Let love find you, while you find yourself

Flashback - Farewell (2)

The journey to college was a silent affair, avoiding all sorts of communication, verbal and silent. Anika felt a tad bit sad for not getting raging compliments and he was trying to make sense of his attraction. She looked etheral and beautiful. He wondered if she looked like this always and if she did why hadnt he noticed her anytime before. She was creating an unknown tempest in him; a desire to crush her into his arms. He wished he could start anew, and do things a man would do to a woman; make unabashed love. He was praying every second for the night to pass in a jiff.

No sooner did they reach; Daksh excused to a secluded corner. He breathed freely controlling his flaming desire. He drunk in her beauty recalling that very breathtaking moment when his eyes first saw her. He took his sweet time to rationally think what was happening to him but unfortunately he couldn't, so pushing her thoughts away he walked back towards the crowd and lose himself to his work station.

So far the events went smoothly and finally it was time for a ramp walk for the batch holders. He was cheering and applauding forgetting that the storm was on the way. The host announced "and now it's time to welcome the show stopper of today's evening - Miss Anika Mehta". And she came, walking with panache and a confident smile. She received more attention than usual. Daksh was once again taken aback with her beauty and his eyes fixated on her. His throat went dry. And by now his heart had skipped a million beats. He was shamelessly ogling at her. His desire to feel every inch of her was at its pinnacle. He smacked his head for thinking about her this way and rushed for a glass of water to calm himself.

Next was the final event "The couple dance". This was a surprise event for the students. The organising team had very smartly coupled students who were either in a relationship or secretly had crushes. But to their shock, Anika and Daksh's name was also announced as a couple. Both were hell nervous and were confused about the happenings. And without any choice they went to the stage for the dance. Daksh was fretting over his proximity to Anika. And adding fuel to the already burning desire, the melody was stirring varied motions in both of them. Daksh's raw desire and attraction was a contrast to Anika's confusion between attraction and love. She could feel her effect on Daksh. His eyes piercing through her body and soul with that unblinking gaze. Secretly she was basking in his undivided attention. They finished the dance to a loud roar of applauds, hooting and whistling. They stepped down embarrased.

Post the events, they made countless failed attempts to avoid each other. After the evening wrapped, it was again time for confrontation, Daksh was to drop Anika at her place!

Again the journey was a silent one, both wishing that the distances to their home be magically reduced to a few metres only. Neither were ready to let words take form of their feelings. The silence was broken with the screeching sound of the brakes, only to realise that they had crossed Anika's house. And as if this was the only validation left, Anika was sure that something was equally amiss with Daksh. Still.

She turned to face him and said "I'll walk to my home, don't reverse". Her voice faded and all he noticed were her brown eyes, her flawless face and her luscious lips. The lips which moved forming words, but the sound of which was muted by her beauty.
On impluse, he grabbed her waist, pulled her closer and pressed his lips on hers, gently, seeking approval. Not expecting a moment like this, she was lost for a reaction. She wanted to respond. Daksh, getting impatient with the silence, kissed her again with a stronger desire. This time, she reciprocated with the same fervour. Their lips pressed onto eachother, taking in the taste of heaven with a hint of smile. It was a passionately gentle kiss. They withdrew themselves from the lack of oxygen. But before Daksh could speak, she sped out of the car. He looked at her retreating figure bewildered, "what was that?" he questioned himself. "Didn't she like it?" "But she did reciprocate", he spoke to himself. Pushing the confusing thoughts away, he smiled thinking about what happened a few minutes ago and left for his place.

The sequence of events left Anika cluttered, she couldnt fathom what just happend. She sped out of the car because she didnt want to regret the moment. She replayed the kiss innumerable times, trying to convince herself that it was her imagination. But each time she replayed the moment, it played the same, it felt the same. She was trapped in her own thoughts. The kiss felt most natural yet a slight regretful. Not willing to label it as right or wrong, she pushed the contemplating thoughts away and immersed herself in the magic of the moment.

She was an indecisive person, yet she never regretted her decisions or acts neither was she judgemental of others. Her funda of relationships was 'it is all about emotions at the end'. Her relationship advice always centred around never judging emotions; right or wrong, momentary or forever; anything done in an emotion is special. And being in a relationship or maintaining it is completely based on compatibility and enduring capacity. So judging them or calling their relationship with inappropriate names never helps.

Thinking this a smile tugged her lips and she decided not to discuss about this with Daksh for obvious reasons especially she didnt want to make things awkward between them, with all these thoughts she drifted into deep slumber.

Daksh, upon reaching home thought of calling her but decided against it. He didnt want to make things awkward or complicated either. At the same time he couldn't give a name to their relationship with what happened hours ago. So he pushed his thoughts away and called it for the day.