Fear & Love

Ten

Ami and Isha couldn't stop laughing as they sat in the bar having drinks. Isha never thought her Bhai will ask her to do this. It was mid ceremony that Anand took Isha by her hand and pulled her aside.

"Bhai, I was having fun but won't scream and yell. Sorry. Now, let me go."

"Isha, you have to do something. Listen carefully." Anand said looking into her eyes. Isha understood that it must be something important otherwise he would never bother her in a party. Once Anand completed what he had in his mind, Isha's eyes went wide. What he wanted was not a big deal but coming from her slightly boring brother who is all work and no party, it certainly was. She couldn't believe he wanted her to lie to everyone that they are having an after party, as if some tradition in the young kids, and then just let the two of them - Anand and Gita be there.

Isha, who had no issues lying, thought of just teasing her brother a bit.
"Umm Bhai, what would Gita think of me if I lie? She would be quite upset with me. I won't do it." Isha said sounding innocent.

She could see Anand start to tense a bit and wanted to smile. He is getting affected by the fact that I won't help him. What a fun sight to see! Plus, it was not everyday that Anand asks her to help.

"Isha, you shouldn't worry about that. Besides, I am asking you to do something for me for the first time. Do it now." If he was a teen, Isha could imagine him almost whining.

Isha laughed and finally agreed. "Bhai, don't worry. I will do this, lover boy." To this, Anand just glared at her and went back. Isha obviously told this plan to Ami and Anand's friends to make it believable when they had to stage the act.

Ami had a sip of her drink and said, "what do you think they must be upto?"

"Quite difficult to say. They are not the usual cases. Both are nuts. Shy nuts." Isha replied.

Ami hummed in agreement, when suddenly like a bolt, an idea striked her.
"Isha, can we spy on them?"

Isha almost spat her drink and coughed. It took few minutes to find a grip on herself.

"Are you crazy? If my Bhai sees us, he will butcher me. You might be spared but not me."

"Please, they are like a floor above. We can atleast try. Besides, the most these would do is talk, so why not?"

"No. And that's final."

"Aww, bhai's princess is scared?" Ami asked mockingly, thinking  Isha would take the dare.

"Good one. But it won't work on me. And I am not Bhai's princess as you think. Now, let's enjoy the drink."

Ami sat quietly after Isha's denial to her request. "You know I really liked that he asked you to do this. They never spend time like they should. And I thought he doesn't care but this changes things, he took the initiative."

Isha looked at her, "you are Gita's best friend, no?" Ami nodded saying 'one of them.'

"See, I know you all may think a lot of things about my brother and naturally so. Even I would, if I was from Gita's side. But he cares for Gita. He is just not that good with emotions."
Ami just nodded.
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Gita was surprised when Anand pecked her on her cheeks again. She tried to release her hand and this time, he let go of it. Gita turned around to face him. He is so confusing, she thought. Sometimes, he will totally ignore her presence and when alone, he will surprise her with his talks and antics. She had a hard time processing the fact that first, Anand complimented her and now, he showed her affection. She had butterflies in her stomach and her heart fluttered but she was good at masking her giddiness. Her face didn't show things affecting her.

"Thank you. You too look nice." She kept it simple. Nice was just not the word for his looks. He looked so so so handsome. She could add over hundreds of 'so' before the word handsome.

"Oh? Just nice? I mean, if someone could compete your look today, it has to be me." And there it is, the hint of arrogance. He is back! He can never look beyond himself.

"Yes, just nice. Now, tell me if this was your plan or Isha's?" She asked, genuinely curious. Anand was a bit amused seeing her fiery. She always smiled around others and had a very soft tone of talking but today, she is just so stern.

"It was mine. I wanted to spend some alone time with you. So, I asked her help." Anand was honest.

"Oh, so that you can avoid my calls for next 2 weeks." Gita fired back. Anand was so stunned with her words. Is this about the calls and messages he didn't reply? Is she still angry?

"What? You are still on about it? Gitanjali, I was very busy."

Totally wrong choice of words by Anand.

"Yes ofcourse, you are the president." She attacked him back with the same sarcastic 'president' remark he had used when she called. "You must be busy with all sorts of work."

Anand looked at her amusingly. Is she the same quiet person he had seen since years? Anand didn't say a word in explanation. He knew it was futile to explain himself when she doesn't seem in a mood to give him a chance to explain. Instead, he just looked at her adorable self. He truly believed what he said, she was indeed the most beautiful in the room. Her radiant smile can light up a whole room and he was not even exaggerating it. If you ever need someone with a gentle soul,a scoop of kindness and a big wide beautiful smile, it has to be Gitanjali.

Gita saw Anand looking at her and not saying a word. She wondered if she is like a lioness right now because of which he is afraid to speak. Gita expected Anand to retort with some sarcastic words again but when he opened his mouth, he just said that they should leave and Gita was again dumbfounded. This guy just said that he brought her here to spend some alone time together and now he wants to leave. 

"Anand, I am not someone who likes to argue or fight constantly, I don't even have the energy to do so. I am very straight forward person and you may think I am fool but I don't understand hints or people who talk in puzzles. I like to be very clear and in the past few days, because of you, I am very disturbed. So tell me honestly, do you want this marriage with me or not?"
Gita asked without talking in riddles. She had been made fun of by friends and family for not understanding how people talk in puzzles. But right now, it didn't matter if he would make fun of her, she wanted to understand and be sure if Anand wants this marriage or not.

"Am I fool to decide the engagement date, to be at the engagement or to be here with you right now, if I didn't want any of this, Gitanjali?" He asked, clenching his jaw. Now, she saw what she had not seen since a long time - the anger in his eyes. The anger in his eyes was very familiar to her from years ago.

He couldn't believe she asked such a stupid question. What is this girl thinking? 'Does she think that I would spend so much of my precious time with her if I didn't accept this marriage?', thought Anand angrily.

"That was a yes or no question, Anand. So, don't question me back. Please answer, I need to know."

"DON'T talk to me like I am one of your student, Gitanjali." His eyes blazing with fire. He can never tolerate someone trying to dictate him, not even Gitanjali.

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