[ will be leaving love cocktails soon ]

trope: unexpected love, contemporary romance, love at metro

mc: karthik × veena

[note: the paragraphs that are in italics are flashbacks]

Karthik, a final-year B.Tech. student majoring in ECE, is a hot-shot dude with a good physique and oh-so-hot curly hair. He's got a lot of fan following from his college, be it men or women. And it's not at all surprising that he has gotten a few gay proposals as well, which he rejected humbly. Everyone thought that he wasn't into anyone at the moment. But the truth begs to differ. Only if others knew how much of a hopeless romantic he was, though only for the girl whom he met at the Chennai Thousand Lights metro for the first time.

————— 𖹭

Clad in a black short kurti paired with baggy jeans, her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a small black bindhi adoring her forehead. All the youngsters' eyes in the metro were over her, including Karthik. He wasn't simply able to stop gawking at her. It took a tremendous amount of energy to turn his gaze away from her, only so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable with the gaze. That was the first time he felt something in his stomach, something strange, something unexpected.

————— 𖹭

The train today was slightly crowded, leaving no empty seats. Veena, that's what he had named her, not having the courage to go up and ask her name, was standing, holding onto the handle near one of the doors. While Karthik was standing near the next door, yearning to get a glance at her.
In the last six months, he got to know that she travels by metro from Thousand Lights to Guindy, approximately fifteen minutes, for which he waits the entire day.

He finally got a glimpse of her when a few of the passengers got off the train. He forgot how to breathe. She was wearing a saree, a fucking black saree. A small black bindhi and her hair loose.

For a moment, his surroundings got blurred with his focus only on her. They finally had their second eye contact over the last six months. But this time, the gaze from her eyes was also something... different. Something that matched his gaze for her. He was wondering whether he was delusional for thinking that way. Nevertheless, that's what he felt from their second eye contact. When he finally thought to take a step forward and have a talk with her, the doors opened, and she got out.

It wasn't simply an attraction. Yes, it initially was, until that one day, about 2 months ago, when that attraction turned into something more beautiful.

————— 𖹭

Karthik was waiting for her while scrolling down his phone, when she finally got in at the Thousand Lights stop. But this time, she wasn't alone, unlike other times. There was a kid, a girl, around 6–7 years old, who was holding the hem of her shirt and hid behind her. The little girl wore a slightly torn shirt and a faded skirt. She looked malnourished.

Everyone in the train stared at the little kid, who was on the verge of crying due to the judgmental stares that she was getting from the people.

Veena kneeled down to the height of the kid and spoke with her. I assume she was telling her not to give a damn about the people around her. Veena held the girl's hand and walked through in order to find a seat. As they were walking, people tried to move away from the kid, as though she were a land mine.

Karthik could see the disappointment on Veena's face, seeing the behavior of the people towards an innocent kid. And to be honest, he himself was disappointed by the crowd's behavior. He got up from his seat and went towards them.

"Hey! You both can take the seat,"  he said, trying to camouflage the inner havoc that's happening due to his closeness with her for the first time.

Veena made eye contact with him for the first time. A smile peeled over her lips.

"Thank you so much. I don't want to have a seat. I just wanted her to take a seat. She was looking at the metro longingly. It's a simple thing for us, but for them it is something big,"  Veena said with a happy smile, showing off her dimples.

"No mention,"  Karthik said with a smile.

Both of them took their seats. Karthik could see the gleam on the little girl's face.

————— 𖹭

The next day, the metro was fully crowded. Karthik was standing near the door, holding onto the handle. The train stopped at Thousand lights and Veena got in. As soon as she got in, she saw him. And since there was not enough space, the crowd getting in behind her pushed her towards the front, making her slightly crash over Karthik's chest. Her hands palmed over his chest while his one hand automatically wrapped around her waist in order to save her from the fall.

Veena looked up from his chest, only to witness him already staring at her. She mouthed a little sorry and detached herself from his hold. But still, they were in close proximity due to the crowd. She looked up to hold onto a handle, only to find all of them already held by someone else. Karthik notices the visible confusion on her face and moves his hand slightly in order to make a little space on the handle for her to hold.

"Hold it, if you don't want to fall over my chest again,"  he said, a little smile tugging over his lips.

Veena shot her eyes up at him and bit her lips nervously. "Umm.. thanks,"  she whispered as she held onto the handle, their hands touching each other.

"So...", Karthik started.

"So?" Veena said, as she tilted her head, not knowing what to say.

"Are you an arts student?" he asked.

"Yep! But why did you ask?" she asked.

"Just wanted to know,"  he shrugged.

"By the way, yesterday I caught you stealing glances at me,"  she said with a lopsided smile.

"Yeah! I know I was caught in the  act," he simply said, as though it didn't make her feel things. "Can I get your number?" he asked, out of the blue.

Veena was astonished by his question. "And what makes you think that I would give my number to a stranger whom I met in the metro?".

"My sixth sense is telling me that you also feel the same as me,"  he uttered with a wink.

"Do you even know my name?" she questioned.

"Nope. But I'll call you Veena,"  he said, shrugging.

"Veena?" she asked with her eyes squinted.

"Yeah! Don't you like it?" he asked.

"Veena is a nice name,"  she said, with a smile. "And about your question, what if you are a stalker, or a hacker or worse, a psychopath? I can't take risks, you  know," she said while being pushed closer to him by the people behind her.

Karthik immediately took his wallet out of his pocket and showed her his college ID, his Aadhar card, driving license and whatnot.

"Now, if I do something wrong, you can report me to the police. I have even shown you my  address," he said, nonchalant.

Veena extended her hand. Karthik looked confused.

"Your mobile,"  she said. He placed his mobile over her hand, and she dialed her mobile number into it.

"Don't forget that I know your entire biodata,"  she warned before giving him back the phone.

"Yes, madam!" he said, making her chuckle.

"I need to get down now,"  she said.

He nodded. "I'll text you later,"  he said as the train stopped, and she got down with one final glance.

————— 𖹭

It was around nine o'clock at night when Veena's phone buzzed with a call. She took the call.

"Hey,"  a male voice came through the phone.

"Hey,"  she replied back. She knew who it was.

"Tomorrow is Sunday, right? Do you wanna catch up in CCD in Guindy?" Karthik asked.

"Aren't you going too fast? I mean, we just had a conversation today, and now you are asking me out on a  date," she said with a smile playing over her lips.

"Maybe,"  he said. Veena could sense the mischief in his voice.

"What do I tell my parents? That I'm going on a date with a guy whom I met on the metro?" she asked, lying on her bed.

"Maybe you could tell that you are going on a date with your boyfriend,"  he said.

"Boyfriend, huh?" she asked. She wasn't uncomfortable with his words. She was more like feeling butterflies due to his words.

"I mean, I could be your potential boyfriend, you know,"  he said with a chuckle.

"Alright! Let's meet at CCD tomorrow at around 11 in the morning", she said, diverting the 'boyfriend' topic.

"Alright. Sleep tight. You can always dream about me. Just  saying," he said.

"Fuck off,"  she replied, closing her eyes, embarrassed for no particular reason.

"Sure. Bye," he said as she hung up the call.

Veena rolled over on her bed. Her two-month-long crush has asked her out on a date. She was over the moon. It all started on that day, when only he, out of all the other people, gave her and the little girl a seat. It was only a small thing, but it meant something more to that little girl.

From that day, her eyes had always searched for his, Karthik's eyes. But when he looked in her direction, she would look away. It was going smoothly until they had eye contact yesterday.

————— 𖹭

Getting out of the train, she placed her hands on her chest, checking the pace of her heart. It was beating erratically. It was a simple eye contact with him that had this effect on her.

————— 𖹭

"Arghh... What am I going to say when I meet him tomorrow? Hope I don't blabber some  bullshit," she talked to herself, rolling over the bed.

————— 𖹭

Veena was standing in front of the cafe coffee day, where they had planned to meet. She took a deep breath before entering. She spotted Karthik sitting on a corner table. He looked so fucking handsome in that black t-shirt and cargo pants. His hair was tousled, giving him a hot-damn look.

She walked towards him, and when he noticed her, he stood up with a smile. When she reached the table, both of them stood facing each other. Karthik initiated a hug, and at the same time, Veena extended her hand for a handshake. So when Karthik extended his hand for a handshake, Veena initiated a hug. They looked at each other and chuckled.

At the end, they shook their hands, gave a friendly side hug to each other, and took their seats.

"I thought you would ghost me,"  Karthik said with a chuckle.

"That was an option as well,"  Veenda replied with a smug smile.

Karthik rolled his eyes, for which she chuckled. Soon they ordered, and their coffees came.

"So what excuse have you told your mother for meeting me?" he asked, sipping his cappuccino.

"That I'm going to meet her potential son-in-law,"  she joked.

"Nice to hear that we are already married in your head,"  he teased with a smug smile.

"Oh. Just shut  up," she said, rolling her eyes.

"So...", he trailed off.

"So?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Do you see a future together for us?" he asked, cupping one of his cheeks with his palm. His elbow was resting on the table.

Veena was flabbergasted by his sudden question. She kept the coffee cup on the table and sat straight, leaning back in the chair, folding her arms.

"Maybe...", she said, looking into his eyes. His eyes showed hope. "...or maybe not,"  she completed her sentence, making him sulk.

Veena laughed, looking at his facial expression.

"Stop it. It's not funny,"  he glared at her.

"To be honest, there's this guy who I've been crushing over for the last two months,"  she said.

Karthik's face was immediately dulled. His expression imitated a child's face whose favorite chocolate had been taken away.

"And to my knowledge, he seems to be a nice guy. With good manners. He always helps the senior citizens. And not to mention, he's a good flirt as well, but in all the right ways,"  she said, looking at him.

"Oh,"  he simply said.

"He's an engineering student,"  she continued.

"Oh,"  he repeated his previous reply.

"He always travels by metro to his college,"  she said.

"Oh-", his eyes shot up in realization. He looked up, only to see her suppressing her laughter.

"You too had a crush on me?" he questioned, his eyes rounding up in surprise.

"Yes, dumbass,"  she replied with a chuckle. "So do you want to give us a chance?" she asked him.

"Obviously! Otherwise, why would I call you on a date?"  he said, offended by that question.

She laughed, looking at him. He gave her a playful glare.

"Don't you want to know my name even now?" she asked.

"I already know your name, Aaradhya,"  he said with a smile, placing his hands on hers over the table.

a/n: so, that's my first oneshot. i've always wanted to write something like this, i mean, a love story started with secret glances on public transportation.

and i would like to share a few tmi about this oneshot

tmi:

1//

Don't ask me why, but Veena, or do I say Aaradhya, is older than Karthik. Veena is 22 years old and doing her final year in MA English literature. Karthik is 21 years old.

2//

Karthik got to know her name by getting a look at her student ID card. He just happened to see that.

3//

Karthik wanted to call her Veena because his mother is a Veena artist and he had liked playing Veena since his childhood. (Or take it that I like playing Veena <3)