Ghungroo - The Siren Call of Lovers (#1 - Completed)

Chapter 28 - E is for Exhibition Night

BODY BEAUTIFUL - isn't the human body just so amazing??? The way we use it to convey what we feel, pushing it to its limits until we, ourselves, become works of art...

Chapter 28

Riaan's POV

I'm meeting Rahul at the university. I had promised to be there for Layla's opening night. I have no idea what to expect.

I'm eager to see Layla again. I'm still at a loss as to what ticked her off the last time we were together. She had been so relaxed with me when her mood suddenly changed.

I need to get her alone so I can talk to her. There's always people around us and we can never talk properly...Just talking? Is that all? You know you want to do more than 'just talking'.

I want Layla like I've never wanted another woman before.

My wanting to break off the engagement with Stephanie is a separate issue to Layla and my feelings towards her. At least I've worked that out in my head in the last few days. I'm leaving Stephanie irrespective of what happens between Layla and I. At least that's clear in my head.

But what exactly are my feelings towards Layla? Except for the need to bed her, I have no idea where this is leading me... I haven't quite worked that part out yet.

What I do know is that I cannot spend the rest of my life with Stephanie. She's too... cold. There's nothing natural about her.

When I had met her two years ago, she was different. Was that all an act or was I just too blind to see how ill-matched we are?

Layla did help in making me see that Stephanie's all wrong for me. But she wasn't the reason. We were through a long time before Layla arrived on the scene. I can see that now. I was just not ready to admit it.

Stephanie and I were thrown together one night at the whim of our fathers who are business partners. My father had asked me to drop off some paperwork with Stephanie.

I should have figured it was a set up but the evening at a restaurant in her company had gone on well and before I knew it we were spending more and more time together.

I knew it pleased my father since it made his dealings with Stephanie's father's company so much easier. It was... convenient.

All the more reason why my father is not going to be pleased with the news of a breakup. A breakup that I initiated.

Stephanie left on Tuesday. All I felt was relief when I saw her plane lift off. My mother saw it too and I confessed to her then about my second thoughts on marrying Steph.

I practically saw relief wash over my mother's face too. Why didn't she say something earlier? It was clear in that moment that my mother did not like Stephanie. I could tell that Steph was grating on her last nerve by the end of the week...I just wasn't sure...

All the demands for the perfect engagement party and over-the-top future wedding plans had taken a toll on my mother.

There is also the fact that Stephanie was quite contemptuous and condescending towards South Africa. Did she not see how much I loved my country? I had to deal with all sorts of ignorant types abroad. Yes, South Africa has it problems, but so do other countries. People are just so closed-minded, sometimes.

Stephanie does not see the beauty and potential that I see in my country. I had hoped by her coming here that her attitude would change, but it hasn't. She found fault with everything, always comparing and drawing comparisons with London.