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.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx94GmBpvvA
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.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3VZVUidqr
*Knock on the door*245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVIhqMfvEU
"Room service Signora"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn7wijsIZO
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.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEirCU2wYoQ
"OMG, what're you doing here?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO28l5Ej2D7
"I came to surprise you, and these are for you."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOs3dPoF1t
He hands me the tulips.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCcwMbu4VT
"I don't understand, so just how did this happen?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8RDM6JFQN
"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."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNrFgJUSGO
"I'm surprised, alright".245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTfAtPh1d1
"Is there any chance you'll be free tomorrow night?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuCm3oaXmQ
"My boss won't be arriving until the next day, so I have time to kill."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QRitOeLfP
Zain hands me two tickets to tomorrow's show. "Send your friends if you like," he says.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68t7Djn9Na
"Hilarious, I'll be there," I say as I walk towards the sofa.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHisxhq2PEC
Zain sits beside me on the sofa and asks, "So, how long do you plan to stay here?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrLVkrfIi3
"I'm leaving on Sunday, so maybe we'll see each other next year."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5ZsJj5Gp5
"Hopefully, yes, I've been considering starting my company back in India; so, I can stay close to home."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQorPUPCe9t
He looks at his watch and says, "I need to go now. I still need to prepare for tomorrow night."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1Br0Mdteu
"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.".245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqzaJbLilf
I see Zain and close the doors behind him.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcCLXcQNcy
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*245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ks1gtd3rj
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."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhigiqr4G78
"What? Who is this?" 245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG7m53sCSf
"It's Rishab. Where are you?" he says in an angry tone.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyHQoqcwsc
I woke up in shock and realized that I had to pick him up tonight and not the day after.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4ErMZFXxj
"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.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIJ9XpKhtb
"Great," I say245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX83FIuQUCN
"I'm sorry; what did you say?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3XTH8t9df
"I said this is great. You are right in front of me, and we can see each other all the time."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr05b2Jl8q
"All the time?"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSatdMbw6o
There was no sense in what I said. I at once changed the whole scenario.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyxALS3DkW
"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.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqyY20PkUw
I get anxious around Rishab, partly because he is my boss but also because he is hard to read as a person.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJpHklMUCD
I walked into my room and sat on the sofa. I didn't have the appetite for dinner, so I checked my emails.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbnFCBROj4
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."245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUPavWEND9
"Is it just going to be the three of us?" I replied.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2Gk7Ruav0
"Yes, but we can expect his son to join us. He is also one of our investors," he replied.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw75e7yq05m
"I understand. I will be there on time," I replied.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9UrWbBrGV
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*245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgw6plBEe
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"245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3rHtyUHJI
“Myra, calm down. It’s me who is at the door. I need you to open the door for me”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDCc52PQOp
I opened the door and saw Rishab standing in front of me. “Rishab, are you okay? It’s 1 am.”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUil55l4czs
“I have something important to tell you. Can you let me in?”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrZzxzeTk4
“Yes, sure, come on in.”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaUcxpgKJe
Rishab walks towards the living room and takes a seat on the sofa.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaI7Lfpvtz
“Would you like water to drink, Rishab?”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASG7SZmEN4
“No, I’m fine. I just have something very important to tell you”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u5rLtuub3
“What is it?”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchE51Dgere
Rishab says holding my hands. “You should sit down for this.”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEnrMKZqRN
“Will you marry me?”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln9bv0ZT2y
245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQrxR5ZeZj
To be continued.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbinTD3GaVv
