Taara looked at her mobile screen. It was two minutes ago that she had last spoken to him. He was on his way to pick her up. She was standing at the pavement at the crossing. It was roughly a seven hundred meters away from her home. The last thing she wanted was her mom to know that she was going on a date. She had told her mom that she was going out with Ruhi and Siya her college friends. It was a lie. She didn't even know whether the two were in city or not. 

She saw a Volkswagen pull up and caught the sight of Aayush waving at her. She waved back quickly making her way to the passenger seat. He was dressed in a sky blue checkered shirt and black pants. His hair perfectly set in place. Although she was sure even when he woke up, his messy hair would make him look no less handsome. She noticed that he had trimmed his beard. Not bad, she noticed too much when it came to him. "Hi!" She smiled giving his face a long glance. 

"Hey! Ready?" Taara didn't miss the twinkle in his greyish blue eyes. 

She fixed her seatbelt and turned to him. "Yes, my stomach has been cursing you."

He let out a soft chuckle. "For the record, I am on time. Maybe your excitement made you early."

Taara smiled ignoring to look at him, hearing his teasing remark.  She couldn't believe she was there in time doing this. If one and a half month back someone told her she'd be going out on a dinner date with this Mr.Stranger, she would've laugh heartily.

"So?" She tried making conversation.

"For starters, I was under impression that women dress up for the dates." 

Taara giggled. "You expected me to turn up like Cinderella? Lemme guess, you expected me to wear a short dress or gown?" Taara arched her eyebrows amusingly.

"Honestly, maybe." 

She laughed. "Sorry to crush your expectations."

"I actually did not expect. But I did, maybe, you know, foresee you in it."

"Nice way to put the same thing in different words." Taara mocked looking down at her bag in hand. She was tempted to wear that beautiful red dress she had bought in the last summer sale. She hadn't worn it out even once. But then she was sure her mother would know she was certainly not going out for a casual dinner with friends. Secondly, she did want to see if it— what she wore— bothered him. That's why a simple jeggings and a royal blue top it was, for the night.

"Honestly, you look good in anything you wear. Ultimately, its the shine in your eyes and the smile that your lips curve up into that matters."

Taara felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "I am flattered." She gave him a smug smile. Finally. She loved how she didn't enter the nervous zone around him anymore.

"Your face says it all!" He remarked turning sideways to meet her eyes. There it was, butterflies in her stomach. She smiled falling short of the presence of mind to give a reply.

"How was your day?" Taara asked changing the topic. 

He gave her a knowing smile. "Now, it might be better."

Taara grinned, "Chessy AF!"

"Excuse me?" He widened his eyes.

Taara grimaced mentally, "Cheesy as Pasta! Cheesy AP! Haven't you hear that before?" 

He laughed in response and she joined him. 

* * * 

He had brought her into a simple nice Indian restaurant. It was neither overcrowded nor isolated. The waiter had guided them to a table for two by the window. Their choice in food was almost opposite, so they decided to cut the formality and go for what they liked. Taara had warned him beforehand that the bill would be split into two. Despite showing much resistance Aayush failed to object that. As they sat waiting for their orders to arrive, Taara found the perfect opportunity to kick start the conversation that she had been preparing for throughout the day.

"So, tell me about yourself. You know everything about me. And I barely know you." 

He sipped water from his glass placing his elbow on the table he leaned forward. "Then you won't be able to call me Mr.Stranger anymore!" He gave a lopsided smiled.

"Maybe I don't want to anymore." Taara spoke softly looking into his eyes. These new feelings scared her. What if, just, what if things weren't as serious from his side as from hers? She was risking her heart and life. But she knew, she was tired of staying behind walls. She wanted to go adventuring in the wild. He promised to be worth it all. She hoped, her heart wasn't wrong.

Aayush held her gaze. It was hard to not feel the warmth she looked at him with. He smiled, maybe, she was what was missing in his life.

"Then what will you call me?" He mused aloud.

"Aayush!" She didn't break the eye lock.

"The food is here." He grinned and she realised she hadn't noticed when the waiter had placed the plates on the table.

"You haven't answered.."

"Let's save that conversation for dessert and talk about food as we eat." He spoke smiling. Taara nodded eyeing her favorite kulcha.

Taara was a little disappointed when he asked the waiter to fetch them their bill. Dessert? Was he avoiding talking about himself? However, she did not show it. Her mood did drop but she tried to put up her cheerful mode. She sat in his car still wondering what could be the reason behind him avoiding talking about himself. 

"Ready for some dessert?" 

Taara blinked looking up at him bemused. "We are going elsewhere to have dessert?"

"Yup." He answered turning the car to the main road. 

Taara's worry eased, however, not completely.

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

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