Love Me Not! (Part 7)

I had a week to think about the whole matter. I had booked the room well in advance. It was just another day at the college.  My English Professor walked up to me. “You seem tensed these days. Anything wrong?” he questioned taking my breath away. I wondered if the fears were painted on my face. “No” I dismissed the topic. “It seems you are lying. Please feel free to share your worries. You have performed poor in the recent class test too. Your eyes look sore every morning. Are you on medication or...” I cut him in the mid-sentence before he could ask me if I were smoking my lungs out!

“Yes I am on medication. I have severe migraine.” I said which was partially true. I was such a chain smoker then. I often had an intense headache. My lips etched to have the Cig butt between them.

Late in the evening, I got a call from my control freak mother! “Where are you?   What on earth keeps your phone engaged at 11. 3o at night? Are you out with boys and drinking with them?” she questions very predictably!

As if I can’t get a bottle by myself and drink. Why should I be so dependent? Uh !I also wondered what on earth made her think of me at almost mid night? More overs I was bad enough to single handedly screw my life! I didn’t need any help.

I grumbled at myself. “Answer me!” she demanded. “Some network problem ma.. I just dismissed the topic.

I had thoughts of Suhas going all the way in making my life a miniature of hell. I never knew he would turn out to be the bad man in my life. Maybe I had to talk to Raghav about it.

Later in the evening, I arranged a meeting with him. As usual he dressed up well. He was gaining muscles. He noticed me looking at every inch of him. “Err.. this is what keeps me busy in the evening. HE blushed, noticing me gawking at him. I swallowed and said the efforts are gorgeous!

“You wanted to tell me something?” he questioned. “Yes I’m pregnant with your baby. I can’t abort it as it’s over 3 months.” He looked absolutely shocked. His 22 year old brain took a while to process the new information. He turned away. I thought he would leave, scold me, feel sorry about the whole thing, cry.. I don’t know.

“I have one more year to complete a master in M.B.A. You know I am not at all settled right?” he looked in to my eyes and kissed my fore head. We sat on the old bench at the park. He continued to hold my hand. He smiled in a while. He looked very emotional. This side of me was hidden from me. I had never seen him like this before.

“I will have to talk to my mother about this.. Then, yours. I need some time..” I cut him in the mid-sentence. I know this is very typical of the impatient me. I had got answers to my questions. Yes he did love me.

“I was just kidding..” I said and laughed in an animated laughter.

There was no sigh of relief from his hand. He just smiled at me. I would be immensely happy if you had broken this news to me after 5 years though. We would be more stable by then. He said squeezing my fingers. “Yes I love you Miss Tapasya! I wish to grow old with you.” he said with a confident tone. This struck me like a 1000 volts of electricity!

I was happy as well as felt sick! I felt choked.

I smiled and hugged him as the reflex.

At night, I received a call from Suhas.

“Hi honey! How was your day? Sorry I was busy today. I couldn’t call nor message. Did you miss me honey?”

“Umm… Ok..”

“I asked you something, Did you miss me baby?”

“Yeah..”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” I said forcefully.

He was overwhelmed to hear that from me. “I met Raghav this evening. I told him that we need to break up. He was upset. We fought. I guess I deserve more. When are you marrying me?”I questioned.

He remained silent for sometime. Maybe he had not expected this. “After I get settled.” He said.

Maybe I had hot the right nerve. “Why not now? You even wish to stay with me for a week jaan.. Why can’t you marry me then? Your would be has even shared her naughty secrets with you baby.” I said without giggling.

“Would be?” he questioned.

“Me, baby.. Your would be.”

He was not ready for it. We spoke about the other things. Mostly, he tried to change the topic about the wedding.

“Have you really booked the room?” he questioned.

“Can you marry me this week?” I questioned.

“What? Are you crazy? We haven’t even met once.” he questioned.

“Ok then, no staying together. I moaned.

The argument concluded with, “Ok so you mean sex after marriage?”

“I love you but I want us to do it after marriage. I am dreaming about meeting your parents soon. What are you planning to do about the finance?” I questioned.

He had no answer. He was a college drop out. He often whined about his sad life and his ex-girlfriend. Marriage didn’t exist even in his remote dreams.

“I love you so much Tapasya. Please forgive me for the rude words dear. It makes me angry when you talk about Raghav. I am so happy that you too love me. You are my Princess. Please stop smoking ok?
“

“Umm ok.. As you wish!”

I am with you not because of the recording you did. I am with you because I feel you are the right guy. I hope you don’t record our first night too. Please keep the recording safely. It wouldn’t be nice if your friends see their Bhabhiji stripping! Right?”

“Shut up! Don’t say that. Oh I am so sorry about it. I will delete it right away love.”

It is being a year.

The phone vibrates yet again…

“Hey baby! Where are you? Did you talk to Raghav again? I hope you are not talking to him every day. I don’t want him to talk to you more often. Okay?”

“Yes…”

“I love you girl!”
“More..”

I was double dating. I was never very sure if he had really deleted the recording. He often treated me with forceful love. He was always very insecure about me. It was a mess. An yearlong mess. It was so hard to get out of it. I had told Raghav about him in bits.

“What a guy said he loves you? How can he say that? You better stop talking to new people.” since then I never really had the guts to tell him anything further.

To be continued. . .