"You're eighteen," he insisted, still keeping me trapped between himself and the thick tree trunk. The secluded side of campus was empty enough to spare us from the usual crowd of curious eyes-less chance of running into friends or the Insta hounds. Still, it was open enough for the campus spies to easily spot us and report my little rendezvous word-by-word to my extremely strict, Amrish Puri type, decade-older brother who happened to be an MLA by profession.
I opened my mouth to respond, but I was still struggling to process what he'd just blurted so casually as if we were just discussing Prof. Sharma's bald head and his heinous affair with his 45-year-old married maid.
Eighteen must be the right age to do all these weird shits? Right? Including having handsome and rich boyfriends? Right?
I mean, what's the harm? For the fact, I was an adult. I got to decide who should be in charge of running the country, so surely I could decide who gets to manage my heart!
"B-but..." I stammered. T
BUT! That was the first word I'd uttered after staying radio silent for a whole of ten minutes.
Ten minutes ago, Akaay Randhawa-six feet tall, lean with dark curls, Moorish very grey eyes, and the younger heir of the Randhawas-Akaay had casually confessed to manifesting romantic feelings in his heart for yours truly.
And ever since then I had been opening and closing my mouth like a fish gasping for air-wishing for the safety of the water I'd recently left behind.
"I think I'm in love with you," he'd stated, hands casually stuffed in the pockets of his tattered jeans as we made our way to the literature library.
It should've been the kind of thing that stopped a girl dead in her tracks, but not me. It was so cliche! I could never stoop to that level of cringe.
Instead of pausing, gasping, blushing, or giving any of the mundane reactions-I, yours truly, decided to do what only Mridula Singh Chandel would do.
Stunned, bewildered, and overwhelmed for securing the fattest fish in the market, I tripped over my own feet and face-planted right into the bushes, rolling over to the nearest red maple tree that, oddly enough, was as out of place on campus as his confession had been.
"Ow, ow, ow... damn! Ouch!" I groaned as I struggled to get to my feet. The massive trunk was my only support as I tried to process the pain from every part of my body.
It still was my heart that screamed the loudest for attention. BAA-DUMP. BAA-DUMP. The traitorous organ was already planning its grand entrance into the ICU any second now.
"Are you okay?" Akaay's concerned voice echoed behind me, laced with an amused chuckle as he jogged over to help. Too late and too early. Late in saving me from my clumsiness, and way too early in pouring his heart out.
"No! I think I'm having a cardiac arrest!" I groaned, half in jest and fully mortified. First, I dusted off my backside, then headbutted the massive trunk to hide the tomato-red hue spreading across my face.
"Excuse me?" he chuckled, stepping closer. "I think you're fine...minus the scratches and, uh, that bump on your forehead. Come here, let me help you."
I could feel the heat radiating off his body as he reached for me. Too close. Too much.
"I'm sorry," he started, his voice softer now, "I should've chosen a better location for this. But look, Mridula, I'm serious about what I said."
I froze.
"I know I'm a bit older than you-"
"You're twenty-three," I interjected, waving him off. "It's not that much."
"And I've got a bit of a reputation-"
"Yeah, for being super rich," I cut in again, rolling my eyes.
"But I swear I've never felt this way about anyone before." He ran a hand through his dark curls, his eyes avoiding mine for the first time. "You know that feeling when you forget the clock is ticking? Like nothing else exists but this one moment."
He sighed, shaking his head. "Damn, I don't know if I'm making sense. Look, Mridula, I'm not a word weaver, so I'll just be blunt."
I blinked, my heart pounding harder than ever.
"I like you. A lot. Like, very much." He took a deep breath, his Moorish eyes locking onto mine. "Would you be my girlfriend?"
A pinkish hue spread all over his neck and ears. Aww! He looked so nervous and cute. But he was Akaay Randhawa and I wasn't a fool!
I opened my mouth to retort, but his nervous banter wasn't finished yet.
"Well, I'll understand if you don't feel the same way," he blurted, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I mean, the Chandels do have a politically established background! Vikrant Bhai is an MLA. So, it's a no joke and maybe we, Randhawas, don't come across as influential enough, but I swear, I'll work hard-"
"Wait, wait!" I cut him off, my jaw nearly hitting the ground. "Are you fucking with me, Akaay?"
His face turned redder if that was even possible. "No! I'm serious! I like you, Mridula. As a girl. The whole of you!"
I stared at him, dumbfounded. The Randhawas not influential? Younger Randhawa in love with me?
Dude!
The Randhawas were practically royalty in Punjab. I had grown up hearing their name whispered with awe-or fear. From business tycoon Amarnath Randhawa to his twin sons, they had their fingers in every pie imaginable. Akaay's elder brother Kaivan was already making headlines for his calculated brilliance in expanding their family's empire, and Akaay himself had a charm that could make angels fall. So what was he doing here, begging a mere Lit. student for a chance to be his girl when girls are literally falling in his arms ready to ride his-ahem!
And here he was, nervously downplaying all that as if I'd ever buy it.
"You've got to be kidding me," I said, crossing my arms. "It's a prank, isn't it? Did you bet with someone?"
"You think I'd do that?" He defended, his eyes narrowing in embarrassment. "Look, you'd be the first girl I've ever confessed to!"
I tilted my head, my lips twitching. "Oh, really? What about Raima? And Vaishali? And Alina? And Di-"
"NO! Raima? What-Why would you even-"
The way his head shot up was priceless. His pink ears turned crimson as his Moorish eyes widened in horror.
"Oh, come on!" I gasped dramatically. My eyes might have sparkled with mockery because he lowered in shame. "I've heard tales about your little adventures. In fact, I was skeptical of talking to you at first, you know, given your reputation. Are you looking for a game?"
I gave him a raised eyebrow, and he immediately threw his hands up in defense, palms out like he was about to be arrested.
"Those are just that, Mridula-tales!" he said, almost desperately. "Kaivan and I are the prince twins, and girls love to fantasize about us as some knight in shining armour who'd make them orgasm with some petty smirks. Look at me. I talk and walk like every other guy out there. Have you heard me growling, or leaning or whatever the shit they write! I swear, I'm not that guy. And you'd know for sure if you just...give me a chance."
His earnestness caught me off guard for a moment.
"What do you say?" he asked softly, his voice losing the nervous edge as he stepped closer, making my back hit the tree trunk. He casually caught the lower branches, trapping me between him and the massive trunk.
He had read those...
He couldn't know. Could he?
I inhaled sharply.
There was no way I'd let him see how much his proximity was messing with my already overactive heart. Instead, I pretended to consider his words while he waited for my answer, his breath hitched like the outcome of this moment would determine his entire future.
"No." I shook my head firmly.
"No?" He dropped his arms in disbelief, the earlier cockiness vanishing, replaced by something far more vulnerable. "Why?"
"If Bhai finds out..." I trailed off ominously.
"He won't!" Akaay promised immediately, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It'll be just between you and me. Friends for all! I promise-even Kai won't find out."
I arched an eyebrow at him. I didn't know much about his elder twin Kai, but I did know that Akaay and Kaivan Randhawa, were practically inseparable. Raima had flaunted that little tidbit during our theater rehearsals once, smugly boasting that the Randhawa brothers were comfortable even sharing undies.
I narrowed my eyes. It was a sight to see Punjab's Prince Charming squirming in front of me, but I wasn't about to let him off easy.
Girlpower, ladies!
"So...how exactly do you presume a girlfriend would be different from a friend?" I asked, tilting my head.
Akaay blinked, clearly caught off guard. He nibbled on his lower lip for a moment before taking a deep breath, as if preparing for a debate. "Well, for starters," he began, "friendships are platonic relationships built on companionship and shared interests. I can rely on friends for emotional support and advice, but the relationship is typically not exclusive. With you as my girlfriend, on the other hand, it would different. You are my romantic partners. With whom I would share deeper connections, physical intimacy, and a level of commitment the whole of my life."
Intimacy?
I gasped, my eyebrows shooting up to my hairline. "Intimacy?" I repeated, and my exaggerated shock made him stumble a step back.
"Not immediately! Eventually," he said quickly, raising his hands in surrender. "Hey! I wouldn't ask for...you know...those things right away. If that's what you're worried about," he muttered, his voice sincere yet hilariously awkward.
"Oh?" I smirked, leaning back against the tree. "You wouldn't ever crave for those things, Akaay?"
His mouth opened, then shut. His ears turned scarlet again. "I would...manage. Not until you're ready. And only if you trust me! I'd be patient." He finally said, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
I couldn't help it. A laugh burst out of me, and for the first time since this bizarre confession had started, I felt like I had control over the conversation.
"So, is this a yes?" he pleaded, his eyes wide as I stepped away from the tree and resumed my walk to the library.
"Umm...we have secret, Randhawa." I giggled, letting him catch up.
The way his face lit up, followed by an actual happy jump and a little dance, was worth a million-dollar share.
"It's Kay for you. Only the most exclusive gets to use the nick name." He smirked.
Yep, definitely a loyal reader.
"Is it too soon to ask for your life insurance policy now that I'm your special someone?" I teased, elbowing him lightly.
He chuckled, throwing his forearm around my shoulders to pull me closer. "Yeah, maybe a bit!"
Gone was the nervous boy; Akaay had slipped back into his usual confident demeanor. "Besides, you only get the share if you're an immediate and rightful relative."
"Am I not?" I gasped, feigning offense.
"I promise you will be one day."
"Promises are meant to be broken," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "Ever heard the saying?"
"Your man is a Randhawa, Mridula," he countered, his voice smooth, his grin cocky. "Randhawas have a track record of keeping promises."
And then he leaned down and pressed a small kiss to the side of my head.
I had believed him-just like I always did.
*****
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in Amritsar shortly..."
The announcement crackle through the speakers, yanking me out of the memory like a slap. I blink, forcing myself to shake off the ghost of the boy who has been the beginning of all my agonies.
Three years. It has been three long years.
Beside me, Kaustami, my younger sister, squeals with excitement, breaking my trance. "I can't wait to meet everyone!" she chirps, practically bouncing in her seat. "It was so chaotic when we left, and I couldn't even say proper goodbyes! But finally, everything is back to normal!"
Normal.
I clench my hands into fists, staring out of the window as the sprawling fields of Punjab comes into view.
Normal has never seemed so far away.
But I'll teach myself to be this new normal no matter how many ghosts of pasts chase after me!
If only I know my battles aren't only against the ghosts of my past, the spirits looming over me are set to darken my present and future as well.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Namaskar and Sat Sri Akal! We are pleased to inform you that we have landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, Amritsar...