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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6W9tHf74r
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd19muf5xuG
*Knock on the door*236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l1FvEePs4
"Room service Signora"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhWEwmJ3sT
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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKCL2VB75B
"OMG, what're you doing here?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkJjzGJGW0
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFyyvntnl3
He hands me the tulips.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca5Uk5EV2l
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3c53ODMHR
"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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1EgopI4VQ
"I'm surprised, alright".236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbfFEQT7p5
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbecwEtopc
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW2xJGwekH
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pJAWKprlj
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9Iz5WIMTc
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw9d3DyYaR
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZItMALo4XL
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFYnpg0stK
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwsD97AFKV
"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.".236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKxfjkqLwg
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh4ErYWtBz
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*236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3kx4rl0L3
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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcavSt7YHdt
"What? Who is this?" 236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLg3ASXfSs
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcny6wBInF9
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSlJq2Cyao
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhPs8Ggrlj
"Great," I say236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBZ6BfD5uu
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vI4SyIA6F
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XHXpROBtM
"All the time?"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVZJ3qryLv
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvlI0w0lKk
"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.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgotfYxgOO
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AKb0BguAo
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYtU9e7OnS
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."236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfndJ5JCWrg
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMKUfvUNfH
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEZEz4Sdj4
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vwQNfiY0h
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*236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Ju5TMH84
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"236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEEIrHZ9k0
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTUXjW569n
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcmzuo581i
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nSp1AbiG7
“Yes, sure, come on in.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSavbrlHS7
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bimvchVYn
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aVXhWoKyA
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1tfwrLxzb
“What is it?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6MwilNVAz
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQpP00ddMY
“Will you marry me?”236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJxj2YaPUb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEvj8HS6QS
To be continued.236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbZ7v4C4Q2
