You Consume Me - Part 2

He was the fire which could burn her and she knew it. She had seen that dangerous passion in his eyes which could just consume her into itself. It was the sole reason why she never dared to get close or make a cordial friendship with him. Initially, she tried but she failed miserably to friend zone him. She had realized that such a cordial friendly relationship was never possible between them because it would never stop at that.

He was capable of barging into her life and burn everything into a pile of ash. Even when that realization dangled over her head like a sharp sword, she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt towards him. The more she repelled him, the more she was drawn like a moth to the fire. Her mind conflicted and chided her to remind that she was in a strong relationship and was committed for life but her heart did sink whenever their eyes met.  Those brief eye locking moments were getting impossible for her. She couldn’t control her wandering heart at such instances. She was scared that her heart and eyes would give away at a vulnerable instance. No she couldn’t do that. She shouldn’t betray her love even in her thoughts. She was a simple girl who grew up with morals. She was bound by them strongly and couldn’t even think about slurring from her commitment. She tried to make herself believe that she was happy and content in what she had in her hands.

Being in the same profession and in constant touch with each other added to her woes. Even a slight brush of fingers ignited a pool of sinful desires inside her. Yes sinful desires, that’s what she termed what she felt. She warned herself that it was a grave mistake and couldn’t step into it knowingly.

She couldn’t wander away from her righteous path nor could she let her heart do a sin. It was a forbidden fruit though it seemed the most desirable and temptingly sweet. She was determined to keep him and his thoughts away from her. She went on dates and parties with her fiancé and did whatever it took to keep herself tagged, anchored to the same.  She tried spending every free moment of her life with her lover and forced herself to think only about their future life together to avoid his thoughts barging into her mind.

It was the lohri party and she knew he would be there. All his best friends would be there and there was no way he wouldn’t be present. She didn’t want to go there and torture herself in his presence, away from him. She told some random reason about a prior commitment or some other party. She felt relieved that her friends didn’t insist further.

He took out the green friendship band she had gifted him, a treasure that he would cherish for life. He had removed it reluctantly when his friends had taunted and hinted about a rumored love affair between them. There was a story going on in their circle which he wanted to stop for her sake. The last he wanted was a fight between her and her langoor because of him.

He grinned as he slipped the band in his wrist and slid it beneath the full sleeves. He had made up his mind to attempt a silent plan. Without doing much or meaning any damage, he wanted to know her thoughts. He had an urge to know what was in her heart. Did she feel anything at all for him?

He was in the party venue much earlier. He saw that there were few new faces tonight, pretty faces for sure but he didn’t even have the thought to look twice because his eyes only searched for her. Where was she? She was always punctual, even in parties. So what was wrong today? Did she forget this party? Or have some other engagement? Dinner with langoor?

He cringed at the last thought. The mere imagination of her hands in another guy’s hand made him fist his hands. He punched on the side wall violently and that caught a few eyes. His friend ran up to him

“What happened bhai? Are you alright?”

He instantly calmed his nerves and gave a fake smile, “Yeah….I am fine….tu bataa….sab aagaye, huh?”

His only aim was to know when she was coming or perhaps if she was coming. His friend didn’t have a hint to what his heart beats ached for. He shrugged and replied, “haan….sab hai…..come lets start bhai….I have someone important to introduce to you”

His hands inched to hit his friend’s head and say that the most important person, the most awaited one hasn’t arrived yet.  He suppressed his real thoughts and smiled instead, “Haan chalo”

Though he obliged, he was least interested in anyone else but her.

They were half into the party and he had almost concluded that she wouldn't come when she entered, hand in hand with her fiancé. His half lit smile faded as his eyes accusingly barged into hers. He knew that she hadn’t done any mistake or rather she was always right but his crazy heart couldn’t control its rage which was a result of his disappointment to see them together. Why had she tagged the langoor along?

He walked to a dark secluded corner, away from his over enthusiastic friends. None would notice or disturb him there. His eyes kept darting to the spot where she was. She was busy chatting away with friends and much to his relief, her fiancé wasn’t with her. He looked at her intently without a blink.

As if a cue struck her, perhaps the power of his gaze was such that she turned around to see its source. He was amused by the way she was searching all around. His crazy heart wished that it was for him while his mind chided that it would be for her fiancé. His heart beamed its victory when her eyes stopped all its antics when it met his. Even from the unnoticed dark corner, she had found him, she had felt his soulful presence.

He kept wishing for miracles to happen tonight. He wished she came to him, into his arms putting everything else to rest. He ardently wished and prayed that for once she leaves behind the world just for him, for her, for them. He didn’t know if his wish was proper at all. But tonight, he wished that both forgot what was proper, and what was not.

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