A Young Love Story...

Part 8 - A New Beginning

Ananya had been straightforward with Vishesh. She did like him, but she was not sure about their future. She was also considering Rishi's proposal. Though her future was still bleak with either of them. 

So, after classes, Rishi was waiting in the college corridor, for Ananya. As soon as he saw her, he walked up to her and said "Hi Ananya, I did not attend lectures again today. Had some work. But came now, so that we could have the coffee you promised me!" 

Ananya laughed. Her laughter was enigma. Rishi was lost in the sound of her laughter. He was mesmerized by the twinkle in her eyes. He stared at her. "What are you looking at me like that for?" Ananya asked. Rishi quickly took off his eyes from her, and looked away. "I'm sorry Ananya, you are so pretty. You know what, you are not the beauty queen, but there is a charm in your face. You are pretty in many small ways, which beats the beauty that lies in one! You..."

"Okay now enough... Stop fanning my self-love to the extent that I become proud! Thanks for the compliment. Now, let's go?"she asked. 

"Of course, of course! Let us!" They started walking. 

Vishesh was hurt and sad, and all by himself. Ananya hadn't turned up post break, Vishesh waited till the end but she did not come. He assumed she had bunked and gone with Rishi for the coffee date. He envied Rishi, because Ananya never bunked classes even once in the week for him. And even the promised lunch date was canceled for a coffee date with Rishi. He cursed Rishi. He went home, depressed and dejected. His Anu was in doubt about that one sole thing that he was sure about - his love for her! How would he ever convince her, he knew not!

Rishi and Ananya went walking to a nearby Cafe Coffee Day. The place was quite occupied, because it was a Saturday. Plus, it was in a vicinity of many colleges. So, Rishi and Ananya found a table for two, but it was right in the center of the cafe, and allowed absolutely no peace or privacy. 

They ordered a Vegan Shake and Kaapi Nirvana each, and 2 doughnuts. Ananya had hardly ever gone for a date. This was her first to be precise. She did go out with her girlfriends, but that too was rare, because she never wanted to lie to her parents or break their trust. So, she would go once in a couple of months and that too, with due permission from her parents. For this date, though, she had lied. She did not know why! 

They had to talk really loudly to be heard. After about a half hour, with their coffee and doughnut almost getting over, Rishi told Ananya, "do you mind going elsewhere? A more quiet place? This place is too noisy. I want to talk to you in peace..." he was so interested in speaking with her in peace, that it showed in his eyes. She instantly agreed, and said "Okay!" Rishi paid the bill. And they started walking out. Ananya asked him where they would go. "Just come along" he said. They went to a restaurant, at a distance of few hundred meters. They found a nice quiet corner, and sat down. They ordered a juice each, and he waved the waiter off politely, asking him to come after a few minutes. 

Rishi and Ananya were family friends. Though they had never hung around together in the past, their parents were friends, and belonged to the same town in Rajasthan. Rishi was a very quiet person, and hardly spoke to girls. He wasn't shy but he preferred to keep distance. Ananya was a sweet girl, who was very homely, and shy. Always in her girl-gang. Everyone knew she would never make friends with guys, thus no one ever approached her. Rishi wanted to know her better and make friends with her for a long time now. He said all this to her. Ananya was impressed with his honesty. 

He said, "Ananya, I always used to see you around. I don't know when I started liking you. But I never approached you because I knew you would not like it. But now that college is almost ending, I thought of telling you. And I did not want to fool you with false facts. I did not first ask you to be my friend, and then slowly come up with professing my love for you. That is wrong. I loved you, and I did not want to beat around the bush. I know you might have been surprised and may have become uncomfortable. But then better to take the truth at face value than continue lying at every step... That's my philosophy.. And though you rejected my red rose, I still love you. And I will continue to, even if you don't." After saying all this, he looked at Ananya, met her eyes, and continued, "I may not come out as a true man to you... Coz i don't know how to say nice things, romantically... But trust me Ananya, I love you in ways you can't imagine. Just so you can understand me and my feelings better, even before I spoke to you, I liked you. We spoke a few times casually, but I was falling in love with you. It is possible, we may have never spoken or met this way, but that day I gathered courage somehow and said what I had to. Trust me, even if we hadn't spoken or met, I would have gone on loving you..."

Ananya was getting mesmerized by his words, by his ways. Her heart believed all that he said. Her mind concentrated on every word he spoke. She was feeling so wanted, like never before. 

She suddenly spoke up, "What if I still do not fall in love with you?"

"Ohhh.. I am prepared for it Ananya... Love cannot be forced upon.. It is fine if you do not love me. It is not a requirement or an expectation from my end really. But whatever it is, don't keep me waiting mid-way. Just say it - whether or not you love me - just say it! Do not say I love you but... And yeah, don't even ask me to stay friends with you. Because I strongly believe, there can't be a mid-way. Friends also need some kind of love to bind them. But if among friends one loves and the other doesn't, then that friendship can't last long, because the one who loves gets terribly hurt by the other. One-sided love is very painful. So it is much better to cut off ties than go on loving one-sided." 

Ananya was staring at him, he was saying such deep stuff. And with such seriousness and conviction! "So, if I do not love you in return, you will not be my friend. And you say one-sided love hurts, so will you stop loving me?"

"No, you don't understand. Listen, carefully! It is okay if you do not love me, in return! But, it is not fine to be with you and love you, when you do not feel the same way. I will love you forever. Even if I never have you in my life. But, I won't stay around you, because being together even as friends raises hopes and expectations! Which I do not wish to happen! I'd rather stay far yet love you dearly, than hate you for not loving me! Did you understand that?"

She nodded..."Yes! Rishi, you are giving me gyaan! Really! But I am sincerely impressed! And I am literally falling for you!" She also did not know how she said it. Even she was a person who spoke her mind without fabricating stuff. She thought honesty was better than lies. She chose truth. Which is why she spoke her mind now, and even in the letter to Vishesh. 

Rishi was happy to hear Ananya's words. He smiled. "Do you want to eat something?These talks will not fill your stomach..right?"he asked. 

Ananya shook her head, "No, no! It is quite late. Let us leave. We will talk about this later, in the evening! Call me.. At about 7?"Though it was a question, it sounded more like a given that he should call her at 7... He was like, "Ohh, time to go already? Fine.. Later.. There is so much to talk, and so little time... Can we lunch sometime? Maybe tomorrow?"

"No ways! Sunday, Papa is home.. Let's see, will try sometime during weekdays.. For now, let's go... It's very late!" She got up and took her bag, in her hand. Rishi rushed behind her, paid directly at the counter, and left. He would have loved walking with her, but she was getting late. So he called her an auto, and they parted. Ananya smiled and waved peeping out from the auto, till she could see Rishi. Rishi was too happy today, he decided to walk till home. It was at a kilometer's distance, and he wanted to recollect all the events with Ananya thus far.