Mythili started to feel so awkward at work these days. Varun wasn't smiling back at her whenever she smiled at him. He avoided eye contact in the meetings. He would talk lesser and lesser everyday. She felt that he is avoiding her. She is all upset, down and tired.
One Friday night, as she was looking at FB, as always, she received a message from Varun, asking to take her out for a coffee next day. Mythili was dumbstruck. She least expected this. She immediately replied yes and was over the top of the moon. She was immensely happy that soon she went to sleep after so many sleepless nights. But the dreadful dream woke her up at 12.30 am. She did not scream this time. The very thought of Varun calmed her down instantly.
She was rejoicing the next day about the coffee retreat. She was busy sorting out her attire for the evening. She was all super excited. In the evening, she arrived at the shop punctually and looked stunning. Her heart pounded when she saw him in jeans and black T-shirt. 'Just like Shahrukh', she thought.
"Hi Mythili", greeted Varun with a big smile.
'Is he alright? Totally a different he', she thought.
"Hi Varun. How are you?"
"Wonderful"
'Awww the mesmerising smile!!!'
"So, why is this meeting for Varun?"
'Looks like he had a haircut today. Cutie.'
He didn't say a word, but kept smiling.
'Oh! my doll looks happy and nervous.'
"What would you like to have Mythili? I love cold coffee in this shop"
"I too love cold coffee"
"Really?"
'Yes baby. I like whatever YOU like.'
As the coffee is being served, Mythili broke the silence, "What is the matter Varun? You look very happy"
'Yes he is happy, excited, nervous and fishing for words. What is this?? I feel butterflies inside?!! Oh goosebumps, my legs gone numb, hands are trembling and couldn't breathe. I think... I think he is going to propose me.'
"I am getting married Mythili"
"What?"
"Ya I am getting married soon. I am marrying my lady love. My most beautiful treasure, meaning of my life and my sweet little baby"
'To hell with you and your girl'
"Mythili I never knew my parents would immediately accept and acknowledge my love for her. Everything fell into places with ease" and he continued to praise his girl. Non-stop.
'God this is the worst thing that could happen to me. I have been in love with this idiot and suffered so much pain just to find out that he likes someone else. Why is he doing this? Is he really dumb, not to understand me and my love? No he is not. He is smart enough. That's why he called me over to give a lecture about his girl friend. Did I ask him all this? How could he be so mean? If he is not interested, he should have told a 'no' to me or walked away from me. Is he trying to be oversmart? I have been going crazy about him day in and day out. But, he is now teasing me and my feelings. How could he do this to me?'
"How could you do this to me?", she shouted with tears rolling down her cheeks, interrupting him.
Varun sat still and stared at her.
'Oh my God. To hell with my mind voice'
"Sorry Varun I didn't mean to say that. My mistake. I am sorry. Congratulations to you and your girl", she said and stood up to walk away.
"Sit down Mythili", said Varun sternly.
She stood still.
"Sit down", he said with a tint of anger in his voice.
They stayed silent for a couple of minutes. Mythili kept looking down at the table.
Varun placed a small box on the table and gently pushed it towards her.
"Open it for me please, Mythili", he said.
She was reluctant to touch it.
"Will you please open it?", he said in a sharp tone.
Mythili was fuming with anger and tension. She opened the box with utmost hatred. She unwrapped the 'thing'. It was a heart made of glass with 'I love you', engraved on it, in golden colour.
She looked puzzled. Her hands were trembling. She looked at him with tears.
"Mythili, I love you. I knew you least expected this. I knew you were in love with me. But, I didn't know that I too was in love with you. I have noticed many times that you go restless whenever you sit closer to me, that you smile at me a million times a day, that your face go pink whenever I smile back, that you fill your writing pad with my name, that you come up to me with stupid doubts just to talk to me and that you like me more every day. I wasn't sure initially and thought it was a joke. So I stayed away from you and avoided you. But then, you looked miserable. You stopped smiling, you stopped concentrating on your work, always you stayed low and the
Iife that I saw in you was fading away. And that gave me more and more pain in my heart. I then realised it wasn't a joke and you were serious. I also knew that you will never open your mouth and thought I would propose you, without wasting any more time", he said and smiled at her gracefully.
He continued,"You were looking extraordinarily beautiful today and well prepared for a proposal. So just for fun I told you that my marriage is fixed and blah blah blah. Goodness me! You were so furious that I expected you to shout at me or probably even hit me. But I am glad, you didn't."
She looked at him with zero emotions. "Hey Mythili, I love you", he said. He waited to see her smile. But instead, she started crying.
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