From Paris With Love!

Chapter Three

He softly rapped on the door.

"Come in!" her voice came trailing.

"What on Earth is this? Did your closet just explode?" he asked perplexed looking at the pile of clothes she had scattered all over the room.

"Oh! that's nothing,I'm searching what to wear for tomorrow.But just cant find one!" she sighed.

"What so great? Its not like as if we are going to prom or something!" he exclaimed.

"But Babe,its not even lesser than the prom,at least not for me.After all first impression is your last impression!"she asserted.

He sat easing himself on the bed,while watching her shuffle through her wardrobe.

"I really don't understand,you girls have enough clothes but still never find a decent outfit to wear!"he sort of complained,ridiculing her.

"What do you boys know about fashion? (making cat face) By the way,what are you wearing tomorrow?" she questioned.

"Aaahhh....usual!"

"No! those are so outdated. Umm..how about we go shopping. Yes! we are going shopping." she insisted.

He could never say no to her,so he gave in.Minutes after he was driving to the mall,and she was seated at the passengers seat munching on the energy bar.

They both tried out clothes at their respective sections,but she obviously took the most time to select.And after an hour or so,walking around,they decided to leave.While walking hand in hand towards the exit,she playfully teased him,"See! there are perks of having a fashion designer as girlfriend!" and grinning at him,she skirted through,making her way out.

He drove to the beach and parked at their usual spot.

"So,you are happy?" he asked.

"Yes,I'm!" she replied letting her arms embrace him in a hug.

He loved her too much and because of it he did every possible things to keep her always smiling,she meant the world and everything in it to him.

They quietly watched the star filled sky through the sunroof,talking about love,and embracing and kissing.He looked into her deep turquoise eyes and melted in them.She was so beautiful not only on the outside but even inside.

"This is the best!" she said with a smile.

"I know! last day before College.."and he pressed a kiss on her forehead.

He dropped her home after eleven and the next morning,he was dressed in his new tee and denim and she wore her new dark blue halter with black ruffle skirt.He picked her up at eight and they both were off to college.

The first day of College is always exciting unlike first day at High school.College means,freedom,new faces specially hot boys,grown up,no rules,no dress code,above all the feel of being independent.

He kissed her goodbye and they both headed to their respective classes.He took up Business Management and she had Fashion Designing as subject.

Months and then a year passed,life at college and the romantic life with him was going perfectly smooth until she had got the call from him.And from that afternoon on things started to go downhill.

She dint have the slightest idea as to why did he ask her to come and meet him at the park.He dint say anything other than just,"Hey! Darry here,can you meet me at the park,around 4,today?"

She had said she would come by but it had been bugging her.He sounded so glum and downhearted.

She was so curious that she had reached fifteen minutes earlier and waited for him.His face jaded and the look in his eyes confirmed something was bothering him deeply,but she had no idea that what he was about to tell her would sweep her off her feet,mind and everything else possible.

"Whats wrong you look millions miles away!" she mumbled.

He sat beside her at the bench,and looked directly into her eyes and said,"We are moving out. Tomorrow!"

"I don't understand!" taken by surprise,"Where to?"

"My parents and I are moving to Paris,and tomorrow we are leaving." he sadly replied.

She sat quietly,without saying a word,it seemed everything around her had suddenly fallen silent,seemed someone has suddenly switched on the mute button and it was the images flashing with no sound,and his lips moving as if he said something,but nothing of it seemed audible enough to her.She stared at him while everything else was blurred.

She dint know if there was a life that existed without him.He had promised he would never leave,then why now!

Thoughts filled her head and she said,"So you are breaking up with me?" and saying this she walked off without even waiting to get the answer.

He knew,how painful it is for her to take in,it was no less for him.He had never thought of leaving her,and after a lot of convincing his inner self he had come to this decision.It was good for her.He dint want her to stay hanging with the past,when there was so much left for her ahead.It was the best thing to do,for he knew,maybe now she would be devastated but one day she would move on.

She was so angry with him.She dint even want to see him.

The next morning he stopped by to say Goodbye,but she had closed the door on his face saying to stay away from her,she dint need a mean person around her.

She could hear the engine roar and in seconds they had left headed away.And that was when in midst of anger and the pain of heart break,she realized she would never see him again.She hadn't said anything when actually there was so much she had left unsaid.

She pulled out her bike and swiftly rode to the airport,but she was late.The flight had already taken off.Tears rolled down her cheeks and she broken down in sobs.

She couldn't recount how many months had passed but the memories of him were fresh.She had emailed him,but there wasn't any reply.She grew lonely,soaking her pillow with tears,every place,everything reminded her of him and she missed him even more.She would let go off balloons with the only wish of him suddenly coming back.She needed him,she couldn't live without him.

A year passed and things were still the same.No news of Darryl.She had never been happy since then.Life seemed to have come to a halt,all miserable and dejected.

But as someone once said,'When one door closes,somewhere another door open',Raquel's life too was going to take a turn.

She received,an internship offer from a Fashion Company at Paris.At first,she wanted to reject it,but something in her had convinced her not to.But it hadn't made her any happier though.All she wanted was him.

The night before she was to leave,she sat awake staring at the letter and thoughts filled her head about the years she had spent without him and now going to Paris,knowing he was actually there.

When she was having these second thoughts,Mrs.Roe,her mother saw the lights to her room turned on and the door ajar,she walked up to check on her.

She saw her sitting there with tear filled eyes and the letter in her hand.She pushed opened the door.Raquel quickly wiped her tears with her knuckle and tossed the letter aside.

"You Okay?" Mrs.Roe softly asked.

"Yes I'm fine."she instantly answered avoiding eye contact.

"Honey! I know you've been going through a lot lately.But you must remember there is a full length life ahead of you,and you got to fulfill your dreams,fall in love,get married and so on.Let it not put off the fire in you.Your Dad and I love you a lot and we are always going to be there for you" saying this she kissed her on her forehead and before she left,she turned again and said, "You never know what lies ahead,maybe in that letter lies your destiny!"

"Mom! Why is it that it's so much easier to forgive a stranger than someone you love?"

"You'll know" and she smiled leaving her there.

...................to be continued...................