a long time."
"Yeah, by everybody she meant you." I murdered annoyed.
Viplav tucked a stray hair behind my ears, his eyes pleading. "There is nothing anymore between us Dhaani. I promise. Would you please come with us and give her a chance?"
I dont want to. I want to shake my head and say no but then again, I do wanna meet Raj. I haven't seen him since September and suffice to say I missed his puns and jokes. Plus maybe there's a possibility that Mansi was over Viplav now because after all it wasn't her fault she fell for Viplav and a part of me wasn't angry with her but Viplav for being so ignorant of somebody's feelings.
I sigh and then nodded. "Damn you and your puppy eyes!
####
It was around 7 when i got a text from Viplav that he is on his way here to pick me up from ashram. I had a navy blue round neck and sleeveless dress on. It was beautiful with box pleat detailing below waistband and full lining inside.
My hair was all curled up and Suvi had applied a little makeup to brighten up my face and my sour mood because I couldn't propose him today.
Dresses and makeup were never my thing but my 'jealous' self forced me to say yes to Suvi.
I stared at my hot-self. I felt sexy, like Suvi said I would and now I was ready to keep the Vulture away from my man.
When I opened the front door, Viplav looked shocked as he studied me and I studied him right back. He was dressed in a suit and let me tell you my friend, he looked like a walking candy. The black suit with red shirt fitted perfectly showing off his muscles. He had a bouquet in his hand but he was too busy checking me out to hand me over the bouquet.
"Wow..." Viplav said, drinking in my altered-self. "You are infallible."
I swallowed the dryness in my throat. Why did he make me so nervous? Wasn't I supposed to be over the phase where I get tongue-tied in his presence? We've been dating for 2 years but with his every look, his every touch and his every words my hearts starts doing somersaults.
Viplav inched closer and kissed my cheek. "You know what? Screw dinner, lets just go to my place and make out."
My cheeks flushed red and I tried to supress my giggle but ended up bursting into loud laughter.
The drive to the Lakeview Hotel was filled with comfortable silence except for the faint music coming from the radio. Viplav was busy driving and I was busy staring at the view outside. The winter Sun lowered over the edge of the world leaving its redness behind.
My mind suddenly wandered at the possible future we'll be having and my hearts started beating furiously.
Viplav had told me once that after 3 years, he was planning on moving to America to complete his studies and it made me wonder if he'd asked me too, to move with him? Adjusting to new place with new people is not my thing. My mother told me that I come across a little hostile and I should probably work on that.
But wait, what if Viplav decided to go pursue his career alone leaving me to live here without him?
My mind was jumbled with troubling thoughts and so I decided to just look at the sun.
I've always been in awe of sunsets. For some reason it seemed to relax me and comfort me with its beauty and warmth. After looking at the sun setting for some more minute, I turned my attention towards Viplav and then stared at him for a good amount of time.
I smiled seeing how he was concentrating at the road, with his eyes narrowing at the turn and suddenly all my distressing thoughts vanished away and I felt myself relaxing and comfortable.
"What?" Viplav suddenly asked turning to look at me for a nanosecond before returning his gaze to the road.
"Nothing," I said still looking at him. He has already seen me so I don't see the point of turning away now. "Nothing I'm just staring."
Viplav laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, darling, its creepy."
I scowled. "So its okay If you do it?"
Yesterday, in the middle of the night when I opened my eyes from a deep sleep, I found Viplav staring at me. But my mind was too foggy with sleep that before it could resister that its just my boyfriend, I let out a scream and fell from the bed.
Viplav laughed. "I forgot yesterday's night. You screamed like a baby and then you fell!"
My cheeks turned red. "Hey! In my defence, I was scared, for a minute there I thought you were some kidnapper."
I turned in my seat to look at the road and i could see the sign of 'Lakeview' lightened up at the top of some building. "You don't stare at sleeping people like that."
Viplav chuckled as we reached near the hotel with breathtaking beauty. Oh so I see this is the place he chose for the get-together with Raj and Vulture.
When we arrived at the parking spot, two men on either side of the car opened the door for us and I let myself out. Viplav handed the key to the guy on his side so as that person can park the car to an appropriate place. Viplav then moved towards me, putting his hands on my waist as he lead to me to the entrance.
The outside beauty was nothing compared to the inside and I felt myself grinning like a cheshire cat.
"Oh its so beautiful Viplav." I exclaimed still drinking in the view.
Viplav kissed the side of my head. "You know...ah nevermind."
I shifted away from Viplav's gasp in order to get face-to-face with him and looked him in the eye. "No, what, tell me."
Viplav looked at me for a moment and then inched closer, "This is the place where I imagined our wedding."
I gasped. A simple 'Oh' coming from my mouth. I had no idea what to say because I never expected Viplav to actually think about our wedding.
Viplav lead me to the private longue he had booked for the four of us.
"Yeah? What else was on your mind?" I asked.
The longue was beautiful with a dinner table and 4 chairs. Benefit of it was there nobody else but us.
Viplav smiled, his eyes shining with excitement. "Well I thought after the wedding here we could have our honeymoon in Paris, because I heard you talking to Suwarna that you wanna go there. After honeymoon we could shift to America for my studies and we'd buy a big house with a big garden. Oh! And we'll buy a swingset for the kids which I'm hoping will be 1 girl and 1 boy. We can name the girl Arya and you can choose our sun's name."
I had to fight off the tears that were threatening to spill. I have never thought about these stuff for even a moment and when I stand here listening to Viplav, whose eyes were shinning so brightly that even sun couldn't be compared to it, I realised the marriage with him is all i want. I want everything he just described. I want to spend my lifetime loving him with every fibre of my being.
"You, um, think about all these stuff, Really?" I chuckled lightly looking at our feet unable to look him the eye.
Viplav tilted my head up and I found myself staring in his beautiful stormy black eyes.
"Really." Viplav echoed, his black eyes bright with amusement. "Love, My future with you is all I think about."
No words could describe how I felt at that moment so I kissed Viplav putting all my emotions into the kiss. I wanted him to know how much I love him and how much he means to me and I knew unlike Viplav, I couldn't form perfectly knitted sentence right now so I let my kiss deliver all the whirlwind feelings of my heart.
Lack of air made us pull away and we both were grinning at each other like crazy.
"God, I love you." Viplav said.
"I love you more."
Vipav leaned down, kissing my cheek. "Not possible.
I think I was being stupid coming all the way down just to make sure Mansi would be in check. For god's sake I dressed up, caked my face with makeup and let my jealous side take q toll of my mind. Viplav had proven his love for me to an extent where I've lost count and yet here I was trying hard to be someone I'm not when I didn't need to. I had absolutely nothing to be jealous about.
"Viplav!" A high pitch scream filled the room and I had to pull away from Viplav so i can turn around to look at the source of the sound.
A girl- let me rephrase that- a hot girl who I assumed was Mansi, with Raj following behind her, came charging towards Viplav and jumped on him so hard that viplav had to put his hand on the table behind him so he wouldn't fall down as the girl hugged the life out of him.
Okay so maybe I was wrong.
AN: I'm not happy with this chapter cause I wrote it in a rush. I'm in 12th and don't get much time plus my brother came from US so I was busy eating all the chocolates he brought. So please sorry. I'll update better from next time.
Udne Ki Aasha
