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.155Please respect copyright.PENANAyhM0S7Bcej
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.155Please respect copyright.PENANApYMzl8arlg
*Knock on the door*155Please respect copyright.PENANAVDZnwGVScK
"Room service Signora"155Please respect copyright.PENANA9Im3sQ6EPp
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.155Please respect copyright.PENANAYl49W8ZZ1q
"OMG, what're you doing here?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAHKaPSnsPWv
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."155Please respect copyright.PENANAf92KMOWLJJ
He hands me the tulips.155Please respect copyright.PENANAZycQQLGpFq
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAmGhPyPIHel
"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."155Please respect copyright.PENANAFHA6IEVyXU
"I'm surprised, alright".155Please respect copyright.PENANAloETrof1Bt
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAacBqH7jwmp
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."155Please respect copyright.PENANAPDgeN2a1nU
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.155Please respect copyright.PENANAUvFiFaod8H
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.155Please respect copyright.PENANAPo5PhRwdgz
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAEMuKShBYhI
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."155Please respect copyright.PENANAxxTIoWK9LM
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."155Please respect copyright.PENANARKwzOcKvzq
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."155Please respect copyright.PENANAGIQRAShlDC
"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.".155Please respect copyright.PENANAYumVQBx4sS
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.155Please respect copyright.PENANAUwCVmKMG0A
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*155Please respect copyright.PENANA0L0vuHf7Sl
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."155Please respect copyright.PENANAsGIWeUGa15
"What? Who is this?" 155Please respect copyright.PENANAwTqkqbAKrK
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.155Please respect copyright.PENANA3Eyf034KeZ
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.155Please respect copyright.PENANA8g14U4hnD6
"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.155Please respect copyright.PENANAwvgpVoDMyd
"Great," I say155Please respect copyright.PENANA3K90ujMXiV
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAlKhGymde3j
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."155Please respect copyright.PENANA3TjHy3XVuk
"All the time?"155Please respect copyright.PENANAVIBHWdzMMA
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.155Please respect copyright.PENANAvBBECE1aVd
"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.155Please respect copyright.PENANATR0wia8qvX
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.155Please respect copyright.PENANAQy7lGa8ECP
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.155Please respect copyright.PENANA9EaFeFoS9e
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."155Please respect copyright.PENANAIEBEDa1WM2
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.155Please respect copyright.PENANAwiWU0MTFzt
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.155Please respect copyright.PENANAPNs5BNtGim
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.155Please respect copyright.PENANACCwdwZWfYO
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*155Please respect copyright.PENANAttrBEaLtn9
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"155Please respect copyright.PENANAOt6nyyTcM6
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”155Please respect copyright.PENANAqNjO1efQJ3
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”155Please respect copyright.PENANA9g9Xpducdu
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”155Please respect copyright.PENANAbBH936Crof
“Yes, sure, come on in.”155Please respect copyright.PENANAS9FL4i3qse
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.155Please respect copyright.PENANA6YfaWNPdI8
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”155Please respect copyright.PENANAFatGBWB4BU
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”155Please respect copyright.PENANAis3QaaQHUc
“What is it?”155Please respect copyright.PENANAgdi2tGojmB
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”155Please respect copyright.PENANAhZnuMRkNe2
“Will you marry me?”155Please respect copyright.PENANAUFGcWkKUex
155Please respect copyright.PENANAT0TR2Vq49W
To be continued.155Please respect copyright.PENANApCaF5umjnR