"Anna I'm so sorry" was the first thing Jai said as he stepped through the door. He then stopped and stared at Raj.
"Anna lets forget everything and just be like we used to" Raj suggested.
"Please Anna – I'm sorry!" Jai repeated. She just stood there staring blankly at him.
"I can't do this right now Jai" she spoke up after awhile.
"Don't do anything okay? Let me make it up to you" He pleaded
She didn't want to upset him, he looked horrible already – as if he hadn't slept in days. She loved him dearly and vowed to forget what had happened.
"Okay" She said barely audible.
"Good! This is for you!" He said giving her another box of chocolates. With that he turned around and left the house. She stared at the door with a small smile on her face – he had always been so hyper and silly and that's what she loved about him. But Raj was always quiet and sensible and she was in love with that.
She suddenly felt his presence behind her and turned around almost walking into him. He stopped her from crashing into him and held her at arms length.
"I think you can learn to love him" He whispered to her.
"I don't know if I want to" She whispered back – She wanted Raj.
"I think he's good for you" He said, he dropped his arms off her shoulders and walked toward the door.
"I'll see you soon" he said and headed off. She stood immobile wondering if Raj had no feelings for her at all. It seemed like he was not interested, but her heart felt something there. She thought about Jai and trying to change her feeling toward him, it might be the safer thing to do – since Raj didn't want her.
The next morning Jai had left his routine bouquet of flowers at her doorstep. She picked them up and felt the cool wind against her skin – the weather was cooling down dramatically and she felt a sense of warmth holding onto the flowers. Jai was a comfort zone for her because of their long friendship and no matter what had happened, she felt relaxed knowing he was around for her. Suddenly someone clasped their hands over her eyes and pulled her into the house.
"Guess who" he whispered into her ear. Jai! She realised it was him immediately and smiled.
"Let me go! Crazy man" She said laughing as he pulled her toward the kitchen bench.
He just laughed refusing to remove his hands.
"How did you get into the house?" She asked
"Your mum helped me" He whispered again.
"What? How –"
"Shhhh Anna, wait" He said sitting her down on a chair.
"Jai!!" She said playfully
"Okay okay you can open your eyes now" he removed his hands and allowed her to see what was in front of her.
She opened her eyes and saw a huge cake on the table – with happy birthday Anna written on it. It was two tiered and had beautiful icy white icing on top. Marzipan flowers were sprawled on top surrounded by leaves that were iced on. She had completely forgotten her birthday! She turned around and saw Jai smiling cheekily. She got off the chair and jumped onto him, hugging him tightly.
"You remembered!!"
"I would never forget loser" he said laughing
Anna punched him playfully and sat back down on the chair.
"This looks so yumm! Can I eat some?"
"Not yet! I have to give you your present"
"Oh? You got me a present?"
He handed her an envelope and a small box wrapped in red paper. She loved presents and felt spoilt like a child. Steadily she unwrapped the box and opened it. A pair of beautiful earrings shone back at her.
"Jai! These look expensive" She said worried that he had wasted money on her
"Anna, do you like them?"
"Yes offcourse silly! But you shouldn't have – You're so sweet" She said turning around and hugging him again.
"Open the envelope" he urged
She opened it slowly without ripping the edges. She found two tickets to the annual ball inside. She had always wanted to go as a child and had on many occasions expressed an interest to both the guys. Back then, they had not listened to her but obviously Jai had remembered!
"Oh my god Jai!!! You remembered! And you got tickets! I'm so excited" She started jumping around doing weird dance moves pretending to dance with a partner. Jai went up to her and tapped her gently on the shoulder.
"May I have this dance?" he said offerings hand to her. She took it excitedly and they twirled around randomly. Jai was a very good dancer and had always been. Anna on the other had known she couldn't dance at all. Raj on the other hand had taken ball room dancing in America and had told Anna over the internet a couple of months ago that he had won first prize in a competition. At that time she was shocked, because it seemed unlike him – shy and introverted to enter such competitions.
"Jai?"
"hmmm?"
"You're not doing all this with hopes are you?" She asked feeling sad.
"No – because you're my best friend Anna, that's all – don't worry, no pressure" he replied.
A knock at the door broke their lame dance routine. She ran to open it feeling ever so happy. Raj was standing at the door holding a card. He looked at her and she forgot where she was, overcome by her desire for him.
YOU ARE READING
Dancing with destiny
Romance"No Anna will be my wife" Jai argued. They were playing a game they often played - houses and families. "How? I am the oldest and I get Anna" Raj pulled at her arm. Jai joined in and pulled from the other end. It was like tug-a-war and she was trapp...
