CHAPTER-7

(Misti Pov)

I looked at Arnab and he approached me with a charming smile on his face and said "Sorry. I am late because...." before he could finish his sentence I stop him and said " It's okay. No need to explain."

Ma looked at me with a surprised look in her eyes and Arnab looked at me and by the look of his face I knew that he felt sad, maybe I was rude more than anyone expected.

I felt bad now I did not want to be rude I just felt annoyed that he was late and reacted in that way. I looked at him and before I could say anything to him, Ma said to me " Doll, come on let's cut the cake, now everyone is here."

I silently follow my mother and walked towards the table where the cake was placed, everyone gathered around the table including Arnab and Baba lit the candles and I took the knife and blew out the candles and cut the cake and everyone wished happy birthday to me.

After cutting the cake everyone took one piece each and enjoyed their cake and Ma and Baba took one piece and they fed it to me and Sristi joined them and took the piece and shoved it into my mouth playfully.

I looked at everyone and noticed Arnab hold his plate but did not eat his cake, I excused myself from my parents and sister and I walked towards Arnab and when I was in his backside I cleared my throat to seek his attention and he instantly turned towards me I gave him a little smile and asked him, " Do you not like cake at all or this flavor particularly?"

He gave me a confused look and asked "what?" and then he noticed his untouched plate and said, "I love cake and this particular flavor is my favorite."

Now it's my turn to give him a confused look and before I could ask him anything he said " You are angry with me .. so. I just can't enjoy this cake " and after a few moments of pause he added again " when the birthday girl is upset I can't enjoy birthday party right."

I laughed out loud and assured him that I was not angry with him and now he can enjoy the birthday party and he grinned and he finished his cake instantly.

"Hey, slow down, otherwise you will choke," I warned him.

Archana joined us and handed me a gift packet and I gave her a confused look and before I could ask her anything else she said "It was by him and he thought you are angry so he handed it to me and requested to give it to you. Now take it."

I took the packet and said to Arnab, " You can give it to me by yourself."

He said to me " Yeah. I can but you are so angry, I thought at least today you are not going to talk to me."

"No no, it will never happen. She can get angry with anyone but not with you at least not for more than hours. You are special." Archana finished the sentence and I looked at her in shock and could not say anything for a few minutes and then I regained my sense and said "Shut up Archana ." and looked at Arnab with embarrassment and said to him, "Please do not mind anything. You know her right!!! She does not think of anything before speaking."

Then I paused for a few moments and was about to apologize to him but he said to me "I want to talk to you about something important." Then he turned his head towards Archana and said to her "If you please excuse us. I want to talk to her alone."

Archana grinned and said "Okay" and left us alone.

Arnab walked towards the furthest corner of the rooftop and gestured me to follow him and I followed him quietly and I felt nervous and when we stopped at the corner, it was relatively a quiet place because no one was near this corner. Arnab looked straight at my eyes and said "I want to be alone with you because it is important and I want to tell you this since I meet you. But I am afraid how you will react."

Now I practically heard my heartbeat it was so loud I was overly excited about what he wanted to say to me and looked at his eye expectantly and he said "I like you a lot... I mean a lot more than just friend ..... I mean. I mean."

Before he could finish his sentence I asked him, "Do you mean you love me?" I finally asked him those words and he nodded and said "I think so.. But..."

I looked at him curiously and told him, "I do not get it."

He just gave me a small smile and wanted to say something but at that moment some of my relatives asked me for the photo session and I had to join them unwillingly.

Time passed quickly and it was almost 10.30 P.M everyone was either enjoying their dinner or already finished it and gave compliments for the food.

I wanted some alone time with Arnab and really wanted to know what actually he wanted to say to me and if he was really in love with me why he hesitated to say it and moreover why he used the word " But..."

Ma told me to join my friends and Sristi at one table where they were sitting and waiting for their food Arnab also joined them already. I went there and joined my folks I looked at the table and the chair at the left side of the Arnab is empty and Arnab being a gentleman pulled the chair for me and I sat there and Arnab sat next to me and soon everyone started to enjoy their food I looked at Arnab he looked at me and said " We will talk about it later. Now enjoy your food, I know how much you love the food, so enjoy it. "

Though he said these words in a whispering tone I looked at Sristi and Archana and they both gave me a what is going on the look, I ignored them and looked at others they did not notice our conversation, they were busy among themselves. I started to eat my food and as usual, all foods were too yummy... I knew it very well when Arnab told me that he would tell me later I knew he would do that. He always kept his promises.