Chapter 37

It’s better to find someone who loves you than to dwell on someone you love!!!!

Dexter, a thorough gentleman like; stayed with me and my parents till late night. He also brought takeaway diner and a movie to be watched with the family. Also a big add on was a bouquet of flowers for my mom, not me. My parents mingled up so well with him that I was left wondering if he has some kind of spell on them. He behaved like he was the part of the family and an equally good companion as if they knew each other since ages.

I had to drag him out of the house practically because my parents were getting too cozy with him and had started discussing mine and his relationship after sharing couple of hard drinks.

They were wasted quite early I guess!!

He left only after I promised to meet him at one of his client’s building later in the noon. He was occupied till then with some of his clients work. The best thing about him that my dad liked is he was very sincere with his work.

I got extra specially dressed in my white flowing knee length dress that Dexter gifted me yesterday. Yes the flowers were for my mom but he brought a present for me which I liked so much that I couldn’t wait to wear it. It had a deep descent v neckline and fitted perfectly accentuating my body curves and was flowing after waist line giving it a comfortable lunge. I wore my white wedges with them. I worked a little make up too.

It helped me keep up with my soggy mood. I was trying to get over my broken heart with Joshan and Dexter was helping me out. Though he least had an idea about it. He did bump into his vacation at the right time.

I missed college today too and headed towards the library getting another set of clumsy looks from Alfred. He did not like me coming on odd hours. But I was so good with my work that he ignored the later and did not complain to the higher authorities.

 I was guided outside the college parking lot by Dexter through his phone call which he had kept on hold since last 15 minutes and a big white Porsche was arranged for me to be driven to some skyscraper where Dexter was working since morning.

He kept the phone on as he was discussing how hectic and tiring the meeting went and how he longed to spend some time with me. He told me to reach the terrace of the huge building, which did scare me initially but I had to trust my friend and do as directed and moreover he seems to be a decent guy.

 He wouldn’t throw me off that high a building!!!! I chuckled to my silly thoughts as the lift left me on the top floor with me walking towards the door of the terrace which was closed.

The phone call was dropped in the lift and I was wondering about whether I should enter or not or wait for another call from Dexter.

The phone rang with Joshan’s name flashing on the screen. A huge wide smile, I felt might have taken place on my made up face. This is the impact love has on you.

But I answered to it, there was no voice at the other end. I tried to call him again only to be greeted by a busy tone.

Impatiently I opened the door and the phone rang as soon as I twisted the knob. I did not check the caller –id assuming it to be Joshan.

My eyes blinked with sudden exposure to open sunlight and my heart skipped a beat with “I love you.”

I tried to stable my wobbling feet. Everything was too sudden for me to grasp. Only after some time when my vision was clear I saw the view with my mouth hanging open. The floor ahead was filled with petals of different colors. A small artificial lake was on right hand corner with two swans floating. There was a small musical fountain too besides the lake. On the left hand corner were chairs and table for two with a huge umbrella. It was beautiful.

“Hello.. hello. Pearly.. Are you there..”

Only then I could come to reality this is Dexter’s voice.

“Yes Dexter. Sorry. I was lost in the……” I did not have words to describe.

“Come to the centre where only red petals are placed. Petals were layered in shades. Pink followed by yellow, then blue, white and in the centre were red rose petals.

I blankly followed him, not yet registered the three words that he uttered to me couple of minutes ago.

I was waiting for his sign, my eyes fixed on the door when I heard loud thundering and vibrating kind of noise. It was right overhead. I was lucky to not have fainted at the moment as I saw a handsome, sexy face leaning outside the window of a helicopter and started showering few, not few a lot of flowers on me.

Should I be happy.? Because what I feel now cannot be explained. It is a pleasure to be loved by someone so dearly. And who on earth would be blessed by a lover who pampers you to such an extent.

I was gladly smiling all the while and lost in my dilemma when a stunning Prince who is every little girl’s dream dressed in white tux landed in front of me and took his bended knee position and opened a red velvet box and lifted it towards me, “Will you marry me?”

Did I hear it right? Am I still sleeping? This is got to be one of my silly dreams. This is so cliché' thing. Boys don’t do such a thing for their girls. I am hallucinating.

I bent down on my knees because I knew it was true, an undeniable truth. All I had here was my dream sequence but the boy with brown eyes is replaced by hazel ones and this one I am sure loves me or admits his love for me.

“Dexter……”

“Ssshhh.. don’t cry. I wanted to see tears of joy. Not this.” Dexter mumbled as he hugged me tight.

I clogged on to him. I was gripping him so tight that my knuckles hurt.

“This is all so pretty. So beautiful. Thank you so much. But I don’t deserve it.” I babbled.

“Ofcourse you deserve it. Any thing stupid cannot, no f##king Gimmy ever can deprive you of love. You deserve much better than this.” Dexter said lifting my chin with his pointer.

“I am confused. I don’t know what to say.” I sobered up now, wiping my tears and standing up now.

“Then say yes. That’s what I want.” He stood up to face me.

“Dexter isn’t marrying too early a decision to be taken? I don’t even know. I mean I don’t lo..” and I stopped in my tracks of words.

 “I love you. I know you don’t but my love will make you fall for me one day and I’ll wait. Secondly for marriage- If I commit to you and marry you, I earn your trust. I will win your trust that way. Moreover I miss you too much and these holidays are very difficult to get and I want to spend every single day of my life with you. I want to see your face every dawn of my life. I need you and I promise to love you for ever and ever.” He wiped his forehead with the handkerchief in is pocket. He was far from being nervous. He was scared too. He was pleading with his eyes as his life depended on my answer.

“I do not love you…………….

 Is that okay with you?” I asked him shocked.

“Till you promise to be on my side forever. Please try. Try to love me Pearly.” His words were piercing my heart.

He repeated again to my ecstatic surprise, “Pearly whether you Love me or not – Marry me. Will you?”

 I loved him

His love was for her, not me

Now I am perplexed

I am in such a fix

The one who loves me

Stands on bended knees

With a shining star

Embedded on a ring

His love for me is true

Blessed with are only few

To let it go

Is what I cannot do

For it will hurt him more

Hurt that I have been through

If I had powers

To eliminate the feel

I would have taken the worst of deal

If heaven’s sent Him

As the chosen one for me

Guide me Oh gods of love

Give me the courage

To take his responsibility

To make the one who loves me happy

If not love

Then let him have

My whole being for him

I give in to him

My life, my honesty and commitment

For better or worse

He’ll always have me

Can you ever try and love someone. Isn’t it supposed to just happen? Can any body still marry and live happily even if she does not love her better half. But I would never get my love. And I do get someone who loves me so dearly. Is it fair to desert someone who loves you for someone who would never love you………

 Shall I say Yes. I am in a fix……“Yes”

“What?”

“Yes”

“What did you say? Say again” his face euphoric, his smile etched from one ear to another.

“I said yes.” And his face had such an adorable grin that I felt myself happy to make someone happy so happy that he couldn’t believe it himself.

“For the one last time please say it again. I want to believe it. Am I over hearing?” he asked holding my face in his hands, confirming it was me.

I smiled happily that I made someone so happy, “So ask me once again.”

“What! Oh well yes..” he looked here and there to find the ring he was still holding in his hand and bent down again, “Will you marry me Pearly Mathews?”

“Yes I will.” I nodded my head. His face was gleaming with joy and he had innocence on his face as he celebrated like a kid who had just received his Christmas present.

He pulled me to him and smacked a kiss on my lips.

 It was nothing. I felt nothing. I wanted to shift my head but that would be rude. His lips were touching mine. He stayed there for awhile. He did ask for entry. But I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. He pulled back to look at me.

I was feeling guilty inside and he too look disappointed but quickly he changed the mood.

“I know this is your first kiss. But I think I’ll have a lot to teach you. I enjoyed it anyways.” He pecked me on my cheeks.

My first kiss. No. guilt was eating me inside. But I cannot spoil the beginning of this relationship admitting the fact that a week ago I already had my first kiss with the guy whom I love the most and he would never love me back. Also this kiss was nowhere near it.

NO. This is the secret of my life and I am going to die with it. I am not going to ruin this guy’s life who loves me.

“Dexter. I promise to be honest in this relation with you. I would give in my best for the success of this relationship” and I pecked on his lips. This was most I could.

“Thanks Pearly. I know.” And he slipped in the beautiful solitaire on my ring finger. I was taken and I did not mind because though I don’t but he loves me truly.

 “Time to celebrate then.” He took me to the table where we toasted for the new relationship. He continued grinning happily all the while.

 The news broke into my parents with a huge surprise to me. I was the only one who was surprised as my parents were screaming with joy as the news was disclosed to them. They were big fan of Dexter as a teenager is of Justine Bieber. I wonder what Dexter did to be in their good books. I am also the one in his trap by now

I mean I was completely zapped by the little massive romantic display of his love for me.

“So sir may I have your permission to take your daughter on a first official date?” Dexter asked my dad.

“She’s already all yours but you still have home before midnight rule stuck till you actually take your official vows.” My dad patted on his shoulders and then headed towards me.

“I am proud of you sweetheart.” My dad cooed as he hugged me like I was his little baby.

I hugged him back with a shy smile.

Our evening was a highly romantic one as he had booked an entire restaurant with live dj only for two of us.

He was pampering me all the while with loads of gifts and lots of compliments for my figure, my smile, my elegant black gown which my mom forced me to wear. She also enjoyed doing up with my make up and curling my hair. It was a perfect evening and I felt like the luckiest one on earth.

We talked, danced, ate and sat back listening to the music in each others arms. He made it a point to drop me at home just before 12. Gentleman you see. He was extremely sober all the while. He knew about my fears so he was ready to give me time before we enter into something physical and I highly appreciated that.

He came to drop me at my place. He was still staying in a hotel and my parents did not push him to shift at my place. I

t was quite obvious that he did not want to leave me as yet. Nevertheless to say I too was enjoying it. Just as I was about to unlock the door of my house with the keys which I had kept in my clutch I was carrying along, Dexter pulled me back into his embrace and hugged me tight. He lifted my chin to face him, both our hearts pounding like that person tied on bungee jumping. He looked into my eyes longingly as I was getting goosebumps and then cupped my face in his masculine hands. The grip was a very possessive one as I closed my eyes waiting for the expected kiss, 'make it good this time Pearly' I chanted in my mind and a loud “clitch clutch” distracted us. Immediately turned to see my dad opening the door for us.

“Hi dad” I went to him embarrassed and blushing and hugged him.

“Hello Dexter” my dad shook hands with him with a warning look in his eyes which were firmly looking at Dexter's face saying 'don't you mess with my daughter' types.

“Hello sir. Sorry to disturb you at this hour of the night.” Dexter diverted the conversation with my dad, nervousness- a rarest of expression animated by him.

Otherwise he is a strong personality but it amazes me to see him composed in front of my dad.

“No problems son. Call me Gaven. Drop in for a coffee or something um...” my dad then stared at me asking for my approval.

“Go ahead guys. I need to change.” I waved them.

It was strange that two people of different generations gelled up so well with each other. I felt great that my parents liked what I had chosen for my life.

He was getting more adorable with every passing time but something was continuously hurting like a pit in my stomach. I was ignoring it all the while. Doesn’t life teach you to live for the moment?

I had to move ahead and go with the flow.

I said yes, my parents approved of it. Now the next step is to inform my best friends. Stella, Cairo and Joshan. Hmmm Joshan too.i sighed with that thought. Even though I knew it is not going to be a matter of concern for him but still my heart clenched at the thought of informing him.

 Though it would be difficult for me but I guess Joshan would be more of shocked and then would laugh hysterically making fun of my quick and random decision.

I decode to start with Cairo first. Hugging my teddy pillow as I lie on my stomach I speed dialed her number asking her to plan a meet up and catch up with what was running in our lives.

She volunteeres to confirm with Stacie about the meet at my college tomorrow after the college was done and then I can make them meet Dexter too. They haven't met him as yet and I was not even sure how long would Dexter stay back in Texas. I was a little nervous too as their approval for Dexter was important to me.

 Remember the spice girls number, “If you wanna be my lover, you got to be with my friends. Make it last for ever. Friendship neverends.” We were young then but wmade a pinky promise that we would keep boyfriends only if he goes well with three of us. You see pinky promise is a pinky promise.

“Hi Can I come in?” Dexter called from the door of my room.

“Yeah sure.” I adjusted my long t-shirt that I was wearing as a night suit[wrong choice Pearly*Sighs*]

“Something out there was left incomplete.” Dexter raised an eyebrow.

“what?” I enacted ignorant, “when”

He shifted close to me and pulled me on his lap “seems like I have to work on your memory too.”

“You seem to be a very hard working personality.” I shifted comfortably into his laps now, nervous as hell pulling my tee further as still my naked butts were touching his thighs bringing a tingling sensation all over my body.

What do you expect, a guy in my house and my room is hinting, no asking me for a kiss and I cannot say no!!!!

“So I'll do a recap”. He said with a earthmoving smile added with a chuckle.

He cupped my face again and brought the faces close, very close. I did not close my eyes. They were open wide and ready for and as he closed the gap..........