Kanpur-Gandhinagar-Bangalore-Calcutta

I was tired of being a friend. Rising from the echelons of 'orkut friend' to 'gtalk friend' to 'project friend' to 'good friend' to 'best friend', I had hit a roadblock. I decided to take next leap and spill the beans. But how to propose? Where to propose? What will be my perfect heart winning words?

My simple plan-> I'll take her for a romantic outing. At the end of it, I'll propose. She'll say yes. We'll hold hands, sing romantic songs and be together for lifetime. Perfect!

I decided to call her and fix the plan.

Hi, How are you? What about an outing?
Nah I'm not interested to go out.
Please.
Nope. I've lot of work this month. Most probably I won't be able to find time to go out for whole month.
Whole month? (I need to think of something and something fast!) Ok. Can you spare ten minutes for me?(Can't wait for a month!)
Sure. Come down to the garden outside the lab. I'll be in lab. My final sem project is killing me.
Sure. Done.

I don't know what was the big deal about the final sem project. I had not even started the work for project after two months. I barely remembered the topic of my project and had not even met the prof once under whom I was supposed to work. Because of my hard work and dedication, I had acquired a legendary status amongst my batchmates.

I ran to the lab.

Hi. I need to talk to you for 10 minutes. No disturbances please. Thoda serious issue hai.
Aisa kya emergency hai. Jaldi bolo?
Are let me speak. First of all I need a place where I can talk to you calmly. I don't want anyone else to hear me (or see me being hit by a girl).
Oh! Let's go to faculty block. That's one place no student comes.

My initial reaction was- "What! You gotta by Kidding me. You wanna me to propose at the place surrounded by offices of the faculty. That'll be the most unromantic place ever!"
We reached the faculty block.I was really nervous. Plus being surrounded by all the negative aura of faculty I forgot the lines I had rehearsed for past one month.

So go on! Aisa kya hua?
Well...ummm...mmm...I need to tell you something. Very important.
(Bending down on my knees) I want you to be my partner for rest of my life. I won't say even after life since you're afraid of ghosts(Kicking myself! What the hell proposal was that one?) I really like you(avoiding the L word - love).

There was no sound for next 5 minutes. She stood standstill in a stage of shock. I was in alarm stage- ready to run -in case she decided to reach for her sandals. That's when I heard from the back-

Abhishek! Where are you? I've been looking for you for long time.

I was really frustrated. Who has the guts to disturb me at this moment? I turned back and freezed. It was my project mentor. Next half hour he slammed me for being careless, casual, rude and dumb - adjectives you won't want to hear from somebody while you were proposing a girl to marry her! I apologised furiously and promised to show him the first part of project tomorrow.(He was really naive to believe me on that!)

Phew! That was a close shave. See I can risk my life for you.
That was a bad joke.
Yeah. So what is your answer.
Well you're my best friend(damn!). You need to listen to me very carefully and patiently. You need to understand me(After so many disclaimers I already knew what's the answer going to be). I don't want to hurt you or make you feel bad.
Please cut the crap. (I was getting impatient) Tell me yes/no.
No. I need to add one more thing.
Bolo! Ab bhi kuch bolne ko bacha hai kya?
I think we should not talk from now on. The more we talk now, the more you'll think about these things and feel bad. This is the last time I'm talking to you. Thanks for being my best friend. Bye Forever!

I was stunned. My eyes were wet. She ignored my tears and started moving back to the lab.

I saw her beautiful hairs fluttering in the air. My dream girl walking away from me forever. I could almost hear sad music played in the background. That was the end of my love story - or at least I thought it was.