BUT I LOVE YOU...

Briti said, “Ashish, I want to say something” while Ashish was saying, Briti, “I need to talk to you.” Both their words were collide resulting in hearing ‘need to talk’- by Briti and ‘want to say’- by Ashish.

Briti: Say Ashish, what’s that?

Ashish: You say Briti, ladies first.

Briti: Okay…

Ashish: I am very eager to listen.

Briti: What?

Ashish: Whatever you wanted to say.

Briti: Listen, I need a minute.

Ashish: Yeah, sure. I’ll wait.

Briti took her phone from her pocket and dialled a number. Phone had not connected… “Shit! The signal problem. What now? How to do this?”

Seeing Briti in such condition and self-talking, Ashish was feeling happy thinking that Briti was about to propose but at the same time confused; what she was doing with her mobile.

“Is Briti going to propose me? What she wanted to say? My heartbeat is rising. Oh My God!!! I am feeling tensed. What’s happening to me?” self-talked Ashish.

Brit said, “Chalo! Let me do this. Ashish, Actually I wanted to say something very important. I don’t know how to say and how you will react. This phone is also not connecting. Hmm…

Uff… I don’t know why I’m feeling so. But I have to do this.

How? Yep! I have this.

Ashish, I can’t do this. But, can you listen to this?” said Briti by handing over her mobile with headphones.

Ashish was feeling very happy. The audio started playing….

“Ashish…, I didn’t think it was love.

I told to myself it wasn’t love.

But, my heart kept calling your name.

Each time you speak with me, you grow in my heart.

I must be loving you this much, must be waiting for you this much.

The love that I have kept only for you, I can now finally tell you.

I love you!

I love you. I love you forever.

Even if you don’t see me my words are true.

Yours Love!”

(Ashish was listening to it while Briti was watching him.)

Ashish was confused as the voice in that audio doesn’t resemble Briti and he asked Briti, “Is this your…”

Interrupting his words, the phone in his hand was ringing. Yes! It’s Briti’s phone. The mobile screen was displaying… “Meeta calling”.

Ashish handed over the phone to Briti and Briti attended the phone and spoke to Meeta telling her she made Ashish listen to audio and gave the mobile to Ashish saying, “It’s for you.” She smiled and moved a few feet far.

Ashish took the mobile and said “Hello…”

Meeta: Hi Ashish… sorry it’s network problem that’s why I couldn’t tell you directly.

[Ashish heart was beating fast now… not because of love. But because he was tensed of losing his love]

Meeta: Briti and I planned yesterday all this if network failed. She only gave me the suggestion to record what I wanted to say to you. So that she can play if call not get connected.

Ashish, I wanted to say this the day we met. But I couldn’t. It was love at first sight. I tried to come over there but couldn’t. Briti helped me to express my love for you.

Ashish, I want to say this. I…Love…You…

I love you forever and ever.

I love you till the sky touches the ground.

Ashish… I will be waiting for your reply.

Ashish… are you there?

Ashish: Haa... Meeta. I will call you later.

Ashish disconnected the call angrily and walked towards Briti. Briti was smiling at him while he was approaching.

Ashish: What is this Briti?

Briti: What happened?

Ashish: Why Meeta? Why did she proposed me?

Briti: Because she loves you.

Ashish: But, I don’t love her.

Briti: But why? She is a nice girl. I know her since long time. She loved you         from the day she met you. She is pretty. She is intelligent. Moreover,             she is caring and loves you to the core of her heart. She is in love with           you Ashish.

Ashish: But, I love you.

Yes! I Love You Briti. I have been in love with you all the time. Look at this ring. I have been carrying it in my pocket all these days to propose you.

Briti: What! No… How can you think in that way?

          I never have such feelings on you.

          In fact, I treated you as a good friend.

          No… No. My friend Meeta loves you.

          And you have to love her.

Ashish: Are you crazy?

             What are you saying?

             I don’t love her, I love you!

Briti: Ashish, listen… I don’t love. I don’t wanna love anyone. I treated you as my good friend and now as a family friend.

But, if you have any feelings on me, I’m sorry I can’t.

I will talk to you hereafter if only I heard that you accepted Meeta’s love.

Or else, there are my final words with you.

Ashish: Don’t be so childish, Briti. Come on…

Briti went away from there. Ashish was running after her when the other members of the group including siblings of Briti and Ashish reached the point. They had sensed that something was wrong between both of them as Briti was anger. Without saying a word, they completed their trekking and came down met their parents. Meanwhile, Ashish tried to speak with Briti but she was ignoring him completely. This hurt Ashish very much.

They parted the place and reached the hotel rooms.

Briti’s sister, Aziza asked her what had happened and why she was moody.

Briti replied it was nothing and she was not feeling well. Meanwhile, Meeta made a call to Briti. Briti attended the call but disconnected immediately saying that she was not feeling well and would speak the next day.

Meanwhile, Briti’s parents called both of them for dinner. Aziza went out of the bedroom to her parents but Briti didn’t. Briti’s father asked where she was. Aziza replied that Briti was not in mood. Sam asked Jane to look into it.

Jane went to Briti and asked what had happened.

Jane: Hey Briti, why are so sad and moody?

Briti: Nothing maa. I’m not feeling well.

Jane feeling the pulse of Briti and placing her hand on Briti’s forehead…

Jane: What happened? There is no temperature, is it?

Briti: Maa… Leave it and go.

Jane: Come on Briti, I am your friend. Just share with me, what has happened.

Briti: Are you sure that I can share with you?

Jane: Anything anytime…

Briti: Anything?

Jane: Haa… Anything!

Briti: Maa… today when we went on trekking the mountain…

[Briti told everything what had happened]

Ashish proposed me maa…

How can he do this?

I just treated him a good friend.

What would Jane say now?

Will she say that both the parent would be happy about it?

Will Briti change her mind?

How will she respond?

Wait for the next article to know.

Let Me Be Your Hero!

The next day morning all the teenagers were getting ready to their adventurous trip, when Ashish was still in bed. Ashish’s sister woke him up saying, “Ashish, get up! You are late. We are all going. See! Briti and all are about to move. When he heard the name, Briti, he woke up all of a sudden saying… Haa…Briti… Briti… It took him hardly 10 minutes to get ready. All the youngsters set ready to trek a not so huge nearby mountain. The elders were confined to only observation as they were not interested to go on trekking.

Briti along with her sister and others was climbing when Ashish asked Briti to show her power by reaching the top of the mountain (trekking point) faster than him. He provoked her by adding “Girls are sensitive and slow; no need to prove. Just accept your defeat”. Ashish said so, intentionally as he had a big plan there.

Briti, who is feminist and easily provoked by Ashish’s words, accepted the challenge. Hence, they two were hurly-burly trekking leaving the others behind who were under the guidance of a local guide. Ashish, was two feet ahead of Briti when he acted fatigue and rest only to let Briti cross him. He made sure that she was not left behind or out of his sight. The two were trekking as fast as possible one to win and the other to make his plan success. There was no sight of remaining people of that trekking group.

Briti, though felt fatigue, with her determination and to prove the strength of woman moved ahead. Both were so tired and stopped at one place just 5 kms away from the point to reach. The stopped to drink some water and breathe well. They resumed their journey and moved ahead. Now miles were getting lesser and lesser. Ashish, with a great care for Briti was enjoying the journey and company of her, looking at her determination and her funny yet lovely faces she made to overcome pain, her beautiful face and moreover her company. That was really a great day for him.

Now, it’s just a mile. Though both are moving equally, it’s time to pace and win. Hence, Briti looking at Ashish said, “Look now, who is going to win.” She started climbing and moving quicker, when Ashish had to follow her. They both were climbing the mountain with more pace and now, Ashish was ahead of Briti. It’s just a foot away; Briti started running to defeat Ashish. Noticing this, Ashish moved faster to make Briti run behind him and he was enjoying the chase. When he was just to touch the peak, he stopped and took the hand of Briti into his hand who was just behind him and touched the peak, the point of victory saying “Hurrah! We did it.” Briti was surprised with his action and stood standstill.

The intention of Ashish’s challenge to Briti was to have some time alone with her at the peak and not to defeat her to show her, she was weak. Now, he bought his time with his trick of challenge to spend some time alone with Briti. He wanted to talk with Briti and express his feelings for her.

Let Me Be Your Hero...

So, Ashish breaking the silence said, “I never want you to lose. I wanted to give my hand every time to make you win. I will be by your side forever supporting your endeavour. I respect your choices, interests and decisions. Your dance at the beach made my heart fell for you. Your beautiful face, your cute words, your lovely hair, everything made me go mad. I can’t hide my feelings for you. You are the prettiest and most amazing girl that I have ever met. The thing I want from you is only this…” saying these words, he stood on his knees took a solitaire ring from his pocket, held it in his hand, pointing towards Briti, said: “You are my sunshine and I want you to Let Me Be Your Hero. Will you be my side forever as my wife, Briti?”

Briti took two steps backward and turned back without giving any sign of acceptance or rejection. Ashish, who was worried, stood up and walked towards Briti, went closer to her, smelling her hair which was blown by air, he had forgotten himself in its fragrance. He moved a little closer to say the three magical words in Briti’s ears, which he assumed romantic. Briti was turning front sensing unusual feeling. Ashish who stood close to Briti to whisper in her ear, bend forward and Briti was turning front; at this very moment unexpectedly, Briti’s soft, pink lips touched Ashish’s. Both of their eyes were wide opened. But, Briti pushed him and moved back not realising that it was an edge. She slipped in that force and started falling down from that point of victory, when Ashish cried… “No… and jumped”.

Ashish’s parents and siblings came to his room seeing him on the floor but not on the bed, hearing the cry. Ashish’s mother ran to him and asked what had happened. Only then did he realise that it was a dream. He said to them a bad dream and got up. His parents patted him and asked him to get ready for the trip.

Before going to wash room, he requested his parents and siblings not to break out about his falling down from bed to anyone, for which his siblings started teasing.

They got ready and both the families met at the restaurant which is on the ground floor of the hotel for breakfast. Seeing Briti there, Ashish’s siblings said, “Hey, I want to tell you something. Do you know what happened in the morning?” Briti and her sister kept question mark faces and asked curiously, “what?” Ashish intervened their conversation and said, “Hey Briti, do you know in the morning our friend Amar rang me up. He asked about my trip and I told you were with me.” Briti fascinating about her group and all her friends said, “O! Really? That’s great. How was he? Where was he spending his holidays?” Ashish continued the conversation with Briti about their friends thanking himself in his heart for his skilful deviation from topic. He gave a red eye to his siblings and waved his hand. Briti who had forgotten other things, was also involved deeply in the conversation of their friends, especially about Meeta, one of her closest friends.

Having had their breakfast, they all moved to the trekking place. It was quite surprising to Ashish, as he had seen the same place and same environment in his dream in the morning and the elders were not joining them in trekking and confined to only observation. When Ashish asked why they were not joining them, they said they were not interested to go on trekking. That was all what he experienced in his dream.

Now, he was very nervous about what might happen next. They all started climbing the hill under the guidance of a local guide. Ashish was completely disturbed by the things which were happening. He wished that the dream should never come true. While he was lost in his self-talk and thoughts, Briti shouted, “Hey Ashish, let’s see who will reach first; you are me? It’s an open challenge. Come on, show your strength.” Ashish was astonished, and thought, “It was I who made a challenge in dream; but here Briti was challenging. What’s gonna happen? O! God…” Seeing that Ashish was lost in his thoughts again:

Briti: Ashish, are you alright? How is your health? Is everything ok?

Ashish: I am alright…alright.

Briti: Then, accept my challenge. Let’s see who will win.

Ashish: Actually…

Briti: What? You fear of losing!

Ashish: No… no! I am in. Let’s see.

Saying these words, both of them started trekking faster and Ashish was determined to win. Briti was no less in determination and was trying her best. Ashish, was worried if Briti hurt herself with her speed and waited for her to reach to his point. Briti seeing Ashish resting on the path said, “What Ashish, tired already?”

Ashish said ‘No’ and continued his journey.

When both were tired and felt fatigue they stopped to drink water and rested for some time. Briti discussed with Ashish more about their friends and shared how she was missing them and especially Meeta who was in touch through messages constantly. She asked Ashish how he felt about their friends. After 5 minutes, they resumed their journey. Ashish was still in astonishment checked his pockets if he was carrying the solitaire with him. And surprisingly, it’s with him. Ashish was in dilemma whether to propose her or not.

Now, it’s just a mile. Though both are moving equally, it’s time to pace and win. Hence, Briti looking at Ashish said, “Look now, who is going to win.” She started climbing and moving quicker, when Ashish had to follow her. They both were climbing the hill with more pace and now, Ashish was ahead of Briti. And everything was very confusing to Ashish as he saw everything in his dream and hence he was so frightened. It’s just a foot away; Briti started running to defeat Ashish. Noticing this, Ashish moved faster to make Briti run behind him. When he was just to touch the peak, he stopped and let Briti who was just behind him to touch the peak. But Briti grabbed his hand and touch the flag which was placed there. Briti jumped with joy and shouted, “Hurrah! We did it.” It is Ashish who surprised with this which happened opposite of what he had dreamt.

Ashish was happy and at the same time confused at the events. But he still wanted to propose hesitatingly thinking in his mind, “Shall I say her now? How will she react? Let me try. But how to start? Ok, let me start by telling her I want to say something. But, before he said what he thought, Briti said, “Ashish, I want to say something.

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Is Briti going to propose Ashish?

What she wanted to say?

What would Ashish do?

Wait for the next article to know.