Not Around The Corner

Cornering My Corner

Hey guys!! This is the second to last chapter!! Last chapter coming in soon!! :) Hope you enjoyed the story!! :) :)

-Shruts :)

“When he’s around, my whole body knows it. I’ll keep talking and stuff, but my mind will have no idea what I’m saying, I keep wondering if there’s a term for this.” ~Anonymous

Faking a smile throughout the evening, I made through dinner at Jai’s house. My parents were in town and we were invited at the Mehra’s since my parents were leaving in a week’s time.

I had half expected him to be home when we arrived here today evening. And I was tensed throughout the ride to Jai’s house. I had asked Nikhil to come with us but he had more important plans, or so he said. When I entered the house, I looked everywhere just to check if Jai was there. Once I realized he wasn’t there, I breathed a sigh of relief. Since our last meet, I was apprehensive about being around him.

After dinner, as the parents were having their usual chat I excused myself to their front patio. The view was soothing as well as breathtaking. It had the power to calm my nerves down.

Somebody cleared their throat behind me. I turned around to see Jai smiling at me. No wait, erase that. He was smirking.

“When did you get back?” I asked.

“Just now,” he said and kept standing there. “About half an hour ago,” he said trying to be precise and trying to irritate me.

“What do you want?” I asked impatiently.

“Just want to have a chat,” he replied.

“Why?” I replied turning my back towards him.

“Because we are friends,” he replied, the smile evident in his tone. I knew he was teasing me. I could strangle the guy.

“By the way, Gaurav called,” he continued,” told me about the break-up,” he said.

“Whatever,” I replied quietly.

“But Nikhil was the one who convinced me to come back. Told me about the talk you guys had,” he said. I ignored him.

“I am sorry,” he replied trying to keep his tone consoling. It was clear that he was enjoying my misery. I sighed giving up.

“No, you are not,” I replied turning around to see his smirk-y face.

“No I am not,” he replied cheekily. He looked so happy. He finally knew I was free.

His smirk was bringing a smile to my face. I controlled my urge to smile and looked elsewhere.

“So what happened? I thought he was your destiny,” he asked.

I looked up at him as he was making his way towards me. I couldn’t look anywhere else but in his playful eyes. Blocking me off by keeping his hands on either side of me on the railing, he leaned in closer to me.

“Look at you enjoying this,” I replied with a slight smile. He held me by my waist now.

“I am not enjoying you being sad. Though the break up was worth a party,” he replied teasingly. I glared at him. “Jerk,” I said. He chuckled.

“You have no idea how happy I am,” he said cheerfully.

“Visible with every passing second,” I said with a smile. He smiled even more.

“It was me, wasn’t it? The reason?” he asked guiltily.

I nodded looking everywhere but at him.

“What happened to you, Rhea? How did you end up with such an arrogant, conceited and rich guy?” He continued teasing me.

I didn’t need this now. Any other day, I would have retorted. Right now all I needed was to be in his arms. Finding myself without an answer, I hugged him.

He kissed my hair and hugged me back. “I am sorry,” he said this time, meaning it.

“It will pass. Let it go,” he said quietly. “I am sorry for that day too when I yelled at you. I was highly jealous and hated seeing you with him,” he continued.

He was apologetic. “I promise to never make you cry again.”

I nodded. “You are arrogant, conceited and rich,” I replied sniffing. He raised his eyebrow. Wiping the tears that had spilled on my cheeks, I said with a smile,” But I still like you.”

He chuckled. “Just like?” He asked holding me in his arms.

“Yes,” I said unsurely.

“Oh well,” he said,” I thought it was more than that.” He was giving me one of his melt-y smiles.

“Really?” I asked teasingly. He gave me a sad smile.

“You know you were right when you said that I don’t decide fast. In our case, I kept thinking about how much I was going to hurt Akash and I was acting like a coward. I didn’t want to break his heart. But what I didn’t realize was that I was hurting myself as well,” I told him.

 “I am sorry for all that I said. I am really,” he apologised sincerely. “I didn’t want to place myself in your shoes. I was being selfish,” he said.

“I know,” I said as he nodded,” you were looking out for yourself unlike me.”

“And look how well that turned out?” he asked me with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes. He was so smug. And I liked him being smug.

“You eventually did look out for yourself,” he said with a grin. His happiness was contagious.

“I guess I did. I was scared of you too,” I said. He was shocked.

“Why?” he asked.

“What if we fight a lot? What if you leave me? I would be devastated,” I said.

“Are you crazy? You thought that I would leave you?” he asked. I nodded. He kissed me on my forehead.

“That is never happening. You are not getting rid of me. Ever. Period,” he said. I smiled.

“Don’t you ever fight with me again,” I said while hugging him.

He kissed me on my forehead again. “I can’t guarantee that,” he said. I gave him a look. “But,” he said immediately,” I promise to make it up to you whenever we do fight.”

I smiled. Just about then I saw my mother searching for me.

“Got to go rich boy.” I started my way out but stopped because Jai was holding my hand.

“What?” I asked.

He kissed me on my hand. And I could feel my hand tingle. He pointed at his cheek now. I shook my head to say no and he made a sad face.

Cursing myself for being so gullible, I walked back and gave him a peck on the cheek. He smirked. So much for deflating his ego.