"I remember now, I remember everything about last night" said Abhay. I was startled. He advanced towards me and cupped my face, "I remember everything pia" tears rolled down his cheeks. I wanted to speak but I fall short of words.
"Oh! I don't know how it all happened…I am so…I am so happy that it did. I never thought this would occur, you and me together." he said hugging me.
"Abhay, please" I said releasing myself from his arms, "whatever happened last night was nothing. You were drunk and I got emotional after hearing everything…that you said and we kissed no big deal I was just comforting you. Fortunately we didn't cross the line. Let's not make a big deal out of it. It means nothing."
I don't know why but he looked ransacked. It seemed like he was disappointed and heartbroken. I was waiting for him to say something but he remained silent for a while, those moments were difficult to get through.
"It means nothing?" he finally asked.
"Does it mean something?" I retorted hopelessly.
I don't know why misha, but I hoped that he would say yes, yes it means something. It means a lot to me pia, It means my life but all he said was, "I guess it means nothing then. You're right we should not make a big deal out of this. All happened in a moment's weakness and nothing else. Let's pretend it never happened. We will always remain friends no matter what."
"Exactly." I replied disappointed and furious.
"Exactly" he said and left.
"How could he? He came to you, hugged you and said he is so happy then what happened? Even if you denied having any feelings for him but still he could have said something to change your mind or you know he could have expressed his feelings more clearly?" asked misha interrupting pia.
"Huh! Why would he have wasted his time on me? I gave him all signs to "bugger off" like he said; he knew I would not give myself up. He would have thought why waste your time on someone who is clearly not interested instead of "pleasing" girls who give up to my charms? That girl he was with at the lake was one of his toys and I don't want anyone to treat me like I am some kind of a toy with whom you can play for a while and then throw it off" Answered pia furiously.
"But you had feelings for him, didn't you?" This question of misha was like a stake that went through pia's heart.
pia's eyes filled with tears, she looked at misha and confessed, "I still do."
and burst into tears. misha hugged her and tried to console her. It was evident that pia was in love with Abhay even though for him love was just another word. pia wept and cursed herself for being so stupid as to fall in love with a guy who had no reverence for her or anyone else's feelings for that matter. A person who can kill anyone without blinking.
"You know I could never understand him. One moment he was this very sweet and caring person and in the other he's this mysterious, dangerous being that I should stay away from" explained pia wiping her tears.
"What did you do then?" misha asked inquisitively.
"After a lot of thinking I decided to gradually part ways with him. I wanted to divert my mind so I went out with alina and her friends. We went to a club. Even the loud music couldn't keep my mind off him. I was sitting at the bar when someone said, "So I finally found you, huh?" I turned around to see Jey smiling at me.
"Hey! How have you been?" I was rather surprised.
"I am good, how have you been?" he asked sitting beside me, "Aliens abducted you or what?" he asked jokingly.
"Oh I wish!" I replied sipping my drink.
"Why would you wish that?"
"You know sometimes you feel like getting away from all the people that you know and…"
"You mean escaping?"
"Ughh…not really. Well I guess yeah escaping only."
"Who are you escaping from?"
"Well, I don't know."
"Come with me." He held his hand out to me.
"What? Where?"
"Let's escape this world for a while." He smiled
I grabbed his hand and nodded.
"Where are we going?" I asked for the fifth time.
"Trust me, will you?" he said for the seventh time.
I sat quietly throughout the drive. Finally, after a long drive he stopped the car and we got out, "OH MY GOD!" I exclaimed.
"Yep, thou art welcome to the Renaissance Faire Lady dobrial" he said in British accent and bowed like a perfect gentleman. In reply I curtsied and said, "thank you weird " and we both laughed out loud.
We entered through the gigantic arched door into a completely new world. Like any other renaissance fair there were magicians, jugulars, Knights, Kings and Queens and what not. "See, you finally managed to escape the world" Jey said smiling at me.
It really was an escapade. As far as the eyes can see, there were people dressed up in clothes of Elizabethan era. Jugglers juggling balls, magicians performing tricks, gypsies dancing, jousting tournament, "You know I've been to these fairs several times before back home but to actually experience the Elizabethan England in real England is something different," I was awestruck.
"This…this is reason I brought you here," said Jey excitedly, "you looked so distressed in the club and I didn't like seeing you that way. If something is bothering you then you can share it with me. May be I can help you."
"Ugh… no there's nothing wrong, I was just…umm…homesick," I laughed nervously.
"Are you sure it was nothing else?" he questioned sternly.
"I assure you." I smiled.
"Okay then Lady dobrial let's get into the mood of the Renaissance and forget our boring computerized 21st century." He held my hand and took me to the gypsy dance theater where the dancer was performing belly dance and people were going completely wild. "Isn't she hot?" Jey asked me. I giggled and said, "The man on the drums is way hotter." Suddenly my phone started ringing. "Oh It's mom," I said looking at the screen. "I have to take this. I should go outside or else I won't be able to hear her voice," I said to Jey and walked out of the theater.
I informed mom where I was, she got so excited and started asking questions about Jey and his whereabouts finally coming down to conclusion that "he seems good for you." I finally hung up and turned around to go back to the fair.
I decided to look around myself as I was not interested in seeing that dance again. As I was walking and checking out the fair I stopped to see a fire spinner. He was playing with the fire; fiery orange orbs were cutting the merciless path through the black. The sound of fire scorching the air was setting my heart aflutter and the heat from the flames were forceful enough to encompass my body and soul into those forbidden and indispensable realms of passion. And then I saw him, saw his beautiful but deceiving face on the other side of those fiercely burning flames. I wanted to call him, reach out to him but I couldn't do it without passing through this dangerous fire and surrendering my soul to its eternal blaze.
"pia." I came into my senses again.
"pia." I cannot surrender myself to this deceiver. I shall not burn my soul for him.
"pia." I turned around quickly. "There you are. I've been searching you everywhere," Jey was panting.
"Where were you? You took so long." He questioned me.
"I was talking to mom and then I was watching this spinner…this fire…that's so." I replied startled.
"Ah, you're amusing yourself here and I was searching you all over." He looked at me rather curiously, "Are you okay? You look as if you have seen a ghost or something." He laughed.
I tried to gather myself and smiled in response. "Shall we go?" he asked.
"Yes." I uttered.
I woke up feeling good as if God has rid me of all my troubles. I burned everything, everything in that fire; His memories, his confession, the kiss, any feelings that I had for him. I was feeling triumphant. The fire which was eager to consume me was now only repenting for igniting in me. I got ready and rushed downstairs. I was feeling so lighted and happy; there was a smile on my face. I searched for aunt in the kitchen and drawing room but she was not there. Then I went outside to look for her. The rays of sun brighten my heart even more. I embraced the morning. I went to the garden and darkness took over me. He was there, right there talking to my aunt. Everything seemed to have come back to square one. I walked gloomily towards them.
"Good morning honey," aunt wished me, "I am going to the hospital. You talk with Abhay and I'll see you later."
"No, you don't have to go alone. I'm coming with you." I retorted.
"It's okay, I'll be fine. You can come there later." She insisted and left me with Abhay.
"Hey" he finally opened his mouth.
"Hey"
"Can we go in and talk?" he asked and I nodded. We went inside.
"Do you want some coffee?" I asked.
"Sure, thanks."
As I was making coffee he stood beside me.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you." He said breaking the silence.
"What?" I said looking at him.
"I don't want our friendship to get affected in any way after what happened that day. Let's pretend nothing happened, okay? I don't want to lose a friend like you for a stupid mistake. We'll always stay friends no matter what happens."
I looked at him confused. Will it be all right to stay friends with him after everything that had happened? His plead was genuine and I couldn't help but giving up.
"Okay" I could say nothing else.
"Really?" he asked excitedly.
"Yeah" I smiled.
"Thanks a lot pia." And he hugged me. He looked into my eyes, still holding me and said, "If you wanted to go the fair, you could have asked me to take you."
precap... abhay taking pia for dinner ...
CID
777