The fresh air whipped past my face, as I cycled down the empty street, mind too preoccupied with the one name that seemed etched in my very being for last few days. A goofy grin crept up on my face at the very thought of it, as if a switch had been turned on somewhere. But thinking back, it probably had. I glanced at his watch. Quarter to seven. I peddled harder, pushing my limits, anxious. I did not wish to be late.
As I turned the last bend, the park came in view. Richard’s town park - An expanse of greenery, trees and kids enjoying Sunday morning. A sight to gladden one’s heart. And glad i was, but not for these reasons, for they were nothing compared to what lay inside. The reason hmy heart was racing.
Christine.
*******
I rushed inside, fearing I was late, when I heard laughter behind me. Stopping dead in my tracks, I whirled around, a smile spreading across my face. And was knocked off my feet as she flew at me in a bear hug. Laughing, I lay back on the grass, hugging her back, as she snuggled up to me.
“Nicky!” she squealed with delight, pushing herself back to have a better look at me. “Beat you again.”
I laughed at the sheer delight at her face.
“Damn! Almost.” I mused.
We got up, still laughing. I grabbed her hand, and yanked her close for another hug. This must be what heaven felt like.
She laughed. “Not even close, Mr. Bourne. I have been here for the past quarter of an hour.”
“Ah. Well, I come bearing gifts.”
Going down on one knee, he pulled out a rose from inside my sweatshirt.
“For you, My Lady.”
With a childlike innocence, she squealed in sheer delight. Then, composing herself, she took the rose, and with a lady like bow, she said “Thank you, My Lord.”
And then, all pretence of maturity lost, she flew at me in a hug again.
“You flatter me, Nicky.” She took his hand as we started walking.
“Nothing you don’t deserve Christine.”
She glanced at him and realized how serious I was. Flattered, she bowed her head. Silently, they started walking around. “And what about Aakriti?”
Where did she come from? Puzzled, I looked at her, trying to figure out. “Sorry, what?”
“Oh come on Nick! I know you fancy her!”
“And you have officially lost it! What on earth gave you that idea?”
“Well, I have seen you around her. You seem so conscious of yourself.”
“No I am not!”
“And I know for a fact that she fancies you! She has for several years.”
I was perplexed at the news. Aakriti, my friend, the one I had been fighting with for years now, crushing over me? Not even remotely possible. “Nope,” I concluded. “As you Britishers like to say – You have completely lost your marbles, love!”
“Oh admit it already Nick! You fancy her.” She nudged me in the ribs, Nicky and Aakriti, sitting on a tree…” And with that she ran, singing like a 9 year old, and I stood there, musing over something that had just hit me. I was in love with her. I had always been in love with her, dreamed of her all my life.
And I had known her for 4 days.
As I turned the last bend, the park came in view. Richard’s town park - An expanse of greenery, trees and kids enjoying Sunday morning. A sight to gladden one’s heart. And glad i was, but not for these reasons, for they were nothing compared to what lay inside. The reason hmy heart was racing.
Christine.
*******
I rushed inside, fearing I was late, when I heard laughter behind me. Stopping dead in my tracks, I whirled around, a smile spreading across my face. And was knocked off my feet as she flew at me in a bear hug. Laughing, I lay back on the grass, hugging her back, as she snuggled up to me.
“Nicky!” she squealed with delight, pushing herself back to have a better look at me. “Beat you again.”
I laughed at the sheer delight at her face.
“Damn! Almost.” I mused.
We got up, still laughing. I grabbed her hand, and yanked her close for another hug. This must be what heaven felt like.
She laughed. “Not even close, Mr. Bourne. I have been here for the past quarter of an hour.”
“Ah. Well, I come bearing gifts.”
Going down on one knee, he pulled out a rose from inside my sweatshirt.
“For you, My Lady.”
With a childlike innocence, she squealed in sheer delight. Then, composing herself, she took the rose, and with a lady like bow, she said “Thank you, My Lord.”
And then, all pretence of maturity lost, she flew at me in a hug again.
“You flatter me, Nicky.” She took his hand as we started walking.
“Nothing you don’t deserve Christine.”
She glanced at him and realized how serious I was. Flattered, she bowed her head. Silently, they started walking around. “And what about Aakriti?”
Where did she come from? Puzzled, I looked at her, trying to figure out. “Sorry, what?”
“Oh come on Nick! I know you fancy her!”
“And you have officially lost it! What on earth gave you that idea?”
“Well, I have seen you around her. You seem so conscious of yourself.”
“No I am not!”
“And I know for a fact that she fancies you! She has for several years.”
I was perplexed at the news. Aakriti, my friend, the one I had been fighting with for years now, crushing over me? Not even remotely possible. “Nope,” I concluded. “As you Britishers like to say – You have completely lost your marbles, love!”
“Oh admit it already Nick! You fancy her.” She nudged me in the ribs, Nicky and Aakriti, sitting on a tree…” And with that she ran, singing like a 9 year old, and I stood there, musing over something that had just hit me. I was in love with her. I had always been in love with her, dreamed of her all my life.
And I had known her for 4 days.