Neil parallel parked his car efficiently outside the cafeteria and then stepped inside happily. He was little bit disappointed to not see Ananya sitting in one of the stools / chairs inside the cafe. However he sat down and ordered himself a cutting masala tea, a specialty of this cafe. Neil was checking his phone for new messages and waiting for the tea and Ananya when someone pulled a stool beside him and sat there.

Neil took in Ananya's feminine fragrance before he saw her. He was taken in immediately by how she was looking. Ananya was mischievously smiling at Neil as she saw him waiting for her and a bit surprised at her entry like this.

Avni had decided to feel good today about herself and had dressed in a knee length skirt and a cold-shoulder top, one of the relatively new fashions around. Dressed in a white top and rain blue ethnic skirt, with only light makeup and heavy dangling earrings, with a killer smile on her face - Neil had to pinch himself to check if it was indeed her. Ananya had slipped on some bangles as well and was carrying a matching clutch with mirror-work to complete the look. But ofcourse Neil did not see all this, he was just taken in by her smile and her bewitching eyes.

Avni decided to open the conversation as Neil showed no signs of trying to start it. He seemed happy only looking at her!

Ananya - "Hello! Kaise ho? sorry about canceling on Saturday but something came up"(How are u)

Neil (clearing his throat) - "Hi.. Koi baat nahi. You have more than made up for not coming that day by meeting me here. You are looking good by the way!"(It's OK.)

Avni smiled coyly, her heart leapt up listening to Neil's compliment.

It was a light drizzle outside and the cafe was a non-AC one in a makeshift shed only. So Neil and Avni could see the beautiful romantic weather outside. Suddenly Ananya's purse slipped down and both she and Neil bent down to pick it up. They both picked it up at the time same and their hands touched each other as they held the purse midway bent from their stools.

Neil felt an electric jolt as he touched Ananya's hand. Ananya herself was very conscious of it but did nothing to change the situation as she herself wanted it to continue the same way. They caught each other eyes and kept on looking in it, lost to the world.

Then suddenly they were shaken awake by the sound of Neil's ordered tea glass being kept on the table. They looked away and sat up straight, both a bit embarrassed.

Ananya recovering first said - "Arre Neil. Bas apne litye chai mangwayi?"(You ordered tea just for yourself?)

Neil - "I am sorry, i was just waiting for you and thought I will order. Let me order for you as well!"

He called the waiter and Ananya placed her order. Both of them looked at the steaming cutting chai glass kept in front of them.

Neil - "Tum ye le lo. I will take the one that comes!"(You take this one)

Ananya - "nahi nahi. chalo lets share this one"

Neil's heart leapt at Ananya's suggestion to have tea from one glass and he unintentionally gave away his excitement by a slight smile.

Ananya tasted the tea - "Ye to bahut bahut sahi bani hai! Lo Neil, have it"( this tea is very well made. Have it Neil)

Neil sipped at the glass, enjoying the implicit closeness in taking tea from the same glass as Ananya's.

They continued talking about Ananya's foot, it seemed she had recovered completely. Neil was really happy to hear this , after all he was the one who had caused her pain. But he was happy that they met at least , even if it was in this manner. Maybe this is what got them closer than normal people get to have in their first meeting!

They chatted away for two more hours after that with both of them oblivious to the time. It had gotten dark outside and rains were lashing out a bit harder than just drizzle. Rains were not stopping now.

Ananya wanted to get back to home now and Neil paid the bill and prepared to drive her back. Both of them were not carrying any umbrella so they ran to Neil's car and then sat inside. Neil put the keys in ignition and was trying to start the car, however he got distracted by Ananya using her hands to squeeze out a little water from her long dark hair. Her fragrance was even more maddening in the confines of Neil's car. However he banged the back of his head against his seat's headrest to get a hang of it and to focus on starting the car. It was an old police car, since his original car was still in repair post the accident. The car was not starting.

Ananya - "kya hua Neil"( what happened)

Neil - "Ek second, let me check'(one second)

He went outside and got dripping wet in the heavy rains almost immediately. Ananya wanted to help him and therefore she found an umbrella in the glove compartment and then took it outside to Neil.

Neil was bending over the car's slightly open bonnet now. He could not let the insides get wet and also needed to check the problem that was stopping his car from starting. He was not paying any attention to the rains lashing on his head. Suddenly his head was covered from the rains. Neil looked up surprised and saw Ananya holding an umbrella over both of them.

Neil got up and smiled - "Thanks Ananya"

His white shirt was wet and transparent now. Ananya felt her heartbeat increasing. Neil was anyways a handsome guy, but in his wet translucent white shirt and soaked dark blue jeans, he was looking incredibly hot! Neil now stood up and closed the bonnet. He took the umbrella from Ananya and held it better so that she is completely protected from rains even though his back continued getting wet.

Neil broke Ananya's reverie by speaking first - "Car to kharab ho gayi baarish mein, shayad paani ghus gaya tha andar. We cannot use it to take you home now"( car is out of order as water entered the engine.)

Ananya - "Achcha to ab?"( So now?)

Neil - "let me call a cab but i dont think we have many options in the rains. We can go back in the shade of the cafe perhaps and.."

Ananya did not want this moment to lessen, cutting Neil in between she said - "To phir wapas walk karein till my place? It is anyways just 1-2 kms away from here!"( Can we walk back to my place?)

Neil looked at her happy and amazed. A walk in the rains is possibly just what he wanted. A few years down the line, maybe this is the walk they will remember!