FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 44

Riad's POV:

Summer, 1990,

'Mamma, you and Papa will be never stay together again' I say, I am on the verge of crying. Mamma smiles sadly at me and caressed my hair, my lips tremble looking at her. I love both my parents and what them with me and Urooj. What is this divorce? And why are they getting it? I held my Mamma's hand tightly. She kissed the top of my head. I wanted to hug Dad too, but I fear him.

I and Urooj sat in the back seat of the car, Urooj has been poking me a lot pestering me asking me why I am I crying,

'Are you a girl too, Bhai?' she asks innocently. I ignored her and kept looking out from the car window not knowing what is in store for me? How is my life going to go from here?

I didn't like the locality where by Dad parked his car, I really hope we aren't going to stay here.

To my bad luck, Mom and Dad gets down. I mentally groaned and climbed down the car and helped Urooj climb down.

Silently, I followed my parents into the elevator. Urooj held my hand but I didn't respond. I wish I can do something and change my parents mind and make them be together again. My parents aren't even speaking with each other since few days. I have never been to my Maasi's place, her flat is decent not as big as our mansion but still it will be manageable.

As we all sit on the sofa, Mausi asks me and Urooj to go down and play with the other kids. Mamma asks me to keep a strict eye on Urooj and I sadly agreed.

I held Urooj's hand and together we went down stairs where many other kids of the locality are playing.

As we come out, I and Urooj, or rather Urooj, is greeted by a young girl. She looks a year younger to me but she looks so cute. She shakes her hands with Urooj and introduces herself as "Aleesa". Her name is as beautiful as she. Even though she didn't greet me, I extend my hand.

We shake hands, I smile at her but she doesn't smile back. Perhaps she is reserved and choosy when it comes to making friends. But looking at her I felt like trusting her with my little sister, Urooj. So, I left her with Aleesa and made my way towards the boys who are playing football. I love playing football.

When I go there and confidently asked if can I play with them. But then, few boys started to taunt me.

'Look another football is here' one of them taunts. Someone comes and punched my arm and I stumble few steps. I felt my eyes tearing up as the boys start to circle around me throwing random taunts and punches at me.

Then there comes a boy, he seems to be my age but is slimmer. He seems to be the alpha-male here as everyone stops what they were doing when he comes to my rescue.

That day it was just a start...start of a beautiful friendship.

Year 1999,

Nine years passed and my friendship with Adnan strengthened. He is my only friend in the whole locality, I don't interact with anyone else. But there is one person I badly want to interact with, Aleesa.

The first day, when I had seen her I found her cute but as the years passed she is growing to be more beautiful with each passing day. And I my admiration slowly transforms into love. Every day I steal glances at her, but I am worried too because I don't want Adnan to misunderstand me. I am just sixteen but I know I have found true love. I know she doesn't reciprocate my love but I am okay with it, I am happy loving her from far.

She might have someone else in her life but for me, it's only her. My whole world revolves around her.

Every night before going to sleep I lay on my bed and listen to the song that perfectly describes my condition and my feelings for the world's most beautiful girl, Aleesa

Mera dil bhi Kitna pagal hai

Yeh pyaar toh tumse kartha hai

Par samne jab tum aathe ho, kuch bhi kehne se darr tha hai....

I am sitting on the bench in the canteen going through my notes, Adnan is in football team meeting. I don't like being there in his team meetings. Firstly, I feel out of place there and secondly some boys taunt me there. As I work I feel someone stand beside me, her beautiful scent hits my nostrils and I smile to myself. I turn my head and find her standing there looking at me.

Aleesa, she seems to come to me only if she needed her assignments done. I don't mind, I can give my life if she asks me to. I know it sounds like a clichéd filmy line but my love for her is really intense, I can't put it in words.

Like I had guessed, she had come to me for chemistry assignment that is due three days from today. I nod and agreed, she gives me the details and walks away. She doesn't talk anything to me besides what is needed, once again I don't mind. Perhaps she talks this way to everyone.

Three days later, I have completed her assignment on time. Today is Valentine's day, it's a special day for lovers, I am a lover too, even if mine is one-sided love story. Nevertheless, I am happy. It's been nine- years and I am feeling restless. I am happy loving her from far but then what if she does love me and with me delaying my confession maybe I am disappointing her. Maybe she wants me to make the first move. Though she shows no sign of being in love with me but today I don't want to take any chances.

I went to a florist who is standing near our gate selling roses. It's Valentine's day so everywhere its red and glossy with many florists and vendors selling flowers especially roses.

I felt nervous and very conscious as I look around hoping no one sees me. I mentally debated if I should get a yellow rose, which symbolizes friendship or red that symbolizes love. To my bad luck the florist had only red and I didn't have time to go to any other florist, so I brought the red one.

I am in the chemistry lab; Mr. Gupta had given us a tough practical and I wanted to be ahead of my other classmates. Academics is my strength and the only thing I am good at. As I work I hear her sweet melodious voice. I am startled but I compose myself.

I turn around and she greets me smiling, Gosh! Her smile, so beautiful so pure so innocent. She directly asks me for the assignment, and without wasting any time I fish out the assignment and hand it to her. She smiles widely, seeing her smile I smile too.

This is why I work for her assignments, for that 1000-watt smile. As she happily goes through the assignment I feel nervous glancing at the rose that I had carefully hidden in my school bag. She isn't looking at me so I cleverly I take out the rose.

I trembled with nervousness. I don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong but I have decided to take the plunge. I asked her to be my valentine.

She looks at me surprised, I can't decipher her expression. Is she happy? Have I done a mistake? Will she never talk to me again?