Nikhil’s POV
I’m restless as Prachi and I have our dessert.
Being with another supposed-to-be a romantic female company seemed wrong. Even though it was just a lunch, it somehow felt like I am cheating on Sandy, inspite of her knowing it.
I grin, shaking my head as I have the last bite of dessert, my cheese cake, heart full as I recall how displeased Sandy was when she came to know I was meeting someone.
It obviously means she feels something.
I let the feeling wash over me, the girl I like likes me back, however little or lot it maybe.
“Uh”, I hear a clearing of throat.
I snap out of my thoughts, guilty. It’s incredibly rude to just seem uninterested.
That pierces the other person’s heart.
“I’m sorry”, I apologise, “I was just… thinking of something.”
“It’s okay”, Prachi smiles awkwardly.
Soon, we’re standing outside the restaurant, haiving paid the bill.
“How are you going?”, I ask as I wait for the valet to bring my car.
“I’ve booked a cab.”
“Are you sure? I could drop you if you wish”, I ask out of courtesy.
Prachi looks surprised.
Please decline. I need to go see my girl.
I look towards her as my car approaches, “No. It’s cool. My cab’s just 5 minutes away.”
I nod, pocketing my hands.
“Okay. I’ll wait till you leave.”
I try to hide my wince when the girl looks positively flattered.
I hope she doesn’t get any ideas. It’s just strange to leave her on the road waiting.
“Thanks. But that’s not necessary.”
I nod, but still stand quietly next to her. I sigh a breath of relief when Prachi gets into her cab, the unease slowly lifting.
I’m about to open my car door when my mobile vibrates, “Are you having main course again? ?”
I want to laugh as I read Sandy’s message, typing back a quick text that I’m on my way back, a smile making it’s way on my lips.
I can’t help myself as I look up at the sky in a silent Thank you, a prayer, my eyes damp for some reason.
Spending time with anyone except her only made me fall deeper in love with her, miss her more. And now that I can finally see it being reciprocated after years, I cannot stop the single tear that slips my eye as I reverse the car.
God, I love that girl so much.
As I’m lost in my thoughts, I cannot stop a frown as I remember parts of our conversation from the other day.
The moment when there was so much hesitancy before she explained her thoughts still haunts me.
Sandy’s a girl that spoke her mind, fearlessly.
And I’d hate myself if I ever put her in a place where she has to stop being herself because of me.
Although I like to think I put her mind at ease, she may still be insecure about me, about us.
I just need to love her so much that she can revert back, to her normalcy.
Simple enough.
I stop my car when I see a florist, grinning as I buy tulips. The shopkeeper gives me an odd look when I say it’s for my girlfriend.
Not Roses, not Lillies.
Of course Sandy would like Tulips, out of all flowers.
I’m parked outside her hostel as I text her, asking her to come downstairs.
Will she protest if I kiss her?
I lean against my car, waiting. The girl’s always keeping me waiting, my lips twitch.
My face drops when I see Sandy walking towards me.
“Why did you cry?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes when she looks surprised.
“I… uh… I didn’t”, she looks around.
I suppress the urge to laugh, as she desperately tries to hide her face from my view.
“Sandy?”, I cup her face, glad there’s no one around.
I’m surprised when Sandy tears up again, throws her arms around me.
“Sandy?”, I grow worried as I try to look at her.
But she only buries her face into my neck, refusing to look at me.
I wrap my arms around her when she doesn’t cry.
Maybe she just needed a hug.
I knew I needed one.
“Hey”, my voice is soft, my throat clogged up as I hold her in my arms, my grip tightening for some reason, “Everything okay?”
She continues to refuse to respond, which worries me. But this time, I resist certain urges as I pull her away, “What happened?”
Sandy shakes her head, “Nothing.”
“Sandy”, my voice is firm, “Wha-“, I stop midway when I see people walking around.
I quietly motion her to the side, walking to the deserted end of the campus.
She looks composed, and if I’m right, a little embarrassed by the time we sit on the steps.
My heart’s hammering in my chest when I take her hand into mine, place a kiss on her palm, “Are you okay?”
The smile she gives in return does little to tone down my heartbeat, if only, it accentuates.
“Don’t worry. It’s… uh…”, She frowns, “It’s nothing. I was just”, she shrugs, looks around.
“It’s okay”, I smile, squeezing her hand, although I wish she told me what’s bothering her.
When will you willingly share your problems with me, Sandy?
I think she sees something on my face as she smiles, “It’s stupid, and I was just overthinking. I’d have told you if it was important Nikhil.”
I shrug, wrapping my arm around her shoulder as she scoots closer to me, “It’s obviously not that stupid if it made you cry.”
Sandy huffs, “Okay fine”, her cheeks tinge.
What is this?
“I was just… God”, she closes her eyes, “IwasjustfeelingalittleinsecureaboutyourmeetingwithPrachi.”
I try hard to smother my smile as her words sink in, “Could you repeat it, slowly this time?”
She attempts to punch my stomach as I grab hold of her fist, place a kiss on her knuckes, “It’s always only you, Sandy.”