Let's Meet After School

CHAPTER 10: THE LOVE CYCLE

Nicolas Spark once said, "Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it." Talking about feeling those emotions... feeling that raising heartbeat when that person says your name... feeling that blushing moment when that person compliments you... feeling the chemistry when that person is looking into your eyes and all he can see is love... woah... am I getting too good with these words? Well, sounds like I'm in love too... reality is... that I'm not... (sobbing)... moving on to the focus of this story... and not mine... Aarav and Ankita! These two little munchkins... aww... make my heart flutter yaar. I mean I'm so excited to see what happens next... because it feels like both of them like each other and it can't be clearer than this, now all we have to do is get a confession and get this relationship officially started.

19th August 2015

"Hey Aarav!" says Shreya as she catches up with him after school.

"Well, hello... how's her preparation for the social work campaign going on?"

"Who...Oh haa... Ankita... she's doing great. I mean our dean said lots of good words for her, and it seems that she's having the fun of her lifetime."

"I'm happy for her... it feels like she's going to get a step ahead with her dream goals."

"Well... true that... she is getting closer to her goals... but... what about you?"

"What do you mean, what about me?"

"... (chuckles)... don't you have a goal... a goal to get to her heart."

"Uhm... you're back at it again... I mean she told you and I have been telling you for days now... we're just friends---"

"I was talking to her that day and it seems she blushed a bit when I teased her by your surname."

"What?"

"Yeah... and I even asked her whether she likes you more than a friend or not---"

"And she said what?"

"Calm down... Aarav... calm down... see I'm here to help you. Even if she said nothing to me... I can see it in her eyes, I can feel it through the vibes... that she has a huge crush on you."

"Really! She likes me?"

"She didn't admit it tho... but trust me, she does... and to make things better between you two, I have a plan."

"...(sighs)... well, what can I say... If you say so... tell me... what's the plan."

"So... you do agree that you like her?"

"I mean... promise me that you won't tell her this."

"Promise buddy." she crosses her finger while saying it.

"I'm kind of confused, whether I like her or not... I don't know."

"Aree... it's pretty simple to know whether you like someone or not. Let me tell you about the love cycle."

"Love Cycle?"

"Yeah... There was a book in the library that I read a few days back and it was on how to understand if someone likes us or has fallen for us. See, there are five stages of Love."

"Five Stages...?"

"The first one – Curiosity... you start getting curious about her, the things that are related to her, what she is doing, who she hanging out with, her favorite food, color, dress, dreams, goals... just everything about her... you generate this curiosity.

"Hmm... it seems that I have already crossed the 1st stage."

"Exactly, so... the second one – Attraction... it's pretty self-explanatory. I mean you seem to have that spark in you. I have seen you getting attracted to her... as we are walking altogether, you're the one who can't keep your eyes off her. You're the one who waits for her every day near that school gate and whenever she appears in front of you or is present near you... you seem to have this charming smile on your face.

"I mean... (blushes)... that's true."

"Aww... enough with the blushing... because we must focus on the 3rd stage."

"Third Stage?"

"Yes...third one – Missing out... you start missing her, feeling left out without her. Of course, it's pretty clear that you are already on the third stage as I saw what happened to you when Ankita was out of town for a week... pity you."

"Hey... It was tough for you as well... wasn't it?"

"I was doing justfine without her being here for a week. Of course, I missed her too but youseemed to be lonely and aloof when she went on her little vacation, Aarav."

"Fine... I give you that point."

"So... that brings me to the 4th stage – Jealousy... Have you ever felt jealous of someone who got close to her or anyone in our school? Maybe someone she talked about... like her boy... friends?"

"I would be honest, I never felt jealous. She was there with me every time... there were times when her male friends came to us but that was chill."

"OH...hmm... it seems that you're stuck on the third stage."

"So, what do I do now?"

"Seriously Aarav... stop asking me that and do something about it. I can't spoon-feed everything to you. Keep hanging out with her and her friends as well... see if you feel anything that makes you jealous. If it does... come to me."

"Okay... let's give that a try."