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Chapter 39 - Rumya

Alan dropped Fiza off at her hostel and then made a phone call to Shahana. "Shahana, please keep an eye on Fiza," he requested, his voice filled with concern.

Shahana let out a sigh, knowing that something must have happened between them. "You two had a fight?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"No, it's something with her family. She'll tell you when she's ready," Alan explained, wanting to respect Fiza's privacy. "Just make sure she's engaged and doesn't feel alone."

After hanging up the phone, Alan returned home and prepared himself for church. He was relieved to have a break from Integrated Teaching that day. After the mass, his mother introduced him to a beautiful girl named Rumya.

"Alan, this is Rumya. Rumya studies engineering at Christ," his mother elaborated before walking away.

Alan greeted Rumya with a simple hello, still processing his emotions from earlier. Rumya commented, "That was sufficiently awkward. My grandmother does the same thing-tries to pimp me out to every good-looking guy at church." She laughed, her eyes sparkling.

Alan couldn't help but join in her laughter, finding her lightheartedness refreshing. "And I've heard that you're one of the nerdy types? Medical college?" she asked, her curiosity evident. "What did your mom say about me?"

Alan considered for a moment and then said, "She said you were a nice girl." She laughed. "Oh well! You've been labeled a super nerd actually. Top scorer in pharmacy?"

"Pharmacology," he corrected.

Rumya playfully waved her hand. "Close enough. If my mom had mentioned how cute you were, I would have made a bit more effort," she joked, playfully fluffing her hair. Alan found himself enjoying Rumya's company and the easy banter between them.

Yet, amidst the laughter and pleasant conversation, a pang of guilt gnawed at Alan. He reminded himself that he wasn't committed to Fiza, but the lingering emotions from their recent separation weighed on him.

Rumya noticed the distant look in Alan's eyes, sensing that something was bothering him. Concerned, she asked him, "What happened?" However, before he could respond, she quickly added, "Missing your textbooks?" and let out a playful laugh.

Alan managed a half-hearted smile, his mind still drifting to thoughts of Fiza. He couldn't help but reminisce about her infectious laughter, her silly jokes, the sound of her voice, and the touch of her soft skin.

"Whoa! You really are a dreamer, aren't you?" Rumya remarked, her tone filled with amusement. "McDreamy," she added, making a reference to the television show Grey's Anatomy.

"He dies," Alan said casually, referencing the fate of the character. Rumya's confusion was evident as she asked, "What?"

"McDreamy dies. He suffered from locked-in syndrome due to a brain bleed," Alan explained, providing further context.

"What?" Rumya exclaimed once again, this time laughing at the unexpected turn of conversation. Alan shrugged in response, and Rumya playfully ruffled his hair, bringing a genuine smile to his face.

Unbeknownst to Alan, his mother had been observing their interaction from a distance. Seeing her son's smile and the lighthearted exchange, she felt a sense of relief, hopeful that Alan could find happiness and move forward from the recent challenges he had faced with Fiza.

A few Sundays later, Rumya finally took the initiative and officially asked Alan out. With her usual carefree laughter, she playfully addressed the situation. "Okay, so we've been flirting for three Sundays in a row. I'm not going to wait for divine intervention before asking you on a date," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Or should I?"