A MATCH...a Romance

8/14/2019 A MATCH...a Romance

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A MATCHa romance/Raakhee Suryaprakash

A MATCH

AT THE

BATCH OF THE MILLENNIUM REUNIONby Raakhee Suryaprakash

Rose, its been a decade! Im organising this reunion, you shouldnt punish all your

classmates just because Nik was a jerk. We want to see you I want to see you. Rose

Rutledge tried to tune out Sushmitas nagging as turquoise eyes conveyed her frustrationto Ryan who stood next to her on the balcony of her apartment in Londons elite

Kensington Palace Gardens. Sushmitas nagging on the phone was loud enough to be

heard by her agent and friend but he stayed suspiciously expressionless as Sushmitacontinued despite Roses silence.

You can spare the time from writing bestsellers to party with Prince William but you

dont have time to spend one weekend with your best friend no time for one day withthe your batch of the millennium? Where is the fairness in that babe?

Sush, its the Christmas weekend how can you except me to spend it with friends insteadof family? This statement prompted a pat reply which revealed that the entire set-up was

staged.

Dont bluff girl, Ryan already told me your parents will be in Johannesburg doing

whatever diplomats do over holidays! You were planning to be alone this Christmas. Isnt

it better to spend it in Goa with me? As Rose pushed her red-highlighted brown locksfrom her eloquent eyes to glare at Ryan, he pulled the mobile from her ear saying, OkaySushmita, the game is up, Ill handle it from here before cutting the call.

Rose, considering you owe the success of your first book to your Indian friends and fansI think its unfair that in a decade you are yet to return there for a book signing. Its time

to get some closure, gal.

Rose, already a prisoner to her memories, replied softly You dont know what youre

talking about Ryan Mackenzie.

***

Modern Higher Secondary, Goa, 15 March 2000As the deejay dimmed the lights and the strains of Richard Marx and Donna Lewis At

the Beginning with You started, a hand tapped Roses shoulder, May I have this dance

Cinders. Rose dressed as Cinderella turned to smile into the grey eyes of her PrinceCharming.

Anytime Nik, anytime.

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As she savoured her first dance with Nik in the two years she had known him, Rose

silently mused on what other surprises this Fancy Dress Batch of the Millennium

Farewell would yield. Little did she guess then the repercussions.

Deep attraction kept Nik and Rose silent as they danced to the poignant song from

Anastasia but not for long, someone cut in on them. Kiran Sood, Niks family friend,stood like a rock barring their progress, Rose, stop hogging time with the only guy in

our class who can dance, run along and dance with someone from your Commerce batch.

Leave our Science hero to us. When Rose tried to pull out of Niks arms, he whisperedinto her ear Meet me near the canteen in five minutes Rose, I need to talk to you. And

then turned a frown at Kirans rudeness.

As Rose walked away to join Sushmita, Kiran commented caustically, I know you aretrying to be hip and environmentally friendly by carpooling with her Nik, but its taking it

too far if you hang out with her on our last day in school too.

Shes also my friend, Kiran.

Some friend she is, she is jealous of your popularity and intelligence and comments toall and sundry that youll amount to nothing once you finish school, youre just another

rich brat with no social consciousness and no commitment, Nik tried to locate Rose as

his face darkened on hearing Kirans cutting words but couldnt find her. Kiran

meanwhile snagged a passing classmate and pinched a warning as she instructed, Askanyone and theyll tell you, tell him Alex what Rose told you about him. To which Alex

stammered to his classmate S-shes telling the truth man, Rose is bad news.

***

After waiting in vain for half an hour near the unlit canteen and the fighting her mild

phobia of the dark for the chance of a private tte--tte with the man of her dream, Rosedejectedly walked back to the school auditorium only to see Nik and Kiran necking just

outside. Heartbroken, Rose rushed to the car park only to remember that she had come in

Niks car. Turning, she runs out of the school gate and jumps into the first rickshaw topass by. Rose didnt see Niks eyes following her and he in turn couldnt fathom the

person who caused his unhappiness wasnt the one running away but was the one

smirking in his arms.

***

Modern Higher Secondary, Boxing Day, 2009

Before we start the dancing I would like to thank all of you for coming and making this

Batch of the Millennium Reunion a memorable event and you guys aint seen nothin

yet! Sushmita as the emcee for the evening was having the time of her life even as Roseallowed her words to wash over without listening as she tried in vain to avoid looking at

Nik, sorry now Dr. Nik, who was sitting at a table opposite her glaring, a persistent

nemesis.

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She nearly missed Sushmitas mercilessness.

And now, its my pleasure to announce the result of the Batch of the Millenniums Most

changed vote no surprises here friends, I call on stage the author of the 17 bestsellingAdventures of the Intrepid Rhiannon Rice books including Gone from Goa and

Transylvanian TrystRose Rutledge. I also call on stage our one man army for social

change in Indias Northeast our very own Dr. Nikhil Vaid lately of the NortheastRural Health Service Scheme. I call upon our classmate and now principal of Modern

Higher Secondary, Alex Thomas to present the sashes to our overachievers. Come on up

guys dont be shy.

Helpless in the face of the applause, Rose joined Sushmita, Nik, and Alex on stage and

suffered through the awarding of Most changed sashes. But the torture was not over as

Sushmita continued, I request our Most changed couple to lead the first dance of theevening.

As they danced together only for the second time in their lives, Nik broke the silence,

which for both had too much residual sexual tension despite their star-crossed past, Howhave you been Rose, I hear you are living it up in London nowadays, how come you

never returned to Goa?

Turquoise eyes widened in pain and confusion at the unexpectedly confrontational track

taken by Nik, I had nothing to return to, and I had Christs College and a future in

Cambridge to keep me busy, why would I return?

I find it ironic that you spent our school days together commenting on my frivolity but

now youve become the original party gal.

What are you talking about Nik?

Accusingly Nik continued as though Rose hadnt spoken, Even in the wilds of Assam I

hear that a London party is not considered a success unless you grace it with your

presence. All this after calling me a conscienceless rich brat behind my back. I thoughtwe were friends, now I see nothing but a hypocrite. Voicing the decade-old bitterness

Nik turned to abandon her on the dance floor but, angered almost beyond coherency,

Rose clutched his arm.

W-what the hell do you mean?

As the music stopped, signalling the end of the dance, his voice echoed in the auditorium.

Im talking about your hypocrisy, ask any one.

I have never said anything as stupid as that, and however much you deserve to be called

conscienceless because of what you did the last time we were here I never said anything,

I just put everything behind me and moved back home. Her voice broke with

remembered emotions, I should never have returned.

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Thats where you are wrong Rose, and we were all sick of seeing two people who were

made for each other kept apart for so long because of the words of a malicious bitch,

interjected Principal Alex.Kiran didnt have the guts to show up today but let me tell you, Nik, what she told you

that day was a lie. She blackmailed me into convincing you because she knew I was

dating Faiza, now my wife, without our parents knowledge. She threatened to go toFaizas parents at a time when we werent equipped to face the consequences of our

budding romance. Im so sorry. I have been waiting a decade to apologize to you both.

Both Rose and Nik are shocked speechless and Sushmita immediately puts in her two

cents worth.

Oh, and Nik, Rose is not an ordinary party girl, she parties with a purpose to raise funds

for innumerable charities across the globe. And you know the really ironic thing Nik, shebecame a party animal to prove a point to you and Kiran. Kiran had told her that youd

never see her as anything but a nervous nerd. And you, you developed your crusading

tendencies to disprove Kirans lies about Roses opinion of you. And after all these years,

despite being soul mates in all our eyes, youve stayed away from each other because ofthis misunderstanding! What a waste!

Turning to Rose, Nik almost pleaded I never said anything like that Rose, I have always

admired you, I love you, even while I believed Kirans lies I could never forget you or my

feelings for you. Please believe me.

This desperate declaration from a proud man thawed Roses long-frozen heart and much

to the delight of all their matchmaking classmates she threw herself into Niks surprised

arms, curled her fingers in his dark curls as she had dreamed for over a decade, andshared their long-delayed first kiss to the sound of applause from everyone at that

memorable Batch of the Millennium Reunion.

***

Assam, India, Boxing Day 2010

As Nik watched the sunrise over the Brahmaputra, he felt Roses arms go around his

waist. Happy Anniversary, darling You left bed early but youre still here. How come

you arent downstairs at the medical centre? Hasnt Dr. Goel opened shop yet?

Nik turned to kiss his wife and breathed on her lips, Same to you Sweetheart. I was

waiting for you. After thoroughly kissing and rumpling his wife he hugged her hard and

said, Congrats! Ryan called,Arrived in Assam has been nominated the Book of the Yearby your publisher. Theyll be donating half a million pounds to the Health for Assam

programme.

Wow, darling, what a lovely thing to hear first thing today, what with the proceeds from

the sales ofLucky in London, the generous donations of our classmates, and your Dad

sponsoring of building equipment and material, our target for the year has been achieved,

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well be able to build and staff ten medical centres without any problems. This is just

perfect.

Nik takes Roses hand and slips an eternity ring over her princess-cut diamond

engagement ring. As her beautiful eyes widened, Nik laughed, A perk of having a rich

husband with an active conscience sweetheart, I love you beyond forever thanks formaking my life complete Rose.

Eyes twinkling with mischief and with her happiness at her secret Rose scattered kissesacross Niks face saying between them O-o-ohgood news and a gift, and I have given

you nothing yet. She pulls back and looked into her husbands beautiful grey eyes and

gives him the best gift in the world, Well, I love you more and I have good new to

share too, I got it confirmed with Dr. Goel. This time next near well be three not two.

Speechless with joy, Nik hugged her tight with a single tear, a testimony to a heart

overflowing joy, shining in the corner of his eye.

And there along the lush banks of the Brahmaputra they lived happily ever after.

***********

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A MATCH...a Romance

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