Story 2

The Gentleman Who Stole My Heart

Chapter 4

I stood at my window looking out. The day had been interesting. Well the unexpected meeting with him made it interesting. And there they curved up again, my lips. The man made me feel things I had never before felt. What bothered me was his actions. He was so composed, so right before the world, but when he was switch me, there was a different aura that grew over him. He was, he was different than usual. It made me blush and fret at the same time. Sighing I closed the window and retired to bed. 

At the breakfast, next morning, Daadi told me she had spoke to his grandmother and that I could meet him at seven. He would pick me up from home. I stared t her dumbfounded then looked at my parents for explanation. "Why?" 

Daadi stared at me frowning. "You wanted to talk to him right?"

Damn. I had totally forgotten about it. I knew about the meeting they obviously did not. I simply nodded and left for work. The day was long. As soon as my work hours ended I called Aaru, she was my friend at the dancing class. We were supposed to go get our dance costume for the finale performance at the dance school. I reached home at fifteen to seven, extremely tired. There you go. My room was a mess. Daadi and mom were deciding my clothes for the evening. Daadi was pressing me to wear saree. There was no way I was wrapping that never ending cloth around. I explained that I did not have time. 

She protested. She wouldn't let me step out if I wore jeans. Mother intervened in time suggesting Ibwear a simple dress. Exhausted with the day already I agreed, Daadi had to agree as well. I quickly went in for a hot shower. Refreshing! Now my thoughts were only revolving about our rendezvous. 

I could hear voices from downstairs. Oh guess he arrived. I could hear Daadi asking him about his favorite sweets. Rolling my eyes, I saw the time . Ten past seven. Shoot! He would already count me as the women who took forever to get dressed. I quickly l put up a quick make up. Looking at my reflection, I took a deep breath and proceeded down. 

His eyes sort of twinkled when he saw me and then he smiled. I quickly diverted my gaze at my mom, forcing a smile. She quickly patted my arm and nodded. I relaxed. 

The drive was silent. It was awkward. He broke the silence. "You look very pretty as always!" 

I looked at him and smiled. Clever man. Knew how to put his words well . He looked handsome as always. A T-shirt and a blazer. It suited him. I was sure anything he wore would. My eyes travelled up to his face. Those lips. That jawline. Those eyes. Oh no. I looked away immediately. Thank God, he did not see me check him out. 

* * *

My jaw dropped as we finally were led to the garden of the hotel. What surprised me was. It wasn't a garden. It was a man-made beach. The lights were dim and the table set up beautifully. Was I living in a dream?

"Wow!" I said enthralled.

"You like it?" He asked excitedly. Was he kidding me?

"I love it!" I said looking around. The waiter smiled and left. It was just me and him and the glimmering water and the light breezy air. There was some music in background from where it came I did not know neither did I care. 

He held my hand and looked at the table. I looked at him and slowly put up a smile. As he walked I looked at his hand holding mine. Was this man a dream? Why was he doing all of this? I barely knew him! We met two days ago !

"Arjun, If you don't mind me saying.." I began as he sat on his chair. 

"Go ahead. You can tell me anything."

"Isn't this a little too much. I mean. You shouldn't have, really put in..."

"Come on Nisha. "

I simply kept quiet. Why was he doing so much for me?

Soon the starter a arrived and then the main course. I kept the converstauon general.We chatted about our favorite cuisines. He liked Mexican. I was a lover of Indian food. 

"S.H. told me you want to ask me and know more about me." He said when a silence began building up.

"S.H?" I asked confused.

"Sweetheart!" He smiled. For a few seconds my brain bloated thinking that was an endearment for me. Stupid brain!

"I call my Daadi Sweetheart." He explained.

"Oh! " I grinned.

"So what do you want to know?"

"No. Nothing in particular. I ..Its actually little weird. I mean we barely met and .."

"I understand!" He said placing his hand over mine and squeezing it gently. 

I could feel my cheeks warm. There was something about him that made me melt. There was something about him that made me feel, I could be myslef with him. There was certainly something. Something so unusual. 

He offered a walk after we had finished dinner and I nodded.  As we walked his hand slowly intertwined with mine. I let it. I was apprehensive to hold it back. Things were going too fast I could barely think. I felt my hand strain and that's when I realised he had stopped.

I looked back at him.  

"There is something I need to say." He said softly. I turned wondering what was it. 

"I.." For the first time I found him growing nervous." I love you Nisha!"  

I blinked gaping at him. What? Already? How? My breathing grew hard. 

"I know. It might sound outright bewildering to you. But that's how it is. Two years back, I saw you perform at the Dancing Lights. I couldn't take my eyes off you. Remember the hour delay of the flight? You were with your group at the airport waiting hall, well coincidentally I was travelling in the same flight. Sitting right behind you. You never noticed me, but I had fallen for you in that one hour. I couldn't gather the courage to even talk to you. It took me the entire journey from Delhi to here to make up my mind to at least talk. By the time flight landed here, I made up my mind. But, you were woosh, gone. Did not know where to find you and never tried. I have been rejecting all the proposals Daadi kept showing me, just couldn't feel right. Then one day she showed me you picture and I was left overwhelmed."

I was left speechless. This man remembered me from two years back? What was he?

"You remembered my face? You recognized me?" I asked clearly taken aback. I had changed so much. Slightly taller. At that time I looked horrible honestly with teenage pimples still all over my face, braces in my mouth. Someone who knew me well would also wouldn't recognize me and he had barley seen me.

"I couldn't forget you!" He said shrugging.

"You are kidding me right?" I asked speechless. What do I say?

He laughed. "I sound creepy!" 

"No, you sound weird!" I said chuckling while he held my hands. 

"Nisha, you have not the slightest clue how hard it was sti mW to wait until I saw you. One week!" Oh, yes we were supposed to meet one week back. But, Papa had to go out for work so we had to push the meeting.

"The moment I saw you it was so..I don't have words. I never thought I 'd ever seen you again. But guess destiny had other plas. It got you before me as my prospective bride. You know when I spoke to your family at that very moment I knew I was marrying you. They never said anything about you, they only asked stuffs about me. That told me, you were so precious to them that all they cared was for knowing if I was worth you. Then the conversation we had only made me confirm my decision. I know this arranged marriage concept is well, very complicated and bewildering. But for me it's serendipity at it's best! I love you Nisha. "

I was out of words. The moisture in his eyes, the warmth in his hold, it overwhelmed me. I simply stared at him. This was too fast and too beautiful to believe. How could he be so much in love with me?

This is the fastest I have written a chapter😂

Anything particular you'd like to see between these two?😍

-Anami!💜

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