Everything but her

Will you be mine?

When Virat came back home that summer, he acted a completely different person altogether. His mother started getting worried. He skipped meals at will and was always busy on his phone. She tried asking him if anything was wrong but he never told her anything. She had no idea that her son had fallen in love.

Aarushi, on the other hand, was no different. At one point her mother wanted to go to the point of snatching her phone away from her but her brother saved her from that. He thought it was one of her silly fights. But, how wrong was he! Aarushi tried hard to resist Virat but finally gave in to what her heart thought was best for her. She had heard many stories about him. She did not know if he was faithful or not. She knew nothing about him but still she could not prevent her heart from falling in love with him. She was restless in classes and longed to reach home to talk to Virat. She, even took her mobile phone to the school one day. However, she understood the mistake and decided not to do it again. She had taught many of her classmates the importance of rules and breaking them for the sake of her own pleasure was not something she was going to do.

Days changed to weeks and weeks to months. If anything, Aarushi and Virat were coming closer and closer. Their midnight talks now changed to video conferencing. With limited time on their hands, they always tried to make the most of it. Aarushi was slowly mastering the art of making excuses to her mother. His brother was busy in his practices and therefore he had no idea what she was up to.

It had been six months. Virat came to Mumbai in December. Nothing had been official yet but it was all but obvious. Virat invited her to dinner and Aarushi put a condition that the bill would be on her. She took out her entire money that she had earned for internship in the summer and they went to one of the 4 stars restaurant. After a round of soft drinks, Virat popped up the question,
'Aarushi, would you like to be my girlfriend?'
'Yes, Virat thanks for being there for me. I hope you are there for me for the rest of my life.'
'I am not there for you most of the time and in future too the national duties will unable me to be with you but if you can deal with the little bit of my crap whenever we meet and call me all those funny names and then again introduce me to reality sometimes, then I think I can fulfil if not all, almost all your dreams. Will you be mine Aarushi?'
'Forever, if there is such a thing.'
'We'll create it if there is not. I love you with all my heart Miss Aarushi Rahane. It would be a pleasure to spend the rest of my life with you.'
Aarushi controlled her tears and they decided to skip the meal as the moment had just ended up the hunger.
They reached Virat's hotel and escaping all the eyes which looked suspiciously at them, they moved towards his room.

Aarushi entered the room and saw Virat was not at all a sorted person in terms of keeping his things in place. The room was a mess.
'Virat, I can't fathom how you are gonna live here', she said picking up one of his towels from the bed.
'This is not my home. I have to live here only for two days.'
'I can't live here for another second.'
And saying that, she started cleaning and arranging the stuff which had been lying there.
'C'mon, help me out. This is your stuff not mine and you must learn to at least arrange your things instead of creating this mess.', Aarushi told Virat.
'Aaru, it is okay. Leave it please. I'll do it. You sit and tell me what to do. Why should you clean my mess?'
'Because I love you. Wouldn't you do it for me?'
'Yes, I would.'
'So, then keep going.'
'Okay ma'am.'
It took them around an hour and 40 minutes to clean the entire room after which they were literally tired. Both sat down on the bed and as if unconsciously Virat put a hand around Aarushi's waist.
'Thank you so much for all this', he said.
'Don't worry, I'll keep a check on you.'
They both let out a laugh.
'Aarushi'
'Hmm'
'You know these beads of sweat are making you look more beautiful than ever.'
'You know Virat you are talking nonsense. Did you really have a soft drink or was it something else.'
'I am telling the truth and you are making fun of me.'
And then, he slowly moved towards her. Both of them closed their eyes. Both of them allowed  insanity to take over from there on. As Virat's lips met Aarushi's, she slowly lost her breath. She wanted to kiss him back but she lost all her consciousness. It was as though she was living a dream. As though she was in a trance. A soothing music entered her ears out of nowhere. She wanted to live that moment but she felt as though she was dead. She felt as though she belonged to him and nothing else has to be done. She kept still for a while and came back into her senses once Virat pulled back.
That both looked in either direction for few minutes and then Virat spoke up,'Too much?'
'No', she replied.
'Water?', he offered.
'Yes, thanks.'
She felt as though she was drinking his breath. And somehow all that water that she drank could not quench her thirst.
'I think I should get going Virat. It is seriously getting late. It is already 10 and if mom comes to know, there will be a big trouble.'
'Ok, I will drop you today cause officially I am your boyfriend from now. Right?'
'Right, Mr. Smarty pants.'
And they got into one of the taxis and moved towards Aarushi's house. Both of them were quiet throughout the journey reliving what had happened throughout the course of the day. As the taxi halted a little far from her house Virat got down and said,
'Ok, then take care and tell me if there is any trouble.'
'Ok, bye.'
'Aarushi...'
'Yeah', she said turning back.
'I love you.'
'I love you too', she answered smiling.