Ritayan was driving back home on Friday evening and was planning for the weekend when his phone rang. He saw the number and rejected the call. It was his best friend Sayak. They chatted on that day afternoon and nothing could be that urgent now. Sayak must had called for a chat. He decided he would call back after reaching home. But Sayak called again and dropped after 1 ring. Missed call! That means something urgent! Sayak wanted him to call back as soon as possible. Ritayan decided he would call back immediately after parking the car.
On the rest of his way back home he was thinking about him and Sayak. Opposites attract; the biggest proof of it may be his and Sayak’s friendship. Sayak was from a wealthy business family, average student, enthusiastic in sports, tall, dark, handsome and a great womanizer. On the other hand Ritayan was from a middle class family, brilliant student, having medium build and height, not that interested in sports but interested in trekking and adventure. Looks wise he was no where near Sayak but still attractive. Sayak spent his free times with girls and Ritayan with nature. But rest of the time they were always together. None of them were sure what the chemistry between them was but they liked each other. Ritayan was Sayak’s only decent friend who was not a girl! And for some reason out of his many friends Ritayan liked Sayak most. And their friendship continued even 7 years after college while other common friends dropped off. But one thing was common to them. Both of them were still bachelor amidst mounting parental pressure. Sayak wanted to spend more time with his girls before committing to a single one while Ritayan was yet to move past ‘Hi-hello’ with any girl. But the end result was same. They were yet to find their ideal life partner.
Immediately after switching off his car’s engine Ritayan called Sayak. Sayak picked up instantly as if he was eagerly waiting for the call and responded: “Hello”
“Hello, what happened?”
“Reena is coming to Hyderabad”
Ritayan’s heart skipped a beat. Aloud he said : “Ohh … but why are you telling me.”
“Don’t be a dumb ass. I know you had crush on her in college.”
“I still have. But she is your official girlfriend now.”
“How do you know?” – Sayak looked slightly taken aback.
“Boss, I told you many times to join facebook.”
“Ohh .. shit … has she already updated the world?”
“Yes Sir .. now tell me why you called me.”
“See … Reena has gone to Vizag for some project work. She will be travelling overnight and will reach Hyderabad early morning tomorrow.”
“OK .. so?”
“Well, ... she is coming there to meet me.”
“What? But you are in Bangalore?”
“Yes, I am also travelling to Hyderabad tomorrow.”
“Wow … when are we meeting?” – And Ritayan became sad immediately. His friend was not coming to meet him. Instead he would be coming to meet his GF whom Ritayan secretly loved. Life’s sense of humor sometimes is very cruel.
“Boss .. don’t get upset. I feel you are. In fact we all three are meeting.”
“No, I am not. I have some trekking plan tomorrow.” – Ritayan cooked up something hastily.
“To hell with it! Cancel it immediately and listen to me carefully. You know, like any other girl Reena was my friend in college. But like hordes of other girls I forgot about her afterwards. Later on after she came to Kolkata after her accident she joined my company. Friendship renewed and slowly love blossomed. But then I moved to Bangalore and now we hardly meet. So we have decided to meet in Hyderabad.”
“But why Hyderabad.”
“Simply because you are there. I know my friend will take care of everything and I can spend quality time with my GF.”
Ritayan thought ‘Does the idiot knows how I feel for Reena?’ and aloud he said “OK … but then .. where I am fitting in? Do me a favor, please keep me out of it. Let me go to my trekking”
“Let me finish baba. Reena and I have booked a hotel room .. don’t ask what we have planned to do inside the room .. hehehe .. but problem is I am reaching a little late. You have to pick Reena from the bus stand, station her in the hotel and wait for me. Then when I come we will have enough fun till lunch. And then you are a free man.”
It is getting crueler, Ritayan thought. He said : “Who needs enemy if one has a friend like you. So you want me to dump my crush at a hotel room for you, guard her till you take charge and come back when you two close the door on my face. Nice alternative to cancel my trip!”
“Hey, you are getting really horny. See, I can’t depend on anybody other than you when Reena is involved. And think about yourself. You and Reena are all alone till I come. I promise I shall never want to know what happened in my absence. HeHe”
“Stop laughing like a idiot. You know very well I am useless in matter of girls, That’s why you are trusting me. When is the bus” – Ritayan could not resist himself from a chance of seeing Reena again. Also, he really wanted to help his best friend and his GF.
“That’s the good old Ritayan. The bus will reach at 6 a.m. at Imlibund or some other bus stand. Be there, Reena has your number. She will call you after getting down.”
“Ok, and then?”
“Reena knows the hotel name, I forgot. Take her there, then call me and wait for me. Also, keep Reena engaged. He he he”
“Ok , bye .” – Ritayan did not want to continue being tortured.
Ritayan did not know whether to be happy or sad. Half of him was happy that tomorrow he would meet his best friend and his long time crush. But on the other half he was sad when he was thinking he would be just working as a carrier. He set his alarm at 5 a.m. and gone to bed early. But he could not sleep immediately. He remembered the first time she had seen Reena at the college. She definitely was not the best looking girl in the college. But still she was beautiful by any standard; pretty face, taller than average girls, nice figure, dusky complexion, intelligent, jolly, vivacious and happy. She always wore minimal makeup. Like she never applied lipstick but just some nude lip gloss, which used to drive Ritayan crazy. She looked her best when she tied her hair tightly behind her head in a ponytail and Ritayan used to feel weak at knees. She had a mysterious husky voice which was music to Ritayan’s ears. But he never cracked the code how to befriend the girls and hardly ever talked with Reena. As usual, like any other pretty girl, she was in good terms with Sayak and had lots of other admirers. Ritayan could never pass through the crowd. Few times he thought he would ask Sayak about Reena, but came back to his shell at the last moment. After college both she and Reena got job in the same city, Hyderabad and their respective offices were very near. But they never met. Reena met a very bad accident at her office parking lot and slipped to coma. Ritayan came to know immediately from some common friend and was instrumental in arranging a hospital bed for her after reaching the accident site and was at her bedside till her parents arrived from Kolkata. She was in coma for three years and then after lots of treatment she came back to normal life. She called Ritayan to say thank you and that was the only time Ritayan chatted with Reena at length. She told, all her boy-friends had gone away. Her parents were trying for her marriage but Indian society has a peculiar mindset when it comes to arrange marriage. Nobody was willing to take home a girl with a coma history. Sayak, who was posted in Kolkata from beginning, helped her to get a job in his company. Their friendship renewed. Probably love started to blossom between them from then. Ritayan cursed himself for not continuing the relationship after Reena called to thank. Probably he would have got a chance to propose her.
But there was no point to ponder over missed chances. Ritayan decided he would take his bike tomorrow. He always dreamt of having Reena at his pillion. At least one dream would be fulfilled tomorrow.
Next day morning, Ritayan was present at bus stand at 5:45 a.m. There was not much crowd around. A little before 6 a.m. a white Volvo arrived from Vigaz. After lots of people with fat wives and huge luggage, Reena finally descended carrying a slightly oversized backpack. Immediately Ritayan felt his knees will give up. She is a little older than last time he saw her, but she is the same pretty girl and had a more toned figure. She wore a well fitted t-shirt and jeans. And she had applied the lip gloss and tied her hair in a tight pony tail. With much difficulty he said:
“Hi.”
“Hi .. how are you.” – the same husky voice. It was the sweeter than ever.
Ritayan wanted to say, ‘was fine until I saw you’, but he said : ‘Doing fine. How about you? Is there still some effect of coma?”
“Don’t talk like the prospective grooms’ fathers.” – she smiled – “BTW, this is the first time we are meeting face to
face after the accident and probably I am still alive just because of you.” – She gave a dazzling smile and Ritayan felt his knees have melted away.
face after the accident and probably I am still alive just because of you.” – She gave a dazzling smile and Ritayan felt his knees have melted away.
“You already thanked me. I just did a friend’s duty. It’s OK. So, where are you going now?”
“Why? Your house! Did not Sayak tell you?”
“What? He told me that you two are going to some hotel.”
“Yes, that’s true; but the check in time is 12 noon. What shall I do for these 6 hours?”
“Ummm .. err .. ok … but … mine is a bachelor’s pad. I didn’t even clean it before I came. Can’t we go anywhere else.”
“No, that was the whole plan. Sayak will be reaching at around 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Till that time your house is the safest
place in Hyderabad he told me. Now if you want to dump me here, that’s your wish.” – She sulked.
place in Hyderabad he told me. Now if you want to dump me here, that’s your wish.” – She sulked.
Ritayan wanted to kill that joker Sayak. He knew very well if he told this whole plan to Ritayan he would never agree. Now he had no other option but to take this pretty girl, whom he secretly loved and who was his best friend’s GF, to his house. What else was in store for him?
Ritayan decided to think about the problem of Reena being in his house later. For the time being he wanted to savor his
first and probably last bike ride with Reena. As soon as he revved up the engine Reena smartly saddled the pillion, with her backpack in her sling, as if she was sitting in Ritayan’s pillion for ages. Or so what Ritayan wanted to think! When they have moved 100 mt or so Reena gave a big sigh of relief, probably for being with somebody she knew after an overnight journey with strangers. The hot exhaled air burned Ritayan’s nape and he immediately started having goose bump. From that moment onwards Ritayan was aware of Reena’s every breath. He started to think, how close they were at that moment. If only it could last for lifetime. But then he was struck by the hard reality that their proximity was only for the few hours! Suddenly, she heard Reena giggling. He asked :“What happened?”
first and probably last bike ride with Reena. As soon as he revved up the engine Reena smartly saddled the pillion, with her backpack in her sling, as if she was sitting in Ritayan’s pillion for ages. Or so what Ritayan wanted to think! When they have moved 100 mt or so Reena gave a big sigh of relief, probably for being with somebody she knew after an overnight journey with strangers. The hot exhaled air burned Ritayan’s nape and he immediately started having goose bump. From that moment onwards Ritayan was aware of Reena’s every breath. He started to think, how close they were at that moment. If only it could last for lifetime. But then he was struck by the hard reality that their proximity was only for the few hours! Suddenly, she heard Reena giggling. He asked :“What happened?”
“Are you feeling cold? I am feeling rather hot in this weather.”
Ritayan turned red till his ears. She noticed his goose bumps! He stopped the bike immediately. Reena asked : “What
happened?”
happened?”
“Sorry Reena, let me confess. I never had any girl on my pillion. And I am a little excited when someone pretty like you
is travelling with me. If you are embarrassed I am calling an auto-rickshaw. You travel on that, I shall follow on bike.”
is travelling with me. If you are embarrassed I am calling an auto-rickshaw. You travel on that, I shall follow on bike.”
“Mr. Good Boy, you are not a little excited. You are VERY EXCITED.” She giggled again. “Now be careful while you ride. I have no worry being with you other than meeting an accident for your excitement.”
Without a word Ritayan restarted the bike and did not dare to speak a single word till they reached home.
After few minutes he called up Sayak. After prolonged ring he picked up. The bastard was probably sleeping in the comfort
of Volvo, leaving him in such precarious situation. Finally Sayak answered : “Thank God you called. I was thinking you
are bottling up your anger till I reach there.”
of Volvo, leaving him in such precarious situation. Finally Sayak answered : “Thank God you called. I was thinking you
are bottling up your anger till I reach there.”
“You bastard .. why didn’t you tell me that Reena would come to my house.”
Sayak roared in laughter: “I know my Mr. Nice Boy. He would have never agreed.”
“I could have made another plan. Like putting her in the hotel and pay for one day extra.”
“My goodness! you will pay hotel fare for my GF. That’s offensive.” – Sayak chuckled.
“Talk decently at least.” – Ritayan was embarrassed.
“BTW, where are you now? Haven’t you reached your home? I can hear some traffic noise.”
“I am outside. Inside your GF is freshening up.”
“You are a genius. You know what I would have done if someone’s girlfriend came to my house at morning.”
“Stop talking non-sense. Ohh .. she is calling me. Allow me to disconnect the phone, Sir!”
Sayak chuckled again and dropped the call.
Ritayan went inside the house and found Reena bathed, looking fresh and worn a new salwar-kameez. Why the salwar-kameez was blue? Didn’t she know how lovely she looked in blue? Combining the freshness after bath and the blue dress, she was looking deadly attractive. Why was she torturing Ritayan like that. He said : “Yes, Reena.”
“Sorry, girls take lots of time in bathroom. Now it is all yours. I am dead tired. I want to sleep.”
“Hey .. wait .. let me prepare some breakfast.”
“Wow .. you can cook? I was thinking you always buy food from outside. That’s nice. But I am more tired than hungry. May
be when we start for the hotel I can have a quick bite.”
be when we start for the hotel I can have a quick bite.”
“OK. BTW, you won’t repent my food.” –Ritayan tried to be conversational.
“That’s nice. You wife would be happy.” – She gave another of those killer smiles and strode straight towards Ritayan’s
bedroom.
bedroom.
“Hey wait. It’s a total mess there.”
“Boys always make messes of bedroom. Not a big deal for any girl” – Within next 5 minutes, after some swift movements and few questions like ‘where is the broom?’, ‘Where do you keep your linens’ etc etc the room was neat and tidy with a new bedcover on the bed.
Ritayan was unable to do anything but to stare with a gaping mouth. When the bed was clean, she lay down without much
ado and closed her eyes. Ritayan could not believe what was happening. Reena, his princess of dream from college days, was in his bed room, sleeping on his bed as if without any care. Then suddenly he came out of his trance. She was behaving like this because she trusted him absolutely. Nothing more, nothing less. He was just a guardian for her. Her boyfriend was on the way. Till then he only had to guard this precious lady. He shook his head and went to bathroom to freshen up. He had a vivid bath as if to wash away all his feelings about Reena. He was not sure when he would be more happy. When this ordeal ends or till Reena was with him.
ado and closed her eyes. Ritayan could not believe what was happening. Reena, his princess of dream from college days, was in his bed room, sleeping on his bed as if without any care. Then suddenly he came out of his trance. She was behaving like this because she trusted him absolutely. Nothing more, nothing less. He was just a guardian for her. Her boyfriend was on the way. Till then he only had to guard this precious lady. He shook his head and went to bathroom to freshen up. He had a vivid bath as if to wash away all his feelings about Reena. He was not sure when he would be more happy. When this ordeal ends or till Reena was with him.
He took care to dress properly before entering his bedroom. He found Reena deep in sleep, breathing heavily. But he could not tear away his eyes from the sleeping beauty. Her blue dress is slightly disheveled accentuating her nice figure. The face looked beautiful like never before. The mouth was slightly open. The lips were little wet and more attractive than ever. Ritayan felt an unstoppable urge to kiss that mouth. He could give away anything, was ready to take any hardship for kissing Reena only once. He started having a new feeling – jealousy towards Sayak! What Sayak had done so that this lady would be his for lifetime? In what respect Ritayan was inferior to Sayak! Yes, he couldn’t talk sweet with girls. But that should not undermine his other achievements which were far more superior than Sayak’s. Even in Reena’s life his contribution was more than Sayak’s. As if in a trance he reached the bed, held out his fingers gingerly which were closing in towards Reena’s face. He touched her face, ran his finger through her cheek. Then he became bolder. He ran his finger from his forehead through the contour of her nose. When he touched her lips he felt like an electric shock. But he simply lost control over himself. He felt those attractive lips few times. At that moment Reena stirred in her sleep. Ritayan jumped away from the bed. Slowly sense started coming back to him. He knew what he was doing was wrong. He regained his conscience. He torn his eyes away from the pretty sleeping face and went forcefully to kitchen to prepare the breakfast for his love. Yes, he moved beyond crush. He was deeply in love with this girl, who ironically loved his best friend.
Around 11 a.m. he called Reena. She came and sat at the table with a sleepy face. She must had been very tired. She yawned and said: "Didn’t sleep a wink yesterday night at bus. Was dead tired.”
“Have this tea, you will feel better.”
“Ummmm .. you are a good cook”.- she told after taking a bite from the sandwich along with the tea.
“Thanks. Even my mom agrees that my dishes are tasty.”
“Your fingers are tastier” – she said without a warning, supplementing with a wink and Ritayan blushed crimson.
Ritayan wished he could just go back in time and wipe out that incident. Or even better go back to yesterday evening and not take Sayak’s call at all. Since that was not possible, he did what he could do best at that situation:
“Reena, I am extremely sorry. I have no excuse. What I did was grossly wrong. I don’t even have a face to ask for an apology” – He could not meet Reena’s eyes.
“You know it was a criminal offence. I can lodge a police case for molestation.” – she toyed with Ritayan. Her voice huskier than ever!
“If you want, slap me hard across the face. As many times as you want. I really deserve it.”
“Mr. Nice Boy, I least expected that from YOU. But I want to pardon you once since I could never forget what you did for me while I was in distress. May be I am alive today because of you. But don’t do it again.”
“OK, Reena. Thanks. I think it is better for all of us if you leave right now. I shall call an auto rickshaw and you give the address. I think you can go alone.”
“OK.”
Ritayan was in tears. He was not sure why. Was it because of the trauma he was going through. Or was it because he was about to lose his love forever. Or was it because he was jealous of his best friend. Or was it because he betrayed his friend’s trust on him. Or probably a mix of all. He was ashamed to show his tears to Reena. So, he went to bathroom and splashed cold water probably a 100 times. When the cold water soothed his nerves too some extent he came out and found Reena ready to go. He summoned an autorickshaw, Reena gave the address and then the auto was gone. They did not exchange a single word. Ritayan came back and picked up a nice fiction to forget about the incident. He was too upset to call Sayak and inform him that he could not go to hotel personally.
After some time his phone rang. It was Sayak. He didn’t pick the call. After 3 missed calls he got a message from Sayak saying : “I didn’t expect it from you.” Ritayan was desperate. He already lost his love. Now he didn’t want to lose his best friend. He decided he would call of Sayak and explain. Probably he would understand. So, he called and response was instantaneous.
“So, Mr. Good Boy. Why did you not respond to my call?”
“Sayak, I am really sorry. I did not know how this has happened. Please try to understand me. I lost my senses for a moment.”
“What are you blabbering about? Is there anything wrong?” – Sayak looked puzzled.
So, did not Reena tell her boyfriend about the incident? Sayak continued : “Why you are silent you idiot. I was asking you why you left Reena alone while I told you to leave her at hotel personally. This is least expected of you I know. And you were blabbering some ‘Sorry’, ‘apology’ and all. What’s happening there?”
Ritayan heaved a sigh of relief. So, Sayak didn’t know it yet. Probably Reena was sensible enough not to talk about it with his boy friend. Sayak continued : “What happened to you my dear friend. Have you lost your tongue? Why you didn’t go with Reena till hotel?”
“Sayak, I have a crush on Reena.”
“That the whole world knows. So what?”
“I think it is better for all of us if I keep distance from Reena.”
“Ohh ..my goodness .. so you think you can woo Reena out of my influence .. from the influence of the great womanizer Sayak … hahahaha.”
“Stop laughing you fool. You never thought about me. You are obsessed about you and your girlfriend. ONLY. Have you ever thought how much stressful the entire situation can be for me. You and your GF go to hell. I am no more into it.”
“Hey Ritayan … don’t be senti, man ….I understand your problem .. OK. One last favor please… You know the Indian mindset … a lady going alone and checking in a hotel is still not digested by Indians. Reena called me. She is in the hotel lobby. Too embarrassed to check in all alone. She told the reception she is waiting for her husband.”
“Ok. Let her husband or future husband come and rescue her. I think he has almost reached by now.”
“are no yaar .. that is the problem. That’s why I called you. My bus met an accident. Minor one but it will take time to repair. Meanwhile please check her in. Please do this last favour. For me, for your Reena.”
“Ok, and what will happen once her ‘husband’ changes after few hours.”
“No body notices the guy if there is a hot girl like Reena around.” Sayak told as a matter of fact. “Be unassuming. Let her do all the formalities. Don’t show your face much to the hotel wallahs. You just be there”
Ritayan was in dilemma. Would he get into it again? Damn! Why he ever befriended Sayak. Finally he said : “OK. But on few conditions. Number one : I shall not enter the room. And number two : You two have fun and go back to your respective cities. Please don’t call me again today. I shall meet you sometime afterwards. OK?”
“OK Baba OK. Now just go there. Hotel Majestic, Lakdi-ka-pool.” – Sayak disconnected the phone.
So Ritayan went. He took his bike again and decided not to remove the helmet. Reena was waiting dejectedly at the hotel reception. She could not recognize him with the helmet. He gone to her and said : “Hi.”
“Hi, why are you wearing helmet.”
“Because I am posing as your husband. And I don’t want hotel guys notice when your husband would change in few hours.”
She smiled : “But why are you bothered about what people think about me?”
He wanted to say ‘Because I love you’. But he said : “Reena, I think you are the one conscious about your image. That’s why you were refusing to check in without a male partner.”
“To damn with it. These guys were not allowing me to check in. So I cooked up a story of my husband. Not that I am conscious about some vague image or something. As if being with a boy purifies a girl’s character” – She fumed.
“Ok, shall we go? You please complete the formalities. I am sitting here covering my face with the newspaper.”
“Fine”
Ritayan swiftly removed his helmet and covered his face with a newspaper.
After sometime, Reena came to him and said formalities were over and they could go. Ritayan took the key from her, picked up the bag and went with her. The room was at second floor. At the door he dropped the bag and said:
“Reena, please forgive me if you can. I am really sorry for what I have done. I lost my senses.”
“I already have forgiven. That is past me now.”
“OK .. I am going.”
“Hey, wait till Sayak comes.”
“No, I won’t. You know why. And I already told Sayak I would come till the door only.”
Reena gave up and said : “OK, as you wish Mr. Nice Boy. Bye.”
While Ritayan had ridden around 2 km. on his way back, his phone rang again. Some unknown number. He picked up. It was Reena.
“Hey, please come back once.”
“What happened.”
“The key is with you.”
“Ohhh .. sorry .. I am coming at once.”
“OK. Please knock exactly thrice. As I am staying alone I don’t want to open the door to a stranger.”
“OK.”
Ritayan reached the hotel and knocked at Reena's door exactly three times. Knock-Knock-Knock. The door opened and Reena was standing there with a blue towel draped around her and nothing else! Her hair was drawn back and tied in a hasty bun. The loose hairs from the bun created a frame around her pretty face and water drops were dripping from them. She must had taken another quick bath. And suddenly Ritayan felt a totally unexpected emotion. He was terribly angry with Reena and Sayak.
He shouted angrily : “What is this Reena? You know very well I am coming. You know it is me after I knocked three times. Is it a way to dress up? Why are you playing with me?” He threw the keys inside the room and turned around angrily to go back.
“Please Ritayan. Listen to me.” – she almost pleaded.
Suddenly Ritayan saw one room service guy standing nearby, ogling hungrily at Reena’s towel clad body. This is not a 5 star hotel and service people were not trained to behave properly. The guy could not even suppress the lust from his eyes. Reena also noticed him and said : “Ritayan, if you don’t come back at once I shall drop the towel. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.”
“What!! Have you gone crazy? What do you want?”
“I want you to come inside.”
“For what?”
“Do you want to continue the conversation in front of this ogling bastard? Fine, I shall make his job easier. I shall count 3. If you don’t come inside, I am dropping my towel.”
“Ohh .. please Reena .. No … I am coming.” – he almost ran past her into the room.
In a swift movement Reena shut the door behind her, put her hand on Ritayan’s chest and pushed him till he tumbled over the bed on his back. Then the most unthinkable thing has happened. Reena removed her hand which was holding the towel to pick up the phone which was lying on the bed and the towel curled up at her feet. Contrary to Ritayan’s horror she was not naked. She was wearing a tiny night gown which was completely covered by the towel. Totally nonchalant about Ritayan being around she called someone and said :
“Sayak, I have pinned the good boy. He is lying now belly up on my bed. Too dumbstruck to speak may be.” – she giggled uncontrollably.
Reena put the phone in speaker mode. Ritayan could clearly hear Sayak’s voice mixed with laughter : “Mr. Good Boy might not tolerate any more and run away forever. Explain the fool what is happening.”
She giggled again, dropped the call and thrown herself on top of Ritayan pinning him completely. Ritayan is yet to recover from the shock. He could barely move. He was vaguely aware of the weight of the attractive body above him, the pretty face inches away from his own. Then words started pouring out in a mysterious husky voice and Ritayan thought he was on dreams :
“Mr. Nice Boy, probably all the girls in the college knew that you had a huge crush on me. It is not that difficult for girls to figure out. But in that age girls tend to be attracted towards Sayak like boys, who are good with girls. I was no exception. Heard a lot about you from Sayak and came to know you are a good fellow at heart, but can’t talk with
girls.” – She continued with a smile. “But I fell in love with you after my accident when I came to how you reached the scene of accident, how you called the ambulance, was at my bedside day and night and finally how you helped my parents to transfer me back to Kolkata.”
girls.” – She continued with a smile. “But I fell in love with you after my accident when I came to how you reached the scene of accident, how you called the ambulance, was at my bedside day and night and finally how you helped my parents to transfer me back to Kolkata.”
“Reena, I loved you from college days.” – Finally Ritayan was able to speak.
“And so I expected we would have a good friendship after I called you to say ‘thank you’ once I came back to normal life. The experience of the accident and coma helped me a lot to understand people properly. The so called boy friends of mine had left me when I needed them most. And a quiet boy, who never gone beyond ‘hi-hello’ with me stepped up to help me. Also, I had grown older and could differentiate between show-offs and real materials. But alas, you were too shy! So, I and Sayak devised a plan. Sayak told me everything you love about me: the blue dress, the tight ponytail, the lip-gloss, my voice. Probably you had spilled the bean to him over a drink once in college days. Starting from the facebook update to your house everything was in plan. And things mostly went off as per plan. Sayak told, you would be useless if I simply come here and wanted to meet you. We wanted to create a situation where there were no chance of you wooing me and you behave naturally. Also, we planned to put myself totally in your disposal. And you behaved exactly as Sayak predicted. Neither as a saint, nor as a rapist. But just like a normal guy who was hungry for love.”
“Reena, I am still ashamed of that incident.”
”You need not be. You behaved quite normally till then. Sayak surely knows you pretty well. I was fully awake and could hardly resist myself jumping up and kissing you while you were caressing my face. But I was enjoying the game by then and just wanted to continue the drama further. Didn’t you hear, girls just wanna have fun.” She continued with another giggle “But things started going wrong from there. I gave you a mild admonishing playfully in my best possible voice but you misunderstood it and became extra nice even though I gave you enough signal through a wink. But you were simply irresistible by then. I discovered you can cook. Girls always love boys who can and will cook for them. So, I had to play some extra part about the hotel check in and blah blah. Even then you refused to get caught. So, I deliberately forgot the keys and called you back. The towel incident was an instant planning to force you to come inside the room. But the room service guy was a lucky opportunity. BTW, I was not a fool enough to drop the towel without anything inside! And here I am lying on you, to bang it into your head YOU FOOL, that I really really love you and ready to give my everything to you. Now, Mr. Stupid Bachelor, will you ask me the question or not.” – she gave a frown.
“I LOVE YOU REENA, with all my hearts. I have not or cannot love any other girl in the world. WILL YOU MARRY ME? Probably the only good thing has happened out of your accident is I could finally pop up the question to you.” – Ritayan couldn’t say anything more.
“Yes, my love. I am ready to spend the rest of my life with you. You had had enough for one day, my dear. Now let me get up and dress properly. Let’s keep the last secrets till marriage.”
“Just another thing Reena” – Ritayan embraced her tightly – “Could not that idiot give me a tip… instead of all these drama. ”
“As if you don’t know Sayak and his pranks! He wanted to play the biggest prank of your life only to end it with a most pleasant surprise.”
“Is that joker really coming? Or is that also a drama?”
“Yes. He is. As a back up plan. He was coming so that if our plan failed then to bang it into your head that we love each other, which you didn’t know! But I could not wait for him and told you myself. Now he would be coming to have a treat from us. BTW, when are you marrying me? I can’t wait.” - Reena frowned.
“If that joker hasn’t called my parents yet, then I am going to call them immediately. I promise I won’t keep you waiting for long.”
After that, all Ritayan remember was losing his senses between two beautiful lips, which has closed down on his.