Soon, the much-awaited destination, Kritika's home arrived and as she stepped out and waved at Monami & Karan, wide smiles, which couldn't be hidden, crept on both of their faces and they drove off to nowhere but somewhere where they could feel themselves and their love. 

Karan took a deep breath of relief as if Kritika would've been a big hurdle in his plan and now he was very happy as everything was just apt.

The weather was amazing, not too cold, not too sunny. The wind blew perfectly making Monami's bouncy hair flow slightly. They were alone and no one was there to disturb them and also, he noticed that they were wearing the same color, black & now this was just cherry on top.

Dhaage todh laao chandni se noor ke
Ghoonghat hi bana lo roshni se noor ke

While Monami was looking outside the window at the waving fields, Karan was focusing more on Monami than driving. But as Monami turns towards her right, Karan immediately looks straight as if he was not gazing at her all the while.

Dhaage todh laao chandni se noor ke
Ghoonghat hi bana lo roshni se noor ke

She smiled slightly and after much courage, Monami kept her palm over Karan's which was controlling the gear. Feeling a feathery touch over his hand, as he looked at his hand and got aware of the reality, his happiness was so much boosted that in excitement, he pressed the accelerator with more than needed pressure.

Monami (eyes widened) - Arre dheere! Dheere!

Karan immediately applied the brakes at Monami's panic filled voice and as the car halted, both of them were pushed a little ahead and to ensure that Monami's head doesn't bump in the dashboard, he protectively keeps his arm in front of her but ensuring that it does not touches her chest.

Karan - I'm extremely sorry..mujhe realize hi nahi hua ki kab maine accelerator daba diya. A-aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua, pata nahi aa..

Karan was stopped in his words when to stop him from speaking at the speed of a bullet train, Monami kept her index finger on his lips and now, he forgot whatever he was going to so. Just his eyes looking in hers and his lips feeling the slight touch of her finger. 

Monami - Kitna tez bol rahe hain aap! Aur koi baat nahi, ho jata hai. 

Monami was trying to make him understand that this wasn't his mistake and it happens but was he listening? Absolutely no! He was just lost in her divine movements. They way her lips move when she talks, the way her forehead scrunched as she tries to guilt-free him and the way her hair sway when she looks here and there. Karan was looking at her without blinking and came out of his Monami land when she shook him harshly. 

Monami - Kaha khoye hue hein aap?

Karan (immediately) - Tum mein!

Sharma gayi toh aagosh mein lo
Ho saanson se uljhi rahe meri saansein

Monami's cheeks started to heat up immediately and she slowly withdraws her finger from his lips and started looking outside the window again and while blushing, she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, making Karan chuckle at the glimpse of her blushing and smiling face. 

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Without saying anything, with a slight smirk, Karan restarted the car and this time in normal speed, drove off to somewhere. It was on the outer skirts of the village where the village and the city were meeting and so was the market. Full of desi stock but also a bit modern touch of malls and restaurants. As Monami looked around, she found the place very strange and unseen as she has never been out of the village and her world limits inside the outer skirts only. 

Monami - Karan ji, hum ye kaha aaye hain?

Karan - Gao se thoda bahar, zyada nahi..yaha ek bahot achha restaurant hai. Ab date par aaye hain to saath baithkar thodi coffee, thoda lunch, thodi pyaar bhari baatein..you know!

Bol na halke halke

Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Karan winked at Monami, and it seemed his words are describing his intentions. With a twisted smile, Monami fakely rolled her eyes and they both got off the car and ya, obviously Karan gently opened the door for her. 

Entering the restaurant, the sudden aroma of gourmet hit Monami's nostrils and the ambience seemed strange but new. Use of more pastel colors in interiors, more of wooden furnishing and floral decorations, all screamed class. Pulling the chair for her, once Karan ensured that Monami is comfortably seated, he too went and sat across her. 

Monami - Aapko yaha ke baare mein kaise pata? Aaye hain aap yaha pehle?

Karan - Vo..haan, ek dost ke saath aaya tha. Kafi achhi dost hai meri vo, so she brought me here!

Hearing 'she', Monami got to know that he's been here before with a girl and as she looked around, many couples were already seated and now the previous smile had fallen from her face and with her arms crossed in front of her chest, Monami kept looking here and there with a tightened jaw. Karan who observed each and every act and expression of hers, couldn't control and finally chuckled out loud. 

Monami (irritated) - Kya?!

Karan (trying to control his laugh) - I'm so sorry but look at your face, my jalkukdi jaan! Monami, main yaha kabhi pehle nahi aaya. It's just..kuchh dino pehle gaon mein jaa raha tha to ye restaurant dikh gaya tha to soch yahi aa jaate hain. Nothing else!

Aa neend ka sauda kare
Ek khwaab de, ek khwaab le

Monami's body language slightly relieved but then she looked at Karan with a jolt and twiching lips that so wanted to smile, he called her 'my jalkukdi jaan'. She was extremely surprised of what he said, and her eyes widened too. 

Monami (blushing slightly) - Kya kaha aapne abhi?

Karan (very casually) - Kya? My jalkukdi jaan! Ho nahi kya?

Monami (looking away) - M-Main jalkukdi nahi hoon!

Karan (smirking) - Achha..lekin meri jaan to ho na!

Ek khwaab toh aankhon mein hai
Ek chand ke takiye tale

Karan said it so casually as if his words are not making the girl sitting opposite him blush like a tomato. His words weren't a question but a statement that held authority. Before he could tease Monami who was already blushing, the waiter came to take their order and while Monami thanked him mentally, Karan cursed him under his breath. 

Waiter (with a notepad) - Can I please take the order of this beautiful couple?

Monami lowered her eyes and pretended to look in the menu when her heart stirred listening to 'beautiful couple'. Karan too cleared his throat being shy and now both of them were flipping through the pages of the menu, not being able to decide what to order. While the two were very confused, Monami slid her menu towards Karan, grabbing his attention.

Monami - Aap hi order kar dijiye na, mujhe to kuchh samajh nahi aa raha kya order karu. 

Making him responsible for choosing the dishes for both, Monami leaned back in her chair with relief as she isn't confused anymore. Flipping a few pages more, Karan ordered cold coffee and sandwiches for both of them and Monami's was without tomato, ofcourse. 

The waiter went away after noting their orders in his notepad and giving privacy to MoRan again. Karan leaned closer on the table and had something in his mind which he wasn't sure of expressing. Monami saw the lingering doubt on his face and decided to enquire.

Monami - Kya ho gaya aapko? Koi baat hai aapke mann mein?

Karan - Ah..baat to nahi, bus ek ichha thi. Agar tum sahi samjho to..if no, then also it's absolutely fine!

Monami - Kahiye to!

Karan looked around at those couples who were sitting around them and had a little wish but was very conscious of telling it Monami. With his eyes shut tight, Karan gathered some courage and blurted out his wish.

Kitne dino se yeh aasmaan bhi soya nahi hai
Isko sula de...

Karan - Can I hold your hand?

Monami was surprised at what Karan asked and that too with this much consciousness and nervousness. Before she could say anything, the waiter came back with their orders, receiving a death stare from Karan. Hearing no reply from Monami regarding his question, Karan took it as a polite no and understood it heartily. 

The waiter served both of them nicely and went back wishing them a happy meal and as Karan and Monami took the very first bite of the sandwiches, they had to immediately take a sip of the cold coffee, and their scrunched-up faces were enough to tell how the food is. 

Karan (in a low voice) - Monami, achha nahi hai na?

Monami - Haan, cold coffee to fir bhi theek hai but sandwich...isse better to main banati hoon!

Karan - Main kya kehta hoon, cold coffee khatam karke kahi aur chalte hain. 

Monami nodded and both of them quickly gulped down their cold coffees and after paying the bill, quickly came in the car and as they both sat in, looking at each other, they burst into a loud laughter and while Monami ranted about how bad the sandwich tasted, Karan got so lost in her that he thanked the stars for making the sandwich to not taste good.

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Monami - Aapse ek baat puchhu Karan ji?

Karan (snapping out) - Haan haan, bilkul!

Monami (blushing slightly) - Ye aap baar-baar apne hi khayalon mein kyu kho jaate hain?

Karan (blushing) - Khayalon mein aap basti hain madam, to bus..aap mein hi kho jaata hoon baar-baar!

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Listening to Karan being flirty again, Monami's blush again appeared on her cheeks that made Karan chuckle inaudibly and he started the car again to go somewhere. The lunch was spoiled by the 'very delicious' sandwiches, he thought to take Monami somewhere else to not to spoil the date completely but was clueless.

Karan - Monami, tum batao..kaha chal sakte hain?

Monami - Main ek bahot achhi jagah jaanti hoon. Aap gaadi shuru kijiye, main raasta batati hoon. 

Trusting Monami and the confidence in her voice, Karan started the car and drove it on the paths that Monami told. After an hour of driving inside the village, finally Monami asked Karan to stop and the place they stopped, was worth the drive and was breathtaking. 

The serene lake, with white swans swimming in it, top-notch weather with the sun's brightness along with the cool soothing winds. MoRan stepped out and Monami kept looking at Karan's surprised face and finally chuckled. 

Monami - Aap to aise chaunk rahe hain jaise ki aapne pehle kabhi aisi koi lake dekhi hi na ho. 

Karan - Kabhi nahi dekhi! Bachpan ka to yaad nahi lekin US mein nature ke darshan kam hi hue hain. 

Umrein lagi kehte hue
Do lafz the ek baat thi

Monami smiled in surprise and both of them sat in front of the lake, removed their shoes and sat dipping their feet in the cold water and absorbing the beauty of the nature. Monami, busy in taking up the view in front of her and Karan, busy capturing the view beside him. Without Monami's notice, Karan clicked a few candid photos of her and saved in the secret folder of his gallery that was named 'My Rani Sahiba❤️'.

Woh ek din sau saal ka
Sau saal ki woh raat thi

As Monami looked beside herself at Karan and found him shoving his phone back in his pocket in a hurry. Before she could question it, the wind blew a little too fast making the loose strands of Monami's hair come on her eyes and forehead, making her close her eyes shut. Before she could remove those strands, Karan was fast enough to do so and very gently and without touching her face much, Karan tucked those hair strands behind her ear and now Monami had opened her eyes and for the first time, she was seeing Karan this close to herself. 

Kaisa lage joh chup-chaap dono
Pal pal mein poori sadiyan bita dein

His eyes so close to hers, his nose almost touching hers and the gentleness his touch had is what she's been craving for. Thanking him, Monami looked the other side as if trying to control her strangely beating heart and not letting the crimson blush arise on her face. 

Monami - Arre, dekhiye..Bhutte wala! Chaliye chalte hain!

Saying so, Monami immediately rushed towards the Bhutte wala that stood with his cart near the lake, leaving behind her lovesick Karan. Karan stood up wearing his shoes and went towards Monami, proudly carrying her juttis which she had left behind in a hurry. As Karan reached the bhutte wala cart, he saw that the man selling the corn is just a boy in late teens and assuming his situations to be so, Karan felt really bad for him. 

Monami - Aapko pata hai Bablu bahot achhe bhutte bechta hai! 

Bablu - Shukriya didi, aapka to mujhe pata hai..nimbu masala wala bhutta hi khayengi aap to, teekha pasand hai na aapko? Aur sahab, aap kaunsa khayenge?

Karan - Jo ye khayengi, vahi wala!

Bablu nodded and started roasting the corns for both of them & Karan noticed how eagerly Monami is waiting for the corns to get roasted so that she could devour them. While Karan was smiling at Monami being impatient, something unusual clicked him. Bablu, the Bhutte wala knows so much about her preference and her taste while he, knows so less, almost nothing.

Bablu - Didi, sahab..aap dono jakar baithiye, main bhutte taiyaar hote hi lakar deta hoon. 

Both of them nodded as they were not willing to stand and wait and decided to have a walk at the lake side till the corns get ready. As Karan walked ahead, Monami noticed that he was holding her juttis in his hand and was very shocked. 

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Monami (snatching the juttis) - Arre, ye aap kya kar rahe hain?!

Karan (snatching them back) - Arre, to kya ho gaya?! Do idhar..aur pehle idhar aao. 

Karan made Monami sit where they were seated before and made her dip her feet in the lake and with his hands, he gently rubbed off the mud that got stick to the bottom of her feet. At first, Monami tried taking her feet back, but Karan had held them firmly and washed her feet with dedication, leaving her all stunned. 

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke

Monami (in mind) - Ye..aisa..kyun? Kya koi kisi ke liye aisa karta hai? Jaanti hoon baat sirf pair saaf karne ki hai magar...inke liye, jinke baare mein suna tha ki ye kisi ke liye nahi jhukte aur main, jiske liye koi kyu hi jhukega..bahot badi baat hai!

With slightly glistened eyes, Monami kept staring at Karan with something filled in her eyes completely, maybe love! Once Karan was done removing all the mud from Monami's feet, he dried her feet using his handkerchief and then graced her feet again with her juttis. 

As he looked up, Karan found Monami staring at him the same way he was staring at her, some while ago. Clicking his fingers in front of her and bringing her out of her trance, Karan raised his eyebrows as if asking her the reason of getting lost to which she calmly shook her head with a smile.

Before Karan could enquire further, Bablu approached them with their steaming hot corns and passed it to Karan and Monami. Monami took a long sniff of the masala of the corn and umm-ed, making Karan chuckle.

Monami (lightly) - Walk karte-karte khaye?

Karan agreed without a second thought and they both started walking along the lakeside while enjoying the weather, the corn and the company.

While chewing on the delicious corn by holding it in one hand, Monami touched Karan's free hand with her free hand, sending a warm sensation down his spine. Karan looked at Monami, but she was still focusing on the path ahead and her corn.

With a shy smile, Monami held Karan's hand, surprising him as it seemed as if she's answering his wish which he expressed in the restaurant. Having his heart full of love and her trust that he earned, Karan too reciprocated the hand hold and without uttering a single word, a lot was said. 

Suddenly, a woman was passing by with her 5-year-old son holding her finger and as the boy saw Monami, he shrugged his mother's hand and rushed towards her and bumped into Karan. Karan immediately stabled that little boy, but he didn't pay any heed to Karan and went on Monami's side with excitement. 

Dhruv - Monami didi! Monami didi! Taise ho aap?

Monami (squatting to his height) - Arre Sweetu..main bilkul theek hoon, aap kaise ho?

Before Dhruv could reply, he felt a scream escaping his mouth as his mother came behind him and twisted his ear for this naughty nuisance. 

Dhruv's mother - Ye ladka bhi na..ek dum tumhare paas aa gaya bhaag kar!

Monami (chuckling) - Koi baat nahi didi, itna pyaara bachha hai..aise mat daanto iss sweetu ko!

Monami went ahead and pulled Dhruv's cheek with utmost affection and gentleness and also kissed his cheek like she always does when she meets him and in return, Dhruv did the same.

The little interaction felt sweet to both Monami and Dhruv but there was someone for whom it didn't went well. Karan who observed the entire scene was getting jealous of a 5-year-old as of he hasn't just received kisses from Monami but has married her instead.

Monami also offered Dhruv a bite from her corn, and he happily took a small bite and after a few minutes, Dhruv and his mother walked away after waving at both of them and Monami and Karan continued walking and enjoying their corn.

Monami was walking ahead while saying something to Karan, but Karan was lost and was walking behind her. His mind wasn't listening to what she was saying but was instead stuck on the fact that she could offer that boy Dhruv a bite but couldn't care to offer him some from her hand.

Karan (in mind) - Iss bhutte se pet to bhar jayega, ek baar apne haath se khila deti to dil bhi bhar jaata!

Karan thought so while halting in his steps and staring at the corn. Monami when kept talking and talking and when she didn't get any response from Karan, she looked besides her and then behind her and found him staring intently at his corn and paying no attention to what she's saying.

Monami (shaking him a bit) - Karan ji, aap sun bhi rahe hain? Kaha kho jaate hain baar-baar?!

Karan - Nahi kuchh nahi, kuchh keh rahi thi tum?

Monami looked at Karan with scrunched eyebrows and observed something off. A few minutes ago, his face had a different spark of happiness but now dullness of being upset and the excitement in his voice has also vanished. 

Monami - Aapko mood off kyu ho gaya?

Karan (focusing on his corn) - Kuchh nahi hua, tum continue karo jo keh rahi thi.

Though Karan insisted upon continuing her words, but Monami knew that he got upset but didn't knew the reason and soon, her gaze averted towards something which could maybe uplift his mood. Monami snatched the almost-eaten corn from his hand and held his forearm in a tight grip with authority and dragged him somewhere. 

At this moment, Karan forgot that just a second ago he was upset and jealous. His hand in hers, as if it belongs to be here. Without any hesitation, he went where Monami was taking him and all he focused was on the way she held his hand without hesitation and how her bouncy hair swayed when she was walking before him, so independently and full of freedom, just like her.

Monami - Iss chhote se bazaar se shayad aapka mood theek ho jaye! Dekhiye, kitna kuchh hai yaha..jhumke, chudiyaan, payal, bindi, mithaiyan..aur bhi bahot kuchh hai!

Karan (with a short smile) - Ye jhumke, chudiyaan, payal, bindi..jachenge mujhpar?

Monami opened her mouth in an 'O' as she realized that why would Karan even buy such things and giving him a silly look as she realized that the market is majorly filled with items for women and their adornment. But then, she got engrossed in looking at the different stalls and made him engrossed too. 

Monami - Ladko ke liye bhi kuchh hoga, chaliye dekhte hain hum!

Karan happily agreed and now the previous feelings of jealousy from that 5-year-old were subsided and all he was now caring about was adoring the focused and confused look that was on Monami's face as she searched for something amidst a market that's meant for girly stuff majorly. 

Monami (exclaiming suddenly) - Dekhiye..mujhe mil gaya!

Karan - Kya mil gaya?

Monami - Ye tie pin! Aapki to badi-badi meetings hoti hain na, auntyji ne bataya tha..ye tie pin lagakar jaiyega, aapke collaegous pe achha impression padega!

Dhaage todh laao chandni se noor ke

While saying so, Monami was already trying the tie pin on the placket of his shirt. Though he wasn't wearing a tie right now but still she made an imaginary guess that it'll suit him. When Karan looked at the tie pin, its front was in a shape of a little heart and looked very demure. His lips instantly curved into a wide smile as if it wouldn't have looked good, he would've accepted it then also, after all it's his Monami's choice.

Monami (looking at the tie pin) - Khubsurat hai na?

Karan (looking at her with admiration) - Isse khubsurat to shayad hi kuchh bana hoga!

Ghoonghat hi bana lo roshni se noor ke

Monami thought he's talking about the tie pin and hummed with a smile while he was too busy staring at her and admiring the piece of moon in front of him. She was still engrossed with the tie pin when this time, Karan held both her hands that rested on his chest and looked down on her milky wrists. 

Something clicked Karan and a thought crossed his mind but before expressing that, he also noticed that Monami's face holds no hesitation or discomfort from his touch, even though he held her hands suddenly and all her face had was just confusion and eagerness to know what he's thinking and that relief was enough to make him smile genuinely wide. 

Karan - Tumhare haath bade soone lag rahe hain! Kuchh daala kyu nahi?

Monami - Vo exam mein jewelery allowed nahi hai except earrings isliye. 

Karan nodded understanding the regulations of the examinations but as now, she doesn't have any exam for the day, she can adorn her beautiful wrists with something. Looking here and there, Karan found something in a shop a few steps away and as Monami paid for the tie pin even after his thousands of insistences, Karan excitedly took Monami with him in the same way when Monami wanted to buy that tie pin for him. 

Monami - Arre-arre! Aap yaha kyu kheech laye iss chudi-bindi ki dukaan mein?! (Whispering in his ear) Aap ye sab lagate hein??

Karan passed a stern look to Monami to which she just chuckled silently, and he mouthed 'very funny' to her, sarcastically.

They both entered the shop and got to know that this shop is run by an old aunty for her living. Both Karan & Monami passed her a gentle smile and Karan got engrossed in finding what he wanted and Monami stood beside him, adoring the passion on his face with which he trying to find that thing.

Karan (happily) - Mil gayi!

Monami (trying to peep) - Kya?

Before Monami could peep and see what Karan has found, Karan quickly hid it behind his back and once he confirmed that the aunty who owns the shop was busy in organising the scattered items, he took Monami's hand in his and one by one, started putting black-colored glass bangles in her hand.

Sharma gayi toh aagosh mein lo

Monami didn't focus on the bangles but was too stunned to realize that Karan couldn't stand her wrists being empty as in the village, it's said to be inauspicious for any woman whether married or not, to keep her wrists empty.

Monami (too surprised) - Aap...ye chudiyan..kyu?!

Karan - Kya kyu? Mujhe tumhari sooni kalaiyaan achhi nahi lag rahi thi aur vaise bhi gaon mein kehte hain na...ladkiyon ke haath bhare ho to shubh hota hai and I really don't want anything ashubh for you!

Monami lowered her eyelashes as her cheeks turned red and pretended to focus on the bangles while Karan paid for them and they both came out of the shop.

Ho saanson se uljhi rahi mere saansein...

As they came out, Karan again held Monami's hand in his while walking towards the car and naughtily, Monami decided to pull back her hand from his grip but couldn't as he was holding her hand tight enough to not to make her pull it back but also, gentle enough to not to hurt her.

Karan - Rani Sahiba, ab to ye haath chhodne wala nahi main, chahe aap lakh koshish karle!

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke
Honth se halke halke bol na halke...

Monami giggled while blushing hard as butterflies started fluttering in her stomach. Not being able to stand this never felt-before sensation anymore, she snatched the car keys from Karan and ran towards the car and before Karan could reach, she unlocked the car and was already seated on the passenger seat with her blushing face hidden between her palms.

Karan too didn't hurry to reach the car as he wanted to give her the time to stabilize her blush but when he reached and saw her blushing, he couldn't hold his chuckle and with a warm smile at her, he sat beside her and drove to their home, as the sun was about to set.

Bol na halke halke
Bol na halke halke

Honth se halke halke bol na halke!

------------------------------------

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