CHAPTER-42
MYSTERY JULIET
Naomi’s POV
As I rushed downstairs, I blushed, spotting his car parked right in front of the entrance. He had just arrived and I sensed him! What am I feeling? I have never been this close to anyone ever before. What’s wrong with me? Do I love you, Akshat sir?
He waved, chuckling and blushing along, as he walked towards me. I nodded, walking towards him.
“Aww! So cute!”, Vyomi whispered in my ears. I frowned and shook my head.
“Dude, what’s cute here?”
“Oh, come on. Didn’t you leave our room to meet him? How did you know that he was here? Neither did he call you nor text…”
I shrugged. “I don’t know…Just a coincidence. Forget!”
“No, dude…Think about it…”
“Hi Kiku!”, Akshat greeted, in his meek and hesitant voice. I turned away from Vyomi throwing her mouth open and shrinking her eyes, at me.
“Kiku, how come you turned up here all of a sudden? Gonna ride together to dine?”, asked I, to which he remained speechless, with his light brown pupils diving into my black pupils. His face chimed, portraying him, as no less than an emerald stone in one’s personal locker, in his pastel green formal suit.
I looked down, hid a strand of hair behind the right ear, and blushed to myself. I breathed hard, wondering why Akshat checked me out, on and on, that dusk. It's probably because he is seeing me for the first time in a sari. I raised my head up, slowly, only to note that his eyes continued to glue to my face. Urgh! I feel embarrassed right now.
Akshat sir, please stop it! Please! I blushed and breathed harder, bulging my eyes at the marron tiles illuminated with the set of four chandeliers fixed at the center of the ceiling.
“You look beautiful tonight, Naomi. I just can’t take my eyes off you. I feel like how Adam felt on meeting Eve, his woman”, he complimented. He came closer and pushed a few strands of my loose hair behind the left ear. He whispered, “I love you. Will you be mine?”
I turned to look into his eyes. An entire minute of silence followed. He chuckled, looking away and wiping a drop of tears. “Sorry, I know…I think I spoke a little too much today but I feel that's what every man feels while finding his lover looking different”, he comforted me. I smiled but didn’t want to release my face from his.
Urgh! Have you lost it, Naomi? He is your lecturer. Don’t stare at him like this. I nodded and turned away. “It's alright, Kiku. Your feelings matter”, said I.
“Naomi!”, called he, at which I turned back to face him. He extended his right palm. “Let’s go!” I nodded, placing my left palm in his. He tightened our palms together and escorted me to his car. He opened the slang’s door and directed his right hand like a gentleman, gesturing for me to get in. I nodded and took my seat. He shut the door.
As soon as he sat in the driver’s seat and started the engine, I waved at my friends, blushing and waving back at me, from the entrance. Akshat and I began riding. I grew engrossed in gazing outside through the glass window. I heard romantic songs playing within me. I shook my head. No, Naomi! You’re not riding with your boyfriend. Stop! Stop! Urgh! I shrank my eyes as karaoke played restlessly as if they were programmed into an automatic playlist.
I didn’t dare to face Akshat although he gave glances, at times. Every time he glanced, blushing along, he chuckled and shrugged, turning back to focus on the windscreen.
“Oops!”, exclaimed I, breaking the silence.
“What happened, Kiku?”
“Have I applied too much lipstick? Urgh! These girls…Akshat sir, can you please help me find tissues?”
“Sexy! Why did you suddenly turn cautious?”
“No, it's not funny, Kiku. It's awkward. Urgh! Whom am I trying to explain? A girl would be eligible to understand my policy better…”
“Sexy! How many policies do you have, Kiku?” We took a left turn, and he chuckled at me, opening the drawer at the slang’s end and letting my hands inside through it, restlessly, to investigate for a tissue paper, as if I were a CBI officer striving to find a clue at the crime scene.
“Naomi! Listen here! Aye, Kiku!...”
“Sir, forget it. You won’t understand…What will others at the restaurant think of me? Oops…I should have just worn casual jeans and dressed up like how I go to the university every day…” He parked at a corner. His fingers pressed my chin, turning my face at him. We blushed at each other.
His eyes moved to scrutinize my red lips. His eyeballs rolled hither and thither as they examined every little grid of my lips. He closed his eyes, neared, and kissed my soft lips. I breathed hard at his unanticipated kiss. I threw my mouth open at the traces of coating on his lips. He grabbed his handkerchief from the pockets and wiped his lips perfectly, despite the absence of a mirror. I tilted my head and
“Sexy! Beautiful lips. Now, they are fine. Leave your poor mind free!”, said he, at which I rubbed my lips against each other and turned away as he continued blushing. He chuckled and continued driving. I gave him a glance or two secretly, once in five minutes, which he failed to notice. I chuckled and turned to stare at him once again. Urgh! He caught me! I closed my eyes and turned back to the window. I hid my mouth with my left palm as I blushed alone.
“Hmmm…Naomi!”
“Yes, Kiku!”
“Some mystery Juliet was staring at me. It was cute, though but I don’t know why she is scared of me.”
“Sir! No! Why do you think I’m scared of you?”
“Sexy!”, chuckled he, turning the steering wheel and adding, “I never mentioned that she was you. Did I?” I held my breath for a second and looked away to release it. I closed my eyes and slammed my forehead. Urgh! Control, Naomi. I can’t love him. I shouldn’t love him. I won’t love him. I love him…Urgh! Stop it! No, Naomi, you don’t love him and will never. Got me? Then, why were you staring at him like that? I shook my head and breathed in as if I were exercising Yoga.
“As if he loves me. He knew that I would be wearing the black sari that he gifted me, yet, he has worn a different color. Fine, clear then!”, murmured I, smiling at the lonely bus stop with a Marathi board, with “Pmp bus stop”, painted in red and hosted on it, that just passed. “Akshat too has forgotten me…So, I needn’t think about our love story anymore…”
“Aye! Screw your mind! Who said this?”, Akshat spoke up. I shrugged, raising my eyebrows along and asking, “What! I didn’t say anything…”
“Sexy! How come I heard everything then?” He blushed, driving out of the traffic on the main road. “Kiku, I wore a different color because opposites attract. I love you although you don’t seem to, as you say…”
“Kiku, I indeed don’t love you...Don’t have hopes which will shatter and torture you in the long run.”
“Yes yes, I know. Why wouldn’t I? After all, I’m your lecturer.” I shrugged once again at which he chuckled and left his right hand outside the window to gesture for the little kids to cross the road. I tilted my head and smiled at him who was busy smiling at the children wrapping each other and walking along.
“Naomi, I have a doubt. First of all, why did you expect our choice of dresses to match? Anyway, how will it bother you, for you don’t love me, right?”
“Ammm…Hmmm…I just asked casually, Akshat. What do you mean? Generally, while meeting up like this, people tend to wear matching outfits…”
“Sexy! Does your famous five gang have this policy or is it your own policy once again? Hmmm…”
Love is so blind that it just happens unexpectedly.
You may fall for anyone!
Would you let go of your policy if you fell for someone you shouldn't? What would you choose-your policy or your beloved?
I half-shook and half-nodded my head while he burst out a round of laughter. No sooner did I turn away than I felt him catch my right hand. I turned back only to notice him pulling me closer and kissing my neat rosy hand.
“Kiku!”, called I, withdrawing my hand and turning back at the glass to blush secretly.
“Sexy! Take your time, Naomi. I know your heart even better than you”, he concluded, chuckling and entering into “Splendid Memories Resort”, as the golden yellow text on a whiteboard adhering to the entrance wall, announced.
He refused to let go of my palm, as we walked together, on the lawn, looking into each others’ eyes. He stopped at the white tent. He released my hand and folded his hands together. I bent a little to walk in. Tears accumulated in my eyes as I noticed candle after candle placed in a circular fashion surrounding the table at the center. It was a beautiful space, despite lacking illumination except for those candles inside; more like a dream candle-light dinner set-up.
“Aww, Kiku! So sweet of you! You made me feel very special right now!”, I cheered, walking towards the round table with its thick wooden legs crossing against each other, below the surface covered with a white tablecloth. The table had an unlit candle in its center and two white plastic plates on either side.
I turned back to blush at Akshat blushing and nearing me. I hugged him.
“This is the best gift ever, Kiku. The word ‘sweet’ loses its sweetness while standing in front of your nature. Thanks load for this! None have ever thought about me, as such, except you…”, sobbed I, pushing my head on his chest and hugging him firmer. He hugged me back, massaging my head and patting my cheeks.
“Aye, you will no longer remain a loner, for I’ve entered your life”, he highlighted, resting my cheeks in his palms and kissing my forehead. I blushed as our eyes continued hugging each other for the entire next minute.
As soon as he released me, I rushed to light the candle on our table. He chuckled, putting on the bib and sitting opposite me while I blushed, lighting it, with my pendant revealing itself and oscillating along. I breathed the flame and shifted my eyes back to him.
“Aww, no doubt, I too am special to you”, said he, pointing at my pendant. I blushed, as I took my seat.
“Of course, you are, Kiku”, said I. I then bit my tongue, raised my eyebrows, and shook my head. He sighed and blushed along. I looked away and neared to ring the tiny bell placed in the left corner of our table.
“Uhh!”, I exclaimed, at his hand touching mine. I followed it to swallow my breath and let him capture my eyes once again. We happened to press the bell together. A waiter entered, pulling an open trolley housing a variety of international cuisines on every layer, which was, in turn, a rolling disc surface.
He served us on our plates as we began cherry-picking a handful of starters.
He bowed and left, after placing a spoon and a fork on both of our plates.
Akshat and I blushed at each other every time we lifted our heads up to push in a spoon of fresh corn or a fork of spicy paneer tikka. My legs happened to touch his as I extended them, as usual, as I dined alone, on the dining table.
“Sorry!”
“Sorry!”
I didn’t even look up but tapped to hit my plate with the sharp steel fork while he continued staring and blushing at me. Urgh! Akshat, please stop! Naomi, you eat. Eat! Eat! I forced a bite of masala paapad having crumbs of raw onions and tomatoes sprinkled over it. I didn’t dare to look up. I closed my eyes and chewed it.
Akshat’s mobile came to our rescue! “Hello! Mom! Yeah…”, he answered the call. I looked up after him having turned to the right and looking down, closing his mouth with the left palm and conversing softly. I smiled and took my first breath of relief. Thanks, aunty!
My eyes happened to go over fresh gobi pieces on his plate. I shrank my eyes and bit my lips as I naughtily grabbed one with my fork.
“Sexy!”, said he, chuckling at me as he inserted his mobile into the pockets.
I bulged my eyes, pushing half of the piece already. He laughed, clicking my most embarrassing picture ever!
“Sorry, Kiku…I love gobi, as you know…”, dragged I, chewing the yummy dish along. He burst into a round of laughter.
“Aye, come on! I don’t mind. You have my entire life now, in your hands, for you have already stolen my heart. Stealing a piece of gobi is nothing, in contrast to what you have already done!”, he reassured, catching my hand on the table. I looked down and blushed, also feeling him bending his face just to stare at me blushing forever, in his presence! Akshat, I love you…Wait! No! I closed my eyes and shook my head, focusing back on my dinner.
“Dance!”, he offered, kneeling in front of me and extending his right hand, as I wiped the corners of my lips with a tissue paper. Aww, why has he been overloading our dinner with surprises? How will I stop my emotions from growing now? Please stop this, Kiku. You have put me in the toughest spot possible ever. Enough! What if things go beyond my control?
“Hey, it's fine. No force to dance”, said he, bowing and withdrawing his hand.
“Why not, Akshat?”, said I, standing up from the chair and giving in my right hand. Urgh! What have I done? Am I out of my own senses? Anyways, he had withdrawn. I should have just ignored it. Why couldn’t I ignore you, Kiku? Urgh! I closed my eyes and shook my head. What do I want? Why do I feel as if my mind and heart want two different things?
He let his fingers along my right hand and pulled me closer. I swallowed my heartbeat, resting my left hand on his chest. I closed my eyes and blushed as he wrapped his left hand around my waist. He touched my left hand with his right palm to embrace my left palm. He lifted my hand up and down as our feet moved two steps back and two forth, in sync. He made me twirl and complete three revolutions around him, in a line. I blushed, every time he pulled me closer only to invite my hair to kiss his face.
“Sexy!”, he chuckled, beginning to quit the dance and tickle me, all of a sudden. I squealed and chuckled, covering both ends of my waist with my elbow joints. While he still managed to conquer me in his cozy arms and my hair brushed entirely on his face, restlessly, I managed to escape. He began chasing me as I chuckled and ran round and round our table.
“Ouch! Aah, Kiku!”, trembled I, holding my waist and sitting down on the grassy flooring within the tent.
“Naomi! Hey, what happened? Sorry…”, said he, sitting beside me and patting my shoulders as if he passed a slight electric current into my bloodstream.
“Ouch…Oops! Looks like I got a sprain…”
“Fuck! All because of me! I was playing the fool…”
“No, Kiku. You were the first one ever to have played with me. I loved it...I enjoyed it as well! Ouch…”
He pressed my left shoulder and pushed me on the floor. I breathed hard and frowned a bit, as he let his hands down to massage my waist.
“Kiku, what are you doing?”, asked I, trying to push him away and get up. He arrested my right palm in his left and nodded. With his eyes interlocked with mine, he pinched me hard.
“Aaauch!”, I yelled, with tears in my eyes.
“Sorry, did it hurt?”
Strands of my hair continued to swim across my face as I turned to notice him moving his hand away from my waist. I shrank my eyes, on being able to move those waist muscles freely. I turned back and threw my mouth half-open at him. He looked away and stood up.
No sooner did his back face me than I hurried to hug him from behind. “Sorry, Kiku. I’m so sorry…I shouldn’t have doubted you…You pushed me suddenly. I freaked...I’m sorry…But, please don’t leave me, Kiku...I can’t live without you...I will shatter into pieces…I want you…”
“Hey! Why will I ever leave you, Naomi?”, argued he, turning back and hugging me. I swallowed my tears as he massaged my head and confirmed, “It's one and only you, Naomi for me, Akshat, not only during this lifetime but also for all our upcoming births. I know the dilemmas your mind has been processing. I understand…It takes time…” I closed my eyes and soaked his suit with my tears.
“Aye! I won’t let my Naomi shed even a tear while I’m here.” He grinned, resting my cheeks in his cozy arms. He took out his handkerchief and wiped my tears. I blushed and hugged him once again.
“Lots of hugs today! Sexy!”, he commented, returning a hug.
As we captured several cute selfies with funny filters on our smartphones, we left the tent. I happened to notice orange lights announcing ‘BAR’, all in block letters, a few feet away from the lawn.
“Kiku! Shall I try it? Please!”, I requested, shrinking my eyes and pressing Akshat’s left palm hard. He blushed and chuckled.
“Sure? Will you please look after me? I have always wanted to try drinking…”
“Sexy! Go ahead…I won’t drink today. Instead, I shall balance this first-timer candidate!”
“Thank you!”, I yelled. I looked up and smooched his right cheek. We blushed for the next couple of seconds before I ran to adventure as if I rushed to play with the waves at a beach.
Wow! What’s in store for Akshat after Naomi drinks for the first time?!
Dear readers,
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