THE LADY IN THE RAIN

HEARTBREAK-2

‘Kaka, I want a crimson red coloured rose,’ Ritwik  says to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper hands him the rose. He pays the money and happily walks on the road with Emma on his head.
‘I can’t believe this. I am going to propose Emma! I know she also likes me but is hesitant. But I’ll clear all her hesitancy. I love you, Emma,’ he stands on a bench in one side of the road and shouts like a crazy lover. All the trespassers look peculiarly at Ritwik ’s madness.
                                     ***********
                          
Ritwik  adjusts his hairs and knocks at Emma's door. Emma opens the door and without saying anything, lets him in.
Ritwik  sits next to Emma in the sofa.
‘Show me your report card,’ Emma orders.
Ritwik  takes out the report card from his bag and gives it to Emma.
Emma goes through the report thoroughly.
‘Isn’t it amusing, Alex? You lost your marks only in mathematics! In other subjects you scored an average of 95,’ says Emma.
‘It’s because I find mathematics to be the toughest among others.’
‘I feel it to be a lie.’
‘What...what do you mean?’ Ritwik  hesitates.
‘Why don’t you fucking admit that you did all these to get close to me?’ confronts Emma.
Ritwik  starts sweating.
‘What? Have I said anything wrong? I know. You did all these only to spend more time with me in name of tuition. Am I right Mr. Ritwik  Ganguly?’ she coldly asks.
Ritwik  looks down. He has no answers to give.
‘I know everything. I am your teacher, dammit. Why are you infatuating over me? Get out of all these, Alex. It will do worse to you,’ rebukes Emma.
‘If loving you will do the worse to me, then fine...I accept the worse,’ declares Ritwik .
He takes out the rose from his bag and immediately sits on one knee and forwards the rose to Emma.
‘You are the sunshine that takes me miles away from the terrible nightmares,
You are the star in the night that shows me the path to walk in the dark.’
Emma looks at Ritwik , flabbergasted.
He continues-
‘Like a tree is incomplete without leaves,
My life is incomplete without you.’
‘And I love you, Emma. I love you.’
Emma takes the rose from his hand. Ritwik  gets up with a hope of getting a kiss from her. But Emma tears the rose petals one by one and throws it on Ritwik ’s face.
‘Are you done with your filmy tactics? What do you think? Am I a fool? I didn’t knew that you’re eyeing on me. I shared all my problems with you because I found you to be a very reasonable and a sensible person. But I was wrong. Thanks to Rubel...’
Emma pauses.
‘Did Rubel said anything?’, Ritwik  questions.
‘Yes, he did. And it proved his true friendship for you. He is concerned about you. You are walking in the wrong path, Alex. I do not want to see a bright student like you spoiling your splendid future by doing all these cheap and rubbish things.’
‘I swear I will not, Emma. Please say YES. I promise to buck down and retain my lost track again.’
Emma looks at him, infuriating.
‘I think I’ll have to talk to your parents.’
‘Hell, no. They shouldn’t know anything.’
‘Then get lost immediately. I don’t want to see your face. Now shoot out.’
Ritwik  looks helplessly at Emma. Emma turns her face away. With a broken heart, he picks up his bag and walks away. Pari sees him at the door.
‘Why are you leaving so soon, Ritz? Come, we’ll play.’
Ritwik  doesn’t say a word and hugs Pari.
‘Pari, come in. You shouldn’t be with strangers.’
Hearing the word “stranger”, Ritwik  detaches Pari and silently walks away.