Fighting!

Chapter 13

Chapter 13:

Ananya's point of view:

I showered and did my skin and hair care routine. Once I got out, I did my make-up and changed into a cute little red dress which reached just above my knees. It’s cute and perfect for a first date. That’s what I’m going to call this dinner. I left my hair open and blow dried it. I don’t like using electronic devices on my hair, it’s damaged as it is, but I don’t have any choice now. My hair density is decreasing and I hate it.

Shaking away the negative thoughts, I finished getting ready. I sprayed my perfume, ummm that smells good. Once I was done giving myself a final look in the mirror, I rushed out to see Aayush, Maya and Arshi sitting on the sofa and watching Suits. All three are engaged in the conversation and looks like they are enjoying it. Maya loves Harvey Spector while Arshi is Mike Ross’s fan, so whenever we see this show, there will be a debate. I am Donna’s fan so I outsmart them every single time.

“Hello” I said, standing near my room door to get everyone's attention. They are so involved in their conversation that they didn’t even notice me coming out.

All three looked at me but my eyes stayed on Aayush. His eyes did a double check on me, from bottom to top. By the look on his face, I can tell he likes what he sees. I couldn’t contain my smile.

“Looking fab babe” Maya said, winking. I chuckled at her.

“Thank you” I said with a sass, lifting my right shoulder.

“Anu wear those red wedges, it will look amazing with this dress” Arshi said, reminding me of the wedges I brought when I moved here but never wore them.

“Yes, thank you. I forgot about them”. I made a mental note to look for them while going out. It was still 6:30 pm. We can leave at 7, when its dark outside.

I went and sat beside Aayush. He looked at me and I did the same.

“You are looking like a Disney princess” he whispered, so that only I could hear him.

I love Disney princesses. I watched them my whole childhood. Even now, sometimes I watch Disney movies, like Barbie and 12 dancing princesses, which is one of my favourite movies. I don’t know whether he knows about this or he was just saying it but he nailed it.

“Really?” I asked him while grinning.

He nodded.

“So beautiful”, he said, looking into my eyes, and I got lost in his eyes. How can anyone look so handsome and hot all at the same time? He’s lips, oh god those lips. Why do I have this sudden urge to press my lips against his?

No, mission abort. Ananya, don’t do it!! He would get scared or worse weirded out.

My cheeks are turning pink and my lips are stretching wide and I can’t control them. He chuckled, looking at my cheeks, which was so not okay. It’s out of my control.

“I hate that Harvey and Jessica kiss. I mean these Americans have to romanticise everything. Why can’t both of them have a platonic mentor and student relationship” Maya said in disgust when she saw the scene on TV.

“That’s what they do. They believe a guy and a girl can never be friends without something happening between them at some point if they spend a lot of time together alone”, I concluded from all the American movies and series I have seen.

“That is true, they also don’t believe in single soulmates” Arshi said, which is true. There is a saying in the Wizards of Waverley Place series, where Selena Gomez’s mother says “Listen.. you’re gonna fall in love so many times before you find the one you’ll be with forever. So think of it this way, you’re just one broken heart closer to happily ever after”. Those words brought terror to me when I first heard them. Their lives are so much different from ours.

“But also, they are the strongest dreamers for happily ever after” Aayush said, sipping his water. It’s true, every girl brought up in a good house dreams about happily ever after with their prince charming. They have Disney movies to blame for it.

We spent the next half an hour discussing suits and which place to go for dinner. Maya suggested this cute little restaurant which is filled with greenery and a lot of open space. I like restaurants like that, I won’t feel like sitting in a closed box breathing the same.

“They also have candlelight dinner”, She said, winking at us, making us both embarrassed. This girl needs to read the room.

“Just watch” I gave her a mean stare.

Smirking, she turned towards the TV.

After 15 minutes, Aayush said that we should get going and I agreed. I wore my red wedges matching this dress. I do have golden wedges which would look fab with this dress, but I don’t want to over do it. Both of my friends bid bye to him when he went outside the apartment and I followed him waving at them. Both of them showed me thumbs-up and butterfly kisses as if they loved him.

He was polite, charming and made them feel comfortable. They obviously approve of him.

“So, how long have you guys been staying here?” He asked as the lift door opened. I got along with him.

“When we started our college here, we all wanted to stay in a separate place, not in a hostel, so we emotionally blackmailed our parents to rent this place for us”, I said, with a cute smile, and he chuckled.

“You guys are crazy. This place is so much better than any hostel” he said as we exited the lift.

When we reached his car, he opened the passenger seat door for me. I looked at him and grinned.

“Thank you” I whispered while getting in.

He got inside the driver's seat and started the car.

“When did you come to Pune?” I asked, messing with his music system as usual.

“Two days back. Yesterday I had a meeting at a client's company”, he answered, concentrating on the road.

“How’s Diya?” I asked, remembering that cute girl.

His lips turned up, remembering his daughter.

“Cute as ever. You know what is her first word?” He asked, looking at the maps.

“Da-da?” I guessed. That’s what she would have said right. I’m sure her grandma would be teaching her to say.

“Nope, her first word was cow” he said, chuckling. I chuckled with him.

“Cow? Why?” I laughed out loud.

“My parents love long drives and sometimes they take her. Whenever they see cows on the roads they show her that and tell her it's a cow, so” he explained and his whole face lit up.

“Does she talk? Like sentences?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t find the question invasive.

“Not complete sentences, but she does talk. Like she calls me dada, she calls my mom gaga and my dad papa”, he said.

“She calls your mom gaga?” I laughed.

“Yeah, my mom wanted to be called Grammy but she stuck with Gaga. It’s so fun. My mom's face is hilarious when she calls her that”, he said, shaking his head.

“They will miss her right when you take her with you” I asked, hoping I was not crossing some sort of line. I just don’t want to have small talk the whole night.

His smile died.

“They will for sure, but my dad’s health is also important and mom can’t look after both dad and her at the same time. She’s also getting old and has health issues”, he said with his eyes on the road.

“I’m sorry.” I don’t know why I said that but I did.

“You have nothing to be sorry about” he said, giving me a small smile but not explaining further. I could see how he was not opening up that much and I understood. I have not given him my answer yet and he can’t trust me with all his emotional stuff. I get that. I do the same thing.

We reached the restaurant and got out. There’s a car valet parking, so he had his car keys and we went inside. Before entering the door, he placed his hand on my lower back, lightly touching me. I felt like I was in one of those books that I read. This is what happens when a girl with no experience goes on her first date in her 20s.

Him being this close to me is clouding my judgement. I can smell his perfume even though my nose doesn’t most of the time. If I'm able to smell him, then he’s really close. The warmth of his body was on my arm, which made certain parts of me tingle. His blue informal shirt and black shirt that hugged his legs made him look like a Greek god. His lean body is like an ice-cream, I can lick all day long.

A Maître D’ came and asked us “Table for two?”.

“Yes” I answered.

She showed us our table, which was perfect. Away from other people and kind of secluded, giving us privacy. I sat on the chair facing the fountain while he sat across from me. I was conscious of my looks as he was sitting right in front of me.

“I’ll just use the washroom” I said, getting up.

“Sure” he said, nodding. I could see the loo sign so I dashed over there. I entered and looked in the mirror to make sure I was looking good. I really didn’t have to use the loo.

After making sure my make-up and hair was intact, I walked out. I saw him sitting there looking at the menu. Sighing, I walked towards our table.

“Hey” I said, sitting back.

“Hey, there’s a menu there”, he said, pointing towards the menu on my right. I nodded and took it.

“What do you want to order?” He asked, looking at the menu.

“Nothing heavy though. I’ll order Masala Papad for sure and some wine?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Red or white?” He asked, taking the drinks menu.

“White” I answered. I really need some alcohol. Actually, I need vodka shots but I don’t want to get drunk in front of him and embarrass myself. My friends and I are celebrating tomorrow anyway. Maybe we can throw a party at our apartment and call our close friends from college since we will be leaving soon anyway. I should talk to my besties today. I know they will be up until I come back. One, they worry about my safety and two, they want to know what happened on this date.

A waitress walked up to our table to get our order. I ordered Masala Papad and some chicken and he ordered another chicken item. We ordered some fancy white wine. I don’t care about the company as long as I enjoy it.

“So, did Akshay call you?” He asked as soon as the waitress walked away.

“He did, before my exams started. Why?” I asked, controlling my smile, because I knew why he was asking.

“Nothing, just asked.” He tried to play it off as cool and I didn’t want to embarrass him, so I let it be.

“I heard you guys had a send off. How was it?” He asked, folding his arms on the table, looking interested. I settled comfortably on my comfy chair.

I explained the whole night including the Cassie incident, and by the end of it he was laughing out loud. His laugh is so beautiful, just like his smile, infectious.

“Poor girl. She never saw it coming”, he said, shaking his head, still chuckling.

“She’s far from a poor girl. You have no idea what kind of a pardon my language- b***h she is. A huge pain in the ass” I said, and the waitress came with our order. We were quiet until she placed the items on the table. She left and I grabbed the wine and took a sip.

“You’re okay with me drinking, right?” I asked, just to be sure. There are some guys who don’t like it when girls drink. Not that if he had a problem I would stop drinking, but I just wanted to ask him.

“It’s cool. You do know that I’m in my 20s, right?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.

I chuckled.

“I know but I just wanted to make sure” I said, breaking the papad. Placing one piece on his plate and another on mine.

“I’m in the IT industry, my colleagues and I go out to bars on weekends after heavy project work”, He told me and it kind of intrigued me.

“That must be fun” I said enviously.

“It is. Did you hear back from any company?” He asked about my interviews.

“I have. There are a few emails from the companies I gave the interview to but I didn’t open them. I didn’t want to distract myself from my exams. I’ll check them tomorrow” I said, stuffing my face with papad.

“That’s nice. I’m sure you have got in” he said, smiling, and took a sip.

I hummed and enjoyed my papad.

“Umm, I know I told you that you could take your time but I was in town and I couldn’t go back without meeting you. I’m sorry if me surprising you at your college was a shock or uncomfortable” he said, genuinely worried about my reaction.

“Hey! It was a nice surprise. It’s great that you wanted to meet me, even I wanted the same. If you had not visited me today, I planned on asking Akshay for your number. I would have texted you either tomorrow or the day after that, you know, once the party was over”, I said, chuckling at the end.

“Oh, you guys are having a party tomorrow?” He asked curiously.

“I plan on that. I have to talk to my friends about it. Anyway, we will be moving to Mumbai soon, so I thought of throwing a last party kind of thing before graduation”, I said, eating a piece of chilly chicken.

“Oh nice” he said, sipping his wine.

“You should come if you are here tomorrow”, I asked him, even though he told me he’s going back tomorrow.

“I wish I could, sorry I have to go back tomorrow” he said with a tight-lipped smile. I nodded understandably.

“About my answer”, my words stopped all his actions. His 100 percent attention was on me.

Here it goes.

----- ----------------- ------------------ -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ --------------- ----------------- ----------------------