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ATHARV'S POV

FLASHBACK

FOUR YEARS BACK

The cold breeze of winter touched my skin as I kicked the stone, absentmindedly. Weather was getting darker, it will start raining in few minutes or maybe not. Who knows? There's no use of predicting anything, it only hurts when everything turns out different.

Licking my lips, I sat on the edge of cliff and exhaled a deep breath. It was same, everything was same since I was child. They never understood what I want, they never cared my feelings, never, they never acted like my parents.

" You're Atharv, right?" An unfamiliar voice came. I tilted my head to saw a girl standing near me. I blinked in confusion but without a word, I turned my head back to it's initial position.

" Uh, Are you okay?" She asked in an adorable voice which made me to look at her. My jaw dropped in surprise, she was pretty...too pretty. Black hairs cascading down her shoulder which were complementing those mesmerizing color of her eyes. Cute nose, turned slightly red due to cold weather and shades of baby pink on her lips. She indeed was an Angel, a beautiful Angel.

" How do you know my name?"  I asked, still staring at her adorable face.

She smiled "We are in same school but different sections." She paused for a moment then shifted her attention down the cliff. "Girls often talk about you."

I stayed silent, unable to reply her. Swallowing a dry lump of saliva down my throat, I cleared my throat in an attempt to let her know that I don't want to continue this conversation further.

" You're not okay, are you?" 

" You are asking as if you care?" I countered in a low voice.

" Try me."

I searched her face for a bit humor but she was serious. I parted my lips to pass any other negative comment but before that could happen, a soft, assuring smile crept on her cheeks which I don't know why but automatically cast a spell on me to feel the warmth in my chest.

" I don't want to go in maths stream but my parents..they are pressurizing me... Never mind, you will never understand." I said in hollow voice.

" Why won't I understand?"

" Just like everyone else, you will also advise me to make my parents proud and all that shit." I replied.

" No. I don't. Actually I would like you to advice for opting the stream you want to study." She shrugged her shoulder. " You know, not everyone are same."

Not everyone are same? But then why I don't have real people in my life? Why I don't have parents who care for my feelings? Why I don't have those friends who are not with me just because of my parents money? Why?

" By the way, my name is Aroma."

" Aroma?" I tested her name which was as beautiful as her.

" How come I've never seen you in the school?" After all you're way to pretty to not not catch my sight.

" Maybe because you're way too busy to notice that girl who everyday finds a reason to catch even a single glimpse of you." She flushed furiously at her words and bit the corner on her lips in nervousness.

I let a minute to digest what she said. A small blush crept up to my neck as I clenched my fists to suppress the unusual sensation happening in my stomach.

"W-Why?"

" I had seen tears in your eye more then the smiles on your face. You're different from everyone else. I-I..Uh..want to make you happy." She whispered ever so lightly and masked a genuine smile to offer.

My parents themselve never cared for my happiness and here this girl whom I just met, wants my happiness?

" My parents don't love me, all they care is about their reputation, my grades are poor, I don't live my life like any normal teenager. So tell me the real reason behind all the sweet talks because if you want to become close to me just for my money then let me remind you that those are my parents wealth not mine and if because of my look then I guess you're wasting your time because I am not into one time flings."

" I have a crush on you since we were in eighth standard and at that time you didn't looked charming like you do now, so I am not attracted to your looks. I don't care about your grades neither your money and I don't want one time fling when I want to make you happy."

She placed her palm over mine and gave it a little squeeze. My skin relaxed at her contact and for the first time, I felt something for any girl. Maybe it was attraction but then attraction happens with look not with words.

There was relief in my heart as if it was craving for her, from so long. I just met her and she already started to get under my heart. Is it right to feel this way?

" You're just sixteen, right?" I teased, suppressing a smile which was daring to fall on my lips.

" Why? Do I look like I am sixty?" She pouted and soon burst out laughing.

Her sound of laugh ran like a melody to my ear. My every emotional conflicts about my parents disappeared the second we held an eye contact. It was like one of those moments which I never wanted to end.

" Atharv, will you give me the chance to become your girlfriend?" She asked while holding an eye contact and squeezing my palm softly.

I blinked in disbelief. Is this girl for real? We are completely stranger but still she's behaving like we know each other.

" Hey..hey.. Please don't freak out. I-I knows it's completely insane for me to ask you something this sudden but I really have a feeling for you. I care about you, more then you'll ever imagine. All I am asking you for is to give me a chance to prove. I promise I'll never let you down. I've been stalking you since years and that's why I am aware that you don't believe in relationships and neither in some random hookups. But Atharv I want to have the relationship with you where I can call you mine. I want you. I...please, I've never felt something this strong for anyone..."

She paused as a little sob escaped her lips. Tears had streamed down her face.

She's crying... for me? She cares for me? No one had done that...My heart burst out with new emotions. Should I take this chance? But Atharv how could you, you know nothing about her?

She wiped the tears from the back of her hand and scrunched up her nose, cutely.  Maybe, she's worth to led my guards down for her.

"I will never let you go if you'll become mine."

" I don't want to go away from you, Atharv."

Her face broke into mesmerizing smile as she stood up and grabbed my wrist to pull me up too. My heart hammered with my stomach ready to burst due to butterflies. What she's doing with me?

Rain started pouring down and I passed a panic look to her but instead of finding the mirror image of my expression on her, she was actually ecstatic. Huh?

" Let's dance, Mr. boyfriend." She put my arms around her waist and wrapped her arms around my neck. A shiver ran through me and in the restlessness of her bold action, I struggled for a breath.

Rain drops fell on her face making her skin glow. She became more breathtaking.

" Boyfriend?" I muttered under my breath and pressed my lips together. B-but we just met.

" God! You're boy and I am girl then why are you switching our roles by sulking over my confession?" She smiled and leaned more closer to me till her breath started brushing on my face.

" W-what..."

But before I was able to complete my sentence, she pressed her lips over mine. My body froze as a sudden wave of warmth rushed in my abdomen. Her cold lips moved softly against mine.

" Are you out of your mind?" I yelled after pushing her away but while secretly wishing to kiss her again.

" We stole each other's first kiss." She whined and once again came forward to press a light peck on my cheeks.

My face heated in embarrassment but unconsciously my lips curled up into smile. She's mine. My Angel.

" Let's know each other."

FLASHBACK ENDS

" I was not that desperate for you." She faked a scoff and leaned more into hospital's bedpost.

A laugh vibrated through my chest at her antiques. " You're cute." I pulled her cheeks to which her scowl deepened more.

" You kissed a practical stranger, Aroma. Definitely you were desperate for me but no worries, I won't judge after all I know I am hard to resist."  I mocked and passed a wink to her.

Her face went red and all she did was to glare me as if she's all ready to kill me.

" You weren't a stranger, okay? I had done enough stalking on you. And Mr. Atharv if it wasn't me then you would have remain single forever because of your crappy face." She spat and huffed while folding her arms over her chest.

I shook my head and shifted closer to her. "But you love me, my Angel." I leaned to kiss her.

" More then anything." She chirped and kissed me back.

I will never forget the day we first met. It was all in my mind and memories. Her every word, ever smiles, every tears, everything, every single thing about her will always remain the way it is now even I know that one day she will be no longer with me to share them. She had showed me the meaning of love, the meaning of having someone there for you when nothing seems right, the meaning of living. I had promised myself that we'll always be together but that promise will never remain forever. She will leave me not by her wish but by the cruel fate of our destiny.

The only person I loved in my life will no longer be there to hold me into her loving arms, she will no longer be there to kiss me till we run out of breath, she will no longer be there to comfort me, she will no longer be there to stuck her tongue out at me, she will no longer be there to fade my darkness, she will no longer be there to text me random silly messages, she will no longer be there to boss me around, she will no longer be there to make fun of me, she will no longer be there to share the walk on the street, she will no longer be there to shout to the world that she loves me, she will no longer be there to call me just to disturb my sleep, she will no longer be there to stick cute quotes all over the walls of my room, she will no longer be there to push me for cooking food for her, she will no longer be there to crack stupid jokes, she will no longer be there to force me for watching romantic movies with her, she will no longer be there to hold my hand, she will no longer be there to throw a murderous glare to girls who try to flirt with me, she will no longer be there to give me butterflies, she will no longer be there to fight over the last piece of pizza, she will no longer be there to offer her beautiful smile, she will no longer be there to dance with me on her favourite love songs, she will no longer be there to click our pictures together, she will no longer be there to give a beat to my heart, she will no longer be there to support me, she will no longer be there to wipe my tears when I have a fight with my parents, she will no longer be there to make me smile over and over again, she will no longer be there to make my life worth living.