Hearing this, Aradhya is stunned and thinks to herself,
What! I never thought he would ask me like this. I thought he would get shy, laugh, stammer but he spoke so directly.
Akash says,
"Tell me. Yes or no."
Aradhya, in a soft, hesitant voice, asks,
"Why do you think that?"
Akash smiles and says,
"When I came to talk to you, I understood it from the way your friends behaved."
Aradhya speaks quickly,
"Oh come on, how can you say something like that just because of this?"
Akash smiles and replies,
"It's not just that. I've been observing you since last year how you look at me again and again, then turn away the moment I notice, how the way you speak changes when I come near you, how you deliberately try to avoid me when I get close. I noticed all of it."
Aradhya says,
"You can't really tell whether someone loves you from all that."
Akash replies,
"You can and there's another proof too. That friend of yours who always tells you everything about me. Even yesterday, she told you what I was thinking."
Aradhya smiles and says,
"I knew it. You really observe things carefully. So now that you already know, give your answer."
Akash says in surprise,
"What answer?"
Aradhya replies,
"You're so intelligent. You should understand that answer. Yes or no."
Akash looks even more confused,
"What kind of yes or no?"
Aradhya says shyly,
"I know you're doing this on purpose."
Akash thinks to himself,
What is she saying? I don't understand anything. Is she asking me to answer whether we should get into a relationship? No, no if that's the case, I'll refuse. Yes, I'll refuse. Love makes you weak.
Aradhya says,
"I know what you think about love. I've heard everything. But I feel you deliberately say those things so that no one pays attention to you."
Akash asks softly,
"Do you mean… my answer yes or no to whether we should be in a relationship?"
Aradhya says happily,
"Yes, yes, that one. Come on, tell me. Anyway, I already know what you're going to say."
Akash says,
"If that's the case, then my answer is no."
Aradhya says,
"Thank you wait, what?"
Akash repeats,
"No."
Aradhya immediately asks,
"But why?"
Akash takes a deep breath and says calmly,
"Look, I understand you. The truth is, I'm not interested in this at all. You said you know what I think about love, so you should understand. You know the kind of strange, different things I talk about you won't like it."
Aradhya smiles and says,
"I like those things about you. I want to go into that world with you."
Akash thinks,
What! Why is she saying such romantic things?
Akash says to Aradhya,
"I'm not like other boys. I won't be able to give you time."
Aradhya tilts her head, smiles, and says softly,
"Even a single moment spent with you is equal to an entire lifetime."
Akash suddenly says,
"Stop it. Don't talk to me like that."
Aradhya smiles and says,
"No, I will."
Akash thinks,
What is she saying? What is happening to me? Girls always choose a guy who can give them everything. Fine I'll just say I'm poor. Yes, that'll work.
Then Akash says,
"Look, the truth is, I'm poor. I won't be able to give you the things you like."
Hearing this, Aradhya first smiles and then says,
"Alright. What I want doesn't come from money. It's just you. Even if my life has many difficulties, if you're with me, those difficulties will turn into happiness. And I promise you we'll build a good life together."
Akash thinks,
Wow. She talks very lovingly. If someone else were in my place, they'd definitely fall for her. But not me. I'm not like that. I'm not weak.
Akash says,
"Look, the truth is, I don't like you at all. Why don't you understand?"
Aradhya replies,
"It's okay. I'll make you fall in love with me. And anyway, you'll end up alone."
Akash says,
"There is the greatest strength in loneliness. And what did you say make me fall in love? You can never do that. Do you understand?"
Then Aradhya suddenly says,
"Shall we make a bet? If I make you fall in love with me even for a single moment, you'll have to be bound to me. What do you say?"
Akash thinks,
A challenge? Yes, that's perfect. This way, I'll train myself too, make my mind even stronger. Love won't defeat me.
Then Akash says,
"Alright then."
The moment she hears this, Aradhya laughs and says,
"Now that's what I'm talking about. Just wait and watch what I do."
Akash thinks,
What is happening to me? This feels like some nonsense romantic show with illogical stories.
"Listen, Akash, class time has started. If you don't mind, shall we go together?" Aradhya asks.
Akash replies,
"Alright, let's go."
While walking to class, Aradhya asks,
"What kinds of things do you like?"
Akash replies,
"Nothing much just thinking about slightly different things."
Aradhya asks again,
"What kind of things?"
Akash says,
"Things that aren't taught in our school."
Talking like this, they enter the classroom together. As soon as they enter, all the students start looking at them and whispering.
"Hey, these two are together something must be going on between them."
"Man, I was about to ask that girl out. What happened here?"
Akash thinks,
Hahaha… so this is what you're doing. When a large number of people start talking like this about two people, even if they aren't in love, they often end up falling for each other. This is the weakness of the human mind. But nothing like that will happen to me. Looks like this is going to be fun with you.
Aradhya asks,
"Why are you smiling?"
Then she thinks to herself, It seems like what I thought is starting to happen.
Akash says,
"Nothing. Just like that."