Taara sat admiring the waves crashing against the tetrapods. A week had gone by and she hadn't seen him. Needless to put in words that she missed him. She was also nervous about seeing him again. They had exchanged text messages over the week but very few. Not a single call. Taara assumed that the entire summit would have been a very busy week for him.

"Missed me?" She heard and quickly turned her head to the right to find him crouching to sit beside her.

"Hi!" She said excitedly. He smiled like a Cheshire cat happy to be greeted that way.

"Tells me how much you missed me." He threw a teasing smile her way. Taara couldn't help but smile gently punching him on the bicep. He chuckled. 

"How did it go?" She asked as his hand held hers and he slowly slipped his fingers into the grooves between her fingers. 

"Great." He answered staring at their intertwined fingers. "And I honestly missed offending you," He added. Taara giggled glancing at him. Oh, she didn't want to look away from his face.

"How has your week been?" He asked holding her gaze. 

"Don't even get me started... It might be night by the time I finish my rant."

"If that means you'll stay until late her with me, go for it." He winked.

"God, so cheesy." Taara exclaimed.

"Ahuh? Cheesy AP?" He grinned. Taara only laughed in response. 

Silence fell. Aayush loved the feeling. He stole glances at her and knew she was doing the same. And then there were times when they caught each other. Then exchanged goofy smiles.

"So are we going to just sit here, without talking?" Aayush finally broke the silence. "Don't you have to fill me in on your week?"

"It's better this way." Taara spoke softly gently rubbing her thumb over his palm. He gazed at her fondly. Taara loved basking in the warmth of his gaze. Jeez, he was becoming her favorite thing. Beating chocolate, at that.

"You're such a Romantic!" He remarked, Taara smiled looking at him. Her cheeks were flushed, but that no longer embarrassed her. Especially after that heartwarming compliment, he had given her about her blush.

"Mister, each person has this one part, that is a total romantic. They just don't let it out."

"Okay. So is that an arrow in disguise, aimed at me?" 

"Wow. You aren't different from me now, are you? That wasn't an arrow and even if it was, it wasn't aimed at you." She smiled.

"Is everything okay?" He asked looking slightly disoriented. 

"Why?" She asked furrowing her eyebrows.

"I don't know, you are smiling a lot." He spoke giving her a toothed smile.

Taara felt heat on her cheeks intensify. Actually, she was indeed smiling a lot. She pressed her lips together into a straight line and looked away, thinking of a comeback. "You don't like me smiling, huh?"

"I never said that!" He exclaimed quickly.

"But you meant that!" She turned to throw him a pointed look. 

"Oh, I finally feel you're okay!" He gave her a teasing smile, making her smile.

"Anyway, tell me... how was Singapore. You know I have heard that Marina Bay Sands is a beautiful hotel. Did you see it?"

Aayush looked at her amused. "Ah, Taara I might have stayed there."

"You did what?" Taara asked gaping.

He gave a small smile rolling in his lower lip between his teeth, amused at her reaction.

"Wow. No wonder you didn't have time to text me." 

He looked at her bewildered. "Ah huh? I didn't? Like you had time." He rolled his eyes.

"Haww, I always have time for you... you were perhaps busy chasing pretty young Singaporean women." Taara made a face.

"Look at that. Jealous huh?"

Taara froze momentarily thinking in that angle. Crap! "Jealous, my foot."

He looked down at her feet. "You have pretty feet by the way." He concealed his mirth.

She stared at him. "Seriously?"

"That's a compliment, Miss!"

"Don't try to flatter me, Mister."

"Why would I, Miss?" He asked arching his brows.

Taara frowned. "Why wouldn't you, Mister?"

"Cause, I don't have to. You already like me." Taara opened her mouth ready to hurl an arguing statement but when his words settled deeper into her brain, she simply shut her mouth and turned away. She heard him chuckle, his hand tugging at her hand that was in his hold and a small smile made it to her face. 

He tugged at her hand again, trying to get her to turn to look at him again. "Come on, Taara. You don't have to look away."

She turned to him while he pulled her hand yet again. "Well, I am not the only one who is a romantic!" That did the trick. 

He fell silent and then a minute later gave her a smug grin. "I like how you compliment."

"Really? Well, I have been told that my mannerism is too good to be true." 

Aayush chuckled. "Oh, God, Taara you're totally amazing." He had spoken before he realised what he was saying. He glanced at her. She was looking into his eyes, deeply. Darn. What was this woman doing to him! He had never felt such strong emotions before. Their gazes didn't waver. He leaned closer. 

Taara could feel her breathing turn out of the normal rhythm. She felt his gaze on her lips. More heat pooled over her cheeks. His hand still held hers. He pressed a kiss against her cheek and pulled away quickly, realizing that they were in public. With people passing by them frequently.

Taara bit her lower lip looking down. It was as though she was an ice cube set ablaze. She was sure her cheeks were colored crimson. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt something against the back of her palm. Something soft and moist. They were his lips. He gave her a smug smile that broadened the curve on her face. She was falling! Like under the effect of gravity. He was her gravity! 

What we all need is that one person, that one person who makes us feel excited, nervous, crazy, stupid, loved, cared, everything and more all at once!

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

Finally! Every time I started writing this chapter someone or the other would disturb me. Woosh! Hope you liked it!