THE CHOICE- CHAPTER 3

Hello ppl…I have decided that i will post twice a week…coz d upcoming chapters will be short…so it would be unfair..to post late as well as short chps…keep commenting…luv u all…

CHAPTER 3

Suman is getting ready for her lectures…. She has worn a plain peach top nd blue jeans….her hair is as usual tied in a pony…..nd her face is reflecting d same glow…..she keeps her books in her bag…. She is thinking about Aditya…..” I hope that ur mood is better today….I don’t like to c u like that.” Then suddenly she remembers that her dad’s friend’s son was coming today…she thinks to meet him after d lectures…..she leaves for d lectures….

Suman comes out of her class after d last lecture of d day..she is actually having a free lecture after this..she sees her group…all of them standing nd laughing together..there r four girls including herself and three boys in their group…something is different….she thinks….Then she spots it….not it…it is actually ‘him’…. there is a fourth guy…
A tall guy is standing there..wearing black shirt nd blue jeans…she can’t c his face…..she moves towards them….
” Oh hey Suman.. We were waiting for u only” Aditya shouts for everyone to hear…as he sees her approaching them…..Shravan sees her…he notices that she has brown wavy hair…nd deep brown eyes….which seem black some times….her lips are curled into a beautiful smile…..her features r not that perfect…but she is beautiful….beautiful in her own way….her simplicity looks most striking to him…nd d thing is he doesn’t hve to look down to her…as he has to wid other girls…coz she is tall enough…to look into his eyes…
Meanwhile….Suman is relieved…’ All well’ she thinks….nd sighs…she mentally thanks d new guy… Bcoz of him… Aditya looks so excited.. Nd he must hve forgotten yesterday’s incident….
Suman reaches there…nd Aditya quips… ” Suman…meet Shravan….nd Shravan meet Suman… ” ..then it clicks Suman that he is his dad’s friend’s son…she forwards her hand….nd Shravan ‘s long fingers wrap around her gentle skin…

“Shravan…Shravan Malhotra.. Nice to meet u.” He smiles at her….nd suddenly Suman notices how perfect his features were….he had light brown eyes….she notices his eyes first..as she loves searching people’s eyes…his hair was sandy brown….which shined in d sunlight…his hair was a striking feature of his….his smile moved way up..till his cheekbones….overall…he looked smart…his eyes reflected confidence….he is one of d few boys..who matches her height…Suman realises…that she has been thinking for a quiet while….nd she is still holding his hand…nd Shravan is looking at her quizzically…

” Suman Kashyap… Pleasure ” she says…nd gives his hand a light but firm shake….
” Oh Ok Suman..I m having my last lecture…so u be wid him….help him out…he is new over here…he had some prblms..due to which he couldn’t join earlier..” Aditya says in a hurry and leaves from there….and all of d other gang members also disperse….leaving only Shravan nd Suman standing there…..
” Everybody wants me to help him…is he a kid or wat” Suman murmurs to herself…..
” Sorry..did u say something” Shravan asks….

“Umm…no actually I was saying that….dad called me yesterday…to tell that u would be joining nd I should help u out…” Suman replies….
” Oh..so u r Kabir uncle’s daughter ” Shravan says…
” Yes…so where should we start with…I mean wid helping u out? ” Suman asks….nd puts her hands on her hips….
Shravan is a bit amazed at this ‘ no nonsense…all work’ attitude of hers…..so he thinks for a while….nd then says….” Ur subjects nd mine r different…so that means..u can’t help me wid that part….so what else…maybe giving me a tour of d college?”
“Oh yeah… I can show u d whole campus….” Suman says excitedly…

They move around d whole college….nd by d time they r done wid it…its almost evening….that means its Suman’s ‘ me time’….she thinks that where is Aditya…..nd mentally curses him for leaving her wid this new guy…nd ruining her plan….
When Shravan notices her restless…..he says…” Hey Suman…I m so sorry… I just took so much time of urs….I know u want to be free from me…..u go..I will manage….”
Suman looks at him for a moment….nd then says suddenly…
” You can join me” she herself…doesn’t know that y she said this…she never likes anyone except adi…being wid her at this time….so y him?….pity?…sympathy?… No it wasn’t any of these…..it was something else….she is interrupted in her thoughts…..by Shravan…
” Join u…for what?” He says….looking perplexed….

” You will know that soon…there’s still one place…left to show u….very few people know about it..come let’s go..”
Suman says nd holds his hand unconsciously…just like she does wid Aditya….d touch sends some vibes..through both of them….d contact….of their warm skins….makes them think that do they know d touch?…do they hve a connection wid it?….they both r staring at their hands…held together….by something more than fingers….’ Maybe destiny’ they think…..
Suman comes out of d thoughts….nd leaves his hand…..
” I m so sorry….I hve a habit holding adi’s hand… Nd dragging him along wid me…” Suman says…feeling a bit awkward….
” Its fine….let’s go” Shravan says…..

After some time they reach d place….Shravan is just lost in its beauty…..though he is not a peaceful kinda person…but d view mesmerises him….he looks at Suman… Whose face is reflecting shades of orange….” This girl has something in her…” He thinks….
Suman finds him staring at her…nd so she raises her eyebrows….
Shravan comes out of his imagination…nd says..” I was thinking…how did u find such a beautiful place…?”
Suman replies looking at d water ” I like peace….so I find peace….wherever I go…I found this place in d first few days of d college…nd from that day.. I come here everyday..sometimes..wid adi…but usually alone…”

” How can u even manage loneliness…I can never manage staying alone..?” Shravan asks….surprised…coz he is not a person who likes to be in peace away from d noise nd fun…
” Loneliness nd staying alone r not d same things….there is a difference- of choice…I love to be alone but I fear loneliness..” Suman says…still not taking her eyes of d water…she thinks about…how without a moment’s hesitation she told him..her fears…she hasn’t even told Aditya…or her bestie Ananya….in fact no one….so why him…..d water is still…..nd so is she…..she told him without him asking about it….she was so transparent wid him…..y ?
Meanwhile Shravan thinks….” Yeah… Those r what make our lives worth living it…- Our choices…..”

For quiet sometime they don’t speak anything…they just c d sunset..nd sky going dark…..both have d same question occupying their minds….”Is this dusk… D dawn of their story? “