Aayush frowned looking at his phone. The sky now appeared black and it was seven on the clock. There was no call, message or her. He looked around one last time and made the call. She did not receive it. Was she okay? He called again, she didn't pick it up again. A few seconds later there was a message from her. "Sorry. Was caught up today." He read and sighed. That is all? Irritated he got to his feet and marched to his car. Not caring to reply whatsoever.

* * *

Aayush didn't know what to do. One, he was disappointed how she had kept him waiting the previous evening. Two, he wondered whether he should text or call and ask her if she would be able to make it today. After giving a little mind to it, he decided to text her. 

Aayush: Coming today?

Taara: Sorry. Can't make it this week.

Aayush stared at the message. He decided to make the call. 

"Hi!" 

Aayush took a deep breath finally hearing her voice. When had it become so important for him to hear her voice, to see her, to be with her? "Hey, everything okay?"

"Yup!"

Aayush blinked looking at the clock that hung on his office cabin's wall. "You sure?" 

"Yeah."

Aayush was further unsettled. "What happen? Why can't you make it?"

"Ah, cause I have other work."

"What other work?" Aayush inquired, curious now. Was she avoiding him? 

"Come on Aayush, there is so much at office and then I have a few things to do around. So that's why... but will see you soon-ish. See ya.. " 

"Taara, I--" he heard the beep sound from the other end. The call had ended. Something was definitely not right. First her answers in single words. And then the way she quickly spoke. Irritation was evident in her voice. Did he do something wrong? What was wrong? He sighed, wondering if he should try calling again? Was he being too clingy? He thought over it. Him and clingy? No way. He kept his phone away and tried to put his attention back on his laptop screen. His gaze wavered back to his mobile phone.  Something didn't feel right. What was she hiding? He couldn't help but feel restless. Was she okay?

* * *

"Oh hello, Aayush!" Taara's mother greeted him opening the door. He gave her a formal smile. Hopefully, this—visiting her house without telling her—wasn't a bad idea. 

"Hello, Aunty!" 

"Taara didn't tell me, you were coming over.." her mother explained her surprise.

"Oh, that's because she doesn't know as well. Just came by to surprise her." He explained. It was so much easier to talk to her father than her mother. The way she gave his face a glance of observance made him nervous. 

"Come on in!" Her mother spoke. He supposed she finally realized he was still standing at the door. Aayush nodded slipping out of his shoes by the shoe stand. "Tea or coffee?" She asked him smiling.

"Sure." He smiled. She arched a brow and he quickly added. "Coffee." 

"She's upstairs in her room." Her mother gave him the cue looking at the sophisticated paper bag he had in his hand. He nodded briefly making his way up the stairs. Whoever said that dealing with a girl's father was harder than her mother, hadn't obviously met Taara's parents! 

"Hey!" Taara's eyes widened and she looked up from her puzzle book. She blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't dreaming or imagining. His soft voice made her feel warm. All her pain forgotten.

"Hi!" She responded. He did catch the shine in her eyes. He gave her a long look then moved his eyes down to her leg. Her right had a long white plaster. He gulped and then his gaze traveled back to her. She bit her lower lip sitting up a little straight. 

"Your dad told me." He spoke meeting her eyes. She lowered her eyes and then looked up at him through the length of her eyelashes. He couldn't help but analyze her right cheek. A huge patch on the skin had been scarred red. It would have hurt terribly, he thought to himself. 

"I know it's ugly. That's why I didn't want you to see me." She looked away, hoping he wouldn't be able to see her.

"How did it happen? Where else are you hurt?" He asked walking closer to her bed. His hand reached to hold her hand. 

She sighed, " I had my helmet on and I was riding within the speed limits." He smiled at how she put up points in her defense before anything else. "But then a traffic cone came rolling before my bike and I sort of lost balance and fell with my bike onto the right side. Just a crack in the bone there." She pointed to her right feet. "And bruises here." She raised her elbow slightly, "and my cheek rubbed against the road somehow so it's peeled off." She frowned. He looked at her cheek closely analyzing the damage.

"Oh, I know I look ugly. Don't see me like that. That's why I didn't want you to know." She added looking away.

"You're still beautiful. Scars don't mar beauty." He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. Taara's eyelids lowered she felt the moisture in her eyes.  She blinked a couple of times so that they didn't roll down. She mamaged to wear a smile raising her gaze up. "Why don't you pull that chair up and sit?" 

He smiled doing exactly as she suggested. "So, what did the doctor say?" He spoke as he sat. Taara glanced at him. He was wearing his waistcoat, the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbow. Her eyes refused to stop admiring the man before her. 

He gave her a questioning look and she muttered, "Sorry. Um, he instructed me to have bed rest. So here I am resting on my bed." Her hands pressing against her pillow. She noticed that she was dressed in her home shorts and minnie mouse t-shirt. Wow, what an excellent impression you make, Taara. He perhaps caught her looking at her printed tee cause he chuckled saying she looked cute. Taara giggled. Right at the moment, her mother brought a tray carrying cups and a plate of biscuits. 

Aayush's expression changed to business like and he passed her mother a formal smile. Taara couldn't help but notice it. Smiling to herself she looked at her mother. Surprisingly, her mother's gaze met hers and suddenly it was weird. 

"Tell this girl to never again be on a bike. She doesn't listen to me." Her mother turned to Aayush.

Aayush nodded turning to her. "Yeah, your mother is right."

Taara looked at him stumped. "I told you, it was just bad luck. I was riding fine." She couldn't believe he was taking her mother's side. 

"But, Taara. She has a point. It isn't safe on the roads." Taara rolled her eyes giving him the are-you-serious look. He shifted slightly, "what I meant is—"

"Quit it." Taara cut him off. "And mom, didn't I fall like a hundred times while learning to walk and ride a bicycle? I did, right? But what did you teach me then? You taught me to get up back again and go on. So why are you being so unreasonable now?" 

Taara's words left the two other people in the room silent. "Sweetie, you know how to drive, why not use the car?" Her mother asked.

"Mom, you know how much I love to be on a two wheeler. And nothing is going to stop me from riding a bike." Taara folded her hands and winced when the fingers of her left hand accidentally brushed her wound on the elbow.

"Careful!" Aayush muttered holding her hand and blowing over the wound on her elbow. "Just, be careful." He scolded her. Taara's eyes didn't leave his concerned face. Oh boy, why was he so perfect? So perfect ...for her! She noticed him moving away and glancing at her mother. Her cheeks flushed as she adjusted herself. She caught her mother giving her a teasing glance. Taara smiled to herself.

You need nothing more in life, if you have people who'll be by you in every phase of life, you face.