It Was a Yes, But I Never Said It

2. "I Want Her"

The college notice board hangs in its full glory, ornamented with various flashy posters inviting student participation. But, pinned to the bottom right corner was the destiny of 40 students who had just passed the entrance exam and have paved their way to the design college.

Rihan stood there with a blank face thanking all the lords that he might have known or heard of. Though he stood at number 40 on the list, he was happy to atleast make it. This college was his dream.

Rihan, Rihan, Riii.. haaan... he felt a push on his shoulder. Breaking his chain of thoughts, he turned to face Aryan, whom he just met during the exam. It didn't take them long to become friends after discovering the fact that they belong to the same town. Small world!

'Dude we are in' exclaimed Aryan extending a friendly hug. 'See even the authorities can't afford to miss out our talented heads, I topped from the bottom', Rihan joked. Curious to see who has topped, they shifted back their attention to the list and found two pretty faces pasted on the list labeled as Diana and Adira who managed to secure the first position. Aryan instantly spoke, dude I'm gonna ask this Diana girl out. Can't wait for the semester to start. What about you?

Rihan couldn't take his eyes off Adira's picture. 'I want this' he said while placing his finger beside Adira's picture. They headed towards the canteen placing a bet on who will get his chosen girl first ...

~5 years later, PRESENT DAY~

Adira is standing in the office cafeteria, about to start the microwave to heat her lunch when her phone beeped.

"Ah! it must be something random" I thought. With one hand I set the microwave timer and with the other, I reached out to my pocket to grab my phone. I almost dropped my phone on seeing what made it beep. It's a facebook text from Rihan.

I am scrunging my eyebrows and finding it very hard to stop my mind from visualising what Diana told five years ago. It was a first hand description Diana received from her boyfriend Aryan.

Rihan putting a finger on my picture exclaiming I want this. Really, "I want this"? Am I some showpiece displayed in a fancy mall, open for public to put their fingers on? I feel like punching him in the face for objectifying me and then I heard the microwave beeping.

"Oh man, what a beep day it is" I thought to myself. Even a slight memory of this incident make me feel disgusted.

But I am glad it beeped at the right time this time. I can't let myself think about the past. I refrained myself from thinking about what all happened five years ago and I will do the same now. It's not worth the pain. This guy has stopped existing for me for years ago. I don't even hate him or dislike him because these are feelings and I don't want to have anything that associate with him, not even feelings.

I am walking towards the table to join my collegues when the phone beeped again. The text read, "Hope you won't ignore my text".

Right now if he were here, he must have been very happy seeing my left and right brain having a full fledged war amongst themselves. The intuitive one is suggesting to ignore him and stick by my promise of not talking to him ever in life. But the logical one is knocking with the thoughts of a recent book I read. "Life is big and universe is always at play. Things we run from will eventually find us." I feared if what was written in that book is true.

The mere thought of facing this guy scares me, what if universe brings him back in my life even for a minute? No!! I can't let that happen. I can't even imagine that happening.

I pep talked myself "I am a strong girl and I am past the memories of what happened in college. He is no one and I have no feelings for him, neither of like nor dislike. Replying to handful texts is better than challenging destiny."

I picked up the phone from the table or should I say courage and replied to his text with a Hi.

There it was, lying on floor, broken into numerous pieces - My promise. I wanted to shout and tell the universe that see I have taken a backfoot. Now there is no need for you to waste your efforts. You can with pleasure focus on others because this case is adressed, handled and closed.

With that, satisfaction have taken over the place of fear.

It seems like Rihan only wanted to congratulate me for my sister's first book and wanted to know about the details of how she got it published etc as he is planning to write one himself.

Wow! Since when has he become this studious. But why would I bother. Time changes people (sometimes) and he could be one of those cases. I can't say it with affirmaty as I have stopped looking at him years ago. He can be whatever he wants. We have finally adressed our issue and it's all that matters in this moment.

I enjoyed rest of the lunch with contentment.