Bond

♡The game is on♡

When I bade her "Bye", she was dumbfounded. She didn't think that she'll get rid of me this easily. When I was turning away she called me. I looked at her but she turned her gaze.

-What happened all of a sudden?
She asked seriously concerned. I smiled at her.
-Nothing really. When I first saw you I thought you were my dream girl. I named you Asha. My Asha. Who was very alone. I wanted to help her. I have followed my imaginary Asha like possessed.

I even went to that magic show just to see you. Then when we next met and you didn't come for coffee, I followed you to your hotel. I knew you were lying about the wet dress but when I saw you standing at the balcony wearing the same dress, you confirmed it yourself. Unless you have the same dress another one.

Then when I got back to my place I couldn't get you out of my mind. I couldn't even concentrate on my work. I knew I have to find you. Finally when I found you, you weren't pleased to see me. You were irritated. But I didn't care. You asked me why I wanted to meet you. But in reality I don't really have an answer.

I don't know why I looked for you like crazy. I was always that shy nerd. I was the definition of so called GOOD BOY. I am not a womanizer. I never was. I was never really good with people. But I've seen many pretty girls. Maybe some are even prettier than you. But I didn't felt this way for o any of them. Maybe I wanted to be a different person. But that doesn't mean I have to do all those things.

You always attracted me like a magnet. I couldn't control myself. But when you said you don't want to play any type of game with me, I became careful. There is no point bothering you now. If you don't want me to. Let me walk you to your bus.
-No, no, it's alright. You don't have to do that. I can go by myself.
-Okay. I'll take my leave then.
-Uhm...um...aaah...which way are you going? If you get on the same bus we can go together.
-No, I don't travel on that bus. I'll get on another one.

She didn't move. She stood there eyes on the footpath. She hesitated before saying,
-You are mad at me, right? I don't want to hurt anyone, but—
-No, no, Miss Ashfa. Why will I be mad at you?
-Then why are you calling me Ashfa again?
-Because the game is finished. So I'll never imagine a girl as my dream one after seeing her for the first time and won't name her "Asha". Everything will be like before.
-Maybe I couldn't really understand the game. What are the rules of this game?
-I, myself don't know. There is no rules. This game can't be taught to one.

She has become very soft now. Maybe her irritation on me reached it's limit. She thought she'll never get rid of me. She'll be harsh with me and I'll still follow her. Or she thought that she has hurt me greatly and for that she is feeling guilty. She couldn't handle my sudden change. Maybe she can't accept that I'll forget her completely. Maybe she wanted to ignore me and find pleasure through the ignorance. Girls love to ignore but they can't handle it.

Maybe that is why she said,
-See, people become friends. They meet, they talk, this is not abnormal—
-I assure you you'll never see me again.
-But I can't be sure without hearing one thing. Why were you looking for me so desperately?
-I wasn't looking for you so desperately. The thing is that, when I first saw you, your eyes looked so lonely. Those lonely eyes were stuck in my mind. So, whenever I had to do something, those eyes reminded me that I have to find you and share your loneliness. To ensure you that I'll be by your side. You are not alone.

-In you imagination, you only thought about me?  Not about your—
-I thought about him too. The other person with the same name.
-I hate him.
-I knew it.
-You knew?  Whenever I heard your name, you reminded me of him. That's why I couldn't tolerate you.
-You know, there are many trees with the same name. But they don't look alike.
-I didn't quite understand what you meant.
-See, two silk-cotton trees won't look the same way. Similarly, two persons with the same name don't resemble each other. I wanted you to find me. The real me. Maybe, even I don't know him. The me that does whatever he wants in front of you. Mostly he wanted to tell you, "Asha, I'll be there for you".
-In future, he'll not want anything like that again?
-No, because the game is finished. You don't want him to do that.

-After this question I'll leave. Every time we met you wanted to say something. What was that?
-I told you before. It's, "Asha, I'll be there for you".
-Nothing else?
-Whatever you want to hear, I definitely didn't want to say, "I love you".
She was blushing pink.
-I knew you are not an idiot.
-Actually after my fake magic show, I wanted to say another thing.
-And what is that?
-You are pretty. There is a beauty in you that connects with one's mind. I used to think that beauty is only for eyes. But that day after touching your chin, it seemed there is more to it. One can want to feel the beauty. Like after seeing a beautiful flower people want to smell it. So, after that day whenever I met you, the second thing that was on my mind is, I wanted to ask you, "Asha, can I touch your foot?"
-What nonsense! What are you?
I laughed a, little before saying,
-If I asked to touch any other part of your body, like hand or hair or lips, I have to say at least that I like you. Or else it would be too bold. And that wasn't my purpose. Only if I asked to touch your foot you won't get angry.
-Okay, go ahead.
She said with a straight face.
-Here? In this footpath?
-If you can, I don't have any problem.
-Okay then.

I said, bending forward to do what I said. But she wasn't prepared. She jumped backwards all on a sudden causing her to loose her balance. She was about to fall in the street when I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me. My other hand automatically grabbed her waist to steady us. By whole body was on fire. This is the closest we have been. Neither of us moved. I got my self-control first. I removed my hand from her waist and released her hand from mine. Then I took a step back to restore the space between us.

After some time she said,
-Are you crazy? I thought you are joking. What will people think?
-I don't care about people. I only care about what my Asha will think.
-Either you are crazy or too romantic. Engineer's shouldn't be this romantic.

She started the game again. She couldn't let it end. Now the game is on. Let's see what happens.

A/N. Really...  Let's see what happens. The bond is building between them. Enjoy the chapter. Have a wonderful day!