I don't like this chapter, but in the haste to complete my NaNoWriMo word count for the day, I wrote whatever (bullshit) came in mind. Let's hope you guys find it better than I did!

**

"There is just something extremely charming about the way you smile."

Grinning, Nakuul looked down at Surbhi who was snuggled in his arms on his living room couch.

"Really?" He asked, playing with a strand of her hair and curling it around his index finger. "You seem to be quite a fangirl of mine, eh?"

"Totally," She said, smiling widely. "In fact, I have hundreds of pictures saved of you in my gallery that I look at before I go to sleep. They make me all hot and bothered."

Although he knew she was joking, Nakuul's cheeks turned pink, making Surbhi giggle and place a kiss near his jaw.

"You're too adorable," She mumbled against his stubble, before placing her head on his shoulder.

"You're in a very flirty mood. I thought you were planning to sleep when you came over?" Nakuul really didn't mind being flirted with, really, but his girlfriend just so happened to leave him all hot and bothered when she acted so much like a minx. He loved it, but she made him nervous, even now that they were dating. When she had discovered the photo frame of hers on his bedside table earlier, he had been so embarrassed. He had forgotten about hiding it- it had slipped his mind because it belonged there. Every morning for the past few days he had been waking up to look at her lovely face, and that managed to give him a very good morning each day. Still, he had thought maybe she would find it stupid, too extra even. But all she had done was give him a radiant smile, and a tight hug along with it.

"I was," Surbhi said, playing with his fingers, "But I'm not sleepy anymore. I'd rather spend time with you."

"Thank God," Nakuul murmured, kissing the top of her head. They were getting time alone after so long and he had been ardently hoping that wouldn't fall asleep.

After a while, Surbhi suggested they do something instead of just sitting around.

"Let's watch a movie," She urged, eyes brightening up.

"A movie?" Nakuul asked, pouting slightly, "Can we not just talk?"

"We can," Surbhi said, already moving towards the tv to get the remote, "while watching a movie. Hmm, let's see, it's Saturday, right? What if Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam is playing on some channel!" With childlike enthusiasm, she turned on the large LED TV and came to sit close beside Nakuul again. Surfing the channels, she finally settled on one that was playing- Kal Ho Na Ho which wasn't any less of a favorite than K3G, and smiling, cuddled against Nakuul again. He sighed, and watched the movie with her, playing with her hair absentmindedly. Unfortunately, the movie was almost ending at this point, and in the last scene, Nakuul looked down in surprise when he heard soft sniffs coming from her. Realizing that she was crying because of the movie, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"You asshole, I'm crying and you're laughing?" Surbhi cried, taking a pillow and hitting it against his face. Nakuul trying ducking even as he laughed away.

"I'm sorry babe, but you're just so cute! With her little nose all red and eyes all..."

"Arghh! I hate you!" Burying her face against his chest in embarrassment, Surbhi rubbed her tears against his tee-shirt, and he didn't seem to mind. Making her look up, he wiped away the stray tears with his thumbs.

"Surbhi, as long as you cry for movies or novels, it's fine. But I promise I won't let tears come tears into your eyes for any other reason, alright?" He looked into her eyes lovingly, before kissing her forehead. Surbhi smiled and hugged him.

"Kaafi cheesy, Mr. Mehta, but I love it."

"Hey, I just remembered," Nakuul said after a while, taking the remote from where it lay beside her on the couch, "Sri Lanka is playing against Bangladesh today."

"So?" Surbhi asked, frowning.

"Babe," Nakuul explained, "practice isn't just when we're on the field, right? We're recommended to watch the games of all other teams as well, to try and analyze their weaknesses and strength."

"Makes sense," Surbhi said, then giggling, she added- "Imagine if we had to watch ALL tv shows to know more about our competition- we wouldn't get a single minute off from 'practice', then!"

Laughing along at her weird sense of humor, Nakuul stopped at the sports channel, whistling when he saw the score. Surbhi loved the look on his face, of pure concentration as he watched what he was most passionate about. It was wonderful to see the fire in his eyes, and Surbhi didn't think she would ever get tired of admiring the beautiful soul that he was.

It had been an hour since they had started watching the match, and while Surbhi sat bored, Nakuul was completely engrossed in the tv. She was lying down on the couch with her feet propped up on his lap, browsing through her phone with nothing else to do, while he was subconsciously massaging her feet. It made her feel ticklish, but was also extremely soothing after all the torture the dance practices for SPA had put her feet through. When she pointed that out, Nakuul grinned and carried on doing it more fervor.

"I'm hungry," Surbhi said after a while, seeing how her boyfriend seemed to have no intention of feeding her anytime soon. What was with boys and games, anyway? They seemed to forget everything else when a match was going on, even their lovely girlfriends!

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" Nakuul exclaimed, realizing that it was well past lunchtime. "I totally forgot. Anyway, let's go have lunch now, alright? There's this amazing Italian place nearby that I'm sure you'll love."

Surbhi frowned but got up nonetheless.

"Is it some fancy place?" She asked as he led her out the front door and locked it. "Because I'm definitely underdressed." She gestured towards her outfit, which was a loose Captain America tee-shirt with black tights. Extremely comfy, but also extremely casual.

"Don't worry honey, it's just a cozy café. And anyway, you look beautiful."

Surbhi blushed and entwined her fingers with his as they entered the lift. Remembering their encounter here from just a few hours back, her cheeks heated up more, but thankfully Nakuul did not seem to notice that as he was busy on his phone.

"Virat and Anushka want to have lunch with us tomorrow," He told her, looking up from his phone. "Is that okay with you?"

"Of course!" She said, excited already. Who wouldn't be okay for lunch with Virushka, anyway? A maniac, that's who.

"Great, I'll let them know." Typing away, Nakuul exited the lift with Surbhi when it opened, and instead of going towards his car, he walked straight out.

"It's just a 10 minutes' walk," He said, noticing her questioning glance. She nodded, and hooking her arms around his elbow, walked along the beautiful, deserted path. The weather was gorgeous- slightly breezy but with the sun casting a warm glow. They chatted while walking, looking every inch the happy couple that they were. On the way, they came across an elderly man walking in the opposite direction, and Nakuul stopped when he saw him.

"Uncle! Kaise ho aap?" He asked, giving the man a wide smile. He smiled in return, the skin around his eyes wrinkling as he did so.

"I am great, young man. But tell me, who is this beautiful lady?" Surbhi's cheeks turned pink at the compliment, and she turned to Nakuul for an introduction.

"This is Surbhi," He said, slightly blushing himself, "my girlfriend."

"Oh ho ho!" The older man cried, raising his eyebrows, impressed. "This is your Surbhi then, huh? The one you were telling me about? I have to say, Nakuul- you did not do justice to her beauty while describing her!" Laughing, he forwarded his hand to Surbhi, who shook it eagerly.

"And this is Uncle Soni," Nakuul introduced. "He lives in the next building, and we often meet in the park."

"As much as I would like to talk to you longer, my lovely lady," Uncle Soni said to Surbhi with a warm smile, "My wife will strangle me if I don't reach in time for lunch. It was a pleasure meeting you!" Saying goodbye, he took his leave, and Surbhi and Nakuul continued on as well.

"I didn't know you talked to people about me," Surbhi said with a teasing grin, making Nakuul feel embarrassed.

"Well, how could I not, huh? There was this girl, ruling my mind and heart, not letting me live in peace. I had to tell people, or I'd go insane!"

Laughing at his adorableness, Surbhi kissed his cheek, and they walked towards the café.

The lunch at the beautiful little café was splendid, and the walk back home was spent talking and laughing as well. Surbhi was skeptical, for a second, wondering what would happen if some paparazzi spotted them together, but Nakuul assured her saying that this area was highly secured and only the residents and their guests were allowed. She relaxed hearing it. When the news about her and Nakuul dating came out to people, she would prefer it to be from them directly.

Upon reaching his house, Surbhi slumped down on the couch. The fatigue from the past few days was kicking in again, and as much as she didn't want to, she desperately needed a nap. She didn't say that to Nakuul, thinking he would be disappointed, but he realized it himself.

"Hey," He called out softly, leaning over her on the couch, "Come sleep in the bedroom, okay? That'll be more comfortable."

"I don't wanna sleep," She mumbled, but Nakuul shushed her and picked her up bridal style, carrying her to his room. Putting her down on the large and extremely soft mattress, he pulled the duvet over her.

"Get some sleep, okay? You need it."

Kissing her forehead, he was about to leave, when she held his hand.

"I thought you were supposed to stare at my gorgeous face as I sleep?" She asked with a smile, making him grin as well. Settling down beside her, he pulled her to his chest. With the combination of his hard body and soft bed, Surbhi was soon asleep, and although Nakuul hadn't been drowsy, soon enough he had also drifted off to a slumber. By the time they woke up, it was well past sunset, and Surbhi had to leave for dinner since her dad was cooking and she didn't want to miss it. Nakuul dropped her home, not forgetting to take a long kiss in the car before she got out.

"Pick you up at the same time, tomorrow?" He asked, and she nodded. He waited until she was well inside her house, before driving off. The day spent with her had been lazy, but amazing. They didn't need to do anything extraordinary to have fun, but just being with each for so long, after so long, was enough. Nakuul couldn't already wait to see her tomorrow, and the first thing he did after reaching home, was to text her.

Miss you already!

Her reply was instant since she had been waiting for him to text her that he had reached home.

You too baby!
See you tomorrow
xoxo

Keeping her phone aside to spend time with her family, Surbhi tried focusing, just for a while, on something that wasn't Nakuul Mehta.

**

Also, a belated Happy Diwali to you all! I was getting very homesick because this would be my first Diwali outside home, but we celebrated on campus and it ended being one of the best Diwalis! Hope y'all had a lot of fun, too ❤

(Banner by ImLilMissComplicated)