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Aamon was scared to lose Lara forever. He knew that once she comes to know about his reality she would go away. But he couldn't endanger her life. He had to tell her...EVERYTHING. He thought and thought and then arrived at the conclusion that he would go and tell her that day itself. He saw the time on his old wall clock. If was 12 a.m already. He couldn't delay any further. He knew that she would be awake. He thought he would make everything clear to her and then come back. The rest of the decision should be hers. He won't force her or compel her for anything.

He reached her house at a lightning speed. Through the window he saw that she was already asleep today. It was only 12:05 am. He wanted to call her name aloud and wake her up but he couldn't. He couldn't dare to wake her up.

He went into the room quietly, careful enough of not making even a slight sound that would disturb her sleep. He stood near her bed and looked at her. She looked beautiful even while sleeping. Her soft silky hair was all messed up and spread all over her face. This enhanced her beauty even more. She was dreaming and he didn't want to stop her. Bending down he gently stoke her hairs. She was smiling. Aamon thought that she was awake now but soon he realized that she wasn't. May be she was dreaming...May be she was dreaming of him.

He sat down and held her hands. He looked at her innocent face and though she wasn't listening he started talking to her. He had no courage to reveal to her the truth so early.

"I don't wanna wake you up Lara. Be in your perfect dream world for some more time. This face of mine which you see.....this isn't true. I am very different. I am dangerous Lara. No one can love me. But I promise....as long as you are with me....I'll give you all the happiness, all the care and love in the world. You deserve every happiness Lara because you are my queen....but sadly this won't last long...my queen ...you wouldn't want to stay with me for long....because this king of yours is cursed. I know....I know that I'm wrong. I should have told you everything. But I dont want to break your dreams. I wanna find my happiness in your smiles, I wanna fulfill my dreams in yours. You will leave me when you know what I'm....you'll hate me and never want to see my face again....I'll tell you everything but not now. I wanna be with you Lara," he told her with teary eyes. He kept on looking at her for some time and the left.

Though Lara was asleep but she felt agitated as if someone was looking at her. She woke up but found no one. She looked all around and then got down from her bed. She went to the window and looked outside.

The night was beautiful and the stars in the sky looked as if they were polka dots on a never-ending robe.

Everything was quiet. The silence of the night was broken now and then by the barking of the dogs and the noises made by the nocturnals.

She switched off the lights of her room and went to sleep again.

....................................................................


Next morning when she was getting ready for college, she saw a button on the floor near the window. She picked it up qnd examined it carefully. She was pretty sure that it was not hers. It was a shirt button and she never wore shirts. Meanwhile she heard her alarm ring. It was time for the bus. She kept the button on her table and went to college.

When she reached there she saw that Anita was standing with a guy. She thought that probably he was an old friend of hers. She didn't even care to look at his face. As she was too excited to meet Anita and tell her about what all had happened yesterday. She ran to her friend and started jumping not even bothering about the onlookers.

"Annie....I wanna tell you something," she said. Anita smiled at her and said, "Wait Lara....save all of your excitement for him." And they giggled.

She then held the guy by his arms and told Lara, "By the way meet this handsome young man." Lara looked at Anita suspiciously and smirked. Anita knew that look and spoke at once, "Noooo....noooo....babe it's not what you are thinking. He's not my boyfriend....he's my brother Karan. Remember the other day I had told you that he would come?"

Lara laughed remembering that. "Oh yeah! It completely went out of my mind." All this while, Karan kept on looking at Lara without even blinking. His eyes were just fixed on her.

Karan looked at Anita and said, "It seems that you guys are very good friends. I mean you seem to understand each other....like what the other person thinks just by looking at the face."

"Ofcourse we are very good friends. In fact she's my best friend......oh by the way I forgot...Karan this is Lara....and Lara this is Karan," she introduced formally.

This was when Lara actually looked at him. He was fair and good looking. He had strong muscles. His hair was deep black. He had impressive looks but for Lara....he was nothing as compared to Aamon.

Karan smiled at Lara and put out his hand for a shake. "Hiii Lara....it's a pleasure to meet you....I hope my sister doesn't trouble you much!" Lara was reluctant at first but then shook her hands and smiling uncomfortably she said, "I like spending time with her. She is a joyful person."

"Karan...now you leave. We have our lectures now. We'll be late because of you...Bye bye," said Anita to his brother and the two girls hurriedly went in.

After all their lectures for the day was over, both of them went to the canteen and took their usual seat. Anita asked Lara about what she wanted to tell her in the morning. This time Lara reconsidered her decision to reveal everything in front of Anita. She thought it would be too quick. But she had to tell something otherwise Anita would feel insulted. She made up her mind that she would tell her the partial truth....she was just about to start speaking when her cell phone vibrated.

She looked at it...it was an unknown number. However, she received the call. "Hello Lara!" the person from the other side spoke. Lara knew that voice. She recognized it at once. It was Aamon.

"Hii.....is this you Aamon?" She asked in doubt. "Yes" he replied.

"How did you get my number?" She investigated.

"I have got my ways. I wanted to ask you something....can we meet?" asked Aamon.

"Today??? I mean now???" Lara asked nervously.

"No not now...but soon. I'll tell you....time and place....will you come?" First time he was polite in his manners.

"Of course I'll.....So you are asking me on a date? Will you be proposing me and all hmm?" Lara asked again mischievously. Her voice was melodious. He could listen to her all day.

"You'll know everything once you come," he replied, "Okay bye . I've got some work."

"Yeah...bye.....I love you Aamon Dias," Lara said and laughed. Her laughter was a music to his ears. His cold heart smiled on finding a warm ray of hope and that smile crept to his lips and they formed a curve. He smiled after so long.

"I love you," he finally replied but without hearing anything else from Lara, he hung up.

Lara was overjoyed. She started to jump and dance and made her friend dance too. She told Anita, "Annie.....Annie.....this is the best day of my life. I am so so so happy. You know what....finally...finally he told me that he loves me.....oh god.....I am so happy!"

"See....I knew he likes you. By the way congrats darling," saying this Anita hugged her.

"You know what Annn....he asked me on a date. He said that we'll go soon," Lara was beaming.

Anita teasingly told Lara, "Oh Wow...you'll go on a date...let me guess...hmmm ....a long romantic drive, then dinner, then he'll kiss you....you'll go to a cozy room and would be lost in other each other's eyes....and then he would pick you up in his arms and carry you to the bed...then you both will feel the fire burning...you'll get naughty...and then....."

"Ehhhhhh.....noooooo......noooo Annn stop....That dirty mind of yours......Nothing of that sort is happening okay? Come on now....let's leave," Lara said. They came out and were waiting for the bus when suddenly Lara's eyes fell on Anita's brother Karan....he was standing there along with his car.

"Come I'll drop you too Lara," he said and opened the doors of the car. Anita took the front seat and Lara sat behind. Karan adjusted his mirror. Lara could feel that he was staring at her through the mirror but she ignored it. They dropped her at her door and went away.

Lara got busy with her work and soon forgot about Karan. She was too happy to think of going on a date with Aamon. She was jumping and singing and dancing. She wanted to talk to him more. She dialed the number from which she had got the call but it was switched off.

She was a bit disheartened. "Nevermind.....we'll talk tomorrow," Lara assured herself. Before going to bed, she took out her diary and wrote,



"That rose bud has finally unfurled it's petals,
The warm rays of sunshine kiss it's bosom;
The scent of their romance spreads in the airs,
Seeing their union, the joyous leaves strum!"




She was tired now. It had been a long day. She went to her bed and closed her eyes.

"I love you Aamon. Have a Goodnight!" she smiled.

Sleep was blissful..........





© Alekshyaa Das