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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYWFqECHYW
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YN9Z2VbxJ
*Knock on the door*232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F52wMXzxF
"Room service Signora"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGdfUjLWON
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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlVYSa5CaW
"OMG, what're you doing here?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgasTaoCePO
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gXEgWdoHz
He hands me the tulips.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplx7JGcusg
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaFvp300I2
"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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cvq7EA3jT
"I'm surprised, alright".232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MBqenGsJR
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyFezD255j
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMpa5hU3Xi
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajzIYsqyC0
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqTblw3Uc6
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWZ97duk8Q
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHcmJ2zUtl
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwcqYzjjwu
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtobuXIJ9W2
"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.".232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSqoMQ8cXo
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XnRtDEQAC
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*232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHFqnuN6P8
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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYRRkU1r8R
"What? Who is this?" 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssXPW8mxyN
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2obBZX8p6
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJlv1wETEi
"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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0gC2XwFLk
"Great," I say232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMVQRovLU0
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesWA002wJO
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKvLUdxVVR
"All the time?"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBhRPXWycU
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpMP6CFFcB
"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.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXeBkVCe9J
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFFRxdrZSk
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcJinuIVMu
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."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXKSiVHWqD
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PSI7sVWgs
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66oIBJgMVi
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOOYVXZgPi
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*232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzde6fG6xO
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"232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRSNbYioPR
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPbf20PaEV
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHiSZZMjYt
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk4O2iewgX
“Yes, sure, come on in.”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5jgSUXMhX
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzdZpd0l3m
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1BptGtZWK
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHnYqraO4Z
“What is it?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UBISoQLVR
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp87IjMhIWe
“Will you marry me?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY6ixEP4eT
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbqGcBRph6
To be continued.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUkEljAxuk
