The ripples in her soul continued as he lowered his lips to hers. This time she welcomed him as she kissed him back. Eventually those slow ripples turned to tides as his actions turned wilder, almost overwhelming her. She could feel how badly he wanted this. Eventually she matched his rhythm as he fingered and left kisses on the length of her body, making her wet. She got on top of him, kissing and touching him where he wanted the most, thus relieving their sexual tension together.

Their make out was the same as before yet something was different. That difference could be seen through his eyes, the way he looked at her like she was of vital existence. Pallavi always peered at him like that but to receive the same reflection was a first. He threaded his fingers between hers, joining fists before entering inside her. A sharp pain jolted in her abdomen, almost like her first time as she whimpered.

The sex was uncomfortable.

Was it because she was having it after a long period of time? She didn't know. All she was aware about was the way his eyes would find her like a diamond in the rough. Her heart soared. She dipped his head for prolonged kiss. Their panted faces remained in close vicinity all the while moving their hips together. Two pairs of silent eyes bored hazily onto each other, making aware that what they were doing together was beautiful. A while later, Adhvik fell limp on top of her after he was done while Pallavi fingered herself to orgasm. She stared at the wall in an epiphany.

It was as if love had bloomed at the core like a flower. Perhaps this was what they called as making love.

Besides the soreness she felt between her legs, everything else was ethereal. Perhaps it wouldn't pain her the next time. Blinking her heavy eyelids, she craned her neck to meet a naked Adhvik doing the same.

“We have become quite close, haven't we?” He spoke, his voice low and husky. She nodded in affirmation.

Before Pallavi could say a word, Adhvik encased her to his arms around her back, hugging her tight. She blinked in surprise slightly hugging him back.

“Adhi?”

And then, he said something she had waited her whole life.

“I love you.”

Her body stiffened as she drank his words into her being. Pallavi had been hearing those three words all her life. From movies, novels, TV shows to her friends confessing to their boyfriends. Of course she was grateful for her family's love but she had been craving for a romantic one ever since she learnt the word love. If being in a relationship was her youthful wish then those three words lay at the core of it. And to hear those words from a man she had been pining all along was something beyond her measure.

It was as if she had just been given meaning to her twenty-six years of existence.

She felt as if she had been standing on a dark flight of stairs for a long time, looking behind for someone. At first she could only glimpse a shadow from afar but today, he was standing in body and flesh besides her. Today he had reached her. She persevered throughout the story, loving Adhvik from the sidelines until he became a lover himself.

“I love you too, Adhvik. I love you,” Pallavi said back, her heart coming undone with each word. They bored eyes on each other as they parted. It was like she could see her reflection on them. She caressed his cheek with her fingertips when she noticed something odd. “What's the matter?”

“Aree, nothing... It's just...” He trailed off, averting his face away. Soon he got up mumbling something about making tea for them. When she tried to steal a glance at his face again, she noticed him rubbing his face with his arm. Her lips parted in shock.

There were tears in his eyes.

Pallavi's heart that felt fluffy earlier now weighed heavy with emotion. However, she masked it away with a strenuous smile. They refreshed themselves for a while. She then asked if she could make something for him but he shut her up. Instead, he joined her in the bed, bringing her head to his heart-beating chest.

“Sleep besides me, okay. You barely have time for that.”

She blinked once then twice. Just what in the world happened to the man called Adhvik? It was like he was an enlightened person now.

“Bkl.”

Almost.

“I'm not sure honestly...” Adhvik answered after she enquired about his emotional state from earlier. He stared at the wall in thought. “I don't think much about anything you know. I don't like to dwell but lately I can't help but ponder about everything. Be it my job, friends, future... and us. Where do we fuckin' lie?”

She swallowed a lump in her throat.

“I think staying bedridden for two months due to jaundice has changed your perspective,” Pallavi voiced out, drawing circles on his chest while he caressed her curves. “You appreciate life more now. That's why you're thinking about it and it's a good thing. It means you are a human with compassion. What do you think about us?”

He let out a sigh. “Like how long we'll stay together like this, what will happen to us in the future, where do we stand? Regardless we'll always be friends. Best friends.”

“Yeah,” Pallavi answered absent mindedly, lost in her own tornado of thoughts. She brought her palm and he readily intertwined his fingers between the gaps of hers. She rested her chin on his chest, facing him. “How will you feel when my marriage gets fixed, Adhvik?” 

“Honestly, I want your marriage to happen first. I'll be happy for you regardless. You'll settle down like the rest of 'em. We are at that age already... Of course a part of me will be hurt and sad but that's human nature. None of us can help feeling that.”

He said like it was the most logical thing. As if feelings were engineered by human body and nothing else. She continued gesturing with her hands as she did, “At one side, there's my marriage, my future. At the other side there's you. And I'm stuck between the two... I do want to get married eventually but at the same time I don't. I want us to stay like this.”

“Pallavi...”

“If only... if only we could have met in different circumstances.”

“I think it would be enjoyable if we had met in college. We would have spent more time without worrying about jobs or responsibilities.”

“Hmm...” Pallavi closed her eyes, listening to him. As bittersweet as their conversation sounded, she loved how she was able to express things she couldn't before. Adhvik as well. All because they confessed face to face. They had indeed become more closer than before.

Warmth emanated from their bodies as they napped together comfortably under the blanket. Eventually Adhvik got up to make tea and pasta for them. When Pallavi was about to leave the bed as well, he stopped her.

“Wait! Wrap this around your shoulder... yeah, show your cleavage na... yeah, like this,” Adhvik directed her, going as far as wrapping the blanket in a certain manner. He clicked a picture like she was art piece on display. She looked back at him, aghast. What had gotten into him today? It was like he couldn't stop fawning over her.

And obviously she loved it.

“Not bad,” Pallavi mustered shyly staring at a photo of her lying on the bed from a side with her messy hair, looking hazily to the camera. “Delete it afterwards in case anyone sees it.”

“I will.”

* * *

Soft romantic songs filled the room as Adhvik made pasta while Pallavi searched her panties for the longest time. Often they would lip sync to a song as if expressing their love for each other, only to make silly faces afterwards. She even assisted him with making chai. Nope, he didn't have any qualms with her coming between his cooking now.

Adhvik eyes stayed rooted at her as she broke a leg into a dance and giggled innocently when she got something wrong. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled which was as radiant as the sunny blue sky. She could have danced under the falling leaves and it would have looked the same. When the magic wore out, he poured tea into two cups and handled one to her.

Pallavi was barely rambling about something when Adhvik engulfed her in his arms securely, startling her like the first time for the second time. The romantic song ended, replaced by silence in the room.

“I love you,” He murmured near her ear and closed his eyes, feeling her existence once again.

For some reason, he was really feeling it today which was so un- Adhvik like yet so magical beyond her words could describe. Could this get any better?

“I love you, too,” She confessed softly, bringing her lips to the crook of his neck. She placed her cup aside and encircled her arms around, feeling him with a smile in her heart. She wouldn't mind repeating this for a thousand times.

They parted away.

“Wha- what happened?” Pallavi stammered, torn as she noticed him blinking his wet eyes again. Her heart lurched, compelling her to reach out. “Adhi—”

“N- nothing. Something caught, that's all,” Adhvik replied abruptly, stepping away from her as he rubbed his eyes in a haste. Her chest tightened at that but she let him be. He left the room, leaving her with her shattered thoughts.

A while later, things got back to normal. He returned to completing his pasta while she played with her phone. They talked about mundane things, glossing over their moment from earlier. Well, it didn't matter anymore. She simply wanted bask in the happiness she was receiving.

The rest of the evening passed normally in a typical Adhvik- Pallavi fashion. Eventually, he booked a cab and dropped her along the way as usual. Funnily enough, the cab driver knew Adhvik as he used to work as an operator in the Mansur factory a long time ago.

As she gazed into his black orbs, her day flashed before him. A day filled with mutual love, affection and a sea of feelings she couldn't name.

She clutched the hem of his shirt, her heart thumping. “Adhvik?”

“Hmm...”

She stood at his height, reaching his ears for a soft whisper. “I love you.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled which reflected in his small smile too. He was dazzling. “Love you, too, baby.”

They shared another look kissed by love before she sat in the car for real and bid him goodbye, hoping they would meet soon.

The cab driver began to talk about his days in Mansur and his association with Adhvik in a fondly manner while she tuned him out. The reel of today's events played in her mind as vehicles wheezed by from the car window. She let them. She let her tears fall past her cheeks as well. The image of Adhvik's sorrowful face burnt at the back of her wet eyelids. His gaze back then that communicated a thousand other things that his lips couldn't.

Don't let me go.

A heavy feeling settled at the pit of her stomach, clutching at her aching heart. A soft sob escaped and she covered her mouth with it. She couldn't be happier that he confessed but their happiness was conditioned like Cinderella who could only be a princess until midnight. Their relationship came with an expiration date.

She couldn't fantom the day when one of their marriage got fixed. When they would have to part ways. Just visualising the scenario brought a fresh bag of tears. Now that their love blossomed, it was becoming even more painful to bear the thought.

Then just be with him. Her one dimensional heart concluded.

I wish, She hugged herself. If only love was enough to be with someone for lifetime, she would be with him in a heartbeat. If only...

“Where do you live, miss?” A voice asked her abruptly, bringing back her to reality. She quickly wiped her tears away, sniffing once. She nearly forgot she was still in the cab with a driver that surprisingly knew Adhvik.

“Do you... live with him?”

God was he still yapping? She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“Some- somewhere nearby.” she answered,  absentmindedly while gazing at the city lights. She didn't want him to tell about her real whereabouts but she wasn't in the mood to come up with a lie either.

“Acha, acha... So you are his friend?” He asked merrily.

This motherfucker! She simply nodded, not wanting to entertain his silly questions any further. It seemed like the driver got the memo as he kept his thoughts to himself afterwards. Eventually he dropped her near her workplace. From there on, she and Deepali headed home together in their car. The things she had to do to cover her tracks.

* * *

“We shouldn't have come.”

“We really shouldn't have,” Adhvik mirrored her words.

Right now they were standing in the middle of a long queue line that stretched over 500 meters. The queue was just security guards checking their temperature and belongings at the entrance. That wouldn't have been a problem if Covid wasn't there. Even though restrictions had been lifted off to an extent, it didn't mean the end of it. 

“Don't come running after me if you catch Covid afterwards. It was your idea anyway.” Adhvik accused.

“I can't help it, okay! Today is a special day,” Pallavi pouted, crossing her arms defensively. There were three reasons why she decided to plan their visit today.

Firstly, today was Christmas.

Second, they were visiting the Venice mall.

Third, her parents were not around.

As they said, three times the charm. She had three valid reasons to plan her Christmas so why wouldn't she?
Luckily her parents happened to be in her grandparents house for a day. It was the perfect chance to celebrate Christmas with her boyfriend. Just thinking that made her heart jingle.

Her happiness didn't last for long.

“Here!” A familiar lean figure emerged out of the crowd, heading towards them gleefully. Pallavi took a step back just as dreadfully. She greeted Arjun under false pretenses.

“He's here too?” Pallavi whisper asked with a tight lipped smile.

“Actually this was already kinda decided. If you wouldn't have come, we would have been hanging out somewhere else.”

Pallavi felt her head boil. Arjun had already been lurking around Adhvik's apartment every evening. He even stayed overnight his apartment frequently. She knew this because she often heard his voice in the background when she called Adhvik. Just the fact that they spent so much time together made her jealous and now he had to crash their dates too. Yes, guys hung out more but this was getting ridiculous. Were they gay for each other?

“You know,  the more the merrier right?” Adhvik voiced out as if he sensed her silence behind her foul mood.

“Whatever.” She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Perhaps he didn't have the idea about Christmas Eve being spend with the loved ones. She had imagined going to the Venice mall with him for so long. Alas it had to be this way.

The three of them waited in line for fifteen more minutes, chattering amongst themselves before they reached the entrance. Venice mall was a spectacle to be adored at, especially during Christmas being surrounded by golden lights and Santa Claus stickers. They stepped in one of the two royal sized circular stairs on either sides. The mall was more crowded than ever with people often bumping against each other.

“Should we go to another mall? This place is giving me a heart attack,” commented Adhvik but Pallavi denied saying she didn't have enough time for that. They stood at a corner with the backdrop of the Venetian buildings that were surrounded by an artificial canal. Eventually they took their smartphones out to take some pictures together. Adhvik gave his phone to Arjun, requesting him to take few pictures of him with Pallavi.

“See, wasn't it beneficial to bring him along? We can request as many pictures as we want of us.” Adhvik whispered, wrapping an arm around her as Arjun took pictures of them. Pallavi shot him a look of accusation.

“You sound like you're using him.”

“I am.”

“Asshole.”

“Say cheese!”

A few more pictures later, they headed to the center of the mall at the ground floor. It was an open space surrounded by golden-hued Venetian buildings, arches and even a leaning tower of Piza— all small replicas of course. The place dazzled in golden and pink lights. A humongous Christmas tree stood tall upto three floors, illuminated by lights, glass balls, cotton amongst others. Of course the duo didn't miss the opportunity to snap their pictures, crediting it to their beloved Arjun. Atleast there was some use of him in Pallavi's precious date.

Adhvik and Pallavi reached at a stall near the man-made canal while navigating through the crowd with their arms linked. They munched on sweet corn while watching the gondola emerge under the bridge. A
gondolier dressed in black and white, alternated his singing between Italian and Hindi songs.  While the couple sitting enjoyed the ride, rowing between the Venetian buildings. If only the couple on the boat were her and Adhvik.

“Ugh, I wanna go to the gondola ride with you,” she whined, gripping his arm.

“We can but you'll have to wait in a long line baby. Do you have that much time? Not to mention the hefty fees we'll have to pay for the special day today.”

“I neither have time nor money...” She hung her head low.

He wrapped a reassuring arm around her. “Come on, this is all artificial anyway. Nothing that special. Let's go to the food court to eat. We'll have anything you want, okay.”

She pouted, glancing up at him. “Anything?”

“Haan, meri jaan.” He pulled her cheek out of love. She did the same to him, causing them to share a blissful smile together. While the third person happened to watch them from the sidelines.

Hopefully this cringes you enough to stop cockblocking our dates.

The food court was another spectacle in itself. It was designed nearly in a London street style with a path laid with stones, gaslamp-like light poles interspersed across the sitting areas, and walls. Even the chairs were designed in an odd fashion. Pallavi was glad they made it till here despite the presence of his weird friend lurking in the background.

“Since you two are here, let's talk about your beliefs. It will be fun,” Adhvik suggested, his eyes twinkling between Pallavi and Arjun sitting on either side of the table while they waited for vegetable biriyani.

“Nope. I refuse to partake in the atheist- theist discussion. Neither he's going to start believing in God, nor I'm going to refuse my beliefs. It's pointless.”

“She's got a point.” Arjun shrugged.

“Still... Acha atleast tell me what makes you believe in it and what doesn't?” He pointed over to both of them.

“Simple. This universe itself.” Pallavi crossed her one leg above another, reclining herself to the chair. “Humans haven't discovered 5% of it and claim there's nothing above us. I think most people have mistaken God. They think he's a Superman figure with powers to control and punish humans at will. What if he doesn't have a face or figure? What if the universe itself is the manifestation of God?”

“So Ram, Vishnu, Shiv aren't Gods?”

“They are... different kind of god's. There is a superior being above that.”

“And how do you believe that? You have seen neither of them. We can't assume anything on something we haven't seen.”

The strange discussion went on for a while until the biriyani and spring rolls arrived. Pallavi already gave up knowing she couldn't do shit to make Arjun believe. Such a dumbass she thought.

Sadly Pallavi had to leave after dinner as her parents happened to be on the way to their home, blissfully unaware of where their eldest daughter was. She ought to remain it that way. The group stepped down to the ground floor through the leaning tower of Pisa. They clicked a couple of more pictures on the way before exiting to the sight of Julius Caesar besides the fountain.

It wasn't the date she expected but not the worst one either. Atleast she got to spend the first Christmas of her life with her beloved.

Soon enough the curtain of the year 2020 drew to an end.

* * * *

Apologies for the slow updates. Hope you loved this bittersweet chapter. What are your thoughts about Adhvik? Would love to know.

The story will now enter 2021-- Just a year before the present. Brace yourselves. 😏

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