Unexpected Turn of Events

Chapter 4

I sat on my sofa and thought about my past with Hardik. Tears daring to come out of my eyes when I heard my phone buzz.

Maria (work):
Hey Jas! I know you don't like to go out and stuff buttttt this is our last week in Beverly Hills! You have to come with me and my friends we all are going out and this time I am NOT taking no for an answer.

Every now and then Maria would text me asking me to go to a party or to hang out but I always said no. I didn't have time for all of that. I stayed at home studying for online degrees to help me advance in physiotherapy. More advancement meant more money. So I didn't really have time for anything else.

Me:
Heyyyy thanks sm for thinking about me but I have to study for those online courses I'm taking :( u no how much I want that degree.

Maria (work):
Like I said I'm NOT taking no for an answer, not this time! Come onnnnn it's our last week in America before we go to India and then Manchester!! U have to come.

Me:
Last week? Manchester? What?

Maria (work):
Dad didn't tell u? We r going to India in a week and then we r flying to Manchester with the cricket team!! I'm so excited.

One week! That's not enough time. I'm actually going to see him. Face to face. I'm dead.

Maria (work):
Jasmine! I'm coming to pick u up b ready in 10 min and wear something cute w r going to a club!

Me:
Fineeee but only for a little

Maria (work):
Thank youuuu!

I got up and got ready in 5 minutes. I wore my favorite pair of Hollister jeans and a red top. Two minutes later I heard a knock on my door.

"Hey, so I was thinking-" She stopped in the middle looked at me down to up and made a face.

"I knew you were going to pull something like this that's why I brought you this dress!"

"No Maria. It's too short and it won't fit me right and did I mention how short it is!"

"Oh come onnnn for meee pleaseee please please!"

" UGH! fine"

The dress was gorgeous. It was a spaghetti strap back bodycon dress. But the material made it look like it was silk. 

Is this silk?

I walked out of the bathroom and saw Maria's jaw drop.

"I told you I wouldn't look good I'll go change back-"

"ARE YOU KIDDING?! Nooo, way you look soo good! Now a little bit of makeup and hair and we will be all set."

I didn't try arguing with her because I knew at this point there is no use, so I let her do what she wanted.

When she finally let me see myself in the mirror I was shocked.

How- I- That's me?

"You are so beautiful"

I smiled and thanked her and then she quickly pushed me out of the apartment and got me into the car because we were already so late.

"Sooooo, are you excited? You finally get to see Hardik Pandya! You have such a big crush on him"

My face reddened. This might be the first time a brown person could be so red. 

"I never had a crush on him".

"Oh come onn who are you trying to play! I saw you stalking his Insta and you only watched the cricket matches when he was playing! This is so exciting!"

"Not true."

"Whatever you say bud. We're here."

The building was huge and as we got closer the music got louder. This was the first time I went out in the past 5 years and I was nervous, to say the least. My social skills were definitely not on par. 

"Don't worry hun they will love you" I nodded my head and we walked in.

"Maria!" We both turned around to see the source of the voice. 

He was hot.

Like so hot.

Like WOW, hot.

He had messy bad hair with a tight black shirt, which hugged his muscular body, with blue jeans. He had fair skin with hazel eyes. This was the first guy I found relatively attractive since Hardik

Don't think about him, Jasmine. Don't ruin your night over that idiot.

"ARJUN! ITS BEEN SO LONG! HOW ARE YOU?" Maria was screaming trying to make her voice heard over the loud music.

"I got a client in London, so I was working there. So who's your friend." He looked over at me and winked. I blushed.

You blushed! This is the first time some guy has made you blush since Hardik!

"Oh, how rude of me. Arjun this is Jasmine. Jasmine this is Arjun" She pushed me into him and wiggled her eyebrows "You two have fun" and ran off.

"She's crazy" I laughed nervously.

"Yeah, she is. So tell me about yourself? Wanna drink?"

"Sure, get me anything strong" He gave me a surprised look "What I haven't had a drink in 5 years don't give me that look"

"No no sorry I didn't mean it like that I-"

"Shhhh it's fine, anyways what do you wanna know" He smiled 

"Everything"

"Okay well, I come from a middle-class family and got an opportunity from my amazing neighbor to come here and wor with Dr.Smith. So I came to America 5 years ago and have been working in Dr.Smith's clinic ever since."

"You're a physiotherapist?" I nodded " No shot me too. My mom has a clinic actually that's where I got into physiotherapy. She sent me here to study 10 years ago."

"Wow, Where is your mom's clinic?"

"Dehli"

"No way! I learned from my neighbor in Dheli she taught me everything. She's actually the reason I went to school for physiotherapy. Her name is Dr.Sharma, your mom might know her"

"Dr.Sharma? The clinic near the Prem Nagar (a town in Delhi)"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

He laughed "You're Jasmine? You are THE Jasmine Singh?"

"Ummm"

"Dr.Sharma, that's my mom. She would always tell me about a girl named Jasmine and how good and smart she is and so much more. I have to say, when my mom talked about you I thought you were some nerdy girl with glasses and pigtails. Never would I have ever imagined you to be so beautiful."

I laughed. "I don't know if that was an insult or a compliment. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt"

He smiled and I almost fainted. We started drinking and soon Maria found us with all her other friends. 

It was a night full of drinks, laughter, dances, and pictures.

This was the first time in 5 years that I didn't think of him at all.

This was the first time in 5 years where I felt like I FINALLY got over him.