It's Not That Simple

The Proposal

It was a chilly morning in Kolkata, The January was here and finally, the citizens of Kolkata was getting some relaxation after a disastrous Summer. I was sitting in my office at Musafir's writing the screenplay for the upcoming act. Romil was also in my office as I need the story and dialogues to synchronize it with scenes. Romil was trying his hard to ignore me but he couldn't, Actually, we had a fight last night about scenes and dialogues. He was gazing me with his side-eyes, he wanted to talk but he was pretending to be angry.
Romil! Will you stop staring at me like this? I said.
What! Me? he said and gave me dead look. No! not at all, I'm doing my work.
Please, Romil! Stop pretending hateful as you are not, so just act normal. There's nothing that serious, okay, it happens we are colleague so such arguments are just normal, I said.
He didn't reply. He indulges his face on the screen of the laptop and ignored me.
Romil! For god sake, stop acting childish, I yelled.
I'm not acting childish, Vani, he replied not looking at me.
Oh, then tell me Mr. Romil, how we gonna work together if we do not talk, I said.
Vani! There's no need to talk in our work. I am doing the final editing after I'm done, I will mail you the story and dialogues then you do what you want. I won't interfere. And I think that should continue till we are working together, he explained.
Continue! I said, continue what Romil?
That, we won't talk from now because whenever we talk we end at fighting, we never agree at the same pitch. Either you are not satisfied with the dialogue or I am unsatisfied with your screenplay so it's better that we don't interfere in each other's works and focus on ours. So from now, we won't talk, he said.
Romil! What are you saying? It always happens between us that we argue but today! Why are you making that big? I said.
That's what I am saying Vani! We argue, always. So it's better that we stay away from each other, he said and left that office room, I have mailed you the dialogues.
Romil! I ran towards him, stop! Stop reacting rudely.
Why Vani! What's the problem? Why can't you stay away from me? He said looking at me and resting his hands on either side of his waist.
Romil! There's no need to stay away. Look! We can talk, let's just sit and have a calm chat, please! I urged.
He laughed! And took the steady steps towards me, folding his hands against his chest. You know what Vani! You always think that you are the smartest and most mature person here, you know everything but the fact is that it's not true! You don't know anything, he was just in one hand distance from me.
But when did I say that I am smartest and know everything? I said.
You never say! You act. He spoke and gave me a deep look into my eyes.
What are you saying Romil? I am not understanding a thing. We were fighting about plays and scenes. From where did this ‘I am smartest’ and all came, I said.
You know what! He took a breath. Let it be! Just do what you are doing and don't talk to me. He said and turned towards the door.
Romil! But explain to me at least, where I acted smartly or where it hurt you. I said.
Nothing to explain Vani! you are excellent in your work, you manage everything dashingly and become everyone's favorite, And you are smart! What's so confusing about that? Everyone likes you in the office; the actors, the makeup artist, the costume designer, oh! And more importantly Anurag daa, he likes you the most in this whole office. Oh! What he says, ”you are his lucky charm”. He said.
This is what hurts you? I said, that everyone likes me. I gave him a shocked look. Romil! I uttered, they like me because they think I am good then what's my fault in that?
That's your biggest fault Vani! You are too good. He spoke. Actually, this is not even your fault, it's mine.
What! What are you saying? I gave him a confused look. You just said that it's my fault and now you are saying that It's your fault, Are you drunk or what?
See! I told you that you act smart but in actuality, you are not! You don't know anything, you don't understand anything. He said.
What I don't know? Can you please tell me? I yelled out.
I said it Vani and you listened to it, so please stop yelling, he said.
What did you say? You only said that I am too good and everyone likes me then you said that it's not my fault it's yours, I said. He was still that close to me.
Yes, and that's it. That's why I don't want to talk to you, he said.
What! Romil please, I took a breath my lungs were hurting so I lowered my voice, went close to him and rested my one hand on his shoulder, it was just casual, there was enough distance between us. Then I spoke again, Romil! listen, tell me what's the problem. Just stop talking round and round and said it to me directly. What happened? What's the problem? Look! Now I have understood that it's not only about those scenes and dialogue. It's much more because we had these kinds of arguments before but you never reacted this bad. So tell me, what's the problem? Is there any kind of mistake that I have done and that did hurt you? I continued or did Anurag daa said something to you and the reason is me? Or Is there any kind of jealousy? Last one I asked him hesitatingly.
He looked into my eyes then uttered, no there's nothing like that.
Then what is it Romil? Tell me,  I said holding my breath which was very fast.
Vani! Calm down. There's nothing important,  to tell you, he said moving his eyes from mine.
No! Romil, there's something I know. You want to tell me something but you are not saying it, what's stopping you? Tell me whatever it is. I said.
Don't be so nice Vani! Please for God 's sake,  don't, he said resting his hand on my shoulder.
What's your problem Romil? Why can't you say the thing like it is, why are you making it so problematic, I said.
This! This is my problem, you see. He yelled out, you being too much nice to me, that's the problem!
I didn't say anything. He then continued, I yelled at you, I ignored you, I even got angry on you, but you! You still talking to me nicely. Tears rolled down his cheek. Pleading me to tell you the problem which is not even yours, it's mine.
I looked into his eyes, which was filled with water. He slipped his hands towards my arms and pulled me close to him, my eyes still on his eyes, and he continued, why do you care so much, why? Why are you so nice to me?  I was living with my emptiness as it was then, why did you come? And suddenly changed my way of living? Why did you come and filled my empty space in my heart? which was broken! and which was closed for everyone, especially Girls! Then why did you come and tried to enter into it? Why Vani? Why!
I..I... Tears rolled down from my eyes. I didn't know what to say, what was he saying and why he was saying those things to me.
Do you have any answers, Vani? He said still crying. Tell me Vani, Do you have any solution for my problem? He yelled, his palm still on my arms and I didn't even realize that we were close enough.
What are you saying Romil? I finally got the words and courage to speak. I don't know, why are you saying this? I...I, I uttered with breaking words.
I told you that you won't understand but still, you forced me to say, your beautiful and deep eyes were pleading me, and there I lost my control and said everything, after all, how could I deny you, The most beautiful girl with beautiful heart in this whole world.
The moment he said, ‘the most beautiful girl’ my mind blew, my heart started beating hard, tears were flowing continuously from my eyes. I was lost, I didn't know what to say, I was still and silently crying.
He then uttered, you know Vani! I loved once, I loved like a mad but unfortunately loved someone who didn't understand it, so she broke my heart and left me alone, alone! Forever. Since then, I took an oath that I won't love someone again. But then, you came and forced my heart to open it for you, only for you. You understand me like no one, you talk to me like no one, you made me laugh out loud that I don't even remember when I last laughed like a mad. You became an ointment for my broken heart, where there were only wounds and pain, you come to be as a petal of roses which make it feels like a king and gave it a rest. Your presence allowed it to beat again like a normal human being, who forgot to be.
Please, don't Romil, please! I cried hard, I squeezed his white shirt at his chest and cried, please stop! I won't be able to manage it all at once, please stop! My tears were not stopping.
No Vani! Now I have come this much far, and now I will say and you will listen.
Then he took his right hand towards my back and rested it below my neck and between my back shoulder muscles. And pulled me more closed to him, now my breast was touching his chest, my face was closed to his face. I could feel his cold hand around me at my trapezius muscle. I never felt any man so close to me, I never looked any man's eyes from such closeness. My hands were on his chest. We were so close that not even an air could pass from between us. I could feel his perfume.
‘I Love You ’ Vani! He uttered. He said those three magical words which one said to someone special, someone whom they love.
Tears rolled down my cheek, I was still and looking into his eyes. What! I uttered.
I pushed him and ran. I ran like never before. I couldn't feel anything, I was stunned. I ran to Kavya.