[E M O T I O N A L   M E S S]

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Kavya's eyes were on the road but her mind wasn't. She didn't pay any attention to where Dhruv was driving. Kavya silently unbuckled the seat belt when Dhruv stopped the car.

When she got out of the car,  she saw a familiar building and didn't take much time for her to realize exactly which place he was taking her. Memories started to flood as she read the name 'Café Rouge.'

...

Kavya walked up to a beautiful brick building that bore the address Dhruv had written in his message just a few blocks down from their school. The Café Rouge. Dhruv had messaged her in the morning if they could meet. Kavya made Shreya and her friend Riya cover for her as always as she came down there to meet Dhruv.

She carefully opened the door and stepped inside. The interior was chic and quite colorful. It had warm fuzzy feeling but at the same time look expensive as hail. Kavya had seen this cafe many times on her way but never stepped inside.

Kavya looked around trying to find Dhruv who was sitting on a corner table waiting for her. When he spotted her, he smiled and waved at her.

Dhruv stood and gave Kavya a big hug when she walked up to him. She sat down. A waiter promptly came over and took their order. Although as her usual self Kavya hesitated. But after Dhruv's pressure, she did order, in which he added a lot more stuff for both of them.

"Alright, Dhruv what is all this about?"

He gave her a sly smile. "What! Isn't a guy allowed to celebrate with his girlfriend?"

Kavya raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay, but will you kindly tell me what are we celebrating sir?"

"You madam are looking at St. Teresa's new football team captain.'

Kavya squealed in excitement and leaned across the table to hug Dhruv. "Oh my god! Congratulations! I'm so proud of you."

He smiled at her again. "Well thank you. I wanted you to be the first one to know that's why I asked you to come with me here. You are the most important person in my life and I wanted to share my news with you before anyone else knew."

...

They settled into a table at the back with the coffees they took from the counter. A slightly awkward silence descended upon them which forced Kavya to resist the urge to squirm.

"So..." She finally said a bit lamely not being sure what to exactly say.

Dhruv smirked at her pathetic attempt to make small talk. "Do you remember the last time we were here together?"

Kavya sighed. "Yeah, I do actually. This is the place we had breakfast when you found out you had made the football team captain."

"Mhm. Simpler times. It's kind of sad how we... ended." He cleared his throat a little and took a sip of his coffee. He was visibly uncomfortable with where that conversation had the potential to go and Kavya didn't blame him. She knew this conversation would come one day. and she tried to prepare herself for it. But was she ready? Definitely not.

She didn't really understand why Dhruv was suddenly behaving like this. First in the boutique and now this cafe. Was he feeling oddly nostalgic now that she was back in his life? She doubted it. The way everything ended. She knew he had hurt her. So there wasn't any chance of Dhruv wanting her back in his life. He was probably just trying to torture her with memories so that maybe she would found a way to find to call off the wedding and leave him alone.

...

The Sharma family slowly walked inside the Malhotra bungalow. The hesitation was still there. Although last week both the family had met a few times for the wedding and especially for the engagement preparations which was exactly 7 days later.

Anupam and Kiran walked in front while both of their daughters closely following them. One with a nice pleasant welcoming smile while the other one with an uninterested, annoyed look. In these last few days, Kavya had ignored the presence of the other one and Dhruv surprisingly didn't try anything.

It was Dhruv's 27th birthday. And both of their families thought it would be nice for the Sharma family to meet some relatives of the Malhotra family. Dhruv's family had planned a small get-together lunch for his birthday with some of their close relatives while his friends, more of Vivan was throwing a massive party in the night.

As soon as the family stepped inside, like a good host, Jaya Malhotra rushed towards them to welcome the family. It always awed Sharmas to see, through being one of the richest people in the country how generous and nice the Malhorta family was. Inside, already around 10-12 people were sitting in the living room catching up.

Letting her eyes travel across the whole hall Kavya noticed Dhruv on the corner couch with Vivan and another teenage guy talking. Maybe he felt her eyes on him, cause soon he looked up, but without giving any reaction return to the conversation. But unlike Dhruv, Vivan waved a hi and Kavya smiled back.

One by one Dhruv's parents introduced Kavya and her parents to their relatives who were present there. Jaya Malhorta's sister and her daughter along with Jaya's own mother. Amith Malhotra's elder brother's family and even Vivan's parents were present there as they were very close to the Malhotra family. Eventually, Dhruv also came to greet Kavya's parents and her sister but completely ignored her expect the one small 'hi' he muttered towards her, so no one notices something.

Kavya wasn't sure what he was trying to do. Three days ago he was acting as he cares, picking up their wedding outfits, taking her to that cafe and now suddenly back to ignoring phrase. She could never understand him. And this time she wanst even trying to do so.

"I know it not really an expensive gift but here something for you, son." Kavya watched as Kavya's dad give Dhruv his birthday present. 

"No uncle it's not necessary at all." Dhruv smiled sweetly, shaking his head. Kavya rolled her eyes. Here he goes with his all sweet sensitive guy acting. She thought. She bit her lips to stop her from saying 'Look. this pretty boy has everything in the world given to him in a silver spoon he doesn't want our stupid gift.'  But Kavya knew better not to say it. Cause back in the house, she made a remark on why they should buy him a gift and waste money, he could have anything he wanted, in which she got told to learn how 'to behave'.

When Dhruv opened the gift, it was a beautiful pen with his name crafted on him. He looked at Anupam who smiled at him and said: "I hope you write a beautiful bright future of yours with this pen." 

Dhruv gave a genuine big smile, the smile could even be seen in his eyes. "Thank you- thank you so much, uncle. It means a lot." Kavya knew the smile was real, but she felt like stabbing him with a very same pen or maybe she wanted to feel like that, cause her emotions weren't really listening to her. 

"And I made you 'Halwa' with my hand hope you like it." Kiran smiled giving Dhruv a box of Halwa she made especially for Dhruv. "Yep Kiran Sharma special only for you," Shreya added with a grin. Dhruv's face visually beamed with happiness. "Halwa? Really? I used to love your ha- I mean Halwa is my favorite thing." Dhruv quickly changed the sentence he was going to say. Kavya's eyes were wide too but she also quickly hide it. Fortunately, Kavya's parents didn't suspect anything.

With a smile, the Sharma couple left them to talk. As soon as they went a bit far Shreya grinned "Ohhh man that was close." She chuckled. Kavya side glance at her sister and quietly thank the god. "So you still remember my mom's Halwa huh?" Shreya asked.

"Uh well yeah," Dhruv grinned.  "It's literally the best thing ever." He added as he glanced at Kavya, who was watching him with a frown.

...

Dhruv literally snatched the lunch box from Kavya's hand as they sat on the desk. "Okay Slow down there, big guy." 

"Please, I literally live for your mom's special halwa," Dhruv said as he opened the box and took a mouthful bite of it. "Hmphhhh this- is-heaven." He tried to say in between. Kavya laughed. "You know sometimes I think you're dating me so you can eat my mom's food."

"I might be. You never know." Sticking his bottom lips, Dhruv said while shaking his head.

...

Hmm okayyyy I don't know what to say...so you guys tell me what do you think?