Voilà

This Ain't No Delusion

ARYAN’S PERSPECTIVE

          “Will she say yes? What if he’s a doctor? I heard she had a thing for doctors. What if she finds him handsome?” I was pacing in my cabin doing some serious thinking. All sorts of premonitions were popping up in my head. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t do anything from the past two days without thinking about her. Something was wrong with me. I should definitely take up an appointment with the psychologist. I should_

          “Aha!” I jumped at the extraneous sound. June was standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She was giving me look which clearly said ‘I win, you lose. Boo yeah!’ “Caught ya! So, you like her. That’s why you kissed her, twice.” She held up two fingers. “That is the reason behind all this paranoia. Worried she’ll say yes? Admit it, Rai! I know you too well.”

          I gave her my best startled expression and urged my brain to think fast. Think fast! You’ve got to tell her something that will throw her off the lead. “What are you talking about, June? Paranoid? And why on Earth would I be paranoid about Rhea?” I willed myself to put on the most convincing perplexed expression.

          “I never even said Rhea’s name.” she smirked. Shit! “Well, the only girl I ever kissed was her so…” I paused trying to find something meaningful to tell her. “I obviously don’t like her, if that’s what you mean.”

          “Then why did you kiss her? You were just supposed to tell her the truth, not go all Romeo on her, smooching her like that. I demand an answer. I need to know whether you like her or not.” June said in a firm voice.

         “You sound like a lawyer.”

         “Answer, Aryan!” she said and banged her fist on my table. I looked at her stunned. Was she on drugs? “There is something on your mind and I need to know!” She advanced towards me and I retreated backwards. My back hit the wall and she was closer to me than necessary and I was completely out of my comfort zone.

         “I_I don’t know.” I managed to stutter. She looked livid and her brown eyes were flashing with determination. They looked a little similar to Rhea’s eyes. The little dark brown flecks around her pupils… Stop! Stop thinking about Rhea! I willed my mind to stop flashing images of Rhea. Something was wrong with me. Stage three of delusion.

          “That’s an answer alright, but an annoying one! I’ll need a concrete answer and without that, I’m not leaving.” She poked my chest with her finger.

          “Whoa! I seriously don’t know, okay? I’m really confused. I don’t know why I… I did that to her.” I said. It didn’t take much these days to trigger a memory of that day on the balcony. The sensation of her lips on mine. That was something. “It was like a sudden urge to kiss her. I just had to.” That was the worst line of defense that I could ever come up with.

          June grinned in a naughty way and backed away from me. She sat on my table and let her legs dangle. “Works all the time. I act like Michelle and you guys wet your pants. I’ll take that as an affirmative. You definitely like her. And I’ll tell you what? She does too. Okay. I’m screwed. Don’t tell her I told you.”

          “Very funny, June. I didn’t wet_ Whoa! What?! Sh-she likes me? ME? We are at each others’ throats all the time. It’s not possible. You’re kidding.” I said. I’m dreaming, aren’t I? She likes me?

          “I’ll prove it.” She said and took her phone.

          “Whom are you calling?” I asked skeptically dreading her answer because I had a clear idea whom she was going to call.