Don't Let Me Go <A Paranormal love story>(Wattpad Only)

Chapter 16

I adjusted my formal shirt as I looked in the mirror. I took the hair gel I stole from my dad's room and styled my hair. I rubbed my hands together feeling nervous. I was getting ready to go out with Nisha. Now that I think of it, I guess it was a date. But back then the term we used was "going out"

   "Wow, son, you look killer," my dad said as he leaned against the doorframe. I quickly tried hiding the hair gel. "I saw that. I'll let it pass this time." I scratched the back of my neck and awkwardly laughed.

   "Do I look okay?"

   He gave me a thumbs-up and then walked in. He patted my shoulder and said, "Listen, son, you like this girl, and she likes you. Better treat her well. Always say yes. Keep your lady happy okay?" I nodded mentally noting the tips he gave. He handed me a red translucent in the shape of a heart. Inside it were five assorted chocolates. "Is this for me?" I asked looking at him. My innocent years of adolescence not comprehending the languages of love. The same innocence that led to me get hurt—

   "No son. It is for Nisha. Give it to her and say you bought it. She will be happy."

   I nodded. He patted my back again and walked away.

   "Someone is overdressed for a weekday." I turned around, and there he was, looking at me from head to toe. I felt rather bad because I hadn't told him. He had been away for two weeks and now is here but I had to leave.

   "Uhm, Hey, hi. How are you?"

   "I'm good. I missed you. How are you?" He sat on my bed and leaned forward, "Oooh chocolates." He reached for it and I quickly stepped back.

   "No! These uhm these are-" he looked at me curiously. Uh, what do I tell him?... I knew if I told him the truth, he would think I was ditching him for Nisha. Plus I have never given him a box full of chocolates or anything!... He lifted his eyebrow as he looked at me. "Something wrong?" He asked

   "Nothing. Nothing. Youcantake mybook andread okay? Igottago. I'm going out withmymum. Bye!" I spoke abruptly and fast as I turned on my heel. Before he could say something, I closed the door. I sighed and wiped my sweat. I shall explain later...

   I didn't want RJ to see Nisha. I heard her voice coming from the hall. I stormed into the living room ready to take her and leave. But then I laid my eyes on her and froze. Nisha was wearing a pretty black dress with a white collar and ballet shoes. Her peacock eyes were highlighted with black kajal. I stared at her forgetting all about RJ. She was waiting for me in the hall with her mum. I wished her mum good afternoon and promised to take good care of her. Then I handed her the box of chocolates.

   "For me?"

   I nodded. She thanked me and then I held her hand. The simple gesture made my heart skip a beat. We bid goodbye to our parents and left the house. Once we were no longer on our street, Nisha linked her arms with mine. I blushed and walked in silence. Nisha then took me by surprise by leaning close and pecking my Nisha. I stopped dead in my tracks.  "W-what was that for?" I shuttered stupidly.

   "My gift for you."

   I tell you. I was rather love-struck. Though it was a simple puppy love. It shaped me for my next one. It helped me to get closer to the one I love— not Nisha—

   I took Nisha and bought her ice cream first. She insisted on paying, but I paid just as my mother taught me. "I like this place you know. This is my favourite place. Appa brings me here all the time," she said as she ate her blueberry-flavoured ice cream. I smiled and watched her. The way her nose scrunched every time she took a spoon of ice cream. The way her eyes lit up as she spoke. The way her eyelashes fluttered when she looked at me. Oh, I was in lo-

   "Mickey!"

   "Uh?"

   "I asked you where are we going next?" She giggled.

   "Oh, you'll see." Nisha didn't know what I had planned. My mother told her mother everything so she knew but we told her not to tell Nisha.

   As we walked out of the coffee shop, Nisha held my hand and my heart skipped a beat yet again. She started talking about One Direction but I could barely retort. My racing heart made it hard to think. All I seemed to think about was Nisha holding my hand. People on the road were giving us weird looks but she didn't care, neither did I.

   I don't blame them for staring. People judged each other on everything here. They still do but it was even worse then. Indian parents never let their kids "date" in the early 2010s and before that. They preferred arranged marriages over love marriages. There were very few who let their daughters join boys for parents were often scared of their kids eloping. Like for example Subashini was banned from going to Xander and my house since she got grown up. She wasn't even allowed to say the word love. Only a handful of miraculous parents let their kids date. Like Nisha's and mine. Maybe because they thought we were still kids. I heard my parents even call it puppy love. As for Nisha, she told me it was because her dad wasn't in town. He was a lot stricter and wouldn't allow this. But little did I know Nisha's mum was letting her date me for a whole other reason—

   "Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed as we stood outside the blue cross. "How!?"

   "My dad made some arrangements," I said and she hugged me. I swear I melted!

   "Aioo Mickey this is lovely. I always wanted to visit this place."

   The rest of the evening we spent at the Blue Cross playing with puppies. There were like 8 puppies in that room and they were running around, licking, growling and sniffing us. Nisha kept putting them on her lap and petting them to sleep. She even cradled one in her arms. It was such a sight to my eyes. I wish I had taken pictures of that moment. I swear Nisha looked ten times more beautiful when she was happy.

   I walked her home and we reached by 6 pm as promised. We stood on the front veranda looking at each other. This is it, I'm gonna get kissed. Just like the movies. I felt a bit anxious at the thought. How did they even do it? Lips? Hands first? Should I lean in? My heart was racing. She nodded and I placed my hand in my pocket to stop them from sweating. I wanted to kiss her but I didn't have the balls. Instead, I took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She giggled and pulled her hand away. She waved at me. I waved back and I left with a big smile plastered on my face.

~~~

"Ah look who went out with their mum and got her a box of chocolates," RJ said as I opened the door and walked in. His arms were crossed over his chest as he looked at me.

   "What?" I was still so dazed about Nisha that I hadn't noticed how angry he looked.

   "How was your outing with your mum uh?" He asked in a harsh tone.

   "Uhm it was good."

   "Yeah, sure, it was good. You've been out all day. You are past your curfew, Mickey-"

   "You aren't my mum." I rolled my eyes annoyed that he was spoiling my mood.

   "Wow, what's with the attitude? That girl is changing you-"

   "Leave her alone!" I yelled. "You are the problem. You are just mad I went out with her."

   "I'm not mad because you went out with her. I'm mad because you lied to me!"

   "I lied because I knew you don't like her, okay? Because when I tell you about her, you screw up your face-"

   "That isn't true and that doesn't mean you should lie to a friend."

   "Well, if you weren't so clingy, I wouldn't have lied," I defended. His expression changed, and immediately, I regretted it. He nodded as he stood up and walked towards my window. I ran after him and grabbed his hand. "RJ, I'm sorry-"

   "Save it." He pulled his hand away and left without looking back. I wanted to run after him but right then the telephone rang. I heard my mum yell, "Betta, Nisha is on the phone!" And just like that, I forgot about RJ. Like a foolish idiot, I spent an hour talking with a girl I had only recently met instead of making amends with my best friend.