Adhvik Dhawan got a new job.

Not the Boyd one but another. It was the fastest time he ever got one. This time it was a Chinese company named Sunwo. It was with a better salary and benefits. Luck was undoubtedly on his side this time.

On the other hand, Aradhana was getting married to her boyfriend, Saurabh. The wedding would be held on December. Although Aradhana had already mentioned about their marriage in their phonic conversations, the news still surprised Pallavi. Suddenly the people she knew were moving forward in their lives. She didn't want to feel inferior but she still did.

Perhaps that was the ammunition Pallavi needed to move forward in her own life.

After some online research and visits to other institutes offering certification courses, Pallavi Khuranna finally enrolled herself in DICE academy to pursue a course in
graphic designing. It was indeed a crucial milestone for her career. Something that she should have done years ago but better late than never.

Adhvik and Pallavi celebrated their milestones, congratulating each other with a bang. Literally.

A week later.

“Congratulations, Mr Dhawan!” Pallavi confessed on phone, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She added when he asked her what, “We are not pregnant.”

“Shit, I missed this time too,” He faked his disappointment. “Pallu, yaar, not fair! Get pregnant for me once. We'll have a wonderful child.”

“Kaise baate karte ho? Just experience it with your future wife.” Pallavi retorted as usual. It wasn't the first time he said that.

“Do you know how much I crave coming inside you? But no, I have to wear a bloody condom and pull out everytime,” He clicked his tongue. “Atleast let me do anal.”

“Ew, no way! That gotta hurt. Why you gotta try everything with me?”

He snickered like a teenage boy. “Since you're my trail production process while my future wife will be the real one.”

Pallavi laughed out loud. Did he just compare their relationship with the manufacturing process in Mansur? You see, before the real manufacturing process of a new mobile model began, there was a trial process to check which raw materials would match the mobile cover. Once those samples were approved by Xiaomi, the real manufacturing process commenced. Though she didn't partially like how little meaning it had to their otherwise casual relationship. She wanted to believe they were more than that.

* * *

Eventually it was the beginning of December, 2019. Pallavi visited Adhvik in his apartment for the sixth time. Thankfully, she didn't have to say anything to her parents. Apparently they were out of station to her grandma's place in a town of Uttar Pradesh. It was just three hours from here. The tactics she had to adapt just to meet her partner. Unbelievable.

Just when she was about to step into his room, as usual, Adhvik stopped her with a sneaky smile. “I have a surprise this time.”

“Oh, really?” Her eyes lit up. “Show me, show me!”

And show he did as he unlocked the door to his apartment. He took her by the hand while instructing her to keep her eyes shut. “You can open your eyes now.”

Her expectation shattered like glass shards as she monotonously glanced up at the TV plasma screen mounted on the wall in front of his bed. Idiot, Pallavi! She should have known. Adhvik and surprise were never synonyms to each other. “You said it was a surprise!”

“For me... Who said it was for you,” Adhvik blurted out like it was obvious. He wore a smug as he described its features. “I bought this baby from my hard-earned money. See, I also have Tata Sky now,”

“What an achievement! Congratulations!” She clapped sarcastically to the sound of the boring news from the TV. She plopped down his bed with a thud with a sigh. But then, she peered at his proud smiling face. “But it's great you bought this. Good for you.”

“Yup,” Adhvik replied, sitting down. He was about to lean on to kiss her when she stopped him.

“Let's stand up and kiss this time. We always kiss on the bed like boring married couples.”

That caused him to chuckle heartily. He walked until he was next to her, standing taller. He brought his arms behind her hip, keeping steady eye contact with her. She extended her arms to his neck. Before long, they started swaying sideways while training their eyes onto each other. “What are we doing, by the way?”

“I'm trying to be romantic, idiot!” He replied, maintaining his smiling face throughout. Pallavi suppressed a laugh, telling herself to keep quiet. Adhvik was trying to be romantic for her after all.

They began to sway themselves slowly to the sound of nothing. Her lips twitched idiotically as if she was controlling her pee. Her fist closed up except for the thumb and the pinky finger and shook it near her ear, as if saying “Rahul, there's no music.”

Adhvik moved his fingers in the air as if playing the piano music from the movie Kuch kuch hota hai. Next thing, they broke from the embrace, guffawing.

“Ah, I give up, we can't do romance. Bas bakchodi karwa do faltu ki.” He wiped his teary eyes.

“Le- lets try again. Pretty please!” Pallavi held her hand up. Shaking his head in dismay, Adhvik put his foot forward, standing next to her and hugged his arms around her hips like before. They gazed briefly before locking lips.

Their kiss was a scene stolen straight from the movies. For the first time, she registered their heights as he leaned down a little to kiss her while she raised her chin. Their hands mapped around each other, reaching inside their shirts and jeans. At one point, he leaned down while supporting her back to kiss her wild, rendering her crazy. Eventually, they took their business to the bed.

Somehow Pallavi felt they were getting better each time. Their kisses were fuelled with passion while their touches were erotic, bringing chills down their spine. They felt like they could finally connect deeply with each other. Literally.

A lot of breaths were released during their make-out. Since there were no fans and coolers running during winters, the room became quieter than usual. So quiet that even an exhale made a loud whisper against the silence of the room. “I just hope no one is passing by your room.” Pallavi admitted.

“Let them hear. I don't care. We just moan like usual, meri jaan,” He said, his voice husky, and pulled her face to bite her lower lip while thrusting her at the same time. It caused her to moan louder, making him grunt in return.

Adhvik instructed Pallavi to get on top of him after a while. Though it wasn't something unusual for her but this time she came prepared. She had already orgasmed herself once before visiting him. An attempt to notch up her erotic nerves. She always felt like she could derive more pleasure. Funny how you came to know your body through these experiences. She adjusted her hip and let out a half panted breath when it reached her G spot. That's the spot! her mind screamed.

She had officially lost her marbles for the next occuring minutes.

Her thrusts increased without her permission. It was as if her body was possessed with a mind of its own. Her arms immediately jerked forward to join his palms to form a fist. He too, continued with his movements in order to assist her. She bit her lip in anticipation. Her body felt hot against the undercurrent that was devouring her, looking for a way out. And exit it did as her lips whispered his name in ecstasy. Her body shuddered with pleasure. She felt like she had liberated herself in the most vulnerable way possible.

She plopped down next to him with a bated breath. It was only after engaging with him in these recent sessions could she understand the world's craze around sex. “Holy fuckin' shit!”

Adhvik smirked, looking at her contented face. “This means I'm capable of satisfying you.”

“Yes, baby, you are,” She drew a long exhale, closing her heavy lid eyes. “You can fuck me a bit more if you like, otherwise I'm sleeping.”

After finishing his business, he crossed his legs between hers, cuddling up to her under the blanket. He glanced at her sleeping face, basked under the daylight. She slept with a smile that was devoid of all worries from the world. He delicately tucked a strand of hair away from her rosy cheeks.

“I know you're staring at me like a creep,” Pallavi voiced out groggily.

“The fact that you are aware of it makes you creepier,” Adhvik replied, making her squint her eyes at him questionably. Soon they dozed off.

* * *

“Did you have lunch?” Adhvik asked Pallavi after adequate rest. They have rejuvenated themselves now.

Pallavi pushed her orange woolen top down past her neck with a yawn. “Nope. I came straight to you. Why? Are you ordering something?”

“Ah, no!” He shook his head with a small smile. “I'm making something this time. For us.”

Her eyes beamed as she blinked in surprise. The loving scenario of a couple preparing and having food that played out in many shows before was finally taking place in her reality. Thank you, God!

“Besides...” Adhvik added, averting her eyes from her, crossing his arms. “You come here, fuck and go away like some call girl and I don't like it. I know you don't get much time but still. So I decided that you'll have lunch here. We'll even watch something.. if you have time—”

“Aww thank you, Adhi! Yes, I have time,” Pallavi wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. He could be considerate at times. “So what are we making? How can I help?”

“No need to help. Either you prepare lunch or I do it. There's no in between. I hate being interfered,” he replied bluntly, successfully tarnishing her fantasy of them cooking together. “Here, watch TV in the meanwhile.”

After switching on the TV, he got off the bed to search for his clothes. Just when he bent down to pick his boxer from the floor, he heard a slap.

A slap targeted at his butt.

“What was that?” He craned his neck behind, looking at her incredulously.

She pressed her lips, suppressing her giggle. “Just felt like spanking you, darling. Go on, make lunch for me. Shoo, shoo!”

He shot her a glare before proceeding for the task ahead. She observed him dreamily as he picked up the onions and tomatoes from the vegetable basket and started cutting them with ease. One could easily tell he was a pro from the swiftness with which he prepared the vegetables. Before long, she hopped down from the bed to stand beside him, her legs bare.

“I thought I told you to go away,” He voiced out against the sound of the knife against the cutting board.

“And I thought of observing you... Oh, come on! Why you gotta be unromantic?” She pouted when he stopped cutting them midway. “Atleast let me help you a bit.”

He sighed in defeat. “Fine. Here are some potatoes and peas. Peel them naked.”

“Sure, sire.”

She took the plate from him that had the vegetables and a knife. She just turned around when she felt her own ass being grabbed and spanked, almost rendering her plate and its contents off balance.

“Ah, what was that for?!”

“Revenge, my senorita,” He blew a kiss her way.

The two of them settled down to wait as the vegetable containing potatoes, cauliflower, peas, and beans were simmered down on the gas to cook. They commented on the sex they had today.

“I'm especially happy that I was able to satisfy you today. I was beginning to feel that I wasn't good enough for you,” He confessed but she assured him that he was great and size didn't matter even though his dick wasn't small. She asked if she was satisfied in return. “Yes, you were amazing, babe. Especially when you went down on me. Ah, I could get hard just by imagining that.” 

“Hmm, you still haven't done one thing though.”

“What?”

“Love bite. You have yet to give me a hickey. I remember when Aradhana used to show— Wait Adhi, what are you— AHH!” Pallavi yelped in pain as Adhvik pinned her down to bite the skin below her shoulder on her chest. She bit the inside of her mouth to endure the bitter sensation of his teeth against her soft skin. She patted his back to stop, “Okay, enough. Stop, stop!”

“Any more wishes, ma'am?” Adhvik's eyes glazed down on her with his moist plump lips, almost resembling a vampire as he smirked. Was it her or did he look incredibly sexy right now? She kissed that face away, unable to resist the temptation. He chuckled. “Don't tell me you want to go for round two?”

“No, silly.”

“Shit, no wonder I was forgetting something,” Adhvik cussed as a shock registered on his face. He got off from her rushing to the kitchen. No, it wasn't the cooking vegetables. “Tere chakkar me roti banana bhul gaya, behanchod!”

“Chalo, atleast I made you forget something,” Pallavi mocked, flipping her hair flamboyantly.

* * *

After assuring that everything was prepared, they settled down to eat from one plate. After visiting his room six times, having a homemade lunch was a welcome change. It consisted of mixed vegetables, dal, and chapati. Adhvik waited with a bated breath as Pallavi took a bite of the warm vegetable rolled with a piece of ghee induced chapati.

“Mhmm, delicious and spicy,” Pallavi gave her verdict after chewing it. “I didn't say this but you actually make good food.”

“Mogamo khush hua! If I hadn't been for my soul- sucker job, I'd have been making special dishes every week. I like cooking,” He stated proudly and she said how his wife would be lucky. He stole a soft glance at her. “Can you stay till evening today?”

“We'll see.”

If someone were to ask how was her day with Adhvik, she would list out the smallest things first. Like the way he rolled the vegetable in the chapati and served it in her mouth. She repeated the same action later on. They said khane se pyaar badta hai and in this case, it ringed true. Stolen glances, shared food and passing smiles— such was the nature of this moment. Even the atmosphere around them turned into pink. The whole scenario became a montage of sorts. It was like she was floating on clouds. If only the news anchoring from the TV got replaced with a soothing music, it would become a perfect Bollywood song.

“...And then I shared that with Deepali. We cracked uph—” Pallavi cut her conversation midway when Adhik put another bite of food in her mouth, almost catching her off guard. Her heart swelled in bliss. It was probably the fourth time he did that.

“I'm surprised your sister knows these things about us. Does she know we had sex?” When Pallavi didn't answer no right away, he blinked in surprise. “No way! You told your sister. I thought she only knew we made out.”

“She knows everything,” Pallavi shook her head downcast, adding in a voice as small as a bug. “Even things you don't know.”

“Wow! Man, I could never imagine telling my siblings that,” He replied, flabbergasted. Funny how this came as a shocker to Adhvik when it seemed normal for Pallavi. Despite their differences, she and Deepali shared every aspect about their lives. It was like second nature to them. And she believed all siblings should be close enough to share everything.

“So what else did you tell her that I don't know?”

Pallavi's mouth fell open. Don't say he heard that? Fuck, he actually heard that. The food she ate was becoming hard to digest with the butterflies in her stomach. “Er, nothing special.”

“Aree par phir bhi. What else did you say?”

She bet he probably thought she badmouthed about him or something. Her fingers absentmindedly drew patterns on the bedsheet. An eternity seemed to have passed within her timeframe in a matter of seconds.

“For example...”

“Haan, bol.”

“I- I told her how I had a crush on a close colleague of mine from Mansur. For a long, long time.”

Silence. A long pregnant silence.

For a moment, all the noises including the TV dissipated into oblivion. The silence pulsated into her drumming heartbeat but fuck it, our dear protagonist said it! She finally said it (even though it was half the truth). Just saying felt like a good burden off her shoulders. This wasn't planned but what the hell.

Somewhere in that quietness, Pallavi raised her head to notice. Noticed Adhvik's stunned face with his mouth slightly open. He wasn't even looking at her but somewhere beside her. As if her words were just registering into his head one by one. Her heart sank. Please say something. You're killing me.

But don't say no.

Nothing was heard except for the ticking of the clock. She thought she noticed him nod but who knows. And then.

“Have you heard about this? Man, they say it was a heavy landslide in Uttrakhand...”

What landslide? What is he—? Pallavi asked inside her mind in a confused daze until she raised her head to the TV screen that showed the same news. Adhvik even raised the volume in a flimsy attempt to fill the quietness in the room.

A pang of disappointment hit her. That was all he had to say after she just admitted a part of her feelings after an eternity of a year. But at the same time, she was relieved. Relieved that he didn't ridicule or supposedly rejected her statement. She would have certainly been devastated then.

They went on to talk about the news and other mundane things. At one instance, Adhvik even received a call from his brother. He talked to him while Pallavi teased touched him in the sidelines, hoping he would make a sound. It was revenge for the same thing he tried on her when she called her cousin earlier on. Her cousin and family lived with their grandfather. She had called him to know about her parents whereabouts. Adhvik and Pallavi soon switched the TV channels to a music one.

It was as if her impromptu half baked confession never happened. Something which both of them were grateful about.

“Shit, I gotta go! My parents are on the way. They will reach in an hour or less.” Pallavi announced after sometime, looking at the message from her cousin on the phone. She got up to slide on her blue black jacket. She was about step away from the bed when a hand reached out hers in a gentle grip. She craned her head to see Adhvik holding her hand. “What?”

“Stay for a little while. Stay till evening,” His voice was quiet and sincere.

Normally Adhvik jokingly insisted her to stay the night for obvious carnal reasons. However when she gazed into his dark eyes this time, there was no joke or lust behind it. He simply wanted her to stay longer. This was the second time he made this request today. Her heart lurched.

“Why?” She asked, sitting down next to him.

“Just because... Well, if you can't then it's okay. I'll understand,” He spoke sheepishly, looking into her eyes with a small smile.

She blinked. What brought this on? She wanted to stay. God knew how badly she wanted to but today had been amazing. So good that she didn't want to ruin this moment with anything else. Nor with him or with her parents confronting her about her whereabouts.

“I'm sorry, I have to go,” she denied. She offered him a side hug, smiling away. “We'll meet again soon, alright.”

“Alright,” he said but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Eventually Pallavi got up while he accompanied her. “Have fun at your friend's wedding.”

“I will!” She grinned. Aradhana's wedding was only a week away.

He escorted her to the rickshaw stand near the theater as usual. She turned to his direction once, waving her hand at him while he did the same. His usual smiling face was etched into her memory.

Her chest tightened.

A feeling of dread seeped into her skin as she sat down. Why, she didn't know. Atleast for now.

* * *

Pallavi was proud of the work of mouth Adhvik had done above her chest. She would often stare at the purplish mark in awe in front of the mirror. Years ago, Aradhana had shown her love bite to her. Pallavi couldn't wait to do the same. Ah, sweet revenge!

It was four days later when Pallavi attended her best friend's wedding. She was happy to meet Aradhana and Saumya after a long time. The three of them had a gala time together, having midnights conversations over pizza and participating in all the rituals. Pallavi even got a chance to talk about Adhvik and her relationship with him. When they regarded him as her boyfriend, she didn't deny it. She didn't have the heart to. Though she did inform that theirs was a casual relationship. Nothing more.

It was certainly nice to see a love marriage before Pallavi's eyes. The couple she often toured with on her way from her hostel to her residence. It made her believe in love and made her hope that one day she would smile as much as them.

That Pallavi would get her happy ending, just like Aradhana.

With this, the year 2019 had nearly come to end. We would see how the year 2020 would affect our dear protagonist and those around her.

* * *

Thoughts about this chapter. Did you expect that small confession out of Pallavi or did it come out of nowhere. Will Adhvik ever reciprocate?

I think you can guess what event will transpire in the next chapter. Look forward.