Bride Set off ✔

chapter 21

It's 2am and I can't sleep. It was hectic day. I am trying not to think about my life right now. I hope Piku understands what I am trying to do.

I picked my phone hoping to see any texts from Aron and there are tons of it, deleted.

what did you send ?

He replied instantly.

where are you now?

That's definitely not the answer I was expecting.

I am home but why?

He read my text and went offline. Well, that counts as a response. I put my phone aside and close my eyes, trying to sleep. Little chat to him have built more questions in my mind now.

Few minutes it later my phone buzzed, it must be text from Aron. I am not in mood to talk to him now. He texts again.

I give up ignoring and jumped to phone.

Can you come outside now?

Are you asleep?

What in heavens is he doing? He is here at midnight, expecting me to meet? Wow!

Where are you exactly?

My heart is racing fast as it could, my fingers are tickling. Why is he taking so long to respond?

I am sorry. I didn't think it through, I just missed you today.

My heart couldn't take it anymore. I might just sneak out for few minutes, I kind of missed him too. Few chit chats won't hurt anyone.

Give me two minutes. I'll be there.

😊 thanks

I am scared a little, I have never sneak out.

I don't need to checkup on Jay, his snoring is quite audible in whole house. I silently opened main door but it made creaking haunted notice. Gladly, Jay's snoring hasn't affected.

I stepped out and Aron was there standing holding flower bouquet with both hands.

"Hello Rashi." He smiles giving me the flowers.

I accept them without questioning anything.

"Thanks."

"Those are for your marathon run earlier morning."

Wait. What?

He was there at the campus? He saw me running? Why?

"I didn't mean to embarrass you by giving those. I met your friend. She explained me the whole situation and I just want you to know that you're brave for helping her."

"You met Piku?"

"Yes. At campus I saw you running to somewhere and later I spotted Jay and she was with him."

"You were at campus?"

"Yes. Fellow mates called for little farewell."

"What farewell? I mean you're dropping out for real-real?"

"Yes."

I want to convince him to not drop out all sudden. He is in final semester, few more months and he will graduate. Also, I think it's not my place to talk to him about it. He made up his mind and his mother also agree to it. I am just a friend who he met few times.

"Rashi?"

"Yes."

"It's okay. You can nag me about it. I would like that."

He is definitely a wizard, he knows how to read minds.

"I just thought maybe..." Nope! No! I shouldn't say anything to him.

"Want to go garden and talk?"

I would love too but sneaking out far from home, feels guilty. Why I am so scared to do it? Oh, wait! I know why.

"Fine, let's go."

He put helmet on my head gently and turns back around. There's something wrong with me to think his kind gesture to something else right now.

We reached park and he seem excited.

"I have little surprise for you, follow me."

We reached to the bench we sat the last time. It has alphabet led lights. As I saw the other side, it was his and mine first name initials. He did that?

"This is our spot."

"What?"

"I mean legally it is our spot. I went to city hall and signed the forms. They legally gave this bench to us, we can't pick it up and go. It stays here under Rashi and Aron name."

"You just randomly asked them and they agreed?"

"I had lot of convincing to do."

"This is amazing." I can't believe I am smiling.

"I am glad you liked it."

"Thank you."

"I am glad to be thanked." He smirks.

I look the other side. I am flustered by him. I need to think straight. Few minutes ago, there were too much problems and look at me now all smiling. I can't get swept off like this.

"Why don't we sit and talk for a while." He says giving his hand to hold on.

We sat beside each other on the bench.

"I have been thinking a lot about this." He says as he smiles.

"What? Sitting on bench?"

He giggles.

"Nope."

"Then?" He smiles.

"Asking you out."

He said what? I heard it right? I should be home sleeping not dreaming here. I am finding out to speak, any word. He looks at me and giggles.

"I am not expecting an answer now."

That's a relief but wait I want to say 'yes'. I can't I need to talk to myself in detail about it. Also, share it with Jay and Piku.

"So, this gesture was the way of asking me out?"

"This bench? No! there are other things I've planned."

"And if I reject?"

"I have plans for that too. No hard feelings."

"But why me?"

"I have read many romance novels, watched many romantic movies and listen many love songs. It all meant nothing till I met you. All of that make sense. It's like a feeling when you find your missing puzzle." He says as my eyes tear up.

"I am speechless to your words, Aron." I said as I realized that this is the first time I am saying his name. My heart is going crazy than my brain right now.

He leans in to wipe tears on my face, my heartbeat is racing and my brain cells are having different thought.