A Promise Forever

Chapter 11

Mini

As promised, Ela came to meet me that Sunday, followed by every Sunday for the past two and a half months. I can't believe how fast time flies here. My college life has been more than impressive. Yes, I miss home at times but the friends that I have made here don't let me feel homesick.

My schedule here was very simple. I wake up at seven, get ready, attend my classes, and then come back to my dorm by four-thirty. Evenings are the most fun-filled part of the day. We would spend our time chatting, laughing, and giggling like maniacs for no reason. By we, I mean Yamini, Shreya, Neha, Nidhi, and I. When my roommate, Ritu wanted a change of room, Yamini immediately grabbed the offer and became my roommate and in no time, she became my best friend. I never believed I would come to like my college life so much and for that, I need to thank my girls. Neha was my other roommate whereas Nidhi and Shreya shared the room next to us with another girl who wasn't much interested in being in our gang.

Now back to Ela, he would come to my hostel every Sunday morning sharp at nine, impeccably dressed and looking drool-worthy. At the reception, he would greet me with a warm smile and take me out to the nearby south Indian restaurant where I would have masala dosa and he would have a plate of Ven Pongal with vada. He knows how much I missed homemade food and it was the closest I could get. From there he would take me to the local tourist spots, one place a day. I'd proudly say that now I have been to almost all the tourist attractions in Srinagar.

After the first time he took me out, I wanted him not to come to meet me at all.

Hello, I was trying to move on from him and he was only making it difficult for me with his chivalry and gentlemanliness. If anything I was only falling deeper and deeper for him day by day and I secretly hated his fiance. Every time I thought about how lucky she was for going to have Ela as her husband, it only made me burn in jealousy. I was undoubtedly becoming the villain of their love story and I didn't want to be that person.

However, a greater part of me could never tell him to not come to visit me. I believed he would stop coming eventually but that never happened and he came to see me on every visitor's day without a fail.

It sometimes made me wonder if he would have still kept on his promise to see me if Veena wasn't posted in a different city and lived with him but I tried not to delve too much into the thoughts. I was happy as things were. I wanted to live in the moment and not think about anything else.

It was a Sunday and like every other day, I was getting ready to go out with Ela. I wore black jeans and topped them with a matching full-hand sky blue sweater. Letting my hair loose, I wore a fleece cap and wrapped a buffer around my neck to hide the part of the skin from the biting cold.

As I was about to leave the room, Yamini walked into the room from her morning jog.

"Your guy is already down, waiting for you.." She smirked with a glint of tease in her eyes. Although I haven't told her much about my feelings for Ela, my guess is she already suspects something.

Attempting my best not to flush at her words, I said, "He's not my guy.."

"Are you sure about that?" She winged her perfectly shaped brows at me, "Because I don't see any other reason for him to come here the first thing in the morning every Sunday.."

"Ela's engaged, Yami.." I reminded her with a roll of my eyes to suppress the feelings of envy and bitterness I have for Veena brimming in them. "He's just making sure that I don't miss home too much.."

"That guy must have lost his mind for getting engaged to another woman when he surely has so much love for you.."

Flushed and heated, I bite my lower lip, "How do you know that?" I shouldn't have asked her that but I did because I couldn't stop myself from doing so. I was dying to know what made her think that he loves me. So far Ela had never told me or done anything to confirm that.

"It's clearly written all over his face that he has feelings for you.."

"Affection and love are two completely different feelings, Yami. What Ela has for me is plainly affection. It's always been that way.." Or why else did he have to leave me when I kissed him? He must have hated me so much for it. He must have been disgusted by me for running so far away from me.

"But what you have for him is love, right?" I kept quiet as she asked me the very obvious question.

I know, it was not right to keep it from her when she's only been such a good friend to me but what is the use of telling her about it now when I know there will never be anything between us?

Without answering her, I grabbed my purse, "I will be back in the evening. You want something?"

She puffed a short breath and slumped on the edge of my bed, "Something to munch on for tonight's movie time.."

"Done.."

"And don't forget to talk to your Ela about the outing next week.."

Your Ela

Yup, that was how she always referred to him and most of the time I didn't bother correcting her because, among all the other things, this thing just felt right.

"Sure, I will talk to him about it.." With an assuring smile and a wave of my hand, I walked out.

I don't know what came over me on one particularly late night on a weekend when I told Yamini about how my parents had adopted Ela and how since then he's been a part of our family. I was beyond thankful that I hadn't spilled a word to her about the kiss that drove Ela all the way to join the military. She would have for sure confirmed her wild guesses, not that she needed any confirmation about it as such.

"Do you consider him your brother?" When she questioned me my answer was a quick shake of my head enough for her to confirm what kind of feeling I had for him.

I also told her about Ela's engagement with Veena, all the backstory related to her and how nice she is to all of us, and how I thought she was the perfect match for Ela in every aspect.

To which Yamini's response was, 'Most guys don't know what they want for themselves, Mini..'

I certainly didn't understand what she meant by that. Why would he have gotten engaged to Veena if he didn't know what he wanted in the first place? At least Ela wasn't of that kind. He's always been clear about what he wants in life and I was sure he wanted to get married to Veena. It was hard but I had to accept that I had no place in his life or heart.

Thinking about that age-old conversation I reached the lobby where Ela was waiting for me. Propping his shoulder against the wall he was looking like a picture of serenity. The first thing I observed was that he was wearing a dark brown suede jacket over his black sweater that stretched across his chest as if they were made only for him. He was tall in general but he looked a couple more inches taller to me because of the boots that he was wearing today.

I could see him scrolling through his phone and I desperately prayed, that he wasn't texting his fiance. And when I moved closer to him, I let out a sigh of relief to see that he was only reading a news article on his phone. In fact, I have never seen him texting or talking to Veena when I am around him, which makes me wonder if they even talk to each other on a regular basis.

That must have caught his attention, I mean the loud sigh coming from me because the next second, he looked directly at me. He watched me for a beat or two then his eyes slowly trained down on me from head to toe. At that moment, I didn't miss how a muscle in his jaw ticked and it resulted in my heart pounding and belly fluttering.

"Minu.." He finally said, stuffing his phone into his pants' back pocket and straightening himself from the wall on which he was leaning.

"Hi.." I went all the way to stand so close to him that I could feel the familiar scent of his soap.

"You are wearing them again.." Before I could think what he was talking about, he added, "your contacts.."

"Uhmm, yeah. Not many here know that I have different colored eyes and I want it to be that way.."

He glanced at my eyes to and fro before he said, "Why?"

"Because it makes people stare at me like I am abnormal or something.." I murmured.

His lips pulled to one side in a grimace, "Who is staring at you? Students or lecturers? Tell me and I will pluck their eyes out.."

I found it adorable, the fact that someone staring at me can make him so pissed, and that made me chuckle.

"What's so funny, Minu?"

"You can't go around plucking people's eyes out just because they are staring at me, Ela. It's normal for people to stare at the ones who are abnormal.."

"God, Minu!! Stop staying that. You are not abnormal. You are one in a million, unique, exclusive, special. You are limited edition but not abnormal. And yes, I can pluck their eyes out if I want to."

My mouth fell open and then I laughed. "I am limited edition?"

"Yes, you are.." His lips tipped up in a lopsided grin, "The next time someone stares at you for those gorgeous grey-brown eyes, you tell me, okay?"

I nodded my head even though I had no plans of doing it.

"Good, now let's go.."

For a change, we made a short stop at a roadside shop. I was really in a mood to eat something light this morning and that was when Ela suggested this place. Apparently, their chicken sandwiches are worth dying for, his words, not mine. After eating as Ela was pulling out his wallet to pay the woman, she looked at us both curiously.

"Are you both newly married? You make such a beautiful couple, Mashallah.."

I should have corrected that woman that very instant. I should have told her that we weren't married and we weren't a couple either but I couldn't. Neither did, Ela. To say we both were stunned to silence would be the right thing.

We had gone out together a thousand times before but no one had ever said anything as crazy as this woman did. Yes, no one could say that we were related because of the stark differences in our looks but this, God, this had never happened before. As nice as it sounded, it was equally embarrassing and I had no doubt I had turned scarlet. That was when I focused on his face. He was staring back at me and his eyebrows were split by a frown. And his eyes, they were dark, brownest I had ever seen.

Something passed through those eyes then, through his entire face, his sharp features. I don't know what it was, but it was there and it made me blush more.

I waited for him to say something but nothing. He only stared back at me until I couldn't look into his soul-sucking, blood-freezing gaze and turned away.

Without acknowledging the woman, he paid her, and together, we strode towards his jeep. I had absolutely no idea how to face him after that but I wanted an answer to the one question that was running in my head non-stop.

Why did he not think to deny the woman's assumptions?

If I hadn't liked it, I would have told her but I liked what she was telling, that was the thing. You might tell me that Ela was as flabbergasted as me but I was not only shocked but I was also secretly cherishing the moment. I wanted the woman to think we were married and made a wonderful pair. I didn't feel like telling her what the reality was.

Is that how Ela was feeling too? And if not, why didn't he tell her the truth?

I didn't dare to turn his way and kept gazing out of the window. There fell an eery silence between us as Ela drove us to the Angels' abode. It was a terraced garden located on top of the Zabarwan mountain range overlooking Dal lake and the city of Srinagar. At the first glance, I believed the palace came straight out of a fairytale and it perfectly suited its name. I just fell in love with the signature elements of Islamic architecture, its exquisite arches, and its never-ending gardens.

"It's beautiful!!" I breathed out as we came to a stop at the highest point.

"Yes, beautiful.." When I snapped my eyes at him I found find him staring right at me but the next second he averted his eyes to the mountains surrounding us, giving me an impression that he was talking about them and nothing else. I was dreading the moment he'd turn around and look at me. Along with anticipating it like an i***t.

But I shouldn't have bothered with any of those things because that moment never comes. He began to ignore me after that and kept walking around the place with me trailing behind me like a lost puppy until a group of college boys came in our direction.

"Hey, babydoll.." The rowdiest of all of them walked closer to me while commenting loud enough for everyone passing through to hear him. "Do you need our company, darling? Your boyfriend does look much interested.." He turned to his friends and whispered something. I knew it was something I wouldn't want to hear.

Asshole!

Could this day get any more embarrassing? But I knew one thing for sure, he messed with the wrong person and this day was going to be miserable for him. He would remember it till the end of his life.

"What the f**k did you say to her?" A scary growl erupted around us and I didn't have to wonder where it was coming from. I knew the voice too well. With just two big strides Ela was standing in front of the group like a giant rock. I noticed his little gang of friends staring at him wide-eyed and scared, muttering among themselves, and scattering away from him like little ants. It would have been funny if I was in the mood to laugh.

"Hey man.." The guy I thought was a rowdy squeaked like a scared rodent.

I gasped when Ela held the collar of his shirt, "Ela, let go.."

"Apologize to her..." Ela growled at his face.

"I'm..I'm sorry sister.." And when he did, I seriously thought Ela would let him go but instead, he wrapped his finger around his throat, lifting him off the floor.

"Holy sh.." The guy's hands flailed in the air before coming to grab Ela's wrist. "I said s-sorry.."

"I am warning you, if I see you making such derogatory comments about another girl, I will pull out your intestine and wrap it around your neck. Understood?"

"Y-Yes.."

"Now get the f**k out of here.." Ela let him go but not without a last, punishing squeeze that made him squeal and gurgle like a pathetic bafoon.

"Ela, that was totally unnecessary.." I placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"It was totally necessary.." He hissed at me angrily. "Such assholes are a nuisance to every woman they come by and they needed to be taught a lesson.." This wasn't the first time he's beaten a guy for me but this was surely the first time he looked so mad with one. I didn't know what the guy said but whatever it was, it had managed to piss Ela off. My brother, Aadhi too gets furious when guys tease me but never to such an extent.

His anger made me want to move closer to him, which is when I realized that I couldn't. Because I was already close to him. Super close to him. In addition to that, I was clutching his sleeve tightly and my front was plastered to his side. He too must have realized it only then because his eyes moved down to where I was holding him but he did not pull away from me. In fact, he didn't let go of me. He did not leave my side even for a jiffy of a second after that.

That evening when his jeep came to a halt inside the hostel campus, my shoulders slumped in a sigh. "Are you still angry?"

"No.." He rasped.

"But you sound angry to me, Ela. Are you mad at me for something?" I don't get why I asked that.

He turned on his seat and faced me, "Why would I be mad at you, Minu? It's those assholes, okay? Not you.."

I reached out to touch his arm which flexed under my touch, "It's okay. Just leave it. There are many assholes like them and you can't go threatening each one of them.."

"I know.."

"Ela.." I paused "Uhmm, can I ask you something?"

He stiffened upon my question as if he knew what I was going to ask him but nodded anyway, "What is it?"

"Why didn't you say anything to that woman.." I had to take a deep breath here to stop my heart from beating so fast, "..when she thought that we are uhmm.. you know, married?"

I watched his fist that he had placed on the steering clenching. His jaw clenched the same way, "She was a stranger and I didn't see a reason to explain to her anything.."

"Ohh.."

"Yeah, you should go inside now.." He said dismissively.

"And one more thing.." I added quickly.

"What?"

"You don't have to come here next Sunday.."

He snapped his eyes back to me, "Why?"

"Because I am going out with some of my friends.." I told him.

"An outing?" His voice is tight.

"Yes.." I nodded.

"So, who are these friends?"

"My classmates.."

"And does that include boys as well?"

"Yes.." My heart started to race for different reasons now. There was a fair chance that he might not allow me. My parents wouldn't let me go if Ela did not want me to go. And after what happened today, I was sure he wouldn't want me to go out, at least not without him.

"I would say you shouldn't go then.." He said in a clipped voice.

"What? Why? Just because there are going to be boys?" I shrieked in rebellion.

His chest moved with an impatient breath, "Didn't you just see what happened earlier? Boys at this age are plain jerks.."

"You can't control me, Ela.." I continued, my eyes teary and unfocused. And my contacts only made my eyes more itchy and troublesome. "You know what, I am not asking for your permission here. I was only informing you about it. I am going and that's final.."

Without sparing him a glance I tried to open the car door but before I could succeed, I was turned around on the seat by my wrist.

"Look here.." He spoke in an authoritative tone. "I said, look here, Minmini.."

When I heard my full name coming from his mouth, I glanced up at him.

He heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine, you can go but you will call me every one hour and let me know that you are safe. Is it clear?"

I smiled a small smile through all the tears, "Yes, I will do that.."

It was clear that he didn't like the idea a bit but he wouldn't deny me anything when I cried for it, "Now stop crying and stop wearing that damn thing to cover your eyes.."

Contacts. He was talking about my contacts.

"I will.." I seriously wanted to kiss him at that moment, nothing much but just a peck on his cheek. A 'thank you' kiss. But I didn't want to freak him out so I let go of that desire and silently slipped out of his jeep.

A/N:

Hey beautiful readers!

So, what do you think of this chapter? Did you like it?

I know Ela sounds really controlling but he's just trying to protect Mini in this unknown place.

I am extremely sorry for not updating regularly. But I promise to update every day from next month onwards. I am trying hard to wind up all my work before that. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

Love,

Swaram