Sorry network issues

{ a week had passed since Randeep was back and he decided to first wrap up things put at halt due to sudden change of plans, he completed scheduled shoot, took care of gifts, and did interviews, amidst all this one thing was constant – ashi by his side, she would help with stuff after shoot like gifts and arranging interviews back of camera, his meals, etc.}

{ Randeep had finished up his last scheduled iv which was 3rd from the morning and ashi was wrapping up }

Ashi:- thank you for making time

Rp:- its my work, but if you dont mind can I ask you something ?

Ashi:- hm, go ahead

Rp:- why didnt you come in frame, you both I mean..

Randeep:- because it should be properly presented when we make it official, sry I didnt mean to eavesdrop

Rp:- its fine but can I have an interview after you announce it?

Randeep:- of course only if you dont hint fans about it, your channel can have the first

Rp:- thank you, I should be on my way now

Ashi:- ok and thank you once again { reporter leaves }

Randeep:- ye lo, you have 5 missed calls of your boyfriend

{ ay checks her phone and it was ay, she hits him playfully and goes to call her while Randeep goes to his room, after ashi finishes she comes back Randeep was missing }

Ashi:- Randeep! kahan ho ?

Yahan { his voice comes from his room so ashi follows it }

{ ashi goes and sits on the bed, he was lying with eyes close, sensing ashi he cuddles close to her and she starts caressing her hair }

Ashi:- sona hai ?

Randeep:- hm

Ashi:- bhook lagi hai kuch khayoge?

Randeep:- mm-hm {no}

Ashi:- to tum so jao mein bahar ka dekh kar aati hu

{ she was leaving when Randeep held her hand and pulled her back }

Randeep:- tum bhi so jao, subah se bhaag rahi ho

Ashi:- thik hai, mein thaki nahi hu

Randeep{opens his eyes}:- to baad mein bahar chale ?

Ashi:- nahi tum rest karoge subah se-

Randeep:- subah se ghar par band hu, pls

Ashi:- jana hai ? pakka ? { Randeep nods excitedly }

Ashii:- to abhi 1 baja hai, hum 4 baje niklenge ok? Tab tak tum rest karlo mein bobo se milkar aati hu

Randeep:- mere paas raho na, baad mein saath chalenge

Ashii:- ok ab so jao

{ after putting Randeep to sleep ashi settles back the house and rests herself on the couch itself }

[ 4 pm ]

Ashi:- Randeep utho!

Randeep:- 2 min.

Ashi:- utho

Randeep:- bas 1 min.

Ashi:- to bahar nahi jana ?

{Randeep shot opens his eyes and glares at her to which she chuckles }

Randeep:- bilkul mom ho tum

Ashi:- aur tum bachhe ye kya hal kiya hai, khusti kar rahe the { Randeep had some drool, and the bed was utter mess}

Randeep:- ye sab chodo kahan jana hai ?

Ashi:- mein le jaungi, tum bas ready ho jao

Randeep:- your treat ?

Ashi:- no, our first date

Randeep:- kya!

Ashi:- ab jao aur ready ho jao

Randeep{ gets up and starts searching for an outfit}:- koi special farmayish ?

Ashi:- kuch comfortable

Randeep:- done, bas 2 min mein aaya

{ Randeep and ashi were ready but had some time to leave so placed themselves on the couch }

Randeep:- baccha ?

Ashi:- hm

Randeep:- ghar kuch bhara – bhara nahi lag raha ?

Ashi:- matlab ?

Randeep{looking around}:- matlab ye jo sare gifts tumne sajaye hai ?

Ashi:- abhi se ? ye to aadhe bhi nahi hai

Randeep:- kuch hatado, kuch special occasions bhi to ho

Ashi:- waise to hai par thik hai kal karte hai. Aur ha mera kitchen itna bhara ki mein aage kuch nahi rakh paungi, uske liye kuch kardo

Randeep:- Mera kitchen ? wah

Ashi:- offo! Mene kya kaha tum kya sun rahe ho

Randeep{ kisses her cheek}:- achha dekhte hai kya ho sakta hai ok ?

Ashi:- ok

{ Randeep admires her newly decorated place by them and ashi told him they should leave so they set off for their first date }

{ Randeep was guessing it to be a romantic dinner at some restaurant or a club but when the driver changed course, he was confused for 2 minutes }

{ he soon realized they were headed to a Madh island beach. As soon as they stepped outside , salty breeze hit them. It was a beautiful view, the sea was shimmering colorfully due to the sun which was a little above it, the sand was hot and appeared as glittering gold under the effect of sun. the sky was holding white fluffy cotton candy on it accompanied with some black ones. There was sound of mixed chatter and squeals and laughs with people walking around and kids playing. A little humidity with cool sea breeze was enhancing the weather}

Randeeps pov

Jaise hi gadi se utra, mein kya feel kar raha hai ye express nahi hoga mujhse, itna achha lag raha hia jaise mein aasman mein hu, 1 mahine baad khuli hawa mein saans lena itna achha lag raha hai, par mein is view se bahar aa pata isse pehle ashi mujhe andar le jane lagi. Wahan aksar jaisi hi bheed aur shor thi, par ek alag si shaanti thi, ek peace tha, aazadi thi, Bombay ke beaches ki yahi to khasiyat hai, sheher ke shor mein ye samandar shaanti deta hai, iski hawaye jab mujhse guzar rahi hai to aisa laga har zhoke ke saath koi pareshani, kuch thakan le jaa rahi hai. Hum kuch 5 min. ke baad bheed ko paar kar chuke the, par ashi abhi bhi ja rahi hai pata nahin kahan aur mein uske peeche, bachha kahan le ja rahi ho? mujhe jawab na dete hue vo mudi aur badle mein ek smile di, uski vo radiant aur contagious smile, suraj doob raha tha aur uski roshni mein vo smile, aise laga koi pari hai sone ki aur abhi pankh laga ke ud jayegi, janta hu bachkana hai par ek second ke liye is khayal se darr kar uska haath thoda kaske pakad liya aur vo wapas mud gayi. Ab tak hum ek shaant aur beach ke secluded area mein aa gaye the, kuch door roshni thi par abhi itna andhera nahi tha ki mein saaf saaf dekh pau. Kuch aur chal kar vo ruk gayi aur mere samne se achnak hat gayi, meri nazare abhi bhi uspar thi, usne mujhe saamne ki ore ishaara kiya aur jab meri nazar padi, mere saamne rose petals ka pathway tha, par ye red nahi the pink the, dono taraf candles the, ashi ki baat maante hue mein unpar chalne laga. Jaise hi hum ek dinner setup par pahunche, hum par, or more exactly mujh par, roses ki barish hone lagi. Table par wine thi jo mein door se bata sakta hu mere taste ke according hi hogi but then mein sure nahi tha, humari table se door pillars ne ek boundary banai thi white pillars par royal blue curtains tied up the aur heart shaped blue balloons creepers ki tarah pillars par placed the, usse kuch door aur petals dikh rahe the, ye sab mere liye tha ? isse pehle mein poochta ek waiter humari taraf aaya, welcome sir aur mujhe mera jawab mil gaya

POV ENDS

{ ashi and Randeep were led to the table, they sat, and all this while Randeep was in daze, his chain of thoughts was broken when the waiter served them wine }

Waiter:- sir? { he held the bottle in his hands}

{ Randeep nods , he was served and they were left alone }

Randeep:- ashi? Ye sab?

Ashi:- mene socha humari first date special honi chahiye{ she bit her lip and lowered her eyes } aur private bhi

{ she looked up to look at Randeep who looked like in shock more than surprised }

Randeep:- ye sab tumne kiya?

Ashi{nods}:- tumhe pasand nahi aaya ?

{ Randeeps shock suddenly replaced with a wide smile and glittering eyes }

Randeep:- nahi aaya? Itna achha hai ki phirse tumse pyaar ho raha hai

{ ashi chuckles and raises her glass }

Randeep:- to ?

Ashi:- to being us together – forever

Randeep:- to forever

{ a toast made to eternity, after which the waiter came forward to offer more which they politely refused }

Randeep:- ye log kaun hai ?

Ashi:- meri agency se hai

{ ashi gets up and offers her hand to Randeep}

Ashi:- mere saath dance karenge, mr. rai

Randeep:- itni sundar ladki ko koi mana kar hi nahi sakta

{ ashi takes him to the heart made with petals and it was a beautiful stage, pink petals with golden sand, just perfect, they stepped inside and shared the first and last dance of their special day, bodies moving in rhythm and eyes refusing to look elsewhere than each other, it was a beautiful moment and after a few minutes Randeep broke the silence}

Randeep:- ashi ?

Ashi:- hmm?

Randeep:- tumhe yaad hai itne paas aakhri baar kab dance kiya tha ?

{Ashi remembers the night of ays mehendi and smiles shaking her head to which Randeep pouts as he mistook it as a no}

Ashi:- raat ke 2 baj rahe the

{ Randeep smiles at her }

Randeep:- us din mein chahata tha ki ye din bhi aaye

Ashi:- mein bhi

Randeep:- par tum bhaag gayi

Ashi:- tum to bolo mat, jis tarah tum dekhte ho mein to sirf bhaagi koi aur hoti na to wahin pighal jaati, pata hai bhaagne se zyada tumhari nazro se dhakane tez ho rahi thi, laga abhi dil bahar aa jayega aur sabko pata chal jayega, sabse nazre churake bhaagi thi us raat

Randeep:- ab meri galati to nahi ki tum itni sundar ho ki kambhakt ye nazre bhi hatne ko raazi nahi hoti

{ ashi hugs him and both continue to dance}

Ashi:- meri dua hai ki humare paas aise din aksar ho ek saath hamesha

Randeep:- ameen

{ after the soulful dance they enjoyed a heart warming and sweet dinner, by now sun had touched the surface of the sea spreading orange glaze with ting of pink and glimpse of reddish green in the sky with golden-pink fluffs complimenting it the setup looked all the more enchanting then it already was.

But apart from the weather there was another beauty under whose spell Randeep was today, all this while he was admiring and stealing pics of ashi who glowed under the sunset, her flicks running out of her ponytail, those eyelashes – dark enough to lose in them with that smile she always carried }

{to end the date it was decided to relax on the beach, the sun had set but under moon the water was still shimmering, it looked as if all the pearls just came to the surface, odd – how the sea can change so fast how something can be so vast as to accept anything and it as theirs, ashi rested her head on his biceps while his was on hers }

Randeep:- ashi ?

Ashi:- hm?

Randeep:- tumhe kaise pata mujhe beach pasand hai ?

Ashi:- jaise tumhe pata hai mujhe gardens pasand hai

Randeep{ kisses her head}:- thank you

Ashi:- bahut yaad aayi tumhari { tightening her grip }

Randeep:- mujhe bhi

Ashi:- Randeep?

Randeep:- hm

Ashi{lifts her head}:- mujhe meetha khana hai

Randeep{confused}:- abhi dessert to khaya

Ashi{sits upright}:- nahi aur chahiye

Randeep:- itna meetha khayogi to moti ho jaogi

{ she hits him and he laughs }

Ashi:- ahan!! Ice-cream chahiye

Randeep:- abhi?

Ashi:- abhi

{ Randeep gets up and offers his hand }

Randeep:- to chalo

{ Ashi excitedly shoots up taking his hand and he laughs at her excitement, they walk back out of beach, by now most of the crowd had dissipated, considerably less amount of people were present, a few children still playing, two or so elders and some couples taking a stroll, they move to out to other end of road into a ice-cream trolley }

Randeep:- kaunsi? Cookies n cream ?

Ashi:- aaj chocolate

Randeep{ to vendor}:- 2 chocolate cones

{ Randeep takes it and taking her hand sets towards beach }

Ashi:- wahan kahan ?

Randeep:- mene ek bhi pic nahi li, yaade to honi chahiye, aakhir pehli hai

{ ashi shakes her head in disbelief }

{ after Randeep was satisfied he had captured every part of their date setup with and without them, they returned to their paradise, ashi put Randeep to bed, given it was a long day and many were to follow }

---*---

CHAPTER 26 ENDS