Mr.Not-So-Perfect

Chapter 40

"Akka, we are leaving. We have to stop by a store on the way", Rishitha said.

"Okay", I nodded my head, which is aching because of all the crying.

"Driver will take you to the venue. Mom, dad and I will come in dad's car. Come fast", she shouted and left without hearing my reply.

She's been acting like that since I came home. She was hyper, energetic and anxious all the same time. She helped me in getting ready, but I think she overdid it. I am practically looking like a princess, but I did not care. As long she is oblivious to my inner turmoil I wouldn't oppose to anything. Considering my situation, I would say it's a boon not to share a 45 minutes ride with them while controlling my tears.

I quickly got down and sat in the car to numb myself from the world if not for a lifetime at least for some minutes. Before I knew the driver stopped the car. I got down and walked out only to find myself in a complete darkness.

What is this? Did the driver bring me to a wrong address? Before I move around to find the exit, a voice stopped.

Suddenly a spotlight came into the focus on me and another person who stood with a smile and confidence radiating off him. Not knowing what to do or how to react I stood still.

"Aadhya", he called me as I stared at him with confusion.

"Do you remember our first meeting Aadhya? I surely do. I would never forget the day I met you. You came looking for a jacket into a dark room. That day I saw the light within you and how it would light up my life. I saw the innocence in you that day which made me fall for you. After that I saw you accepting a challenge you knew you couldn't win and practiced hard just so that your friends shouldn't suffer, that day I fell in love with your caring nature. The day you won the competition I felt like I've won the competition and there I fell for your smile. Since then you've been unknowingly making me fall a little with your weaknesses, your strength, your happiness, your sadness. Soon I understood that your small smile can make my day, but your single tear has the power to break me, but the trek made me open my eyes. I burned with jealousy when I saw you laughing with other guys. I wanted to be the one behind your smile, reason for your happiness and your laugh. I realized that I wanted you to be mine, forever and ever.", he came towards me and knelt before me.

"I'm in love with your past, your present and I want to be a part of your future. Will you marry me?", he said with a ring in his hand.

I was shocked, no that's understating it. It's like someone just poured ice cold water on me and I want to shout, I want to cry, and I want to do something to show my frustration, but I couldn't because I was in a shock. I don't know what to do. I'm not prepared for this. I can't handle this now. Not when I'm in love with someone else. Someone who don't reciprocate my feelings and who always hurts me. I can't do this. If I say yes, I will destroy both his and my future. I can't do this to my friend who I care about. Soon the lights were turned on and I could see the people standing around us. Among them were my family. My mom was looking at me with happy tears while my dad has a happy and content expression on his face. Rishitha was standing with hope in her eyes and smile on her face. I could also see Mr. Atharva holding a lady, who I presume to be his wife, who is barely holding her tears.

I can't even deny him now when almost a hundred people are watching us, not when my parents are hoping for me to say 'YES'. I turned around to see Cherry standing with a pained smile. Suddenly I remembered her confession.

"So, you basically made my uncle believe that I have feelings for Advay and I can't see him being humiliated when it is the exact opposite because I can't see Riddanth humiliated and I have feelings for him. You are s-"