Someone Like You (6 page)

Over the last three days, I have often found myself staring at inane things and wondering if Akshat is the one. What if he is just like Viraat, only better-looking? After all, the unfortunate way that we met—when he almost killed me, then cared enough to come to apologize and we got talking—seemed right out of a silly, romantic movie with a happy ending.

After that first encounter, we had met again the next day. Akshat had called two hours after I had left Barista to ask me out. I had agreed, blushing all the while. When he called, I was still in a daze. It’s not every day that guys shower me with attention.

But then, it was quite weird in the beginning. We both did not know whether it was a date, or if we were both just being friendly. All we knew was that we both wanted to spend time with each other. Our first encounter had sparked enough interest in us to make us want to get to know each other better. So, not knowing where to go, we decided to meet at the same mall where our little accident almost happened, and take it from there. Once there, we stared at each other awkwardly after exchanging pleasantries.

Before it got too uncomfortable, he suggested we go for a drive and decide the venue on our way. Once in the car,
we got talking and forgot about deciding on a place. After over an hour, we found ourselves on the outskirts of Jaipur, where there was nothing but miles and miles of road ahead of us. There was very thin traffic and we were practically alone. When we realized that, Akshat pulled over. We turned to look at each other—he, with an unreadable expression on his face, and I, slightly nervous—and eventually burst out laughing when we met each other’s eyes.

After that, we spent hours lying on the bonnet of his car, talking about anything and everything under the sun, literally. It was almost unbelievable how quickly and easily we bonded. He put me completely at ease and I opened up to him with surprising effortlessness. It felt like I had known him for ages and I am sure that the feeling was mutual. I never realized that something as simple as looking at the setting sun together, and watching the birds fly back to their homes could be such an amazing experience. What we had there was what is really referred to as—
quality time
. And I crave more of it.

Luckily, I do not have to wait for very long to get it. We are meeting again in half an hour. I have been ready since the last hour, though. I spent the whole of last night thinking about what I would wear today, amongst the zillion new clothes I have bought for myself. And even after that, I ended up trying everything twice before finally coming to a decision.

I still have not told anyone—and by
anyone
I mean
Navroz
and
Simran
—because I am not sure what to make of it. Everything has happened way too quickly and I think I need a little time to actually make sense of it. Till then, I have decided to keep it my little secret and see how it goes. By the look of things, it’s going really well.

I check the time and decide that it’s time I should leave, to avoid being late. Akshat had offered to pick me up, but
I was scared that my neighbours, or worse still, my mother would spot us. And I have seen him in three very conspicuous cars—one big and the other two terribly expensive—and I didn’t want to be seen in any one of them. I grab my handbag and rush out of the house, hail an auto and get to the theatre in record time. I’m two minutes late. I look around and see Akshat standing next to the door, waiting for me, leaning against his car. Again, I don’t know which one it is, but it’s never-endingly long and extraordinarily expensive. Also, it’s none of the three I have seen him drive before. I smile at him.

‘You look beautiful,’ he says.

I smile wider.

‘Maybe, it’s because I don’t see you killing me now,’ I say and he smiles.

‘You’re late, but I can see what took you so long. I love what you’re wearing,’ he says.

He always says the right things
, I think to myself. I blush and look away. He starts to walk towards the movie hall and holds his hand out, and instinctively, I grab it. He wraps his long, bony fingers around mine, looks at me and smiles.

Like every Shah Rukh Khan movie, this one is impeccable too, and I think I love the man on the screen, more for the person that he is, than his acting abilities. He is a great human being, a responsible husband and a loving father, despite being the superstar that he is. Much like what I can see Akshat grow up to be. I shake myself.
Why is everything I see making me think of Akshat in one way or the other?
I feel that I am thinking too much and start to concentrate on the movie, though I find it tough to do as Akshat caresses my fingers endlessly. I blush throughout the movie and try not to look at him, but I know his admiring eyes are constantly on me.

The date is turning out to be amazing. We leave the movie hall, hand in hand and he takes me to a restaurant in
a heritage hotel. I remember the hotel clearly, not because it’s huge and has won many tourism awards, but because Navroz had asked me to treat him in the same place if I got through to IIT—and Akshat sits right opposite to me. Everything is just perfect. It’s not about the way he is, it’s about the way he is making me feel. Simran’s words ring in my head,
‘He makes me feel special.’

As he excuses himself to use the washroom, I watch him. Today, he is dressed in a deep blue shirt with a pair of dark trousers and formal shoes. He looks impeccable, and a little strange, I notice for the first time. He is yet to say something that is not out of place, and everything is just so proper and in place that it’s almost unsettling. No misplaced snorts. Measured smiles, all at the right places. His perfection kind of bugs me. He’s way too … immaculate. For someone like me, who has embraced imperfections for the majority of my life, it is new and troubling. I can’t help asking myself this question—what does he
really
want from me?

He comes back and tells me that he wants to know all about me, all that we could not cover that evening, when I had to rush home, after spending those heavenly hours with him on the bonnet of his car. No one has ever wanted to know anything about me, so once I start, I just can’t seem to be able to stop. I tell him about my parents, my sister and what my plans are. For the most part of the conversation, he listens intently, his chin resting on the palm of his right hand. Only when we talk about Simran does he get a little uncomfortable for a few seconds. But before I can ask, he is back to his perfect self again.

Soon, my phone rings again and I look at my watch. It’s seven o’clock and I am sure my mother is freaking out by now. He understands and calls for the bill and pays it, despite an attempt from my side to go dutch.

‘I’ll drop you home,’ he says.

‘Oh, that won’t be necessary Akshat. I can take—’

‘Please, Niharika. I insist.’

‘Umm … okay,’ I reply. The look in his eyes is so sincere that I just have to accept his offer. At least this time.

When we get to the car, he holds the door open for me. No one has ever done that for me! I am flattered. The last guy I dated—Piyush Mehra—didn’t even want to be seen with me. I see him make his way around the car and get in. He’s perfect. How did I ever get so lucky?

‘So? Excited about the new college?’ he asks.

‘Yes. A little nervous, but excited.’

‘Would you mind if I come to visit you some time?’

‘Why would you do that?’ I ask, and look at him stupidly. I know it’s a question I shouldn’t have asked, but I want an honest answer to it. I may have got myself a new hairstyle and borrowed some of Simran’s personality, but a guy like Akshat can get anyone. Then, why me?

‘I think you’re very pretty. But that’s not it, there are many pretty girls out there, but you’re smart and you’re funny too. That’s what I really like about you. If I were to guess which college you should go to, it would either be NIFT because you carry yourself so well in those clothes or IIT, for you are smart as hell,’ he says, and while he does he holds my hands tight and looks into my eyes.

‘Typhoid. Right before the tests. I barely even managed to get to the exam hall,’ I say, as I struggle to find words. I choke on my words and tremble. ‘Just before the exams.’

‘I hope you know it’s IIT’s loss, not yours,’ he says and flashes his perfectly white teeth at me.

I like to believe what he says. I’d prepared very hard for the IIT exams. And after two years of dedicated effort and sleepless nights, two days before the exam, typhoid got me. I was so heavily medicated during the exams that I could barely keep my eyes open.

The All India Entrance Examination for Engineering was considerably better, and I got into ICE, Nagpur. After the results came out, everyone promptly forgot about the ailment and my incompetence became the reason why I couldn’t crack the IIT examination. I stayed locked up in my room for a few days, but then it became better and I stopped thinking about it. After all, my parents were proud of me and that’s what matters.

‘They’re just jealous,’ is what Simran had said. ‘They’ve just seen you succeed all your life. It’s obvious they’d love a chance to speak shit when you’re down. Bloody losers!’

She, like the painfully good-looking guy sitting in front of me, knows what to say to make me feel good. On the way to the car, he turns on his charm and has me on my knees. I can’t call it flirting, because he makes everything sound so genuine and from the bottom of the heart. It’s like his eyes see right through me and he knows just what he needs to say.

‘I’ll see you, then,’ he says as I get out of the car. He’s holding the door open for me. I wonder if people even do that these days. I look at his perfectly sculpted jawline and I am amazed at how perfect he is.

‘I had fun.’

‘Yes. It was the nicest evening I have had in the longest time.’

As I turn to leave, he catches my arm and turns me around. He is strong and I find it hard to muster the strength to resist as the distance between us closes. Before I can take a deep breath and say anything, he pulls me towards him and his lips touch mine. I am surprised at first, dazed, but then I start to like it. It’s not really a kiss, it’s more like a peck, only with a lot of love and tenderness. The way he’s holding my face and the way his lips touch mine … I like the feeling.

We break the kiss and he loosens his grip on me. I sway back and stagger to the stairs of my apartment.

He smiles, walks away and gets into the car. I stand there and see him drive off. It’s something right out of a romantic movie! I turn around and make my way to the house. It’s a good thing it is so dark. Mom could’ve seen me otherwise or worse still, my nosey neighbours.

I change into my pyjamas and wash my face. I think about calling Simran. She’d said that she wanted me to find a guy. She’d said she’d like to see me happy. I’m happy now.

But I decide against calling her. I want to be alone with the thoughts of what happened just now and earlier today. My phone vibrates and my heartbeat quickens. It’s a message. Please let it be him. Please let it be him. It is him. The message says:

‘You’re sweet. Take it in whatever sense you want. Good night. Kisses.’

I smile as I turn on my side. I never thought I would say this after my first date but I liked it that he kissed me.

I look at Akshat’s message again. The hidden meaning gives me tickles.
I’m sweet
. My head still tingles and it feels like his lips are still on mine. I’m dazed. I reply to his text.

‘I hope your dreams are sweet too.’