Here's the next chapter. A wish answered for those who've wanted something to be added in it! 😳
Chapter NineThe next few days that come strengthen my new-found friendship with Anaya. She begins to spend a lot of time with me and I enjoy her company. She often drags me to the cafeteria where her two friends wait for her and makes me sit with them. Although I like spending time with the three friends, their individual attitudes towards me differ. While Anaya has become a wonderful friend for me in this short time, Ayush is as flirtatious as ever. His comments don't bother anymore because I know he doesn't mean any of it. Maan, on the other hand, is being indifferent. I feel like he is trying to avoid me because his behaviour towards his friends is normal. This fact bothers me.
Why is he trying to avoid me? He was so warm and jovial when we planned the party together but now he is acting as if I'm a stranger.Sitting in the common room, I take out to read Mumma's letter which arrived last night but I haven't had the time to read it yet. Reading through it, smiling and laughing softly at what she has written, I don't realise Anaya coming into the room. Only when she sits beside me with a thump do I look up. She asks me about the letter and I tell her what's written in it. We talk for a few minutes before I have to leave. I put the letter in a book I have in my hand and we walk out to come face to face with Maan and Ayush who were apparently on their way to look for Anaya. Ayush offers that I join them for their plans for the evening but I politely refuse, telling him I have to work. Bidding them goodbye, I leave from the campus.
-------------------------------------As I see Geet walking out of the campus, I notice a paper slip from her book. She doesn't notice it and keeps walking. So do Anaya and Ayush, who head to their car. I walk behind them and when we reach the gates, I inconspicuously bend down to pick up the paper. I just open it enough to see what it is. From the greeting on the top, it looks like a letter. I'm tempted to read what it is about, just to know more about her, but I refrain myself and when Ayush calls for me, I welcome the distraction. I tuck the letter in my bag promising myself to not read it and return it to her the next thing in the morning.
-------------------------------------As I lay in my bed at night, I wonder if what I've observed in the last few days is true or yet another assumption of mine. I think about how casual Ayush has been with Geet, behaving like she's just another girl and not the one he likes. He acts as if he's talking to Anaya, of course with the added flirtatious nature of his.
Does that mean Geet isn't the girl Ayush referred to that day? Who is, if it isn't Geet?As I turn to lay on my side, my hands accidentally slides the pieces of paper I have kept there. They scatter on the floor and I turn the bedside lamp on to pick them up. My eyes take in the name of Geet on the top most paper and I recognise it to be the letter which had slipped out of Geet's books earlier in the day. A few words jump out at me and this time, I can't stop my curiosity from taking over as I take it in my hands to read. Every line that I read makes me stiffen and jerk upright in my bed and by the time that I finish, my heart is beating fast, a hollow pit opening up in my stomach.
"My Beloved Daughter,
How is my cute little munchkin? Are you taking good care of yourself? I expect you are. And I hope you're doing good with your studies too. I won't accept anything less from you. I'm writing to you for an important reason. Your father and I have been thinking of you and your future. You already know that you have come to the age when we think you should settle down with a suitable man and begin a family. Keeping that in mind, we started to look out for suitors for you three months back. Do not complain of why we never told you about it because in our family, children marry the person of their parents' choice and no other. And so will you. Coming back to our topic, we have finally found a young man who we think is perfect for you. He is a fine-looking eligible young man who is about to start his practical life. Your father and I think that you two will make a good match. As soon as you come back after your final examinations this year, we are going to get you married. It's high time you think about your own family and not work in some cafe. We expect you to comply with our wishes. We know you will.
With Love,
Your Mother"
-------------------------------------For the rest of the night, sleep evades me. I can't get my mind to shut up and my anxious heart to calm down. After reading the letter, one thing I can say with complete certainty is that I care for her. I care for her deeper than one cares for a friend. I don't know if it is love or not but I know that it is definitely more than just a passing infatuation. I accept it to myself that I cannot back off just on the basis of the assumptions I'm making about Ayush and his feelings, especially when there's been nothing more from his side.
Now that I think about it, his behaviour towards Geet is just like he'd behave with any other girl. I've seen him acting with all his flirty comments towards every girl he talks to.
Every girl except... As the realisation sinks in, I want to hit myself for being a blind fool. Of course, he's never passed comments on only one girl. And that's Anaya. He's always acted different with Anaya although nothing other than the way he behaves with me. But I think now I know the reason why it is so; Ayush conceals his feelings for Anaya in the way he treats her. With this realisation comes a sense of peace, the kind of relief that you get when you solve a disturbing mystery or when you accept the surety, the truth of something. Going round and round in circles, my mind finally comes up with a solution.
I have to talk to Ayush as well as Geet. I have to confirm my hunch about the girl being Anaya and I have to ask Geet about the letter. I will do that first thing in the morning.-------------------------------------The next morning doesn't turn out the way I wanted it to be. I wait for Geet at the college entrance but she doesn't show up. I sit in the lecture my eyes keep moving to the door of the classroom hoping to see her entering the class later than usual but she doesn't appear. By the time the class ends, I get worried.
Why hasn't she come? All sorts of thoughts swirl around in my head as I think about it which causes my stomach to churn nervously. Throughout the day, I keep hoping to see her pop out of the blue somewhere in the campus, checking the common room thrice and even inquire about Anaya's knowledge of Geet's absence surreptitiously. She knows not. Trying to think positive, to believe that she'll be in college tomorrow, I leave for home. It isn't her working day so I can't go to the cafe and since she lives in a girls' hostel, I don't want to raise any suspicions on her if I go there demanding to see her. I guess I'll just have to wait till tomorrow. In all my fretting, I don't talk to Ayush because I know I won't be able to get it right when I'm this agitated.
I reach college earlier than usual the next morning. Pacing by the gates followed by a corridor stroll and then waiting by the classroom door, all turn out to be fruitless. She doesn't turn up again and the empty seat diagonal to mine in the row in front of me seems to grow bigger by the passing minute. I can't keep the nagging feeling from showing on my face today and I ask Anaya about Geet again today, not really trying to be casual about her. She hasn't been able to contact Geet since she herself has been busy with guests who have come over to her place for a while. I impatiently wait for the day to end so I can go check on the cafe.
Geet won't miss a day at work now, will she? At least I'm praying she won't.
I don't care to be inconspicuous about my presence at the cafe. I just walk in and look around for her desperately wishing for her to come out of the swinging back door which supposedly leads to the kitchen. A few minutes of sitting at a table, - the table where she used to sit when she studied - she doesn't appear and I get a sinking feeling.
Is she alright? Why isn't she coming to college or to work? I order a coffee when a waiter comes up to me, not wanting to be thought of like the stalker that I have become, although two sips is all I take from the cup.
Mom notices my anxiousness and cajoles me to open up and tell her what the matter is. I tell her about the letter, about Geet's sudden disappearance and my feelings of something not being fine with her. Mom asks me why I won't just call her or go meet her at her hostel but she knows it as well as I do that I don't have her number nor will I make it awkward for her by showing up at her hostel. Like a bulb flicking on above my head, I get an idea.
'Mom, call G and ask her about Geet. She'll know for sure.' Seeing how anxious I am, she complies and calls Geeta's house only to be told of her unplanned visit to another city on some emergency. Geeta's mobile phone isn't reachable too. Now all I can do is wait for tomorrow, hope for Geet to grace my eyes with her sight or if she doesn't show up, I will get Anaya to contact her one way or another. Better yet, take Geet's contact number from Anaya myself.
-------------------------------------It turns out luck isn't with me. Geet still doesn't come and Anaya decides to skip college too. My nervousness starts leaking through as irritation and Ayush is the witness to it. The college office doesn't divulge students' personal details to anyone and so I get stuck again. At lunch, I refuse to have anything or join the whole gang in the cafeteria so Ayush takes me to the garden. I know he's going to demand answers from me now.
'Speak.' He orders me to explain my irrational behaviour. I don't say a single word and he sighs resignedly.
'Don't you think it's high time that you admit your feelings to yourself and to her?' His voice takes on a soft tone, the one he uses in our rare heart-to-heart chats. His words only fuel my ire and I bite out rather harshly.
'You know it really well that I don't feel that way for Anaya. And neither does she!' He raises his eyebrows.
'Did I say I was talking about Anaya?' My features school into the confusion I feel. He reads my expression and his own turns amused.
'Come on Maan! Aren't you the one who says I know you as much as you do yourself?' I still don't understand.
'What do you mean? If you aren't talking about Anaya -' He cuts me off and his answer leaves me wondering if I have heard him correctly.
'Geet. It's Geet I'm talking about.'He laughs lightly at the dumbstruck look I give him.
'Look Maan. How-much-ever you try to act cool about her and be indifferent, you still can't fool me. You think I don't know about your fondness for her? Eight years tend to teach a bit, you know.' My anxiousness over Geet's absence takes backseat for a while and another kind of anticipation fills me as I listen to Ayush.
'If you've ever thought that I don't know about your actions
then I'm surprised you forgot I'm your best friend.' He shakes his head in a mischievously mock sadness and I know he's referring to all my common room peeking sessions. I cover up my embarrassment by questioning him back in a rather meek voice.
'But I thought that you lik -' He interrupts me again this time laughing like I've said a joke.
'You really think I like Geet? I thought you knew she's not my type. But I have to say I've enjoyed seeing the jealousy in you whenever I joined you and her.' He gives a lop-sided smile with a wink and I just gape, unable to decide if I'm more embarrassed at being caught or if I'm more miffed at him for attempting all that on purpose.
'You -' 'Ahh, don't bother Maan. I already know you've cursed me a lot in the previous days.' Another chuckle from him makes me want to hit him and hug him at the same time but I do neither.
He continues in a voice which has no traces of humour or mischief now.
'Don't take a lot of time Maan. It might be too late until the time you decide to tell her about your feelings.' This side of his is something I hardly get to see but this is the side that I know exists with a passion - a side which wishes for happiness of his friends and family.
'Doesn't the same apply to you too? Won't it be late if you never try to take the first step towards her too?' It's his turn to be surprised. He looks into my eyes for a moment before averting his gaze to somewhere far. He knows that I know and he doesn't refuse like I did earlier.
'Don't you think Anaya deserves to know?' 'She does. But I'm not the right person for her.' I counter his words.
'You can't say that. You never know what's in her heart.' 'I do
know what's in her heart and that is why I just want to remain friends with her. ' I roll my eyes at that.
'Look who's talking! And here you were lecturing me about opening up about my feelings.' He looks at me and we both share a laugh.
'Now that was something, don't you think Maan? Your stupidity has turned me to a boring professor who talks about hearts and feelings. Eww!' I snicker before sobering up.
'Ayush, I want you to promise me you'll give it a try.' He knows I'm serious and so he smiles, coming up with a condition of his own.
'Only if you promise the same too.' He holds his hand out and I put mine in his, both silently promising to at least try. I hug him after that thanking The Lord above to have blessed me with such a gem friend. I don't ever want to lose him.
-------------------------------------When the day ends, I don't know what to do and how to get to Geet. The only option left is to visit her in the hostel and that is something I don't want to do. Ayush insists that I do just that: go see her at the hostel and so I'm in my car, driving slowly towards the dreaded place. Passing by the cafe, I glance in from the window cursorily and stomp on the brakes a moment later.
Geet is in there. Reversing the car, I park it right in front of the small building, pull the letter out of my bag, take a deep breath and step out of it.
After a moment's hesitation, I enter the cafe and just when Geet is about to turn around to walk through the door behind the counter, I call her out. She turns around and one look at her face tells me that she hasn't been doing well. Her face seems pale with bags under her eyes. Even though she appears weaker than the last I saw of her, she flashes her pretty smile as she greets me.
'How come you're here Maan?' Even her voice sounds weaker, like she's suffered from a sore throat or something.
'I came to meet you.' If my answer surprises her, she doesn't let it show on her face.
'How have you been Geet?' Her reaction to my question confuses me a bit as I see her lower lip tremble slightly before she replies in a soft voice.
'I'm good. How are you?' Without waiting for a response from me, she asks another question.
'Would you like something?' Her hand gestures to the counter and I understand she is asking me if I'd like to take something from the cafe. I shake my head.
'I want to talk to you for a few minutes.' She waits for me to continue.
'Can we sit?' I point to a corner table. She nods.
'You go sit, I'll just join you.' With that she disappears through the door and I walk to sit on the same table I sat at yesterday.
A few moments pass as I think about what I'm going to say to her, how I'll ask her about the letter. She sits in the seat in front of me and I notice she's taken the apron off.
'Is your shift done already?' 'No. But the owner gave me leave for a few days until I recover completely.' I raise an eyebrow at that.
'Recover?' Not that I don't know she's been unwell. She fumbles a bit.
'Uh.. I had a little fever so..' I just stare at her unblinkingly and she looks around deliberately avoiding my gaze before looking at me.
'You wanted to talk?' I don't miss on her attempt to divert the topic but I let it go. Putting the letter on the table between us, I slide it towards her.
'This is yours. It fell off your book the other day.' She looks at it curiously before picking it up and opening it.
'Oh,' she exclaims as she reads what it is. I gauge her changing expressions as they switch from a fond smile to a grin and then becomes soft. She looks up at me and says a quiet
'Thank you' but the tears in her eyes alarm me.
'What's wrong?' The question stumbles out before I can stop myself when the tear falls to her cheek. She shakes her head as she smiles and wipes the lonely tear.
'It's just that... I miss my family. That's all.' I don't say anything for a few moments and then I apologise.
'For what?' She asks me. I can't look her in the eyes as I confess of my prying into her personal letter.
'I... I read your letter. I'm sorry. I didn't read the whole of it. The first page only.' I expect her to be angry on me but I look up at her shocked when I hear her laugh softly.
'And you must be wondering what all of it is about, right?' I'm too dumbfounded to respond either way so she continues with some humour in her voice now.
'You should have read the whole of it. The first page was just a little joke my mother has always played with me.' At my still confused expression, she gives me the letter and tells me to read the first half of the second page. I hesitantly take it from her hands and start reading.
"Gotcha! I can see that smile on my daughter's beautiful face now. Do you remember how much you used to get miffed at the mention of your marriage when you were young? It was so much fun to tease you. You do recognise the first page, don't you? If it was my mother in my place and I, in yours, that is what she would've written. I was just trying to get the feel of how it would've felt to be the typical mother who's running after her daughter to get married the moment she becomes a young woman. And who better to test my experiment on than my angry little daughter who doesn't like the mention of her marriage? So tell me, did I pass in my act? On a serious note, you do know that we're not the typical parents who'll force their choices on their children, right? I'm not going to say about you working because we've been through that discussion time and again. All I want you to know with complete faith is that your parents and your sister will be right beside you in your decisions as long as they're logical and practical..."I raise my eyes to Geet in confusion and notice that she's wiping off another silent tear.
'Geet...' She closes her eyes and sighs, her low voice reaching my ears.
'Marriage has always been a sensitive issue for me. I guess it's only natural. So it's always been this way, my mother teasing me about it, saying I'll have to marry someday.' She chuckles slightly and a tear drop falls to her cheek. I understand she's been unwell and it is because she misses her family that she is emotional at the moment, sharing bits of her personal life with me.
-------------------------------------The concern I see in Maan's eyes reminds me of home, of my family's care. I can't keep a few tears from falling out when I see the letter I thought I'd lost. His confession of reading the first page doesn't make me angry, rather seems cute the way he hangs his head. I sense he is curious about the letter and so I tell him to read some more of it. As he reads, my thoughts focus back on my family and I feel like crying again. I've been crying a bit too much for the past three days as I've been bed-ridden due to the sore throat and high fever which made me feel lonely and miss home.
Feeling suffocated in the hostel room, I finally decided to come to the cafe to work but the sweet cafe-owner tells me to take a few days off until I get completely fit. That is when Maan makes his appearance and I sit with him at a table. As he looks up at me after reading the letter and calls out my name, I feel the sudden urge to speak it all out. Perhaps it's my condition which lets me share things with him. Or perhaps it's him, the comfort I feel in his presence which encourages me to talk to him.
'You're scared of getting married?' His attempt at trying to lighten my mood doesn't go without notice.
'Not really. I'm scared of leaving my family alone.' He frowns.
'I don't understand.' 'Let's just say I've had a few bad experiences in life. I can't think of leaving my parents if that time shall ever return...' I shudder visibly enough for him to notice.
'That time..?' His question is reluctant but I can hear the concern and curiosity mixed in the tone of his voice. I sigh, wondering if telling him will be too much of a revelation on my part. A part of me wants to let go and say it but another part warns me to stay shut.
What is he going to think about you Geet? That you're such a cry-baby!-------------------------------------I notice her hesitation to answer me. I don't want to force her to say anything but I want the disturbed look on her face to go away, and the only solution to it is to get her to speak about it. As I think about how to make her feel better, an idea strikes.
'Come with me.' It isn't a command but it's more on the lines of a request. She looks at me confused.
'Where?' 'Somewhere you'll like a lot.' She thinks for a moment and I add a
'please' to get her to agree. She smiles looking at me and I lead her to my car after she gets her bag.
After a silent drive of about fifteen minutes, I park the car and take her down the stone path leading to my favourite place, the one where I often come. As the narrow path gives way to the open area, Geet moves ahead of me and looks around. I let her do that. It's hard not to get mesmerised by the beauty of this place. I take in the familiar surroundings myself in the time that Geet stands there.
-------------------------------------Maan leads me down a path and as we enter a clearing, I can't help but take a few more steps ahead and admire the place. The green grass feels like a blanket, smooth and inviting. My eyes rove around the slope of the terrain when I notice a thin stream flowing in a pond. At the point where the stream joins the pond, there are a few rocks, large, pebble-like rocks which form a natural step-down for the water which flows into the pond. It makes a beautiful sight to behold. Wild flowers grown around the pond bring in a fresh feeling to the place and the trees which form a semi-circle around the place on the other side of the pond provide some measure of privacy and protection. I turn around to look at Maan, who is standing two steps behind me.
'This place is beautiful.'-------------------------------------I smile at her words and turn to my left to walk over to the giant log that serves as a seat. I sit down and pat the empty space beside me, inviting her to sit. She takes a seat leaving a few inches between the two of us.
'This is the place I come to when I miss my father.' I look at the pond while saying this.
'This used to be our hideout, my father's and mine, from the time that I was young. This is the place my father taught me some of the most important lessons of life. Dad isn't with us anymore and this is the place which makes me feel the closest to him now...' I pause for a moment and I hear a low mumble from her.
'I'm sorry about your father.' I look at her to see her eyes trained on her hands which are resting in her lap.
'You shouldn't be.' She raises her eyes to look in mine.
'My father has given me the best times of my life and I will always treasure them no matter how early they ended.' I fix my gaze at the pond, the calmness of the water spreading through me. My voice drops an octave as I speak this time.
'Dad taught me that whatever turn life takes, wherever we have to go in the future, how-much-ever physical distances crop between us, he will always remain with me. He used to say that life is unpredictable, it doesn't always remain a bed of roses. We sometimes have to go away from our loved ones, but that doesn't mean we're leaving them alone. Distances don't matter when hearts are connected.'
Her voice matches mine when she slowly speaks.
'There is a reason why I think the way I do.' I look at her curiously. 'Some things leave a deep impact... They don't let you see logic.' I shake my head slightly,
'I don't quite agree with that. Yes, things do leave impact but it's always in you to decide which way you want that impact to affect you. I don't know what it is that has you fearing leaving them after marriage but-' She cuts me off.
'We've been through a lot of hard times when I was young.' I shut up and look at the pained expression on her face.
'I had a younger brother. We weren't financially.. strong back then and when we found out that my brother had brain tumour, my father couldn't arrange the funds to save his life.' She sniffs, holding herself together.
'After he left us, things only changed for the worse. My father lost his job, his cousins refused to help him and we were forced to... to move out of our house.' She stays quiet for a while and I wonder if I should ask her what connection her getting married has with her painful past.
'It took years for my father to build himself a stronger base for his family, but finally he did. Through all these times, it's just been the four of us supporting each other.' I sigh.
'I don't understand. How does this relate to you not wanting to get married?' She looks in my eyes and answers in a stronger voice.
'I don't want my father to have to depend on anyone other than his daughters if time ever brings him to that point again when he is old and less energetic than he was earlier. If I get married and go away from him, I'll always be worried about him, about how he's managing with my mother all alone in this phase of their age...'I get it now.
'Is that why you work?' She looks surprised for a moment before nodding.
'Yes. They won't stop me from working but they don't want me to work for them
. We've been in disagreement on this topic ever since.' I process her words in my head for a while.
'Geet. I think I understand your insecurities. And I respect the daughter in you. But have you ever thought that you've been holding on to the negativities you've had to face earlier? By believing that the bad times will return, by thinking that your father will have to depend on anyone, and by not trusting yourself enough.' Her eyes revert back to me.
'What do you mean, not trusting myself?' 'Trust the daughter in you, Geet. Just let yourself believe that you will still be there whenever your parents need you after your marriage. Think positive about your marriage. Think about how it'll make your parents happy, how you'll find a... support for yourself. Look at how your parents have been through thick and thin together, look at how they've been pillars of strength for each other. Wouldn't you want someone like that for you?' My words push her into thoughts but I notice that her face looks calm, clear of all the pain she had while telling me about her family. A content feeling spreads through me for two things: one, I've been able to make Geet feel better and two, she trusts me enough to share her feelings with me.
-------------------------------------The person I see sitting beside me, talking about the teachings of his father is so different from the Maan I've known him to be. This person has an aura of sensibility, of calm and of understanding. The trust he places in me to share a part of his life makes me feel very comfortable with him. It lets me share my own insecurities with him without much hesitation. And from how he reacts, I feel that I haven't done any mistake in talking my heart out to him. His words soothe me, they bring an end to the restlessness I've been feeling for the past three days when I thought about the past a lot. As he goes quiet, I ponder over what he's said. He is right. Now that he's pointed out, I have been dwelling too much on the negative. My eyes make way to his form, a small smile on his face lights his features and I accept to myself that this person, who appears to be so jovial and fun-loving to the world, has a very deep personality. As I think about him, I remember my earlier thoughts about his smile and eyes, his appearance not being enough to fall head-over-heels for him. This new side which has unraveled for me makes me rethink my own views.
Maybe he does
have it in him to make him a desirable person...The sun starts to set as we sit in silence, the bright blue sky turning into a enchanting twilight. I don't want to go back to be alone in the hostel room, especially after this comforting time with Maan, but I don't say anything when Maan asks if we should leave. As we sit in the car, I look over at him for a while before I speak.
'Thank you Maan, for bringing me here.' He looks at me and his eyes convey that he knows I'm not just thanking him for bringing me to this beautiful place, but also for being there for me, for sharing a part of him which he holds dear to himself, and for making me see the brighter side of my fears.
'Oh, yes. Just one thing, no one knows of this place, not even Anaya and Ayush. And now it's our little secret.' He smiles at me with a playful wink and I grin. He drops me to my hostel and I make way to my room, deep in thoughts about what I can call this bond between me and Maan.
Is it the beginning of a profound friendship?-------------------------------------On my promised visit to the Khurana house, I'm welcomed with all the motherly love. Mrs. Khurana hugs me and makes me comfortable in the living room. I admire the house discreetly, looking at the decor which speaks subtly of class. Auntie indulges me in her lively chatter for a while before getting up and going to the kitchen to get us some tea with evening snacks. I offer to help her but she tells me not to trouble myself. A few seconds after she goes into the kitchen and I walk to the wall to look at the family pictures hanging there, I hear her call out to me.
'Yes Auntie?' I ask her as I enter the kitchen.
'Geet, do me a favour please. Go upstairs and call Maan, please. I'm sure he'd love to know that you're here and have tea with us.' She smiles as she says that and I panic. I hadn't thought Maan would be home at this time.
'First door to the left in the corridor.' Her instruction leaves no room for me to refuse and I walk out of the kitchen.
Reaching upstairs, I knock on the door which Auntie told me to but no answer comes. I knock again without receiving a response. Rather than knocking again, I turn the knob and the door is unlocked. I poke my head inside to find no one in view so I step in the room to look for Maan. Sweeping my eyes across the room, I freeze in place when I notice Maan coming out of a door at the other end of the room, rubbing his hair with a towel which is hanging on his shoulders. He only has a pair of jeans on him and I gasp looking at his naked torso. The sound that escapes me alerts him of my presence and his hand drops the towel as he turns to look my way. The jerky flip of his head slaps a few strands of his wet hair on his forehead and I can't help but admire how good he looks.
I see the mischievous glint in his eyes and a small playfully evil smile playing on his lips. He takes a slow step towards me and I will myself to step back. My body doesn't comply and I stand rooted in my place as he takes a few more tantalisingly slow steps my way, enough to bring us both at an arm's length. Another step from him makes me take an unsteady step backwards and my back hits the door. A tiny part of my brain wonders when I closed the door to his room but I'm enamoured by his deep eyes looking straight in mine that I don't pay much attention to that trivial detail. He moves closer to me and I know I'm trapped. He brings his right hand to my cheek, touching with the lightest of touches. His head lowers towards mine and my heartbeat picks up at a rate which is audible enough. He closes in further and my eyes droop shut on a will of their own as his warm breath fans my face.
I gasp and jerk upright. Disoriented for a moment when I look around to find myself sitting on my bed in my room at the hostel, I realise it was all a dream.
What a strange thing to dream about! I try to calm my racing heart and panting breaths, wiping off the sweat on my forehead as I wonder why I dreamt of Maan. Or more correctly, why I dreamt of Maan
in this way!
Edited by mayyo13 - 12 years ago
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Cricket
