By Your Side..Forever & A Day!

7. Friends..finally!

Happy reading :)

Aryamann's PoV :

None of us uttered a word for a minute; we only kept stupidly smiling at each other. But someone had to break the silence! I took the initiative this time.

''Hi Miss Tamanna-Bewitching-Sen'', I greeted and winked.

''Hello Mr Aryamann-Stalker-Rathore'', she teased.

''Excuse me, darling! I am not a stalker. I am a sponsor'', I defended the coincidence of bumbing into her time and again.

''Sponsor? You? For this event? Are you kidding me? How old are you? No no! How rich are you to sponsor such a huge fest? Are you a millionaire's son? Or you are a millionaire with a son studying here?...'', she fired back-to-back questions breathlessly, turning on her quizzical mode. I laughed at the last one for her strange sense of imagination. Do I look that old?

But before she could continue, I cut her off saying, ''Hold your questioning horses, girl. I'll answer all of them, but one by one.'' She only nodded in response.

''I am 24 years young. Yes, I am a millionaire's son and no, I DO NOT have a son. My father is the CEO of Ace construction company, who are one of the prime sponsors for this fest and who unluckily have me as a Director'', I gave my answers and sighed, cleaning away the notional sweat from my forehead.

To say she was shocked would sheerly be an understatement. She holded her face in her hands, her mouth forming an O shape. Who is the drama queen now, huh?

''You are the son of Mr Anurag Rathore, the famous builder?'', she asked, pausing after each word.

''Not as famous as Bob the builder'', I mocked.

''Whatever!'', she giggled and I simply nodded.

''Wow! You are fucking rich dude!!'', she exclaimed, pausing after each word again.

In response, I pulled up my shirt collar with fake pride and took two steps closer to her. ''Rich - yes. Fucking - I don't know. Want to prove your adjective right?'', I japed.

''You assured your jokes would sober up'', she said and pushed me away, intending to make me meet the ground.

''You show me down but I won't fall. I am titanium.'' I was singing David Guetta's megahit song and the very next second I was smacked to the ground by another of her push. She was driven back to her LMAO planet.

''Hello Mr Rathore!'', interrupted Mrs Smith, one of the college trustees. I could hear Tamanna chuckle beside me. Don't forget I am still fallen on the floor.

''So nice to have the presence of such a handsome businessman here,'' added Mrs Smith exultantly after I lifted myself up the ground.

''The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Smith'', I said and flashed a smile glancing at Tamanna. If I would get a chance to meet Tamanna each time I came here, I'd love to visit UEL more frequently.

''Don't call me Mrs Smith, Aryamann. Call me Diana'', she instructed in an alluring manner while keeping a hand on my shoulder, which made Tamanna chuckle again. I gave Tamanna a death glare and she turned around, shutting her mouth with a hand. What is with this girl and her untimely and inappropriate chuckles?

''Of course, Mrs Smith. Oops! I mean Diana'', I awkwardly replied shrugging my shoulder, which made Mrs Smith draw her hand off it.

''You were great on stage, Miss Sen'', half-heartedly complimented Mrs Smith, finally noticing Tamanna.

''Yeah! I've heard that a lot today, Mrs Smith'', replied Tamanna with a smirk. Wow! What a way to say thanks.

''Well, I'll see you soon then, Mr Rathore'', said Mrs Smith and walked away ignoring Tamanna's reply.

''I hope.....not'', I replied putting my tongue out teasingly after she left.

''Are both of you not at good terms with each other?'', I asked Tamanna.

''Apparently. Apart from being UEL's Trustee, she's also our English professor and almost every alternate test she fails me. Bloody racist! She hates me and I hate her, it's mutual. And didn't you just see how she throws herself at men at the age of playing with her grandchildren?'', she answered with agitation, not forgetting her normal breathless pace.

''Regardless of age, it's hard to resist one's temptations when men like me are around, honey!'', I boasted and winked.

''Oh please, Mr Iron-man Rat-whore'', said Tamanna mimicking Mrs Smith's British accent and returned to her LMAO planet again. ''By the way, which rat is a whore? Do you have such a pet rat?'', she spoke between her laughs. ''And Iron-man? You? Joke of the millenium!''

''Look who's talking. You forgot your name, Tammy - Tommy!'', I snapped with vindictiveness.

She instinctively stopped her laughter and glowered at me. ''Every dog has it's day'', she countered and to my surprise, she laughed again, but this time at her own pun.

I was about to join her in her jest when realization struck her and she hastily enquired, ''What time is it?''

''Quarter passed seven'', I answered after checking the time on my wrist watch.

''Oh freak! I need to get home before eight'', she panicked. ''But the tube or bus will take longer than that! Oh God, I need you to save me today, not the queen!''

''No fear when your personal Iron man is here!'', I dialogued and stood in a superhero pose. ''I'll drop you home in my car.''

''You took her pronunciation too seriously'', she teased. ''But why are you being so helpful to me?'', curiously asked Tamanna.

''You very well know why guys act so nice around girls, don't you?'', I replied and smirked evilly. She made a disgusted face and retreated two steps from me.

''Dirty mind! It's to be friends'', I explained and she sighed in relief. ''So are we friends yet?'', I asked and extended my right right.

Ignoring my gesture, she took out her cellphone from her pocket and began fidgeting with it. Poor me! I felt so insulted (wiping away imaginary falling tears).

In case you haven't noticed #10 : Women often do things in a manner least expected by men. They take things too lightly when you want them to be serious and they take things too seriously when the matter is too light. They let their lives revolve around you when you need your space and they ignore you when you ask for attention. There can only be one status with them - It's complicated.

One advice extracted from John Gray's book 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus' is that when a man can listen to a woman's feelings without getting angry and frustrated, he gives her a wonderful gift; he makes it safe for her to express herself.

That is what exactly I decided to do henceforward. I wouldn't force my friendship on her, instead wait till she actually develops a good comfort level with me. I didn't want to appear too desperate. Females hate it, don't they?

While I was busy talking to myself, Tamanna stood beside me on the spur of the moment. Keeping her Facebook friend requests list active on the screen, she held her cellphone in front of my eyes and clicked 'Confirm' on mine. ''Friends'', she replied affirmatively and smiled at me.

The wait of being friends with Miss Tamanna Sen finally ended.

One lesson I learnt this moment - Don't overthink. Haha!

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A/n: If you're an Indian, you definitely need to check this video out! I AM TITANIUM's version by an Indian.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RpEZBw3nqo&feature=youtube_gdata_player