STRINGS OF ETERNITY

Chapter 3 Ritik's Proposal

Meera was sitting beside Aahil in the car but he focused on his driving without throwing a single glance in her direction while Meera peeked at him every now and then, and finally, she couldn’t endure the silence anymore.

“Aahil, I was thinking, Let’s go to that newly opened café near the lake tomorrow. Alina said that their coffee is excellent,” Meera said in an attempt to start the conversation, but Aahil continued to drive with full focus and turned on the music.

Meera pouted, “Are you upset?” She asked as she looked at Aahil’s clenched jaws.

“No,” Aahil gave a short and curt reply, and changed the gear, taking a U-turn.

Meera turned off the music, “Why are you so silent?” She questioned again.

“Because I am driving and I have nothing to say.” He replied coldly.

“Why are you angry then?” Meera asked again, but Aahil didn’t answer.

Meera’s nostrils flared in anger. Her fasting, and Aahil’s attitude increased her temperament. “Stop this car!! I can walk to my hostel. You don’t need to drop me if you are planning to give me this silent treatment.” She shrieked in an irritated tone, but Aahil ignored her plea.

Meera knitted her eyebrows, “Stop this car, or I will jump out!!!” She screeched at Aahil and he halted the car with a jerk in the middle of nowhere.

“You can’t jump out, it’s centrally locked. I know I have a child with me always, so I take extra precautions, and by the way, why are you getting so hyper? You did what you wanted, right?” Aahil asked Meera.

“For god’s sake, what have I done this time? At least tell me!! Why are so angry?” Meera asked, and Aahil chuckled sarcastically.

“Does it matter?” He said.

“What?” Meera asked, narrowing her eyes.

“I asked, does it matter if I am angry, and even if I am, my opinion doesn’t matter to you.” He said, looking at the road.

“It does matter to me, Aahil. Now, will you please tell me what have I done this time, pleaseee?” Meera pleaded with her best puppy eyes.

“Why you agreed to go to the party? It’s like you are giving him an invitation to propose to you, and then you will reject him like you have rejected others in the past. You don’t know, he is quite a dangerous guy!” Aahil said in a high pitch and glared at Meera.

Meera rolled her eyes, “I didn’t say yes to his party, Alina agreed.” She said. “You are taking this thing on a whole new level. He doesn’t seem so bad. Your boyfriend instincts are working overtime. Send them for a vacation,”

Aahil narrowed his eyes at her but she continued to speak, “and suppose if I plan to go there, I'll be tagging along with you and our group, so what harm can he cause me?. You will protect me, right?” Meera asked and stroked his cheek while saying the last sentence, and before Aahil could reply to drag the conversation, Meera interrupted him.

“Please drop me at my hostel, I am fasting and really tired. I want to retire to my bed as soon as possible.” Meera said in a tired tone and Aahil started driving, dismissing the topic. He soon stopped his car outside Meera’s hostel’s gate. She hugged him briefly and exited his car while looking at her retrieving figure.

“You have a habit of landing yourself in trouble, but this is dangerous, Meera. Ritik is bad news.” He thought and then started the engine, leaving from there.

***

Ritik was smoking when his basketball buddies approached him. “Hey! I heard you are throwing a party at the club and you invited Aahil’s group as well?”

“Yeah, because Meera is in that group. I had to invite them.” Ritik replied, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

“Can I say something if you don’t mind?” Ritik’s friend asked.

“Go on, I am all ears.” He said, blowing the smoke upward in the series of Os.

“I think Aahil is interested in Meera. I have caught them together plenty of times. They were all cozy and comfortable with each other. I think they are more than friends.” His friend pointed out and Ritik burst into a series of laughter.

“Are you crazy? Meera belongs to a reputable family, and Aahil, that’s a poor little thing with no family background, and, hey! Let’s not forget their religious difference. Meera knows her limits, she wouldn’t date any charity case.” Ritik said, taking another drag from his cigarette.

“Meera is single, but not for long.” He stated firmly, and her beautiful images flashed in the back of his mind.

***

NEXT EVENING

Meera was waiting for Aahil outside the college campus and then decided to give him a call. “Where are you?” She screeched as soon as Aahil picked her call.

“Yeah, yeah, I am coming to pick you up. Stop yelling!” Aahil replied while driving the car at the highest speed.

“Argh… I am waiting for you outside the college for half an hour. You promised you will take me shopping. I don’t have any suitable dress for tomorrow’s party, and it’s almost evening now. I have to reach the hostel before their closing time. Where are you?” Meera said in a high pitch.

“God, you are so impatient, Meera. I said, I am on my way to pick you up and I have really exciting news to share with you. Just wait there, I am reaching,” Aahil told her, and disconnected the call without waiting for her reply.

~MEERA~

“Why the heck he had to say that he has exciting news to share when he doesn’t care to tell me the whole thing. Now, what should I do with the butterflies dancing in my stomach? Aahil!!! He knows I can’t handle suspense, still, he does this every damn time.” Meera said inwardly and her eyes landed on Ritik, who was walking in her direction. “Now what he wants from me?”

“Hey hi!” Ritik said enthusiastically.

“Hi,” Meera replied simply and started looking here and there so that he could take the hint, and leave her alone.

“You are here, alone? Where is your group?” He asked, looking around.

“They all went for a movie and I am waiting for Aahil,” Meera replied and Ritik’s face dropped at the mention of his name, but he concealed his true emotion.

“Oh, okay, but if you want, I can drop you at your hostel.” Ritik offered with a sheepish smile on his face.

“No, it’s okay, Aahil is on his way, must be reaching here in a few minutes,” Meera replied while taking a glance at her watch.

“Okay!” Ritik nodded and Meera thought he will finally leave her alone but no.

“Meera?” he called her name and Meera looked at him.

“Yes?” Meera replied.

“I wanted to say something to you.” He said and Meera just knew that he was about to propose, and she gulped in nervousness.

“Yeah, tell me,” She said casually.

“Well, I don’t know how should I start but I like you and…..” He said, staring into Meera’s eyes but she interrupted him.

“It will be good if I burst his all bubbles right now.” She thought before speaking her mind. “Ritik, I am sorry but I have always seen you as my friend, a good friend. I do not have any romantic feelings towards you. Sorry for being so direct, but this is how I am. I don’t want to lead you on false hopes.” Meera said in one go and prayed to God that he will take it positively.

“Ouch” Ritik put his hand on his chest dramatically. “You broke my heart and hurt my ego.” He replied followed by an evil laughed, and Meera flinched, looking at his face, but then he composed himself.

“Hey don’t worry, it’s okay… No problem, but I hope we can hang out sometime, right, like you hang out with Aahil and your other friends?” He said, appearing cool and calm, and Meera sighed in relief.

“Oh sure, I would love to,” She said and smiled a bit, and then she saw Aahil’s car behind him.

“Aahil is here,” She said with a wide smile on her face that irked Ritik. He turned and waved at Aahil, who waved back at him and gestured for Meera to come.

“Okay then, see you at the party,” Ritik said with a warm smile and then left, while Meera looked at him from behind.

“Aahil is wrong, Ritik is a nice guy, he took my rejection positively.” She thought and then started walking to where Aahil parked his car.