Ep. 5 You Are Mine

It was a late night, and goosebumps appeared on everyone’s skin when the ascetic mentioned about Aahil and Meera’s meeting with the fortuneteller. The students were looking at each other, unable to form a word, while the ascetic smiled. The train entered a long dark tunnel and suddenly the light of their coach goes off. All the students screamed in horror, trying to hold each other’s hand.

“Why you guys are screaming?” Heena asked her batch mates, completely irked with their childish behavior. “This is just a story, Calm down,” She said and all the students turned silent but scared to death, except Heena who was still hooked on the story.

The light came back and Heena turned to her idiotic friends, “See?? You guys act so childishly sometimes,” She exclaimed as the other boy poked her in the arm.

“Where is that ascetic?” The boy asked and Heena swiftly turned, only to find the space empty where the ascetic was sitting before, and she only spotted the blue blanket that she offered him before.

“This is really creepy. What just happened with us?” The other girl said, and they engaged in conversation while Heena looked for the ascetic in other compartments.

A girl from their group gripped her wrist to stop her. “Where are you going? This could turn out dangerous.” She said, but Heena disagreed.

“No, I need to know this story,” She said stubbornly and removed her grip. “Let’s find him”

“Heena, this area is famous for robbery. You aren’t thinking straight and I will not be a part of this madness.” The girl said while Heena shook her head and walked past her to find the ascetic. She tried to find him but failed, her face dropped as she turned but a voice halted her steps.

“Are you looking for me?”

Heena turned and looked at the ascetic. “Yes!! Where did you disappear?”

“I came to look for some food in the trash bin.” replied the ascetic.

Heena was extremely saddened and for the first time, she looked at him properly. Eyes deep blue, wrinkled face, snow-white curly hair up to waist, pale skin. He didn’t appear an eighty-year-old but around a hundred years old or more than that.

“I have some fruits. Please come.” She said, and the ascetic gave a smile, his old wrinkled face was shining. “But I hope you will take fruits from me. You are a Hindu ascetic and I am Muslim.” She gave a brief smile.

“Every religion shows the way to reach God. It has no more significance in mortal life other than that,” the ascetic stated, though Heena couldn’t understand his words but she nodded her head as they walked to their compartment.

Horror washed over the face of every student when they saw the ascetic, but they kept mum. Heena offered a banana to him, and he quickly started eating after wrapping himself in the blanket.

Heena waited for him to finish the banana and as soon as he finished, “Can you please continue the story?” She asked politely, and the ascetic continued.

***

Friday Night,

“How much time you’re gonna take, Meera? I am standing outside your hostel for the last thirty minutes. Come out in the next five minutes or else I am leaving.” Aahil said sternly to Meera on the call and hung up, before she could reply, and exactly five minutes later, Aahil heard the sound of heels clicking. He turned to look at the entrance of the hostel, and his breath nearly hitched.

Meera was looking absolutely stunning in the sleeveless navy blue knee-length dress with light makeup and wavy long hair on one shoulder. Diamond earrings were shining in her ears and a diamond-studded square wristwatch was dazzling on hand.

“Aren’t we getting late now?” Meera arched her eyebrow. “Stop drooling and get inside the car,” Meera said in an amused tone, and Aahil removed his eyes getting inside the car.

“You are looking breathtakingly gorgeous.” Aahil complimented, and a smile tucked on Meera’s lips.

“I was waiting to hear this!” She exclaimed, linking their arms, and put her head on his shoulder.

“Aahil?” Meera’s expression turned complicated.

“Hmm,” Aahil hummed, focusing on the road.

“I couldn’t sleep last night.” She said, her face dropped.

“I know, that’s why I always stop you from meeting random priests or fortune-tellers. But you never listen,” Aahil said as he remembered the last words of the fortune-teller.

“Hmm, but what was he saying to you? I saw him stopping you from leaving, but you jerked your hand away.” Meera said.

Aahil gulped the lump formed in his throat. He knew if he said what the fortune teller exactly quoted, then Meera will suffer another sleepless night so he told her a different version.

“He changed his words after you left. He said that I am really lucky to have you in my life and I should never let you go.” Aahil replied and Meera furrowed her eyebrows.

“Really?” She asked, eyeing his facial expressions.

Aahil chuckled, “Yes, baby.” He lied and slowly Meera nodded her head.

“So what’s your plan?” She asked, maintaining a poker face.

“About what?” Aahil asked, furrowing his eyebrows and looked at Meera.

“You will let me go or you will never let me go?” Meera asked with a pout plastered on her lips and Aahil looked at her strangely.

“What kind of question is this? I’ll never let you go, not in this birth, not in my next birth. You are all mine.” Aahil replied with a wide smile on his face.

“Well, in Muslims, it is said that it’s only one birth then how you are coming to claim me in your next births? I have options in my next life to date, hook up, and marry anyone plus you will not be around to stop me.” Meera said with an amusing face.

“Hahaha… very funny. Don’t even try, Meera. No matter what, I will always follow you.” Aahil stated and Meera chuckled in response.

“Aww, really, Aahil?” Meera said to irk Aahil,pulling his cheek, and she succeeded.

“Try me, Now shut up, I am driving.” He said and increased the speed of the car.

***

After thirty minutes of drive they stopped outside the Club Ashes

“Hey! Happy birthday, Ritik,” Meera wished Ritik.

“Thank you so much,” Ritik replied with his ever charming smile but his smile dropped when the door of the club opened again. Aahil entered in a blue jeans with black v neck t-shirt, giving tough competition to Ritik’s bad boy look.

“Happy birthday, man,” Aahil, too, wished Ritik, and they both gave each other brotherly hug.

“Alina was right, you are really rich. I can see the entire crowd is from our college. You literally booked the whole club,” Meera said in an amazed tone while looking around.

Ritik smirked, “It’s our last year, so the party should be grand, right. Come on, in, your group is sitting upstairs, you guys can join them and I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Ritik said, and Meera, Aahil, headed upstairs.

“Hey guys!!!” Meera chirped loudly and all their group members turned their head in their direction.”

“Look, our shining divas are here,” Alina said, pointing her hand in their direction, at which both Aahil and Meera rolled their eyes.

“Your dramas will never stop, right?” Aahil said and Alina started moving her head left and right, sticking her tongue out.

“Close your mouth,” Meera interrupted Alina, sitting beside her, “Where is Aman?” She asked.

“He’ll be joining us soon. Anyway, let’s dance!!” Alina exclaimed, looking at her friends while at the same time, the server accidentally spilled juice on Meera’s dress.

“Oh, no!!” Meera said, quickly cleaning her dress with tissue papers.

“I am sorry, ma’am,” The server quickly apologized.

“It’s alright.” She smiled. “You guys go. I’ll join you in a few minutes. I need to clean this.” Meera said and stood up from the couch.

“Shall I come?” Aahil asked, but Meera refused.

“No…. no I will be fine, you go and enjoy with everyone,” Meera said and left. She found the restroom on the ground floor and cleaned her dress, but when she came out, she found a familiar face leaning beside the restroom’s door.

Author's note: If you're enjoying the story. Please do let me know in the comment section.