FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 6

That night I find myself standing outside the pub once again, this time I made some random excuse to Bhai. I climbed down my car and look around. I hope I meet the gorgeous young man again. I kept saying in my mind that I want to meet him, to confront him for leaving me on the dance floor. I admit I was offended when he had suddenly left, there is no other reason of me being here.

I walked to the dance floor and looked around, my eyes searching for the dude.

I glanced my watch, it is the exact time I have been on the disc last night. I feel disappointed after a while, I guess he hasn't come. Have I offended him so much? Then I shake my head, of course not, we had just met how can I offend him so much. He must have seen his wife behind me. I mentally chuckle.

I turn to leave when I find a creepy looking guy stare at me. I cringe under his gaze. He moves closer to me and slightly grind his hips close to me, I smirk, he seems turned on by merely gazing at me. I gave him a light push and turn to leave. I dash into Rishabh, and behind him is Ruchi. Both of us are stunned to find each other.

'What a single like yourself doing here?' Ruchi asked amused. I made an excuse that I was passing by here and casually dropped in. I didn't have any drink and left feeling annoyed and hell disappointed.

I reach home and went straight to my room. What the hell is wrong with me? I actually went to the pub to meet that stranger; whatever he thinks of me why do I care? Why am I offended with his actions? And most importantly why am I thinking about him.

'Everything is alright?' Adnan asks as we sit at the dining table having dinner, I look at him alarmed

'What do you mean?' I reply trying to sound innocent. Adnan looks at me and I feel nervous with his gaze. I look away lest he reads my mind through my eyes. More than my parents and even myself, Adnan knows me better. He isn't like my second parent he is my first parent, more than them he has spent time with me. He can read my unsaid words. He sensed my restless. I looked at him and shrugged.

'Ruchi was asking me to shift my wedding agency, I just don't want to waste time looking for properties' I say munching on my chicken noodles. Adnan suggests he will help me get a small property, he is in real estate after all. I refused, I didn't want to take his favor. I will look for some small time low budget real estate agent.

I lay on the bed and kept brainstorming about the stranger, he looks familiar. Have I met him before? Is he...Riad?

No! No! that is not possible. Why did this thought even cross my mind. This man, he is drop-dead gorgeous and that Champu was all time loser, if you look at his face once you won't look twice and unlike the stranger at the pub, if you look at him once you can't look away.

Summer, 1990

I am five-year-old, my brother Adnan is 6yr old. I cry as I watch him hurry downstairs to play football with his friends while I am made to sit in the house and forced to play with dolls. I want to be with my brother. Adnan asked my mother to let me play, I am more than happy when my mother agrees and asked Adnan to keep strict eye on me. He nods his head. With help of Mamma I quickly dressed in a red and white polka dotted fork and hurried with my brother, I feel excited to play downstairs, mostly watch my brother play. He is my hero, and I will be supporting him in the game. He takes his football while I drag my cycle and we get into the elevator and then out in the ground.

I am cycling downstairs where my brother is playing football with other six- seven-year-old. I admire my brother from far, occasionally cheering him. We have been in this locality since I was born but unlike my brother, I don't have any friends. Suddenly my cycle crashes to another cycle. I look up at the person annoyed. I see another girl stare back at me, she looks my age. She has big chocolate brown eyes and ear length hair. She blinks at me, I blink back

'I am sorry' she says softly

I kept looking at her, she then sticks out her hand 'Ruchi Verma' she introduces herself and smiles. Even at the age of five I am not a people's person, people repel me. But I am getting positive vibes from her, so I extend my hand and shake with hers.

'Aleesa Siddiqui' I introduced myself, I forced a smile. We begin to cycle together and chatting, it was mostly her chatting and me listening. From far I pointed at my brother, Ruchi is impressed with him and says I am lucky to have an elder brother, she is the only child and feels lonely at times. With her statement, I feel a notch prouder of my brother.

One week later, surprisely I and Ruchi became good friends by now. One day, like always I and Ruchi are cycling down stairs with Adnan and his friends playing within our vicinity. I am taken aback as Ruchi suddenly stops cycling and is looking at the gate, I looked where she is looking. The boys playing the game also stops and look at the gate. We see a sleek black Mercedes come into the compound. I look at it, these people who ever they are, are must be filthy rich. I envy them.

A very gorgeous lady comes out from the car, she must be in her thirties yet she looks so young. She is draped a chiffon lavender saree, her figure perfect. She has long wavy hair reaching her waist. From the other side, climbs down a stunning man who looks in his late thirties but he still looks young and elegant. He is dressed in white formal shirt and black trousers, from the back seat two kids climb down.

The parents are so beautiful but the kid, their son. What is he? He seems to be my brother's age, but he is overweight with a big round glass stuck to his face and his oily hair combed like a nerd. I can't look at him for more than few seconds, I look away. There is a small girl with him, she looks little younger than me.

The kids don't look happy as they walk behind their parents, they disappear into the flat.

'Who are they?' Ruchi says sounding amused. My gaze is still stuck on the car; I am not interested with that guy but I am really tempted to befriend the young girl.

At the dining table, we are informed by Dad that, they are Ali family. They are from Delhi's elite business class, Mrs. and Mr. Ali are having divorce and till the divorce is settled the kids will stay with their Mausi. I wondered what this divorce means, but I don't care about that, I hope I get to know the girl and befriend her, perhaps I will get some of facilities that these rich people get.