RAKSHIT'S POV

The afternoon sunlight filtered in through the glass windows of my car, spilling onto the dashboard. The road was mostly deserted, except for a few cars speeding by occasionally. I tried to focus my mind on the paved road ahead, but it kept wandering back to the one topic that had been disturbing me since yesterday morning - Drishti's marriage. I don't know why but I had not been able to stop thinking about it since I got home yesterday. The matter was affecting me more than I thought it would. I wasn't able to sleep last night, my sub concious haunted by the thought of Drishti spending her entire life with someone else. I thought work would distract me from Drishti, but I was wrong, it was the opposite. Drishti distracted me from work. Her thoughts kept popping up in my mind and I couldn't concentrate on one file. The same happened today at office, so, asking Vinay to manage, I decided to come on a long drive and figure out what exactly was happening with me. I like Drishti, I do, but why does it bother me if she is getting married? I mean she is getting married and as a good friend, I should he happy for her, but yet, I was mourning and dreading her marriage. I knew that after marriage, our late night conversations would come to an end, our meets would become rare, non - existent even, and she would never ever come with me to watch shooting stars again. My heart ached at the idea that she would never hug me or that I would never ever find the courage to push back a stray strand of hair behind her ears. My hands shook a little as I reinforced my grip on the steering wheel. No, Rakshit, you are going mad. Maybe asking someone for help would be the best option now. I took a deep breath and steadying my hands on the steering wheel, I directed Siri to call Sikhar and put the phone on Speaker.

~ "Bhai, is everything fine? You never call me during work hours."

I could sense the tension in his voice and I couldn't blame him, judging by the events that took place in the past week.

~ "Yeah, Sikhar, everything is fine. Are you free? I wanted to - to talk -"

~ "Yes, bhai, am totally free. You say what you want to talk about."

~ "Sikhar - I don't know where to start - all of it seems kinda ridiculous -"

~ Bhai, you tell me. What happened?"

~ "Drishti is getting married."

~ "Getting married? Bhai, you are being too fast forward. They are just coming to see her - seeing does not necessarily mean that Drishti will marry this guy."

~ "Sikhar, trust me, the way Maasi said it - I am sure that she wants Drishti to marry this guy. He is a relative of theirs. This marriage is final, Sikhar."

There was a small silence.

~ "Okay, bhai, I understand what your ailment is, but first, answer one question of mine - Drishti is getting married, why are you so upset?"

~ "I - I don't know, Sikhar. That is why I called you. I am not happy. I don't want to see Drishti getting married to some other guy -"

~ "Some other guy? Then who do you want to see Drishti marrying? Yourself?"

Inspite of myself, I blushed.

~ "Sikhar - it's just - that I am afraid -"

~ "You are afraid that you will lose her. You are worried that she will drift away from you. And contradict me as you will, but deep down, you are jealous that she will be the prized possesion of some other man."

I sighed. He had stated the obvious.

~ "Bhai, these are not friendship woes, these are the laments of a lover. I know you might not realize it, but you have fallen for her. You like her, maybe even love her."

~ "Sikhar, how do I found out if I love her or not?"

~ "Bhai, you have always let your mind calculate and arrive at decisons for you, but when it comes to Drishti, let your heart make the choice. Let your heart decide what it wants. Love is a matter of the heart, Rakshit bhai and the mind will only misguide and confuse you. But your heart is clear in its decision - it knows who it wants. Close your eyes and ask your heart, bhai, beause your heart knows your destination."

I parked the car in front of a curb, and closed my eyes - Drishti's picture floating up almost immediately. I remembered how we bumped into each other at the airport, the way she ate chocolates the day I visited her to return her scarf, the way she cared for me when I was sick, the way she slept on my chest the night we were about to see the meteor shower. I remembered the way she laughed, the way her eyes sparkled when she was amused, the way her hair fell on her face when the breeze ruffled through it.

~ "Drishti."

That one word, it made me feel all the emotions together, happiness, excitement, anticipation.

~ "I knew it bhai. You love her. She is the one."

She is the one.

She is the one.

She is the one.

~ "But am I the one for her?"

                                 ~

I opened my shirt and threw it upon the marble floor of my room. I sat down on my bed and pulled out my phone from my coat pocket, which was now lying limp on my bed.

8 : 58 p.m.

The ladkewaale must have left by now, but I couldn't find the courage to call Drishti. What if - what if the marriage was fixed?

I couldn't bear the idea of Drishti getting married to some random guy (more like some random guy other than you).

I fidgeted with my phone for a few minutes, unsure of what I should do. I thought of calling Sikhar, but couldn't do it.

Frustrated, I threw my phone on the bed and went to the washroom to freshen up. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping that it would calm the burning inside my heart, but I was wrong. With each passing moment, I grew a little more restless, overthinking about all the possibilities.

I looked up and the reflection of a rugged man with wild eyes stared back at me through the mirror. Have I truly fallen for her?

Trying to calm my mind, I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel hung around my neck. I sat down on the bed and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from the lowest drawer of my bedside table. It has been months since I smoked, all thanks to Drishti. She makes me want to try, try harder against the odds of life. I knew she wouldn't be at all impressed if she knew I have smoked, but I couldn't help it. I pulled out a cigarette from the small box and held it between my teeth, unsure of where my lighter was.

Just as I was about to get up and search for my lighter, my phone rang. My heart leaping with anticipation, I reached out for it, glancing at the name of the caller.

Drishti.

~ "Hi."

~ "Hey. How did it all go? The ladkewaale were nice?"

There was a silence.

~ "They are - they are good people. Except that they don't want me to continue my job..."

~ "Drishti - but - you can't - did you agree to this?"

~ "Maasi did. Rakshit - I - I am getting married next week."

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