3

Our shocked gaze struck at eachother's as maybe he too realised what he was doing.

"S....sorry... I...uh... I.. I mean..."

He stepped back hastily in guilt.

"It's ok..." I mumbled with my eyes down gulping.

"We ....should go back now." he said rather reluctantly. I just nodded in response.

We then turned around going back to where our friends were. His hand was casually swing down and mine was holding down my kurta. Suddenly the back of our hands brushed eachother's and...my heart jumped to my throat when our surprised gazes met again. Something more than just surprise in them. It was just a split moment but....it said a lot without words before we immediately looked away to the opposite directions.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok. It wasn't on purpose..." I gave a nervous laugh.

Although, I wished it was.

"No, not for that." He said and stood in front of me halting my steps.

"Mujhe pata hai ki aase u milna galat hai. Shadi se pehle ghumna-firna, baat karna...jab ki aapne toh abh tak apna jawab bhi nahi diya. Par kya karu, I can't stop thinking about you. Mai pagal ho raha hu. I never thought that mai kisi ladki k liye itna diwana ho sakta tha. But.... I am for you. Mai aap pe apni pasand force nahi karna chahta, but please... can you atleast try to think about me in a way that shayad mai aapke liye sahi ladka hu? Rahina.... I really like you and maybe I'm even falling in love with you. Kya aap mere bare mei aasa nahi soch sakti?"

(I know that meeting like this before marriage, going on dates etc is wrong while u haven't even given your answer yet. But what can I do, I can't stop thinking about you. I'm going crazy. I never thought I could ever go crazy for a girl. But .. I'm for you. I don't wanna force my choice on you, but please....can you atleast try to think about me in a way that maybe I'm the right guy for you? Rahina.... I really like you and maybe I'm even falling in love with you. Can't you think the same about me?)

∆∆∆∆

"Aa pagal! Kya kar rahi hai?"

(Hey idiot! What are you doing?)

My bro said as he saw me banging my head to the wall.

"Kuch nahi....tu ja!" I yelled.

(Nothing....you leave!)

"Idiot!" He spat and went away.

IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT! I'm such a huge, enormous, gigantic-idiot!

He told me his about his feelings soo sincerely but what did I do?!

I walked past him like a zombie. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!!!

He must've felt terrible! I should've atleast said something. He must be in the context that I don't like him....but I do! I do like him too!

He's such a gentleman. Or else, nowadays, who thinks about a girl's dignity and respect in society soo much? I should do something before it's too late.

And I know just the thing....

∆∆∆∆

Before going to bed after dinner, I went to my parents room.

"Mummy...."

"Ha bool guddi. (Yes, say doll)

"Mummy, wo jo aaye the na..."

(Mom...the people that came...)

I began melting shyly, somehow gathering all my courage to my frozen tongue.

"Kon log?" (Which people?)

"Aree wohi..." (Those...)

"Kon?" (Who?)

"Wo ladke wale?" (The boy's family)

"Ha ....toh? Tu tayaar nahi hai na koi baat nahi. Hum wahi baat kar rahi the. Tension mat le, hum unhe mana kar denge." She said.

(Yeah...so? You're not ready (for the marriage) so no problem. We were discussing about it too. Don't worry, we'll decline the proposal)

"Kya?! Kyu?!" I almost screamed.

(What?! Why?!)

"Q matlab? Hum tujhe force nahi karna chahte my baby." Dad said carrasing my face.

(What do you mean why? We don't want to force you my baby.)

I was panicking now.

"Nahi! Mana mat karo please!"

(No! Please don't say no!)

They both exchanged glances

I took a deep breath as I was already blushing like a Tomato by then.

"Mai...shadi k liye tayaar hu."

(I'm ready for the marriage) I finally said.

By the next day, my parents conveyed to his parents the good news. I'd never seen my parents soo happy because of me, not even when I top my exams. None of our elders knew that we had met before. ThankGod! So now that I have said yes, they decided for me to meet Uzair officially with a presence of a Mehram.

Ashna did all my makeup and Saima choose my clothes to doll me up for our meeting. I was so nervous.

"I'll try my best to be the ideal husband you might've always dreamt of. I promise." He said and made my heart flutter.

"I'll....try my best to be perfect for you and your family too." I replied blushing.

I'll never forget that smile he gave me at that moment.

The elders fixed of the date. Well, not the exact date but, I have to finish my bcom and soo considering that they fixed it later. During our meet he said one thing that made me respect him even more.

He said,

"Even after our marriage if you want you can do a job, and as long as you want. But, whatever you earn, please give it all to your parents. Because, I want to be the one to fulfill all your wishes. No matter what the burden, we'll both share it together. I can't promise you a perfect life but.... I want to give you a happy and satisfied one."

OMG! I'm going crazy!!! Yeh toh meri jaan le k hi manenge.

(He'll be satisfied after taking my life)

He's soo sweet, kind, a true gentleman. No sign of the manly ego or anything. The way he addresses me with 'Aap' while he himself is 3 years older than me. OMG! He's definitely making me fall head over heels in love with him.

××××

I was soo happy that my life was going well and everything was going smoothly with no worries by God's grace, a perfect fairytale! But as they say too much happiness is not always good, that's how it turned out for me. My happiness became shortlived too as.... I came across HIM!

∆∆∆∆

It was another one of our secret meetings that our parents didn't knew about obviously. We bought some food from a cafe and decided to have a little private picnic on Saruban (white beach) Spreading the mat, we sat with our food laughing, blushing, joking and listening to the waves.

While we were talking, Uzair's ever so smiling face suddenly changed into an angry one as his smile vanished. His eyes were struck behind me.

I'd never seen him like that before. I was afraid, being the chatterbox I was, if I said something abrupt to offend him in any way but when I followed his gaze I realised he was glaring at someone. That man! I think I've seen him before. But where?

He was approaching us....

"Um.... Uzair?" His gaze was getting quite scary now.

"Rahina... please leave from here." He said coldly.

"Huh?!"

I watched him confused

"Maine kaha jao yaha se!" (I said leave from here!) He yelled making me flinch.

What the....what is wrong with him?

I was quite startled and upset. He always talks to me soo sweetly but what's gotten into him today?

I took my bag and stormed out of there but he didn't even call after me.

So rude!

I had to walk past that MAN and he was smirking at me. Again that smirk felt familiar to me.

Who is this man?

From a distance I looked back and they were talking.....kinda. I ignored them and walked up to the bus stop. I waited for him helplessly that he might come back and try to explain himself but he didn't!

After 10 mins the bus was here and I hopped on.