Destiny or Coincidence?

Athira Patel

"Hello" I said feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Baby.. Are you fine? Where are you? Why didn't you lift the call dear? Are you ok?" he fired questions repeatedly without giving me a space to say something. So i just listened to his questions silently without uttering any word while chuckling to his cuteness. 

"Athira you there? Hello?" he asked when there was no response from my side. 

I composed myself from smiling and cleared my throat to get his attention. 

"Yes i am there. You didn't give me the chance to say anything. So i thought of listening to you until you stop your ranting." I said smiling at him and covering myself with the blanket more. 

"Sorry… I was just… you know… worried about you that my brain is not working properly" he said sheepishly sounding kind of awkward to which I chuckled making him groan in return. 

"Oh. That's a news then.. The great Project manager whose brain is not working properly.." I teased him while we both chuckled to my comment.

"Ha ha.. Very funny. Now you are mocking me" he huffed while saying it. 

"Now now. Stop it right there madam." He said faking his anger to which i laughed in return. 

"Ok ok" i said composing myself "where are you?" I asked remembering about the messages in which he mentioned that he was searching for me earlier. 

"I am at home Athira. But you didn't answer my question. Are you fine?" He asked again becoming serious.

"I am fine Abhilash. No need to worry." I said feeling guilty for leaving like that and started fidgeting with my blanket ends. "Umm… Sorry for scaring you like that." I said almost whispering that I thought he didn't even listen to it. 

"You know, I want to scold you alot for doing that stunt. But I know that I am to blame equally for that decision of yours. So sorry Athira. For hurting you" he apologized sincerely making my heart melt and flutter for him at the same time. 

But am i ready to agree that in front of him? Am I ready to accept that I felt jealous of her? But then again i remembered the words of big brother and how I want to give him a chance. But before that there are many things I need to get clarity from him. 

"Uhhh… will you get surprised if i say that i got jealous of her?" I whispered the sentence in fear of getting embarrassed if he doesn't feel the same way. 

"Nooo… WAIT… WHAT DID YOU SAY?" he exclaimed shocked hearing my words. I cursed myself for letting out the words in the first place. I knew that he didn't have any feelings for me. I am an idiot to even think for a moment that he likes me back. 

My heart pained thinking that he didn't like me back but controlled myself from crying in call. 

"Forget that i even said it. Bye" i said hurriedly and thought of disconnecting the call when his voice stopped me. 

"Wait... How can i forget it? No way in hell that I am going to forget it. It's the first time that you have agreed to some kind of feeling towards me. Then how can I forget it?" He said sounding excited from the other side of the call making me confused as hell. 

Wait? He doesn't want to forget it? Does that mean?

"Athira, you don't know how happy I am at present listening to those words of yours. Thank you thank you thank you so much for saying it. It means a lot to me." he said everything in a breath before taking a deep breath. I can feel the excitement and happiness in his voice which made me smile in return, forgetting about my insecurity. 

"I know that you are confused as hell at present. But trust me. I am going to tell everything when you come to the office on Monday" he assured me with the soft tone in his voice which made my insides warm with a feeling of peacefulness. 

"Ok. I am waiting for that moment" I said after a few moments of thinking about his statement. I thought of giving him a chance so I am going to do that. 

"Thank you so much baby. Take care. Good night" he said excitedly.

"Good night Abhilash" I wished him back with a smile and disconnected the call feeling giddy and happy that i want to shout but thought against it and slept on my bed.

I smiled to myself thinking about our conversation and pulled the blanket over me completely giggling like a small child. Indeed i am looking forward to meeting him on monday. 

The way he called me 'baby' and 'cutiepie' made me recall those words many times in my head while blushing. Is this how all the girls behave when they face this kind of feelings? No idea. But I like this feeling and warmth in my heart. 

I sighed dreamily and closed my eyes thinking about my life how it turned out to this and drifted off to sleep dreaming about our conversation and what will happen on monday... 

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Since it was Sunday, Dev went to bring groceries for us while me and dad sat in the living room watching some Bollywood movies after having our breakfast. 

Today morning i spoke to Riya and said everything about all the events and even accused her for not telling me about Dev's feelings but she explained that it was not in her hands since Dev took promise from her by tying her hands. 

She thought of telling to me many times but there was never a correct time. Finally I forgave her and said about Abhilash and big brother. 

She squealed saying that she always thought that I would have some feelings for him and was happy to know that i have finally accepted those feelings. 

She asked if I have a photo of him since she could not contain her excitement to see him. So i have forwarded the pic of our group photo from yesterday when we took it in the restaurant because of Charitha's constant asking. She has forwarded to me today morning so i said that i will forward it to her after disconnecting the call. 

She even surprised me by saying that she is going to come to Bangalore with Rishi next weekend and we spoke for some more time about our daily routine and made some jokes before disconnecting the call.

As promised I have forwarded the pic and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. 

I was lost thinking about our conversation when dad called my name. I turned towards him to see that he was looking at me amusingly. 

"What is so amusing?" I asked raising an eyebrow by folding my hands in front of me.

"You tell me. I can see that my princess is so happy from the moment I saw her yesterday. There is this spark in your eyes which didn't go unnoticed by this old father" he asked smirking at me knowing too well about my reaction. I immediately turned away from him feeling myself blushing. 

"No. Nothing like that. Your eyes got site i think. You are becoming old" i said clearing my throat while looking down at my hands which are in my lap. 

"I am not that old, woman. Don't turn the topic to my old age. I am fit and healthy even at this age compared to your generation" he said showing his muscles and expanding his chest with pride in his eyes. I just shook my head looking at him. He and his ego boost. 

"Ya ya. That's why you became weak last month and got blood pressure right" I mocked him indicating to the situation which happened last month where we got to know that he got blood pressure. 

"That was just one time ok. And I am perfectly fine now" he covered himself grumbling like a child. 

"Ha. You are completely fine" I said with a sarcastic tone in my voice to which he threw a pillow on my face.

"Dad…." I scoffed at his childishness glaring at him to which he stuck his tongue out.

"You are such a child sometimes" I murmured smiling at him to which he nodded and came near to me and dragged my body towards him. I placed my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes in return. 

"I know that I am a child. Now tell me princess. What is the reason behind this smile?" He asked looking down at me with raised eyebrows. 

"You are not going to leave the topic until you get the answer right" I asked looking at him by raising my head to which he nodded in agreement while smiling.

"Ok. Fine" I said getting up and sitting properly in front of him by folding my legs on the couch. 

I said from the start till yesterday and even about Dev's feelings too. He listened to me without interrupting but i can see the amusement in his eyes. 

"Hmm. So at last he got the guts to express his feelings then" dad murmured mostly to himself after i have completed telling him. 

"What?" I asked looking shocked and confused at the same time. Is he talking about Dev? "Dad what are you talking about?" I asked again to confirm my suspicions.

"Don't look at me like that girl. I know that Dev loves you from the start. It was clear on his face as day" he explained looking at me with a known smile on his face "It was you who was so oblivious to his feelings and thought him as friend" he said as if he knew everything.

"You knew?" I asked still surprised that I was so oblivious to my friend's feelings. 

"Yup. Everyone knew princess. But no one wanted to reveal because of Dev. He said not to say anything to you. He was so scared to lose you. Of Course we never spoke about this matter. It was Riya who said to me. So even I respected his wishes and kept quiet. I was just wondering when he will open up. But i think it's too late now" he said looking at me with both sadness and smile on his face. 

I felt guilty for hurting Dev. What would it be like if he proposed me before? Does our relationship would be the same or different? Would i have accepted him in that case? Don't know. 

"Don't stress yourself princess. Everything happens for a reason. He will be fine with the time. Time heals everything" dad assured me by patting my back affectionately. I just smiled nodding my head in acceptance. Hopefully everything will be fine. 

"So, what about this Abhilash who you became fond of?" he asked me teasingly looking at me with amusement when i started blushing. "My god, my princess is blushing just listening to his name. I would definitely want to meet this guy if he can make you blush with his simple name" he continued teasing me and chuckled looking at my reaction. I wanted to dig a hole and hide inside than getting embarrassed here with my own father.

"Dad.. please stop teasing me. I will let you meet him but only if we became official. It's still in the starting and I don't know how it turns out." I said looking at him with still my blush face to which he nodded his head. 

"Sure enough. I would be looking forward to that day. I hope everything goes well. Because after a long time I can see that my daughter is truly happy. Always be like this princess" he said patting my head and kissing the top of my head with affection and love.

"Thank you dad. But i am scared. Still i want to try it with him. It's like i forget the whole world when is in front of me. I cannot explain it in words but I forget myself and drown looking at his eyes. I can feel my heart fluttering which never happened before. I want to cry and laugh at the same time. Are you getting what i am trying to say?" I asked looking at him with hopeful eyes to which he nodded his head and hugged me back. 

"Yes baby girl, yes. I know exactly what you are feeling. But I want you to find out about your feelings for him. It's a true magical moment when you realise about your feelings. I am happy to know that my daughter is happy." Dad said kissing my head and we both stayed like that until my phone started ringing. 

I looked at the caller ID to see that it was my devil Riya. 

"Go and talk to that tiger. Otherwise she will start flooding my mobile with her messages" dad said chuckling and remembering our old days when Riya used to call and message dad whenever i won't lift the call. I smiled to myself remembering those days and went to the bedroom to lift the call. 

"Hello tiger" i said singing and dropping myself on the bed by keeping the mobile to my left ear. 

"GODDAMMIT ATHIRA. YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY. IT'S FUCKING SHOCKING YOU KNOW." she shouted from the other side making me cringe due to her voice.

"God, calm down girl. You are going to burst my ears if you keep that voice of yours" I scolded her like I always do whenever she becomes hyper when she gets to some shocking or surprising news. She can't handle the excitement or anxiety. 

"Ok ok. Sorry. But i was unable to contain my excitement the moment i got this information. So I called immediately to say this" she said everything in one breath without taking any air and gasped at last. 

"Calm down Riya. And tell me what you got to know?" I asked looking at the ceiling and waiting for her response. Even though I'm curious to know what she is going to say I just kept quiet. 

"When you have forwarded the photo of Abhilash i thought that i saw him somewhere. But couldn't grasp it. But when i have showed it to Rishi, he said that he was our senior in college. Can you believe that? Then I remembered that I have seen him in our college" she said sounding excited which made my eyes open like sockets due to shock. 

"WHAT?" now i shouted in return listening to her words, unable to believe what she is saying and got up and sat on my bed.

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Hello everyone,

here is your awaiting chapter. Do let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter. Don't forget to vote, comment and share it if you like.

Love....

Sprinkle....