Yes it's no surprise that this is indeed another one shot--but I still hope you all enjoy it! 😃 And especially the special girl it's dedicated to! 😃😉
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"Sorry ma'am." The ride operator says to her. "We only allow two people per boat."
The girl he's talking to looks down at the boat where her two friends; Shifali and Ravs were sitting. "But there's enough room for two more people," she argues.
"Drowning hazard," he replies. "But we do have another gentleman waiting to go on the boat ride as well. If you could just wait here for a few more minutes?"
She grumbles for two seconds before waving at Shifali and Ravs who were drifting away from the shore.
About two minutes later the operator returns but this time with someone else.
Someone who had the ability to make her swoon without even opening his mouth.
Someone who nearly made her feel glad for not getting on the boat with her friends.
"He's just like you, two of his friends already went on the ride," the operator guy tells her.
Feeling a bit shy she lowers her glance until the operator interrupts yet again. "If you two would get in this boat here," he gestures to the next one in line.
The guy she was supposed to ride with gets on first and then surprises her by offering his hand.
Still looking down; this time watching her step, she put her small hand into his larger one and literally started feeling the fireworks exploding around her. He helped lower her into the boat and they both were off.
She couldn't help but be drawn to the man next to her. He had an intoxicating scent. Something musky and almost outdoorsy mixed with aftershave. She looked down at his legs, which were sprawled out in front of him, showing off how long they were, and he was dressed in dark blue jeans and a crisp white shirt. She notices the sleeves rolled up showing off his toned arms. She moved her gaze upward and saw him smiling away into the distance while his chocolatey eyes appeared to be sparkling as well. He turns suddenly and their eyes lock on one another.
"I'm sorry you got stuck with me," He says softly to her. "My friends got here before me, and as usual didn't bother waiting."
"Don't worry about it," she smiles at him. "Same thing happened to me," she sighs as she looks around the lake where other fellow boaters were scattered everywhere. "They're the girls over there, talking to those two guys by the fountain."
He squints in the distance and breaks out into a smile. "Those two guys are my friends; Yug is the shorter one and that's Arjun, the taller one."
She nods and introduces both her friends. "Shifali's the one in the purple sequined top over the jeans, and Ravs is the one with the longer hair, and in the sunglasses."
"Hey—you introduced your friends, but I don't even know your name," He suddenly exclaims.
"Ditto?" She points out.
"Right," a small blush creeps up to his face, still hidden by his stubble. "I'm Prem,"
"Madhuri," she replies, still weirded out but this whole scenario. Yet there was something about this guy—Prem—she corrected herself, that made her feel at ease. He seemed like any other guy she'd met yet still a bit different—only this one wasn't trying to make a pass at her.
"Has anyone told you, you have the prettiest eyes?" He mentions, looking deep into her eyes.
Okay so scratch that, Maddy shakes her head, "Just when I thought you were different,"
"What happened?" He asks.
"That line? About my eyes—kinda old now Prem don't you think?" she rolls her eyes and looks in a different direction.
"I'm sorry if you think I'm making a pass at you Madhuri, but that's the truth. You really have the nicest eyes that I've ever seen; and believe me...I've seen a LOT of girls,"
She felt bad for snapping at him like that—he seemed to be telling the truth and that really touched her. No guy had just told her something like that out of the blue. She knew she was right when she said Prem was different. She was happy he complimented her--yet she was curious. What did 'a LOT of girls' mean? "I'm sorry,"
"What was that?" Prem leans a bit closer.
"I said I'm sorry," Maddy smiles. "I shouldn't have just assumed something like that,"
He grins backs. "Koi baat nahi—kabhi kabhi ho jata hain,"
That did it—they both had broken the ice and that had made it easier to start conversing. Maddy learned about all of Prem's ambitions and goals, and what he was doing currently, while he was surprised to learn that she was pursuing a degree in fashion design.
"Why are you surprised?" She asks, feeling a bit offended.
"Oh don't take it the wrong way," Prem shakes his head. "You just don't seem to fit into the clichd group of snooty designers."
He was paying her another compliment which made her blush a bit more. "So how do you know so much about designers?"
"You never asked what kinda photographer I am," He winks at her.
Did he just do what I think he did? Maddy could feel her heart start to accelerate; she tried hard to shake off the feeling. "What kind are you?"
"Fashion photographer," He tells her.
Her mouth dropped open. "You're Prem JUNEJA? You're the like the number 1 photographer for fashion covers,"
He shrugs his shoulders. "Guilty,"
She smiles as she proceeds to ask him more questions, but is hurt when their ride comes to an end and their boat makes its way back to shore. He jumps out of the boat first and then helps her onto shore.
"Thank you," she slowly whispers.
"Don't mention it," He smiles back, letting his arm curve around her waist as he leads her away from the crowd.
Maddy could feel her insides about to explode. This amazing guy had his arm around her waist and there was nothing she wanted more than to keep it there forever but of course wishes never came true. She cursed mentally as his hand moved away from her waist and he stood there across her not knowing what to say.
"Umm—so...." Prem says at the same time Maddy says, "So I'll see you around?"
"How about you give me your number?" Prem suggests. Maddy smiles and nods while she rattles off her number while he punches it into his phone. "Got it,"
"Great—so I guess this is it?" She takes a step back.
"Guess so," He takes a step back as well.
Right then Maddy feels as if something rammed into her and then opens her eyes to see Shifali and Ravs standing perfectly composed in front of her. "What are you two doing?" She hisses at them.
"Oh—you're with a boy, so you're embarrassed?" Shifali loudly whispers back, leaving Prem slightly flushed looking.
Ravs giggles as she looks at Prem and then her eyes get a dreamy look as she sees someone come from behind Prem. Following her cue, Maddy turns to see the two guys Prem pointed out as Yug and Arjun come up to Prem.
"Tu inko kaise jaanta hain?" Yug asks in hindi to Prem.
"Hum inhe nahi jaante," Shifali answers instead. "Yeh humari dost ko jaanta hain,"
Arjun looks at Shifali and smiles. "What do you all say we hang out together for the rest of the afternoon?"
The three girls glance at each other and then Ravs answers. "We'd like that,"
As if it was destined Maddy found herself alone for a moment while Shifali and Arjun walked together and she saw Yug shyly take Ravs hands; but then her own hand was being lifted and when she turned she saw Prem's smiling face turn to her. "Shall we?"
She nodded feeling totally elated that something so fairytale like could happen to her. Meeting a stranger, then falling in love. Wait, she told herself. It wasn't love. Was it? She turned again and saw Prem smile as he noticed her glance on him and that's when she knew. It was love—
This super special one shot is dedicated to my super special friend Maddy who started this awesome trend of one shots for her friends! *hugs* I can never thank you enough for how you made me feel when I read the one shot for me, and so in a way I just hope that this one kinda gives you the same feeling! 😃😳
Love you loads,
Meera😳
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
