RAYA Fan Fiction OS : It's Not A Dream Part 3

Part 3


Priya looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, assessing her appearance. She chose to wear a simple outfit since it was her first dinner with Ram. She opted for a plain red dress. Ram, on the other hand, didn't want to appear too formal, so he wore a shirt and pants without a tie. As he was about to feed her dog, the doorbell rang.


"Wait a moment!" Priya called out. She quickly put some dog food into the dish and placed it on the ground. Then, she hurried to answer the door. Ram was standing there, looking smart as usual in a blue button-up shirt and a dark suit jacket and pants.


"Hi," Priya greeted him.


"Hello, you look very nice tonight," Ram said.


"Thank you, you do too," Priya replied.


"Are you ready to go?" Ram asked her.


"Yes, I just need to grab my purse," Priya said. As she turned back to the living room, she looked around but didn't see her purse anywhere.


"I think it's in my bedroom. You're welcome to come in while I get it," Priya told him.


Ram stepped inside and closed the door slightly.


"Wait a sec," Priya said, stepping into her bedroom. Her purse was on the dresser. She grabbed it and hurried back to the living room where Ram was petting her dog, Buster.


"I see you've made a friend," Priya said.


He chuckled. "I love dogs, but I'm too busy for one."


"They're great companions," she said. Ram nodded and headed to the door.


"Ready to go?" he asked. Priya nodded and followed him out. After locking the door, they walked down the hall and outside to a car waiting by the apartment building. The driver opened the door for them. Priya thanked him and got into the back seat, with Ram behind her.


"Where are we headed?" Priya asked.


He smiled at her. "I know a lovely Italian restaurant where we won't have to worry about the press. It has a beautiful rooftop dining area."


"That sounds wonderful," Priya said.


It took about ten minutes to reach the restaurant. Along the way, they mostly talked about the play. Once they arrived, the driver opened the door for them.


She stepped out and looked in awe at the restaurant. It felt like they were in Italy. The whole building was made of brick with vines growing up the sides. Lights were strung up everywhere, making the building seem to glow. Decorative bushes surrounded the building, along with several small round fountains.


"Oh, this place is beautiful!" Priya exclaimed.


Ram smiled at her and held out his arm.


"Shall we go in?" Ram asked.


She linked her arm with his and allowed him to lead her into the stunning building. They approached the receptionist's desk, where a tall, slender man greeted them.


"Good evening," he said in a thick Italian accent. "Mr. Kapoor, your table is ready for you and your lovely companion."


"Thank you," replied Ram.


He then guided her to an old-fashioned cage elevator with manually operated doors. A waiter opened the door for them and closed it once they were inside. The elevator itself was adorned with beautiful intricate metal designs. When they reached the top, she was left speechless by the breathtaking view.


"Isn't it beautiful?" Ram asked.


She nodded in amazement. The roof had a canopy-like structure with plants and flowers woven into it. Beautiful glass lanterns hung from it, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Ram guided her to a table tucked away in a corner, separate from the others. He released her arm and pulled out a chair for her.


"Thank you," Priya said gratefully as she took her seat.


Ram sat across from her and grinned. "Do you like it?" he inquired.


"It's stunning. I don't think I've ever been to such a beautiful place," Priya admitted.


"I'm glad. Oh, and this is for you," Ram said, producing a single red rose seemingly out of thin air.


"Oh, thank you," Priya responded with a smile.


She took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of roses, while he gazed at her with his gentle brown eyes. She couldn't help but stare back, but their moment was cut short by the waiter—a slim man with thick black hair.


"How's your evening going?" he asked in a light Italian accent.


Both Ram and she nodded.


"We're doing well," Ram replied.


"Great. My name's Sahay and I'll be your waiter tonight," he said cheerfully. "To start, can I get you something to drink?"


"Oh, could we have a bottle of Chateau?" Ram requested.


"Of course, I'll bring that right away, and then I'll come back when you're ready to order your food," the waiter said, jotting down notes on his pad before swiftly moving to another table.


She looked at Ram with surprise.


"That's really expensive," Priya said.


"I thought you might enjoy it. Don't worry about the cost, just choose what you like," he told her.


"But I can't drink," Priya explained.


"Why not?" Ram asked.


"Whenever I drink, I can't control myself."


"Don't worry, I'll take care of you," Ram assured her.


Priya smiled.


Ram looked at her and said, "You're very generous. Thank you," she said. He smiled, then turned his attention to the menu. She did the same, scanning through the many entrees they had.


"Everything sounds good. I'm not sure what to get," she said.


Ram laughed. "Well, it's Italian food. It's usually always good."


"True," she agreed.


She finally chose "Tofu Shrimp Scampi" and "Risotto Saltato." Ram decided on Lobster Ravioli and a garden salad. The waiter came back shortly with their wine, pouring half a glass for each and placing them in front of them.


"Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?" he asked.


"I think we're ready," Ram said. "You can go first."


"Alright, I'll have the Tofu Shrimp Scampi and the Risotto Saltato," she told the waiter.


He quickly noted it down and turned to Ram.


"I'll go for the Lobster Ravioli and a garden salad," he said.


"And what dressing would you like?" the waiter asked.


"I'll have the Balsamic vinaigrette," Ram answered.


"Alright, very good," he said, reaching out his hand to take their menus. Ram and she gave him their menus, and he went to the kitchen.


"I was curious, why haven't you ever done a play before?" he asked her.


"Well, I have terrible stage fright. Really terrible. Back in high school, I had to perform a monologue in front of my drama class. I got up there and said the first line, but then I froze. I couldn't remember the rest of the lines. Luckily, my teacher knew I had practiced, so I still got a decent grade. But whenever I have to speak in front of people, it usually doesn't go well," she explained.


"Everyone gets stage fright, even I do, and I've been acting for years. But you can't let it stop you. Besides, you're a wonderful actress," he assured her.


"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you. But I'll still need help, after all, I've got a lot of lines to memorize," she said.


Ram smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be here to help you every step of the way."


Priya smiled back and gently touched the petals of the rose.


The waiter brought their meals quickly and put them in front of them. "Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, just ask," the waiter said with a smile. "Thank you," she said as the waiter left, smiling.


They ate quietly, with only the background music breaking the silence. Suddenly, she struggled with a long noodle. Ram noticed and laughed. Priya tried not to laugh too hard to avoid choking, finally biting off the noodle.


Ram chuckled, "I think that noodle was too much for you."


"It just kept coming," Priya exclaimed.


They both laughed.


"Want dessert?" Ram asked.


"I wanted the chocolate cheesecake, but I'm too full," she said.


Ram nodded and called the waiter.


"Can we get two chocolate cheesecakes to go, please?" Ram asked.


"Sure, I'll get those for you along with the check and clear your plates," the waiter replied.


"Thank you," Ram said.


The waiter left. Soon after, another person came to clear their table. He was a tall, broad man, standing at least six feet. There was something familiar about him that she couldn't quite remember. The man must have realized it too because he looked surprised when he saw her. He glanced away and finished clearing their plates. Once he left, her attention returned to Ram.


"Is there something wrong?" he asked.


"I don't think so," Priya told him, though she wasn't entirely sure herself.


The waiter brought their desserts and the bill. He gave her the bags with the cheesecakes and gave Ram the bill. Ram gave him his credit card without checking the bill. The waiter left and soon came back with two receipts.


"Please sign here," the waiter said, pointing to the first receipt.


Ram signed it, and the waiter handed him the second receipt.


"Have a great evening! We hope to see you again soon," the waiter said as he took the receipts and left.


"Are you ready to go?" Ram asked.


"Yes," Priya said.


They both stood up, and Ram offered his arm to Priya again. She took it, and they went back to the elevator. Once outside the hotel, they waited for his driver to arrive. This time, Ram opened the door for Priya and carried the desserts.


"Thank you," Priya said as she got into the car.


Ram got into the car after her and closed the door. His driver took them back to her apartment. Ram got out first, opened the door for her, and handed her the bag with her dessert in it.


"I'll walk you to your apartment," Ram said, putting his arm around her shoulders.


She turned red when he blushed. They went into the building and walked up to the second floor. Eventually, they arrived at her apartment and stood outside the door.


"Thank you, Ram, it was a lovely evening," Priya said.


"Thanks for coming with me and making it special," Ram replied.


He smiled at her, and she smiled back. Then, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek.


"Goodnight," Ram whispered softly.


"Goodnight," Priya said. He turned and left, leaving her feeling incredibly happy. She seemed to float into her apartment. After getting ready for bed, she climbed under the covers, closed her eyes, and sighed. Tonight, she knew she would dream of flying.


Priya and Richa sat in the front row of the theater, listening to Mrs. Agarwal giving some acting tips.


"What happened?" Richa whispered.


"We just had dinner, Richa. What do you think happened?" Priya replied.


"I want details, girl! Like, where did you go?" Richa asked.


"Priya said we went to a fancy Italian restaurant and had dinner on the rooftop," Richa said. "Come on, Priya, I know there's something you're not telling me," she added.


"Well, after we got back to my apartment, we were standing outside the door. I thanked him for taking me out, and just before he left, he kissed me on the cheek," Priya explained.


"Ohhh, Priya, you lucky girl! Does that mean there will be more dates in your future?" Richa asked excitedly.


"I don't know, I at least hope so," Priya replied.


She glanced to her right and saw Ram a few seats away. He noticed her looking at him and smiled back at her, so she smiled back too. Then she looked away.


Richa said, "You guys are really cute."


She replied, "Oh, stop it."


When Mrs. Agarwal finished, everyone returned to their groups. Ram and she went back to their seats in the theater.


He greeted, "Hello, how are you?"


"Hi, I'm good," she responded.


"That's good. Did you have fun last night?" Ram inquired.


"Oh yes, it was wonderful, thank you," Priya said.


"Before he could respond, Mrs. Agarwal approached them. She said, 'It seems like it will only be the two of you today.'


'Thanks, guys. I'll be focusing on the other groups today, so you'll have to manage without me. Ram is an actor, so he knows what to do already,' he added.


'Even actors can get better. You can't become a great actor without practice,' he said.


Mrs. Agarwal smiled and then walked away."


"Let's continue from where we stopped," Ram said.


"Sure, which page were we on?" Priya asked.


"I think we were on page 95," Ram replied.


She flipped through her script until she found the page.


"I think you begin," Priya said.


Ram nodded and started reading his line. They went through the scene. Priya felt nervous. This was the part where Raj confessed his love for Simran. She was scared of this part, but she also liked it. Even though she had just met Ram, she already cared about him a lot. Her heart raced faster as they reached the end of the scene.


Simran said to Raj, "Didn't I tell you to take me away? Nobody cares about our love. Didn't I suggest we run away?"


Raj replied, "No, Simran, no. We can't run away. We can only hide from strangers, not from our own. Where would we go?"


Our parents, our elders, have raised us throughout our lives. They have given us a lot of love, and they can make better decisions about our lives than we can. We shouldn't make them sad just for our own happiness.


When Simran looks at us, she sees the truth. Even if I lied for your sake, a lie is always a lie.


Babuji is right. I am not honest. I am not trustworthy.


So what if I can only see you? And so what if I can only remember you?


Babuji is right. I am not deserving. I am a wastrel.


Why did I consider marrying you? Even if this irresponsible person loves you intensely, does it matter?


Isn't love the only thing that matters?


Babuji is right, Simran.


Babuji is right.


Here you go, Babuji. Take your daughter.


He put his hands together to show respect to Baldev. I didn't mean to upset anyone by coming here. I just wanted to make people happy, but maybe I didn't do it the way you expected, which is why you might not be happy with me. If you think Kuljit will make Simran happier (he looks at Simran and then back at Baldev), then you're right. You know what's best for Simran. Please forgive me.
Ram read the last line and let out a sigh.


"Well, that's the end of Act. Should we take a break?" he asked.


She nodded, and he stood up, offering his hand. She took it and stood up too.


"So, where are the vending machines? I need something to drink," Ram said.


"Come on, I'll show you."


She took him out of the theater and to the vending machines on the right side, nestled into a small space next to the theater.


"Do you want anything?" Ram asked while approaching the drink machine.


"I'll just take a bottle of water," Priya replied.


Ram put his money in, and the machine dispensed two water bottles.


"Here," Ram said, handing her one.


"Thanks," Priya said, opening it.


After he took a sip from his own bottle, Ram turned to look at her.


Sure, here's the corrected and simplified version:


"Hey, would you like to have dinner with me again? Nothing fancy, just some pizza?" Ram asked.


"Sounds good! There's a pizza place my friends and I always go to," Priya replied.


"Do you want me to pick you up again?" Ram asked.


"Yeah, that would be nice. Oh, I almost forgot, my art professor asked me to do another project for him. He liked the last one I did so much that he wants another," Priya explained.


"Well, how about this: I'll get the pizza and bring it back here so you can eat while you work?" Ram suggested.


"Yeah, that would be perfect," Priya agreed.


"Great! Just let me know the name of the place, and I'll pick it up," Ram said.


She paused, took another sip of water, and then said, "We should probably get back to work."


"Okay, let's go," Ram replied.


They went back to the theater and resumed reading. As they did, she found herself watching him closely as he read his lines. Even though it was just a practice reading, he still infused so much emotion into the lines. She couldn't believe she was with him; it felt like a dream. The fact that he wanted to spend time with her was surreal. She wished this dream would last a long time, hoping she wouldn't wake up anytime soon.


A tall, broad-shouldered man leaned against the bar counter.


"Hey, Sid," Sahay said.


"What do you want?" Sid said gruffly.


"You didn't get much from that last place you robbed?" Sahay asked.


"So what? I didn't have time. The girl walked in, and my gun jammed," Sid replied.


"The boss wants you to rob it again. She's got some valuable jewels. However, this time, he wants you to kill her. She wears a gold locket, but she doesn't realize how old and valuable it is," Sahay said.


"Alright, does he want it done tonight?" he asked.


"The boss says it's up to you, he just wants it done," Sahay told him.


"You know, she came here with that actor. If something happens to her, it's going to be all over the news," he pointed out.


"You've handled bigger problems than some actor's girlfriend. Don't worry about it," Sahay said.


"You know, I think she recognized me," he said.


"How could she recognize you, Sid? You had a mask on," Sahay asked.


"I don't know," he said.


"You've been drinking too much, Sid," said another man walking up.


"What do you know, Rajeev? You just run the restaurant."


"Forget that, I'm the boss's right-hand man. Just get the job done and you won't have to worry about her," Rajeev said.


"Right," Sid said, then downed his shot of rum. "No worries."