Night Changes

CHAPTER 9

"Aly?"

Shreyas addressed me as he spread his legs comfortably and put his hands on his sides. I brought my knees to my chin and wrapped my arms around them.
Instead of answering,  I kept contemplating the beauty of the sight that lay ahead of me- the pond without a single movement. The shady trees that leaned forward. The perfectly blue sky.
Reminded me of the days I stayed with my family in Bangladesh. My sister, and I used to play all day long at the bank of the pond during our visits to the countryside.  At times we used to sit and try fishing at the pond though hours would've passed and we couldn't catch a single fish. But still we would do that every now and then because fish or no fish, we had a great time one moment gossiping and at the next, pestering each other. The laughs we had. The dreams we dreamt. I braced myself as a shiver ran down my spines. And then I found out Shreyas intertwining his hands with me. He shot me a warm smile.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing much," I sighed.

Thankfully,  he didn't bring up the issue of my walk with Jasprit the previous day.
Turning sensible, hm.. I laughed internally.

"I was wondering if I should tell my family about us,"

I snapped my head in his direction. What in heaven's name is this guy saying? 

So much for calling him sensible.

"What! But why?"

"Because I want them to know at last I found the perfect girl for myself after all those stupid relationships," he took my hand and kissed it briefly.

"But Isn't this too early?"

"I don't think so," he shrugged, "I'm sure as hell about you. I know you are the one. The more I get to know you the more you amaze me. You're driving me crazy,"

" You are witty, smart,  interesting and beautiful. I'm sure my parents would love you," he added with a smile.

"But Isn't it supposed to be a secret?"

"Don't worry. They will seal their lips if I ask them to,"

I thought for a while. I surely liked Shreyas. He was everything I wanted from a man. But did I love him? No. No. Of course not. It's just been a month since we're together. Though I already knew him well enough and apparently he was the perfect guy, but I still didn't feel that connection, that pull towards him. But he seemed..so in love with me- the glow in his eyes and his own words screamed that to me. I didn't tell him about the fact that I didn't feel the same way yet. I guessed it would be fine if I gave some time to myself and soon I would feel just the way he felt.

"So..should I?"

"No,Shreyas. Not yet. I'm sorry. But I really feel we're rushing things,"

"How can you call this rushing? You like me. I like you back. In fact, I love you,"

I was speechless. I knew how he felt but hearing from his own mouth hit differently.

"I'm not asking you to marry me. I'll just tell my family and we're gonna make this thing official,"

"We are official,  Shreyas. You proposed me. I agreed. Nobody knows that yet but I still am committed to you,"

"Exactly! That's the point! You are committed to me, we are in a relationship- so what's wrong in telling the family?"

"What's the use of it Shrey? Why do we need to tell them? Let us at least stabilise our relation?"

I didn't realise till then that our tones were rising higher and this was turning into an argument.

"We are stable, Alayna. Sure as hell we are! We know each other since 3 years! That's plenty of time to figure each other out. Now finally we are together and I want us to have a name. I want the world to know we are serious and in-"

"But I don't anyone to know anything!"

He looked at me with disbelief.

"You aren't serious, are you? About us?"

I closed my eyes,drew in a sharp breathe and continued:

"Listen, Shreyas. I don't want to go around beating drums and announcing our relationship. I think we need some more time with each other. We need to learn to tolerate each other, our choices, our dreams and see if things work out between us-"

I couldn't finish my words as he stormed out, leaving me dazed.

I sat silently at the bank of that pond, contemplating the sun set. Gradually the twilight set in and the stars twinkled in the night sky that looked so far, so distant. I laid down on the grass and wondered. I don't know about what. I just kept..wondering. My phone buzzed and the screen flashed : Ritz. I ignored it. I needed some time to myself. For that time, I wanted to ignore all the people, all my responsibilities, all my worries. It was just me, the stars and the clear reflection of the moon on the water.

Argument again??
Who do you think was right this time?

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