THE UNWANTED

CHAPTER 11

Just seeing her again, even from a distance reminded him of why he craved to be around her so much. It had only been even less than 24 hours, but since the moment he had met her, he was constantly wondering about her as he knew he was in love and couldn't fall asleep for a long time last night. It had all happened accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.

As he was lost deep down in her thoughts a sudden knock of the door made him jump. He quickly opened the door----------------------and there stood Gauri all looking radiant with her vivacious smile on her beautiful lips. Ramu was stupefied on seeing her at his door step. Rapidly he pulled her inside and closed the door. He made her sit on the bed as that was the only furniture in the room. On the other corner of the bed he sat dumbfounded looking at the floor in astonishment. Gauri, on seeing his face chuckled, "i just wanted to give you a surprise. Now just look at me and stop behaving womanish." She pulled him towards herself and before Ramu realized their lips locked.

"I'm in love with you," Gauri said quietly.

"I too am," Ramu said staring at her.

Gauri could see the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"Hey, hey!!! Let me tell you Gauri that I'm nothing special. I'm a common man with common thoughts and I'm leading a common life, but I love you with all my heart and soul," Ramu whispered in her ears.

"Oh! Yeah, one more thing, you know what? I never ever planned to like you so much; I never thought that you would be on my mind this often. Came as a total surprise but I love it!" Ramu guffawed.

"Words can't explain what a wonderful person you are. And now before you get any ideas---it's a big hug from me to you as I've to leave just now," Gauri said standing up to leave. "And mind you today evening we meet at 6pm at the same restaurant," chuckled Gauri while opening the bolt of the door.

When Gauri was gone, Ramu could hardly sit still. He kept fidgeting, crossing one leg then the other waiting for the evening. It was just an invisible enthusiasm, an excitement burning with a cold flame. He lay down and tried to rest, but couldn't. He pondered again and again of the fact that he had not hunted for love but has inadvertently become its prey.

And finally it was 5 o'clock, time to get ready to go for his date. Hurriedly Ramu got up, freshened himself and got ready wearing his best attire, took a cycle rickshaw and reached the rendezvous point. He was early by 15 minutes. He waited outside the restaurant for a couple of minutes and then made his way inside to a corner table, ordering a cup of tea for himself. As he was sipping upon his tea he saw Gauri entering the restaurant in a jiffy. Ramu signaled her to his table and she came hurriedly, huffing and gasping taking a chair to sit upon.

"Why? What's happened?" Ramu's tone was macabre.

"Oh! Nothing, it seemed as if someone was following me," Gauri replied hoarsely and nervously.

"Don't worry, no one knows us here," Ramu called out as if nothing serious had happened.

"No, but I'm still scared out of my wits," Gauri replied in a sinister voice.

Ramu took her hand in his, "But, you are a brave girl, isn't it? So, why get scared?"

He tried his best to make the seriousness of the atmosphere airy and comic by his witty and jovial talks. In a few minutes Gauri was back to her normal self.

"Here, i've brought something for u," putting her hand in her purse Gauri said. From there she took out an old mobile phone which seemed to have been not used so often. Then she methodically explained to Ramu the working of the instrument and also gave her mobile number to him on a piece of paper.

In the meantime, the waiter had taken their order of tea and pakoras.

"So, Ramu are you really leaving tomorrow?" Gauri asked in a low spirited whisper.

"Yes, I've to, although I don't want to!!" Ramu replied in a despondent mood.

Their order of tea and pakoras had arrived by then. Munching at pakoras and after washing them down with tea, Gauri suddenly asked, "But we'll be meeting for sure every Sunday, isn't it? And you will be calling me daily?"

"Yes, yes! Why do you ask all these silly questions?" Ramu smirked at her, "That's for sure."

"I'll come back to you," he said, "I promise you if it's the last thing I do I will come back to you. "

"I'll count the minutes until you do," Gauri said with a weak smile on her face.

Once out of the restaurant they headed straight away to a mobile shop to get a sim card for Ramu. He bought the sim card by submitting a copy of his election id card. It was 8pm by then and time to rush back home for Gauri.

"I want to make time stand still when I'm with you, but time always finds a way to fly past," Gauri said in a sad tone.

"And you know what? The way I look every time you say goodbye makes it so hard for me to walk away from you," Ramu replied holding her hand firmly.

"Your eyes are so expressive and beautiful; I can't help but get lost in them. I think God was high, when he created you because there is no one else who comes close to perfection," Ramu said cupping her face with both his hands.

Hearing this Gauri was elated as if she had been woken up to a new reality. She gazed at him alluringly and grinned. No further words were necessary. She blushed and the aura she developed was owing to the consciousness of Ramus attentions. Finally, bidding a memorable bye they both left on different cycle rickshaws to their destinations.