Ananya had assumed that Divesh was not interested in her the way she was. He had not shown any interest in her and held a conversation for more than 2 minutes at a stretch let alone being in each other's company.

And Ananya was sure whatever she felt for him, it was only from her side. At least she assumed until one Friday three weeks after their first meeting.

“Ms. Malhotra?”

She heard Divesh call her when she was at the company gates to leave for her home. She smiled and waited for him to reach her.

“Hi.”

He greeted as soon as he got within a three meters distance from her. She tucked her hair behind her ear as he got within a meter from her and whispered a greeting back.

“Hello Mr. Gupta.”

She replied, maintaining the formality he had started with. Divesh frowned but didn't let his confidence falter.

“Umm…you're leaving for home?”

She nodded at his question and he rubbed his neck mentally praying for his loud heartbeat not to be heard by her. He was too nervous to say what he had come to say.

“Mr. Gupta? You needed something?”

She asked, confused. Did he stop her to ask her whether she was leaving for home?

“Ummm…yeah…actually…umm…I just wanted to know…if…you know-”

Ananya looked at him amused. What was making him stutter so much? But she kept quiet and kept listening.

“Umm…are you…like…free this Sunday?”

He sighed as if it took him a great deal to ask her that. Ananya was pleasantly surprised. For a good two minutes, she was silently staring at Divesh with her lips slightly parted in surprise. Contemplating what to say and whether he was asking her out on a date?

“Ummm…Ms. Malhotra?”

He prompted and she closed her mouth looking away. She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked back at him.

“I suppose so Mr. Gupta. May I know the reason you wanted this information?”

“Wo…actually…I was thinking if you want to hang out with me?”

He mentally grimaced at his choice of words? Hangout? What was he? An 18 year old asking his crush out? Ananya too raised her eyebrow at his words and reconfirmed.

“Hangout? Mr. Gupta? Are you trying to ask me out on a date?”

The way she asked made him even more nervous and he immediately changed his wording. He couldn't tell her that he was indeed asking her out on a date but couldn't get courageous enough to ask it directly.

“NO! I mean no. I am not asking you out on a date but a…a…a Delhi Darshan Tour. You know I'm ummm…I'm new to Delhi and I've never seen any place here. Well, apart from your office…which is stunning by the way…but yeah…I’ve never seen Delhi so I just wanted to explore it a little.”

He rambled whatever came to his mind first and prayed that Ananya would buy his excuse. Thankfully she did and nodded.

“Yeah…okay I guess. So Sunday?”

She confirmed once again and he nodded eagerly.

“Cool. Since aap Delhi mai naye hai I'll plan the tour for you. If you have someplace you specifically want to see, just let me know. Also, any particular interests? Mai usko dhyan mai rakhte huye tour plan kr lungi.”

Divesh grinned and said.

“I love food. So any place with good food is a bonus.”

Ananya chuckled and nodded.

“Noted. Places with good food. See you Sunday Mr. Gupta.”

“Why? You're not coming tomorrow?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“I didn't mean that. I mean see you on Sunday for the Delhi Tour.”

He made an ‘oh’ face and nodded.

“Thanks and see you too.”

She reached home with an excited smile. She had dinner with her family and went to her room earlier than usual. She slumped on the bed and giggled. A Delhi Tour with him. Alone. A blush formed on her face and she giggled again.

There was a knock on her door after an hour or so. 

“Khula hua hai.”

The door opened and her sister-in-law, Chhaya entered.

“Bhabhi? Mujhe bula lete.”

Ananya said and started getting up.

“Arre baith baith! Tujhse baat krni thi. Aaj kal time hi nhi milta. Bacho aur kaam ke beech kitne busy ho gye hai.”

Chhaya said, sitting on the bed and looking at Ananya.

“Aur bata? Kaisa chal raha hai sab? Office mai aur life mai?”

Chhaya had become Ananya’s best friend after her wedding with Ananya's brother. She loved her sister-in-law. But after the birth of the twins an year ago, Chhaya got super busy with them and their late night rendezvous started decreasing. She still went to Chhaya when she needed a heart to heart though.

“Everything's good bhabhi. Aapko toh pata hai na ki office mai iss waqt ek collaboration project chal raha hai and I'm the Team Head. Bhut kaam rehta hai.”

Chhaya hummed and nodded. She then patted her lap and said.

“Yaha aa!”

Ananya smiled and laid her head on Chhaya’s lap as she did earlier. Chhaya caressed her hair and asked.

“Ab bata! Aur kya baat hai? Kuch toh hua hai aaj. Jabse ghar aayi hai smile kre jaa rhi hai, blush kre jaa rhi hai.”

Ananya bit her lip. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Chhaya.

“Bhabhi…wo actually na…jaise mai apne company ki Team Head hu for the project…uss dusri company ka bhi ek Team Head hai…kaafi hot hai.”

That got Chhaya's attention and she listened with rapt attention.

“Aur aaj na…he said he wanted to explore Delhi with me. Iss Sunday ko.”

“Toh isliye madam blush kiye jaa rhi hai. Kyunki kisi hot bande ne ask out kia hai?”

“Bhabhi! Ask out nhi kia! Hangout ke liye puchha hai.”

She whined and sat straight. She scowled at the word ‘hangout’ but the blush was permanent on her face.

“Whatever! You're going to spend the whole day with him. I'll count that as an unofficial date.”

She blushed deeper and whined.

“Bhabhi! Kyu tang kr rhe ho.”

Chhaya chuckled and said.

“Achha ye bata, pasand krti hai? Crush wrush hai kya?”

Ananya blushed hard and bit her lip lowering her head in shyness.