The Date

The date was great all thing's considered that it was between two best friends.Yes there was a romantic atmosphere in the restaurant chosen by Richard but he was not the reason for it

As soon as Rachel and Richard entered the restaurant there was pin drop silence as in front of them they could see a guy on his knees with a ring in his one hand and the other holding the girls hand and his breath.

It seemed everyone else were also holding their breath to hear the girls answer.It will not be a lie to say that the scene in front of us was anything different from the scene one reads in a love story books.After what seemed like an eternity the girl screeched and hugged the boy who was at her feet.

After that it was a party mood as all their friends started congratulating them and all

other patrons raised a toast for the happy couple.

Richard pulled out the chair for Rachel and afterwards sat opposite her and looked at her in the eyes and asked her to close her eyes.Rachel was intrigued as well as confused and said"I hope your surprise is not better than mine because I know that you have bought me a gift""How do you know that"he asked.

She just shrugged her shoulders and smiled a secretive smile as she recalled her conversation with Richard's mother about few days back when she had called her and told her that he had got something for her for their anniversary.

Richard did not like it one bit that his surprise was not a secret to her and with a half smile took her hand in his after she had closed her eyes.He wanted to hold her hand all his life and wanted to fulfill his promise that he made to her ten years back on this same day.

He wanted to propose to her and he had his parents blessing for the same but he knew that he wanted to know what did Rachel want.He was aware that she has not dated anyone till date romantically and she was close to him then any of their friends.

Richard was also aware that all his friends had also concluded that he will be marrying her but she was unaware of his feelings to her.

Now as he looked at her face which was oval in shape and underneath her closed eyelids she had chocolate brown eyes which sparkled whenever she smiled and was dazed when she thought about her parents.

He will not say that she was a beauty in a classical way but she was pleasant to look at and when she smiled her face had a special glow which he concluded was because of the innocence which she still had in her eyes.It was her warm and pleasing personality and her generosity which had attracted him to her.

After ten years of being in this friendship zone he wanted to move their relation to a more personal one wherein he had an exclusive right to her where others did not speculate where and what they were to each other.He wanted her to wear his ring on her finger and bear his child in her womb and celebrate each and everyday of his life with her.

He was aware of their social difference which always made Rachel self conscious and lesser confident with his friend circle.There were small signs which would indicate that she was nervous with his rich friends.Though no one would dare to say or look at her in a wrong way  and give her the due respect as they knew about his feelings towards her but she would look at her clothes and then at them.Many times he would offer to buy her some clothes for her but with quite dignity she would refuse and buy her own.

After getting a job in a MNC five years back she has become less consious about her wardrobe but still her nervousness did not vanish fully.Her grandmother liked him and he has already spoken to her about his intention to her on her twenty second birthday.

Her grandmother was concerned about the gossip about her and his relation which was a hot topic in her neighbourhood as he would always come to drop her after work and they would always be seen together at every free time and other social functions held in their society.

Richard wanted to claim her his own and the day when he wanted to propose her to be his girlfriend she had just casually told him that she just wanted to concentrate on her Granny and her job.

He was hurt that he did not feature in her immediate plan of future but she completely floored him by saying that he was like her breath which she needed all her life and no words can describe his importance in her life.

That sentence has been his lifeline till date and very soon he wanted to give a name to his relation which will give him some peace of mind.His mother has been continuously hinting about what type of mother in law she will be and how she always wanted a daughter.

At the age of thirty he was ready to settle down and have a family with her as he had recently taken full control of his father's business empire Carltons and Sons.

After loving her for ten years he wanted to have his ring on her finger which will give him right to hold her in his arms kiss her and protect and lavish her with everything which he always wanted her to have startimg with a car.

He had forced her to take driving lessons but she did not own a car till date as she was saving money for some unknown casualties which may happen anytime to her Granny and she wanted to be financially and mentally prepared for that.

He had told her that he was there for her if such emergency came up in future but she being herself had politely declined his and told him in a serious tone that it's her responsibility and she will do it by her self.He was proud of her for this attitude and as well as frustrated by her stubbornness to accept any financial help from him.

He knew as her husband he will have more rights in such matters and will not hesitate to use it.Rachel may not possess the beauty of models but she was his life and if all goes well his wife next month.

Richard removed the bracelet from the jewellery box and placed it on her wrist which had charms dangling and one of them was the alphabet was C.He asked her to open her eyes which she did with such warmth and joy that he just wanted to kiss those lips which were now forming a very breathtaking smile.

Rachel squealed and threw her arms around his neck after coming towards his side.After sitting on her seat after some time later she said that she liked the silver bracelet very much. Very early in their relation she had made it clear that they cannot give each other expensive gifts as they have to be on equal foot in their friendship relation.

Richard did not have the heart nor intention to say that it was platinum and ruin this special moment.

Rachel slid a velvet rectangular box towards him and asked him to open it.There was an excitement in her eyes which bought a glow on her face Richard raised his one eyebrow at her and opened the box.Inside was a silver bracket with the letter R embossed in the centre.

Rachel said"R is for Richard so that you don't have any confusion" to which he just raised his one eyebrow at her and she just blushed by embarrassment at her explanation.The R in the bracelet was different for two different people, for him it was Rachel and for her it was Richard.

After dinner they went to the parking lot towards Richards car which was a black Mercedes.The drive was peaceful and yet Richard was restless he did not know why but his guts was telling him something wrong was going to happen and his life will not be the same afterwards.

Richard mentioned to Rachel that he was leaving for New York with his parents next day for some cousin's wedding and then later he had some bussiness and he will be back by end of the week.

"I want to take you for dinner on Saturday night so be ready and no excuses this time, this is important for us" Richard said subconsciously running his fingers on the R of the bracelet.