Love So Far

Farewell Party

I got ready for the school and Neil was waiting for me at my door, then we both were waiting for the bus.

"How are you feeling now?" he looked concerned.

"Better"

"Then why are you coming to school?"

"I'll be alright, Neil. Have you finished the remaining topics?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I have almost completed."

"Hmmm..." I nodded.

"What about you?"

"I couldn't concentrate on it, due to the headache so, I'll be completing it today.."

When Krish got into the bus, I tried not to see him because it reminds me of the dream that I dreamt the other day, but my eyes searched for him. He caught me but I pretended that I was not seeing him. He smiled as he looked down and I have to admit; he looks damn cute when he smiles. After reaching school, he was last to get up from his seat and I was in front of him. Once again, he caught my hand but this time, before he tries to do or say anything, I glared at him and took my hand from him and got down from the bus. That day we had revision tests on many subjects, after lunch, we were been informed that the next day was declared as a holiday for us as we had farewell. Therefore, we had planned to go shopping, after school. 

"Oh! Come on, girls. Last week you all went for shopping in the name of farewell, then why today?" Vicky complained.

"Vicky, we were just doing window shopping." Nikithaa interrupted him.

"Hahaha... window shopping? You have purchased cosmetics for 4000 bucks and now you are saying that you were doing window shopping." He sneered.

"Vicky, if you want to come with us, you can come. But please don't make fun of us." She was frustrated.

"Okay chill babes, I was just kidding." He gave a high-five to Neil.

"Vicky, you won't get peace until you poke Nikithaa, right?" Monica said.

He gave a wicked-smile to Nikithaa.

"Stop it, you asshole." she threw an eraser on him.

Nikithaa and Suhana had thought of wearing a sari and they didn't have any idea from where could they get the designer saris, so they took help from me and Monica. Monica is kind of typical Indian girl; you can always see her in salwar kameez. She is the only girl in our g**g who talks less but works more; Whereas Nikithaa and Suhana were fashion divas and me, neither a typical Indian girl like Monica nor a modern chicks like Nikithaa and Suhana. I had some ideas of sari boutique as I go with my grandparents, aunties and cousins to get some saris for them and me as Grandma sometimes insist me to get one.

Therefore, Monica and I were helping Nikithaa and Suhana in choosing sari for them. Meanwhile, my mobile phone rang and the screen displayed the caller id as Neil.

"Yeah, Neil."

"Where are you?"

"I and Monica are helping Nikithaa and Suhana for choosing a sari for them." 

"Loo, you are kidding, right?" he chuckled.

"No, they both have planned to wear a sari for farewell, so we both are helping them."

"O.K let it be. I want you to help me with choosing a dress. Say me where you are, I'm coming to pick you up."

"Neil, now I'm helping Nikithaa and Suhana."

"Monica is there, right?"

"But, Neil..."

"I don't want to hear anything, say me where are you?" he interrupted before I could complete. “send me the address, I'll be there within half an hour."

"Bye." I ended the call.

"What happened, why are you looking sad?" Monica asked as I ended the call.

"Neil wants me to choose his dress for farewell, so he is calling me to help him."

"Then, go ."

"How can I go, while I'm with you guys, and won't Nikithaa and Suhana will feel bad; if I leave them like this?"

"I'm here now, then why are you worrying." She assured me.

"Yeah Looshin, we won't feel bad," Suhana said.

"And you know that Neil will prefer your selection than others." Nikithaa interrupted.

"Guys, you are sure,? You won't feel bad?"

"Of course, not Loo."

"O.K I'll go with him then."

After sometimes, I got a message from Neil to come down.

"O.K bye, he is waiting down." I took my purse.

"Bye, Loo."

After spending the whole evening with Neil and finally, we bought a black tuxedo for him. I have to admit he was looking damn hot. It was almost 9 p.m. so we had dinner in a near restaurant and went home around 10 p.m. When I went into my room, I found a huge red box decorated with white ribbon. It had tag upon it, written as 'From Mom '. When I opened it, there was a long beautiful black dress designed with crystals. It was looking like a designer collection. I thought of calling mom but I was too tired so I thought of calling her the next day.

As it was a holiday, I woke up around 10 a.m. and was lying awake in bed for sometimes. Then I got out of my bed and got freshen up. When I got out of my room, Grandpa and Grandma were sitting in the living room. Grandma was cutting some veggies and Grandpa was watching the news channel.

"Good Morning." I wished them, sat near Grandpa, and bent my head over his shoulder.

"So have you seen your mom's present?" Grandpa looked up from his newspaper.

"Yeah, Grandpa, it is just awesome. When did she send it?"

"We received it the day before yesterday, but your mom said that she wanted it to be a surprise." He looked back into his newspaper.

"So we didn't say anything about it." Grandma interrupted.

"Have you called her?" Grandpa asked while flipping the pages.

"No Grandpa, I was too tired, so I thought of calling her today. Nevertheless, it will be midnight now. I'll send her a message in WhatsApp." Soon I went into my room and sent a message in w******p.

After having a family breakfast with Grandpa and Grandma, I helped Grandma in cleaning the kitchen while Grandpa was doing some garden works in the balcony. My phone started ringing and it displayed the caller id as Nikithaa. 

"Say Nikithaa." The phone was sandwiched between my ears and shoulders.

"Loo, are you busy now?"

"No, I'm just helping Grandma in cleaning the dishes, why?" I took the plate from Grandma and wiped it with a dry cloth.

"Can you come to Monica's home?"

"Sorry, dear. Grandpa has an important meeting, so he can't drop me in your home."

"Don't worry about that, I'm coming to pick up you."

"But, I have to ask Grandma first."

"Please, come, even Suhana is also coming there."

"Wait, let me ask her." I kept my hand on the display and asked Grandma that whether I can go to Monica's home with Nikithaa. She also agreed, "Okay I'm coming."

"Then be ready within five minutes I'll be there."

"Okay bye"

I took a shower and wore a black kurta and Pink jean. After ten to twenty minutes, I got a message from Nikithaa to come down.

"Bye Grandma, bye Grandpa." I wore a white flat slipper.

"Bye, dear."

We weren't going to Monica's home, Nikithaa, Monica and Suhana had planned to take me to the beauty parlour. They know it very well that I won't go with them if they have said to me before, as I don't like to do the facial kinds of stuff.

"What are we doing here?" I was surprised when the car stopped in front of Green trends. 

"Come in, I'll explain to you everything."

"No, I'm going home." I about got down but Monica and Suhana came out running and grabbed me in.

After doing the entire facial, pedicure and manicure. Monica dropped me home. 

"Be ready, Vicky and I will pick you up." She said as I opened the door.

"No. It's Okay, I'll come with Grandpa. And by the way, he has also got some work nearby our school." I refused her offer.

"Okay then see you at school; and Loo, come soon. Don't be late." She rolled her eyes.

"Okay baba, I won't be late." I smiled and got out of the car.

"Bye." She waved me.

It was almost 7 p.m. and my phone got calls after calls from 6 p.m. but I haven't attended any of them. I got ready and reached the school by 8 p.m. until then I got almost 20 calls and 30 messages from Neil, Monica, Nikithaa, Suhana and Vicky. While I reached the main block of the school, my friends were standing near their car. When I got down from the car, my friends were staring at me, as if some celebrity had come before them. Besides, Neil's mouth had hung open in the air.

"Why are you looking at me like that Neil?"  I shrugged.

"Oh! Loo, you are looking damn hot." He said as he hugged me.

When we entered the auditorium, a sudden flash of light flashed on me. I blocked the light by my hand.

"So, give a big hand to our Lady of Tonight." Someone shouted in the mike.

The crowd was shouting in joy. Then I walked in slowly; my eyes were searching for him, but I could see him nowhere. I was standing with my friends in the food section. I heard a familiar voice behind my ears and I can recognize that voice. "Hai" I could feel my heartbeat rising. I turned back to him.

"You look gorgeous." He nodded as he raised his eyebrow.

"Thanks," I said and started to walk away from him. Nevertheless, my heart said to stay back with him. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Will you shake a leg with me?" Neil asked as he held his hand out.

I nodded and took his hand.

We danced for some time as we were commenting and laughing at others.

"Neil, Monica is staring at you," I said as I noticed Monica.

"I know." He had his infamous smirk.

"Then, why don't you ask her to dance, i***t?"

"I just wanted to play with her."

"Go and ask her, now."

"Calm down, Loo. It's just a prank."

"Just shut up and come with me." I took him to Monica.

"Monica, will you dance with me?" he asked her.

"Loo, tell him to dance with some other girl." She made a face.

"Come on Moni." He went to hug her but she stopped him from doing so.

"No, Neil." She said angrily and went away.

He looked at me.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Please, give me some idea, Loo." He begged.

"Neil, you have to pay for this."

"Come on, Loo. Please convince her." he held my hand and pleaded.

"Nah, you should do it yourself."

"Please, Loo. I'll do anything whatever you want me to do, but please help me ... Please."

"Okay wait, Let me try, my best," I said and went.

I went towards Monica; she was talking with her mom on the phone. When she turned to me, she smiled.

"Moni, are you mad at Neil?" 

"Loo, do you think that I ever can be mad at Neil?"

"That's my girl. Now come let's go and talk with him."

"Na, not so early, you know Loo, I can't let it go that easily. Let's have some fun."

"Monica, you are doing too much. You can't play with him like this."

"What does he think of himself, that only he can play pranks on me?"

"You know you guys are crazy."

"Okay listen, go and send him to convince me. Wait and watch the game." She pushed me towards him.

He was eagerly waiting for me, almost nervous.

"What happened, what she said?"

"Sorry, Neil. I tried my best but all failed in vain."

"What should we do now?" he bites his nails.

"Now it's your turn, you should go and convince her. And I bet she'll be convinced."

"I too wish the same. But, thank you, Loo, whenever I'm in trouble, you have always been there for me." He hugged me.

"It's okay. Now go." I pushed him.

I watched him as he went away. Neil and Monica had feelings for each other but they denied expressing it out. I wished this would develop their feelings.

I was standing alone in the corner of the auditorium. I was watching all my friends dancing. Neil was following Monica, to convince her. I took a glass of Cocktail from the table. I took a little sip. He was coming towards me. My heartbeat raised high; I held the glass tightly, as he came nearer to me, I turned blue.

"Hey" his cute smile turned on, which made my heart to skip a bit.

"Hey" I smiled and looked away from him.

"Will you dance with me?" he held out his hand.

"Sorry, I can't dance." I was about to move away from him.

"Come on, just once." He blocked my way.

My heart said to say yes to him but I wasn't sure about it. He was waiting for me, looking at my eyes.

"Okay," I nodded, as I had no other go.

As I said yes, he took my hand, placed his hand on my hip, dragged me close to him, and I felt like everything around us had been stuck for a moment. When my eyes met his dark brown eyes, I could not move my eyes away from his. God knows how long we kept on dancing for. Then, slowly he dragged me a little closer to him.

"Congrats." He said as he smiled his cute smile once again.

"For What?" I asked.

"For winning the title 'Lady of Tonight.' " Once again, he smiled his cute smile.

"Oh! Thanks." I forced a smile in return.

He bought his face near to my face and placed his mouth near to my ear, and said, "Loo, you are the only person, who bought a meaning in my life and I want that meaning to be my life. So, will you be? "

My heartbeat stopped by the way he proposed me; I liked his way of proposal. I liked him but I don't know why I wanted to get away from him, there was something that pulled me towards him. 

"I need to go." I excused myself, left him alone on the dance floor, and went to my friends. He was standing there lonely and staring at me like a small boy. I wanted to go back to him. However, my mind said no and my heart said yes, I was in an oscillation between my mind and heart. 

I went and sat on a sofa after sometimes Nikithaa and Suhana joined me.

"So?" Nikithaa raised an eyebrow.

"So what?" I shrugged.

"Oh! Come on, Loo. Don't pretend as if we don't know anything. We have been watching you, so far." Suhana looked at Krish.

"I'm not pretending and I don't know what you are talking about." I looked at him from the corner of my eyes; he was standing with some of the boys from other section of 12th.

"Oh! Really." They said together.

"Hey, Guys, what is going on?" Vicky came with his new Camera.

"Hey, what's that Vicky?" I changed the topic.

"Hey, just forgot to say you guys; my father had bought me this, the brand new camera." He took his camera to show us which was hanging around his neck.

We took some snaps on his camera. After sometimes, Neil and Monica too joined us. 

The Farewell party lasted until midnight all our juniors had given speeches, danced and sang a farewell song too. They also conducted many stage games. In one such game, Krish and I happened to be partners. Moreover, at the end of the party, all the students of 12th of Heritage High School took group photos, which was the school's traditional. 

I was too tired as we danced and enjoyed too much, after the party Neil and I left for home. On way to home, I was thinking about Krish, his heart throbbing cute smile and the moment I danced with him.

"Loo" Neil called me as I opened the door. 

"Yeah, Neil" I looked at him.

"Are you alright?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I'm alright."I nodded.

"Really?" he seemed like suspicious.

"What happened, Neil?"

"It seemed that you were disturbed in the party." He looked straight.

"No. Neil I enjoyed the party a lot." Though I knew, what Neil meant, still I lied to him.

Then he took my hand and pressed it gently, "Loo, you know that I never thought you as my friend instead I have always thought you as my sister; and you also know that I don't want to see you in any trouble. So please let me know if something disturbs you." 

"Yeah, Neil I'll for sure," I assured him.

"Promise?" He held out his hand.

"Promise," I promised him.

I changed myself into night suit and curled myself into the quilt. I couldn't sleep for the whole night. I rolled all over the bed, covered my face with a pillow, walked around the room, and checked my phone for thousand times as if I was waiting for someone call. When I closed my eyes, the only image I got was of him. I began to laugh on myself and hid my face in my hands. The only thing that ran in my mind was the dance that I did with Krish, the way he held me had made to feel something special, and the question is it the feeling of love or something else?