Life Is What You Make It A Story Of Love, Hope And How Determination Can Overcome Even Destiny by Preeti Shenoy

basketball and a football in a little open wooden box in the corner. There was also a guitar neatly propped up against the wall. The windows had bamboo blinds. The moment you entered the room, a feeling of warmth enveloped you and you had to fight the urge to curl up on the cosy arm chair with a book.
    “Your room is so neat!” I exclaimed.
    “I like some kind of order and I try to keep it neat,” he said. He looked pleased.
    “Me too! My room is also very tidy and I would love it if you could see it.” I said, feeling a bit surprised at myself. Why was I angling for his approval?
    “Show me! I'd love to see it,” he grabbed the hint.
    “No way! My parents would never agree to a guy coming home.”
    “Oh Ankita! You can be such a kid! Your parents don't have to know about everything!” he winked.
    I felt a blush creeping up my face and tried my best to hide it. “What are you suggesting Abhi?” I asked, looking at him straight in the eye.
    “ To see your room of course!” He answered without missing a beat, looking right back, into my eyes without wavering. “Why? What did you have in mind?” His eyes twinkled.
    I couldn't believe it. His voice had a very suggestive tone now. And to my horror, I found I liked it. I looked away, trying to hide my confusion.
    “My room of course, I don't know what you had in mind though.” I answered smiling, as soon as I recovered from my confusion.
    I sat in the arm chair and leaned back, drawing my feet under me, tucking them in and settling down comfortably.
    “So tell me, won't you ever even consider showing me your room?” he asked as he perched on the bed and placed a pillow in his lap, leaning forward and resting his arms on the pillow.
    “Let me think about it,” I smiled, enjoying this now. Abhi had dazzled me completely with his charm and audacity. I seemed to have forgotten about Vaibhav. My inner voice squeaked again trying to remind me to tell him about Vaibhav. But somehow at that moment, Vaibhav and everything to do with him seemed so far away. I was having such a good time that I didn't want anything to spoil it.
    “A ren't you scared? Coming to a single guy's room like this?” He asked. He was teasing me now.
    “Of course not. I spent almost half the night with you, on your bike, remember? Or have you forgotten already? ” I retorted.
    “Ha Ha Ha,” he guffawed. “That I agree Ankita and thank you for trusting me. I did mean what I wrote in the letter you know. ”
    “I must tell you that the blood bit freaked me out completely. Did you actually cut your hand? Which finger?” I asked curiously.
    “See,” he said as he held up his hand. There was a cut on the ring finger. Then he clutched it with his middle finger and thumb, like a pen and demonstrated in the air. “It is the first time I am doing something so desperate, Ankita. I wanted you to believe me so badly. I don't go around expressing my love to every girl I meet. I wanted you to see how sincere I was and how desperate. Gosh, you have no idea how much I love you.” His eyes were shining with hope, love and sincerity. It was hard not to be swept away by him.
    Looking at his face and listening to his words, I wanted to take his hand in mine and kiss his finger. I wanted to tell him that he was a great guy and I really enjoyed his company. I wanted to say that I felt honoured that he was doing all this for me. But no words came and I sat still, like a statue, not knowing what to say.
    He mistook my silence for disapproval. “Look Ankita, I am really sorry to be so open. I swear I have wished a hundred times I could stop this madness of mine. But I am helpless.” He gestured waving his hands in the air. “God, morning, evening and night, day in and day out all I can think about is you. Do you even realise the significance of what I am saying?”
    I could not keep quiet any longer. I got up and sat next to him on the bed. “Oh Abhi, I do.” I said. “I am not blind. I can see. But