Love... Never Dwindles ! (Completed)

17 - "Walk fast."

It was half past eleven in the morning. The hallway was busy and filled with students. Among them, Diya and Khushi were headed towards their class. Khushi had stopped by to talk to a classmate for a moment.

"Hey." Abhi stepped beside Diya.

"Hey."

"So how was your date last night?"

"Date?" Khushi asked turning to face them.

Diya immediately stomped on Abhi's feet.

"Ouch." He jumped up and down in pain clutching the front part of his shoe. "What's wrong with you woman?"

"Oh I'm sorry did you get hurt." She did sound concerned but glared at Abhi. "Come Khushi." Diya held her hand and tugged her forward. "See you later Abhi."

"What was that?" Khushi asked. "What was he talking about?... Date?"

"You know Abhi. Remember..., anything that comes out of his mouth is nonsense."

"That's true." Khushi chuckled.

Diya did have a wonderful time the previous night with Rohit. But she didn't want to disclose to anyone that they had been out on a date. Gossips, whispers and stares. She feared to receive all of that once the word was out.

She also hoped that Rohit would not mention about it to anyone else. She would have asked him to keep his mouth shut too. But only if he met her or even spoke to her. The messages she sent him went unread. She had also been dialing his number since morning, but it was switched off. 

Earlier that morning, she had seen him in one of her classes. But they sat on opposite sides of the classroom making it impossible for any communication. Although their eyes met for a moment, he just gave her a brief smile. And before she could indicate him to check his mobile he looked away.

What is wrong with him? His cellphone is switched off. Just brief eye contact... Has he realised that I am not his type?

She should have felt happy and relieved. That was what she had wanted before, for him to lose interest in her. But on the contrary to her previous thoughts regarding him she was feeling sad at the moment. He was ignoring her. And somewhere in her mind she wished to speak to him. She yearned the attention he was providing her with since the past couple of days.

"First Abhi and now Rohit," Khushi said.

"Rohit? Where?"Diya hastily asked.

"There."

Diya followed he friend's gaze. There he was leaning against the wall in an extremely relaxed manner. He had a huge smile on his face. And standing right before him was a girl. Her hand on his chest rubbing her thumb slowly on his shirt. She was conversing with him and had a broad smile on her face.

It was just last night when he told me he liked me and here he is flirting with another girl. How could I believe him when he said that he saw me differently? How could I think that something was possible between us.

Diya was displeased. She was angry at him. She turned and started to walk away.

"Diya?" She heard him call out.

She ignored him and continued to walk away.

"Diya... Wait" He shouted this time. She ignored him once again.

Beside her Khushi said," Diya, Rohit is calling you."

"We'll be late for class."Diya increased her pace. "Walk fast." She held Khushi's hand and dragged her as well.

She did not want to speak to him. Not after what she saw. She wasn't his type. She had gone out on one date with him and that too because he wanted it. The date was over and his chance too.

"What's wrong Diya?" Khushi asked.

"Nothing."
Before entering the class she looked back. Rohit was looking at her, trying to catch up with her. But Omkar stopped him and they started talking. Rohit got a last glance at Diya before she walked inside the class.

***
"Hello darling!"

"What are you doing my dear?"

"What happened sweetheart?"

"Diya, what's wrong?"

When she didn't reply to any of her questions or even glance in his direction, Rohit snatched her book away.

"Give me my book back." She finally looked at him.

"No. First tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Give my book." She tried to reach for it but he placed his hand at his back, out of her reach.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" He asked.

"I am not avoiding you."

"Yes you are."

"Rohit." She let out a sigh. "Give me my book back. Go annoy someone else. I'm sure that girl will be very happy you entertain you."

"Which girl?"

"That same one with whom you were laughing and chatting, before lunch break."

"Ohh... Shefali."

"Yeah. Whatever her name is. Go she must be waiting for you. Waiting to get her hands back on you."

"Are you jealous?" Rohit asked amused.

Diya looked away. "No."

"Yes you are." He smirked. "Oh my god! My Diya is jealous."

"I'm not jealous and I am not Diya." She said in a frustrated tone. "Now give me that." She snatched the book back from his hand.

He chuckled. "By the way, Diya, I was just asking Shefali to back off."

"Didn't look that way. You seemed to enjoy her company."

"I just laughed at some stupid joke of hers... Trust me. I told her that I already have a girlfriend."

"You have?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes. You."

"Me? When?... I never agreed."

"Oh come on. After we spent such a nice time together yesterday, are you still going to refuse me?"

She ignored his question. "Where were you since morning? I tried reaching you, texts and calls. But you replied to none."

"I actually  wanted to wish you good morning personally. And maybe even accompany you to class later. I had even dropped by your room today morning. But by the time I reached you had already left... When I reached college, I learnt from Abhi about an urgent meeting by the coach for us players. By the time the meeting got over and I could check my mobile, it's battery had died down. So I could not meet you... But also when called out to you in the hallway you ignored me."

"I was getting late for class."

"Maybe that but the real reason is that you were jealous."

"I wasn't."

"Fine. You will not admit now... Anyway, leave that. Let's go for coffee." He stood up.

"Rohit, wait..." She looked up at him. "What are we?"

"Ummm... Human beings... That is what I learnt in school." Rohit laughed.

"Rohit..." She gave him a look. "I am serious."

"That's why I am taking you out for coffee. We need to discuss about us."

She nodded. "Okay." She then shut her books and packed her bag.

***
Once again being a gentleman he held open the Cafe's door for her.

"What will you have?" He asked.

"A latte."

"Anything to eat along with that?"

She shook her head.

"You grab a table... I'll bring our drinks."

"Ummm... Actually I'll pay for mine." She was about to reach for her wallet but he held her forearm.

"Don't. It's on me."

She reluctantly agreed with a nod. She had never let anyone pay for her. He had also spent on their date the previous night.

She found a table for two at the corner and sat down.

Within a few minutes he came with a tray in his hands. He placed the tray on the table and sat down opposite to her.

"Thank you." She picked up her frappe and took a long sip.

She watched him as he opened the lid of his coffee cup. He then tore open the sachet of sugar and emptied it in the cup.

"Black coffee?"

"Yes." He glanced at her. "I don't like milk or even creamer."

"Oh..."

He picked up the stirrer from the tray before leaning back and stirring his coffee. "So..."

"So?" She raised her eyebrows in question.

He bought the cup to his lips and blew on it before taking a sip.

"Let me ask you once again. Diya, will you be my girlfriend?" 

At the earlier instances, when he had brought up this question, she had flatly refused him. But not this time. This time she was thinking and considering. He hoped for a positive rely.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked.

"Ofcourse."

"Look Rohit, I will be honest with you. There is one thing that bothers me the most."

"What is it my dear? Tell me."

"Rohit, if you want to get into a relationship with me, then ... you have to bid good bye to rest of the girls."

"Wait!" He took out his mobile. "Do you want me to text them or call them?"

For a moment Diya thought how many of them were there. But she brushed that thought away.

"Don't joke Rohit. You know what this means right? No going on dates with them. No hanging out alone with them."

"That goes without saying Diya... Besides you are the only girl who I want to take out on dates from now on." He gave her a charming smile.

"How far do you see this relationship going? For how long?"

"I can't give you a definite ending period. But yes, till we are good together."

"I don't want you getting bored right after our second date and then walking away just saying that it was a mistake."

He placed his left hand on hers. "Diya, I'm in this for the long run. At the moment I can't promise that I will marry you. But yes I will definitely not leave you hanging abruptly... I truly like you Diya and I am honestly going to put efforts to make our relationship work."

She nodded with a smile. "Rohit, I hope you mean everything that you have said till now."

He placed his hand on his chest. "With my heart."

Rohit was not lying. With any of his earlier dates he never had such a conversation. How foolish was I! A real relationship required work. He was serious about Diya and liked her a lot. And if these were her demands he was going to fulfill them.

"So Diya, will you be my girlfriend?"

She smiled. "Yes."

Yippee! He cheered loudly gathering the attention of people from the next tables.

"Rohit." 

"Oops sorry... I got excited."

She laughed and shook her head.

"So let's seal the deal with a kiss."

"What? Here?"

"Yes." He took her hand.

"Rohit." She looked around. "Not here. We are in a cafe..."

She felt his lips on her hand and looked at him. He had kissed her knuckles. He then interwined their hands. "Expecting something else?" He asked with a smirk.

"No... No." She could feel her cheeks heaten up.

"You are so cute, pretty and beautiful Diya... And I relish the fact that I can make you blush."