Ep. 8 Some Beautiful Moments

Sitting by the window of her dorm in the hostel, Meera was holding her best friend, her diary in her hand. Her long hair was flying in every direction due to wind and she was tucking it behind her ears to focus on writing her feelings.

Dear Diary,

“Finally, Aahil and I are together in front of all. Finally, I do not have to hide my relationship from anyone. Last night was so magical when he held my hand into his and slid the ring that still shining on my ring finger. Sometimes unplanned accidents are beautiful. But now what should I do with this unsettling feeling inside me? What will happen when this news will reach my parent’s ears? Love marriage is something that is strictly prohibited in our house for generations, but in my case, I am almost ruining all the principles made by society and my ancestors.”

A shiver ran down in Meera’s spine thinking about the reaction of her father on their forbidden love and she shut her eyes tightly to shrug off all the voices and angry faces in her mind and slowly opened them to write further.

“Sometimes I get terrified thinking about my future. What will happen if my parents did not agree? What will I do if they tried to hurt Aahil? I promised Aahil’s mom in her last days that I will never leave him alone and will let no one harm him. If anyone loves him the most after his mom, I can proudly claim that it’s me. But what if I do not fit in his culture? Aahil said that I do not have to change my name or my religion to marry him. But what will happen if our marriage failed?”

Her pen stopped at the question mark, she looked up and gazed at the approaching black clouds that were hovering over the sky indicating the heavy rainfall. Meera smiled and then continued to write further.

But my every negative thought fades away. As soon as I see Aahil’s face, his eyes hold commitment, desire, love, and a promise to never leave me. I know Aahil is worth all risk and our love will surely set an example for others about “what true love really means.” I might say all the time that I love him more, but deep down inside me, I know it’s him who loves me more.

Meera closed her diary and stepped down from the window to get ready for her last day in college. She received a message from Aahil that he will meet her directly at the college and that Aman will come to pick her up in fifteen minutes.

Meera quickly changed into blue jeans with a white chiffon top. She was brushing her hair when her mobile dinged and Aman’s message flashed on the screen: “I am outside, come fast.”

Meera picked up her sling bag and walked out closing the door of the dorm. She stepped out of the hostel gate and noticed Aman reading something on his mobile with a worried face. “What happened? Why are you looking so disturbed?” She asked him but he shook his head dismissing her question.

“Nothing, get inside quickly. We are getting late.” He replied in a serious tone and they both sat inside the car. The twenty-minute car drive was completely silent. Meera said nothing, but she was sure that something was wrong with Aman and she decided to discuss this with Aahil.

The car stopped outside the Rosewood College, Meera and Aman got out of the car when they spotted their group at the college gate. “Where is Aahil?” Meera asked as soon as she reached near Alina.

“He is in the administration block, getting your grade sheet and leaving certificate,” Alina replied while doing something on her mobile.

“Okay, I am going inside to find him,” Meera turned to go inside the college campus, but Alina grabbed her wrist.

“You will not go inside. Ritik is also present there and after last night’s incident, Aahil wants you far away from him. So he directed us all to take care of you until he comes back,” Alina said and Meera stopped, nodding her head in understanding.

***

Inside the Administration Block of Rosewood College,

Aahil turned away from the counter after taking Meera’s certificates. He was re-checking the document when he accidentally bumped into someone. He looked up and upon finding Ritik in front of him, his blood boiled but when he noticed Ritik’s face brutally bruised from Aman’s punches, he smirked and was about to walk past him, but Ritik’s word halted him.

“You know, right? You and Meera belong to different religions and you both can’t be together, that’s why you trapped her in your love or I should say lust?” Ritik asked and Aahil turned to answer him.

“I and Meera love each other and nothing in this universe can separate us, and about your take on love and lust, I don’t even want to make any comment on that. But let me tell you if I and Meera can’t be together, then I and Roma can’t be together too. You better let your little sister understand that because last night when you were harassing my girlfriend, your sister was professing her love to me and was even ready to throw herself on me.” Aahil replied, a gorgeous smirk still plastered on his lips.

Ritik flared in anger and pulled him closer, clutching Aahil’s collar, gritting his teeth, “Don’t you dare say anything about my sister. I will kill you, bastard.” He roared.

“Says an asshole who was harassing a girl last night. What happened, Ritik? You can’t even bear to listen to anything bad about your sister, but you tried to touch my girl without her permission.” Aahil countered, his cold eyes still stared at him and it was quite a show for the students around them.

“You can’t even imagine how much anger is inside me. I can ruin your whole existence with just a phone call, but I don’t want to do that. Get this thing straight to your sick mind, Ritik. Meera is mine. Stay away from her because even I don’t know what I will do if something happens to her.” Aahil said with a domineering attitude, staring right into Ritik’s eye and jerked his hand away from the collar.

“Goodbye, I hope we never meet again,” Aahil said while walking away.

“I wish I could fulfil your demand but I am sorry, the storm is coming to destroy your love story.” Ritik thought while smirking evilly, looking at Aahil’s disappearing figure.

“Meera is so lucky, Two gorgeous men are fighting for her,” Ritik walked away as the crowd around him murmured.

“Let’s see who will win,” Some girl in the crowd said.

***

Alina and Aman were sitting inside the car. “What happened, Aman? Why are you looking so stressed?” She asked, looking at Aman’s apprehensive face.

“Someone is sending threatening messages. See this,” Aman said, forwarding the mobile in Alina’s direction. “It’s from a private number.”

“What the fuck? We should file a complaint.” Alina said while going through the content of the message.

“No, maybe it’s some kind of prank. Leave it and don’t tell anyone about this.” Aman said and snatched his mobile from Alina’s grip.

“Are you sure? I don’t think this is normal.” Alina said, trepidation crossed over her face.

“I am sure. Let’s close this topic here,” Aman said while spiking his hair, “You wanted to discuss something important. What is it?” He asked, looking attentively at Alina.

“Well, I think we should get married soon. We are already engaged and last night mom called me to ask you if you are ready for this marriage now because we are done with our masters degree,” Alina said while looking down on her lap.

“Okay, let’s marry next year.” Aman agreed.

“NO!!” Alina exclaimed in a high pitch and Aman raised an eyebrow, looking at her. “I mean, why the delay? I want to marry you by December this year.” She clarified while playing with the hem of her scarf, silently praying that he agrees with her without putting up any question and Aman looked at her, narrowing his eyes.

“Okay, fine by me. Let’s marry in December. But is there something you are hiding from me?” Aman asked, but Alina shook her head.

“No, nothing. It’s just... I can’t wait to marry you.” Alina smiled shyly. Aman pulled her close to him and they hugged each other.

“I love you so much, Aman,” Alina whispered while embracing him

“I love you too, sweetheart,” Aman said, pecking on her neck.

***

“Where are we going, Aahil?” Meera asked as she looked out of the window of the car.

“Lakeside, Let’s just spend some time together and then I’ll drop you at the railway station,” Aahil answered in a gloomy voice and Meera said nothing in response as she was herself sad about her departure.

She noticed someone calling him after every two minutes, but he was ignoring them. She knew it was his father who was trying to connect with him from different numbers because he blocks his number every time as he doesn’t want to have any relation with him. Meera glanced at Aahil and find him driving the car with clenched jaws.

Soon, they reached the café near the lake. The whole café was empty, and the inside was pitch black but as soon as they entered she was welcomed with red petals shower, the entire place beamed with lights, and Meera was awestruck looking at the place decorated with heart-shaped balloons and roses.

It was all so magical and almost like a dream for her. They sat at the table from where the beautiful lake was visible and Aahil ordered Meera’s favourite food.

“So did you liked the ring?” Aahil asked, staring at the ring on her ring finger.

“I like the ring but I didn’t like the way you proposed to me last night,” She pouted while moving the tip of her index finger over the ring.

“So how did you want me to propose to you?” Aahil asked furrowing his eyebrows in curiosity because, as per his knowledge, girls love when their partner goes on their knees to propose to them and that too before the large crowd.

“I wanted you to propose to me underwater, but anyway, I think some dreams remain dreams,” Meera replied and smiled.

“No… if my Meera desires an underwater proposal, then so be it.” Aahil said, taking a sip of water.

“Really, Aahil??” Meera exclaimed, widening her eyes with a gorgeous smile on her face.

“Really, sweetheart, what’s the big deal?” Aahil said holding Meera’s soft hands, and after spending a beautiful evening together near the lake, it was time for Aahil to drop Meera at the railway station.

“Meera, call me once you reach there, ok?” Aahil said, settling her luggage under her sleeping berth.

“Yes, Daddy!!! Now hug me please and promise me you will come next month to meet me,” Meera said opening her arms for Aahil and the latter chuckled at her childish behaviour.

“Yes, baby, and if it was in my power, I wouldn’t have let you go,” Aahil said embracing her in his firm grip.

Aahil and Meera embraced each other with their eyes closed as if they were trying to stop the time right there and when Aahil attempts to break the embrace, Meera whispered,

“I know you don’t want to have any connection with your father for what he did to your mother in the past. I never asked anything about him because I don’t want to upset you but receive his call for once.”

Aahil nodded his head in response and looked into her eyes, “I love you,” He said as they heard the siren of the train and it was time for them to part ways. He stepped down from the train while Meera looked at him through the window glass, waving her hand at him.

Aahil waved back, but he experienced some kind of pain inside his chest. He wanted to stop her from leaving, but he stood rooted to his place and watched the train leaving the platform.

As Aahil turned to leave the railway station, his phone buzzed in his hand again and he saw a new international number flashing on the screen and this time he picked following Meera’s request.

“I will never come back to you. You never gave time to your wife. You were busy making money and whoring around, so now live with that fucking money alone. My mother craved for your presence till her last days and now you will crave for your son, but you will never get.” Aahil spat furiously and disconnected the call before the person on the other side could say anything.