I didn't know how to react, the guy was acting like a stranger all day and now all of a sudden he's being so caring and thoughtful. I decided to return the bracelet back to him but something in me was telling me not to. But then he can't always get away with everything he does. I went out of the room and went straight to Abhay's room. I knocked his door but nobody answered. I knocked again but he was not responding. Disappointed, I came back to my room again.
Later that afternoon everyone decided to explore the country and the best way to do it was riding on a bicycle. Abhay was not to be seen anywhere in the room.
"Riding on bikes is a good idea," commented angand.
My eyes were searching for Abhay. "I wish Abhay could come too," said alina all of a sudden.
"Where is here?" I couldn't help asking.
"I don't know. He said he needs to go somewhere and won't be able to join us. God knows where he went," explained alina.
I wondered why he was playing this game of hide and seek. May be he was giving me a cold shoulder to see how I'd react. I wanted to wait for him and stay back but then I thought that would give him an upper hand over me.
"Let's go then," I said with a fake smile.
There's no better way to experience classic English countryside than a leisurely cycling tour. We stopped at very stops to take pictures and to eat and drink. Throughout the ride I wondered about Abhay's disappearances. I wanted to call him and even picked up the phone several times to dial his number but my ego or self respect came in between.
In the evening everyone decided to hit a nearby pub.
"I'm going back," said I 'because I am not into drinking and I wanted to go the cottage as soon as possible to see if Abhay came back.
"Oh come on! Don't be a spoil sport," said alina coming towards me, "this is a good chance for you to know neel," she whispered in my ears.
Those made me want to go back even more. "I am really tired and I want to make some important phone calls," I made up lame excuses.
"Will you be able to go back alone? I mean it gets confusing sometimes," said alina concerned.
"No, I remember the way back to the cottage. I'll be fine," I smiled and rode back on the cycle to the cottage. All throughout the ride I wondered if Abhay came back. I finally reached my destination and ran inside the house. There he was, my blue-eyed devil, lying on the couch sleeping. I moved towards him. He always looked angelic while sleeping. I watched him sleeping, smiling to see him resting in peace I went to my room.
The box containing the bracelet and the note was still lying on the bed. I lay beside it and took out the bracelet and wore it. I felt really good wearing it. I kept looking at my hand, admiring the bracelet and blushing. Then I fall asleep for a while. I woke up when someone knocked at the door of my room. I quickly take off the bracelet thinking it might be Abhay.
I opened the door, it was the housekeeper. He came to ask about the dinner.
"Where's Abhay?" I asked.
"I don't know anyone by name but there's a guy who is sleeping on the sofa," he said in heavy accent.
"He's still sleeping?" I inquired.
The house keeper nodded. "Well others won't be back until midnight I guess. So there's just me and the guy on the sofa. Umm you can cook anything you want," I said answering his question.
"Anything? Can't you be more specific?" he was annoyed and left.
I decided to go and check on Abhay. He was still sleeping on the couch. I sat on the ground beside him. He looked so peaceful; he was sleeping like an infant. I wanted to caress his forehead but I held back and got up. I got out of the house and sat on the porch. I thought about going back to my home, going away from London. Only then I could find peace. I was lost in my thoughts when I felt someone standing behind me.
"What are you doing here?" said the familiar voice. It was Abhay. I turned around to face him.
"Everyone is at the pub. I decided to come back," I answered.
"Why are you sitting here? It's getting cold here. Come inside," said he. It felt good to see that he cared.
"No, I'm fine here," I said getting up.
"For how long you've been sitting here?" he inquired.
"10-15 minutes I guess. I was resting in my room before that. I needed some fresh air so I came out." I answered.
"You were resting in your room? How long have you been here?"
"2 hours to be precise."
"2 hours?" he was inquisitive, "why didn't you wake me up then?"
"I didn't want to. I mean there was so need." I said nervously.
"You didn't go with them to the pub?"
"No, you know I don't drink and they have planned to spend the whole night drinking and "merry making," I said rolling my eyes.
"You did the right thing. Come on, get inside now," he said grabbing my hand. I pulled my hand back forcefully.
"Sorry," said he. He looked appalled. I didn't face him and quickly went inside the house. He followed me.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked almost shouting as I was about to enter my room. I stopped for a moment, took a deep breath and turned around to answer him, "I am not hungry if you want anything you can ask the housekeeper."
"Okay," he sighed.
I turned back to open the door of my room when he shouted again, "so you're sleeping again?"
I turned around and answered, "No, I'm thinking of watching TV."
"You came all the way here to watch TV?" he asked sarcastically.
"We explored the country in the morning and I don't think there's anything left to see so why not watch TV then?"
"Aah how was the experience of exploring the beauty of this place?" he was being sarcastic again.
"It was wonderful being so close to nature. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've been to. It's like Garden of Eden you know," said I admiring the beauty of the place.
Suddenly the expressions on his face changed. He looked stunned, the grin from his face disappeared and he wasn't looking uncomfortable anymore.
"Garden of Eden?" he asked almost whispering.
"Umm yes," I answered. He shook in head in disbelief and walked out from the cottage. I wondered if I said something wrong. I stood there wondering when after a few moments I saw him entering the house. He looked uneasy.
"I want to show you something," he said with a stern face.
"What?" I asked.
He folded his arms firmly on his chest and said, "I'll tell you that tomorrow. I think they might be going for rafting tomorrow so you must frame a story to excuse yourself."
"Won't you be going with them?" I asked inquisitively.
"No, I'm not here for a vacation. I have other reasons. So I'll not be joining them. Please make any excuse so you can come with me because if we tell them the truth then they would think otherwise," he explained. I wondered where he wanted to take me. I was curious to know but I knew he won't tell me. But the important question was - Do I want to go with him?
"What if I don't want to come with you?" I asked abruptly and then wondered what I was doing.
He raised his eyebrow and asked, "What? Why wouldn't you want to come with me?"
"Because I want to go with them. I want to go for river rafting too," I said shaking my head.
"So rafting with them is more important than me?" he looked furious.
"You're no longer important to me Abhay because you're not my friend anymore. We ended it, remember?"
"We? You ended it. I never wanted to end it. I will never end it. You're still my friend no matter what the you think. We will always be together, we're meant to be together," he said with watery eyes.
"I wish. I sincerely wish that we could be friends but we can't and that's the fact."
"I'm asking for forgiveness here be a little compassionate. I would do anything to be with you. I need you and I know you need me too but you won't admit it. I know I am not a good guy but I can be good for you, I can change myself," he said coming towards me, "I never felt this way about anyone before. Every time I see you I feel like holding you, holding you tightly so that you'd never get away from me. Everything that I ever loved was taken away from me and I can't let that happen again. You belong to me and only me."
I was astonished to hear this but I was happy too. I could sense that his feelings were genuine. He actually loved me, he wanted me, and he needed me. For a moment if felt like heaven has showered all its blessings upon me.
He cupped my face with his hands and looked straight into my eyes. His blue eyes were drenched with tears. There was pain and hopelessness in his eyes. He rested his head on my forehead. Tears rolled down from his cheeks. I wrapped my arms around him.
"Why do you do it? Why do you make it so easy for me to hate you?" I said holding him tightly.
"Because I am an insecure person. I can't let anyone take you away from me.", He lifted his head to look at me, "Promise me now, promise me that as long as I'm alive you will not leave me, you will not break our friendship," he voice was breaking. He held me tightly.
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I partly opened my eyes, I was half asleep. I saw a black shadow that appeared to be of a man. I closed my eyes and put the sheet on my face. I felt someone climbing on the bed and lying beside me. I finally woke up and put away the sheet from my face to see what was happening.
Abhay was lying beside me, he was looking at me and smiling. His bright blue eyes were sparkling; his black hair was covering his face.
I got up immediately, "What are you doing here?" I was astonished to see him in my room.
"Good morning Sunshine," he smiled.
"Abhay what are you doing here in my room?" I asked again.
"Is it my fault that you left your door opened?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"The door was opened? How stupid of me." I exclaimed.
"Exactly," he said shaking his head. He was teasing me. I gave him my "mad look". He chuckled and moved towards me, "its 7 am you know, everyone is sleeping and they are not going to wake up for at least 2-3 hours. May be we should lie down too...just lie down." And he laid on the bed. He patted on the sheet asking me to join him.
"I'd rather sit," I snapped.
"Your wish. Hmm it's so comfortable, so cozy," he was teasing me again.
I crawled on the other side and sat beside him. "I think they are all wasted," I said rolling my eyes.
"They had quite a time in the pub. Thank God you didn't go there otherwise you'd be vomiting in the bathroom and I'd be holding your hair back."
"Oh come on I can handle myself." I said in my defense.
"Yeah sure," he said rolling his eyes.
"Yeah is it my fault that I'm not an "experienced drunkard"?" I asked sarcastically.
He laughed and said, "Good one!"
"You said you wanted to take me somewhere?" I inquired.
"Yea, actually it has a very significant place in my life and I want you to witness it," he explained.
"Really? What's the story behind it?" I asked curiously.
"I shall tell you when we reach there."
"alina wouldn't like it if I refuse to go with them. Last night too I excused myself and if I'd do it again it will just add fuel to the fire. I don't want to come across as an arrogant jerk," I explained my situation.
Abhay laughed and said, "Let her know the reality."
I grabbed the pillow from the bed and threw it on his face. "I am sorry...I am sorry," he said laughing.
"You're such a devil," I said pouting, "I won't talk to you now."
All of a sudden he stopped laughing and turned serious, "You promised me, remember? You promised you won't leave me."
I was surprised to see this change of emotion. "I was just kidding. I'm not serious."
"Oh...okay!" he was relieved to know. Things got really awkward at that moment.
"I'm still sleepy. I think we should sleep now, they won't be getting up any soon," I said looking at the clock.
"Hmm you're right we should sleep now," he said covering himself with the sheet.
"Excuse me?" I asked startled.
"Shhh off to sleep now," he said closing his eyes.
"What I meant is that we should sleep in separate rooms, on separate beds, away from each other," I said loudly.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I am trying to sleep here," he said annoyingly.
"Okay, I should go for a walk then," I decided to teach him a lesson.
"No, wait," he said quickly getting up.
"Don't leave. I was just playing with you. Here the bed is all yours now. I'm leaving, you can sleep now," he said climbing down from the bed.
"No, wait. I am not that sleepy. Give me 5 minutes I'll be back from the bathroom." He nodded.
When I came back I saw him reading my novel. "You carried this here too?" he asked in dismay.
"Do you have a problem?" I asked climbing on the bed.
"Not really but there's a world outside books you know."
"I know."
"You want a fairy tale, don't you?" he smirked.
"What's wrong with that? Everyone wants to have the "perfect" life," I said in my defense.
"Yea, but life is not always perfect. Nothing is perfect. Everyone goes through hard times, it's inevitable."
"People in fairy tales go through hard times too but in the end everything turns out to be fine. I'm not escaping from the hardships that life bestows upon you but I'm hopeful enough to wish for a happy ending, to wish that everything will be fine in the end."
He smiled, "You're right after all, all's well that ends well," he kept silent for a moment then continued, "What do you think about us? How are we going to end up?"
"I don't know. I don't have the slightest idea," I sighed, "Well on the second thoughts we'd end up fine, really. See, I know we fight a lot but in the end we will only remember the good times. One and a half month is left for me to spend here and then I'll be going home. We won't be able to see each other for a really long time, maybe forever. We'll get busy with our lives, our careers and might cut down on the talking too. Gradually, we will forget about each other."
He looked disappointed and asked, "This is what you call a "perfect ending"? This is what you think will happen to us?"
"Eventually," I replied. He nodded.
"It would have been great if you'd lived here, I mean...I wish your father didn't move from here. Then we'd always be seeing each other. We didn't have to separate," he said frowning in distress.
"I wish that too. I'd really miss you all. I had a really great time."
"We will miss you too," he said taking my hand. I lie down and put my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating. We remained like this for long. I was so much at peace in his arms. We were in a state of tranquility.
precap...Abhay finally "Confesses" his true feelings and pia reacts in an unusual manner...
Edited by abhiyan_soni - 13 years ago
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