From T to A in 16 Days

11-11-17

I woke up with an unusual excitement which I thought was just due to the fact that I had actually started writing my speech that I would say when proposing Tisha. I made a mental note to talk about it with Soumya, a very good friend of Tisha and my classmate, and take her advice. 

At some point during school, Soumya told me that Tisha was attending an extra class of some chapters of history, and had asked her if she could come too. Abandoning my original plan, I didn't tell her about my speech due to the sudden decision of proposing Tisha that very evening and Soumya was sure to give Tisha a sneak-peak of it. I don't know why but the decision was made. 

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* 

At four in the evening, I got ready. I knew that most of Tisha's school mates who came to the same institute had gone on a school trip. It was clear that nobody would spoil my plans, for those who didn't go on a trip wouldn't leave their smartphones or beauty sleep to study history. 

I reached the place and found Tisha on the stairs. She told me that she had cleared her doubts by coming earlier and was now waiting for Soumya to chat with her. I told her that she wouldn't come because she had texted it to me (stating that it would be better if I spent some time alone with Tisha). I then asked her if she would like to have a snack with me at the nearest eating place. She agreed, but after climbing down a stair or two, she stopped. The reason was that she could see a car of the same model as her mother's, and was afraid of being caught and questioned by her. After some minutes of convincing, I came down, checked the car number and informed her that it was safe to come. 

On the road, I asked her if she wouldn't mind me holding her hand. When she didn't reply, I gathered enough courage to take her hand. Surprisingly, she didn't pull back, nor did she squeeze mine. 

While we were waiting for our order, we looked around to notice that most customers were couples and the ones on our either side were cuddling, seemingly oblivious of the world. I felt sick as I wasn't one for PDA's. It was somewhat awkward to think that others might perceive us as a couple too, although I wouldn't mind that. 

"You know, I wish there was someone who would cuddle me and with whom I could share cute moments." Tisha glanced momentarily towards her right. I followed her gaze and saw that the couple on that table were indeed indulged in activities Tisha preferred to call 'cute moments'. 
"Well, I am surprised. I never took you to be the person who would cherish these kinds of moments." I tilted my head towards the left (her right) indicating towards the said couple. 

Tisha placed her elbows on the table, her hand supporting her face, and leaned forward. "And what do you know about me to make such a statement mister?" she spoke in a voice way more polite than her normal self. To be worth mentioning, she looked really intimidating. 
"Nothing, but we could change that, you know, like hanging out more, getting to know each other..." 
"Ah, so you could boast to your good for nothing friends about how you got a girl wrapped around your fingers, and share the things that I confide in you with them."

I felt offended, but not because she had insulted my friends, but because she thought of me as a person who was just looking for a time pass, who couldn't love her for real or even keep her secrets to himself. "I wish I could tell you how much I love you." I sighed as our order came and I looked at my plate not having the courage to meet her eyes. 

She murmured and I looked up to see her staring at her food, even though I could swear that I had heard "I wish I could too."  

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*  

As we walked back, I felt embarrassed and nervous. I was never embarrassed to such an extent before. Even though I asked her to eat with me, in the end she had to pay the bill, as I had no money with me. I felt stupid even if I had promised to repay her later. Which gentleman on the entire planet would ask his lady to pay the bill, that too on their first date? Agreed, it wasn't officially a date but I considered it classified to be called a date. And now, as the moment drew near its end, I felt nervous. I had planned to propose to her today, but it wasn't going as planned. She took my feelings for her in the wrong way, and even if I thought I heard her say something else, it very well could have been my ears playing tricks on me. I looked ahead, another five minutes of walking and I would miss the opportunity. Embracing myself for the worst, I grabbed her hand, "Tisha" 
"Hmm." she looked around. We had reached a kind of secluded area of the path. It wasn't that much private though. Any yell for help would be answered within moments. 

"I want to say something to you." 
"Continue, but don't take much time." She replied in a monotonous tone. 

Getting hold of my nerves, I went down on my knee and started the speech. I decided to cut it short as I fumbled too much and asked the question that I had waited to ask for around eight months, "Tisha, will you be my girlfriend?" 

I had either expected a yes or a no, the worst case, it would be accompanied by a slap. Never in my dreams had I expected Tisha to go down on her knees too. 
"Listen Hrithvik, I respect your feelings, but know one thing about me, I am not the one for impulsive flings and time passes. Trust me, I have already gone through a relationship and I am not welcoming the feeling of heartbreak again. I wish I could say yes, make this a successful date and remember it with a smile in the future when I would be sharing this with my family but I can't, I can't pretend not to care whether it is love or infatuation, when this time, I have a broken heart to trade." 
I looked at our intertwined hands which Tisha must have grabbed during her speech. 
"I know just one thing. What I feel for you is not a mere attraction due to hormones of my youth. I want to be with you. Maybe not all the time but most of it. I want to be in your presence, and to have your company in old age. Unlike you, this is my first one. Doing this with you, asking you out, it would be my first experience. I do not know whether the feelings I have for you are love, but I want to experience it, discover it, with you. Will you, Tisha Dhawan, do the honour of accompanying me on the journey of discovering love and sorting out the meaning of my feelings, by honouring me by being my girlfriend?" 
I looked away from our hands and stared into her eyes, the ones studying my face and deciphering it silently. After a long dip in the oceans of her eyes, she ended the peaceful silence, leaning forward and kissing me on the cheek. "Yes." 

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* 

I watched her leave in her mother's car. The rest of the day went uneventful, both of us wrapping our minds over the events which occurred a few moments ago. 

Ankur POV 

"You cannot keep a secret Hrithvik. You will say something about it, after some time."
"I worked on it. I can keep many secrets now."
"How many secrets did you disclose to me this afternoon?"

The accused opened his mouth, probably to say something in his defence, only to shut it.