She had barely stood below the shower ,when her phone beeped.
"I'll be there in not more than fifteen minutes,right?Hope you are ready? And I'm just too excited to see you in that red piece of cloth!" And then,for the first time in her life she draped around herself a sari.A gorgeous red chiffon,gifted to her by Dhruv.She gathered her hair and clutched them together into a bun,deliberately leaving few locks falling on her face.
This was the day she had been awaiting since 23rd of July,the first time she had felt something for this man.She did have many men staring at her,admiring her beauty or wanting to take her out for lunch.But it was him from whom she desired it all.Maybe today she'd finally hear what she had both been expecting and dreaming of.
The Beginning:
It had been raining all night and the morning was misty.A soft breeze whispering something into her ears blew across Dharya.She set off with an umbrella to the nearest gift shop.It was her colleague Ajay's birthday.But she was quite unsure of what to but him.
The shop was empty except for two or three people browsing through the various items.Soon she was one among them.
Ajay was not at all into house decoration.So a show-piece or any decorative item would probably be a bad idea.Gifting him with a shirt would be too informal.A watch?He never wore any!
She never knew it would be this difficult.Willing to give up and diminish her ideas just to a card,she felt a pair of eyes looking at her.She looked back only to find their owner approaching her.
"Well Miss,you seem to be in some trouble.I would be honoured to help you,if you wouldn't mind taking my help,that is!"
He had a deep,sober voice.She looked at him and gave a faint smile.
"Well actually,it is one of my friends' birthday and I can't decide what to gift him with."
"Okay,so its 'him'!" he replied,seemingly growing thoughtful."Does he like music?"
"Ah,of course he does!" she automatically spoke out,wondering how it never occurred to her.
"You very well know what his birthday gift could be then,don't you?"
"Yes", she said, looking at him."Thanks,Mr...?"
"Dhruv.It was quite simple!"
Dharya turned to leave when that voice stopped her.
"Would I not have the pleasure of knowing this pretty lady's name?"
She felt a sudden bump in her stomach as she stretched her hand to introduce herself.She looked straight into his brown eyes and it was when he spoke again that she realised she was still holding his hand.
"I presume that today you are free,it being a Sunday.So,could I take you out for coffee and treat myself with your company?Please!"
Could she ever turn down this request,which was more importunate than a mere proposal!
Dharya...falling in love
Had she said a 'No' to him that day,she would surely regret it later.For now,she knows,how amazing and incredibly caring a person Dhruv is.She could never escape without cherising the few moments she regularly spent with him.He had a charisma in everything he did and she could never hold herself from getting lost into those deep brown eyes.She loved it when he'd want to talk for some more time before she would hang up and his pleadings to go for a drive everytime they would meet,using it as an excuse to elongate her company.She would purposely keep numb over the phone and wait till they were both all silent and smile to replace the absence of words.She often wondered how abruptly their friendship had began,only to build a bond which had no name,no form;but yet was the stongest of all.
A smile on his face could make her forget all her despair and a frown on her face would dismay him.Sometimes no words could be apt for her to articulately express how much he meant to her; and often just his concerned looks would convey to her that she was as precious to him,that he cared for her as much as she did. He had never held her hand while crossing the road or touched her cheeks to wipe her tears off.He had never kissed her goodnight.They had never had coffee from the same cup ,nor had he ever brushed her hair off her face when both her hands were busy.But some part of her strongly believed that they were not just what they called each other.They were not just friends. Not really after that friday evening.
Like usual ,they were sitting in that same cafeteria where Dhruv had first brought her,perfectly a month ago;sipping coffee,looking everywhere else but at each other and discussing their day. Suddenly she realised they were at a loss of words again.Dharya struggled to grasp some topic that could last long,but nothing came up at all.Hopefully she looked up at Dhruv and again felt that bump in her stomach.That same stare from his brown eyes made her forget everything. Those looks in his eyes would make her feel belong to this man.
"Dharya,I want to give you something."
What more now did he still have to give her!He had gifted her with her most splendid evenings, whose memories could help her pass a lifetime;a bewitching happiness amalgamated by an emotion aroused for the first time.He had introduced her to something called love.
"I want you to open this only once you've reached your room.Having done so,give me a call."
Saying so,he pushed a box towards her,impeccably wrapped in lavender with tiny silver stars shimmering all over. Smiling a 'Thank you' at him,she rose to leave.Dhruv offered to give her a lift. She placed the box on her lap and looking to her right she noticed Dhruv's watch showing ten minutes past nine and a tiny '23' encrusted on the right side of the dial. When the car stopped outside her apartment,she turned towards Dhruv and said a soft 'Goodnight'.Amusingly he kissed on her right cheek and smilingly said"Call me okay?"
Yes,it was her most beautiful night and her first sleepless night too!First,an elegantly wrapped gorgeous red sari,then a kiss and to make it all easy for her to guess,he asked her for a date on Sunday.
Switching off her table lamp she shut her eyes and revisited the cafeteria,trying to relive every moment of the evening which was now made so special.Some thought stopped her and she opened her eyes to concentrate."Yes!",she remembered.It was indeed 23rd of July;a date which maybe she'd want to celebrate some twelve months later!
[to be continued...]
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