Part 3: Chained to you: Safely

Karissa’s POV:

As we entered the classroom, I with Daniel clasped hand together and the trailing behind Samantha.

All the students are chatting loudly and some sit at their seats silently, watching others because they are nerds like me as those spoiled brats refers… that they don’t want any friendship with us.

But seriously!

Whom am I kidding?

Reality is that we don’t want anything with those fake makeup kits and running beauty salons and spoiled brats.

Thank God, Mr. Smith is not yet in the classroom else one more absent for being late. I seriously don’t know what is the problem of Mr. Smith with me? He is always either glaring or irritated on me. Never mind!

But I know you are guessing something and you are absolutely right. Mr. Smith is the father of Daniel aka my hunk as a boyfriend.

I attended my class and as I were supposed to meet Daniel, I rushed towards our common meeting point.

FAST FORWARD

        I am running away from the building of university with tears in my eyes…

        “Hey Karissa! What happened? Why are you crying?” some girls asked me who is in the path of mine but I just ignored them and I kept running where my legs can lead me. I just want to get away from all this shit.

        Keep running, keep running until I reached parking lot, due to running, I am panting heavily and just collapsed on the floor. Tears constantly rolling down my eyes…

“Why God? Just why? Why Me? I never did anything bad to anyone then why this all happened to me?” I asked hysterically crying.

        “I just hate, just hate him!” I said between sobs. I just stand up from the floor and kick sand in the air angrily.

        “Ahhhhh!!! God I hate each and every boy on this earth… I am never going to put myself into this love thing. Never ever.” I yelling.

        Thank God there are no people in the parking. Although I am not even concerned is there is any one seeing me at my worst. After an hour of crying. I am feeling exhausted. I just want to go home. To my mom, to my bed, to my soft pillow. I miss them all terribly.

        Oh God, I just forgot to tell Samantha that I am not going to attend the lecture… I didn’t tell her anything. She must be worried. And also I need the keys of her car to go home. So first thing I need to do is to find her. May be I will tell her everything later.

        I entered the building and passing by locker room, I remembered that I need to get some books from my locker so I entered the locker room and started walking towards my locker.

        When I saw his locker, I don’t want to even name him… that bastard! Tears welled up in my eyes again, I just brushed them off and heard a girl coming into the locker room. Her back is at me.  But when she turned, I saw her face, SMANTAH, with the boy, whose face is also not visible because of his back towards me.

        They are whispering something but I can’t get that what they are talking. They are talking about some video and deal. I just heard some bits of their talks. I am about to go there and then I see his face! Oh my God! He is……! What is he doing here? And what are they talking about at lecture’s time.

        I walk near to eavesdropping their conversation… I am hiding behind bookshelf that is nearest to them, so that I can hear their talks.

        “I did your work, I ditch her. Now please delete my video” Daniel said with fright in his voice.

        He was talking about me. Right, ME! He is literally begging to her.

        “Yeah! Yeah buddy. I will delete your video and I must say that you did a great job.” Samantha said.

        My best friend wants to hurt me, ruin me, and break me. My best friend, my sister.

First my boyfriend and now my best friend. I trusted them the most in my life and what I got back is this. They both ditched me. One in love and the other in friendship. I am completely broken, shattered and traumatized.

        Life is really full of surprises, you never know what will happen in next hour!

        I mean just look at mine… in the morning, my life was perfect… had a lovely and caring best friend… A very nice boyfriend. And now, here I am running away from the people who were most important just few hours back.

Part 6: SHE's with ME

I shook my head in an attempt to not to think much and to miss Zarek. I was never one to hide my emotions. What was the point of having these feelings if you couldn’t admit to them, even to yourself? All I knew was that I had never felt this way before with anyone else… Like something I could hold on to for a long time. It felt really good to be with Zarek and now I was missing him like anything.

And finally, after about six long months, Zarek is coming over for a weekend. We all were very excited and happy, specifically me, as I was missing him too badly now. So this weekend, I also have a plan to visit his parent’s house. On Friday afternoon, I got a call on my hostel’s landline. It can only be from his parent’s coz no one else usually calls me at that number. So I thought that they must be calling me to inquire about my arrival plans and of course about having some surprises fixed for Zarek. I went towards the common room where I have to attend the call. Before I could say Hello, I heard the voice of Zarek across.

“Hey Aarshi, how are you doing this morning? I know you are surprised rather shocked to hear my voice that too on this landline number at this hour of the day, but I couldn’t do anything else other than this. Because there is no other way to contact you.” Zarek said, without letting me speak even a single word till now. He further asked, “So do you miss me?” I could just say, “Do you have any doubt in that? I wish if I could see you just right away, without waiting for tomorrow.” He said, “Come out after your classes, and find me waiting for you there.” And that was the moment I just went blank. I could not wait for the classes to get over, I somehow, attended the classes till end and immediately after that I ran outside the campus.

I was ignorant of everything except that Zarek was walking towards me. Tears welled in my eyes, trickling down my cheeks, jubilation filled my heart. Zarek studied me from head to toe. “Tell me, they’re tears of joy…. I love you!” he groaned, drawing me into his arms. Zarek reached out his thumb and brushed away my tears. “I love you,” he repeated. He dipped his head and brushed his lips to mine. “I missed you so much”, I hugged him tightly and he continued to wipe away my tears. “Zarek”! I threw my arms around him, lifted my face, my lips reaching for his, “I love you too”. We kissed passionately, until I drew away to catch my breath.

Now it was Zarek to instruct the plan further. Although I had a plan to go to his parent’s house this evening; but he told me to call them and tell that I will be able to come only tomorrow morning as something urgent has come up and I cannot leave this evening. I have also been instructed to not to reveal that Zarek is already here. And as per the instructions, I did the same.

“Now let’s get out of here first”, he told while dragging me to the exit gate of the campus. I enquired about where we are going, but then that was also a surprise for me. To my surprise, Zarek also had a car, he drove with one hand on the wheel and the other tightly laced to me. Occasionally he would look across at me and smile, I would inhale and smile back. “Did you give your class, your undivided attention?” I nobbed in NO and told him that I could not. He then told that one of his training fellows has an apartment here and that is not occupied today. So he has borrowed the keys to that for one night and that is the place we are heading towards now.

Just after some 20 minutes, he parked the car hastily outside his friend’s apartment. He also had a small bag pack, possibly for weekend stay, which he carried in one of his hands. He linked his free hand in mine and led me inside the apartment. We were barely inside when Zarek impatiently drew me into his arms. His head dipped, capturing my already parted lips, gentle and tender. I responded with breathless fervor. He undid my top, his eyes drinking in my body. His mouth touched my quivering lips, my breathing was ragged, my eyes wide with desire. His palms splayed against my soft flesh; warm and pliable against his touch.

My cheeks were ruby red. Shyly my eyes lifted to his. Zarek laughed softly at my admiring gaze. I had been too shy, too nervous for the first time. “You are so beautifully shaped”, he groaned pleasurably. “So are you”, I heaved. “I don’t know how I kept my hands off you as long as I did. It’s a miracle actually.” He said. I laughed softly. “Zarek____ “I looped my arms around his neck, loving the feel of our bodies, flesh to flesh. My lips dragged to his hungrily.

He took me to the bed, holding onto me tightly, lips locked in the passionate embrace and hands clinched tightly onto each other. Gently he lowered me onto the bed. He kissed my stomach… instinctively my muscles tightened in response under his lips. I started burning up with desire, twisting impatiently beneath him, his every soft caress was erotic, pleasurable and satisfying. We sunk deep in each other, repeating the pulsating thrill, sometime slow… the other moment faster….. we had each other to the point of no return.

We were laying in each other’s arms, satiated, our bodies tangled together. My fingers stroking his skin caressingly. He was doing the same, brushing tiny kisses down the column of my neck, nuzzling and nibbling my flesh until I was quivering with an aching need for him all over again. And then I made a concerted effort to break away from him. I was smiling shyly, my eyes trained on him curiously.

“What?” Zarek chuckled.

“I can’t believe you love me this much when you are miles away from me and surrounded by so many stunning women_____!” He smiled and confirmed that I am at the top position in the list where practically no one else exists. And that is how we had a memorable stay for a whole night, for the very first time, together.

Part 5: SHE's with ME

The very next morning, his parents talked with my parents over a phone call. First of all they informed them about Zarek’s job test result and then they further asked them my hand in marriage for Zarek. My parents wanted to know my willingness before they could take any decision, to which his parents convinced them that this is something which both of us wanted. My mom and dad were happy to know this but at the same time they were little sad to know that I will be so far away from them. But as in past, they have been agreeing to all my wishes, this time also they agreed to it without being fussy about anything. Zarek parents’ informed both of us about my parent’s decision and we were happy.

Today we have a plan to celebrate Zarek’s success and my parent’s agreement on the proposal. So we decided to go out for dinner. This was a special day for me and I was very excited about everything life has in store for me. I looked myself in the mirror and smiled. I was wearing a red dress that ended right below my knees, it was really pretty yet simple. My hair was down and I added a bit of makeup. I looked at the clock and saw it was five minutes before seven. I opened my room and walked down the stairs. Once I stepped on the last stair, Zarek come into my view. He was wearing a black suit with the black pants and that made him look the perfect.

At first he looked shocked, did I not look good? But then his eyes started to roam over my body, I blushed and walked closer to him. “You look beautiful Aarshi”, he said while looking me in the eyes. “Thanks, you don’t look bad yourself”, I smiled. He grabbed my hands in his large ones and crashed his lips on mine. And before he could go any further I reminded him that we have to go for dinner. He looked little upset about it as he wanted something else at the moment but then I pushed him towards the door.

We headed towards a place, which I had no clue about as this was supposed to be a surprise for me. And finally we were there, outside a fancy looking restaurant. We walked towards the door while Zarek’s arm was wrapped around my waist. Once we entered the restaurant, my eyes widened. It was so beautiful. This is one of the perfect place for celebrating the perfect thing. And the evening went on in the perfect way possible.

After a month Zarek’s training is to start. And now he is not continuing with his part time job after university. Hence we are meeting for longer hours in the evening after my classes. Life was going great until I realize that the month is about to get over and I will not be able to meet with him this often till the time he will be attending his training and that too for two long years. As the day of his departure was approaching, I was getting saddened. He could make out the sadness clouding my face and mind, but he also knew that all his efforts to cheer me up will go waste, even if he tries.

The day is finally here when in the evening Zarek will leave for quite a long time on his job training. I am the saddest person in the house. I have already started feeling like some part of my body, in the absence of which possibly I'll die, is going to get away from me. I have already started feeling incomplete. Zarek did all the packing in the morning and have officially met everyone with a promise that he will keep them updated about him and that he will take good care of himself. At least that was the most important thing for his parents. His assurance, of course, was important for me too as I knew that he must have also been feeling the same as me, at present.

His mom, being the most understanding and loving to both of us, asked us to go out to have some air before Zarek leaves. Actually she knew that both of us needed each other’s company more than anything else at the moment and that is what she gave us. Immediately after moving out of the house, towards the lawn, tears stated to roll on my cheeks without any stop. I just couldn’t keep my feelings inside me anymore. I wanted to tell him to not to go, but I just couldn’t say that too as this is what he have been putting in his efforts for so long. He was sad too. He told me not feel bad, he said that he will keep in touch and he will make sure that I will not miss him too much. But I knew it somewhere down in my heart that all that he is saying at the moment is not going to happen because of his busy schedule during training and also because of the increased restrictions on him in the campus. But I had no option other than to ensure him that I will do what he said and be a good girl.

Now it’s time for us to drop Zarek at the airport from where he has to continue his journey alone. His parents allowed me to go alone with him to the airport. They waved him goodbye and with all their good wishes, we left in the car of his dad. He decided to drive till airport and I was the one to get back home driving. We stopped just before the airport. His eyes shuttered for a moment, then he returned his gaze to me with an endearing smile. I found him irresistible. I leaned across and kissed him lingeringly on his lips. His hands reached out, sinking into my hair, pulling me closer, deeping the kiss. “Till later”, I reluctantly pulled away and opened the door. Before I could get out, Zarek was already there to assist me out. “Bye”, I laughed nervously, feeling awkward about being dropping off Zarek for a long time now and something which I just don’t want to do.

Zarek boldly gathered me into his arms, lowered his head and continued kissing me until we got interrupted by the cheeky wolf whistles in our ears. “Enjoy your stay and work hard to get through the training successfully”, I said while pulling him away from me. He also told me to study hard and not to miss him too badly. And finally he started to move towards the entry gate. I stared him for long time, hating the increasing distance separating me from him. And suddenly he is gone. I knew why he didn’t turned to see me even once because that would have made his departure even more difficult. And he is gone!

Part 3: SHE's with ME

Today Zarek have to leave from his parent’s home. I came downstairs, all excited for the first day of my university and got to see Mrs. Ludwig, little low as she always hate the feeling of Zarek leaving. It is not only because he never calls her on time but also he always finds excuses for not visiting his parents regularly. We all had our breakfast together and then Mr. Ludwig asked Zarek if he could accompany me to my university and also guides me with the way to and fro. He agreed and after giving our greeting for a nice day to his parents, we moved towards the bus stand to catch the route to university. Zarek’s university and also his place of work was near to mine, as told by him. During our way, he was careful to tell me everything about the place, the route, the area near by etc. etc. ……

When we were about to reach, he asked me my contact details, to which I told him that I don’t have any mobile number as of now. After hearing that he gave me his number and told me that if in case I need to call him, I should not hesitate. And with a promise to see me soon, he left for his destination. The day at the college went super nice. All the students were friendly and so were the teachers. Everyone was excited to see me as I was the only Indian among all of us. The curiousness among all of them to know about the culture, religions, traditions and most importantly to know more about Taj Mahal in India was extremely evident. Day ended faster than expected and I was about to head back to home when I noticed Zarek waiting for me at the place where he had left me in the morning. I was surprised to see him as we had no such plans and I was supposed to leave on my own.

He came closer, held my hand, kissed on my cheek and asked, “How was the day?” I got a shiver in my body but still I could manage to reply that it was wonderful and I enjoyed being here. And then I asked him about the reason for his presence here. He told me that he is not working today so he dropped in and will be going home with me. We again traveled together. I knew that it was never the case with him earlier, coz whenever he was not working, he always kept himself busy with the preparation. But unlike those days, today he decided to accompany me to back home. I knew, he was worried and wanted to take care of me, at least for the first day. We finally reached home and his parents were equally shocked to see him with me. They were happy and so was I. We had our dinner together and moved on to our rooms.

Next day Zarek and I again went together but in the evening after classes got over, I came back alone. Weeks passed by like this. Zarek use to come home now for weekends only and it use to be the best time. I don’t know when and how, but I have started liking him somehow.

The month was about to get over, and it is the time when I have to move to my hostel. Mrs. Ludwig, like a mom, wanted me to stay with them only but against all her wishes, I had to move to my hostel. And now, I have started missing my family more than before and also I have started missing my uncle and aunty too. Mrs. Ludwig use to call me often at my hostel’s landline but there was no way now, I could talk with Zarek or meet him except when we are at home at the common times and days.

This is the first weekend when I was visiting Mrs. And Mr. Ludwig, but there was no sign of Zarek coming in. I felt incomplete as if something was missing. I did not enjoyed my stay. But then Mrs. Ludwig informed me that his exam is scheduled for Monday and because of that he is not visiting this weekend. I had no option but to stay alone at home, without him. Actually, the house was just a building of concrete without him. He is the life of this house and when he is not here, the life is missing.

On Sunday evening, we all talked with him over a phone call to wish him luck for his exam. He sounded little worried but still he is the humorous and lively Zarek. And then the next week, I could not talk with him the entire week. I was even unable to find out about his exam. Also since my tests were approaching, I decided to stay back at hostel to give some extra time for my preparations, so this was the longest duration we did not see each other.

Now I am missing him like anything. But I was not sure if he also feels the same or not. The weekend, after my exams, was almost there and I have a plan to visit Zarek’s parents this time. I truly wished for his presence too. And finally on Friday evening when I was about to leave for home, I saw Zarek waiting for me. Immediately when he saw me, he came running towards me and hugged me tightly. While hugging, he expressed his feeling by saying, he missed me so much. And first kissed me on my cheeks and asked, how have I been? Without waiting for my reply, he moved his lips on to mine and placed a tender kiss on those. I never wanted him to stop but…. I pulled myself little away from me and with a sparkling eyes I asked him to let’s get going towards home.

He held my hand tightly with his one hand and placed his another hand around my waist. We were moving towards the bus stop. And this time he was full of questions.

Zarek: So how have you been the entire month?

Me: The month was OK and so was I! I had exams, so I could not visit home.

Z: you never even called?

Me: I missed your number.

Z: you could have asked for the same from mom!

Me: Hmmmm….. (I kept quite)

Z: I missed you so much. Did you miss me too?

Me: Yes!

Z: Do you like me?

Me: I again opted to remain quite….

Z: I did not get your answer sweets!

Me: Do you like me? (Instead I asked him a question)

Z: Yes! A lot….. Rather I think I have feelings for you more than just liking you. I think I am falling in love with you.

Me: Bus is here… let’s go…..

Z: why are you avoiding my question?

Me: Zarek, let’s get in first, because I don’t want to miss it.

Z: Answer me first, otherwise I am not moving anywhere.

Me: Yes I like you! And I think I also feel the same for you like you feel for me.

After hearing that, he seemed like on the seventh cloud and he hugged me again before we stepped into the bus. We reached home and his parents were more than happy to see both of us together. The weekend just passed by in a blink of an eye.

It is Monday morning again, we both left for our universities together. Immediately after stepping out of the home and getting away from the sight of his parents, he dragged me to a tree and by placing my back on it, he kissed passionately on my lips. This time I kissed him back. He said, “I was starving for this. I love you Aarshi. Say you love me too.” I just moved my head in agreement.

We both were happy to express our feelings for each other. This is the new phase of my life which was waiting for me and I was really excited to have Zarek in it. He is one such complete man whom I have always wanted to be with me. I loved everything about him. He was hardworking, sensible, independent and also the most caring one around me here in Denmark. When we were about to reach, he asked me, “Will you miss me?” I replied, “What do you think?” He just gave me his number again and asked me to call him whenever I can. He knew that it’s not allowed to keep a cell phone in the hostel and also, it will not be wise if he will call me so he did not even asked me about my number. And we parted, with a promise to meet soon.