He sat there – dumbfounded, unable to take his eyes off Anjali. She had grown all the more beautiful. She was like a heavenly rose that had bloomed out of a beautiful bud he had seen earlier. He realized that her looks, he had been remembering were of a girl out of school – the lady who occupied the seat opposite to him was extraordinarily and exceptionally beautiful, just as shy as she had been in the college. She had maintained her long hair. She knew his eyes were fixed on her and wasn’t able to make up her mind if she should keep looking down or meet his eyes…
Guru cleared his throat loudly bringing him back to his senses – he realized he was now sitting face to face with Anjali – the girl of his dreams…
Tanvi looked at Guru who took the cue, “OK people – what would you like me to order?”
“I know Anjali loves rose milk shake” Tanvi said looking at Anjali, “is it okay if that’s ordered for you, Anjali?”
Anjali nodded suppressing a smile of approval.
“Even I would like to go for a rose milk shake.’ Chaits added hastily avoiding Guru’s eyes. Guru knew Chaits had hated this drink since childhood.
Guru summoned the waiter who took some time to reach them. Saturday, always was a busy day at Rustomjee’s. Almost every group of students from the college nearby wanted to enjoy their weekend there.
They chatted on general topics while Anjali looked on at the table hardly daring to meet up with Chaits’ eyes. Their order was delivered and Chaits looked at Guru in disbelief. There were only 2 glasses of rose milk shake – one for him and one for Anjali.
“We got some emergency shopping at hand and have to go. We’ll be back in about 30 minutes.” Tanvi explained, ‘In the meanwhile you both chat with each other and enjoy each other’s company.” She smiled.
“C’mon Tanvi, let’s go…” Guru said even as he pushed his chair away and stood next to Tanvi. They left Rustomjee’s leaving Chaits with drumming heartbeats. He was still trying to think what sort of conversation he should strike with Anjali. He jumped – a bit startled on hearing his phone beep out a message notification.
“Excuse me” he said sheepishly, “give me a moment to read the message.”
Anjali smiled short and nodded her consent of ‘Go ahead’. It was a message from Tanvi that read, ‘Remember – this is the only chance you have to impress her. Please don’t fail me. She’s bound to conclude who you are even before we return. All The Best !’
He gulped a sip of saliva which had trouble going down over the lump that had formed in his throat.
‘C’mon… You can do it !!’ his mind kept hammering him. His fast beating heart was increasing his nervousness. He looked at her and felt dumbstruck…
He was now looking at an attractive bud that had blossomed into the most beautiful flower. Her long hair falling gently over her shoulders waived gaily at him whenever the breeze of a nearby fan pushed the breeze toward her. Her dark hair formed a breath taking backdrop enhancing the fairness of her face.
She was sitting there, her heart silently beating in anticipation, expectant of the marriage proposal from him, her glance downward … The glance downward toward the table made her eyelids resemble the half-moon splashed around by her beautiful lashes. She was trying to hide her smile of anticipation.
He could see that she had maintained her long hair and were now longer falling over her shoulders and her shivering in anticipation and nervousness shook the long earrings she wore sparkling them and dazzling him all the more whenever the light around reflected on them. She knew his eyes were fixed on her and was way too shy to look up and meet his eyes.
He sat there, looking unabashedly at her beautiful appearance. She wore a light peach coloured top which fit her perfect. Her soft skin glowed as her arms protruded out of the sleeveless top. He was imagining her reaction if he kissed her in love and tenderness looking at her lips that silently sipped at the rose milk shake.
He was so engrossed in her admiration that he didn’t realize, it was almost 30 minutes and he had not spoken a word to her. She had finished sipping her milk shake and was now running out of her patience. Finally, she could bear it no longer…
She abruptly pushed her chair in a huff and stood looking dejected and frustrated at his silence. She started to walk toward the main exit without saying a word.
The whole place fell apart for Chaits at this reaction from her. His heart sank knowing he had blown away his only opportunity.
‘GET UP YOU IDIOT.’ A voice inside him screamed at him, ‘If you allow her to get out of that door – you’ll never ever get another chance. STOP HER !! – Damn anyone and everyone who’s watching you and her… DO NOT FORGET – SHE IS THE ONE AND THE ONLY ONE… You have dreamed only of her and nobody else … it’s NOW or NEVER…’
He looked around at stunned silence around – almost every face there was watching and imploring him to go for it…
Awkwardly, but quickly, he got up from his chair, spilling the glass of milk shake untouched by him on the table that rolled toward the edge and the sound of the glass falling down, the shatter of the glass splintering on the floor, sounded deafening in the absolute silence around. Each person at Rustomjee’s was holding on to the breath awaiting the next scene to unfurl…
“ANJALI…” he called out.
She didn’t turn around, nor did she stop walking toward the main exit… She just slowed her pace down…
He was quick to notice this and realized that she wanted to give him – ONE LAST CHANCE…
She could hear him call out her name and her heartbeats had started to thump now. She felt his hand, now holding her hand in a bid to stop her…
“Leave me…” she said half-heartedly and turned around. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him down on his knees, holding her hand, his eyes full of love for her – she could almost see the pupils of his eyes turning heart shaped…
“Anjali…” he said in a voice aloud enough for him to hear it above the thumping and the drumming of his heart…
“When I saw you for the first time, it was a long time ago. It was your first step into the college life and my final graduation year. My heart beat fast – I knew – If it had to be someone – It had to be YOU…
My Heart is still beating and it’s beating faster now, even as I hold your hand in mine. I know – I know that I’ve been an idiot who was lost looking at your beauty. But, I want you to know that I was silent – I was silent because I was facing a huge conflict within myself – Me, My Heart and My Mind … we were like three separate entities – all of us desperately in love with YOU.
My Mind wanted to impress you with its intellectuality, My Heart wanted to sing the songs of your beauty – and I – I was caught in between – trying to find reasonable words – reasonable words to ask you … WILL YOU MARRY ME ???”
“How Cute…” a female voice reacted from one of the corners.
Guru and Tanvi, mysteriously appeared at the main exit… they had been waiting and observing from outside.
“Say YES…” Tanvi whispered to herself, wishfully…
Few voices started to echo her wish and said “Say – YES…” even as others joined in… Slowly the entire crowd at Rustomjee’s joined in and started chanting…
“SAY – YES …” ….. clap – clap – clap
Anjali was now out of her wits as the roar at Rustomjee’s kept on increasing its volume… not wanting to stop…
“SAY – YES …” ….. clap – clap – clap
“SAY – YES …” ….. clap – clap – clap
“SAY – YES …” ….. clap – clap – clap
Poor Anjali – she was a shy girl and stood frozen at all this sudden commotion that had erupted around and knew that she was the centre of all this noise… even as the noise started to reach its crescendo…
She looked at love filled and expectant eyes of Chaits and her heart melted … She nodded a LOUD YES for everyone to see – blushed and freed her hand covering her blushing face and ran toward the main exit. She saw Tanvi standing there and hugged her tight in her happiness – even as the entire crowd roared and rejoiced the Victory of Love…
Are you ready for a thrill ride like no other?
Look no further than Prasad Deshpande, the mastermind behind heart-stopping, spine-tingling thrillers
that will leave you breathless and begging for more!
"Unimaginable Plots, Unrelenting Suspense"
With a twisted imagination and a flair for the unexpected,
Prasad Deshpande weaves intricate tales that will keep you guessing until the very end.
From shocking twists to heart-pumping action, it is a wild ride that will push you to the edge of your seat.
Dive into a World of Thrills and Chills
Explore the dark corners of the human psyche, where the unimaginable becomes reality.
Prasad Deshpande's thrillers are not for the faint or weak of heart,
but for those who crave a story that will haunt them long after the final page is turned.
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/