Taara exhaled deeply preparing herself. Maybe her father was right and so was Aayush. She spoke to her mother about the entire scarf thing. Her mother laughed it off saying scarf or not, mattered not. Maybe she was the one being stupid about it. She felt awful for having fought with Aayush about it. But deep down she knew it wasn't just that argument, it was much more. But she was labeling it that. It was convenient.

If she tried to pry into his life she'd be the nosy girlfriend he perhaps did not want. She remembered that he had said he wanted to be away from his life and that's why he had come to the marine drive. Where he met her, where they found each other. Maybe this was it! She provided him that escape. Perhaps, that's why he never brought his life between them- because he didn't want to.

She walked along the stretch of the vast expanse of water. If there is anywhere she would find him, it would be here. She felt a little weird without the scarf covering her face. But, what surprised her was there were barely a few people who cared to look. She had been fretting over what the people's reaction would be, so much that she failed to see that- people around very busy with their own freaking life! The ones that cared for her, that she cared about didn't have to see her face to know she was beautiful. She stopped when she saw a familiar figure. She fixed her scrutinizing gaze over him for a few seconds and she knew it was him.

She felt nervousness grip her and excitement whip her. She would finally see him! She took steps to approach him. "Hey handsome!" She greeted and he glanced up. Oh those greyish blue eyes! Almost immediately he looked away ignoring her. 

Taara sighed sitting beside him. "It's a pretty blue day, isn't it?" She commented seeing the sky and then the waters wondering what reflected the other.

"I don't talk to strangers." he muttered and that caused a wide smile to appear on Taara's face. 

"Man, then you're surely missing on a lot. Talking to strangers can turn your life around for the better, you know!" She smiled.

"Or it can lead you to be kidnapped and prison-ed in a dark dungeon somewhere or abused or even worse being murdered." He mumbled not looking at her.

She giggled. "Oh, so you're a lover of thrillers huh?"

"Romance isn't as rosy as it seems."

She smiled. "Have you tried it?"

"Sort of."

"Maybe with the wrong girl." She sighed looking away.

"I don't talk to strangers."

"I know you name, Mr. Aayush Vikrant Rathore." She turned to him amusement back in her voice. "I also have your number." She whispered and winked when he looked at her.

"If you're trying to flirt, it's not working." He gave her a tight-lipped mocking smile.

"No way. I am just trying to be friends, you know." A silence filled, but her next statement broke it. "But it wouldn't harm to try flirting, would it?" She could see him roll his eyes.

"I don't like flirting with strangers either."

"Then you're a doomed man! Plus, I am not a stranger. A stranger wouldn't know many things about you know that I know."

"Like?" He questioned gazing at her.

Taara scooted closer to him, and then leaned side ways. "Like how your lips feel against my cheek, like how your smile lights up my darkest days, like how your eyes understand the words my eyes say, like how much....." her voice got heavier and words lost, she looked into his eyes and finally completed, "it means to have you around to be there for me." 

He didn't blink or move away. Their faces a few inches away. Their eyes locked in a magical trance. Her lips quivered she. She bit her lower lip desperately holding back her emotions that overwhelmed her. She was much attached to him than she thought. "Say something!" she finally muttered loosing her patience. His face gave away nothing. 

"I missed you too!" he whispered.

She gazed at him a slow smile making its way up her cheeks. She couldn't hold back anymore. He was the most beautiful creation on earth. Like his aura wasn't charming enough his words enchanted her. Out of a plethora of phrases he could say he said he missed her- something she had been dying to hear! She wrapped her arms around him placing her forehead on his shoulder. He responded quickly by returning the hug. She moved closer not caring about anything else in the moment. In his arms there, a realization hit her hard. She was perhaps in love with this man!

His arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, gently rubbing her arm with the other. She sniffed and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She held on tighter to him. He pulled slightly away, "Taara, are you crying?" Taara smiled meeting his eyes, quickly rubbing her cheek. 

"Big girls don't cry Mr.Stranger."

Although very slowly, a smile made it to his face. "You put me back into the stranger zone?" He asked pulling his arms back. She stared at him suddenly missing the warmth. 

Her hand rested on his chest, "Can we hug again?" she asked blinking. Before he could react she pressed her left cheek against his chest this time wrapping her arms around him. He chuckled lightly putting his arms around her once again. This time his chin resting on her head. His eyes glistened with moisture. Damn, he didn't want to live without her! He now realized what was that incompleteness that had filled him in the past days. It was her absence. She strangely completed his life. He smiled, he was in love with the most difficult woman. But the important part was he was in love - and he wouldn't have it any other way.

He pulled away only when he felt her move. Her cheeks now tainted pink. He gently tucked away the hair that was stuck to her wet cheek. She smiled but he could sense her embarrassment. "sorry" she muttered pulling her hand back. 

He stared at her, then whispered, "Nothing to be sorry about. Besides, I could get used to hugs like that!" She grinned hearing that and then looked away. She felt his hand over hers. She turned her hand holding his. They remained like that in silence. Taara had never felt so overwhelmed before. God, was this the beginning of something called love? She was nervous and excited. But first things first.

"I am sorry." Her soft voice filled the silence. 

"I am sorry too. It was stupid of me to not call or message." He spoke all he had felt in the past few minutes. How could he let something as beautiful as this- what he shared with her- go so easily? 

"I was more stupid. The whole time you were trying to make me a better person and helping me realize ..that.. I was..I am..I am sorry!" She sighed.

He rubbed her hand. "I like you the way you are." She smiled feeling her heart flutter. "But you should be sorry for not buying me my coffee." He added and she grinned. 

"Right away!" Saying that she got to her feet, hurrying away to buy their beverages. 

She returned and placed the cups between them. "So how are things going?" He asked trying to ease the heavy air surrounding them. 

"Like, you don't know, Mister." She smirked blowing over her tea. He tried to put up a confused face. "Papa told me you called him. So drop the facade." She spoke smiling. 

"Well, if you know." He chuckled. 

"You have my Paa on your team always." She muttered taking a sip of her tea.

"Well, since you already know, I will also let you know that it wasn't just your father. Your mother as well."

"No way! You were in touch with mumma?" Taara exclaimed surprised. 

"I was." He replied earnestly. 

"It was your father's idea. I was just worried about your health and your father said, he only spoke to you. Obviously, you wouldn't tell him if anything was not okay. So, he suggested I speak to your mom so that I could assure him as well". 

"Wow. So you were in touch with everyone except me. Wonderful!" She grumbled and he laughed. She couldn't help but grin. God, what was he? The most adorable man on earth? 

"So do you plan to be upset on that?" He teased her placing his half filled cup down and turning towards her with amusement filled eyes.

 "You know what I have a better idea." Saying that she slipped down and carefully stood on the rocks. 

"Careful!" He muttered worried about her leg. 

"I am good." She replied placing her hand on his thigh for support. After that she quickly picked up his coffee cup in her hand. 

Realization started dawning over him. "Taara, you don't have to."

"Aayush, I want to." She spoke giving him a long look and then said, "I am serious about this. I know I have been a difficult woman to put up with. And I may likely be the same henceforth. I would have apologized for being difficult but I am not going to, because that's how I am. Someone very special has taught me to embrace myself and not be hard on myself. So, Mr. Aayush Vikrant Rathore, will you...Date Me? " She extended the cup towards him.

"Putting me back into the boyfriend zone huh?" He teased leaning slightly such that he was in a way towering over her.

"Is that a yes?" Taara grinned.

"I want to confess something.." he began and Taara's grin faded and she looked at him with a serious expression. 

"What?" 

He sighed dramatically, "I hate the taste of this coffee." She sighed in relief and placed the cup aside. 

"I won't force you to drink it." She smiled. 

"Then I shall!" His voice was soft and held emotions, saying that he placed a kiss on her forehead. In that split second, a prayer left Taara's heart. Little did she know that the same prayer echoed out of his heart mingling with hers, rising up to reach the Almighty.

~~~~♡~~~~

Here we come to an end of the journey of Date Me!

~~~~♡~~~~

Before you all get overwhelmed please read the following:

From The Author:

Date Me as the name suggests was planned to be only the journey of their Dating period. It went longer than I had actually expected and also gained a lot of depth on the way than the initial thought. But I am happy how it turned out to be. I hope you enjoyed it too!

Although, this book hasn't yet got a great response like my other books, it has managed to get some real good rankings on Wattpad. I am grateful for that!♡

Next, I would like to thank all those who left heartwarming comments, reflected their understanding of the characters am solved this book to bits, like my other books!

Lastly, coming to the question "what next?" So, I do have a plan to come up with a sequel book where their journey further will be delved into.  But given my current commitments and new routine to maintain my health I really don't think this book will come anytime soon. Maybe a few months later.

I would really love to know your answer to the following two things:

1. An honest feedback to this book

2. Would you be interested in the sequel, which, would probably come after a few months from now.

Thank you for investing your time in this book. I really hope it was worth it. Do vote the chapters of this book to show your appreciation!

Signing Off,

-Anami!♡