“Good night.”

She whispered and started to turn. His hand immediately darted out to hold her wrist, stopping her movement.

“Vani!”

He gulped and cleared his throat before asking.

“Will I…will I get a second date?”

She lowered her eyes in shyness and pretended to think. Then, she looked into his eyes playfully and said.

“Only if let me decide where we go.”

He beamed and nodded.

“Whatever you say.”

She nodded and bit her lip naughtily before whispering.

“Ok…Officer.”

He felt his throat parch. Why did that one word sound so hot from her mouth? 

Vani entered her house still blushing. She stopped short seeing Varun in her room. She masked her expressions and asked.

“Tu yaha kya kr rha hai? Apne kamre mai jaa.”

(What are you doing here? Go to your room.)

Varun raised his eyebrow and smirked.

“Kyu? Colleague se baat krni hai?”

(Why? Want to talk to colleague?)

“Ek thappad lagaungi mai! Nikal yaha se!”

(I will slap you! Get lost!)

Varun got up and walked towards the door. He stopped and asked.

“Should I start practicing to call him jiju?”

Vani didn’t turn to look at him but a smile formed on her face.

“No. Not yet.”

Veer had been trying to look for an opportunity to ask her out on a second date. And he did find it. It was his parents’ 30th anniversary and they were hosting a small party in the society club house.

Varenya wanted to call her mam and her family and Veer immediately approved of the idea. 

Vani was wearing a blue coloured jumpsuit which had a traditional look to it through the use of traditional laces and borders. She left her hair open and wore matching earrings with it.

“Vani! Ready hai kya?”

(Are you ready?)

“Haan mumma. Aa gyi!”

(Yes mumma. I’m here!)

She took her clutch and moved out of her room after strapping her heels. Her father took the house keys and locked the door behind them. They were waiting for the lift when Vani heard Varun whisper in her ear.

“Excited to meet ‘not yet’ jiju?”

Vani glared at him and pinched his waist making him jump and wince. They reached the club house and wished the ‘couple of the evening’. 

Vani’s eyes wandered around in search of Veer but he was nowhere to be found. She saw Varun’s gaze fixed somewhere and narrowed her eyes on him when she found him looking at Varenya who was standing beside her friends and giggling.

Vani pulled Varun’s ear, making him wince and look at her confused.

“What?”

“Kya dekh raha hai?”

(What are you looking at?)

“Kya dekh raha hu? Kuch bhi toh nhi.”

(What am I looking at? Nothing.)

He looked away quickly.

“Beta ji! Badi behen hu teri! Sab samajh aata hai mujhe. Chhoti hai wo!”

(Dear! I am your elder sister! I understand everything. She is younger than you!)

“Do saal!”

(Two years!)

“Varun! Sochio bhi mat!”

(Don’t even think about it!)

He looked at her teasingly and said.

“Sochne mai kya problem hai?”

(What is the problem in thinking?)

“Mumma ki student hai wo.”

(She is mumma’s student.)

He smirked and bent down to her height a little and whispered only for her to hear.

“Mumma ki student hai isliye problem hai ya ‘not yet’ jiju ki behen hai isliye?”

(Is there a problem because she is mumma’s student or ‘not yet’ jiju’s sister?)

“Thappad khaayega!”

(I will slap you!)

He chuckled and sauntered off towards his society friends. Vani sighed and looked around for Veer again when she felt someone whisper in her ear from behind.

“Looking for me?”

She turned to see him smiling at her. A shy smile formed on her face and she lowered her lashes.

“Pyaari lag rhi ho.”

(You look pretty.)

He complimented and she blushed deeper. He was wearing a three-piece suit. He held her hand and started pulling her somewhere making her look at him wide eyed.

“Come on! Let’s get a picture clicked.”

He went towards his parents and called her family too. Veer’s parents were in the middle with Varenya on one side and Veer on the other. Veer made Vani stand on his side and discreetly snaked his arm around her waist. Since her parents and Varun came from the other side, they stood beside Varenya. 

So, it was Vani, Veer, his parents, Varenya, Varun and her parents, in that order. During the party, Veer found an opportunity to take Vani away for some time.

“So? When can I have my second date?”

He asked and she looked away trying to hide her smile. A soft breeze blew and her hair moved beautifully. He couldn’t stop his hands from moving and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Her eyes snapped up to his and a red hue covered her cheeks.

“Umm…Saturday?”

“Saturday it is. I’ll pick you up at the same time?”

She nodded and he motioned for her to move inside again. She obliged while blushing and he followed behind with his hands in his pants’ pockets.

Veer couldn’t stop staring at the picture. It came out so beautiful. They looked like a family. He almost blushed seeing the small smile and shyness in her eyes. Only he knew the reason behind it.

He forwarded that picture to her. She zoomed in and blushed seeing their first picture together. Something in her told her that this wasn’t going to be the last one.

“Tu aaj phir kaha chali?”

(Where are you going again?)

“Umm…friends ke saath get together hai. Aa jaaungi thodi der mai.”

(Umm…there is a get together with friends. I will come in some time.)

“Itni late kaunsa get together hota hai?”

(Which get together happens so late?)

“Tsk! Mummy! Bache thodi na hai hum ab. Don’t worry. Aapko location send kr dungi.”

(We are not kids. Don’t worry. I will send you the location.)

She kissed her mother’s cheek and rushed out. Veer was waiting for her and smiled seeing her arrive.

She was wearing a co-ord set and coincidentally, they were twinning.

“Let’s go!”

“Where should I drive to?”

He asked and she put the location on the GPS in the car. He followed the directions and they arrived at the place. It wasn’t very expensive like the one Veer had chosen but was quite aesthetic and had cozy vibes.

They enjoyed their date and when Veer was dropping her to her gate, he asked.

“Tumhe darr nhi lagta? Koi dekh lega hume saath mai.”

(Are you not scared? Someone will see us together.)

“Darna kyu hai? Hum kuch galat thodi na kr rhe hai. We are adults. I can handle my family. And I know you’ll take care of yours. Baakio se mujhe farak nhi padta.”

(Why scared? We are not doing anything wrong….I don’t care about anyone else.)

She shrugged and he smiled. He tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed.