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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TOa60UhwR
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknD5EsCMXk
*Knock on the door*225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTx12R1Who
"Room service Signora"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQvaO7ebIF
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtcFGMOaAm
"OMG, what're you doing here?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTM8kN69MP
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHGrTVZEcu
He hands me the tulips.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZFtsUBfFz
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0EC6i2wQS
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTtZimfv0w
"I'm surprised, alright".225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMqZC9tDjA
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAb7ASQd9t
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZkXJ60I4q
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqhwxQIKdV
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hejzJD9kl
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAWpUdegbh
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIbITVUeWH
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv1T8P2bk7
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB52mA8YPL
"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.".225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA9lfInKvI
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqffX2f0ve
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*225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDDOaXVJTK
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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg3DIih5Yi
"What? Who is this?" 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNjl6Aiy9a
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9ay5yE6Xv
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXtNyJWJGZ
"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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKbgT5xc6y
"Great," I say225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ykxCysXOG
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIhlrLoBxH
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIULO5wqDZM
"All the time?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8nf0fXxzi
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNwVVO5keQ
"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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfv4frRz8x
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjhPnjtRRP
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkKIuRLCUM
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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMURG1MAGEA
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgLHVevwK6
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YKIkIPRM5
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz6N0oyW1l
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*225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwd6IuUerR
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"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe0NYU7x1p
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4wXJ8eGWv
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JfmqyPQcg
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpZwBbXfQB
“Yes, sure, come on in.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUll0U6hHqv
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g2r9KzT60
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2tE9H9D2l
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltmvTrdZp5
“What is it?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaTwSgY5wV
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaegMieaK5
“Will you marry me?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXD7AKwHuG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF1m0pOVke
To be continued.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixjLjcWp8a
