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Days passed by. She was busy with her semesters, with her plays, with her books. But everynight around 2 a.m she felt like someone was there with her. Acting as if she's asleep she would quietly peep through her eyes but saw nothing. She thought that may be it was just her imagination.

When we face a delusion we often choose the easy way or a way which seems more logical. In our subconscious mind too, we feel only that what we want to feel. Same was happening with her. She chose that there was no one because that was easier and sounded more logical to beleive.

Few days later, when she was going along with Anita to the library, she saw Aamon sitting alone in a room. She told her friend, "Annie look!!! He's there," and was smiling from ear to ear.

Anita said, "If you really think you love him, why don't you just go and confess? I've seen him staring at you several times. It could be that he likes you too but feels awkward to approach you? Just tell him about your feelings...you'll get to know his side of the story too. What say?"

"Hmm...you are right. I think I should talk to him. But how will I talk? I don't even have his number. Can't you arrange it Annie?" Lara asked with a puppy face.

"Dumbo....I don't know what is wrong with you. He's right there...sitting all alone...and you are asking me to arrange his number. Just go and talk face to face." Before Lara could oppose, Anita pushed her towards the room and said, "Gooooooo! I'll leave you alone. But tell me the entire story okay," and she ran away grinning.

Aamon was sitting there with a book in his hand and his reaction was indifferent to Lara's presence in the room. Lara was a bit nervous and scared as well but she went closer to him.

"Hii Aamon....I'm Lara if you still remember. I wanted to tell you something. Are you busy?" she asked. "Yes. Very busy. But tell me, what's it?" Aamon questioned without even taking his eyes off from that book.
Lara fidgeted her fingers. Her heart was beating in an increased pace. When Aamon questioned again, "I don't have all day. Speak...fast!"

"I Love You," blurted out Lara.

"What?" Aamon asked again. This time looking at her face. He was shocked to hear such words. It had been years since someone had loved him. The only thing he remembered was rejection. His own family had disowned him and here, this crazy girl who knows nothing about him comes all of a sudden and says that she loves him. It could never be true.

"I love you," Lara repeated blushing. "No Miss. You don't love. People like you mistake all stupid attractions for love." He got up and banged his fist on the table. "LEAVE!!!!!" He shouted.

She was scared even more. Her eyes were filled with tears. She hadn't expected that he would be so angry. He could have refused in a polite way if he didn't like her. There was no need to shout on her like that.

Seeing her hurt, he immediately regretted it. He wanted to console her, he wanted to hold her in his arms to pamper her but he knew that he couldn't do that. He couldn't risk her life. He came a little closer to her and said, "Didn't you hear what I said? Leave." This time in a low voice.

Lara didn't know from where she got the courage but she spoke firmly steping closer, "I won't leave. I said I LOVE YOU. And what do you think? Everyone's love is fake? I Love You from that very moment when I saw you first. Awake or asleep, the only person...I think about....I dream about is YOU. Whenever you are around, my heart starts beating faster. An inner voice tells me that you are the only one for me. I've never missed a chance to get a glance of yours...and you ...you don't even know me. How can you be so sure that it's not love?" She breathed heavily. She was angry, she was irritated, she was hurt! A single pearly drop of tear slid down her face but before it fell on the floor...Aaamon was quick enough to get hold of it on his finger tip.

He came closer and wiped away her tears. "Stop crying. I didn't want to make you cry. I was just saying that this isn't love. This love would ruin you. This love is dangerous and can harm you. I speak for good. It's better for you to leave and forget me....forget that we had ever met."

Lara looked at him. She could sense some fear in his eyes but she didn't know why. Stepping even closer till he could feel her heavy breath against his skin, she looked into his eyes and said with utmost sincerity, "May be you are right! I don't know what danger you are talking about but I know only one thing that if you are with me, nothing is gonna be wrong. If this love would ruin me I would love to get myself ruined," she stood on the tip of her toes and whispered in his ears, "I really love you Aamon," and embraced him, tears rolling down her face.

In a fear that she would know his greatest truth, he moved a step away and held her by her arms. "Lara....listen...you are not getting it...I..," before he could complete Lara put her finger on his lips, "Shhhhhhh.....I had heard that you don't talk much. But don't you think you are talking too much?" And she raised her right eyebrow.

Aamon had never obeyed anyone, but today he wanted to listen to her. After a moment of quietness, Aamon was again to say something, "I...I...." but before he could, she pressed her lips against his. Her lips were warm and his were cold.

Lara couldn't beleive that she did something like this. A girl who never even had many male friends let alone a boyfriend was smooching a guy she had met just months ago. She felt a strong pull towards him. She felt her adrenaline rush. Her face was red. She blushed like never before and ran away from him without even looking behind.

Aamon was taken aback. Though he knew why all that happened but he still feared it. What if he would harm her. What if she would leave him after knowing the entire truth. He would never want to hurt her, he would never want her to leave but what if his fears were real? He can't let her go, he can't scare her away. Afterall she was his........



© Alekshyaa Das