Franklin's family and Michael's family were still chatting among themselves inside the hotel.
Paigne who had no stability in her mind of thinking about the next step in her life came out of the hotel. She kicked a small stone in anger. She couldn't decide what to do. The night was so cool and she rubbed her hands for warmness. She looked at the dark sky and shook her head as she couldn't believe that she is gonna have a date with a man.
She found her bestie Fatan Khan standing beside his car and smoking.
Paigne rushed towards Fatan and plucked his cigarette and put it down. She gave an angry look at Fatan. Fatan stood there shocked on seeing the act of Paigne.
"What are you doing?" Paigne asked in a louder voice. Fatan shook his head and said "I just remembered my parents. We too had planned to celebrate my birthday like this in a grand hotel but everything went bad and I went mad!"
Tears rolled from Fatan's eyes and Paigne wiped it. She stepped in front of him and said, "Forget those incidents Fatan. As I said earlier, bury your past and sow the seeds for the future."
Fatan nodded and said "Thanks Paigne. Without you my life will be incomplete"
"It's ok Fatan. Don't smoke from this second" Paigne said. Fatan nodded and said "What did your father tell?"
Paigne let out a deep breath and said, "That's a waste of time"
Fatan looked doubtful. He said, "What had happened?"
"Whatever should not have happened had happened!" Paigne said in slight anger.
"I repeat the same. What had happened?" Fatan asked.
Paigne smiled and said, "They wanted to marry a man called "William Dravid" What a name it is!"
Fatan didn't show any expressions and said, "How did he look like?"
Paigne gave a frustrated look at Fatan and said, "He didn't look like a hero at all."
"Why all the girls in this world are like this?" Fatan said and smiled.
Paigne rolled her eyes and said, "Ok I need to know his character and his good qualities"
"Much better" Fatan replied.
"We have planned to meet at the Café House tomorrow at 10.00 am"
"Waiting for your decision" Fatan replied.
They embraced each other and Fatan left the place by his car.
Paigne gazed at the door of the Harry's restaurant for her family to come out.
*********
Paigne was sitting in the Café House in a corner. The shop was beautifully decorated for the customers. Paigne was wearing a casual dress and she was frustrated.
She was sitting there for nearly thirty minutes. The time was 10.30 am. William said that he would have a date with Paigne at 10:00 am.
'Men will be men. No punctuality!' she thought. She didn't order anything and her eyes were expecting for the arrival of William.
After a minute, she noticed a black Mercedes entering the shop. She knew that William Dravid had arrived. William entered the shop with a smile on his face. Paigne raised her hand indicating that she was present. William noticed her and marched towards her.
He sat opposite to her and said, "Sorry for the delay, Paigne."
Paigne rolled her eyes and said, "No problem"
William asked the waiter to provide him and Paigne cold coffees.
Paigne said, "Why do you want to marry me?" She asked immediately.
William took nearly ten seconds and said, "Because you are the best woman I had ever seen!" Paigne blinked and said "Is it?"
"Yeah" William replied. Paigne decided to ask her questions.
"Tell me about you". Before William could reply the waiter arrived with two cold coffees in a plastic tray. William took a sip of it and said "I was born on August 10, 1965. I had completed my schooling in Bombay and I had completed M.Com,"
"Yeah me too completed M.Com," Paigne said as she sipped her cold coffee.
William gave a smile and Paigne couldn't able to understand it. William went on, "At present, I am working at my father's industry as a Manager. And if you agree to marry me, I will become the Manager of one of our industries"
Paigne understood what William had meant. She signaled him to continue.
"I grow many pets in my house like dogs, fishes, pigeons, budgies-" Paigne stopped him and said, "Okay. Promise me a thing"
She looked William's face clearly. He remained silent for nearly thirty seconds and said, "What for?"
"Even this earth stops to revolve around the sun, promise me that you will never leave me behind sadness" Paigne said. William Dravid gave a big smile and said, "I promise you that I will never leave you behind sadness."
Paigne rose from her seat and said, "I believe that you will be my best life partner. I am ready to marry you." William's face was lit up with happiness and he nodded excitedly.