CHAPTER 2 - DATE DECIDES FATE
Soumya's POV
Kinjal and Mr. Shukla felt ashamed and left the gym. Everyone expects by this week, Mr. Shukla even vacate their room for what his daughter did. It is not really his fault but he should have seen the truth properly. When Ayush asked him for a private talk, if he accepted it, this situation could be avoided. Sometimes or many times... Fate is so cruel to people and not always cruel to people.... Mr. Shukla and Ayush...
People clapped me for supporting Ayush but some people blamed me for humiliating Kinjal being a woman. I looked at Ayush who is still frustrated by what Kinjal accused and hearing their accusation. He is right at his point and she is about to push him in such a big pit that he can never recover. He needed some time to recover from this shock.
A few women started blaming me now... for humiliating a girl like this in front of everyone... where will her family go now... You should have said this in private... Mean girl... Girls are girl's real enemies... What did you get by saving Ayush... You could have saved Kinjal's respect since she is a girl etc.
I sighed at people's disappointing ideologies. It is not an difficult thing to ignore these things for me.
Ayush fisted his palm and punched his fist at the dumb-bell ruggedly twice. Not only me, everyone is shocked by his action and looks at his frustrated face. His fist bleeds profusely. Before he could punch for the third time, Prashant intervened him by holding his hands tightly.
Prashant - "Bro, are you in the senses? What are you doing?"
Ayush - "At least let them stop after this sound."
Ayush released his hands from him.
Ayush - "First of all, everyone understand something. It is not the issue between a boy and a girl. It is the issue between a culprit and an innocent. Culprit got her punishment and an innocent is saved. That's it. If any men from your family falsely accused of rape, you'll then understand the thing. If anyone blames Soumya for supporting me, the situation would be worse. Understood?"
Ayush shouted from the top of voice. Everyone remained silent.
Ayush then cooled himself down, "Please... Continue your workout...Focus on it. Sorry for the interruptions...."
Everyone goes back and continued their workout.
Saying this, he sits on the stand keeping his hand over his head.
Prashant - "Bro..."
Ayush - "Please leave me for some time... I'll come soon if you have any doubts..."
Prashant and Dileep goes. I am standing there and seeing him. I go near him and didn't speak anything. He suddenly looked at me. He stands up and brushed his frustrations away and gives a smile to me. I am shocked.
Ayush - "Sorry... I was bit off. Thank you so much for what you did for me. You have saved my life in short. I don't know what else to say... But I am sorry for what those women said."
Soumya - "Its okay, Ayush. You're right and so I supported you. That's it."
Ayush - "Thank you Soumya."
Soumya - "Okay, Ayush. I'm leaving now."
Ayush nodded with a smile. I suddenly noticed his bleeding fist where the blood has almost coagulated.
Soumya - "See your wounds, go and apply band-aid for it."
Ayush looked at his hands and nodded with a smile. He waved his hands to me. His gesture has indeed surprised me. He is not really what I think. I come out of the gym.
I could have applied him the medicine, but what would he think.... I looked through the glass door and he is cleaning the blood with the cotton and applied the ointment on it. He suppressed his scream. I felt bad and comes from there.
Soumya's POV ends.
Evening 7 PM
Soumya comes to the apartment from her office. She looks at Ayush playing at the veranda with his dog.
He is holding a dog's toy and raising it to top and the Coco is jumping to the top to get the toy. Soumya noticed him smiling. Soumya noticed the band-aid wrapped around his fist. She is glad that at least he consulted doctor for dressing it.
Ayush bowed the toy down and Coco caught the toy and Ayush hold Coco and embraced it and cuddled it.
Soumya felt emotional on seeing them.
Suddenly Coco looked at Soumya and overpowered Ayush and comes from his hold and approached Soumya. Soumya tried to run, but Coco comes in front of her way. Coco licked Soumya's heels and looks at her. Soumya is little scared. Ayush comes there.
Ayush - "He likes you, Soumya. Don't worry, he won't bite you."
Ayush said assuringly and Soumya smiled with a relief. Still, she is not fully relieved. Ayush takes Coco and brings it to Soumya's face. He asked Soumya to caress its head. Soumya caressed Coco's head and Coco licked her hands. Soumya smiled.
Soumya knelt down as Ayush let Coco down. Soumya played with Coco and smiled at it. Ayush keeps assuring her when she gets frightened. Soumya enjoyed the experience.
Soumya gets a phone call and she takes excuse from Coco and Ayush and goes some distance. Ayush starts playing with Coco.
Soumya - "Hello, mom."
Maya - "Hello beta, did you reach your room?"
Soumya - "Yeah, mom. You tell me, now."
Maya - "A guy from matrimonial site has like you. He sent a request. I also saw his profile. Good-looking and free from all bad habits. I have forwarded the profile to know more about him. If you like him, tell me. Both can go for a date and can marry..."
Soumya - "Mom, stop... First, let me see his profile... Then I decide to date... Then, we'll decide later."
Maya - "Yeah Soumya. First, you see him, you'll like him.... Okay, I'll call you after some time. You see the profile."
Soumya - "Haan, maa."
Soumya cuts the call and looks at the profile. She is surprised to see the profile as it is Ayush's profile. She wondered how he liked her profile. She goes to Ayush.
Soumya - "Ayush, there is something to talk now."
Ayush stops playing with Coco and leave it in his room.
Ayush - "Yeah, you say."
Soumya - "Are you on shaadidreams.com?"
Ayush - "Yes, how did you know?"
Soumya - "You liked my profile and requested for the alliance."
Ayush - "Really? Yeah, I gave request to Soumya Verma... But her face doesn't look like you."
Ayush shows Soumya's profile to him. Soumya was embarrassed.
Soumya - "Actually, it is me. Since mom uploaded my traditional photo as DP where I am wearing a big nose jewel, you cannot differentiate me."
Ayush laughed at her.
Soumya - "Why are you laughing?"
Ayush - "Sorry... Your profile is completely managed by your mom and you're unaware what is there in your profile."
Soumya - "But you cannot even see my face properly, but you gave request. I must be the one who should laugh at you."
Ayush - "I loved your attributes in the profile and the way you created the profile. You neither give too much detail nor too less details. So, I decided to go for it. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. If you don't agree, now I have seen your face too. There is no change in my decision. The decision is now yours."
Soumya - "Okay, when shall we keep it?"
Ayush - "Shall we keep it on Friday Evening?"
Soumya - "Yeah, sure."
Soumya and Ayush entered their respective rooms.
Soumya freshen up and looks at Ayush's profile.
Name: Ayush Mittal
Age: 26
DOB: October 31, 1994
Ed. Qu. : M.Sc in Nutrition and Dietics and Certified Fitness Instructor by NASM
Profession: Fitness Instructor and Blogger
Salary: 4 lakhs per annum
Interests: Fitness, Sports, Science and History
Expectations from the match: specifically none
Soumya - "The profile looks impressive, he is good-looking too. But his attitude is of jerks and behaves arrogantly... He is mostly in grumpy mode. Is he a worthy person to date? Maybe I can get a more ideal guy than him in terms of everything."
Soumya says to herself... Maya calls her through the phone.
Maya - "Hello, Soumya. Did you see the profile?"
Soumya - "Yeah, mom. He looks good, but..."
Maya - "What?"
Soumya - "I have mixed feelings... Is he a worthy guy to date or not etc...?
Maya - "Why did you feel so?"
Soumya - "Actually..."
Maya - "Wait, I'll turn the speaker on so that your dad also could hear..... Now say, beta."
Soumya - "Actually, he is working in our apartment gym. In fact, he resides opposite to my room. He is too arrogant with people and shows attitude..."
Prithvi - "Then..."
Soumya - "But he is quite caring too, and somewhat humble... Also, he came to the flat only by yesterday."
Maya - "It is quite early to judge him, beta. You ask him about all this during the date. Maybe your assumptions could be wrong."
Soumya - "I am also thinking that only..."
Prithvi - "Okay, now you don't think anything much. You are just going to date him. If you didn't like, say it directly to him. No one would force you."
Maya - "Are you bothered of his job?"
Soumya - "No, mom. I am fine with his job and salary. Only his behavior..."
Prithvi - "Don't confuse yourself. Keep yourself open-minded. God will show the path for you."
Soumya - "Thank you papa and mama. Bye."
Prithvi and Maya - "Love you dear."
They cut the call.
*****
Friday / 5.30 PM/ MADCUP CAFE
Soumya enters the cafe in a white Churidar and red shawl. She keeps her hair free and has a handbag with her. She looks for a free table, but she finds Ayush there in a lonely table. Soumya was surprised that he is here even before her. He is wearing a black shirt and jeans with coolers and gazing at his phone.
Soumya goes near him and Ayush sees her and smiles.
He keeps his mobile and coolers in his shirt pocket and stands up.
He comes near Soumya and make her sit first and then he sit on the chair. Soumya is impressed and surprised by his gesture. She smiled at him.
Ayush - "Are you wishing to drink tea or coffee?"
Soumya - "Coffee."
Ayush orders two cups of coffee.
Soumya asked concernedly, "Are you waiting for long?"
Ayush smiles, "No, I am earlier by 10 minutes."
Soumya smiles and thinks about what her mother said - If he seems good and impressive, try to love him at the place.
Ayush starts the conversation.
Ayush - "You're looking beautiful."
Soumya - "Thank you, Ayush. You're looking good like always."
Ayush smiles, "You're interested in..."
Soumya - "I am interested in computers and knowledge."
Ayush - "And you followed it as a passion and now you're an IT employee. You're great."
The waiter served them coffee. Both start to sip the coffee.
Soumya - "Yeah. Are you in the Fitness Field because of your passion?"
Ayush - "Yes, Soumya. I am basically more interested in Boxing and Football and participated in many competitions. So I am supposed to visit the gym and from there, I developed my passion and interest in the field. My dream is to be a Fitness Coach at ICC. I am working for it."
Soumya - "Are you not worried about money?"
Ayush smiles, "No. I am much happier with what I have. Other than that, I am earning a handful of money as compared to other people in this field."
Soumya - "You're so confident... Impressive."
Ayush - "What a coincidence! We become flat mates before we come to date."
Soumya - "Right..."
Ayush - "I think, you have some questions to ask... But you're hesitating."
Soumya gets shocked by this remark, but managed it, "No, I am not hesitating."
Ayush - "Come on, Soumya... You're free to ask questions now as we are on a date. I promise, you won't feel uncomfortable because of this."
Ayush said reassuringly.
Soumya - "I am quite confused about you. Sometimes you are sweet and sometimes you're angry. So I cannot understand you."
Ayush - "Yeah, I got it. I always keep my social circle small and limited. So, I don't easily mingle with people. So people misunderstand me to be angry. I am just a serious minded guy and I have such type of approach towards my goal, work and passion. I hate myself procrastinating and delaying things. But these ethics are only for me and I won't thrust on others unless I am related to them professionally. I mean, as a fitness trainer."
Soumya found his words impressive, but still she didn't clarity on him. Ayush understood her situation on seeing her.
Ayush - "You might be thinking about my behavior in the gym and towards the two girls... Right?"
Soumya looks at him. Ayush chuckled.
Ayush - "It's simple. Girls don't like when some guy of random, stalks them or touch them inappropriately or takes their photos or looks lustily. Same with guys, but we cannot reveal it openly."
Soumya nodded.
Ayush - "Yeah, Sometimes I enjoy when someone looks at my workout and compliment my looks and all. But if goes overboard, I cannot tolerate. We are not things and we have the right to reject if someone proposes. Coming to Kinjal, she is just 20 but she stalks me everywhere and I warned her many times. But she didn't heed. So I warned her. About Payal, she just has infatuation and everything is cinema dialogues. She is just living in her dreams. So I crushed it."
Soumya - "I can understand why you behaved like that in the gym when they welcomed you, now. Even you told me that I am dreaming always."
Ayush - "Celebrations must be held only after success. I am extremely sorry for that remark as I felt you're disturbing her."
Soumya laughed, "True.... But you could have said that politely."
Ayush - "But I am like that. Sometimes when people think me as an arrogant guy, it gives me a heroic feel."
Soumya - "Because people think if good-looking gets angry, he looks hot, so that their eyeballs comes out on seeing him like that."
Soumya and Ayush chuckled.
Ayush - "But I am proud of my attributes. Because I love myself."
Soumya - "Self love is the first priority. Only if you could love yourself, you could love your better half."
Ayush smiled.
Soumya - "By the way, you're not exactly what I think. You come under silent and serious category. But you open up at the right time. You're sweet."
Ayush - "But I am super hot and sexy. Now, around 5 girls are staring at me."
Soumya - "Are you looking at the 5 girls or me?"
Soumya pouts and Ayush laughed.
Ayush - "No. I said in assumption. Maybe more than 5."
Soumya - "You're bragging now."
Ayush laughed.
Soumya - "Ayush, don't take it wrong. I am an IT employee with a more salary than you... I know you won't get insecure...."
Ayush - "I won't get insecure that you're earning more than me. Yeah... Society will make judgements... But I have my senses intact. Don't worry."
Soumya - "Thank you Ayush."
Ayush - "There is no need of thanks. It is just a basic thing."
Soumya - "Yeah."
Ayush and Soumya smiled.
Ayush - "On a serious note, what do you think of me? I mean what is your final opinion?"
Soumya - "I am confident that we would make an ideal pair. I like you, Ayush. I am sure that like turns into love."
Ayush holds Soumya's hands, which are kept on the table. Ayush and Soumya share an eye-lock.
Ayush - "I promise you that I would give you a happy life and be a lovely husband. I don't make you regret for choosing me. I'll take care of your parents too."
Soumya - "I am also promising the same to you, Ayush."
Ayush and Soumya paid the bill and comes out. Ayush clicks a selfie with Soumya.
Ayush - "First selfie for fantastic life..."
Soumya - "Second selfie for successful life..."
Ayush - "I'll meet your parents tomorrow and soon you too meet my mother."
Soumya - "Sure, Ayush."
Both leaves the cafe.
To be continued...
Edited by RadiantSpark - 2 years ago
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