ARNAV

I was seated at the restaurant waiting for Ayesha to arrive, she told me not to be late and now she was the one late. While I waited for her, I kept on thinking about Khushi, I mean it had been so hard to move on from her despite not seeing her for so long, how was it going to be possible now when I was going to see her every day?

Of course, I had accepted the fact that she was never going to feel the same towards me, and I was okay with that, but when she showed up out of nowhere, I was kind of hoping that maybe now she would feel a thing for me, maybe even a bit and for the sake of it, I actually talked to her about my date, asked her if my shoes matched and such stupid questions just to see if it would make any difference but it dint.

It was like I would make myself believe that I was so over her or that I should just move on but every time I saw her, I hoped that things were going to change, I don't know when I was going to stop hoping because my hopes were the one hurting me.

"Hey, I am so sorry, I got stuck at work." Ayesha apologized as she stopped in front of me.

"No worries, it's okay." I stood up and greeted her with a hug, she was dressed in a black skirt with a white top and some black heels and she had some make up on too, she looked so pretty.

If it were Khushi, I'm sure she would have work a beautiful Patiala with those Indian earrings and of course her signature bindi on her forehead. Okay Arnav, you have to stop thinking about Khushi for once.

"I hope I dint make you wait too long?" She asked as she settled down.

"No, I just arrived a few minutes ago, anyway we should order first." I said as I grabbed the menu and started going through it, I don't know why but being here on this date was kind of making me feel guilty.

I mean I wasn't even dating Khushi or anything, but still being here dint feel right. Seriously though, if I kept on feeling this way, was I ever going to be able to move on? Even when I looked at Ayesha, all I would wonder is how things would be if it was Khushi here instead of her.

Once Ayesha had decided what she wanted to eat, we both placed our orders and waited for the food.

"So... how was work?" She asked.

"It was okay, just the usual, how was yours?"

"Pretty busy, the case I am handling currently is a headache, well all cases are usually headaches, some are just easier than the other." She giggled.

"What made you want to be a lawyer then?"

"I am very good at arguments; in case we get together be ready to lose all arguments against me." She laughed making me laugh.

I mean look at her, she was so perfectly beautiful, she was a lawyer, she was funny, she was like the most perfect girl ever, yet sitting here with her on a date, I dint feel a thing for her, now attraction whatsoever.

What was wrong with me?

"You're funny." I smiled.

"And you seem uninterested. What's wrong Arnav?" She asked as she placed her hand on mine, when she touched me, I was hoping to feel something, anything, maybe an adrenaline rush but there was nothing, no feelings whatsoever.

"I just have a lot of thoughts going on in my mind. Anyway, you look really nice today, seems like you had put in an extra effort in dressing up." I smiled trying to divert the topic.

"Thank you, you don't look bad yourself, you look different than usual." She said.

"Thanks."

"So tell me, why did you agree for this date? I've been trying to convince you since forever."

"I don't know, I just thought that because you're trying so much, maybe I should give you a chance, you weren't leaving me alone so I had to agree." I laughed.

"I wasn't leaving your alone, or your memories weren't leaving you alone?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"There has to be a reason, I mean you have been single since I got to know you and I've been literally begging you for a date and you never agreed, and you weren't even dating someone else or were interested in someone else.

Such things usually happen when there's something in your past that keeps coming back to your mind, was it an ex-maybe?" She looked at me curiously.

"I never had any serious relationship, you are a bad lawyer." I said, I wished she would stop asking me these questions, all they did was to remind me of Khushi again.

"If not a relationship then serious feelings. Did you have feelings for someone in the past that you can't get over Arnav?" No wonder she was a lawyer, she literally figured me out in such a short time, how did she do that?

"We are here for a date, not to discuss my past."

"Got it, seriously feelings for someone. So what was the problem?"

"Ayesha please."

"Arnav please! You know I like you so much, I've liked you since I've know you and trust me when I say I am willing to do anything and everything it takes for you to like me back but this... this date thing just doesn't seem like it.

You are here on a date with me but you are lost, you don't seem interested, you look like you're looking for someone when I am right here in front of you.

Look at me Arnav, I really like you, I have always been so open about my feelings to you and all I want if for you to be open about your feelings to me.

I was so excited for this date thinking, finally! Finally, you are interested in me but it looks just like a formality, you aren't interested in me. You just look lost."

"I am sorry that you feel that way Ayesha, I just... I don't know how to explain things."

"It's okay, I get it. Just one thing, if you aren't interested, don't force yourself for it. I will keep on pestering you about it, it's upon you whether to say yes or no, if you say yes though make sure it with you whole heart."

I nodded as the waiter walked in with our food, a lot about this situation reminded me of the situation between Khushi and me, just like how I couldn't force myself to feel anything for Ayesha, Khushi too couldn't force herself to feel for me.

All these years, I lied to myself that I understood her, but I never really did, a part of me always held a grudge against her for not liking me back, and that was why I was so mean to her at work today too.

But sitting here with Ayesha, I could actually understand her, it wasn't in her control, you just couldn't force feelings, and no one was to be blamed for that.

"I am sorry Ayesha, I literally wasted your time." I apologized, I felt guilty for agreeing to come on this date, I knew this was how it was going to end up.

"You didn't Arnav, I have been pestering you for so long too, I should have understood that if you said no, you weren't interested. But the heart wants what it wants right?

I mean if we never came on this date, I wouldn't have seen this in different like and would have kept on bothering you." She smiled.

"I wish things would have been better." I sighed.

I had to apologize to Khushi, I had been so mean to her and that too for what? Not loving me back? I should have understood her, I really should but I dint, btu this date with Ayesha gave me a whole new point of view on it so I knew I had to stop holding grudges against her and let things be.

"Hey, look on the positive side, we can always be friends." Ayesha smiled.

"Would you be okay with that?"

"Why not? Just because things dint work out doesn't mean we can't be friends."

"Won't it hurt you seeing me knowing that I would never feel the same about you?"

"It would if I were in love with you which I am not, I just liked you and had a huge crush on you I mean have you looked at yourself, you're so hot, all my friends have a crush on you." She laughed.

"Okay you're exaggerating it." I laughed.

"Not really but anyway, it was a crush and I'm glad we did this whole date thing while it was just a crush, because I would have been heartbroken if it was more. Anyway, let's take a picture, I can show my friends and make them jealous that at least I scored a date with you."

"You know you're crazy right?"

"Hey, it's not every day you get to go on a date with a hot guy that doesn't like you back."

"That was mean." I pouted.

"I know, I'm kidding. Let's take a pic, I dressed up, I need a photo." Seriously girls and their never-ending photos. I had never seen Khushi taking photos though. Seriously Arnav, not again! Why did everything have to remind me of Khushi?

Ayesha stood up and walked towards me, so I had to stand up too, she took a selfie of the two of us and it actually came out so good, I loved the photo.

"Wow, this is such a hot picture, do you mind if I post it on my social media?"

"No, it's not like your followers know me." I laughed, she jumped up and down excitedly as she sat down on her chair posted the picture on her social media first and then started eating.

I might not feel for her but she was always an interesting company, I had so much fun whenever I was around her.