A/n - uploaded the chapter again because some half of the chapter was not uploaded properly last time due to which some readers were not able to see ut. Hope the whole chapter is uploaded now

Whilst the helper placed two cups of coffee in front of Tara and Priya, Diya made small talk with Tara, who looked rather nervous!

It was the day after Tara's first formal encounter with Dharam - a dinner date set-up by their friends of course!

Whilst Dharam was meeting Rohan to get tips on how to approach Tara, Tara had scheduled an appointment with Priya to discuss the issues running through her head.

It was also a big day for Diya - Nikhil was going home today and letting his family know about their relationship.

And though she liked Nikhil's mother and whole family, she felt very nervous - her family would be going to the Rawals' place the following day for lunch. And she didn't even want to think of how that would proceed!

It was barely 11 in the morning and Tara had booked an appointment with Priya just that previous night. Though they had discussed about meeting at 8 in the morning, an unavoidable meeting in Tara's schedule and an unexpected cancellation of one of Priya's clients made it possible for their appointment to be pushed to 11 in the morning.

Good thing too, Tara thought - she had barely slept last night, thanks to all the things running in her head! 

Priya gazed at Tara, waiting for her to break the silence. Last night when Tara had called to book an appointment, she had sounded nervous and apprehensive.

Today, Tara looked exhausted and very tensed. Sure this was their third meeting and even Priya was a bit nervous - Tara was afterall her boyfriend's PA!

She did have a vague idea what this was about, but she wanted to hear it from Tara. And so, she waited, sipping silently on her cup of coffee

"So how are things?" Priya smiled at Tara after a couple of painfully silent moments. Diya had left the room and Tara was sitting on the sofa opposite to her, looking around.

Tara took a deep breath, and then she sighed.

"Sandeep and I had been together since kindergarten.... He used to be my best friend and everything.... We'd even been married for 7 years... And then, one night when I returned home earlier than usual, I saw him... With another girl... On our bed!" Tara scoffed.

"He'd been cheating on me for over 4 years... I never knew! It's all business and money for him... He got bored of me. He wanted to leave me, but didn't want to pay any alimony you see?" Tara chuckled bitterly.

"And now he's still out there, putting up the façade of a sad and depressed divorcee, playing the victim card... I applied for divorce so to the world, he's the husband who tried to make his marriage work, whilst I'm the PR and PA to the womanizer Rohan Kapoor and God knows what's cooking between me and him!" She added, draining her cup of coffee in one go.

Priya listened silently to her rant.

"Though our divorce got finalized just last year, I separated from Sandeep 2.5 years ago... And ever since, all I face is society's mock concern and pity, whilst he gets everybody's sympathy and his business shares sell like hot cakes!" Tara rolled her eyes.

"I had only ever been with one man, only been on dates with him.. he was my best friend for God's sake!!" Tara choked.

"His betrayal hit the most. I've known him literally all my life. And ever since I found out about him cheating on me, I've begun to question my decisions, because, like okay, the one person outside of family whom I knew for the longest turned out to be the biggest jerk on the face of the Earth, it just shook me, you know? He's the person I'd chosen to spend the rest of the life with - the biggest decision I ever made, and that's the worst decision I ever made too!! My biggest mistake!" Tara's eyes pooled with tears.

Priya's heart clenched at how glassy her eyes looked and she passed her a box of tissues.

"Divorce didn't hit me as hard as the realisation that I had to let him go! And it took a big toll on me. I cannot help question my decision making capability because of all this - like, I doubt myself with every decision I make. I've been to a counselor and everything, and I'm much better than how I was 2 years ago, but still, some things just hit you deep inside, you know?" Tara dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the tissue.

Priya nodded, listening to her patiently.

"You are Rohan's girlfriend, and I am not sowing some doubt in your mind alright, but when I first separated from my husband, like moved out of his place, there were rumors that something is going on between me and Rohan!" Tara scoffed.

"I work in the media, I work with models and am PA to ladies' man Rohan Kapoor you know, obviously I am the cheater! My husband who is the Vice-CEO of a finance company is a decent man because he isn't a media personality!" Tara said sarcastically.

Priya nodded - this was true however, no matter who is at wrong, the society always mocks the woman and always sides with the man.

"But your family and friends believe you?" Priya smiled at her.

Tara too smiled.

"When I first saw him... With another woman... I directly spoke to my father... He's the one who stood by me without a second question. Even my aunts and uncles and all my close family didn't once ask me to consider anything other than divorce!" She smiled.

"My friends are our friends.. I mean, most of our friends are mutual friends. And most of them don't believe that he could cheat because we've been dating since high school!! He's the perfect romantic man you see! He proposed to me from the top of the Eiffel tower on my birthday! For our honeymoon we went to Switzerland for a month! For our first wedding anniversary, he gifted me a customized Bentley!" Tara added.

"But it's okay... I have learnt that not everybody understands you, and it's okay" She added with a smile.

"And now?" Priya prodded.

"My divorce got finalized last year... And I've gone on 12 dates since.. all men from good families. They all wanted only one thing from me!" Tara scoffed.

"I'm a divorced woman, just hit 30. My dad is in the real-estate business and he owns a chain of restaurants in the US. I'm his only child you see, so I'm an asset - marry me and you not only get my share of his business, but also I'm a freaking baby making machine you see?" Tara hissed bitterly.

Priya cringed, though she nodded - a single woman is always seen as an opportunity for sex and nothing more!

"But yesterday... Dharam he.. he's the 13th guy I've been on a date with... I have seen him many times... His cousin is married to my third cousin... But yesterday was the first time I spoke to him... He treated me well... like a gentleman..." Tara trailed off, a light pink coloring her cheeks.

An involuntary smirk curled Priya's lips - she'd been waiting for Tara to talk about Dharam for so long now! Finally!!

"He's not like how I'd expected him to be.... Very nice guy... he knows my net worth, and that I'm a divorced woman. But not once did he view or make me feel like I'm an asset!" Tara added, her cheeks now surpassing magenta.

"He made me feel like I'm an interesting person. He wanted to listen to me, and I wanted to listen to what he had to say! " Tara's eyes turned glassy again.

"I know this sounds so cheesy but I always wanted a nice man... Marry him settle down and have a cute family with him, you know??" She looked at Priya, who nodded.

"But after Sandeep... I'd locked up all those thoughts... A divorced woman isn't allowed to dream! Specially after those horrendous 12 dates, I'd actually given up on ever finding someone who'll treat me like a woman!" Tara scoffed, and her eyes turned glassy again.

"Dharam seemed like he's genuinely interested in me, and he made me dream of all those things again - family, love, a happily ever after!" Tara whispered, feeling embarrassed.

But as embarrassed as she felt, she wanted to talk it through and sort out her thoughts. She wanted clarity, and she didn't want to let go off of Dharam without even giving him a chance!

"You only require the guts to dream, and the guts to fly and achieve that dream!" Priya added before she could stop herself.

"All those desires are popping back in my mind because of Dharam... It sounds pathetic and cheesy but that one meeting with him yesterday... It did something to me Priya!" Tara massaged her head.

"You like him" Priya smiled.

"I.. I don't know! Maybe I like him, maybe not. I mean, given how my past dates have been, has my mind built this big impression of Dharam in comparison to those horrible dates, or am I genuinely interested in him - I'm not able to sort my thoughts!" Tara said finally.

Priya frowned.

"Okay, how about you just close your eyes and go back to last night - what is that one moment that still shines from last night?" Priya asked.

Tara closed her eyes, and the whole of the last evening played in her mind - every time her gaze had clashed with Dharam's, every time he had smiled at her, every one of those times that when their hands had accidentally brushed... the moment when he'd closed his eyes when she'd moved closer to kiss him...

Tara shot her eyes wide open, heat creeping up her neck. Her heart would not stop fluttering, and her mind kept replaying the moment when she'd moved closer to kiss him. She liked him, there's no question there!

She found Priya smiling at her, and Tara bit her lip, embarrassed. 

"He's a very nice guy... But is it normal? To just meet someone and bam you start liking them?" Tara asked curiously.

Priya looked away. What is she to say about this?

Love at first sight - it was concept she hadn't ever believed in. But Nikhil, Abhi and Kunal had proved otherwise!

And as thoughts about Rohan popped into her mind, a shy smile curled her lips.

"I never used to believe in this Tara... You know? Just meeting someone once and you like them kinda thing? But... I have seen people falling in love with just one meeting" Priya smiled.

"You felt the same way when you first met Rohan?" Tara asked.

"I... I felt like I'd been on a journey for all these years and that he's my destination" Priya said honestly.

"Your destination?"

"That I've reached home... At last!"

Tara nodded. She hadn't felt this way when she'd met Dharam last night, but just the thought of him made her heart flutter, and she liked this feeling of her heart fluttering!

"I've seen guys do all sorts of things when they date.. Rohan buying you roses and fussing over his perfume! Mark began hitting the gym to impress his crush in college! My college mate Harsh moved to a location close to his crush's place so that they could commute together and eventually they fell in love and got married too... And though this whole thing with my ex husband was a terrible experience, but I'd not lost faith in love... I just thought my chance was over!" Tara shrugged.

"This thing you say as chance in life? It's overrated... There's no such thing as one chance in life Tara. Think of it. You can graduate at 20 or at 40.. you can get married at 18 or at 50 and 60! You can start a family at 18 or even at your 40! People change careers, climb the Everest, start a family... But there's no set right age for anything!" Priya smiled.

"You got married at 21.. I was pursuing my PhD at 21! Rohan was drunk and partying somewhere at 21!" Priya added with a chuckle.

Tara too laughed.

"Not somewhere! Before Gayathri, that asshole used to host these amazing parties at his place all weekend long! And then he'd do photoshoots there, to get girls' attention! This one time, he wanted to show off his photography skills... To impress this French girl that he used to fancy.. so he began taking pictures on his Nikon DSLR, and she posed for him and everything... twenty minutes later, he returns to find her pouring wine onto the lens of the camera! She'd mistaken the camera for a glass!!" A 100 bucks wine on a 10 grand camera! Tara scoffed.

Priya's ears pricked - what was it that Rohan used to do??

"But Mark was worse... He's still worse! I went out for a drink with him last week, and then from across where we were, there was this pretty girl... He left me without even a bye and the next moment he's taking her back to his place!" Tara scoffed and rolled her eyes.

Priya giggled.

"And you know how Nikhil left me when he'd seen his then girlfriend!" Tara rolled her eyes.

Priya nodded.

"See these are the kind of men I'm used to. Rohan might be a gentleman, but he's my buddy! And on a decent day even Mark treats me like I'm an angel from heaven!! But in general, I'm not used to it because my ex husband is the only one with whom I've done anything!! The 12 other dates were just disasters where men I was seen as some sort of an asset, a commodity! And except sitting through the dinner date with me, they hadn't done anything else - well, some of them did pay for dinner, but that's it! But Dharam... He dropped me till my doorstep! He is such a good listener! And I felt needed, included, and special in his company! " Tara blushed again.

"When you're special to someone, they go to extreme means to make sure you know it!" Priya smiled.

"I just... It's this fear... How can I meet someone and just like them?" Tara frowned.

"Sometimes, all it takes is that one meet... One exchange of glance!! Even with Rohan...." Priya's voice trailed off as blush rushed to her cheeks.

Tara looked out of the window, looking thoughtful.

"So.. it's normal?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"Very much normal" Priya chuckled.

"I was getting apprehensive because of that... Thought something was wrong with me!" Tara grinned sheepishly.

"With the right person, there's no wrong!" Priya's eyes twinkled, as her heart whispered Rohan.

"I kissed him yesterday.. Dharam.. it was just a peck on the cheek, but yeah..." Tara trailed off.

Priya sat bolt upright - wow!! And she thought her first kiss with Rohan was way too early!

"He's a good guy... a decent guy.. " Tara finally voiced the thought that had been bugging her since last night.

"When two people are attracted to one another, they don't judge - they go with their heart! I'm sure Dharam didn't misunderstand your intention" Priya said reassuringly.

True, she wanted to tease Tara, but Tara looked so helpless and desperate for reassurance, that she couldn't tease her! Besides, there wasn't anything wrong with what Tara had done! There were two adults capable of making their own decisions! 

"Dharam is a decent guy, and not even a people pleaser! He would have had backed off if he wasn't okay with the kiss" Priya added 

Tara looked up hopefully.

"Is that what made you book this appointment?" Priya asked, to which Tara bit her lip and nodded.

"You know him better than I do! Besides, I was more confused about my feelings, and given how you are with Rohan, and the fact that you're an expert in human psychology, I thought you would be able to help me out" Tara hesitated.

"How I am with Rohan?" Priya frowned.

"You know, how the two of you feel for one another... We have met only a couple of times, but you're like a different person when you're around Rohan, and he is also not the same guy I've known for 12 years, when he's with you! I felt a fraction of all that with Dharam last night... I hope I get to experience more of it with Dharam - the thing that you and Rohan have" Tara smiled.

Priya was speechless - was she so noticeably different around Rohan? Were her feelings towards Rohan so clear?

"Um.. I.. would I come off desperate if I call him today? Dharam... I.. " Tara fumbled.

"You can call him to meet up for a cup of coffee, no harm there!" Priya smiled.

There was silence for a while, with Priya looking expectantly at Tara who just sat there, lost in thought.

She looked up suddenly, as though thinking something through, before took a deep breath, a look of determined expression on her face.

"You.. you might have his number right?" Tara hesitated, her cheeks turning crimson.

"I have his personal number" Priya's eyes twinkled.

Tara was mentally framing the question - on how best to ask Priya to share that number with her, when her phone pinged, and Priya grinned.

"There, I have just forwarded his number to you" Priya winked, making Tara blush even harder if possible.

"I only meant.." Tara fumbled, but Priya chuckled.

"Alright, you didn't ask for his number but let's say I sent his phone number to you by mistake!" Priya winked,

And Tara finally chuckled.

*******************************

"Hello? Tara? This is Dharam, we met the yesterday evening... with Nikhil and Rohan.." Dharam's voice trailed off.

"Oh hey !! Yes Dharam, hi.." Tara smiled.

"Um, I was wondering if you'd like to catch up some time?" Dharam asked politely.

Tara paused as she checked her calendar.

"We can meet up tonight if you're free" Tara smiled.

Dharam grinned in success.

"Um, great, so can I pick you up from your office then?" he pushed his luck.

"Sure, we could go together" Tara's reply made him sigh in relief.

"Great, see you later then" they both bid their byes before they hung up.

Dharam looked down at his notepad and nodded - the conversation looked good - perfect even!!

He had spent the good part of the day planning a phone conversation between himself and Tara once he'd call her - his part of the dialogue, and her part of the conversation - or at least, what he hoped would be her part of the conversation.

She would sound as enthusiastic as she did in his mind, wouldn't she?

Dharam closed his eyes, his mind replaying their kiss from the previous evening. A shy smile curled his lips as he recalled the kiss.

Yes, Tara had chosen to kiss him - it did mean that she's interested in him, doesn't it?

He nodded to himself - of course, if she's not interested in him, why else would she kiss him?

But he opened his eyes, frowning slightly - she had kissed his cheek. Is a kiss on the cheek polite? Or does it mean some sort of a romantic interest?

He bit his lip, and then shook his head.

He turned to his trusted adviser - his laptop, and the internet!

"A kiss on the cheek.." he typed, and the internet offered him solutions to problems he didn't even know he had!

"..kiss on the cheek for goodbye.." read one search.

".. kiss on the cheek greeting.." read another one.

"..kiss on the cheek called..." read another.

"..kiss on the cheek meaning.." ah, Dharam sighed - yes this is what he was looking for !

He clicked on the link.

"..a kiss on the cheek is a friendly form of greeting. Cheek kiss is a social gesture to indicate friendship.." the first few lines of the article felt like a needle to his heart.

And here he was, thinking that the kiss had meant something?!!

Of course he knew that a cheek kiss is a quite common way of greeting, specially in European countries! You could greet your family or friends, as it was an informal way of greeting someone.

A part of Dharam felt let down - he had been hoping that Tara too was just as interested in him as he was in her, if not more?!

Perhaps he is the naive one - yes, he hasn't ever dated anyone! Of course any such gesture from a girl is going to confuse him!!

This is why I should have dated when I had the chance - he thought to himself! 

He clutched at his head and groaned - he would have had made a fool of himself if he had called Tara and asked her out on a date!!

That kiss on his cheek meant nothing!!

He sighed. This realisation wasn't making him feel good in any way!

Dharam shut his laptop down irritably and walked away, to the window, gazing out. Since their office was inside a business park, and his office being on the twelfth floor, he could see the sunset at the distance, and trees all around their building, making it seem like a whole other world!

Ah if only he was standing here to gaze at the glorious sunset!

His meeting with Rohan that morning had made him feel confident - confident that he could ask Tara out, and maybe he could get to know her better - maybe that eventually, something meaningful would blossom between them!

But a kiss on the cheek doesn't mean anything!! This internet search had sucked all the happiness out of him - or rather, the happiness that had begun to bloom within him since the previous night with Tara!!

True that apart from his ex wife, Tara was the only woman who had come so close to him! 

Perhaps it must be a normal thing to Tara - hmm yes, he thought - she worked in the media, and a kiss in the cheek is an acceptable form of social greeting for them.

This knowledge didn't make him feel good either!

He closed his eyes, resting his head against the window, and his traitor mind replaying the kiss.

If only... if only there was a connection between him and Tara!!

A sudden buzzing sound broke the silence in the air, and Dharam literally jumped.

His heart hammered in his mouth at the sudden sound, and it took him a few seconds to realise that it's his one phone that's ringing!

His cell phone was back at his desk, and so he went back to his desk, wondering who is calling now, that too on his personal phone?! His family usually called late at night, and he didn't really have anybody else who'd call?

The moment Dharam's eyes fell on his buzzing phone, his heart stopped.

"Tara Prasad" the name was flashing on the screen as his phone buzzed.

He had saved gotten her number from Rohan just that morning, and had spent the whole day contemplating on whether to call her or not.

But now when he had just come to the conclusion that Tara might not like him, she was calling him??

His mind went blank, but then a thought popped in his mind - from where did she get her number?

The more important question flashed in his mind next - WHAT TO DO NOW??

Clutching the buzzing phone in his hand, Dharam ran around his office like a headless chicken - what to do? WHAT TO DO???

"What to do!!" he groaned loudly.

The door to his office opened suddenly, making him yelp and jump.

"All okay?" Anil, his PA walked in, looking confused and slightly concerned.

"Uh yeah..." Dharam cleared his throat, loosening his tie a little as beads of sweat pooled on his forehead.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Anil indicated the phone buzzing in Dharam's hand.

His hands shivered, but before he could think of anything else, the buzzing of the phone stopped.

And he bit his lip - a wave of relief washed over him.

At least now, he could think on what to do next!

"Uh yeah.. I was just about to... um.. do the same" Dharam cleared his throat, nodding at Anil, who understood himself dismissed and walked out, closing the door behind him.

The moment the door closed behind Anil, Dharam sighed in relief.

He rushed back to his seat and opened the notepad he had been using earlier and thought.

He couldn't call back just yet - Tara would find it suspicious that he called the moment after she'd called him. He couldn't tell her that the phone was in his hand and the only reason he didn't answer the call was because he didn't know what exactly to speak!!

So, Dharam gazed at his notepad, frowning.

He had written down other dating tips from Rohan and the internet - having spent the whole day searching through the internet for things like how to approach a girl and what to do on a date!

"..preferably meet at a quiet restaurant so that you can hold a proper conversation.." 

"..pick her up from her place or if you have arranged to meet at a common place, offer to drop her back to her place. These little things subtly tell her that you are interested in her.."

He read through the tips, but didn't find anything apt for his current situation! Never in his wildest dreams had Dharam imagined that Tara would approach him first!

Dharam's eyes trailed to his laptop, and he sighed in defeat - he had to Google on what to do! The internet could only help him now!!

"How to talk to a girl..." Dharam began to type, but the autofill on google gave him suggestions that confused him even more!

"how to talk to a girl after a long time" well, he had just met her last night, so it wasn't really a long time!

"how to talk to a girl for the first time" this would have been helpful to him last night! But today it isn't the first time he's talking to her!

"how to talk to a girl on her periods" Dharam bit his lip. Female menstruation cycle was a touchy subject. He knew how much his sister suffered with cramps and mood swings during her time of the month! 

Love, affection and care is all that a girl wants during her time of the month - not to be treated like a ticking time bomb, but to be cared for like the flower she is! Dharam smiled.

But as his trail of thoughts made sense to him, Dharam froze - talk to a girl on her periods?! Tara isn't on her periods!!

This thought made his cheeks turn pink in embarrassment - he wanted to know how to talk to her on the phone! Why is his mind connecting this to her periods?!

Dharam shook his head to clear it of all thoughts, before turning his attention to the laptop again.

"how to talk to a girl  for the first time on the phone"  yes, this is the one for him!

"YESSS!!" he grinned in success, whopping the air.

Before he could do anything else, the door to his office opened again, and Anil peered inside, looking questioningly at him.

"Yes?" Dharam spoke in a lower decibel, trying to look serious.

"I heard your voice.." Anil mumbled, frowning.

"No.. I didn't say anything" Dharam lied. Anil frowned, pondering.

"Um... I have a call to take in some time now, so don't disturb until I call you" Dharam added. He didn't want Anil to walk in on him talking with Tara and blushing!

Anil knotted his eyebrows in concentration at this, surely mentally checking Dharam's calendar for the day.

"It's not a business call" Dharam added. Though Anil looked intrigued, he nodded and then he shrugged, closing the door and leaving Dharam alone again, making him sigh again.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, he turned his attention to the laptop, clicking on the link "how to talk to a girl for the first time on the phone"

The article was short, but understandable.

"buzz her in the evening; talk to her from a place where you're comfortable..." Dharam bit his lip.

It was evening alright, and if she had called him now, it meant she was free. But talking to her from a place he's comfortable?

He couldn't talk at home - Taniya would butt in, or worse, she'd talk to Tara in place of him and make the arrangement for the date!

Dharam shook his head - no, office is okay to talk to Tara!

"..sound good.."  the next point made Dharam frown - how is his voice?

Dharam cleared his throat.

"Hello" he spoke in his usual voice. But shook his head - it didn't sound too pleasing!

"hello" he spoke in a slightly higher decibel. Then he shook his head again - it sounded like he's scared!

"hello" he spoke in a slightly lower decibel - well, it sounded decent enough, but not like he could change his voice now, could he? Lower decibel it is!

Dharam turned his attention back to the laptop.

"engage in small talk; ask her how her day went, or talk about the weather. If you haven't met in a long time, ask her how she's doing. But first, make sure she is free to talk" Dharam frowned. He sucked at small talk!

But the tips were decent. He could talk about the weather. He could ask how her day was. And since they had just met the previous evening, maybe he could stop the small talk there.

He nodded, it sounded good.

He made a note of it all on his notepad, before turning his attention back to the laptop again.

"make her laugh" Dharam frowned - he had to make her laugh? How?

He thought - did he know of any nice joke?

Only one joke came to his mind however - why is ten afraid of seven?? Because, seven eight (ate) nine - the joke made him chuckle again - and he made a note of it - well, one joke is better than no joke!

{P.s - credit of the PJ to the owner - I got it from some meme page ages ago lol!}

"propose a specific date to meet up. Depending on what kind of a date you have in mind, specify a time accordingly" this next step was a thinker!

What could Dharam use as an excuse to meet Tara? Dinner? Lunch? Coffee?

The article had suggested coffee and dinner as the ideas, but they'd just had dinner the previous evening, and he didn't know of any good places in the city - well, he knew of places he'd visited with his ex wife, but he didn't want to go there with Tara just yet!

Coffee? He frowned - it was already past four in the evening, and even if he left now, he wouldn't be making it to any good coffee place in time for a coffee, given the traffic in the city during the evenings!

Dharam wanted to meet Tara today - of course, he could meet her tomorrow, or over the weekend, but his heart felt gloomy at the prospect of having to wait a few more days to meet Tara again!

He frowned -he didn't know where her office was too! What if her office was close by? He could pick her up from her office! His heart fluttered at that thought!

But another thought popped in his mind - what if her office was far away? He couldn't meet her for coffee then?

After pondering on it for a good ten minutes, Dharam finally decided that the next step depended on where Tara was at the moment - if she was at her office, and if her office was close by, they could catchup today, else, well, maybe they could meet up for dinner, or worse case, meet on the weekend. 

The weekend is just a couple of days away - he assured himself.

Finally making note of it, he turned to his laptop again.

"..after securing the date, hang up" Ah well, this step seemed to be the easiest! Dharam grinned to himself.

He gazed at the notepad - at all the small notes he'd just taken, and finally picked up his phone again.

His hands shivered as he redialed Tara's number, his heart drumming in his ears as he heard the call dial tone.

"Hello?" Tara answered in a couple of rings, making Dharam's breath hitch in his throat. His heart too seemed to have stopped working.

"Hello Dharam? It's Tara here... we met last night for dinner..." Tara's voice trailed off, and Dharam's heart resumed working at the sound of his name from her voice.

Dharam gazed down at the notepad - "greet casually" was one of the tips he'd gotten off of the internet.

"Lower decibel" Dharam had made a note against it earlier - right, he had to speak in a lower decibel!!

"Helye..." Dharam grinned into the phone in a lower decibel than usual, his brain taking a second to register what he'd just said.

He had just jumbled up 'Hello' and 'Hey' and created the word 'Helye'! Wow!

"Huh?" Tara frowned, wondering if she'd misheard him.

"Hello" Dharam corrected himself, clearing his throat a couple of times. And then he mentally groaned - he forgot to talk in a lower decibel this time!

Ah well screw it - he thought. It's not like he could talk in a lower decibel forever?

"Hi! I um.. " Tara trailed off, sounding very nervous.

Dharam bit his lip, his mind cooking up all the possible reasons as to why Tara would be calling him right now!

"Is it a nice time to talk?" Tara's voice brought him to reality.

"Huh? Uh yeah.." Dharam's voice trailed off, his mind lost in thought - why is she asking this?? 

Is she calling him for an event? Or perhaps something related to business? Or was it something related to their dinner last night?

"I had a nice time yesterday.." Tara trailed off, and though a wave of relief washed over Dharam, another thought began to fester in his mind - is she beating around the bush to finally say that she is not interested in him?

"Me too.." Dharam confessed in a soft voice.

There was silence from Tara's end, making Dharam nervous again - she's definitely calling to say that this is it between them, isn't she?

"I was wondering if we could meet again? Soon maybe?" Tara asked, sounding very hesitant.

Dharam's heart skipped multiple beats and a grin curled up his lips. She wanted to meet him again??

"Uh yeah, yeah sure.. um... would.. would you want to maybe grab a cup of coffee with me now?" Dharam asked, feeling rather relieved that Tara wanted to meet him again!

"Um.. I am in Delhi right now... some issue with a PR manager and I took a flight in the afternoon.." Tara trailed off.

Dharam's heart fell.

"I'm returning in a couple of hours. But can we meet tomorrow?" Tara asked, sounding hopeful. 

"Yeah.. tomorrow sounds good" Dharam smiled.

"Great! Well, I'll text you the time and place? Or you have some place in mind?" Tara asked.

Dharam's heart skipped several beats at this - she had thought of a place already for their date? His heart fluttered at her straight-forward attitude. Of course, he wasn't used to this - heck, this whole dating malarkey was new to him!

"You'll text me the place and time?" Dharam asked. As Tara hummed in response, Dharam felt a huge weight being lifted off his feet.

"Okay then.." Dharam smiled, before he hung up the call, feeling that at last something had gone right!!

He gazed down at his notepad and groaned - he forgot to make her smile!! He forgot to tell his joke!!

He banged his head against his desk and groaned - how could he forget to accomplish one simple task???

Back in Delhi, sitting at a cafe and waiting for the PR manager from Rohan's latest product endorsement, Tara stared at her phone, hardly believing what had happened - Dharam had just hung up the phone on her?

She was about to ask him how his day was, and he just hung up? Without another word?

Woah!! 

Tara shook her head - and here she was, assuming that he was interested in her!

To be continued....

A/n - finally this chapter is up! Well I do hope you liked it. 
It might seem weird/off-putting to some readers, no doubt - but this is the kind of guy Dharam is. He's well over thirty, divorced, but hasn't ever dated anyone. He's the seedha-saadha kinda guy, never flirted with anybody and like the nicest guy on the planet. Every step in this dating business is new to him, and of course, he wants to make no mistakes with Tara, and hence the over thinking and over analyzing.

I hope to give the next chapter next weekend. I got cold, and then got covid, and the past 2 weeks have been trying to get better, so I haven't been able to update the story. I need some time to have a couple of chapters ready to be able to give more frequent updates - I hope you understand.

Take care and be safe,
Love,
Megha.