A Very Common Love Story

                           Patjhad me bhi bahaar hota hai , Ik meetha sa bukhaar hota hai !
                           Bas mehka sa intezaar hota hai  , Jab pehla pehla pyar hota hai !!
                                                                    ---xxx---
It was the day of 14th February , the day we know as the Valentine’s day , the day that is revered as the day of love .
It was indeed a very special day in St. Xaviers school where some roses , chocolates and especially hearts were getting exchanged among the opposite sexes . There was a strange commotion in the school playground as the second half of the recess was being celebrated in a different manner today . This happened to be the time when students , finished off with their lunch , enjoy the little freedom they get in the school time . And this freedom was a level more exceptional today .
At one end of the ground , there was a group of boys standing , one of which was looking immensely Nervous , yet extremely excited . Nirbhay waited for this day from past few months , when he would reveal his heart to the girl he loved since he caught her glimpse for the first time , the girl who according to him was the glorious mixture of intelligence and elegant beauty , the girl Rishita who was standing at some distance opposite to them .
Nirbhay was busy looking at her when nishant commanded him - “ Today you have to do it . there is no way you’re missing it today “
Ajay cut him short - “ He is nirbhay , the fearless . He won’t back off today . Go , boy Go . “
Nishant ridiculed him - “ Is he fearless ? No way . He thought of proposing to her last valentine’s day but couldn’t . Then there was a spell of selected days – holi , diwali , new year and even raksha bandhan . but he didn’t even manage to move a single step towards her . “
Vikas came from behind having a sandwich in his mouth - “ What ? He chose raksha Bandhan for his love proposal . On valentine’s day today , I am sure you are gonna get a rakhi “
Nishant retorted back - “ you shouldn’t even utter a word . You were supposed to propose riya today . what about that ? “
Vikas , still his mouth choked with sandwich - “ She is absent today . I proposed to nisha instead . she is also cute . No ? “
Ajay said in an offensive way -“ How can you propose to nisha . You know she is my crush . By the way , what was her reply ? “
Vikas said with his inclusive concentration on unwrapping the chocolate - “ She refused . Currently , I am celebrating her refusal . Sandwich was her ‘ angry stare ‘ and this chocolate is her ‘ blatant NO ‘ . ” . He stopped , took a bite , and said with an amusing smile - “ Oh , I just love her ‘ NO’ and her stare was no bad either . “
Ajay with exhilarating voice - “ I knew it . she is just mine . She will not accept anyone but me . You ‘ll see whenever I’ll propose her . “
Vikas now savoring the chocolate off the wrapper - “ No , She already has a boy friend . Vinit of class 11 C . “
Ajay now said with a non-caring expression - “ That’s OK . Even i don’t like her that much . “ . He though a bit and said “ What do you think about saumya . She has a killing smile . Saumya , I am so in love with her now . Now , don’t dare to look at her . “
Nirbhay , who was listening to all this was getting more and more tensed . He shouted with his heavy voice - “ Will you please shut up . Your silly talks are not helping me at all . “
Everyone suddenly became composed and looked at him . After a short spell of silence , Nishant said in a serious demeanour - “ Only five minutes are left before this break ends . Now you should move forward and just say your heart in front of her and please do this without any hesitation . I don’t want you to prolong this thing now . Our presence might make you more nervous , so we are leaving for the class . We’ll see you there . “
After this short conversation , Nishant gestured ajay and vikas to depart . They wished him luck and went towards the class . Vikas , by this time , was having a soft drink which he addressed as the ‘ slap of nisha ‘ .
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At the same time , some discussion was going on in the group of rishita . though she didn’t have a vibrant group as nirbhay , she had a wonderful companion and her biggest support radhika .
Rishita was totally aware of the fact that nirbhay liked her but was unable to express his feelings . Its always easy for a girl to know what a boy hides in his heart .
Though she was not in an intense love similar to nirbhay’s love for her , but she liked him . She found him cute and sweet . She’d have accepted his love even if he’d proposed her a year ago . But , it was nirbhay’s discourage that came between them . She still liked him , though not as much as she liked him before .
But today , she believed that the time has come when the word ‘ Yes ‘ would come out of her mouth . And she was highly sure of it when she saw nirbhay coming towards her .
                                                         ---xxx---
Lecture was half way through , when nirbhay entered in the class , apologised to the teacher and took his seat . His friends looked at him but couldn’t conclude anything from his face .
They couldn’t even talk to him even when the lectures changed as there was a provision that a teacher can not leave the class before the subsequent lecture’s teacher has arrived .
So , it was impossible for them to hold themselves when the last lecture ended . They all suddenly went to him and asked him what happened , whether she said yes or declined .
“ I didn’t propose to her . I think I need more time “ - he said with a desperation smothered in his body language .
“ Are you stupid ? how long will you take for this ? ”-Nishant said with an extreme disgust .
“ I just don’t know . I have a fear of her denial . What would she feel , what would she say ? “ - His voice was murky .
“ Then you can just eat something like me . It helps a lot .“- ajay said with a real enthusiasm .
Everyone stared at him and ajay interpreted it as a gaze of keeping his mouth shut .
By this time , they were all out in the college premises . Distress on their face suddenly turned into an amazement when they saw rishika at some distance with a rose in her hand .
She was looking at nirbhay and had a very unpromising expression on her face . Suddenly a boy came to her , kept his hand on her shoulder and said something with a very strange familiarity . Nirbhay didn’t like this visual . It sent a shock in his heart and mind .
She nodded with a smile after their conversation ended and then he left signalling that he is waiting for her outside .
She looked at nirbhay , tilted her head slightly and made a suggesting expression that said it all . She then left the place too , leaving the hopes of nirbhay crashed swiftly .
He was taken aback by the sudden impact when radhika , the friend of rishika , came to him and gave him a letter .
He opened it :-
“  I know you like me and i always did the same . But you have kept me waiting for a long time and I guess it would have been longer , maybe till eternity . Right ?


Someone else offered me his love today and I accepted . He is a nice guy , maybe not as good as you but still he had the courage to at least show his love in front of the world .


I am sorry because i know you are hurt . But I think you can understand where it has gone wrong .


Take care .


Rishika “
It was hard for nirbhay to believe what just happened to him . This was the last thing he had wanted . He tore the letter into pieces but he knew that his heart was torn into pieces currently and this was entirely his mistake and nothing else .
There was a long silence after this which was broken by the nishant’s voice when he said “ I think you should forget what happened today . I know its hard but that’s how the life is . Do not contemplate anything over this and please stay cheerful “ – he emphasized exceedingly on the last line because he always sensed how much he loved rishika and it would be very hard for him to take her out of his mind .
“ I just need to be alone this time . I will take care . Don’t worry “ – Nirbhay said this and left for his home . His despaired amble and wet eyes reflected his gloomy frame of mind .
He was all alone on the street when the thought crossed his mind-“ How can I live my life when my life is with someone else now . “
( To be continued )
                                                        ---xxx---
                         
                                    Zindagi jeene ka maza aane hi laga tha..!
                                    Phir anjaane me is dil ishq ho gaya.......!!