It all started five years ago. I was confused and scared. I went on a business trip to Italy. We were organizing a wine tour, and I was in charge. I was not the same person I am today, but it is the time that I will remember forever.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmCR3jfw9j
On my first day in Italy, I was so excited that I felt this warm, blissful blessing in my heart. It is a strange feeling to describe, but it made me happy. So, I checked into my hotel later that afternoon, and I was super tired. I just wanted to take a nice bath and go to sleep. The event was to start the next day, anyway.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOH878a1VM
*Knock on the door*224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQCqS9CszU
"Room service Signora"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTbv9xDZCl
I was about to get into the shower, and I already had a visitor. My best friend, Zain Mallik, was standing in front of me with my favourite flowers as I opened the door.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf99ICSHRX
"OMG, what're you doing here?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobjgS5qhcb
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TIUI5i1C2
He hands me the tulips.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX4rKRvjGD
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlpItH4ELy
"It's not a big deal. I am having my photographs showcased at an Art Gallery, and when you texted me, you are travelling to Italy. I thought I'd surprise you."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAnM4e3kUb
"I'm surprised, alright".224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwkcfkpqCW
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVL3zDUs7G
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGDe441O3c
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu5mOPqZTH
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntFaJtv3JB
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLX355M5hW
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmodwiLJpm
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrkrGdhEq4
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlM0AFeWUe
"Good luck to you," I say. As Zain walks in, he hugs me and reminds me, "You should wear a jacket tomorrow. It gets chilly at night.".224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ4zD12Te8
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO10k2b8l8
The travel had left me so tired that I just wanted to sleep tonight. I changed into my jammies and got under the covers. It was unbelievably soft and warm on my body. I instantly fell asleep.
*Phone Rings*224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusgV7WM92d
Despite my phone ringing, I cannot move my body. I doubted I was dreaming, anyway. My eyes are still droopy as I lay in bed, looking for my phone. It said, "Myra, where are you? I am at the airport waiting for you."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqoDfiOd4u
"What? Who is this?" 224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpsKxkQjbt
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwUbbC8eCy
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJBgZcFGtW
"I'm on my way. I'll be there in 10 min" I frantically put on my clothes and shoes. They had rented a car for me earlier in the day, so I ran downstairs to the lobby. I got in the car and drove. It looked similar to the fast and furious movie. My hotel was just 15 minutes from the airport. I could reach there on time. Rishab feels very uncomfortable being driven by a stranger. I never understood why, but I know it. After getting out of the car, I went to Rishab. "I am very sorry for being late. I got caught up in this long traffic". Rishab did not look happy or forgiving. "Let's talk on the ride to the hotel." He had a big smile, but that surely gave me chills down my spine. We got in the car together. Rishab sat in the back seat, holding his luggage beside him. He didn't speak the whole ride, and I drove without provoking him. It was the longest and quietest ride of my life. In my mind, I kept asking myself. How could I forget his schedule? We reached the hotel. I got out of the car and opened the door for him. He got out of the car and went straight up to the reception, got his keys, and I followed him inside the elevator. I kept my head down throughout the entire ride. I couldn't look at him. And to my surprise, we were on the same level. Now, I wasn't happy. I'm in room 656; Rishab is in room 659, which, to my surprise, is across the hall from mine.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhWdQGUnNT
"Great," I say224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOJ7GpvrFo
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5SsOjv0jT
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs30bocap78
"All the time?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8pxAHLtRx
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv0Hkg8BHO
"You should get some sleep. It's 9 pm already, and we have a big day ahead tomorrow." I pushed him inside his room and closed the door from outside.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAP3putCLk
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw711Q19M5
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcRONSldov
Wow, it surprised me when I logged into my account. There were ten emails from Rishab already. This guy works 24/7. I was already regretting opening my laptop. As I read through my emails, I received a text from Rishab "We have a dinner reservation with our investor tomorrow at 8 pm, Ristorante Venice Kitchen don't be late."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR207rUAIPS
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9mJSs4KE8
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLibUoP4ZT
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wSJRG1uM7
It suddenly dawned on me. I have to go to Zain's show tomorrow at 9 pm. The situation was what they call a sticky wicket. I could call Zain and let him know I can't make it to his show, but I also don't want to hurt his feelings. I didn't want to think about it temporarily, of course. So, I decided to sleep on it tonight and worry about it tomorrow.
*Knock on the door*224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lGJ3VGFla
I heard a knock on my door. I woke up and checked my phone. It was 1 am. My heart was pounding quick, and my palms were sweaty at this moment. My phone started ringing. It was Rishab calling me. I picked up the phone and at once told him, "Someone is knocking on my door. I'm scared"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAoJwnw9Gg
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IiiUf08nh
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lWL18Cuq8
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr4MG8Sh9d
“Yes, sure, come on in.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLkuDijFDd
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwPTYSHVHa
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt85yITQfM
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgigdd8aImD
“What is it?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUV0KSaO1K
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHsKrpvLHZ
“Will you marry me?”224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrjRpM2HZN
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv77SDhk1k
To be continued.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S8tBL7FSM
