It had been a week and Taara's new found excitement was no where near fading. Nothing had changed between her and Aayush. Except that they were more free at throwing accusations at each other. Of course, there was more of holding hands, nudging, her hitting him on his arm. If anything, Taara had only grown fond of him. Her adoration for her boyfriend only grew. They texted more often. Their workload at office or sleepy eyes at night didn't deter them from it. 

Taara happily made her way to their regular spot. This was the thing that hadn't changed. Their meeting by the beach. 

"Look Miss monkey is here." That was how he greeted her as she sat beside him handing him the styrofoam cups while she sat. This was another habit they had adopted without any discussion. The one who came late bought the beverages. Funny how they understood the rule without having it said.

"Shut up, Mister." She took her cup of tea, opening the packet of Parle-G she had bought along.

"What, you're the one flooding my chat window with the various monkey emojis." He said taking a sip of his coffee. He couldn't believe he had actually started liking this not so perfectly made coffee. She offered her some biscuits but he declined. 

"You know that has a lot of preservatives and sugar." He remarked only to recieve a scrutinizing gaze from his girlfriend. 

"Are you indirectly asking me to watch my weight, mister?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You never fail to amaze me, Sweetheart!" He stressed on the last word chuckling. 

"And you never fail to offend me baby!" Taara stressed on the word baby. Their eyes met and they both burst out laughing.

"We should seriously stop that." Aayush spoke looking at her.

"Totally. I wonder how people do it. Sweetheart ..."

"Baby!" He added rolling his eyes.

"Jaanu.." she added making a face.

"Babe!"

"Love,"

"Sweetpea!"

"Sunshine."

They both laughed. "You know, sticking around with you, even my normalcy has gone for a toss." He commented looking at her.

"You are trying to imply, I made you abnormal?" There she was again with her narrowed eyes trying hard to study his face.

"I love how you decode everything I say in your own sweet way." 

"Plu-hease!" She muttered finishing the last sip of her tea.

"Taara.."

"Hmm."

"Would you ... come on a dinner date with me?" 

Taara turned to him surprised. 

"What? Don't look at me like that. It's just me asking you out on our first date!"

"First?" Taara humored.

"Unless you call this a date." He grinned.

"It thought this was." She replied honestly.

"Then we've been dating for quite a while." He winked at her. 

Taara blushed muttering  a "Whatever!" 

He held her hand.  "So?"

Taara looked at him smilingly. "Okay." 

"Okay. Tomorrow?"

Taara thought for a moment and then nodded in a yes. For a while now Taara had been thinking to ask him more about himself. She barely knew him. While he almost knew everything about her. Hell, she didn't even know what his full name was. Maybe the dinner would be better idea to get him to open up about himself. Only then could she tell her mom that she was seeing him. After spending some more time by the beach they decided to head home. 

"Mom wants me to meet Vivek again!" She told him while Aayush walked her to her bike. 

He smiled suprising her. "So what did you say?" He asked her. Taara looked at him stopping next to her bike. 

"It's not like I have a say against her. She thinks he is good for me." Taara spoke carefully observing his face.

He smiled noticing how her eyes were fixed to his face. "What do you think?"

"I think ... you're jealous." She gave him a teasing smile. He did not miss the twinkle in her eyes. He took a step closer to her. Taara's confidence slipped. He took another step closer. Taara was now nervous, although she didn't let it show. There was no doubt that she actually admired him and was also attracted to him. But every time he touched her even slightly or was closer, her heart would perform somersaults while a warm rush would flow through her nerves. 

"I am not. I don't have to be." He spoke and as he did, his fingers tucked her hair behind her ear. Taara took in a ragged breath. 

"Why not?" She stuttered and blinked uneasily. Her curiosity beating her nervousness.

"Because I know what you want!" He almost whispered. Taara stared at him. She was sure he knew, that she liked him. She stepped away putting some distance between them. She felt like the temperature had shot up. At least between them it had. 

"So, I will pick you up tomorrow. Send me your address." Taara nodded in response still not completely revived from that moment. There was no way she was letting him pick her up from home. 

She wore her helmet sitting on her bike, while he watched her with a smile on his face. Taara was not the one to give in to temptations. But today she did. She leaned towards him and placed a kiss on his cheek. After that she immediately rode away not waiting to see the aftermath of her daring. Taara couldn't believe she actually did that! But it felt so right. Aayush was surely clean bowled. She beat him to the first kiss! All he could do was stand rooted at the spot smiling.