It Started With a Friend Request (10 page)

She continued, ‘…where is my Tab, Deep? I have written so many things about you in it. Please let me read it.’

Deep immediately took the Tab which was kept on the seat beside her but Tamanna snatched it from his hand. She opened a saved folder and tried to read out the lines.

Jaane woh meri bekarari ko samajhta kyun nahi,

Jo mujhe mehsoos hota hai, woh use mehsoos hota kyun nahi?

Apne pyaar se seechti aayi hoon main is phool ko,

Mere pyaar ka yeh phool uske dil me khilta kyun nahi?

Har pal uske pyaar ki galiyon mein bhatakti hoon,

Na jane woh bhule se bhi wahan se guzarta kyun nahi?

Maar chuki hoon har ehsaas ko uske pyaar mein,

Ichhaon ka yeh aashiyana fir bhi bikharta kyun nahin?

Click play to listen song

The taxi halted near Tamanna’s apartment. Though he was in shock, he helped Tamanna get out of the car and looked around to make sure no one was watching him. She somehow managed to walk to the gate.

Deep was unable to catch much sleep that night. The biggest question that kept him awake all through the night was ‘What next?’ Should he forget his principles and take a step forward thinking of all the luxuries that would be provided to him, or should he act as if nothing had happened that night? Though he wanted to call it an end and quit his job, he knew practically he couldn’t take that
step as he had responsibilities on his head. To fulfil the same responsibilities, should he jump in an ocean of greed by killing his self-respect or respect the dreams that he once saw with his dream girl?

Sealed With a Kiss

N
o one really loves early mornings after partying hard the night before. The alarm broke Tamanna’s sleep. She walked towards the kitchen still half asleep. Aleesha was making early morning tea. Tamanna drank a glass of water and sat on the sofa in the living room. She didn’t remember even a second of what she had done the previous night on her way back home.

‘Hey, you came in late yesterday. I had called you but your cell was switched off. Tea?’ Aleesha asked.

Tamanna nodded and Aleesha poured her a cup of tea.

‘Why did you call yesterday?’ Tamanna asked while searching for a newspaper and continued, ‘Oh shit, I completely forgot to inform you. It just skipped my mind because of last night’s party. The house owner had called me yesterday evening to inform that he needs this flat vacant for a month for renovation purposes. In six months’ time, he is planning to sell it off. I am extremely sorry but I think you will have to look for another accommodation till then. Even I am shifting to my friend’s house for a month. I am really sorry.’

‘I think I can stay in the college hostel now since classes have commenced. Don’t worry. I totally understand. I will tell dad about the issue and shift to the college hostel as soon as the formalities are done,’ Aleesha smiled. Her face didn’t show that she was worried. But, Tamanna’s sudden decision had shocked her as that was not expected. She called Akash and they decided to meet up in the evening.

Aleesha sent a message on WhatsApp to Akash saying:
Let’s meet at Shivaji Park, Dadar, at 7 pm
.

Sure sexy. Muaahh!
Akash replied.

Aleesha blushed after reading his message and sent him a smiley emoticon. She had bunked lectures that day to complete her pending assignments. She waited for the clock to strike 7 for two reasons. One was that she was eager to meet Akash. The other reason was more critical. She had to discuss with him how she should go about shifting to the college hostel.

She took a cab and left for Shivaji Park. She was wearing a knee length, blue, one piece dress and had left her hair loose, with a few strands falling on her face. She was hardly wearing any make up except a slight lip gloss and blue eyeliner. Within a few minutes, she reached the destination and got down from the cab.

Akash was waiting outside the petrol pump near Shivaji Park. Seeing Aleesha standing on the other side of the road, he couldn’t resist looking at her from head to toe. She looked perfect. Akash parked the car and walked towards her. He gave her a sweet flying kiss, which was returned with equal intensity. Akash held her hand and they searched for a
secluded place at Shivaji Park. There are only a few places left in Mumbai where couples can spend some quality time together without any disturbances and this was one of them.

Aleesha took out a sketch of Mickey Mouse which she had made for Akash in between her lectures. Akash laughed after seeing it and pulled her cheeks. He loved how innocent she was.

‘It’s super cute. I will pin it up on the pinboard in my room. Love you so much,’ Akash said kissing her cheeks.

Aleesha didn’t say anything. Though she managed to smile, Akash could sense her fear. He held her hands, came closer to her, and asked, ‘What happened, tell me. I will suggest a solution.’

She narrated the entire story and said, ‘I had a discussion with mom and dad too. They have agreed to my decision of staying in the college hostel. Instead of looking for some other place for a month, it is better to shift to the hostel.’ She stopped for a moment and rested her head on Akash’s shoulder.

‘So what’s the problem? You are absolutely right,’ Akash said playing with her hair.

‘The only problem is that from now on, I will not be able to stay with you till late nights. And that’s why I wanted to discuss my decision to move out with you first,’ Aleesha said leaning closer to Akash, almost on the verge of kissing him.

Akash didn’t deny her the pleasure of the kiss. Men will be men, after all. He slowly embraced her and locked his lips with hers. Akash was pretty nervous as he knew other people around them were definitely noticing them. But he decided to ignore them. Aleesha’s tender kiss incited him
like fresh blood to a shark. He grabbed her by her waist and kissed her all over again. In the moonlight, she looked ethereal, almost like a painting. He wondered how he could have ended up with such a beautiful girl. His girlfriend. His soulmate.

Akash looked sideways and saw another couple doing much more than kissing. Akash stood astonished for a moment, asked Aleesha to move with him to another secluded spot, and found a bench and sat on it. They hugged each other and then Akash asked her to sit on his lap. Aleesha didn’t argue.

‘Can you just lean on me a bit more?’ Akash said with a naughty smile.

Akash kissed her cheeks first and then his tongue nudged her lips to open her mouth. It was another passionate evening for both of them. July 7 marked the beginning of their relationship and their first kiss, and now July 20 would be remembered as the day of the first passionate evening of their life. Their love made them forget the world around them. Soon it was time for Aleesha to leave since it was getting late. Getting up from Akash’s lap, she adjusted her dress. Her hair had come loose in the impromptu makeout session, and while tying it, she came forward and gave a small peck on Akash’s neck. Akash again untied her hair and they walked towards the car.

‘You look more beautiful with you hair open,’ Akash said holding her hand lovingly.

‘And you look hotter when you smile. They highlight your cute dimples,’ Aleesha replied and they started their journey back home.

Romance is the language of love. It is the way you show your partner that you care about them. The time she spent with Akash had made her feel much better and she was now relaxed about moving to the hostel.

While driving back home after dropping off Aleesha, Akash sent a message to her.

The day you came into my life, everything changed. Your arrival brought with it happiness, hope, and contentment. I was afraid to give you my heart, as I was scared that you would tear it apart. Then I gradually let it commit the perfect crime because you stole my heart with no intentions of giving it back. I promise to love you in every way that I can and to be by your side in every possible way. Your beauty overwhelms me as I wrap my arms around you. I press you tight and great passion fills my inner being. The touch of your lips makes me numb. Your Mickey is on the dashboard and smiling. You are my cutest Minnie. I love you so much. Just try not to dress as beautifully as today. You may cause accidents on the road because the whole city will be gazing at you. Love you so much. Muaahh!

Aleesha read the message and replied:

Akash, are you driving or messaging? How many times have I told you not to use your cell phone while driving! Still you don’t listen to me. Anyway, you know what? I can’t stop talking to my friends in Kolkata about you. I love the child in you—so innocent and sweet. The mischief in your eyes and the blush upon your
cheeks, makes your dimples look very cute. The tender way you spoke today showed me that you care. Your warm hand that gently touched my hair gave me a sensation of your true love. When I first met you, I liked you but we were supposed to be friends. Who would have thought that I would love you till the end? I love the way you tell me that I am beautiful and the way you make me laugh like no one else. I love the way you move my hair away from my eyes and then kiss me on my face. It feels like I am dreaming. You too are my cutest Mickey. Love you Akash! Be mine forever. Never go away.
I will remember July 20 as the day we spent our first passionate evening together. That too in public:P

Aleesha was content that Akash had no issues with her shifting to the college hostel. It was love all the way! At least for now.

In a couple of days, Aleesha finished all the hostel formalities and paperwork. The girls’ hostel was not in the college campus but located at some distance from it. She had taken a double sharing room along with her classmate Kritika. According to hostel rules, girls had to compulsorily report for a roll call at 8:15 pm. One late pass was allowed in a week and one stayover per month. Girls on a late pass had to report at 10:15 pm.

Kritika, though born and brought up in Mumbai, preferred staying in the hostel as her home was located on the outskirts
of Mumbai and travelling daily to college was time and energy consuming. She was Aleesha’s classmate and they both had decided to take a twin sharing room. She was a bubbly girl with short hair and cute looks. Indeed she was the girl next door. She carried immense positive energy that could make anyone feel happy. According to her, the reason behind her charm and beauty was the crystal she carried with her at all times. She wore a locket around her neck which had an amethyst crystal. She believed that it was a symbol of positive energy and could seduce anyone around her. Kritika was extremely friendly and used to gel very well with everyone. Her friendly behaviour had already made her good friends with Aleesha. They were also together in their project group and thus sharing the room was like a cherry on the cake.

Aleesha decided to shift on the same day as she had finished all the formalities and Kritika too had shifted a day before. She came back to her apartment from college at around 12 pm and saw Tamanna in the kitchen preparing food. Tamanna had come home early to help Aleesha pack her bags and bid her goodbye. Aleesha felt good, as such a gesture was least expected from Tamanna. She never tried to interfere in Aleesha’s personal life apart from a few nightouts that they had gone on together.