Destined To Be

Chapter 27

Ankita's P.O.V.

I was sitting impatiently in my room for the time to go out and meet Ayaan. I was pretty nervous as well. If he does love me, or even if he doesn't, I would be embarrassed at both. My heart raced as I had anxiety. Never have I been so nervous even for my exam results. But despite this, I couldn't help but to smile and admire myself. The sun slowly began to hide and the sky became dark. I stepped outside my room and saw everyone sitting around the camp fire. I went and sat next to Preeti and listened to all the chats from everyone while my eyes searched for one person, Ayaan. Where was he? My eyes roamed every corner but didn't find any sign of him. My phone began to ring and looking at Rohan's name flashing on the screen, I answered to hear him saying, "I thought that you were going to call me back?" "I'm sorry, I just got really busy," I lied. "Hmm...I know what you were busy doing," he said. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Ayaan, Ayaan's practice, am I right?" He said. I smiled and looked at Preeti. Getting up, I went to a private corner and said, "Ayaan is going to tell me tonight whether he likes me or not." There were silence. "Rohan," I said. "Can you come this very moment and pinch me because I think I am dreaming," he said. I rolled my eyes and said, "Shut up! I'm serious." "Ani, even I am serious. The guy who hated you two days ago is suddenly acting so nice. Don't you find that a bit suspicious?" He said. "What's there to suspect?" I asked. "Ani, listen to me very carefully," he said and began explaining something to me. "Listen, I will be very happy for you obviously if Ayaan truly loves you. But you can't ignore the past," he said. He made sense in a way to me so I was going to follow his advice and do what he said. "Ok, I'll call you later and tell you what happened," I said. "No, you will meet me tomorrow morning and tell me," he said. I thought for a moment and then said, "Ok. Meet me in the morning outside the camp." "Done," he said. I hang up the phone and frowned. Crossing my fingers, I looked at the sky and said, "Maa, please let what my heart is telling me be true. Please let Ayaan truly love me." 

Ayaan's P.O.V. 

Later that night, at quarter to eleven, Ankita came to my rehearsal spot as we planned. I jumped off the stage and looked at her with a smile. "Hi," I started. "Hey," she said. She looked a bit disturbed. "Is everything ok?" I asked getting worried. She forced a smile onto her face and said, "Yeah." "Are you sure?" I asked. She nodded. "Your twenty-four hours are up. Tell me your answer," she said. I smiled and suddenly became nervous. This is it! Time to show my feelings! Slowly, I held her hand and smiled at her. "Just let it be from your heart, Ayaan," I said in my head. I took a deep breath and let it out. "Ankita, the first time I met you, I never thought that I would be standing here like this with you today. To be honest, I never imagined that this day would come this early in my life. Many people see me as a playboy. Cassanova. But when you thought the same about me, it pained me. I couldn't bear it and I had to clear my name in your eyes. When you were away from me for a few hours, I went crazy! I just couldn't stand the fact that you spent the day with Rohan. I know, he's your best friend and that you guys don't have any sort of romantic feelings for each other. But I didn't want to lose you to Rohan. I can't bear the thought of you being away from me. I know that I might be sounding really possessive and controlling but it's true. I don't ever want to lose you. My whole life I always knew that I wanted a girl who is exactly like my mother. Strong, confident, smart, simple and beautiful. I never met anyone who could have made me think this but you are the one. And after all this, I can summarise these feelings to three words. Three special words which forms a very beautiful relationship between people," I said. Going down on one knee, I looked up at her and said, "Ankita. The name is beautiful and the time is magical." I took a deep breath and looked up at her. With all my passion and love, I said, "I love you." 

Ankita's P.O.V. 

Ayaan said a lot of things which really captured my heart. But when he went down on his knee and said the three words, my heart literally skipped a beat. The three words which I was impatient all day to learn, finally reached my ear and I didn't know how to react further. Rohan's advice came to my head, "I know that you are in love with him and to be honest, I am overjoyed for you. But I can't ignore the fact that I care and worry about you. You mean a lot to me and I don't want you to get hurt. Follow my advice and whatever happens tonight, don't be hasty and accept it at once. Ayaan played Preeti to get to you. You never know, maybe this is one of his plans as well. If he propose you tonight, I know this will be hard for you but ask to take the relationship a bit slowly and just be friends. If you find out that his feelings are true after some time, then you can deepen your relationship with him." Ayaan, who was still in that position, shook my hand and said, "What are you thinking?" I frowned and looked at him. I could see that his feelings were genuine and that there was love for me in his eyes. But Rohan's concern was also logical. I turned around and my hand fell out of his. I couldn't face him and break his heart. His hand rested on my shoulder and turning around, I saw him on his feet with fear on his face. "Ankita, what's wrong?" He asked. My eyes welled up as I looked at him unable to break my condition to him. Cupping my face, he asked, "Why are you crying?" I bent my head and said, "I'm sorry Ayaan." "Why are you apologising?" He asked getting fearful. I wiped away my tears and said, "I want some time." His hands dropped from my shoulders as he looked at me with tears in his eyes. "Don't you love me?" He asked. I looked at him and took a step closer to him. Holding his hand, I stopped him from stepping away from me and said, "Don't misunderstand me. You are special to me. But whatever happened between us in the past, I just want to make sure that this relationship is proper for both of us." "Do you think that I am faking this love?" He asked. "No, I can see that you truly love me. But before starting any relationship, I want to take time to know you. I want you to know me. As friends first," I said turning my back to him. 

I bent my head, feeling ashamed of what I am doing but I knew that it was the right thing. "Ok Ankita. We will remain friends for the while," he said and I turned and looked at him, "And I will wait for the day that this friendship turns into love in your heart." He touched his forehead against mine and held my neck. "If this is what you want then so be it. I will remain your friend. But don't expect that you will only be a friend to me. If you had said this before my confession, I could have perhaps seen you only as a friend. But after professing my love for you, that is now impossible," he said softly to me. Parting from me, he looked at me and said, "If I have to wait my entire life to make a place in your heart, then I will. I will do anything for you." This only made my guilt swell and I took a step closer to him to explain myself but he turned around and left me there. I looked at him walking away from me with my eyes slowly getting blurred from tears. God, what have I done! Quickly, I ran behind him but lost him. I didn't know which direction he went and so, I didn't have a choice but to wait for him. My heart sank with thoughts that he would do something to hurt himself. He left with a hurting heart and that never turned out good for anyone. My heart was scared about him and I only prayed for his return safely. I couldn't do anything besides wait for him but this wait seemed never ending. 

Ayaan's P.O.V. 

It really broke my heart when Ankita asked only to be her friend after I professed my love for her. I felt insulted. I agreed but didn't want to. To save her from the anger and hurt inside me, I decided to speak to Mom and Dad about it. Perhaps they can show me a way out. I got into a taxi after leaving Ankita and went to their hotel. Finding out about their room number, I went to the room and knocked on the door. After some time of knocking, Dad came and opened it with Mom standing behind him. They both looked at me shocked and exclaimed, "Ayaan!" I stepped inside and sat on the sofa, lifeless. They came and sat on both my sides. Holding onto my hands and shoulders, Mom asked, "Son, what happened?" Looking at her, I broke down and began crying. I rested my head on her shoulder and wept my broken heart out. She caressed my head while Dad patted my back. "It's alright. Shush, my baby," Mom whispered. "She said no Mom," I said in between my tears. "What!" Dad said sounding shocked. I raised my head up and said, "She is asking me to take this relationship slowly and for us to only be friends." He frowned at me and said, "That's not an objection. That's only assurance." "What kind of assurance? Don't she trust me? I love her!" I said. He rested his hand on my head and said, "Son, after all the two of you went through, this is natural to happen. She isn't suspecting that your love is false but she wants assurance that you are the guy for her and she is right for you." I looked at him and he nodded at me saying, "All you have to do now is listen to her and prove to her that your love is true and pure. She will come to you in time to come." I looked at Mom and she smiled. Wiping my face, she said, "Your Dad is right. Even we went through that phase in our relationship. It's normal to want to take things slowly. Especially in love. Love cannot be rushed. You need to have patience. Some people wait their entire life in love. But your love has to be true." "Even I promised to wait my entire lifetime for her," I said. "That's my son!" Dad said patting my back, "Now go back like a confident lion and win your love! When you come back to Mumbai, all I want to hear from you is that you got your love." I got all the confidence I needed from them and stood up. Wiping away all my tears, I said, "You guys are right. I have to win my love and I will win it at all costs."

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Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed that update with Ayaan's love confession. Here's your quote, 'Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.' Don't you guys think that's just cute! Until we meet again, bye and take care!