Chapter 4 - The Night of the meeting
Hearing the girl's voice, Vivek turned around. There she was—the same golden, beautiful face… the same exquisite girl, Vanshika, standing behind him, watching him. A smile spread across Vivek's face; he stood up from the bench. The girl walked forward to stand in front of him.
Vivek smiled and said:
"To be honest! I was waiting just for you here."
Vanshika:
"Is that true?"
Vivek:
"Yes! I have no other reason to be here. I've been waiting for you here for almost four hours."
Vanshika:
"Waiting for me…? But why?"
Vivek thought for a moment and said:
"Well, we've already become good friends now, and perhaps… I've started to love you deep down."
Vanshika:
"Perhaps?"
Vivek:
"I mean, I truly feel like I've started to love you."
Vanshika:
"You feel like it?"
Vivek:
"Okay, fine! I truly love you. I do… I mean, I do."
Vanshika:
"That's good."
Vivek:
"Oh, come on… you should say something too."
Vanshika:
"What?"
Vivek:
"That you love me too! Or don't you?"
Vanshika:
"I don't know!"
Vivek:
"Hey! Say something! Don't you like me?"
Vanshika:
"I like to be alone."
Vivek:
"Just tell me this: do you like me?"
Vanshika:
"I don't know you."
Vivek:
"Well, I don't know you either! But I like you. Ever since I met you, I have been thinking about you day and night. Now, you tell me something."
Vanshika remained silent at this question from Vivek and began staring out at the sea. Vivek could not understand the silence on her face. Vivek felt anger rising but suppressed it, not allowing it to show. Vivek got off the bench and walked to stand beside Vanshika.
Looking out at the sea, Vanshika said:
"The sea is more beautiful today than it was yesterday."
Vivek:
"Yes! That is true, but what good is it just to keep looking at it?"
Vanshika:
"It seems you don't appreciate natural beauty."
Vivek:
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have come so far from my house and waited here for four hours for you. After all, that same Nature took its time and effort to create you so beautifully."
Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Vanshika's typically solemn face.
Vanshika:
"You seem quite troubled! And perhaps a little angry too."
Vivek:
"So, what should I do? You are not answering any of my questions."
Vanshika:
"For answers, you will have to wait for the right time."
Vivek:
"And! When will this 'right time' of yours arrive?"
Vanshika:
"I don't know!"
Vivek:
"So, do I have to come here every night and wait for your answer?"
Vanshika:
"Perhaps yes."
Vivek:
"Truly, you seem quite selfish. Too much arrogance about your beauty is not good."
Vanshika looked towards Vivek and said:
"Now I will ask some questions, and you will answer."
Vivek:
"Why not! Of course, ask… what do you want to know?"
Vanshika:
"Are you married?"
Vivek:
"No."
Vanshika:
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Vivek said hesitantly:
"No! I don't have anyone. Like you, I am alone."
Vanshika stared at him and said:
"Is that really true?"
Vivek:
"Yes, truly."
Vanshika:
"How can a handsome young man like you remain alone for so long?"
Vivek:
"I could ask you the same question! How can an extremely beautiful girl be alone for so long?"
Vanshika remained silent. Her expression suggested that she was lost in some deep thoughts, as if some old memories had been refreshed today. Lines of sadness began to form on her beautiful face. Meanwhile, a short distance behind them, a beggar-like old man was watching Vivek and Vanshika from between the bushes. Who was he? This is the major question.
Vivek:
"Will you say something, Vanshika? Where the hell did you disappear?"
Vanshika (softly, almost to herself):
"I think the park is closing now."
Vivek:
"Wait—just one moment. Tell me clearly… about us. Can we be more than friends?"
Vanshika looked away. "Yes… fine. It's getting late. I should leave."
Vanshika:
"Yes… alright. It's getting late; I need to go now."
Vivek:
"Not so fast. Let's go somewhere to hang out… and then we'll make plans for the future too."
Vanshika:
"Okay…"
Vivek:
"Besides this park, is there any other good place nearby where we can spend some time alone?"
Vanshika:
"My farmhouse is in the village, not far from here."
Vivek:
"How far is it? Does anyone else live there?"
Vanshika:
"No, no one lives there right now."
Vivek:
"Good, then going there would be perfect. Do you have the keys to the place?"
Vanshika:
"I don't have the keys."
Vivek:
"Then how will we get inside the house?"
Vanshika:
"It is my home; it is always open for me."
Vivek said jokingly:
"Will a ghost open the door for you there?"
Vanshika replied strangely:
"Yes, something like that."
Vivek laughed and said:
"Then I will definitely have to go there and meet those ghosts."
It was almost 10 o'clock at night; it was time for the park to close. Vivek and Vanshika walked together, talking as they headed out of the garden. Nearby, walking along another path, a security guard could be seen. He was going inside for a check. He looked at Vivek strangely from a distance and moved on.
Following this, Vivek and Vanshika exited the garden. There was no one else outside. With the start of the winter season, very few people were roaming around outdoors.
Vivek opened the car door and settled Vanshika inside. After that, he also got into the car, and then the two of them, seated in the car, began driving towards the village.
It was ten o'clock at night, and it was quite cold. Vivek was driving the car, and Vanshika was sitting in the passenger seat, looking intently at Vivek.
Vivek:
"Are you going to keep staring at me like this the whole way?"
Vanshika:
"Yes… don't you like it?"
Vivek:
"It is nice, but if you say some loving words while looking, I will like it even more."
Vanshika:
"I don't like to talk much."
Vivek:
"If we don't talk much, how will we get to know each other well?"
Vanshika:
"I can know what a person is like by reading their eyes."
Vivek laughed and said:
"If that's true, then I'll have to hide my eyes from you."
Vanshika:
"Are you a bad person?"
Vivek:
"What do you think?"
Vanshika:
"I haven't been able to figure you out properly yet."
Vivek:
"I haven't been able to figure you out either. It looks like we should keep meeting every day."
Looking out the window, Vanshika said:
"Perhaps! That won't be necessary."
Next Chapter…