Early Update! Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing this chapter.

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"Ruhaani, I think we should head back. We have come quite far as it is." Aadarsh spoke glancing at his watch. They had been hiking the curving roads for more than twenty minutes.

"The sign board said the café is in eight hundred meters. Come on, we must be close. Hot chocolate in this weather is going to be like a slice of heaven." She was tired of walking but wasn't ready to give up. They had seen a board of a certain Café Riverside ten minutes back and had been walking ahead to find it.

Aadarsh shook his head and looked at his phone, despondently. "Maps doesn't even have it listed."

"Didn't you hear what the guide told us in the morning, don't follow the maps here. These are mountain trails not your city roads. I think that light may be the café." She said pointing to a faraway light, her words soaked in hope.

"You do remember that we need to walk back, right?" He said, glancing at her with uncertainty. She seemed tired with the little walk.

"Yeah, we can have hot chocolate, get energized and walk back." She said, pushing her hands back in the pockets of her pullover. The breeze was becoming chiller. She regretted not wearing a thermal under her t-shirt.

Aadarsh sighed and fell in step beside her. "It's like this part of the town is fast asleep. Should have listened to me and agreed to the Mall road idea. This place is dead. For all we know, we are being misled by dubious sign boards."

"What are you worried about? Ghosts?" She asked breathing a bit laboriously. As she spoke, a faint misty cloud of condensed vapor escaped her mouth.

"Do I look like I believe in ghosts?" He muttered as they began moving down the sloping road.

"There's always scope for an incident that changes your beliefs, you know."

"Seriously, you think you can scare me by talking about ghosts?" Aadarsh replied derisively.

"No. I was just...stating facts." Ruhaani spoke casually. Aadarsh was no person who would be scared of ghosts. But she had also thought he wasn't scared of lizards, only to be surprised. Her lips curled briefly as the memory from the night surfaced.

"Wait, now I get it, you're scared of ghosts." Aadarsh spoke looking at a few steps that led up to something that read Late Night Café. The name was shady, so he ignored it and walked ahead.

"No, why will I be scared of ghosts, especially when I am with you?"

Aadarsh who was two steps ahead of her turned to her. "What do you mean by that?"

"If ghosts attacked us, I will offer you as a scapegoat, settlement you know. Leave me, take him. So why should I be scared?"

Aadarsh's gaze momentarily drifted away and settled back on her. "What makes you think I wouldn't do the same? Offer you and escape?" He challenged.

"Cause you are Aadarsh Sehgal and I know you. You don't sacrifice family, you sacrifice yourself for them." She answered instantly, unfiltered. Her gaze slowly connected with his as her words began to sink deeper and embossed out facts. They had stopped walking, and stood by the side of the road looking at each other.

She stared at him feeling uneasy. She hadn't meant it in a way to ridicule him or mock him. She had meant it very respectfully. She hoped he didn't misunderstand her, like he almost always did.

Aadarsh felt a shield of warm engulf him even in the cold air. The fact that her words were true didn't bother him like it should have. On the contrary, they had a very warm impact. Yes, she was getting to know him. The good, the bad and the in between; she was really getting to know him.

He had never sought validation from anyone for what he did now. As a young boy, he always wanted validation and rewards for everything he did right. Hus philosophy was—he deserved a reward, if he had the option to chose wrong but still chose right.

His mother used to ridicule that logic, but always give him the appreciation, the acknowledgment that she was happy because he did right, the validation.

For years now, he hadn't got that validation, that pat in the back. Ruhaani's words, were like that pat on the back, that appreciative acknowledgment that he was doing a good job.

A distant rumble in the sky broke the trance they had been encapsulated into.

"You are a fan now, aren't you?" He asked teasingly, taking his face closer to hers. His dark eyes twinkling with a challenge. His gaze taking in every bit of her visage. No makeup, no lipstick, yet she just managed to look nice. Perhaps it was the mountain air and water, bringing the best out of her.

"Me?" Ruhaani asked surprised. "A fan? Of you?" She uttered like it was the most unbelievable thing ever and smiled with amusement. She tired to distract herself from the change in the beat of her heart as he came close.

He tilted his head slightly, raising his shoulder in a shrug. "Not unbelievable!"

"No way! Have you spent time with yourself? No one in the right mind would be your fan. You know, if this were a book. You and me, like all of us were characters. I would have more fans than you." She took a step ahead.

Aadarsh chuckled. "Nice flip of topic. But if we do consider your hypothesis." He spoke, starting to walk ahead again.

The charged moment between them had been diffused just as he wanted.

"I would have more fans. Rich, tall, handsome and smart equals desirable." He mused aloud.

"Wow, you live under a rock." Ruhaani mumbled, walking beside him. It was honestly hard to keep up with his natural stride, which was faster than a usual person's given his height and fitness. If she ever had doubts on him actually going to gym after office hours, they were cleared. He definitely went to the gym and regularly at that.

"Sense of humor—you zero, me hero. Emotional Intelligence—you zero, me zero." She started listing.

"Excuse me?" He turned to his right where she caught up with him.

"In a month, you have an average of what, three to four conflicts with your relations?" She asked, her gaze meeting his with a silent confidence.

"Some conflicts are healthy!" He justified in his defense.

Ruhaani let out a loud sigh. "You define unhealthy conflicts, Aadarsh. I hate to break it to you. The way you deal with conflicts is unhealthy. You avoid. You shout. You say words you don't mean. Then avoid for days. Run away. Hide from confrontation."

"And what do you do? You screamed at a four year old, just the other day." He accused her, indignantly.

"That was not a conflict. That was parenting. Don't mix them up. Oh and this right here, shows your poor EQ. You can't tell the difference between conflicts and parenting necessity." She grinned. "Oh and parenting—me hero, you zero."

"Of course, you got to have the best IQ and the best EQ, if your are judging yourself and giving yourself points." Sarcasm was string in his voice. "And I am glad your stupid café is here, because I am tired of hearing your stupid theories." He spoke, pointing to the board lit up with red led lights in the old fashioned way.

"Is that the Riverside Café?" She asked squinting her eyes, looking delightful, her steps hurrying towards it.

"Yes, seems like you might need glasses." He said following close behind.

"Shut up, it's just dark."

They walked up to the café. It was nothing like a Café in the cities. It was more like a dhaba, a humble roadside hotel with very basic amenities. It was a small cement building fenced by a wooden wall.

"Hello," Aadarsh spoke entering the place, looking at what looked like the serving counter. There was no trace of another person.

"Yes, sir." A man came out from a small room which probably was the kitchen and smiled at him.

"Hi, is the café open?" Aadarsh asked doubtfully.

"Yes, Sir. Open till twelve am." The middle aged man gave him an enthusiastic answer.

"Wonderful. Can we see the menu?"

The man nodded and handed him a lamented sheet, a bit folded on the corners. Aadarsh thanked him and stepped back, to show it to Ruhaani.

Ruhaani quickly scanned it. "There's no hot chocolate or coffee or milkshake." She mused aloud.

"Oh, there's horlicks." He said with a mocking enthusiasm, pointing to text on the menu.

She rolled her eyes at him. She walked to the counter and looked at the very limited options in the glass case. She saw three different kinds of pastries, a puff and a fee slices of some sort of bread.

"What is fresh here?" She asked, running her eyes warily. Nothing looked fresh.

"Everything is fresh. Came today morning."

Ruhaani smiled and walked back to Aadarsh.

Aadarsh raised his eyebrows as though asking her what she had decided. She took the lamented sheet from him and scanned it once more.

"Do you have sweet butter toast?" She asked the man who was waiting to serve them.

"Yes Ma'am."

"We'll have one plate." She informed him.

"Just one?"

"Yes," Aadarsh supplemented her answer, when the man looked at him.

The man nodded and disappeared, after asking them to sit wherever they wanted.

"Seriously? Sweet Butter toast?"

"They put sugar inside. It's yummy." She said, her gaze going around, noticing the humble setting.

He stared at her unconvinced.

"What?" She shrugged, glancing back at him as she walked around the small tables. "We came so far. Might as well give him some business. He looked hopeful."

His gaze continued to follow her as she turned her head to the painting of a flower vase on an A4 sheet stuck on the wooden wall with tapes on the side.

She was probably right. If they both were in competition, she would have more fans. She was very easily likeable unlike him. Her thoughtfulness and kindness could win against any thing.

He slowly followed her as she moved to the other side of the room and stepped out into what was a broad balcony with some more tables. He warily stepped out. The structure seemed hosted up on riverbed. From the railing there was a very close and clear view of the river.

"We should sit inside. This part doesn't look safe," he suggested, observantly looking down at the wooden flooring, tapping his foot to gauge it's sturdiness. He knew enough about structures to know this one was not solid. Then again, many of the building structures were not safe in the mountains, especially the valley region.

"Oh come on," Ruhaani sat on one of the red plastic chairs by the railing, such that she got view of the mountains and the river. The silhouette of the mountains blended into the darkness of the night but one could make out the dark waters that occasionally glimmered reflecting random lights. Thanks to the few night lights hoisted near the river bed, they saw sparkling foam produced when the river's flowing water crashed against obstructing rocks.

Even in the dark, the scenery looked breathtakingly beautiful.

"We should have come here in the morning, it would be the most beautiful sight ever."

Aadarsh quietly pulled a chair and sat next to her.

"You know, you made us walk here for nothing. You might have had better luck trying to order hot chocolate with room service back in the hotel." He spoke, looking towards the inside of the café.

"Yeah, but then we wouldn't be here. We wouldn't have made that man happy. We wouldn't have this spectacular night view of the river."

Aadarsh's head slowly turned and he gazed at her as she took a deep breath and admired the view. She had the hoodie on, but the tresses on her shoulders danced in the breeze. That smile on her face was so... content.

His gaze drifted to the view and then back to her. They sat in silence. While she took in every bit of the view, the feel of being at that beautiful place in that moment. Aadarsh searched his memory for the last time he had been so content and at peace as Ruhaani was in that moment. Had he ever?

About twenty minutes later, they were leaving that humble eatery after sharing a simple sweet butter toast from a single plate.

While they were walking back the same way they had come, they passed a couple who were walking with their arms tangled, giggling and talking to each other. The huge set of red bangles and henna designs on the woman's hand gave away that they were newlyweds. Perhaps they were on their honeymoon.

He had descried the look on her face— it looked akin to longing. Soon after the couple had walked past, they both had coincidentally turned to each other and exchanged an awkward moment, befote silently ambling ahead again.

Ruhaani was walking slower than before, Aadarsh had observed. She had her arms folded against her chest. She was cold, he knew. Even if she didn't tell him in so many words.

Aadarsh was torn between being kind and offering the coat he wore and not doing anything like that. If he did it, she'd start reading more into his actions. He didn't want that. However, he knew her enough to know that she was really cold, despite wearing a warm pullover over her t-shirt.

"Do you want my coat? You look like you're going to freeze." He gave in, as she took a deep breath and her caressed her arms.

"No, I am fine." She declined, softly. Her heart stirring at his thoughtfulness.

"It's not like I need it. This is like my usual room temperature. I am wearing the coat because I would rather have it on then carry it on my arm."

"I am fine." She said, reminding herself he was doing it out of the sense of responsibility. If he did it out of love, he wouldn't have asked, he would have removed it and wrapped it around her.

His gaze lingered on her.

"Did you feel that too?" She asked as they walked ahead a few steps.

Aadarsh almost froze as she looked at him. "Feel what?" He asked her, part perplexed and part nervous. What feeling was she talking about?

"The drizzle. I felt drops on my face." She replied, looking up.

"Oh," The syllable, packed with relief left his mouth and he looked up and around."

Soon they could spot the tiny dots, the drops of the starting rain made on the road. A brilliant flash of lightning made them look up with amazement. It was followed with a loud thunder.

"Oh, we should hurry!" Ruhaani said increasing her pace. The tiny droplets of water began to fall faster.

"Uh, Ruhaani," he held her arm. "It's raining harder. We'll get drenched if we continue to walk. Come on," he said leading her back to the other café they had just crossed half a minute back.

"Wait, where are we going." She asked. "The Riverside café us like five minutes walk from here. Might as well walk ahead instead of going back."

"I had seen another Café on the way." He explained and soon they were at the steps paved by cutting the main rock of the mountain. A sign board indicated the name— Late Night Café.

"Carefully go up," he said. "Look before you place your feet." He added, letting her go up first. Ruhaani quickly made her way up. The leaves of the vegetation around the mountain rustled teased by the rain drops and breeze.

Aadarsh followed her up and they were at what looked like a house. The porch was flat and sheltered. The one-storey building was nestled into the crook of the mountain.

The house had been converted into a bohemian style Café. They could hear some music and chatter from the inside.

A few cemented steps led up to the broad landing before the door. Colorful sitting mattresses were spread out on the area on either side of the landing with some cushions with a short-legged table in between. The windows were decorated with climber plants. A few electric lamps, modelled out of the old fashioned kerosene lamps hung around the outside.

"This Café looks much better." Ruhaani commented, hugging herself, admiring the setting of the outdoor sitting. It would most definitely give a spectacular view of the snow capped mountains in the day light. It would be like a dream to sit on one of those colorful mattress and admire the beauty of the lofty Himalayas.

They both briefly turned around to the open view behind them as the rain came down stronger.

"Good call!" Ruhaani appreciated. "I would have hated to be soaked to my bones in this cold."

"Had thought so, long back." He commented before turning to her. "Come on," he said offering his hand. Ruhaani glanced at it. She had been consciously avoiding holding his hand. It was a part of the 'ignore him' point from the Rebound Plan— whose efficacy she was beginning to doubt.

However, she didn't have any excuse to avoid holding his hand at the moment. Maybe she didn't want to find an excuse. She slipped her hand into his and almost recoiled at the contrasting temperatures of their skin.

"Your hand is so cold,"

"Your hand is so warm,"

They said at the same time looking at each other. Stupid smiles making it to their faces.

He grinned, "I am a very warm person, I have been told," he winked. His fingers curled around the gaps between her fingers. She rolled her eyes, pressing her tongue against the inside of her mouth to keep herself from smiling. That wink totally had heart skip a beat.

"Woah!" Aadarsh exclaimed as they peeked inside. The café was surprising crowded. About fifteen people were present, mostly men. The setting of the café was Japanese style. There were short-legged tables with mattresses around to sit.

People were hardly eating. They were mostly drinking. A group of six young men who sat around the table in the center of the room were playing cards, smoking a hookah and drinking. A couple occupied the corner, they were cozing up and having hookah. Another group of people on the corner were laughing, singing, one of them plating a guitar.

"No wonder the shady name," Ruhaani whispered, close to his shoulder.

"Hello Sir," A man greeted them.

"Hi,"

"Which table would you like to take?"

Aadarsh ran a gaze around the room. Six of the tables were occupied leaving two small tables for two to three people free. One on the side of the room and another on the corner.

"Can we sit outside?" Ruhaani asked.

Aadarsh turned to her surprised. "It's cold outside." The room was noisy but it was cozy and warm without a heater.

"Yeah, that's fine. There's fresh air." She said, eyeing the room. "I would rather sit outside in the quiet."

Aadarsh sighed, turning to man with a smile.

"Sure," the man said. "The service is a bit slow outside,"

"That's alright." Aadarsh said, as he led them back out into the landing.

They walked out, the cold air and the rhythmic sound of rain welcoming them back into nature. They walked along the wall and settled on the mattresses against the wall. The waiter got them a menu and left them. It was just them seated outside.

He turned to Ruhaani who sat next to him. She looked at him. "What?"

He slightly shook his head. "Aren't you cold here?"

"It is cold. But you've made me used to it. Besides, just look at this view."

"It's dark. All I can make out is it's raining. There is no view." He countered, peering at the menu under the golden light from the lamp the man had placed on the center of their table.

"Yeah, but I can hear the rain, and the river. This Café has such an artistic charm." She said hugging herself.

"You want anything? Hot chocolate is not on the menu." He said sliding the menu to her. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Fifteen minutes to twelve. They'd never make it back to the hotel in time for the surprise others had planned for her.

"Wow, there's nothing worthwhile." She sighed with disappointment.

The man returned to take their order and Aadarsh ordered a small bottle of brandy.

"Really? A bottle of brandy?" She questioned him as soon as the water left.

"Brandy helps keep warm."

"A whole bottle?"

"It's the best thing to do in places you don't trust. Alcohol from a bottle is always safer than one from a glass."

The man returned with two small shot glasses and a small bottle of brandy. "Anything else Sir? We have a good variety of..." he tapped the stand that was meant for a hookah.

"Not today. Thank you." Aadarsh said with a smile.

The man nodded and head and walked away. Aadarsh picked up the bottle of brandy and began having a close look at it.

"Not today? That means you have tried it before? And you gave a lecture to Abhi on it, spoiling his mood. What a hypocrite!" Ruhaani exclaimed. Earlier in the morning Abhi had expressed his fancy to try the hookah and Aadarsh had ended up scolding him for even thinking of it.

He turned to her looking bored. "I haven't. But you have to talk like that to fit the crowd. You won't understand. Drop it."

"What is it exactly by the way?"

"Worse than smoking, I have heard."

"Hmm."

He opened the bottle and poured less than twenty milliliters in each glass.

"Have it. It will keep you warm." He urged.

"I am not cold." She said in her defense.

"Fine, then don't have it." He muttered drinking from the glass. His face scrunched up a bit at its sharp taste

"Can you ask him for warm water and honey? I hate the taste of brandy." She spoke up after a minute of silence passed. She was freezing despite the warm pullover she wore. Aadarsh might be many things but he wasn't dumb. His suggestion was actually good. The weather was suddenly very cold, especially as the rain came down.

Two people seemed to be running the café and they were both inside. Aadarsh got up and returned with a glass of warm water and a bowl of honey.

Surprised, Ruhaani beamed at him. "Took a side job?"

"Ha-ha-ha, funny!" Aadarsh remarked with no amusement.

"It's like you're taking a medicine." Aadarsh commented as he settled back beside her as she pouted the brandy into the glass of warm water and mixed honey into it like she was having tea.

"For me it is. You know once I was like really sick. College days. Bad cold and cough. Delhi winters. Chaachi gave me brandy, asked me to have it in one shot. Never going to forget that. It was like drinking fire."

Aadarsh chuckled, his gaze lingering on her as she smiled, stirring the contents of her glass.

"The next time, I figured this solution out." She said and tossed a smile at him.

"Put some more brandy into it. It's going go get diluted with water. Won't be effective." He suggested.

"Planning to get me drunk, Mister Sehgal?" She asked in a teasing voice, following his advice soon after.

"No, I just don't want you to freeze on my watch." He kept his empty shot glass back after downing it's content.

"This is beautiful," she mumbled, leaning back against the wall, with the cushion on her lap, as she watched the rain in silence. They could only see the rain and a little of the vegetation around the steps they had come up from.

However, the nature seemed to be playing a full concert for them. The rain drops made two distinctive sounds. One against the river and another against the earth. Both the sounds blended like a symphony. The breeze played a tune against the leaves like an artist at the violin.

Aadarsh had to agree. Even in his wildest dreams he wouldn't have imagined being stuck in rain being so beautiful.

He removed his coat. For a while he had been noticing Ruhaani caress her arms at times her legs. He placed the coat onto his lap.

Ruhaani slowly turned to him baffled.

"I feel warm. I guess the brandy." He muttered. Lie. He wanted her to take his damn coat. He could deal with cold, ot wasn't even that cold for him. However she was failing miserably to keep up with he cold.

"It doesn't seem to be working on me," Ruhaani muttered sipping from her glass. "Actually, give me your coat."

"Take it." He muttered, typing a message to Abhi, to inform him about their situation.

Ruhaani hesitantly pulled the coat off his lap. She wore his long coat like a blanket, covering her snuggled body up.

He eyed her from the corner of his eyes, smile almost touching his lips.

A loud thunder roared in the sky.

"I hope it stops soon," She mumbled beginning to get wary of the weather.

"What happened about your sense of touristy adventure?" He asked.

"Shut up," she mumbled and he chuckled focusing back on typing the message.

"Isn't this like a dream? It feels like one." She mused aloud. "I never thought I would actually be here. Today was so beautiful."

Aadarsh's hands paused over his screen and he looked at her.

"You've never been to an Hill station before?"

"Does Rishikesh count?"

"Not really. But Rishikesh is beautiful too."

"It is. It was my first trip." She smiled remembering the trip. Her smile wavered, "don't tell anyone, it's my secret."

Aadarsh was now amused. "Really?"

"Yaa. I was in college. I really wanted to go for this trip. I had heard about it from classmates. So I made up an elaborate story that I am selected for a inter-college competition. Chaachu would never let us go otherwise."

"Hmm, interesting. So you lied to your them and went on a trip with strangers?" He asked finding it a bit hard to believe.

"Yep. Not even Aarti. I never told her."

"Why not?" Aadarsh asked curiously.

"Because, she would give away by her behavior. Plus I didn't want to be a bad influence."

Aadarsh grinned. "Never thought you would do something like that."

Ruhaani wore a flattered smile. "Oh, you don't even know me!"

He held her gaze. She was right. He didn't know her, not like she was beginning to know him.

His phone's screen suddenly displayed Abhi's caller ID. "This man has no patience!" He mumbled to himself, picking up the call, somehow glad for the intervention.

"Hello,"

"Hello, it's your fairy godmother calling. Where the fuck are you? And why the hell do you take so long to type a dammed reply?"

"Language, God mother." Aadarsh muttered.

Ruhaani turned to him enlivened.

Aadarsh met her eyes as he explained to his brother how they had walked to the faraway café where they found nothing good and then entered another café on the way to save themselves from getting drenched in the rain.

"Bhai, you had one job." Abhi whined on the other side of the line. "Now stay on the call for another minute. I want to be the first to wish her."

"I can't hear you clearly. Your voice is breaking. Anyway, don't worry, you all sleep. Good night!" Aadarsh spoke ending the call. He didn't know why he did that. But he wanted to be the first one to wish her. Maybe because he knew she would hold it against him forever, otherwise.

"What was he saying?"

"Being dramatic, the usual."

"God mother?" She asked curiously.

Aadarsh leaned closer, as though he was going to tell her a secret.

Ruhaani instinctively leaned closer to him, all ears.

"That's actually our secret." He grinned.

She slowly turned so that her face was in line with. Her eyes narrowed at him. Her face now, against the direction of the breeze as she looked at him. The strong breeze blew her hoodie off her head. She shudder at the cold air.

"Happy Birthday, Ruhaani!" Aadarsh said softly as he felt his mobile vibrate in his pocket. It had to be Abhi.

Ruhaani was caught off guard. She hadn't even realized it was that late. She hadn't expected him to wish her exactly at the strike of twelve. She had not expected that softness, that look of gentleness. He leaned closer and kissed her cheek, his hands pulling back her hoodie to cover her head.

Like the scent from his coat hadn't been teasing her senses that he was so close. She felt a peculiar warmth. A warmth she so badly needed. Her hand gently went up and rested on his shoulder. His coat she had been wearing like a blanket around her, slipped down her frame.

Aadarsh pulled back slightly, his gaze meeting hers again. They were close enough to hear each other's breath. Her chocolate brown eyes appeared darker. They were glazed over by a vulnerability, a need.

Her gaze lowered to his lips while her own lips parted. The rush of helplessness drew her towards him. He felt like a flame in pitch darkness.

Aadarsh blinked, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. It didn't feel right yet it so seemed perfect. She inched closer, the tip of their noses touching. Aadarsh took in a deep breath.

This felt like a dream.

He didn't know if he should pull back and reject her. Or give in and give her false hope. What would hurt her less? He didn't want to hurt her in any way. He cared for her more than he would like to admit.

He slowly began to pull away. Giving her false hope seemed a graver sin than rejecting her advances. He wanted to be honest with her. Their relationship might not have all the ingredients that made a perfect marriage, but they had honesty. And he treasured it.

He had hardly pulled away by an inch when she eagerly leaned closer. Her mouth against his in a flash. Their lips were touching very lightly. There was no going back for him now. It was like a threshold had been crossed.

He parted his lips, slowly, in anticipation. In that split of a second, their breaths mingled. They took a shaky breath together before their lips moved in sync and closed against the others. Their mouths engaging in an intimate contact.

Their lips leisurely but surely moved together. It was like slow dancing. Deliberate, delicate yet graceful.

Ruhaani's hands slowly glided up to his neck on either side as his gently rested on her arms. They were somehow closer than before no one knew who had made the move.

The moment was hers, fully hers. He had gifted her that kiss. He allowed her to define it. His warm mouth was the fire she craved to burn in.

The kiss was unrushed, gentle. It was like a beautiful slow love song that was meaningful. It felt like time had slowed to make those fleeting moments feel like an eternity.

Ruhaani took in a shaky breath as her moist lips separated from his. She felt his hands hold her upper arms gently. Her eyes slowly opened fully and met his dark ones. His darkened gaze never left her eyes.

His breathing was out of tune just like hers. They were both struggling to breathe, struggling to make sense of everything that was happening, struggling to make sense of the moment, their relationship.

His hands slowly caressed her upper arms and moved to her shoulders, eventually settling on the side of her neck. His thumb caressed her cheek, in soft circles. His fingers moving past her neck, disappearing into her hair. The hoodie gently fell off her hair. His gaze switched between her eyes and lips, as though in arduous dilemma.

His every action was steadfast, unhurried and utmost gentle. Their eyes shared a profound eye-lock—a silent, honest communication of their needs. There was no pretense, no mask, absolutely nothing to hide on that moment. He slowly leaned closer, closing the distance between their lips. Ruhaani inched closer again, meeting him halfway.

This time the union was more resolute. His warm and firm lips, pressed deliciously against hers. The heat of his mouth, warmed every cell of her body. Her heartbeat was louder now, she could almost hear it pound in her ears. Her hands gently touched his elbows allowing him to hold her like he wanted.

In that moment, she gave herself to him.

• — • — •

Looking forward to read your thoughts on it, where do you think they're headed?

They have come a long way, haven't they?

Also, this is my first book whose chapter has reached 900 votes while it's ongoing. Means a lot! ♡

Next : Wednesday (I have a presentation on Tuesday!)

Don't forget to vote ☆ on the chapters.

—Anami!♡