FF: Yeh ishq to nasha hai... Finished(pt11 pg7)

hi guys this is my first FF so please excuse any mistakes 😳 (especailly as my hindi isnt very good) 😛

?Nahi, Pia, mera mood nahi?

?Agar mein kahoon ke Jai aane wala hai??

Bani stopped short, her attention riveted.

?Finally, I?m going to meet mystery man??

Though Pia had been going out with Jai for at least 6 months, she still had not introduced him to Bani.

?Phir toh mujhe aana hi parega?smiled Bani

***

?zara zara touch me touch me touch me...?

?Ooh I love this song?, shrieked Pia, shimmying onto the dance floor

Bani sighed. Pia was closer to her than a sister, but she could sometimes be a bit thoughtless. While Pia was a great freestyle dancer with no inhibitions, Bani rarely managed to let herself go. She felt as if everyone was assessing her whenever she was on the dance floor. Even now, Pia was swaying and singing to the music, the skirt of her short, silver, sequined dress flowing around her.

Bani fiddled with her jade bracelets, gazing around, finally deciding to get a drink. Maybe it would help her loosen up. She precariously made her way to the bar, mentally cursing herself for allowing Pia to talk her into wearing these 2-inch heels. Sure, they made her legs look longer, but?

?Aaahhh??

As she slipped on the puddle of cranberry juice beneath her feet, Bani was thrown into a man?s arms. Stunned, she grasped his arm tightly as if she would never let go.

?It?s ok; it was my pleasure?ek khoobsurat larki mere baahon mein?kya kismat yaar!?

Bani blushed as he pulled her upright, and turned towards her. Bani froze.

?Ram??

?Bani????

?Bani!? Pia grinned. ?This is the love of my life, my jaan, my darling boyfriend Jai Ram Walia!?

***

It had been 4 years ago, when Bani had been 17, but she could remember each moment as clearly if it were just yesterday. She had been studying Art, Maths, Psychology and Biology. Ram was in the year above her, ready to take his A-levels the following May. Secretly, she had had a crush on him, but being younger than him and quite shy, she had never mentioned it. Until one day, when she had been sitting outside on the grass, stressing over a Maths problem…

Ram: Hey, mind if I sit here?

Bani: (blushing) Sure, no problem, (turning away, muttering), okay sine 20 multiplied by 3 gives you the hypotenuse, so the…

Ram: Would you like some help?

Bani: Um…I…

Ram: Hi I'm Ram Walia

Bani: Um… Bani Dixit

Ram: Well Bani, it's really simple if you just…

He had helped with all her work, and from then on their friendship began. They hit it off instantly, talking to each other naturally, and soon they progressed from him tutoring her to going out to the cinema or cafes. They found they had common friends, which helped them become closer and closer.

Inevitably, the time came when she became his girlfriend. It was at the New Year's Eve Dance. It had been a wonderful night, when Bani had actually danced for once and had a great time.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"

Ram: Happy New Year Bani!

Bani: Happy New Year Ram!

Ram: Bani…uh…

Bani: Come on Ram, what…?

Ram: Will you go out with me, Bani?

It had been the first time she had ever been asked out. Deliriously happy, she had accepted straight away. Ram had picked her up and swung her around till she became dizzy. Their relationship had been one the whole college was jealous of. Though they were both intelligent and determined, therefore having many arguments, they both loved each other very much. Neither could see the other upset, therefore they would always make up. It had been the happiest 6 months of Bani's life. But…

Ram: I'm sorry Bani, there's nothing I can do. Dad's company is moving to England, and so am I. I'll start college there in September. We'll keep in touch, I promise. I love you.

Bani: I love you too.

But they had both known they were to be separated. At first, they had continued to phone each other, but then Ram's number and email address had been changed. A year had passed and Bani had moved to Krishna College to do a degree in Pediatrics. She had met Pia and made many other friends. Absorbed in her life, she had got over Ram, and buried him deep in her heart.

But she had never forgotten him. He had been her first and final real love…

Note: the story is set in Mumbai, India but I have used the British education system of A-levels which you do in Year 13, at the age of 17 or 18, followed by a degree in college. Bani is studying to become a doctor for children.

Lost in her memories, Bani sighed. She hurriedly continued walking home. Suddenly, someone grabbed her, pushing her against the wall. A hand clamped over her mouth. Desperately, Bani clawed at the hand, struggling to get free.

"Shhh, it's me, Ram!"

Bani relaxed. "Ram, you scared the life out of me, you idiot!" She playfully punched him on the arm, in retaliation, he tickled until she squealed.

Suddenly, they remembered and they both stopped.

Bani: You…Pia…

Ram: We met at my friend's party – she was doing events management experience. We've been going out for a few months but I never realized she knew you. Trust me, she's just a friend, I…

Bani: That doesn't matter Ram. You're Pia's boyfriend and that's the end of it. I have to go…

Ram: But Bani, I love you – you're the only girl I've ever loved. Maine sirf tumse pyar kiya hai … please understand me

Hot tears were running down Bani's face. Gently, Ram wiped at them, but she continued to cry, shaking uncontrollably. She had missed him so much, but he had come back to her only when he was off-limits. She couldn't betray her best friend. She couldn't…

"Bani, wait…"

He chased after her, but she had gone…