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.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk7LKA4Cum
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.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOBU4euRJI
*Knock on the door*226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtUW3ldw6U
"Room service Signora"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QCQ8NFLql
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.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmCtWcrppM
"OMG, what're you doing here?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUf0h6Mk7s
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW3qPbyFOo
He hands me the tulips.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXkCgSh5QW
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJnMmCoCpY
"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."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pvn8xAFkQ
"I'm surprised, alright".226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFIwjixYOu
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gbsTfSaEg
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWvSLXceUP
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GfUTcogPm
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqTzDaV4Fq
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK9VeGBDNF
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7zvAorCQG
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2PP4wPZOD
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGsbP49D0C
"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.".226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiHErxRl4o
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUH6YObrOs
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*226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22TCkHzQH1
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."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFih3r2P4m
"What? Who is this?" 226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx58zbYsLKc
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc4QoyfEag
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAs1U2naHZ
"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.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJljI35mEb
"Great," I say226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e4jSlE7pK
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqlzez9t7G
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoi67hpQE4
"All the time?"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cEsJVbwzX
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2oxceU60G
"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.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnVtvJg7im
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZcOtefToX
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTWY9B6ZNa
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."226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1OVDO9iIL
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Sp4rNeQc
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdCsQkBCgV
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALCM2h4RvE
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*226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbDX1XTJLi
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"226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZPP3EIHLc
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH0vYKGBH5
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTLLwZVU3B
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3APebOeYv
“Yes, sure, come on in.”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupJS2ttUYP
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt11bUyzWo
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwWos6o6l8
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Zr7wmJum
“What is it?”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcHUHyCY8F
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j6HHNYNgG
“Will you marry me?”226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGCvhrBsfX
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRf7PcTyKk
To be continued.226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a7Gpiy1Fq
