chapter 42

      " Congratulations, you are in love!" I choked on my tea. " What the hell dad?" " What?" I can't believe him. " Why do you -" " Look I asked you few general basic questions and your answer to all of them was enough to prove you are head over heels mad in love with her. " " I am not." " So you answered for her?", he asked confusing both of us. " No I mean - I didn't. I can't be right?" , I asked him helplessly and he looked not amused. " Well, you can't be what? Attracted to same gender? It's fine . That's normal. Love is to soul and not to-" " No I mean not, not like that. I mean- I can't love her like- I mean you know -" I myself don't know what I want to say what am I expecting him to know then?      " See see. You think it's not right because she's someone you wanted revenge on?" " No! I never wanted a revenge on her. I never intended to hurt her. My plan since very beginning was clear to make her mine and steal from him but never meant to hurt her. I like wanted to mock him but not her , not her feelings  you know -" " So what were you planning? I mean let's consider you implement the plan successfully. Though, I nowhere support the idea of doing it to mock someone. That's way too cruel to do. Though I clearly see where this plan has landed you but let's continue. Considered she became yours. Then what next? You were going to tell her it was just for my revenge and satisfying my ego , my pride and then dump her? " " No! I never would. " " Why not?" " Ofcourse I won't because I love -"     " Bingo! Lie to yourself kiddo. Your dad knows better. " ,he snapped his fingers at me and gave his victorious smile. I have nothing to say on this. I myself don't know what I feel , but for sure, I don't ever plan on playing with her feelings or using and dumping her. Heck! I didn't think so  not even before planning on that revenge or whatever I was upto.     " It's alright to be confused about your feelings, infact you can even keep on denying them to your best but trust me , if it's meant to be , the entire universe will push you towards them. That's the power of love. If it's meant to be yours it will be at any cost." , he said.     Deep inside I urged to ask him ' what if its not forever kind? You gain it once and then lose it forever?' He loved mom, mom loved him but still , fate took her from him. I don't want to hurt him though so I kept my lips sealed.      " Now to your initial question. How do you tell if she's in love with you." , he spoke up and I focused my attention on the topic. " See you can guess and assume at best but you have no authority to decide on their feelings or force, manipulate or lure them into it. If they love you, and you know it, still no. You don't force them, you let them decide on their own if they want to be with you, even if you feel you belong together. You decide your part not theirs. Remember it clearly my princess, love isn't something you force."         Those words made me question myself, forcing her to love me, isn't it exactly what I did? Tried to blackmail - that sounds rude. I offered, not blackmailed. Yeah.     " So first and foremost, look for hints. They can be anything, the way they treat you differently from others or the way they look at you, smile for you or something that makes you special to them than others."      Makes me special? "She treats me the worst of her friends.", I complained out loud. He laughed it off. " That could happen , for two reasons. "  I waited for him to continue. " First she uses annoyance or taunts or you know being mean and stuff to cover up for her feelings , like she gets mad at you when she's flustered or shy."     Yes she does. Everytime I flirt and feel like I succeeded this time she just gets mad and starts being mean to me.    " Or....", he snorted trying to supress his laugh. " Or?"  He gathered himself holding back his laugh. " You actually managed to get on her nerves so bad that she wishes to yeet you nine ways out of the universe." " Dad!" He burst into laughter after that. " I am done." I stood up and stormed off .       " Wait Wait- don't you need my help in how to impress your crush?"  I stopped, turned around , rolled my eyes at him . " More like get roasted for why I won't get my crush." " Aishh. Promise no more roasting. " I sat back down waiting for him to continue.     " See first and foremost, remember don't be straightforward. Approach with gentle gestures and care and then you slowly form a comfort zone. Make them habituated to you. You know baby steps. Don't seem desperate or in hurry. That might make it feel rather insincere and temporary attraction than love. Love demands patience and dedication, you might have to -" ,he paused and raised an eyebrow at me. " What did you do?"   I smiled awkwardly. " I asked her to be my girlfriend?"  He slapped his forehead. I sure disappointed him for good. " You straight up asked her to be your girlfriend? How long have you known her?" " Err...." " What did she say?" " She asked me to stop messing around and said that it's not funny." He shook his head.      " Obiviously she thought it was prank. You first create a bond and then earn her trust. Give light hints, slowly turning them to pursuing and once you feel she gets your hints and ain't backing off you approach her more boldly and if she doesn't directly or indirectly set boundaries you can openly court her. Don't go on throwing proposals like some offer. ", he scolded. I swallowed the embarassment I felt and asked.     " Now I already did that. What do I do next?"