You Belong With Me

1

"So spill the beans about Virginia?" Rahul quipped, taking a casual sip of his coffee.

Ever since the Wankhede incident, Vanshika had been like a broken record, constantly chirping about Rahul's charms. She pestered Shreyas relentlessly, insisting he play cupid and orchestrate a rendezvous on her behalf, threatening to take matters into her own hands otherwise. After what felt like eons of back-and-forth banter, Shreyas, hesitant and nervous, finally mustered the courage to approach their coach, Mr. Dravid. But let's be real, he wasn't about to utter the word 'date' to their esteemed coach. Instead, he concocted a tale about Vanshika needing insights for her research on the mental rigors faced by athletes. Thus, lunch with Rahul morphed into a seemingly innocent 'research session', much to Shreyas's relief.

Ever the gentleman, Rahul graciously agreed to partake in this noble act of assistance. However, Vanshika wasn't about to stick to the script. She spilled the beans to Rahul, admitting it was all a setup by Shreyas. She shamelessly declared her true motive: she was there for a date, plain and simple. To her surprise, Rahul just chuckled it off, revealing he'd been on weirder blind dates for even sillier reasons. He made it clear he wasn't really into the whole dating scene, hoping to keep Vanshika's expectations in check. She agreed, content just to have his company, even if it wasn't exactly a fairytale romance.

Eyeing him curiously, Vanshika probed, "What's with the fascination with Virginia?"

A smile danced on Rahul's lips as he replied, "I just dig the place," his fingers tapping a rhythm on the table.

But Vanshika, playing her psychiatrist card, wasn't buying it. "You're fibbing, there's more to it than that," she declared, peering intently at him.

Rahul chimed in, "Virginia's quite the unique place."

Vanshika caught on that Rahul wasn't keen on spilling the beans about Virginia, so she simply remarked, "Oh, it's just stunning, like you," shooting him a playful glance.

With a grin, Rahul quizzed her, "So, you're interested in me just for my looks?"

Vanshika quipped back, "Well, your charm did catch my eye, but I figured a handsome, 45-year-old singleton like yourself must be on the hunt for that elusive soulmate."

Rahul raised an eyebrow, "And you think that's you?"

Vanshika shrugged, "Hey, why not give it a shot? We might just be a match made in heaven."

Rahul chuckled at her audacity. "What if I told you there's already someone?"

Was Rahul playing hide and seek with his relationship status or what? Vanshika, with her shrink radar on full blast, couldn't help but notice that Rahul wasn't exactly the poster child for casual flings. There was this enigmatic vibe about him that had her inner detective itching for clues. Now, Vanshika wasn't about to go all Sherlock Holmes on him—she respected his privacy like a pro. But hey, when you're a shrink, it's like having a mental magnifying glass glued to your hand, right?

Love? Nah, Vanshika wasn't about to fall head over heels for Rahul. She was just genuinely intrigued by this mystery wrapped in a hoodie. I mean, come on, the guy practically came with his own mystery theme music!

Curious, Vanshika prodded, "Doesn't seem like it. But if there is, why the delay in tying the knot? You don't strike me as the 'living together' type."

Despite the grin plastered on his face, Rahul was wrestling with a turmoil of emotions he couldn't quite hide. All he yearned for was to tie the knot with the love of his life. He was ready to leap over hurdles, dance through hoops, and maybe even wrestle a wild tiger if it meant being with them. Alas, destiny seemed to have drafted its own playbook for him.

"We were forbidden from being together," he confessed, his voice laden with a weighty sigh.

The words echoed in Vanshika's mind, stirring a torrent of questions. Did Rahul's parents have someone else in mind for him, someone chosen by tradition rather than his heart? Or perhaps it was the clash of differing religions or castes? She mulled over the possibilities, her curiosity piqued.

"Why forbidden?" Vanshika pressed, her eyes searching his for answers, her heart racing with anticipation.

Rahul deflected, "Let's not dwell on it."

But Vanshika persisted, "Oh, come on! Do you think I'd spill your secrets to Shreyas or anyone else? I'll be jetting off to Virginia next month. Who knows if we'll ever cross paths again?"

As Rahul idly stirred his coffee, Vanshika reached out, gently grasping his hand. "Rahul, it's evident you're harboring a painful, untold story. I'm all ears if you need to unload. Bottling up your emotions won't do you any favors. Just let it out."

Rahul glanced over at her, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling within him. Why was he suddenly opening up to this complete stranger? It was like he had this urge to spill the beans about his love life, a tale kept under wraps, known to few, and conveniently forgotten by the rest.

Still, he could vividly recall those tender touches, the taste of those lips, the melodic laughter at his jokes, the comforting embrace around his waist - the essence of his beloved lingering in his memories.

"Sourav," Rahul uttered.

Vanshika looked at him, taking the final sip of her coffee. "Who's that?" she asked.

Rahul's eyes sparkled as if Sourav was the sunshine in his tropical paradise. With a calm demeanor, Rahul replied, "The love of my life."

As the words left Rahul's lips, a palpable heaviness settled over the quaint coffee shop. The air seemed to thicken with the weight of his unspoken emotions, enveloping him in a cloud of uncertainty. His mind raced with memories of stolen glances and whispered promises, each one a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. With each passing moment, the reality of his forbidden love loomed larger, casting a shadow over his once vibrant spirit. Yet, amidst the turmoil, there flickered a faint glimmer of hope, a whisper of possibility that refused to be extinguished. For in the depths of his heart, Rahul held onto the belief that love, in all its complexities, was a journey worth taking, even if it meant navigating through the darkest of nights to find the light of dawn. And so, with newfound resolve, he faced the future with a mixture of trepidation and determination, knowing that no matter where the path may lead, he would always carry the memory of Sourav with him, a beacon of love in a world filled with uncertainty.

Pehle chapter par itna acha response dekh kar mujhse raha nahi gaya, to ek aur post kar diya ;))) For all the lovely commentors <3