Chapter Seven
The Damsel is Distress
"That's it-that's it! Just drop me off here, I wanna walk from here..." I shouted suddenly, halting out my hand for him to stop.
I didn't mean to do it alarmingly I just had a thought that was all, which was that I was not ready to go home in this sober state after all this massive showdown.
"What the hell is wrong with you girl!!!" Virat roared back, "Seriously! We, are in a moving car, and you just want me to let you off in the middle of nowhere at two in the bloody morning! Is there something wrong with your damn brain Manvi!"
He wasn't joking when he decided to have a go at me, he even manoeuvred the car by the pavement to park for a few seconds while he blasted me. I felt like I was burning from embarrassment and was shrinking right before his very eyes.
In fact I changed my mind I felt like killing him!
All I wanted was to clear my head tonight, and instead I ended up in this huge mess that had my brain overworking way over its pay grade, but the irony of my situation was that I had no idea where to start explaining all this to him. I took a deep breath before I began.
"First of all. Don't flippin' shout at me alright! I ain't two years old that I can't handle myself at 'two in the morning'" I repeated in his tone and tried my best to make it sound even more terrible then it did to my ears.
If I wanted to get a bit of fresh air I didn't see why I had to seek permission from him.
"Yeah well you sound like one right now even if you ain't!" He revved up the car and put it into gear and starting moving with speed this time, "now don't make me put that seatbelt on you, otherwise I might end up strangling you with it in the process" he threatened without looking at me.
He seriously looked mad. I sulked aloud and made an aggressive sound before slumping back into my seat and crossed my arms but continued to blow huffs and puffs during the remainder of the journey, but it didn't seem to affect him, and instead I was the one who got more mad!
"I mean what I said about your seatbelt - do you hear me" he said this time with a cooler yet hostile approach.
I turned my head to look out the window to ignore him, and then suddenly, as if god had answered my final prayers for the night I saw a late night mini Turkish supermarket still open! Just as I was about to express my joy and reason for wanting to stop, I felt the car stop a lot more abruptly than before this time and his arm reaching over me to force the seatbelt over. I panicked at first from the sudden attack but soon decided to oppose.
I grabbed his hand in the process and gripped onto it with all my might. I caught a glimpse of his confused face, but it was soon replaced by an irritated determination, as he brought forward his spare hand to free himself from me and then attempted to hold me down instead while he tried again.
I squealed pathetically and leaped forward to bite his hand, "I swear I'll bite you if I get close enough."
"You just bloody well try" he hustled.
"I." He leaned in closer to control me, and by now I'd lifted my feet up to push him away and dug my hands into his hair and started to pull - Jesus! His hair was thick to get hold of! "Am." I managed to say after great difficulty.
He finally held both of my hands down and grabbed my hair to keep my head still and ruining my braids in the process. By this time I was tired as hell. I couldn't believe how strong his grip was, he literally had me captured in that tiny confined space without hurting me once. By the time I saw his face his groomed hair was in a terrible but cute mess and before I could help it I'd burst out laughing!
His angered face lost it's charm within seconds, and by the time he was in a position to make me listen to him, confusion dwelled on his features like kingdom come.
"Wh-what? What is it" he asked sullenly.
My stomach was on the verge of splitting with the terrible stitch I had, and I could feel his grip loosen over me gradually, so I used this opportunity to make an exit from the car, but nonetheless I couldn't stop laughing one bit. I was bent over in the empty streets holding my stomach and trying to ease it from the pain, I hadn't laughed like this for ages!
By this time Virat had finally shut the engine and come out of the car himself. It seemed as though he felt slightly embarrassed and to shove that foolishness off he buried his hands into his pockets and sat on the bonnet of his car with his legs slightly crossed at the ankles in attempt to redeem his cool image.
"Alright, I get it" he said gloomily, "joke's over" he nodded with a smirk on his face, clearly trying hard not to laugh.
I, on the other hand couldn't stop. I was in stitches and quite simply put, I didn't wanna stop.
I put my hands on my hips and asked him to give me a minute, "I'm sorry, I can't help myself" I said between hysterical laughs.
He chuckled under his breath and came towards me, "come on Manvi, let's get home, enough of all the arguing" he said in a retreating manner as he tried to help me get back into the car with more ease this time.
I finally caught my breath and stopped laughing to look at him more seriously, and tried to explain between breaths and loose snickering, "when I was trying to stop you from putting on my seatbelt" I pointed out, "I wasn't retaliating, I was just trying to stop you to tell you that there's a shop over there from where I wanted to get something from urgently, and that was why I fancied a walk home from back there so I could get some clean air into my lungs and do some thinking" I sighed, "and from there I just dunno how we ended up like this" I finished throwing my hands up in a finale.
"Really?" He said after all that, "I thought you were just tryna be awkward like you always do."
"Heeey" I said, not missing the sarcasm.
He retreated again with his hands, and nodded as he gave me the go ahead to walk towards the shop, "go on then, go get what you want from the shops and let's head home."
"Thank you" I squealed with joy this time and rushed forward to tousle his hair deliberately and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek, "I've gotta admit that although it's rare, sometimes you're just too cute" I confessed as I weaved my arm through his.
He made a sound, and followed by saying "weird but true also about you it seems."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Don't dwell on it babe, nothin' lasts for too long."
I shook my head, always ruin it with the babe part!
"Erm..." I hesitated before I begun, "do you have any wong on you?"
"What?! You're tryna tell me that all this time you've been making this commotion and you haven't even got any cash on you. You're unbelievable!"
"Alright" I sulked, "don't be too harsh on me I totally forgot that Madhu took my purse," I defended, "but I'll pay you back" I offered enthusiastically as I stumbled on my feet.
"You bet you will" he muttered as he dragged me along with him.
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"How much is the Glenfiddich bottle please?" I asked as soon as I got in.
I could feel Virat's glare over me, and I knew had I told him before of what I wanted he would've ran me over with his own damn car. I avoided his gaze and immediately replied that "I'll take it" before he could answer, and by now even the badly spoken English Turk had noticed something may have been off as he said "thirteee-seven-ninety-nine," with his dodgy accent.
"Yooou'er 'aazbund?" He managed to ask through broken words, as Virat placed his debit card over the counter.
I giggled like a schoolgirl and replied, "nooo." I looked back to see Virat's face, but he seemed uninterested by the comment, so I thought I'd surprise him. I turned back to the Turk to say "although he is my boyfriend" and then whispered "but I know he's planning something big for when he proposes to me" and made sure it was loud enough for him to hear.
This time Virat's reaction was hilarious, he hadn't known what hit him as he keyed in his pin.
"Ah you ah veerry luckee fellaa huh" said the Turk as he handed our bottle to us and as a courtesy put a few glasses in the bag for us with a cheeky smile and a wink.
"Thank you 'abee'" replied Virat and addressed the Turkish guy in the manner they usually addressed one another amongst their community members, and as he did so he playfully gripped his hand round my waist and pulled me closer to him and nuzzled his stubble into the side of my neck to gently peck his lips to my cheek.
I was completely taken back, I thought I'd be leading Virat on and he'd totally turned the tables leaving me speechless, and more to the point I couldn't believe he went the few steps further. As soon as were out of the shop I'd flung him off of me, "what the hell Virat?"
"What" he said still sounding very much in character, "I just thought I'd warm you up for the surprise dear."
"Thanks but no thanks" I said losing interest and unscrewing the whiskey bottle.
"Seeing as I paid for it," said Virat snatching the bottle from my hand, "I'll make a toast to our sudden wedding announcement."
"It was a joke" I gasped whilst stealing it back from him, "and besides, I told you I'll pay you back for it, so technically it's mine."
"Not so fast" he said taking it back from me, "you haven't paid me yet, so at the moment it's still mine."
"But...-"
I'd run out of words by this time and Virat was already gulping down huge sips of my bottle.
"But," he imitated my helpless tone after me and continued "seeing as I was in actual fact your 'knight in shining armour' tonight I think I deserve this more than you don't you think?" he informed rather correctly much to my dislike. "Here" he said after a dull moment, slumping the bottle in my hand.
"Don't be too gentle about it" I remarked, but wasted no time in drinking as much as I could before he would jack it again.
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"Can you at least drive slowly," I protested. "Like cruise, since you're insisting that you wanna walk me to my bedroom door" I moaned while I rolled down the window and breathed in the fresh air.
"If I go any slower I'd lose a race to a tortoise man" he complained.
As promised Virat got us home safe and sound, and I knew the minute I stepped in I would have to answer a million and one questions to everyone. I didn't even know whether Gaurav and Maya were still around or if I even wanted to face anyone else after all that drama. The pressure was just building up and I couldn't handle it, and I especially didn't wanna put up with anything right now.
"I thought I'd never see the damn place" said Virat as he switched off the engine and rolled up the windows.
I on the other hand wished I wouldn't have to for a little longer, "well I certainly owe you thanks, that's for sure" I said, knowing my speech was beginning to slur as I spoke.
I lagged behind Virat as he went inside the building, hoping he wouldn't notice that I'd slowed down but of he course as usual he did.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing" I replied, "I just feel way too sober to face everyone right now after all that, and I don't feel ready for it" I added, revealing a real reason to him for once and for all.
He walked back to me, and put an arm round my shoulder, "look Manvi, sometimes - well actually most of the time, things tend to happen in a way we could never have imagined, but the bottom line is that we have to deal with it, and facing the people involved is usually the first step in the process of dealing with this kind of shit."
"Yeah I know" I said escaping from his grip and walked back toward the greenery in the field, "but one of the reasons I came to the airfield early before the holidays even started properly was to get away from shit just like this" I confessed, "I mean I deserve a break" I justified desperately in my drunken state and pointed a random finger for emphasis, "but I was stupid to think some stupid summer romance would do me good, instead I stuck my foot in a pit of quicksand and I'm sinking into it faster then a bloody shipwreck or whatever it is that gets sucked into it." I unscrewed the bottle and gulped a whole lot more and tried to find that bench I was sitting on the night of the barbecue, but gave up quickly and sat my arse on the damp grass to hear the crickets singing around me.
Virat came quietly by my side and sat down with me, I gave him a childish look. He didn't say anything, he just stared at me as if he'd just had a glimpse into my life without warning.
"I get that you have your problems Manvi" he said as he relaxed by putting his hands onto the grass behind him and stretched his legs out in front, "and like you said to me earlier," he referred to our conversation in the bar. "I won't ask what the nature of your problems are, but let's just say that those problems ain't here with you in the airfield right now, so don't make irrational decisions based on what you've been through in your past."
"Hmm-hmm" I mumbled as I'd heard what he was saying but couldn't quite let it register entirely. I was on the verge of getting drunk right now and I think I didn't want anything to make sense. "I just wanna be alone for some time okay, I mean I would go back to the apartment but I feel kinda guilty since all that stuff happened back at the club, and I don't wanna face Gaurav" I said again and resumed with my whiskey.
"You won't have to face him if you don't wanna" Virat suggested confidently.
"And what if he's waiting in our apartment, then what?" I asked with a loud mouth and long slur.
"Then I'll tell him that you don't wanna talk to him," he answered like it was obvious.
"No, I don't wanna hurt his feelings," I said, "I'd rather just sit here and wait for him to go, but you don't have to wait here with me you know. You've done enough, and I'm very grateful for it. Truly."
"Are you serious, I've been watching out for you all night and you think I'm just gonna leave you here when we're right outside our room!" He pestered.
"Alright, don't go moaning, I was just saying for your sake."
"Well don't" he ordered and grabbed the bottle from my hand again and drank a huge amount from it.
I was getting way wasted and I could see the dark starry night spinning around me. I wish I could just fall asleep here, I didn't wanna move. I wanted to hear songs! "Me and Tennessee" I shouted.
"What the hell?" Virat shouted back as he stood up to get me under control.
"I wanna hear that song" I blurted in my pathetic drunken state, "you must have heard it" I shouted again unaware of the voice level that would be correct to use at this time of the night. "You know it goes..." and then I did the worst thing ever, I sang it out loud! To him! "Baby I think we both know its gone wrong, wrong-wrong and I know you don't think we can carry it on..."
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I panicked as I caught a glimpse of the digital clock on my phone, "one o'clock!" How could I have slept for so long! Shit! "Shit, shit-shit," I shuffled in my bed to fling off the duvet and make a stand. Whoa, talk about head rush, I fell back onto my bed to calm myself before reattempting to abandon my abode. I could hear a ton of voices coming from the main lounge perhaps everyone crashed here last night. I barely remembered changing into my nightshirt when we got in - when 'did' we get in? I shook the thought off, "I could have drank for Britain last night" I changed into a baggy pair of jeans and a loosely fitted t-shirt and bound my untamed hair into an elastic before dashing it over the front of my shoulder and head out determined to make it to the bathroom without making a stop.
"Manvi" Jeevika called out.
Damn it, I couldn't blank her.
"You alright" she called again suspiciously.
"Yep fine - thanks" I announced without looking, "keep an eye on the door for me will you, I won't be two minutes." Thank gawd I made it. I couldn't risk taking a shower with so many people outside and besides I hadn't grabbed any spare clothes as I was too occupied with plotting my quick escape to the bathroom.
I felt so much better after brushing my teeth but my head was in the verge of splitting in two, I needed tea, I wondered idly if Madhu had made any.
"Where's the tea?" I asked as soon as I got out.
"Are you asking Jeevika?" Viren urged to speak, "we usually drink juice and stuff in the morning, but if anyone wants tea we go down to the restaurant and buy it" he shrugged.
He was serious. Did she refuse to make it, or didn't she know how to make it. Oh man I seriously needed tea for this headache and I couldn't be bothered to argue.
"You don't look so lively, tell one of these guys to go grab you some" Viren said again bobbing his head in the direction of our so-called guests.
I rubbed my temples to ignore his terrible hospitality skills and waved them all off. I stepped into the kitchen area to put a pot of elaichi tea on and left it to brew while I slumped into the sofa and threw my knees up.
"So, what are you guys up to?" I said uninterestedly, "hey Clare. Boys." I added to greet Stuart and Josh after a lazy yawn, "did you guys crash here or something last night?"
"No, we usually spend Saturdays slouching around before grabbing a game of pool later on" Joshua filled in, ignoring Stuart's reply of the same who gave me a quick nod in accordance instead.
"Well well look what the cat finally dragged in" Virat at last spoke without making any eye contact.
I immediately threw the spare cushion resting by my side at him while his on screen Street Fighter player Ken fired ruthless hadoukens continuously at Baji's player, Guile, but my off screen attack took him by surprise allowing Viren to strike two surprise sonic booms at Virat's flamboyant Ken, knocking his energy crucially off at the end.
"Dammit" he hissed, "that was foul play Manvi" he fussed pointing a shrewd finger at me and returned quickly to the game trying his best to gain victory over his opponent once again - which he did so seamlessly.
It seemed like Viren did suck at the game.
"Says the guy who corners his opponent unfairly" I remarked.
"It's called skill yeah, something I don't expect you to understand" he defended arrogantly.
"Don't talk about me like that! You don't know shit about me" I argued. I could totally kick his sorry ass in this game, I'd been playing it since I was a kid, literally. "Don't mind Viren, but are you planning on making Guile's combat useful during this bloody fight?"
"Viren's actually pretty good Manvi" Stuart stuck up quickly, "it's just Virat who's too afraid of losing, so he likes to stay ahead of the game to grab himself an easy victory by cornering his opposition."
It probably meant that Stuart didn't stand a chance before Virat either, that's why he was defending Baji with so much dignity.
"Who's actually beaten Virat here?" I asked around curiously.
A thoughtful look spread across everyones faces, including Jeevika who'd taken a break from painting liquorish black Essie polish onto her nails with so much precision whilst sitting on the floor using the coffee table as an adequate dresser for her manicure. Well almost everyone, Clare remained busy with her nail buffer too eager for a high shine.
"David can beat him from time to time, but Gaurav's by far his toughest opponent" Josh informed truthfully.
"Oh yeah, I should have known that" Jeevika squeezed in disappointed at her memory but continued with little remorse.
"Like I said, skill" said Virat with twice the emphasis that was needed.
I rolled my eyes at him and got up to sieve my tea, "what about you Jeevika" I said ignoring Virat's remark, "haven't you ever beaten him?"
"Hmm?" She muttered nonchalantly as she moved onto painting her toes, and then several seconds later my question must have dawned upon her once again. "Me!" she startled, "I don't play the computer I ain't interested in wasting my time with children's games like these idiots."
"Hey!" Everyone attacked, including me. Hell I was offended here, I was an addict once I started playing, what was so bad about it.
"Totally" said Clare supporting Jeevika by offering her gratitude from the deepest depths of her most fullest disapproving expressions she could offer.
"You don't know what you girls miss out on" Viren said, trying his level best to sound friendly, mostly toward Jeevika.
"They're worried they may chip Chun Li's nail" Virat chuckled not removing his attention from the TV screen.
"Nice one bruv'" Stuart praised bumping his fist against Joshua's, who was already pounding his thick rubber soles against the laminate flooring in a fit of laughter to fuel the taunt.
"Frankly I think I would be quite worried about that" Clare confessed with far too much concern much to my mild frustration.
"Quit ganging up on me, just 'cause you pricks need an excuse for your lazy entertainment doesn't mean I'm always bothered about minor appearance details okay" Jeevika defended with a bitter voice, "I mean what kind of girl do you think sits there and plays frickin' Street Fighter all day long?" she blurted without thought.
Damn! I should be hiding my face right now, while my inner conscious eagerly wants to raise her hand to say 'me me me', of course me! As kids it was impossible to get us away from the Sega and Nintendo, I used to be addicted to all the games my brother and his friends used to play because it was all we ever had and to be honest I never knew if there were any girls that used to play the computer much in those days. A few of my school mates in secondary school used to play Smack Down - something I never played - but that was about it.
"And who's Chun Li anyways" I heard Jeevika's voice infiltrate through my thoughts.
"Clearly a girl interested in all the wrong things if she's not worried about damaging her nails" Clare muttered once again.
"Oh she's the Chinese girl that wanted revenge from M. Bison for killing her father" I enthusiastically answered remembering shortly in between my sentence that this was something both the girls clearly disapproved of, "and erm she's, er... mostly famous for her kicks" I finished off reluctantly running my tongue over my top lip to stop myself from talking.
"You did not just say that" Jeevika stared at me impassively.
"Oh yes she did" Clare responded to her remark with a hoarse tone and a significant nod.
You win - sounded from the TV followed by Ken's personalised comment until the background music from the game played too keenly behind their staring faces during the moment.
"You must have played once in your life at least, right?" I said in a puny voice shrugging my shoulders at the same time and resorted to a foolish grin. This was getting awkward and I had no idea why!
"No Manvi" Jeevika snapped at me, "girls aren't into those kinds of games" she informed with rebuke, "we had Barbie dolls to tend to like normal girls," she quoted.
Ouch, Barbie dolls - like seriously?
"Yes - exactly" Clare seconded, "I would go mad if anyone even touched my Barbie, I was so possessive over all my dolls" she intrigued.
I wanted to roll my eyes so badly, in fact it was worse, I wanted to throw up all my Gin or whiskey or whatever the hell I drank from last night so I wouldn't have to listen to this squirming conversation.
"Please tell me you owned a Barbie" Jeevika practically ordered me to confess.
My lips were sealed.
"Polly pocket then?" She almost begged.
I gulped, "er you know what I was never the kind that was into dolls and stuff you know" I added with a nervous laugh, "in fact I actually hated dollies - I mean really hated them."
"Well boys, isn't this a surprise," Virat butted in, "we're living with a girl who only looks like a girl, well she did for one night anyway" he teased.
"And she's into Xbox" Baji added in a Joey Tribbiani style nodding his head to some secret that entertained him alone, "and you know what I wanna see you kick Virat's butt" he egged on in the spur of the moment.
Virat's attention was prompted like a house on fire, "Viren man honestly you think she could beat me, all you fools put together can't beat me and you think I'm gonna get beaten by a girl! Oh my friend how I am disappointed in your judgement" he amused contently but his means of humouring himself failed to disguise his curiosity of foreseeing me as a worthy opponent.
"Oh come on Viren, not now, I'm really not in the mood, and I've got the worst headache in centuries" I pleaded.
"See she's already scared" Virat announced to defame me in front of everyone.
"Hey" I responded at once, "I am not scared, okay! I'm just a little hungover and if you don't mind I'd like to chill out."
"Yeah you sure were hungover" remarked Josh, "man you were totally out of it."
"What do you mean?" My shocked tone reeked with a squeak.
"I mean when you got in, or shall I say when Virat carried you in" he said glancing over at him, "you could barely talk, and boy oh boy was Gaurav flipping" he chuckled.
"I know poor thing" said Jeevika, "he really threw one when he saw you in Virat's arms," she added, "I swear Manvi you should have seen his face, if that was anyone else I could tell you he would have ended up in a punch out."
"Oh my god" I said throwing my face into my hands, "I can't believe he saw me like that and the fact that Virat carried me in" I wanted to bury myself and never show my face. "I thought he would be gone by then that's why I wanted to take my time."
"Uh-uh not Gaurav," said Clare, "he wanted to make sure you were alright, but man when he saw you were more then alright in Virat's care" she said mischievously whacking Virat over his head. "Maybe I should do that next time and then you can carry me to my apartment one day too" she winked.
"In you dreams" Virat muttered.
"Oh I'd bargain for that any day," Clare answered dreamily, "you have no idea."
"Virat I'm so so sorry" I apologised at once, "I really had no idea that-"
"Hey it's cool Manvi, like I said to you that time 'if you were in my arms you wouldn't even know where you'd be the next day" he replied becoming the prick I met from day one.
"Yeah well when you said it, I'm sure you didn't mean it in the context that resembled last night's status" I snapped back.
"True say," he agreed, "but it was all the same nonetheless right?"
"Very funny," I responded, "but when you said it you meant something else" I argued.
"You guys are like cat and mouse man" David butted in, "last night you were sound asleep in his arms, and today you're at each other's throats again, now that's what I call entertainment bruv," he smirked.
"I wouldn't particularly use the words 'sound asleep' in that sentence," Jeevika joked.
"I totally agree with that" Viren added.
"What now?" I literally wanted to scream but squeaked instead.
"You were mumbling something while you were in his arms," said Clare with confusion "it sounded like some guy's name if I'm not mistaken like a Karan or something."
She pronounced it more like a 'Caron' but that of course wasn't nearly as important as the fact that I'd mentioned his name.
"Er I'm sure you didn't understand what she was saying" Jeevika intruded quickly, "she was drunk at the end of the day" she filled in and gave me an assuring look.
I could suddenly feel my breathing growing uneasy, I knew if I said another word I would end up in tears. I was grateful to Jeevika for ending the conversation there but I wondered what Virat knew of all this, I cursed myself for having said too much in my drunken state.
"Yeah I suppose" Clare finished with a shrug and continued to file.
"Erm" I gulped before talking again, "did I er" I paused between words and hesitated like mad "say anything in front...erm" I could feel everyone's blazing stare drilling a hole into my flesh literally, "er Gaurav?"
Clare burst out laughing, "as if."
Jeevika clarified the matter to me quickly, "what she means is that me and Clare got shocked when Virat bought you in - well as a matter of fact everyone did - but obviously we rushed to take you into your room, but Virat of course had to carry you in, and when Gaurav tried to intervene Virat quite frankly told him to back off and I can tell you he didn't like it one bit Naku."
I looked at Virat straight away but he didn't meet my eyes, he chose to remain idle in wait of continuation with the game it seemed although I could tell he was absorbing everything in. Something about this guy just kept me on my toes, he was totally different in front of the whole crowd and he was another person when he was alone. I remember him reassuring me that if I didn't wanna see Gaurav then he would make sure that I didn't, and I guess I didn't.
"So basically what I'm saying is that whatever you said, you said in front of me, Clare and Virat, but don't worry no one could make out quite what you were saying" she assured.
I took a sigh of relief and grabbed my pot of tea and mug to my room without offering it to anyone, unable to lift my eyes to look at anyone on my departure. "I'm gonna just head to my room" I mumbled for the sake of not being rude.
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I felt like trash! I was so furious with myself for the way I'd handled things, but the truth was I hadn't handled anything I'd only made things worse, and since I'd arrived here the worst thing I done was believed that anything could brew between me and Gaurav. I felt so worthless and more to the point I felt sick thinking about the amount of alcohol I'd drank. I sat down and then up again, the state of my room was ridiculous, I tossed my duvet onto the floor and picked up my jumpsuit from last night and flung it into a corner where it wasn't visible anymore. Everything from last night disturbed my mental peace! I sat down on my bed again and dropped my head into my hands and tried my best to fight back an emotional breakdown - I'd done such a good job in avoiding his name that I'd almost made myself believe that I had forgotten him - but after hearing his name just once from Clare's mouth made me realise how I would never be able to move on from him. Even if I had to agree to remember him just to remind myself of how much I hated him. I could never know how to love again and day by day I was more sure about this than anything else in my life.
There was a subtle knock on my door before it opened. It was Jeevika.
"Hey" she consoled in a light voice, "what's wrong?" She asked whence she saw the state I was sat in. "Things aren't that bad Manvi. You were just as drunk as any of us - if anything - we all had a good time thanks to you."
I didn't feel like talking just in case my voice broke off the second I opened my mouth.
"Look" she sighed "I know that this Karan-"
I instantly looked up and flinched from the name as soon as she uttered it. It was probably now obvious to her that I was almost horrified from the damn name.
"I-I'm sorry" she acknowledged my reaction and understood that I didn't wanna hear his name. "This 'dude" she started again afresh, "is the prick that messed you over and I won't say its easy to move on, 'cause truth is I don't know shit about what went down with you guys, but all I am saying is that you can't let one guy have such an affect on you. That just the sound of his name is causing such misery in your life even during his solid absence."
"I know" I managed to say in a meek voice, "but it's not something I can help myself with. I wish I could. But I can't. I don't know how to."
"Well I do" she lit up as she always did whenever she had a great idea.
I cheered up just as fast, and I believe anyone would if they got to witness her tenacity as often as I did in such a short time. "I'm not surprised" I said effortlessly, but I was tired and terribly hungover, "but I really don't have the energy to do anything right now Jeevika."
"Don't worry Manvi, you don't have to do anything" she informed, "except relax."
I gave her an odd look, and glanced over at the door significantly highlighting the gatecrashers we had on the other side. Which made it practically impossible to do anything but relax.
"Just go sit in a nice long relaxing bubble bath, and I'll tell the boys to divert to Gaurav's apartment. That'll also keep him occupied since he's called six times for you, but don't worry" she said before I could intrude "I've already told him not to come round. I'm aware you'll want him out of your way today." She said like a beloved sister she was proving to be, she tucked a loose hair behind my face. "How's that sound?" She asked as she rubbed my back and comforted me with a warm smile.
"It sounds great" I confessed with a huge lack of energy, "but to be absolutely honest, it just sounds to good to be true" I admitted regretfully.
There was another knock on my door. Who could it possibly be this time?
"Manvi?" Gaurav shouted from the other side keenly, "Manvi" he called out again with a further series of banging. "I'm gonna come in" he voiced unsure.
My face was too busy reacting to the sudden surprise he'd given me, along with the bloody fright from his fist banging against the wooden door. "Erm, yeah just one second" I shouted without thinking only to find Jeevika's face alarmed with a scrutinised glare almost screaming 'what the hell are you doing?'
I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head indicating 'I had no idea where that came from'.
I jumped to rearrange my duvet back onto my bed as neat as I could in literally two seconds and stuffed my clothes into the wardrobe and forced it shut. I ran my fingers through my hair and Jeevika opened the windows to let the fresh air into the room and sprayed a perfume on me - god knows why - and placed me on the bed to sit me down. She gave me a nod to let me know that I was all set, but just as she left she slumped my mug of tea into my hand and gave me a thumbs up as she opened the door to Gaurav and greeted him with a quick hug and left soon after.
"Hey" he said in a subtle voice and knelt beside me. This sure felt new, and I couldn't help but swallow a tiny formed knot in my throat.
"Hey" I said back in an almost croaky voice and concealed it with a smile.
He placed his hand around mine that circled my mug of tea, while his other rested on my knee.
I figured I should have started with something, but he put his thumb over my lips to keep me quiet before tracing his hand against my cheek to tame a few hairs that probably didn't need removing. One hand still stayed around my mug with my own.
"First of all I'm sorry" he said with lowered eyes. "I know I shouldn't have said anything to that bartender, but I..." he hesitated a great deal, and it was apparent on his face. He closed his eyes to regain his motive and continued, "I don't know what came over me Manvi and I know we agreed that we'll take things slow-"
"Look Gaurav-" I intervened half-heartedly.
"I've dumped Maya" he said abruptly and taking me by complete and utter surprise.
I didn't know what to say! I thought he said things were complicated, I didn't get it. I didn't want this, not right now, not at this moment. I stood up, and placed my hand over my forehead in attempt to overcome the pain from the throbbing headache I had from last night. "You did..." I stopped midway trying to choose the right words, "I mean you..." I struggled immensely to find an adequate answer but this was way above me and I couldn't think of a thing to say.
"Look Manvi" he said coming before me and securing my face in his palms "yesterday made me realise I can't see you with anyone else. That's what I wanted to tell you when you got home," he added "but then I realised you were in no state to acknowledge anything I'd have said to you last night, especially the way Virat carried you in" he finished bitterly towards the end and I frowned at his change of attitude.
"Gaurav" I said sternly to get his attention for it was all over the place. "I don't know how to tell you this, but" I could tell this was going to be hard, "I don't think me and you was ever a good idea, and I strongly believe we should just try to become good friends before anything else."
"What are you saying Manvi?" He asked coming closer again. I moved away just as fast and I could see he wasn't gonna take this easily.
"All I'm saying is Gaurav that I don't appreciate the way you went behind my back with James-"
"Who?" He shot back.
"The bartender guy," I acquainted in agitation "and all that commotion for something so small was just not worth it" I argued, "if I can't trust you with something so small when we're not even in a relationship then how am I to trust you when we are in one?"
"Why is that stupid flippin' bartender so important?"
"He's not!" I snapped. "Don't you get it?" I asked again. "It's not about him, it's about 'you' and your 'ego' issues," I highlighted, "you assured me something else and yet you had no intention of keeping true to your word yesterday and I can't find any reason whatsoever to appreciate that kind of behaviour."
"I just didn't wanna see you with anyone else-" he insisted on being right. I couldn't believe it.
"And you won't" I said irritated to my very core, "because I'm not gonna go out with you, or that bloody bartender or anyone else that comes along!" I informed justly so he would lay off. I turned my away from him because I was certain I'd end up in tears any minute or so, and I didn't want him around me if I did. My eyes strained to their deepest depths but luckily for me they managed to stay dry, "I'd be grateful if you would just leave for now" I whispered in despair, "please."
I couldn't hear any movement or shuffling. When I looked back he stood with his head low as though he was relaying everything that had gone wrong in the past twenty-four hours. I walked toward him and lifted his head to make him look at me. "Please don't make this any harder" I begged, "if you're worried about Maya then I'll talk to her for you."
"No" he said quickly, "I'm not, in fact I'm glad that I was able to tell her everything clearly, this won't change things with her" he confessed. "If anything, it's the one good thing to come of this disaster, but I'll still say, give me a chance Manvi."
I inched closer to him, and spread my height onto my toes using his broad shoulder as aid to plant a kiss on his cheek, our eyes met briefly and I was first to break the contact.
"This doesn't mean I'll give up" he promised gently as he turned to leave.
I managed to stretch a carefree smile and shared the lighter side of the comment, "is that a challenge?"
He showed his appreciation by releasing a short-lived laugh that only sounded a bit of air from his nostril and I accepted that as his genuine reply for 'no hard feelings' between us.
"Are you coming outside?"
"I'll be there in a bit" I replied for the sake of not refusing the man twice in the same day.
I know I've updated literally after ten years, but guys I won't give no excuses, because after all it will just sound like excuses. But for all those messages I've had from so many of you, I'm truly grateful to know that even after such a big time gap you're still interested in my stories which makes it a true pleasure to write for you.
To get back into the flow this is a pretty laid back chapter following the previous showdown that happened in 'Pretty Woman', so I've mellowed down in this one but don't worry things will soon become more complicated for all the characters in 'Walking on Sunshine'.
I hope many of you will still read with a keen interest and all feedback will be much appreciated and accepted.
Thank you all for reading!
Tink
Edited by tinkerbe11 - 12 years ago
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Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
