It was a hot summer afternoon when Rahil stood tired under a mango tree rooted beside the pavement. He was tired from wiping off the continually generated sweat from his forehead.
The sun was at its full might when an angry bus driver went past the road cursing the delicate man ,fallen on the road who had dared to ride his dilapidated cycle alongside the demi bus.
Rahil constantly looked at the man and his concentration was only broken by a small seminaked boy asking for spare change. Rahil offered a two rupee coin but the boy demanded five. He did not want to argue so he did just as the boy asked. He would probably roam around in a quarter pant with a top that one would feel ashamed to call a T-Shirt. But like always, formalities had taken over comfort and the red shirt paired with a black enim and sneakers were right now his worst enemies.
'This is probably my worst day ever' he said to himself. 'But how can this be bad?' He argued 'For today I am to meet her again'. It is funny how someone unknown till yesterday can make us do so many iditoic things and still be happy.
The phone rang and he imidiately took it out expecting her call. 'Joy Calling', said the screen and he with fallen hopes received it.
"Dude! Where the hell are you? We need to get drunk now.", he said ecstatic
"what? Why? I can't come. I'm outside the Nicco park waiting for Ayesha. What's the matter?" he asked.
"I'll tell you when we meet. Why didn't you tell us you would be gone today?"
"We just planned it yester night, Ayesha and I. And dude, I wouldn't get drunk at 1 pm even if i were at home."
"But you aren't at home, that is the point. See ya later bye."
"Bye."
Time had started to slow down. Every second seemed like an hour. Desperation mixed with scorching heat was something even the satan would want to avoid.
All the desperation slipped away as a taxi arrived and stopped in front of him. The wait was over. Ayesha was there for their second date fulfilling her promise. He glared at her. Ran his eyes all over her. The girl was looking all beautiful in her black pants and racer back top. He couldn't dare tell him how wonderful she was looking. Ayesha took her steps towards him with a smile. A fresh smell of her perfume re energized his mind.
"You are late again" Rahil said.
"Yup, traffic jam. But I guess I fulfilled my promise" she replied rubbing her hands against each other. The small details he noticed made his heart beat faster for her.
"Any way , so should we go in now?", Rahil refered to the place they had decided over the phone last night.
"Ok sure ,"
Both of them slowly made way towards Nalban , situated just beside the Nicco park. The sun was still at its peak. Lots of thoughts curling in both their minds as they walked .
"So how is your preparation going Rahil?" she demanded to know.
"Yes I am preparing, lets see.Anyway you look good today". Even after months he was still trying for her.
"OH, thank you for that, and yes how are your friends?" she asked again.
"Yup, they are good too. I was wondering to move to Prashit's place for some day so I could study"
"Yes , If you think that will help then you should. So have you come here before?"
"Where? Here? Nalban?" he made his voice more huskier and how Ayesha loved that.
"Yes, I came here once for my school picnic you know" she explained herself walking towards the gate.
"Okay, lets go in now" Rahil suggested as his hand went for hers unknowingly. He slowly retracted it.
"Hey, lets try the boat ride", those were Ayeshas first words inside the park.
'I was thinking of food, but who am I to think, she is the one who controls me', Rahil said to himself.
"Sure, no problem.", that would be his reply to almost anything coming out of her mouth.
They at once started walking towards the counter.
'How much for the boat ride', he asked the young lad at the counter.
'What?', he replied in an alert tone.
"How much.."he was stopped by her "We would like a boat ride please."
Sure he smiled.
Rahil looked at him with a frown.
Ayesha looked at rahil and giggled.
Rahil realised how stupid he was being and smiled back on Ayeshas face.
"Hey, can I tell you something?" he said trying not to look at her serene face.
"Yes you can" she replied.
"I have not been on a boat before and I am a little afraid of water" his eyes were on the ground and a crimson blush took over his face.
"What?" she started laughing.
"Don't laugh, it can happen to anyone." he gathered courage to shield his self esteem.
"Okay okay", she tried to stop laughing but after a short pause gave in to the intensity of the joy.
Rahil looked at her laughing and was struck by something that gave him the joy of getting drunk over and over again. He was intoxicated by her.
He no longer cared about the world, about himself, he only wanted to stare at her thinking he had made her that happy.
Rahil smiled looking at her face. Ayesha noticed his sudden silence.
"What happened mr. water-o-phobia?" she asked trying to control her laugh.
There was a short pause, Rahil took a deep breath in "You are", he said in a placid tone looking right into her deep eyes. He wished to hold her hands but climbed above his emotions "..... idiotic.", a reflex smile covered his face.
"Shut up Michael Phelps. Lets go to the boat now." she had probaby noticed how Rahi'ls arms were moving towards her hands as he looked into her eyes.
Rahil nodded and continued the paused walk.
'What did just happen?' he said to himself 'Am i fa.. no shut up Michael Phelps..Shut up Rahil', though he barely had any idea who Michael Phelps was.
A young woman guided him and Ayesha onto the boat and gave them a couple of instructions about how they should be careful and little things that Rahil barely cared about.
So this was the moment. A moment to overcome a cause of his nightmares. No, Not Ayesha, the water.
He gradually rowed the boat and closed his eyes for some time. Ayesha sat before him looking at the lake.
He opened his eyes and there was Ayesha looking straight at him.
She came close, picked up his hand and held it between hers "Its going to be okay" she looked into his eyes and felt his fear.
"Your life is about to change" she said looking at him smiling and moved back to her spot.
Rahil kept paddling until his hands were tired. He looked all around and there was only still water with a gentle breeze distorting its calm surface. Ayesha looked out to the scenery. Rahil's eyes fluctuated between the wild greenery and his wild infatuation or was it so?
Long black hair distributed over her shoulders and covering her back. His fears had gradually started to give in and he knew he had started moving towards one of the best feelings of the world.
"Why did you stop?" she asked as she turned back to him.
He didn't want to tell her he was tired "Lets stop here for a second and enjoy the view"
Ayesha looked at him for a moment and then looked away to the endless lake. From the center of the lake, the view was breath taking. Temperature had started falling down and the atmosphere was quiet. All around there was nothing but still water, the breeze had stopped. As far as one could see, there was only Gods imagination. A pair of white swan swam just a few yards away from the vaguely umber boat.
It was a different world, where the inhabitants were only people on about a dozen boats and the birds that swam peacefully.
Hardly had anyone realized that dark clouds had started approaching the sun. Rahil looked up at the sky and felt cheated on. Did God really lurked behind watching him from a distance waiting for the perfect moment to ruin his day?
He was about to find out. 'Don't spoil the moment please, God being a skeptic, he hardly had any idea of talking to the almighty.
'Would it rain?' The question was 'Did God care enough to leave Rahil alone?'
But its the evil God above you, ready to sabotage the perfect moments of your life. It started raining. And it rained heavily.
"Row the boat - fast", she said trying to cover her head with her hands.
Rahil started to row as fast as he could, but reaching for a shelter from the center of a humongous lake takes time.
It was too late, he stopped rowing.
"What are you doing?" she shouted.
"It is of no use now. We can't reach the shore. Just enjoy the moment."
God could do whatever he had to to ruin his life, situations are not under our control, but our choices are. He decided to stay.
Ayesha looked at him and he stared into the water.
It was unlike anything he had seen before. How could he fear such a miraculous moment? Falling Water droplets struck the water surface and the once calm scene grew wild. Time paused, but for the better.
The sound of the droplets breaking into the lake, the birds dancing and enjoying the moment considered evil by Rahil, the trees breaking the falls of droplets, everything was magical.
It seemed God was testing Rahil and Rahil has passed with flying colours. The sun came out tearing through the dark clouds.
It was still raining, but it was sunny. It seemed like God smiled from above to Rahil. Yes he had won. The rain turned gentle and the sun soothed the ambiance. Rahil had overcome his fear and it was far more wounderous than anything he had experienced before.
Ayesha looked at him as he felt the moment. Both were cold and all drenched, but neither showed any concern. They were in the moment.
"How was it Rahil?" she asked.
Rahil looked at her for a moment. He got up from his seat and walked straight towards her. He came up really close and stared into her eyes. She looked perplexed and scared.
Anyone could tell, how her heart beat increased as she was locked into his eyes.
Rahil gradually lifted his arms towards her waist and held her tight. She closed her eyes and so did Rahil.
"Who am i to you Ayesha?" he asked.
"What ?"
"Who am I to you? answer me."
She kept silent. Best moments in life are not seen or heard, they are felt. This was the best moment. Its funny how situations that we think are there to slow us down. For the future is never upto us. Up there someone is looking down at you trying to write your perfect story. It has ups and downs but its yours only yours.
Yes she was right, his life was about to change.
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