Maybe We weren’t meant to be.. Chapter 3- Enchantment!

A love story that will take you on a splendid journey…

Recap:

Flashback of Ajay and Riya’s childhood where Ajay confesses his love to Riya and leaves to BITS pilani for his studies.

Chapter 3- Enchantment!

Date: 25.12.2016

Place: Cafe coffee day, New Delhi

“Just like that, a normal life. You should probably answer that one. How’s life, ajay? You were gone without a word and now after eight years, you come back? What happened, hero?”

The last time I spoke to her was before eight years, as a normal lower middle class guy, 17 years of age, a childhood friend and a secret lover.

“Life’s good, riya. Four hard and fun filled years at BITS pilani, then Two good productive years at IIM-A and then to Boston Consulting Group, Texas as the Junior Data scientist for a year and now the Data Scientist at Boston Consulting Group, Texas. So far so good” I smiled and was happy inside of sharing my achievement with her.

“Wow, Boston Consulting Group? I heard they pay good”

“They do. Not as good as Goldman Sachs though” I tried to be modest while the waiter guy served my cold coffee and his eyes very often checked riya’s body.

I had this instant pulse raise but thought to forgive him as it might have happened by mistake.

“You dog! You’re still fond of even more money?” She scowled.

“Haha not actually! Tell me about you nah” I replied, coming back to my senses.

“Leave that. You idiot, you didn’t even contact me once in these seven years” she clenched her teeth as the waiter guy came with the hot chocolate cake, his eyes fixed on Riya’s body.

I shouldn’t create a scene here. God, please give me patience.

As he ogled at Riya’s body, he slowly placed the brownie love cake and hot chocolate near Riya’s hand forcibly. A drop of hot chocolate spit in her hand due to the unbalance of the hot chocolate cup.

“Ouch” she drew her hand quickly.

This was it. A right moment to create a scene.

“What the hell is this service? Can’t you even serve an order properly?” I shouted releasing my temper.

“It’s a mistake sir. I am sorry but mind your words” he said rudely.

I grabbed his collar and went up to his face.

“You cheap bastard, I’ll pluck your eyes out for the way you saw her. Get lost now” I whispered.

“Ajay… Stop! Aj-ajayy please” Riya quickly wiped the chocolate in her hands with a tissue and stood up.

Two other cafe coffee day employees came to our table and apologized for whatever happened.

“Please have a pleasant time sir. We apologize for the mistake” the possibly manager of the cafe coffee day branch apologized to me.

“Pardon us mam. My sincere apologies” he looked at Riya and gave his apologies.

“We will offer you an extra cake for the inconvenience caused” he said while leaving.

I drank the glass of water while Riya kept staring at me.

“What? Trying to be a hero?” Riya was still staring, her eyes expressing a bit of anger.

With no words to justify, I drank my cold coffee silently avoiding eye contact from her as much as possible.

“Hey hero. The only good in the way you acted, was the extra cake. Kudos” she winked laughing at me.

This cuteness, this innocence and this certain uniqueness in her is what I hope makes me fall for her. I slowly smiled at her, losing in her smile.

“Don’t think I’ll forget the question easily. Eight long years and no contact at all. Stupid ” she looked the other way indicating that she was upset.

“Riya” I sighed and continued, ” I didn’t mean to not talk to you but I wanted to give you a surprise. I wanted to make you realize that no matter where I go, I’ll always come back”

“Without a notice? And you had to remain dead for eight years for this surprise? Anyone can give surprises. You can give me and I can give you but I don’t need such surprises if it means not seeing you for years” She was still clearly upset.

Yes, I knew it. She had the same feeling for me as I had for her. She can’t stay away from me. Yes, we were meant to be.

I pulled the cake slowly and cut a piece with all the ingredients included. A piece of hot brownie cake, vanilla ice cream, fried cashew nuts and the choco syrup made it amazingly yummy.

“Just when I thought you cut a piece to feed me, you show me that you’re still the same stupid who dies to eat” she was furious.

That would have been romantic. Why don’t guys understand the small things which means big to girls?

I again cut a small piece of cake with ice cream and cashew but and brought the spoon near her mouth to feed her. She turned her face to the left and I moved my hand to the left, then her face to the right and my hand to the right. It was funny how she was manipulating me through her movements.

“Please Riya, Just eat already” I pleaded.

Pitying me, she finally turned her face towards my hand and slowly opened her mouth in the best possible way. Lost in my own dreams and her beauty, I moved my hand towards her unconsciously and all of a sudden, the ice cream cake fell from my hand to the table just when she was about to eat it. Perfect timing as I entered the spoon inside her open mouth.

She scowled at me with her mouth still wide open. Guys do stupid things at stupid moments.

“Sorry sorry. Very sorry” I apologized, afraid of the further consequences.

She wiped of the cream in her lips with a tissue and drank water.

Then she began to speak slowly.

“You know what, dumb and stupid Ajay? If the manager hadn’t promised for an extra free cake, I’d have hurt you for wasting that cake” she forced a smile.

“You’re still fond of food. You fat bull Riya” I laughed.

“As if you don’t eat at all, you dumb Ajay” she joined me and we laughed together.

I couldn’t believe that my mood had changed from complete anger on the waiter to complete fun with riya. In this whole world, only riya can bring this instant change in me. I looked at her deeply and wondered what made her so especial. There were several amazing facts which I discovered as I observed her. When she laughs, I sink deeper into her beauty. When she laughs, her eyes shine brighter than the sun. When she laughs, the world becomes beautiful. It is when she laughs, I need the moment to last forever.

“Riya.. I regret not talking to you for the past eight years” I said, staring at her graceful face, trying to frame my crucial words to express my love.

  **********  To be Continued  **********

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