Loving A Lie

6.Heaving thy heart:part 2

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Daniel was right though. Smith and Paul talked very candidly, revealing facts about their life that had me very excited. They talked about how they loved to stay unidentified and see how people reacted to their music. They wanted their fans to know them by what they had in them and not by how they looked.
There were hundreds of comment by fans like me who wanted them to show who they really were. In spite of their fair reasons to stay behind the curtain, I couldn't agree less with their fans.
I decided to leave my comment, though I knew it was wasted in the floods of other comments and wishes, but I felt I had to do my bit. I somehow felt like they belonged with me, as if they composed music exclusively for me. I know that sounds ridiculous but so was my affection for them. They also announced a new release soon. Smith or Paul , one of them had his birthday next week. Some radio channel had dedicated that whole day for their music. Cool.
I had to thank Daniel, for more than one thing. I dialled his number. He picked up immediately.
"Hello neighbour.", he spoke first. Were we just that? My voice dipped with sudden disappointment.
" Thanks so much.", I said to the phone.
"For the video alert? No problem.", he laughed into the phone.
" yes."I couldn't say more because I felt my heart accelerate at his laugh. Shut up heart. Though don't completely shut up or else I die.
"Okay.',he laughed ,his voice ringing like musical bells in my ears.
"Ok bye.", I was about to hang up when he said,
" So what was with you and dancing in the rain? Do you have a fever fetish or something about that doctor appealed to you?, he asked mischievously.
My face turned red. Oh!why?why?why did you see me? Nobody was supposed to see me.
"It is an Indian pastime. You know you couldn't be a true Mumbaikar if you don't get wet in rain.", I told him, all but drowning in embarrassment, trying not to scream.
" Really? I mean you were getting wet in rain because you were enjoying it?"
"Yes."
"Amusing. Until now I only ever got wet in rain because I didn't had a raincoat. This is something new."

"Not for us. We do it all the time. It is like bathing in a shower, just more open and airy."
I could imagine him now smiling in the phone.
'With all the clothes on?',he asked smugly.
'Daniel.',

" Okay. Okay. Jokes apart. But still. You have just recovered from fever. Didn't you think you shouldn't have done that?''

" Maybe that doctor was good looking.", I teased.

"If you want we could go to a better place than that?"

Faster heartbeats. Calm down heart.
"Where?"
"Wherever you say. Everything will be beautiful in your wake."
I almost dropped dead due to high blood pressure.
"Okay. Tomorrow 5:30"
"Where?". It was his turn to be surprised.
" You'll see."
***

Next evening exact at 5:30 there was a bell on the door. I almost ran from my room to take it but Granny got to the door faster. Her fingers fidgeted with the latch a few seconds before she finally opened the door.
She knew I was going out with Daniel.
"Is it a date?", she had asked embarrassingly.
" No.", I had replied calmly.
She didn't asked anything further but the way her wise , experienced eyes followed my hurried , too eager moments told me she could sense my predicament.
She assessed Daniel silently just for a second before breaking into her lovely smile that I had come to love in all those past years. Thank God. It meant Daniel was trustworthy. Didn't mean that I did not trust Daniel, or else I wouldn't be going anywhere with him in the first place, but Granny's approval was important. I took a breath of relief. I looked calmly at Daniel from behind my Granny but he wasn't looking at me.
"Are you taking out my Amy?", I cringed as Granny was obviously trying to embarrass Daniel.
" Granny I'm taking him out.", I replied from behind to relieve Daniel.
He now smiled at me. I went to stand next to Granny motioning Daniel that we should get going.
"So that's how Amy's got her beauty! ", Daniel responded with enough charm to make Vasai-full of girls turn on his doorstep.
I didn't miss how he called me Amy.
My little heart fluttered inside the ribcage.
" You naughty boy. You do know how to charm a girl. You have my little girl flying since morning. Doesn't keeps her feet on a place for a second."
Oh!no Granny what have you done? He will think I'm trying to woo him.
I looked down in despair.
I didn't want to look up in his blue eyes to confirm his fears.

I wanted to cry. Then Daniel laughed. Nobody could cry when he was laughing. He had something magical in him? I wondered.
I

mustered some courage before saying, "Enough Granny. You have already embarrassed me , not Daniel too. We're going."
I didn't look at either and went out of the door. I was angry. Why did she do that? That'll put such a shameful impression on him. Like I was in love with him or something.
Truthfully I did not, will not love anyone, anytime soon. I was too learned to fall for that.
I knew it was just an illusion. So thanks, but no thanks.
I was just excited about a trip. I told myself as an explanation for the eagerness of the approaching evening. Granny should know that I was always hyper excited for any trips since I was a child. She knew it.
Daniel didn't come out immediately. Well I think they were, very obviously, talking about me.
"Daniel.", I called out impatiently.
He came out after few minutes.
I looked sully.
" What?", he looked questioningly at me.
"Nothing. Let's go."
I looked around for his car and then at him questioningly.
"Oh! We're not going to take car today. We'll take the bike.", he told me pointing out to the bike in question. It was red and black in colour.
Well I wasn't a big fan of bikes and this one was clearly a fast one. The ones you get to see a lot at accident sites. This fact didn't seem to improve my mood at all.

My face was a pout now.
" what?", Daniel asked taking in my expression.
"Just drive it slow.", I told him strictly.
" Don't you worry.", he told me. The way he told me gave me every reason to worry. He looked very pumped up about driving it. I wanted to make up for Granny and not spoil his mood.
I went and sat behind him.
He wore his helmet hanging on the handle of his bike. That made me breathe easy. At least he followed the traffic rules.
"Oh. Yours.", he said looking at me and retrieving a helmet for me from beneath the seat.

"Where to?", he asked again.
" The fort.", I said. I wanted it to be a surprise but maybe he had already been there. There was no point of being disappointed there. So I decided to cut the surprise.
"I think it will rain.", he said worriedly.
I looked at him as if to make a point.
" You want to enjoy the rains with me!", he said slyly.
I grimaced.
"No I want you to enjoy rains with me."
And we laughed together.
I directed him at appropriate turns.
He was indeed a smooth driver and kept the ride even paced. He drove at a moderate speed but I was sure even if he speeded up, the ride would still be very pleasant.

The fort looked various shades of green as moss and creepers had taken over the ruined walls of the ancient monument. It was very pretty to see.
"Beautiful.", Daniel seemed to agree with me.
" So you haven't visited this fort before?", I perked up.

"Of course I have. I was talking about you.", he told me and I flushed the highest shade of red.
" Stop that.", I told him
"What?", he was trying to play innocent and I wasn't taking that.
" Don't flirt with me."
"I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"So tell me about your life in Mumbai...about your friends, mom and dad...", he said changing the topic. I was thankful. I didn't needed to talk about love or anything close.

The conversation slowly drifted towards lighter topics. I told him about Samantha and not having anyone else to talk to since she left a year ago.
We were now exploring the fort walking, having parked the bike near the entrance.
" Tell me something.", he asked me while we were climbing the stairs to what had been former watchtowers of the fort.
"Yes."
It was a beautiful view from the top. We could see the entire fort.
"It's so beautiful from here.", he told me momentarily distracted by the awesomeness of the moment. The grey clouds hung low and heavy ready to pour any moment.
" yes."
"Why?"
" what why?"
"Why did you not have anyone to talk to after Samantha left?"
I didn't had a clear answer to this.
"I had other friends but I didn't relate well to them. They were, I guess, way too engrossed in their lives. I too didn't bother much with smoking girls and drunk boys. They weren't much coherent half part of the day."

"I see."
I nodded.
It started to pour. Heavily.
I ran down the stairs pulling Daniel along. I was waiting for this.
I stepped out of the safety of the tower. Daniel looked at me unsure.
"Come on.", I goaded him."
He finally stepped into rain and allowed the water to wet him through.
***