My Dearest Nik

Chapter 2

I was not in my right mind when I woke up today, my head ached and so did my feet. I scanned them, they were red and sore from my midnight hunt. My breath smelled of the drink that I had last night.

Nik.

Everything that happened last night replayed in my mind and I did remember him leaving a note in my bag. I got up, or I tried to get up but the hazy feeling made me stumble and fall on the bed. I only had three sips of whatever kind of drink that was. I took deep breaths calming myself and after a minute or two I got up.

Everything fell on the bed as I turned it over emptying it, a small piece of paper fell on the ground. I opened it in haste "Meet me outside today at eleven and good morning, I hope your sleep was good." It had never been better Nik.

Life is unpredictable sometimes. I never thought that I would meet Nik, let alone have enough courage to get out of the house without telling anyone. Perhaps it was fate that made me trust myself and leave this room and it was fate that made me meet him. If I went by what my mother said, I would have never ever met Nik.

I walked to the mirror looking at myself, from this very moment; I will do what I want to do and I do not care if I fall inside a rabbit hole 'cause if I did, I would know I was the one responsible for it, not someone else and I would definitely not regret living my life a little.

I brushed my teeth and got dressed in a cream coloured floral knee length dress. It suited my, as a lot of people here say Indian skintone, perfectly.

I never really wanted to study business but I was asked to, so that I could run my father's business when I got old. I was more of an artistic person rather than being a logical one. Logical in a way, to want to recite similar books over and over again rather than creating something of my own. If I get a chance I would want to learn about different plants, languages, architectures, everything but business or engineering.

But again, I wanted the academic validation from everyone because only by being the academically gifted kid I can be useful. So, I studied until I could see these books in my dreams. I was my professor's favourite and I did have a lot of people who talked to me but it was more because they wanted help with some question. Therefore, I could never call anyone my friend. It did hurt me 'cause it felt like being used and everything anyone said seemed sugar coated, even the smiles. Sometimes I thought they were pitying me for being expected to do so much but caring for someone didn't end with a good laugh.

My life revolved around wanting to go home when I am in university to wanting to go to university when I was home but now, there was someone who broke my pattern and I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. I never thought I would be like this, I met him yesterday and he has this effect on me. Was this some kind of opposite reaction to being alone?

'As we have completed this chapter about partnership, I would like to know if anyone of you in this room are stuck on any topic and wants me to revise it.' I was not being attentive today, I don't even know what he taught us and I am in no mood to waste his time.

'Okay then, there will be a test tomorrow. I will not be able to tell the topic but your economics professor asked me to remind you all. Perhaps, you can contact him if you have further questions.'

'The class is dismissed.' Everyone of us stood up. Finally I was out of the school and at home.

'My dearest grand daughter!' Dada was home and he was the only person who got happy when he saw me 'I missed you...' he hugged me tightly and I returned it to him. He was my favourite of all.

'I missed you too dada.'

'I know. I bought you some flowers on the way.' He gave me a large bouquet of all kinds of roses.

'Thank you.'

'You don't thank your family Aiesha.' He said taking his seat on the chair 'I hope you were doing well, these days.'

'I was. I love it here.' Before I can say anything he was called upon. I went to my room sniffing the roses on the way.

I put on some music as I let down my dress in the dim light. I scan myself over and over again, every day but every time, there is something new that I see in myself and today I saw a person who seems wrecked, everything seemed to fall apart no matter how hard I hold it.

I locked my door and slept.

I was woken up when I heard a sound, it was coming from outside, I put on my robe in hurry and look out.

It was Nik 'Are you coming?' I glanced at the wall clock and it was quarter past eleven. How long had he been here?

'Give me five minutes.' I yelled from the window.

'I am waiting.' I closed the curtain, dressing up. My hair was a mess but I did not have time to style it. I threw my bag outside and tied the curtains, sliding down.

He took my hand and started pulling me with him 'come on' he said running faster. The wind was piercing my skin.

'Where are we going?'

He stopped abruptly making me almost crash into him 'I don't know' we were breathing fast from all the errands we just ran.

'What about your club?'

'Let's just not care for a while Raya.' When he said my name, it sounded like a hymn 'Do you trust me?' I gave him a short nod as he sat on his brown bicycle.

'Come on' he said tapping on the made up seat behind him, I took it.

He didn't start riding 'Give me your hands' I did as he said and he placed them on either side of his waist. My breath hitched as the warm feeling spread itself over me.

He gave the bicycle a push with his foot and we rode down the road. We didn't talk about anything but for the first time the silence did not scare me but brought me peace, peace that I was longing for.

'Raya' he broke the silence, I hummed in response 'Are you as effected by me as I am by you right now?'

'Yes.'

'Nik?'

'Yeah?'

'Are we friends?'

'Best friends.'

I smiled and after a very long pause of time, my smile reached my eyes. Best friend.