Mahir's POV:

It was a fun day ...

Post shopping we went to our favourite restaurant which serves south Indian kannadiga meal and we had a ball of a time. While the sarees to be gifted was still pending so Vish, Mom and Dad went for shopping as soon as they finished their lunch. Myself, Bela and Yuvi would join them later.

I couldn't stop laughing looking at my
'Dharwad hudgi (girl in kannada)' binging upon Mudde-Bassaru, rice-rasam-sambhar and mosaranna all back to back...

My woman was a foodie. Hardcore one!!!
Soon I saw her chewing through chillies
..
One
Two
Three 😳🙄

Like green chillies dude!!!

No wonder she's hot 🤭🙃

While Yuvi held my shoulder and asked...
'Bhai... She usually eats this spicy or she's angry on you'

I passed him a glare and looked at Bela...

Who smiled at me and offered me a chilli...

'Mahir... Green chillies my favourite...I mean not just mine I'm sure everyone in Dharwad looooooves this

I looked at her and said...

'Sureeeee'

While Yuvi looked at me making a constipated face and I passed a nervous smile...

'Are have na Mahir...it's awesome...just mix it in salt and lime and yeahhh it's fun...sorry for not offering you before' she said and I passed a nervous glare...

I slowly dipped the chilli into salt and lime and chewed one bite and next second I felt my ears literally was letting off steam...

I controlled my urge to drink water as Bela looked at me like an excited little child.

With a lot of difficulty I chewed the chilli completely...

While Bela continued eating while I desperately needed water but next second Bela served me some curd rice.

I was relieved. The curd rice was heaven to me. But next second I see her crush like 5-6 fried chillies in the curd rice.

My eyes literally popped out 😳

She was giggling like a little girl and taking a spoon morsel from it and moaning while I was getting scared of the spice levels that poor little curd rice attained 'Nirvana' literally 😥

And she was asking me to eat it...

I smiled and took a few morsels while I felt like a fire pit opened in my stomach.

Somehow the torture got over.

While everyone continued shopping I was looking for cold milkshake however without finding a thing I settled on a bottle of water.

But I had gastric issues, while everyone had tea in evening in a coffee shop, I consumed spicy food and next second I ran into the washroom and puked everything.

I started feeling ill.

After emptying my stomach a bunch of times I came out to see Maa who looked really pissed off.

'Mahir you ate spicy food??? I have seen you drinking water non stop...Now I see you vomiting.. you know right your spice levels are way too low!!!' mom yelled at me while I saw Bela looked at me making a guilty face...

She was about to confess to Ma...
But I covered up saying...
'Maa just ate some spicy food for a change... maybe didn't suit me'

I hugged Ma to console her and she although looked pissed but was ok.

They left to Dharwad the same evening leaving Vish-Yuvi along with us and we decided to spend our evening at the HSR park as anyways Yuvi had plans of visiting a pub tonight... We didn't want t to keep running around as Yuvi Vish were still with us for 2 more days here.

The cool wind, minimal crowd, birds in the lake, while the sun began to set was a beautiful view indeed...

Entire evening turned orange.

While Vish and Yuvi went for a walk. I saw Bela wasn't here.

I wonder where she went.

And that's when I see her come back with a water bottle.

Sitting next to me making a dull face she offered me the bottle.

Her sad face made my heart shake...

I don't like to see that low Bela...

While I was still in my thoughts she said softly...

'Drink it'

I could see the guilt of making me eat so many chillies was making her do all this.
But it wasn't her fault.

'Im not thirsty Bela its ok'

Next second she opened the bottle cap, held the nape of my neck and kept the bottle to my lips...

While I saw her big big eyes controlling tears 🥺

I smiled and silently began drinking...

It wasn't usual water.

It was tender coconut water!!!

After like drinking half a bottle she left the grip of my neck and looked elsewhere to wipe her tears...

I pulled her hand and she swatted it...

'Why did you do it? Ok ....you don't like spicy...it doesn't suit you ...you must have told me atleast na??? But no!!! What is this some bollywood movie?? Why did you do it Mahi'

Before she could complete I kept the water bottle to her lips...

Her big watery eyes saw me and I signalled her to drink...

While she was sipping through it I told her...

'Bela...It's not your fault...I wanted to do it...for the first time...you were feeding me something... how could I not eat it...you looked so excited and happy... My heart couldn't say no'

Next second she held the bottle off her mouth and looked at me...

'You don't need to do such things Mahir... It hurts me... Being a doctor myself I don't want you to have these unwanted health problems... you can't hurt yourself Mahir... I like the way you are...dont change yourself...im not buying an assembled computer here...i don't need a customised version of Mahir Sehgal!!! I like you the way you are...
Always did!!!'
she said softly while few drops of tears fell off her eyes...

My eyes grew wider at the 'Always did!!!'

I cupped her face and made her look at me.

'Bela... It's not your fault! Shhhh please...it's just that my stupid brain...Urghhhh Bela come here...' I pulled her into a warm hug while little baby like fists kept hitting my chest non stop...

Taking a chance I pulled her more closer and kissed her hair...

'Well...I'm glad you made me eat chillies...' I said smiling

To which I earned another punch on my chest...

'Mahir....are you mad'

To which I lifted her face lightly...

It was almost dark now...

Looking into her deep pitch black eyes I said...

'Bela... You fed me ... Cared for me...shed tears for me... and now are this damn close to me...

For this moment that I'm sharing with you right now...

Feeling you this closer...

Forget about those green chillies I'm ready to even swallow a packet full of chilli powder' I said wiggling my eyebrows...

While suddenly everything froze...

Time went still...

She kept looking into my eyes...

And I eyed her eyes... Nose and finally looked at her luscious lips...

Our breathing went uneasy and crazy suddenly...

I cupped her face more feeling the soft skin of her cheeks...

While the setting sun left a tint of orange on her face and a slight blushing pink shade on her pink cheeks...My lips desperately wanted to feel the softness of those cheeks..