Radhika had spent a lot of her free time watching TV at home. Lying on the couch with her knees propped over the couch arm was undoubtedly a lousy habit. But how could you resist Bollywood clichs and romantic songs? The cute, intimate scenes that turns her heart into the galloping hooves of horse at the racing course, and the sometimes-mean-sometimes-sweet actions of the hero that raises goose bumps, making her hug herself with a huge grin on her face. Obviously, these are the secrets that are never spoken. Inside her heart that she considers is stupid, exists the wishes that she highly doubted would ever be fulfilled and yet she keeps wishing. She wished for her life to turn into a movie; filmy Bollywood story that will turn her world upside down. She wished to meet a jerk who will fight her, make her hate him and then a sunshine filled morning will shine and he will fall in love with her, sweeping her off her feet with his deliberate and even impetuous actions.
A foolish heart is said to be the one that falls in love easily. But then again, a smart heart has never existed. No matter how fast or slow you fall in love, isn't the point that you fell eventually? Looking beyond the well-calculated and measured actions, so we not end up making mistakes anyway? Maybe it was a mistake, but not all mistakes are regretted.
Radhika couldn't understand the most basic part of the situation. When did she start enjoying Nikhil's presence by her side? Was it when he sang her favorite song with her, or was it when he forced her into her exhilarating wishes on the road? Or maybe it was when he smiled at her that cocky smile with a coke always in his hand. Or that night they spent under the starry sky by the pool, talking about everything and nothing. When she actually thought about it, she realized that it might be even before that and that fact alone scared her. She was scared that his presence and his essence might have become a part of her life, the part she might have craved without even realizing, ever since he had looked at her and told her he had fallen in love with her at first sight. His mysterious aura that was accompanied by a white-shirt-black-tie and a mere coke wasn't as normal as it sounded. He had become her knight in shining armor and the most threatening part of it all was that it was all for her.
The campfire was still smoking at five in the morning. The sun was still nowhere to be found; yet the light had spread through the sky. The tent was open and empty. A guitar laid propped on a rock nearby, silent. The shore was surprisingly quiet too. The only noise made by the waved was the slight splash as it spread to the sand and back, bringing some and then taking some with itself. The sky was so clear like the water itself, it was hard to tell which on is reflecting the other. The sight was beautiful, and one would wish to wake up to such a sight every morning.
However, even the nature cannot compete with the beauty that the two strangers, two friends, or something completely beyond understanding reflected.
"Let's play twenty questions!" Nikhil said, putting his guitar away. There was a huge smile on his face, and Radhika was sure she mirrored his expressions.
"Twenty questions?" She asked. Despite the confusion in her mind, she found it hard to frown now. She was genuinely happy tonight. They had sun at least five songs together. He was really good at playing guitar, but at singing? No so much. But she wasn't the next Indian Idol either, so they had fun singing together in what they called endurable voices. They had already taken dinner and were feeling slightly light headed after a can of coke and migraine combined. They hadn't slept last night, and even though they were sleepy, they kept knocking it off with caffeine. The night felt too short ahead.
"Yeah," He nodded, walking towards the tent. "I ask a question, you answer, then I answer and then you ask." He came back with two blankets in his hand, and threw one at her. She smiled and nodded.
"Okay," She said, wrapping her cold body in the warmth. "Shoot!"
"Let's start with basic." He said with a smirk. "Favorite color?"
"Green."
"Blue."
"Hobby?" She asked. He paused to think. "Besides drinking coke, and befriending strangers." She grinned. Nikhil laughed at her and scratched his neck.
"Football." He told her. "Yours? Besides trusting strangers and running away, I should ask." He laughed.
"Watching movies." She said slowly, realizing it was the truth.
"That's not a hobby!" He objected.
"Hey! My hobbies, my choice! Watching movies is an exceptional talent!" She defended herself. Nikhil shook his head and laughed.
"This should be the hardest question then!" Nikhil winked. "What's your favorite movie?" Radhika gasped.
"Nikhil!" She exclaimed. Nikhil looked alarmed. He looked around and wondered what was going on. "How can you do something so horrifying, terrifying, unbelievably cruel to me?"
Nikhil raised his eyebrows in surprise. Radhika loosened the blanket and crawled towards him. She plopped down right next to him and gave him an smiled at him mischievously.
"Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?" She nudged him. Nikhil rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pushed her closer.
"Joh aap banna chahe." He winked. He had expected her to move away, or go back to her place. But to his surprise, she grinned back at him and laid her head on his shoulder. The both stayed like that, staring into the fire. There was a long moment of silence, until Radhika spoke up.
"Nikhil?" She called. He squeezed her shoulder, letting her know that he was listening. "What's you favorite movie?" Nikhil threw his head back and laughed. Radhika turned to look at him, embarrassed.
"That's what you were thinking about for like last five minutes?" He asked, still laughing. Radhika frowned at him and jerked his hand away from her shoulder. She pushed her hand against the ground and moved away. "Arey? I was just joking!"
Radhika scoffed and looked away. She yelped in surprise when a hand snaked around wrist. "Come on! Don't be like that!" He said. Radhika's heart slightly picked up it's pace, but she didn't show it on her face. He didn't look affected. "It was cute, really!" He said. Radhika rolled her eyes but could barely ignore the warmth that spread across her cheeks. She moved back to where she was, but to her surprise, he made her sit before him and wrapped his arms around her. There was a very high probability that they were drunk, or high. Because when he rested his chin on her shoulder she didn't complain. "Asli pyaar ka matlab use haasil karna nahi hota." He whispered.
"Namastey London." Radhika said with a sigh. Nikhil chuckled.
"Joh kuch insaan real mein chahta hain, actual mein, use wahi milta hain."
"Jab We Met!"
"Shaadi is like daal-chawal--"
"Yeh Jawani Hain Deewani!"
"Mein aaj bhi phenke huye paise--
"Deewar."
"Muchhe ho toh Na--"
"Namakhalal!" She said, more excited by every question. They played nonsensical games, talked about random things and had the time of their life. Until finally sleep defeated them, and both of them slept on a blanket on the sand, right next to each other. His arms wrapped around her and her head on his chest. It had happened somewhere during the sleep...the cold of nature sometimes forces beautiful things.
(Please guys, forgive me for this cheesiness. I have nothing else in mind. #Sad #Tired #NoImagination #NoIdeas #Dead)
The first one to wake up suffers. It is a fact written, shown and known. Of course, calling it suffering or pleasure completely depends on a personality, but it's still suffering. And no, two people do not wake up simultaneously. That's a bit too far-fetched.
Nikhil kept staring at her, because there was nothing beautiful than waking up to the face of woman you love. He bit his lip, unsure of what their future is. He slowly touched her forehead with his and tightened his grip around her waist. He couldn't deny it.
Nikhil had first seen her at a wedding party in India a year ago. She was dressed up in a beautiful blue and gold saree (She was saying it was her first time wearing a saree). Her hair was softly curled, and fell down to chest. She mesmerized him at first sight. He knew he was attracted to her, but didn't call it love. How could he? Love is one complicated thing of zillion thoughts, million questions and no answer.
"Dude!" Raj had said, putting and arm around his shoulder. "She is gorgeous!"
"Every girl looks gorgeous to you." Nikhil had replied.
"I don't deny!" Raj grinned. "But not many to you." Nikhil took his eyes off the party to look at him. "You think she is beautiful, don't you?"
"Oh my god!" Aisha exclaimed behind them. They both turned to look at her. "There is finally someone who got your soft little heart!"
"You guys!" Nikhil rolled his eyes. "I do think she is pretty. But I don't even know her!"
"Then go know her!" Aishasaid with excitement. Nikhil shook his head.
"She is Viraj uncle's daughter. You know how good of friends he is with dad. And I don't want drama. Plus--"
"I don't mind." They all turned to look at Radhika's father.
"You can date her if you want to."
"What?" He had asked perplexed. Raj and Aishawalked away, giving them their privacy. (Probably because they knew he is going to tell them everything.)
"I have known you since you were born, Nikhil." Her father told him. "And there is no other I can trust with my life, like I trust you."
"I know uncle, but she is your daughter. And--"
"She is in her second year of college. And I have already started looking for grooms for her." Her father said, looking at his daughter from afar. "But I don't think she wants to marry yet." Nikhil nodded, unsure of what to say. "If you like her, I want you to step up and try to date her.'
"I would love to uncle, but you know I live in London." He said sadly. "I don't want to get my or her hopes high and then have everything fall apart." He father nodded. This wasn't a movie where everything can work out easily.
"If you ever get a chance, I want you to know that you have my permission." Her father said. Nikhil couldn't express the gratitude her felt at this trust.
When Radhika was planning to runaway to London, he was the first one to be contacted. That's why he had left one of the most important parties of his life that could have given him a deal to profit his father's business. He was more than surprised when his father had called him up and ordered him to get his ass at the hotel.
He had hoped for something, but not for love. He still had a little crush on her, but didn't believe it would ever succeed. He tried his best to ignore the fact that his heart skipped a beat every time he looked at her. But when he spent these two days and three nights with her, he realized that there was much more than beautiful looks in her. She had the magic he had been waiting for. It was her magic that made him fall in love with her. But now he had come to believe his own words.
He did fell in love with her at first sight.
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