Chereads / LIFE AFTER COFFEE BY MANI SIDHU / Chapter 5 - CHAPTER 4

Chapter 5 - CHAPTER 4

ENAMORED

"Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the Sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love."

William Shakespeare

The month of November is my favorite as the cold breeze brings the fragrance of festivals. I love the smell of November rain as it reminds me about all the love stories I've read. This year, the November seems to be very special and more romantic. I, usually, enjoy rains while sitting at my window with a cup of tea but the weather has changed; mood has turned to be romantic and taste has changed too. I am sitting at my window with a hot cup of Coffee! When you love someone. You want to adopt his habits. When my friends used to go to a Cafe, I made fun of them as I used to feel that coffee is too bitter in taste to enjoy. But now, there' not a single day I don't drink Coffee. "REAL LOVE IS NOT JUST A EUPHORIC, SPONTANEOUS FEELING- IT'S A DELIBERATE CHOICE".

It's 9 a.m. and I am at home, not in a mood to go to college. The phone bell rings, I jump to pick up. "Hello", love his deep and gravelly voice, he has a voice of sex god, takes my breath away.

"Samaira, are you there?", he asks. "yeah, hi!", I get embarrassed. "You are home? OK, I am coming to pick you in an hour. Be ready for spending a special day with me", he says in the same breath without waiting for my reply. "I have to go to the college at 12", I tried to give excuse as I think I should not say yes at once. "I don't know anything", his voice gets more deeper and makes me nervous, "Look at the weather sweetheart, I can't bear this in your absence" his romantic husky deep voice will take my breath someday. "I... I... I'll be ready", drop the phone immediately and rush to my wardrobe to wear something special for my special day. I wear grey velvet knee length dress with a pair of grey high heel boots. I decide to do side parting in my long wavy hair with grey studs.

Sartaj reaches at 10.30 and sits in the drawing hall with Mumma having tea. Mumma has made his favorite snacks cheese fritters (Paneer Pakora). Although he likes Italian cuisine, being a typical Punjabi, he loves to eat panner pakoras. I enter the drawing room and notice the gaze of sea rover blue eyes on me, get nervous, blushing.... I can see that Sartaj has a look of pure admiration on his face when he sees me, which makes me delighted and blushed.

Sartaj P.O.V. 'Darling, you look divine! If I were to present your picture in heaven, so many angels will hide their face in shame'.

After few minutes, I am sitting in his car which is meant for me only, I think so. The car seat is reserved for me only for years, I think so.

Sartaj is looking handsome as always. He looks so charming that I have to forcibly tear my eyes off him. Sartaj takes me to the exclusive place, it's resort cum restaurant. He has booked a private table, set perfectly. He carries a gift in his hand, beautifully wrapped. "This is for you", he never meets me without gifts and I, like every woman, love that. He orders some drink, followed by light starters. I can observe some change in his tone and the way he's looking at me, makes me nervous. He's in a fully romantic mood today. The table is surrounded by rose bush, magnificently designed. I think it's exclusively designed for couples! "You are looking stunning, Samaira", he holds my hand. "I love you", he says and kisses my hand. OMG! I'll die today, after two months he said this and I have no words to break my silence. Embarrassed, feeling shy, my cheeks turn red and lips sealed." I didn't plan on falling in love with you. But once we met, it is clear that neither of us can control what is happening to us".

He gets up from his chair and comes closer to me, gives his hand to raise me from my chair. I give her a shy smile and tell him slowly, "I love you too", and look around as if don't want to be seen by anyone. But to my surprise, there is no one around. Has Sartaj booked the hall???

"How the feelings of an entire lifetime could reverberate through a single glance, how a touch could send shivers up a spine."

Sartaj is looking so tenderly at me as though seeing me for the first time. I cannot look into these blue eyes for long. I smile and bend my head down. "You smile from your heart, Samaira, and I love that feeling I get when I see your smile", he, first time, speaks so intimately that butterflies in my stomach multiplies (again, as usual). "Samaira, my love, you light up my life. I love you", he says gently.

"I love you too, Sartaj. I am fortunate to have you as my soulmate. You make me feel whole," I hesitantly utter few words.

"Samaira, my life," he puts his forehead to mine and kiss there. Our lips are so closed I could look at his hard mouth and the blue eyes. I can feel his breath on my lips. As he leans more, I try to calm my racing heart, but in vain. His head slowly tilts and captures me in a kiss. 'My first kiss!' I keep my eyes closed. He gently pulls me closer and his arms go around my waist. "A soft tender kiss" for few seconds. He pulls away as he doesn't want to cross a line. He makes me sit on the chair. We remain sitting quietly for minutes as controlling our breaths. Sartaj initiates, clears his throat, "let's order lunch." But I am not in a mood to eat anything, just want to live the moment. He reads my mind and says, "Let's go somewhere else" I jump out of my seat at once as waiting to move with him to the place where no one can see us. What is happening to me?

My chain of thoughts breaks when he stops his car at the movie hall. I look at him surprisingly. "We're going to watch a movie" he announces. "But I'll get late, Sartaj," I reply in a tensed tone. "Relax! I told Mumma in the morning about the movie show", he smiles (the same alluring smile). 'The Runaway Bride', I get excited to see that I am going to watch my favorite stars, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

It's 17.00 hrs when we exit the movie hall. I don't want to go home but have to. Sartaj, while driving, is looking at me now and then; makes me feel nervous 'again'. He puts his hand on mine and squeezes it. I smile at his romantic gesture. He parks his car outside my house and immediately jumps out of his car to open a door for me. Since it's dark he takes full advantage and pulls me closer and kiss me again, for a second, my body trembles. He comes to the main door but shows reluctance to enter the house. I don't force him either. We bid goodbye and he leave. Ufffffff...

As I am going to ring a bell, Mumma opens the door suddenly. Mumma knows that we are outside! OMG! She might have seen Sartaj kissing me! But Mumma's reaction and the way she welcomes me give me a relief. "How was the day and yes, which movie you saw," she, like a child, is anxious to know everything. 'Everything'? I smile. Mumma, as usual, is cooking something to eat with tea. Sammy likes to eat some light snacks if it rains.

I sit on the dining chair near Mumma and telling her about my day well spend with her would be son-in-law. She thinks I am telling EVERYTHING! "I am going to sleep now, feeling tired. You know I am wearing these boots since morning"; I say and hug my Mumma, cannot compare this warmth with anything...anything.

Actually, I want to escape from Mumma's searching and detective eyes, it's really very difficult to hide anything from her or it may be my first time that I have kept some secret from her so feeling guilty. I retire to bed early after changing into my cozy night suit. 'Sleeping is so hard when you can't stop thinking about someone'. I smile and hide my face in pillow. Today seems to be the longest day of my life. Lot of things happened in a single day! Sartaj's face come in front of my eyes reminds me of the kiss. I cover my eyes with my hands and try to fall in sleep to see him in dreams.