HOW ABOUT ‘MINE FOREVER’? BY- Shiny Goyal

'I don't believe in love at first sight, shakal dekhkar hi pyar ho gya tha, so shallow, but look at this face, ye shakal dekhkar pyaar nahi hoga to fir kya hoga.'

I am sure, that the people who are reading this story at the time it was written, must be reading the above dialogue in the voice of that sweet girl, which got its due populace through the infamous 'Instagram-Background-Reels sounds'. But to those reading beyond the flight of time, kids let me tell you, this trend of reels used to be insanely popular on our 'that time' cool app- Instagram.

So back to my story. It was love at first sight for me though. I had heard about him a lot from a lot of people but never had a chance to meet him, let alone see him. However, on this beautiful Sunday evening, someone up there was conspiring our union for it was the first time I saw him, and the ground beneath me drifted away.

I first saw his name on this dark lane, shining brightly as if he was also excited about meeting me. However, I knew one thing about him well, that he treats everybody equally, which didn't settle well with me. Not that I am some sort of a snob who needs all the attention of the world, but I want all of him for myself. Too selfish, right? For me, he also sounded like a bit of a playboy. I had already heard about his flings, relationships, his flirtatious nature, and whatnot. But, I also heard about his way of greeting people with equal ardor each time he met them, I heard about the passion with which he follows his destiny, I have heard about the fuel with which he crackles and his charismatic personality. I think it was his chivalrous nature that worked magic on me and every single time, I heard his name, I felt myself drifting closer towards him and my attraction towards him became strong.

Though up until this point I had never met him, but deep down somewhere I knew, that whenever we will meet, he would spark up my insides.

Lost in my thoughts of meeting him, I never realized when my car came to a halt. I got out of the car, and there it was his name on that lane, on that 'really' dark lane. The board had multiple names written on it, but his shone the brightest and everything around it appeared blurry. I didn't know what was happening to me, but I was feeling attracted towards it with each passing step.

I was drawn towards it, my feet heedless as their authentic self, started running in that direction of their own accord. Upon realizing that he is inside, I was numb and I didn't know what to say.

Still, without much ado, I asked for him and the gatekeeper with a turban told me to wait on the other side of the road.

I was standing there quietly, breathless, flabbergasted, and fumbling on the speech that I was preparing for our first meeting. My heart was beating at the speed of an aircraft and I would have almost fainted, but then I finally saw him basking in all his glory. I couldn't see his face properly but that ivory, porcelain body was inviting me to taste it. "Not appropriate", my brain reprimanded. "But", I said, "I said No!" "Never lets me do anything", I whined to myself- an indirect complaint to the brain. Anyway, drool aside, he came and sat in front of me on the table. I frowned for I realized it was not 'him', but 'P', my ex. But wait, what was he doing there? I thought it was 'his' house. P looked at me and approached me with his creamy eyes. "It's been long", he said. "Ya! So", I retorted back. "You never look out for me now", he said. "Why do you care?", I snapped back. Turns out P was his cousin and that's why lives in the same house as him. P and I were never meant to be, there was a communication gap, he flirted a lot, we grew apart and eventually, we broke up.

I was continuously trying not to talk to him at this time but P was hell-bent. His aroma, which used to attract me, now made me puke. "What is it about me that you don't love, huh?" "I don't know, time change, people change, their taste change", I barked. Truth be told, I was over him, not in love with him anymore but I can't say that to him on his face. So, I lathered him up with an 'age old-will always work saying'-"It's not you, it's me". He still looks nice; his handsome face with that hint of salt and pepper beard can still make anyone weak in knees. Unfortunately, I was not the one. My heart now flutters seeing that billboard with 'his' name and my eyes were eagerly waiting for him. Perhaps, P noticed and kept sitting quietly on the table.

I was impatient and a little bit angry too. 'Why is he making me wait for so long?' I wondered. Doesn't this piece of whatever has a little bit of courtesy. Maybe I was wrong, maybe I should go back to P.

However, my waiting eyes found their solace. 'He Came, He Saw, He Conquered! Veni Vedi Vici! He came along with his little sister R, but my eyes were only focused on him. I was literary ogling him.

When I used to date P, he often made me think, that I am attracted to fairer people, but 'he', oh my gosh. With his delicious tan body, he knew where to make me tickle. I was on the verge of devouring it all. But, I controlled. We shook hands and at that moment; I swear I saw some sparks flying between us. He was so hot. It took me days after our meeting to decode that how someone can be so piping and smoking hot.

We talked for a while and each time my eyes met his, I knew something was brewing, something so special that it made me forget about anything but him.

R was quite chatty too. She was a pretty, petite girl. She loved her brother and always stayed with him. To be honest, I wish these two could always be together. She was very fond of him, always talks about him, and appreciated his tastes and qualities. He blushed every time, whenever she did that. "He looks so adorable while blushing." my heart said and did a little somersault of its own. Although R was lovely, but my focus for the night was him. He winked at me and I blushed. R and I were talking but my eyes were transfixed on him. R realized that and said, "I think we are irritating him with all the girly talk. We should let him speak as well. R started telling me about him and our eyes remained locked. I don't know about P, I didn't care. It was him, I knew it was him. Then suddenly all the thoughts flew out of my mind when he came close to my lips and kissed them. I swear, I saw the stars. Well, the stars were already there, but I swear, I saw more. We kissed and it was magical. How can someone be so delicious? The thought of him being a playboy crossed my mind, but I ignored it owing to the beautiful evening, which was a whirlwind of emotions.

We talked, we laughed, we kissed, we enjoyed, we locked eyes and we promised to stay in touch. I don't know the amount of time passed between us, but the time to take off hit me hard. It was the most beautiful evening of my life. As he was leaving, my urge to kiss him for the last time reached its peak and I pecked him. He responded with equal intensity.

I don't know what, but something changed. I knew he would forget me almost as instantly as he will meet someone else, the next day and will treat her in the same manner as well, but somewhere deep down in my heart, I knew he was my person. P was looking at me and he too, realized that to love someone also means to let them go. I am happy for him. He too, found someone tonight.

It was the moment. I hugged him tight and bid him goodbye. I promised to meet him again. He too, muttered in my ear that he would be always there for me, at any place or at any time. I just need to long for him deeply. With a heavy heart, I bid him farewell. I went to the gatekeeper, Sardarji, thanked him for arranging the beautiful meeting. I told him, "Bhaiya, bahut acha kaam karte ho aap. Sab kuch acha tha. He blessed me and said, "Bachha, sab kuch aapke liye hi hai." I smiled back at him. From the corner of my eye, I could see his vanishing figure- now as an empty bowl. The taste lingered in my mouth as I looked at his name on the billboard- 'Soya Chhaap', shining brightly and making everything around it blurry, and asked bhaiya, "kitne ho gye soya chaap aur rumali roti k ?" (At the mention of her name, Rumali Roti or R's soft face flashed before my eyes.) I found a friend too, I giggled internally.

As Sardarji was telling me the price, Ayushi came with P- my ex, 'Pasta', and thanked Sardarji for the meeting as well.

As I moved on, I knew that his taste would always remain on my lips, my tongue. He will be my forever favorite. Mine forever-my 'Soya Chhap'.

Written by an extremely foody Shiny Goyal, who loves fantasizing about food and now is managing to personify it as well.