Against All Odds

Chapter 3

Shikher's POV (Cont..)

She answered with a slap across my face.

The slap didn't hurt but something inside me broke.

I should have been angry but I was sad. It wasn't the rejection that was hurting, it was the fact that she didn't want to be with me.

"You....you Tommy Hilfiger, Phillip plein and Nike….just because you are wearing expensive brands doesn't mean I will be drooling for you. Keep your investment and coffee with you. I'm not interested."
She rejected me and walked off like some model with an attitude.

"Tell me your name atleast"
I yelled at her retreating figure.

She didn't even look behind. What just happened? Just five minutes and I knew there was something that was pulling me towards her. Did I fall for her?

Wait! why did she call me by different names? Nike sounds familiar. Omg! She is a freaking good designer. She just named all the brands of clothes I was wearing by just looking at it. I knew she was special.

Next couple of weeks passed by dreaming about the beautiful and talented designer. Everyday I hoped to see her only to be disappointed by the end of the day. I even visited the mall at the same time everyday hoping for a miracle. But nothing.

I had slowly started to accept the fact that some things aren't meant to happen. She was a fairy who gave me hope and vanished, nothing else.

I started to concentrate on setting up my dental clinic which kept me busy, but not away from her thoughts. I would have felt whole had she been with me.

Slowly as the days passed, her memory started fading and I accepted the fact that I was meant to be alone. No bro and no love. So I concentrated on my patients.

I don't mean to exaggerate but my patients were mostly high profile people like actors, businessmen, models, politicians all thanks to the surname attached after my name. While who's who visited my clinic, never once did my parents or my big bro bothered to even glance at it. I expected nothing from my parents but I wanted my bro to be proud of me. Alas, he had turned into someone else, who just looked like my bro.

My bro had turned into a mystery for me. Even though we stayed in the same house, we hardly saw each other. He left early and returned late, worked on Sundays too. All my attempts to find the truth had gone in vain. He was ignoring me. I had no idea what he was running away from. I just accepted the fact that he wanted to be left alone. So I shifted into a new house. Staying under the same roof but so far away from him started feeling like torture to me.

One day one of my model patients gave me an invitation for some charity show that she was participating in. I was reluctant to go but she insisted that the proceeds collected will be distributed amongst the cancer patients who are in dire need of funds, so I should atleast try to make it.

I remembered the time when my bro used to take me to government hospitals to help the cancer patients. We would spend whole day filling forms or guiding the relatives of the patients. Bro visited so often that even the staff had started sending people to him so that they would be guided properly.

Bro was the only reason I decided to go to the event and donate.

The event was a fashion show displaying clothes of new designers and the proceeds of auction were to be donated. This was to help the new artists showcase their talent while helping the poor too.

After about an hour I was super bored. I had no interest in the models or the clothes. Yet, I did buy some clothes just for charity. I was about to leave when the designer was called on stage for introduction.

She was walking on the stage the same way she did when she had left rejecting me in the mall. She looked like a model herself.

My heart started beating at a crazy speed once again, especially when her eyes fell on me. I was smiling and clapping loudly to encourage her.

The thought of leaving the event was long forgotten. I was waiting for it to get over so that I could run backstage to search for Ashu.

Ashu Ashu Ashu!! That was the name they announced while introducing her.

Once the event was over I ran backstage only to be stopped by my patient who had invited me. How could I ignore her. She was the reason because of whom I was able to meet my crush again. So I was chatting politely with her, but my eyes were scanning the area behind her, trying to find the girl who stole my heart.

Finally my eyes landed on her. I do not remember the rest. How I got rid of the person I was talking to, or how I went and introduced myself to her. It's all a blur to me now.

All I remember is that, from that day onwards we started meeting often. I was already head over heels for her since the first day I saw her, but I was unaware about her feelings for me. So I never tried to take our relationship any further because of the fear of losing her. I was happy being her friend rather than losing her.

Imagine my surprise when one day she came and confessed that she had feelings for me. I was on cloud nine.

It's been five years now and touch wood we are still crazy about each other.

Ashu filled the biggest hole that my bro had left in my heart, but she cannot replace him. He is above everyone for me, even above Ashu and she knows that.

If ever I have to choose between him and Ashu, it will always be him. Not that I would be happy to choose and I pray to God that I never should be in such a situation. But if such a time ever comes it will always be him.

Ashu is so understanding because she has the same place in her heart for her sister, who is her everything.

Her sister is a bit weird if you ask me frankly. Niyati is sweet and nice but somewhere I always feel that she has no enthusiasm towards life. She does smile but that is only when Ashu is around. The moment Ashu leaves she goes back to sulking in her own world. Many times I think it takes a lot of effort on her part to keep up the happy appearance.

I don't know why but whenever I see Niyati I think of my bro. Both look miserable. Must be something that happened in their past. Both living just for the sake of it.

" Ashu just imagine how romantic it would be if your sister and my bro would somehow fall in love."
I couldn't keep it to myself anymore.

" It would be romantic as hell, but I am not even sure if Niyu is into guys. I mean have you ever seen her look at any guy? Plus why would your bro get interested in her? Look at her. She has been wearing only two dresses from decades. And she still wears my mom's sandals.

Your bro may be sad but he is handsome and definitely has a good taste. I have seen him on TV. He is the most eligible bachelor for God's sake.

I love my sister and find her beautiful. Also, I know she would look lovely if she dresses up nicely. But she refuses to apply powder even. How will we get your bro to even look at her."
Ashu was deep in thoughts.

Whatever Ashu said wasn't wrong either. But where logic fails sometimes magic works.

"How about we do something to make them meet."
I was getting all crazy ideas.

I looked at Ashu who was giving a mischievous smile.

" It would be like Edward and Bella."
Ashu was jumping like a kid.

Ashu was actually very apt with the comparison. Niyati was like Bella, simple and unharming. My bro on the other hand has turned into a vampire lately. He may not be sucking blood literally, but his behavior can drain the life out of people around him.

A plan was being formulated in my head. I just hoped that I wasn't digging my own grave.