Mumbai, college days

I decided to open up and took Shreya to a nearby lake. We were walking on the path adjacent to lake and there were nearly eight boats riding in the lake. Since it was dark we couldn't see the people in the boat.

"Hey, I too want to ride a boat." she exclaimed.

"Of course, I reserved one. You are about to ride in five more minutes." I said.

My limbs were quivering. Though boys arrange everything properly to propose a girl, it would be their utmost scary moment in their life.

"I am good. I can do it." I cheered myself.

"Shreya" I called and she turned to me.

"I knelt down before her and presented her a white rose. Then a boat in the lake started impending near us and a friend of me was holding the letter ' I ' which was glowing in bright white color.

Next I gave her four red roses and four more boats approached us with four of my friends holding the letters 'L', 'O', V', 'E', blooming in bright red color.

Then I offered her three yellow roses and another three boats loomed near us and my friends were holding the letters 'Y', 'O', 'U', shining in light yellow color."

I didn't want to waste the spell. I grabbed her hand and took her into a boat.

I rode it to the middle of lake and there were another two boats waiting for us. As soon as we reached them my friends formed as a circle around us with that letters.

I leaned close to her. "Will you allow me to stare at your charming eyes, all the day?"

She was absolutely in astonishment. She was watching around with her canny eyes widened.

"I didn't expect this. That...that was awesome, but I want some time "said Shreya, laughing. Her voice was breaching with amusement.

Then from those two boats which were beside us Chaitra and her friend came out swaying two letters, 'O', 'K', blushing in pink color.

Shreya was amused and was also feeling shy. Her cheeks turned pink and she was like a moon among the stars in the middle of lake. Latter she left from there and I died to face my friend's gags.

Next day I was excitedly waiting at the university gate for Shreya. But my waiting became in vain. Entire day I looked for her but I couldn't find her.

'Hey, king waiting for the queen, huh?' Chaitra said, accompanying in the way to our hostels.

I stared at her and she diverted her gaze.

'Are you okay with this? I mean all I did yesterday and everything I am going to do in the future.'

She lingered stillness and I terminated my walk.

'See Varun, nothing stops. We have to accept it.'

I hugged her and said, 'You are the best actor.' I went to my room, not even looking at her. I knew she would stand there for some time but I couldn't help anything. I was nothing, just nothing.

Same day evening I rested on my bed and was pondering about probabilities of Shreya's absence that day. The next day was my birthday and I knew that my monkey batch would certainly plan something tonight and never permit me to sleep. Therefore, I decided to take a short nap.

When I woke up, the time showed 11:41 pm. I viewed around and there was no one. I heard someone running outside my room. Swiftly Shreya entered my room and locked it.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing here? If our warden catches us, we would be finished. Please get out of here." I cried. I tried to open the door but it was locked from the other side.

"What the hell was happening here?" I again shrieked. Without bothering me, Shreya just sat on my bed smiling.

"Are you mad?"

"I requested your friends to take care of your warden and they promised me that they will."

"What?" I exclaimed. I looked at her appallingly.

"Why were you glaring at me? You could surprise us, but if we do the same you will bark at us." She said. She hung her face down.

"Come on, I couldn't see you upset." I said

"Shut your eyes then" she said, crossly.

I looked at her as to forgive me.

"Arey baba, I asked you to close your eyes na"

"Why? Are you going to do anything mischievous?" I giggled.

"Don't expect too much dear." She said singing and cuffed on my back.

I stood with my eyes closed for approximately five minutes.

"Open your eyes" she said in an erotic tone.

The room that was in the worst position before I closed my eyes was blooming with rich lights and Shreya was standing before a lovely cake. She was pretty and cute in her pink color kaftan top and blue trousers.

"I too love you birthday boy. When you proposed me I went speechless. I never want to leave you. Happy, happier and happiest birthday baby" she hugged me.

"You decorated this?" I asked.

She nodded, meanly. Next she squeezed me tight and I could guess how intense her feelings were.

"Thanks honey, not only for your wishes but also for accepting me" I said.

In the meantime my friends came and Chaitra too. Cutting the cake, lifting and throwing me in air, alerting about warden's incoming and all of them rushing back everything happened so loose. Our warden opened my room door and saw me alone with a piece of cake in my hand. I tried to get some smile on my face as he walked towards me.

I started shivering. "Happy birthday boy, but you have to clean this mess as soon as possible." he said, taking the piece in my hand.

"okay sir"

He was gone. I got a call and when I picked it up; I heard all my rascals laughing loudly.

"If you dare to show your face till morning, I will kill you all." I roared.

I completed my birthday merrily.

My love journey had started since then. As habitually, late night chatting, weekend surprises, useless quarrels happened in my story too. I enjoyed every millisecond in love. I found the atmosphere around me magical and enchanted every time.

One fine day, I was approaching my classroom and I saw Chaitra quarreling with Rahul, our classmate, in the corridor. I also saw Shreya standing behind her weeping. I hassled to them.

All of a sudden Chaitra slapped Rahul. He warned her and left from there yelling, furiously.

"What happened?" I asked Chaitra.

"He was abusing Shreya since two days. She didn't even tell me. Now I found him here." she explained, like shouting.

"You left him?" I too screamed, rushing towards him.

"I don't want you to include in this worst and senseless situations. That's why I didn't tell you." Shreya said, running after me.

"This isn't senseless, Shreya." I said.

As I turned to her, I saw her charming eyes turned red on crying and face became lifeless. I somehow consoled her.

Later I taught Rahul a good lesson. I didn't involve as Shreya didn't want me to. Since then, Shreya became so close to Chaitra. I rarely saw both of them individually. The amusing part is she introduced Chaitra to her parents also.

###

If you find this chapter interesting, plz don't forget to vote.