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.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6eEbHicuN
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.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcdxefgdGD
*Knock on the door*234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlN8Nt8YpY
"Room service Signora"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmTjf075Kj
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.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbS1ezSafr
"OMG, what're you doing here?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCJg6E7G9L
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCdZJhzqTC
He hands me the tulips.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Lv721d1NM
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE15MD3eA2
"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."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDbBGdfqQG
"I'm surprised, alright".234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YzXPE8m3N
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPWtqbqfIK
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPO7FbaEel
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM3cM7zkzD
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFUOYKSe5y
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaBaxNDjjO
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8V64T9qYt
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgVFvf2BP3
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByBR0C47FD
"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.".234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAK063BGPg
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ly4g2dOZL
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*234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyrYWGpdJM
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."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkxEjSjmEV
"What? Who is this?" 234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfrxG2aPXx
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ144e8qw4O
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa0A9WgAER
"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.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29Hy0QTlwl
"Great," I say234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SeTn4FPOu
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx3Gn3a8nM
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfns8MHe9xf
"All the time?"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EXr0aevYe
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n4tFiGoND
"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.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MyZEPBzqw
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2he3lFriU
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUqALMVkF9
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."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26RmVYpgy3
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjD6artOLj
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojDYzHTPgp
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV5yvPP7BE
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*234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhjG4p0DG7
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"234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP664uhNPUj
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUFgkbC41D
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgKkLJLSju
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUCNPpExt9
“Yes, sure, come on in.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKNnAc6y9o
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOYZ1T364V
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YDXvHSyvE
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmrbuVK7ym
“What is it?”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj3NKt9B2V
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWYV4tW7sE
“Will you marry me?”234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yGYYzHfkW
234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyAoLgycXr
To be continued.234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3gQVC0h22
