Reasons not to fall in love (AR) Chap3|Pg 3

Chapter 1

Love stories, something that can be so predictable and unpredictable at the same time. You know what is going to happen next, and still you watch it. It is something so beautiful, so pure. I rubbed the lone tear rolling down her cheeks, sobbing slowly as I turned over to the last page of P.S I love you, a book that is touched me. Not in a very long time had any book done that to me.

Content, I close the book and lay on the bed, pondering over the book, a wide smile on her face. The phone kept on the bedside rings, and I sigh. Nikita. Glancing over to the clock, I know that it is only Niks who can dare to call me at this odd our. Obviously, Sharma broke up with her again. Love such a strange feeling, I tell you that at times you can't let go.

"Speak."

Silence.

Immediately, I know that this is not Nikita, but someone else.

"Hello?" I repeat myself, louder this time.

"Ha..hello!" I hear a loud roar of laughter in the background, when he speaks and I can feel my heart skipping beats. Its him. Armaan Malik.

"Rid'dheema?" He slurred and stammered, signs of a drunken behavior.

"You're drunk, Armaan. Go home, go to sleep" I speak sternly this time. Without waiting for a reply, I'm about to place back the phone when I hear a voice on the other line.

"Please listen to me, it won't take much of your time." He softly whispered against the phone, his voice so soft and smothering.

"It will kill me, Riddhima..if..if'I don't say this tonight. And honestly, I don't have a guts to say this without being drunk. Please?" I almost smiled, feeling him pout on the other side of the line.

"Would like to go out with me, sometimes?" Suddenly, I feel the throbbing of my heart against my chest. Tiny butterflies struggle to escape in my stomach. I find it hard to speak for a moment.

"Yeah, sure." I mumble softly.

"So, dinner tomorrow?" Somehow I can feel his soft blue eyes on me, waiting for me to answer the question his life is dependent on.

"Okay."

"Will be waiting." I could finally catch my breath. Suddenly, I felt elated, on top of the world. My long time crush had just asked me out, a dream come true. Jumping up from the bed, I did myself a little happy dance. And then I pulled over the blanket, waiting for the dream to begin.

The next day had been way too long. It was hard to wait, but I knew it was going to be worth it in the end. Like always, the long tiresome schedule began, sucking the life out of me, sure. But a wide smile remained on my face for the entire day, knowing that the day was going to end well. Pictures of the first date flashed in my mind. A romantic candle light dinner, long walks near the beach? Dinner at the beach and laying there gazing at the star filled sky? Something different, something unique? I wouldn't know, because he's Armaan Malik. No one would really know what he was going to do. I blushed, thinking about him once again.

Nikita, my best friend, was shocked beyond life, when I told her about the proposal. At first she thought I was joking, and then she thought I might be dreaming. Happy for me the next moment, she pulled me into a heartwarming embraced, telling me how happy she was. But suddenly the elder sister like feeling surged in her, and thus began her 'protecting' me try. Armaan is known for his playboy image in the college, you know, but I know that he is something else inside, something different that only I can see. Call me crazy, but I can see a different side of him, a good, caring and loving side of him that everybody else refuses to see. Okay, I seem a little crazy right now, don't I? Well, that's just me.

We crossed ways in the college a lot of time, and those were the times I couldn't help but blush. I would mumble a soft "hi" but he would only return a plastic smile and look the other way. It hurt me a little. Why wouldn't he come and talk to me during the lunch time? Why wouldn't he talk to me at all in the canteen? Maybe, I was dreaming. Repulsed against the idea of going out with him, I started thinking of ways to bail out of the way, when I saw him approach me.

A black leather jacket and helmet had covered him, but I could see those blue eyes, as his bike came to a halt and he spoke to me.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't talk to you the whole day. I was a bit busy."

"Uh, its okay." I guess.

"So, ready?" He tapped the seat behind him on the bike. Bike, him, me?

"Um.." I tried to speak, but he cut me through.

"Scared of travelling in bikes, aren't you?" I could sense him mocking me.

"Not everyone in the college is a racer."

"Right, right." His expressions softened, at my sudden snide remark. Surely, he didn't see that one coming, and neither did I.

"Its okay, I won't hurt you."

"You promise?" I looked at him, expectations filled in my eyes.

"Yeah, sure. Now common!" Without another word, I sat behind him on the bike.

"You can hold me if you want." I could feel him smirking. At this I shook my head frivolously, shying away.

And then we drove away, driving into a moonlight filled streets, just like I had dreamt.