The Gymnast's Escapade

The Compliment Bridge

Apologies for the late. Was caught up with family stuff so didn't got time to write. 

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Act 2, Scene 2 (Continued)

If Harsh anticipated an immediate response to his callous demand on their first phone conversation, then he had something else waiting for him because neither did Aashka reacted violently nor she cussed a word against him which he thought any other girl might've done in her place. Wouldn't they?

He had no right to offend her after she successfully managed to convince his grandfather without damaging his family reputation. Then why exactly did he ask her a question for which he himself didn't have any answer? He's not trying to test her than why exactly he wanted to know her perspective? It shouldn't matter to him if she says a yes or no; he was habitual of getting rejected now. Another rejection won't be that bad, will it?

Perhaps, it might hurt like crazy, but he could manage it, can't he? At least he would know because of him, someone else who has the world waiting for her isn't upset.

"Harsh," his chain of thoughts broke with Aashka's soft call and he gave her the full attention not wanting her to feel left out.

"Are you alright?" She asked concerned. For a split second, he didn't believe his ears because this was not what he expected from her. He blinked his eyes several times to confirm and when he did, he made a 'hmm' sound instead of uttering something.

"Then why doesn't it feel so that you're fine?" She gobsmacked him once again with her response—no one has ever read the stress in his tone initially and even if his mother or brother at times did, he succeeded in making them think otherwise but today he didn't feel like saying otherwise to Aashka.

Something is changing inside him. It's hard to pinpoint but he knew he's feeling an unknown sense of security towards Aashka and even if it was about his own crucial thoughts, he didn't feel like keeping them to himself.

"Harsh, can you come at my place?" Aashka asked and he stood up with a jolt from his bed unable to take in the continuous surprise. She's inviting him to visit her. Really!

For a few seconds, he paced in his room and then finally consented, "I'll be there in half-an-hour, Aashka."

"Okay, I'll wait for you. Drive safely." Aashka said before she hung up the call.

Harsh removed the phone from his ears, stared at it for a while before his lips broke into a grin as he repeated the words, Drive safely!

Drive safely, Sehgal or your future bride isn't going to be pleased with you!

Not crossing the speed limit of 80 from today onwards.

Shut up!

But we don't have her address?

Right, at the thought, his cell phone buzzed, and he received the address from Aashka but the first remark she added, made him facepalm himself while the other half caused his heart to skip a beat.

P.S. Without an address you couldn't have driven here in the specified time; so, a little help from your prospective match who hasn't said yes or no yet because she's waiting to win someone's trust and give her trust to someone as well. See you, soon.

She wanted to win his trust as well! Could he be any more lucky in this life?

***

Act 2, Scene 3

Sitting in the living room, Aashka's eager eyes switched between the television screen, wall-clock and her cell phone as she waited to receive a text from Harsh. Never did she think on inviting him at 8 in the night to her place, but hearing his upset and distressed tone, something in her begged her to put the man at ease because he was breaking walls in his head at his inability to make a sense to himself.