Unrequited

Chapter 4

School Days,

8 Years Ago

"Study well, and have a nice day, yeah?", Papa said as he dropped me off to school.

I nodded with a huge grin. I was always excited to come to school. I would have loved to say that I loved coming to school because I oved to study and wanted to become something big in life and yada yada yada.

But who was I kidding, whom was I lying to to? I loved coming to school because I had a boyfriend. Well only two weeks old. But a boyfriend. A real one. Flesh and blood and all.

I skipped up the step to the second level where 6M was located. We had returned from our summer break when I met him. Skipping the frantic heart-beat, fervent blushing, tingles all over the body, damn! Damn! Damn! But, long story, short – his class was coming to the school yard for PT, we were going out of it, I saw him (his eyes rather), he looked at me, I blushed, he smiled.

That's what had happened on the first day. Two days later, we realised we had a common friend who introduced us.

"Hi", he mumbled. I mumbled back. Smiling. Some more smiling.

Say something, you dimwit!

"Hi, I am Kia...um...I mean Kiara, Kiara....and you?"

"Ayaan. Ayaan Khan".

Totally suits him no? Ayaan, Ayaan beautiful...what does it mean though?

These were one of the few rare times that Kira and I were on the same page. I peeked at him from under my lashes. Was I flirting? Yes maybe.

But he was the braver one. He broke the ice by talking about the common friend and other stuff. I kept nodding and adding things where I felt it was necessary.

I looked at him with a tentative sideway glance every now and then. He was slightly dusky, just like me. He was a little taller. Spikey hair neatly gelled. Toned body. No flabby paunch, no fat thighs, no big butt. He had a straight nose and perfect ears. One was pierced but he wore no earring.

On the fourth day or so of our getting acquainted, he asked me:

"Will you date me? I like you a lot. Just tell me, yes or no, please?". I stood there stunned into silence. I could not believe it. He had asked me to date him?! I had spoken to my friends about him and got to know that he was one of the popular guys, who most of the girls crushed on. And this guy asked me out! UNBELIEVEABLE!!

Calm down! I am excited too! But tell him something, no.

And after a little um-im-not-so-sure and oh-we'll-be-fine and blushing I said yes and he fist pumped in the air. I bent my head down and bit my lip, supressing the big idiotic grin, as blood rushed all the way from the roots of my hair to the tip of my toes. He was happy! To date me!!

OH. MY. GOD!!! Kia!!!

And soon we were the talk of the town. Well, at least I was. He was already famous, but this new stardom was forceful and energizing. Everywhere that I went, people would ask me about Ayaan.

"How are you guys going?"

"You guys are GOOAAALLLLSS!!!"

"OMG, Kiara, when, how why, tell me, tell me, tell me"

"He's so hot and cute and lovely and everything!!!"

"HE asked YOU?". Did I see a hint of jealousy there? Maybe. Who cares?

On our first monthiversary, he looked at me and said, "You are the most beautiful thing that has happened to me, really", and I felt my legs give away (not literally. That would have been embarrassing!). I liked him with all my heart. Through and through. The way our hands melted into each other's as if it was meant to be. But it had been only one and a half, and I didn't want to take things too fast.

We used to meet in school. After school as well, as he waited for his van and I for my bus. We talked nothing specific but it was all so enthralling.

The way he looked at me. The way we hugged. We fit perfectly into each other. The heat of his perfect body, thawing my nervous heart. The way he talked about me to his friends. "My girl!", he would say, with pride radiating every syllable escaping his flawless lips.

When he had kissed me for the first time (on the cheek) I felt that part of the skin on my face sear and glow red like hot iron. I worry, what would have happened if it was anything more.