|IRA|
~Past~

It's been almost three weeks since we had our Pani Puri date. We almost kissed, that moment under the rain still felt so surreal. The stupid stupid driver who honked at us.

Kabir had been busy since then, I knew that his parents had come to visit him and they had even gone back to Bangalore after staying with him for a week.

We did try to meet a few times but with our schedules, it's been hard. He's only free during the day for a few hours and I'm free only during the evenings. We have been texting a lot and the flirting in our texts has gone up a notch.

He always makes me blush. I was currently seated in my class and smiling like an idiot because of a text sent by him.

"Saw a little girl twirling around when I was going to work today. Reminded me of you. How's your day going today beautiful?"

I smiled and discretely sent a picture of the classroom. "Boring lectures. I'm so done with them, I want today to end fast. How is your day going officer?"

I yelped slightly when my classmate and friend Nidhi elbowed me. "What?" I whispered.

"The professor is looking at you," Nidhi whispered back and continued to pretend noting down something. I discreetly looked up, shit she is looking at me. Even though I was studying dance and music we did have a few theory classes and this was one of them.

Miss Anuradha Roy was a strict professor. She could make anyone shiver and stutter under her gaze. I'm so stupid to have chosen her class to text Kabir. I nodded at whatever she said and jotted down some points. My phone vibrated but I decided to ignore it for now.

There were only fifteen minutes left in this class. She asked us to prepare for a presentation regarding how dance has evolved over the years. The minute she walked out I grabbed my phone. I had never been more eager to read texts before I had met Kabir.

I chuckled softly, Kabir had sent me a picture of his desk which was full of papers.

"I have a lot of reports to file. The paperwork has piled up drastically. So, this is how the rest of my day is going."

"Well good luck with that, also it's your fault I got the stink eye from my professor today."

"Okay, I think I have restrained for long now. Who are you texting?" Nidhi asked casually as she completed jotting down some notes. I cleared my throat and locked my phone screen.

"It's no one. I was just reading an article and making some points for the presentation." I answered her quickly and grabbed my water bottle.

Normally I wouldn't hide anything from her. We have been great friends since the first year of college but to be honest I don't know where Kabir and I stand at the moment. I don't even know if we were dating officially, sure we went on one date but that didn't mean anything right? I don't know thinking about that always sent me into a spiral.

Nidhi glanced up and narrowed her eyes at me. "Fine, you tell me when you are ready. I would love to know who exactly is this mystery man. Did you know you have been giggling a lot more in the past few days?"

I scoffed at her and flipped the pages of my textbook. "Shut up. I'm not giggling, I'm just happy." I stated. We still had a few minutes before our next lecture. Nidhi chuckled like she didn't believe me. I sighed in relief because she dropped the conversation for now.

My phone vibrated once again. "Let me make it up to you ; ) How about an ice cream date today?"

"I would love that, tell me the time and place I'll be there."

I sent a quick text and waited for a reply. My phone vibrated after a minute.

"Ira, have you ever had ice cream late at night in your room?"

I frowned at his question. I sent him a quick reply.

" Yes of course I have had ice cream in my room at night. What exactly are you implying?"

My fingers drummed anxiously on the desk while I anxiously awaited his response.

"It's a surprise. Wait for my text tonight ;)"

Oh god! Is he going to sneak into my room? I groaned and banged my head against the table. What did I agree to?

***

It was seven in the evening and I still hadn't heard from Kabir. I have been wondering about this ice cream date the entire day. Another hour passed, and I practiced some of my dance postures and moves in the dance room. Between Mumma and I it was only fair that we had a complete room solely for dancing.

This room was the only place that gave me solace and peace. The wall was painted with teal blue color with intricate designs and adorned with fairy lights, there were even some pictures of my childhood along with my parent's pictures. At the corner, there was a shelf with the certificates and trophies that Mumma and I had won over the years. The other corner had a couple of ottomans and a music player along with a CD holder.

"Ira baby come down for dinner!" My Mom shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be there in five minutes!" I replied and switched off the lights in the room. I ran towards my room to change.

"You better be here soon or I'm going to eat all the rasam that your mom has prepared." I chuckled at my Dad's reply.

I went to the dining room. Conversation flowed easily, we laughed and ate our food. I helped my mom clean up the kitchen after dinner. I was putting away the cutlery in its right place when my phone vibrated. It was a text from Kabir.

"Be ready! Our date is at 10! I think by now you would have already guessed the venue."

"Kabir! Are you crazy? My parents are home! What if they see you?"

I sent a quick text and bit my nails. A nervous habit that showed up every now and then.

"Ira, don't worry about that, in going to sneak in! Look I just want to spend some time with you. I'm only free today the rest of my week is completely packed and I know you can't come out at this time so the next best option is that I come where you are. I promise nothing will happen! No one will know. Just trust me!"

My eyes widened, Kabir will be at my house at 10 for our ice cream date! I'm freaking out but also excited. I don't like lying to my parents and going out at night but at the same time isn't sneaking in my date into my house just the same? Ugh! I should tell my parents soon that I'm dating.

"Are you okay?" Mumma asked me as she transferred the leftover food into a container and placed it in the refrigerator.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied quickly a bit too quickly. I cursed internally when Mumma looked at me suspiciously.

"Ira, you seem distracted these days and more into your phone. Is there something I should know?"

Oh crap! It's true when they say mothers have great observation skills. Nothing gets by without them noticing.

"Uhh no, Mumma. Nothing. I have a presentation coming up so I was just going over the notes on my phone. Yep, that's what I'm doing." I stuttered out.

Mumma smirked at me. Oh, she knows I'm lying and she'll get the truth out of me. Time to go to my room. "Okay mumma good night! I'm going to bed! Have to get up early tomorrow."

I kept the rest of the utensils quickly in their respective places and began sprinting towards the staircase. "Ira!" Mumma laughed behind me.

"Good night Mumma and Papa!" I screamed and they chuckled replying good night with equal enthusiasm.

I heaved a breath of relief and leaned against my door. Crises are averted for now. I'll tell my parents when the time is right. For now, even though I was nervous I wanted to experience the thrill of having a secret date in my room.

Exactly at 10, I received a text from Kabir. "Open the balcony door."

I frowned, the only rooms that had a balcony attached to them were my parent's room and the dance room. Oh fuck! I hope he didn't go near my parent's room. I sent a silent prayer and went to the dance room.

I opened it and sighed in relief when I saw Kabir standing there with a bag in his hand. I waved at him to come inside. He chuckled and stepped inside the room. I shut the door behind him and glared at him.

"Kabir! Why didn't you ask me which rooms had balconies attached to them? What if you had sneaked into my parent's balcony?" I slapped his arm and shut the front door of the dance room.

"Relax Ira! I knew where your room was and you always told me that the dance room was next to yours so I had it all under control!" I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

Kabir laughed softly when he looked at a picture on the wall. It was a childhood picture of me with my hands under my chin.

"You were a cute kid Ira! And even more cuter now." My cheeks flamed.

"Stop!" I stood in front of the pictures and nudged him in the other direction. I don't want him to look at any more of my childhood pictures.

"Give me my ice cream!" I demanded. Kabir chuckled and sat down in front of the balcony door. I swiftly sat beside him and rubbed my hands together.

Kabir passed a box to me and a spoon. I squealed lightly when I opened the box. It was my favorite! Death by chocolate! I remember mentioning this to him in one of our many conversations and he remembered it. He's so sweet.

"Here's the extra brownie too!" He passed me a packet. I smiled at him as my heart fluttered at his gesture.

"You remembered," I whispered. He smiled and caressed my cheek with his thumb.

"Of course! I remember everything about you, Ira."

There were a million butterflies that swarmed in my belly. In the heat of a moment, I leaned forward held his shoulder, and kissed his cheek.

I casually pulled away and dug into my ice cream. Kabir chuckled huskily while I grinned widely at him. He began eating his lychee ice cream which had a generous amount of lychee pieces and nuts.

I told him about how my college was and how my dance practice was going. He told me about his day and a few stories about his school days.

I couldn't help but laugh loudly at some of the crazy things Kabir had done in his childhood.

"Shh! Ira, keep it down. Your parents might wake up." Kabir said with a chuckle.

I grinned widely and put my finger on my lips. "You were a naughty kid! How many times were you summoned to the principal's office?" I asked him.

"I don't remember the count. Hey, we naughty ones make the class entertaining else everything would be boring!"

I rolled my eyes and folded my legs. "Yeah yeah." I took a bite of my brownie.

"I bet you were the one who always got chosen as the class monitor and went report to the teacher. Ma'am, he was talking and so was she." Kabir mimicked in a girl's voice. I gasped and hit him, his shoulders shook with laughter.

"I was not! Excuse me! All the teachers loved me and not because I was telling on the other students." I mumbled and snatched the ice cream from his hand.

"I was known for my disciplined behavior unlike you!" I pointed the spoon at him and stuck my tongue out. Kabir chuckled and tweaked my nose. I screeched lightly and pinched his arm. He yelped and pinched my cheek. I slapped his hand away.

Once we were done polishing our ice creams completely Kabir and I cleaned up the place. I played some soft music and hesitantly held my hand out to Kabir. My heart once again fluttered.

He smiled, entwined our fingers tighter, and pulled me closer. My breathing halted for a few seconds when he slid his arm around my waist and pulled me until there was no distance between us. We swayed slowly, Kabir twirled me and pulled me back into his chest.

He grinned widely and I laughed. "What? Why are you smiling so much?"

"I guess dancing whenever we meet has become our thing now." I smiled and moved my hands looping them around his neck. The fairy lights and moonlight were the only things that illuminated the room. They made him look even more handsome.

"I like dancing with you, Kabir," I whispered and caressed his cheek with the back of my hand. It prickled slightly because of his two-day stubble.

"I like doing everything with you Ira. You make even the simplest of things memorable."

My breath hitched and my heart was slamming against my chest. "Kabir," I whispered and looked into his beautiful onyx eyes, they were glowing with happiness much like mine.

"Yes, Ira." We moved sideways and he twirled me once again. I laughed when I landed against his chest.

"I like you," I confessed. Kabir leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "I like you too Ira. A lot." He whispered against my hair. He likes me too!

"Ira," Kabir whispered I hummed and gazed at him.

He leaned forward and traced my bottom lip with his calloused thumb. "I love all our dates till now. Each one of them was unique but this one is my favorite."

I chuckled, "Mine too." I couldn't help but burst into laughter when he dipped me down, and as he pulled me back up, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Ira I have never felt like this with anyone before. You make my heart soar Miss Dancer." I smiled at him and leaned forward. Our lips were only inches apart. I tightened my grip on his shirt and sighed against his lips.

I was going to experience my first kiss ever but a sudden knock on the door startled us both. "Ira? Are you in there?" It was my Dad!

I pulled away from Kabir. "You need to leave immediately." Kabir nodded. I grabbed the bag which had our ice cream boxes and passed it to him.

"I'm in here Papa. I was just practicing. I'll open the door in a minute." I yelled back hastily. My Dad muttered an okay. I sighed when I heard him walk away. Kabir wore his shoes and cursed under his breath.

"Why do people keep interrupting our kiss? What does the universe have against me?" I laughed and pushed him out of the balcony door. I seized the moment, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips before he left.

His eyes widened and he let out a surprised chuckle. "You always surprise me, my beautiful dancer." I laughed and waved my hands at him to leave.

"Just wanted you to know that the universe is in your favor and you looked cute I couldn't help it. Be careful on your way down." Kabir chuckled and kissed my forehead one last time before leaving. I watched until Kabir climbed down and walked out of the gate. I shut the balcony door.

I opened the main door of the dance room and sighed in relief when no one was in the hallway. I slowly walked to my parent's bedroom and opened the door. Papa was asleep, thank god, I was spared from the interrogation, at least for the time being. I closed the door slowly and went to my room.

My phone vibrated. Kabir had sent a picture of me eating my ice cream and grinning widely.

"As much as I love our spontaneous dates I want to take you out on a fancy one. See you next Saturday Miss Dancer! Good night. Dream about me..."

I smiled and felt giddy. "I would love that Kabir! Next Saturday it is!"

I kept my phone aside. I squealed lightly, I still couldn't believe that I had kissed him. Sure it wasn't a complete kiss but still my very first kiss. I closed my eyes and fell into deep slumber dreaming about our first date.

************************************
A/N: Ahhh they kissed! Well kind off hehe. This was such a fun light hearted chapter to write!

I think the universe does have something against Kabir! Those of you who have read Living the dream remember how he interrupted Meera and Veer. The same is happening lol.

Also do you guys not like how the story is going? I mean the votes have dropped down drastically in each chapter! Kind of hurts 😔

I see a lot of reads but very little votes! Please do vote people please!

Hope you liked this chapter if you did please do vote and comment! I would love to know what you think!