CHAPTER- 4: THE MOVIE NIGHT

It was the second Saturday of the month. My friends had planned for a hangout to Forum Mall( one of the best and oldest full fledged mall for shopping and entertainment inside the city) . I made known to Advik that I was off for a weekend hangout. He didn’t acknowledge my message and since I was getting late, likewise I didn’t wait for his response.

We planned to watch a movie but all the shows were booked and with no other option left we got into the Fun World. It comprised of umpteen interesting games and play station. Vidhya and myself weren’t much into those stuff, but Preethi and Ryan thoroughly enjoyed. They even won a Winnie the Pooh fluffy toy to take back home as a resemblance of Victory.

After doing nothing productive, we were famished and got into KFC Restaurant known for its finger licking chicken. I was waiting in the queue to place an order when I received Advik’s call. He didn’t allow me to greet or say hello, meanwhile he began.

Advik: Riya! I was up all night watching a movie and it was around 3 in the morning when I finally hit bed. And for the present, you had already left with your friends to the mall before I could even wake up from my nap.

I was able to discern disappointment in his words.

Oh come on, Advik. Now tell me what’s troubling you? You want me to meet you? Is that so?

Advik: Yes, that was all I meant. Riya I planned to watch a movie with you tonight and its already half past five. There’s nobody home, and I thought I could cook for you, have some quality time together and finally end up watching a horror movie. You know that interests me right?

And would you still come over? I know you’re with your friends, fine lets plan it for another day. He hung the call.

I was flabbergasted! That was the first that he ever mentioned that he longed for me, the very first time he let out his emotions for me, he confessed that he wants me besides him.

My joy knew no bounds, but on the other side I was in a dilemma. He hasn't clearly told me that he liked or loved me. I didn't want to make a quick move. I had been there with my friends for the whole day and when the sun was about to set, I took a cab, and for the whole of the travel I realised how stupid I’ve become falling in love. I didn’t dare to reconsider, when I knew he had missed me; I was so irrational to appear before him.

It took me approximately some thirty minutes to reach home. I didn’t apprise Advik that I was coming for him.

My skin looked dull after a long day, the first thing I did when I got back home was to put on the sheet mask. That helped my skin look a tad rejuvenated. I took a swirl to check if everything was perfect.

I rang the doorbell, and there he stood stunned by my appearance.

Riya, seriously? I thought you would be here the moment I pinged you, he exclaimed.

So you're gonna allow me in or not?

Oh, sorry! Please come in, welcome. I was agape but yet you leave me startled each time, he said. He was still processing that I had come to visit 

As I sat on the couch, he said gimme ten minutes I’ll cook something for you.

 It was already 7 and I had to return home early. I told him that it might take a lot of our time cooking and eating so we better watch a movie and binge eat some packaged food or chips if we are further more hungry.

Have you watched THE FINAL DESTINATION? He asked. I usually don’t watch horror movies since they haunt me all night, I remember staying awake the whole night with high temperature during my 10th grade, once after I happened to watch a horror film. It is a big deal for me to pluck up courage in sequence to get down the bed to even pee, who knows something might pop up from underneath the bed to drain your blood.

I wasn’t in a position to defend saying I’m scared to watch a horror film or rather shall we opt for some romance. I wanted to pose flawless before him, a woman with grit, who feared literally nothing. But I had my own book of insecurities compiled and listed.

I haven’t, I uttered.

Glee, come on then. I’ve got it on my laptop, we’ll watch it in the bedroom. He took my hands and lead me to the bedroom.

He turned the ac on, switched off the lights, brought the curtains close and took his laptop placed it on the cot and we sat confronting it.

I turned the lights off for a better experience, if you want I can turn them on for you, he said.

Fine by me Advik.

The title card flashed on the screen, before he could make any advancement that I anticipated ;

It’s late Riya, why aren’t you home still? She yelled. There in a minute ma. I’m on my way, I hung her call.

You’re mother should be worried, come I’ll open the door for you, he said.

 Bye, good night!, I smirked at him. He returned a smile.

When I got back home, I couldn’t set my focus on anything. I loitered around the hallway like a nomad for no reason.

By night on my bed, I was bewildered about what's happening with me. Am I in love? 

Simply No answer.