“Can I…can I get a hug?”

She was surprised for a moment, but then she blushed and nodded. They moved in sync and wrapped their arms around each other.

Veer was surprised at how perfectly she fit in his arms. Their height difference made it even more perfect. She reached his heart. He leaned in unknowingly and involuntarily placed a kiss on the top of her head.

She looked up at him and smiled.

“I like you, Vani. I really really like you.”

He whispered and she felt her heart skip a beat. She hid her face in his chest again and mumbled something. She knew he understood because she felt his heart skip a beat and smiled.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Say it again, Vani.”

She looked up at him and smiled softly.

“I like you too, Veer.”

He kissed her forehead. And then kissed it once again, as if not getting enough of her once.

“Go inside. It’s getting late.”

He whispered after some time and she nodded.

“Good night.”

Vani and Veer have been chatting and talking over messages and calls almost daily. Varun was aware of them and Varenya had a doubt that her brother was seeing someone because of the way he kept smiling at his phone.

She had turned detective and wanted to know about who it was that he was seeing but till now she hadn’t got any clue.

Vani was coming back from the dairy and was waiting for the lift when she heard two familiar voices behind her.

“Mumma yaar! Ab phir mat kehna ki kuch chhut gaya hai.”

(Now tell me something else is left.)

“Arre check hi toh kr rhi hu.”

(I am just checking.)

It was Veer and his mother. Vani unconsciously checked her appearance and turned to look at them.

“Namaste aunty.”

“Namaste Vani beta! Kaise ho aap?”

(How are you?)

“Mai bilkul thik hu aunty. Aap bataiye.”

(I am absolutely fine aunty. You tell.)

“Arre ek dum chakachak.”

(Absolutely fine.)

They chuckled and Vani looked at Veer, who was looking at her non-stop.

“Hi.”

She greeted him too and he greeted her back. They entered the lift and Veer stood beside Vani and rested his head against the lift wall.

Their hands brushed against each other and their fingers indulged into an intimate dance of their own. He softly grasped her hand and she looked at him. He still had his head rested back and was looking at her with a soft, lazy smile.

She lowered her lashes in shyness and reluctantly pulled her hand back because her floor arrived. She bid both of them a bye and entered her apartment, blushing while reminiscing about the lift scene. 

It has been almost three months since Veer and Vani have started going on dates. Things were progressing very smoothly between the two. Their hugs have changed to tight ones where she round her arms around his neck and he held her impossibly close. Their dates now ended with cheek kisses or forehead kisses.

And on the last date, they finally confessed their love to each other. So basically, this was officially their first date as a couple. 

And somehow this information made every move of his even hotter to her and she felt giddy all throughout the evening. 

The two lovebirds were lost in their world unaware of a pair of curious eyes fixed on them. The two were at a restaurant in a mall and were walking to his car in the parking lot. Their joined hands swung between them. 

Veer grinned and pulled her closer. He snaked his arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head and cheek making her giggle.

All this while, they were unaware of the person following them and observing each of their moves with narrowed eyes.

Veer, as always, opened the door for Vani. But this time, she closed it, making him look at her confused. His confusion turned into shock when she pulled him down by his collar and joined their lips together.

He looked at her wide eyed. She kissed him for a few seconds before pulling back and biting her lip naughtily as she pretended to open the door.

This time, he slammed it shut and pulled her in his arms. He kissed her deeply and passionately. Her legs dangled in the air as he held her in his arms. Her arms around his neck and they lost themselves in the moment.

Veer reached home, grinning to himself. His face had a different glow. He saw Varenya sitting on the sofa in the living room and slumped down beside her. He closed his eyes and sighed in content with his head rested back as he replayed the kiss.

“You know…aaj meri school friend ka birthday tha.”

(You know…today was my school friend’s birthday.)

Varenya spoke and Veer hummed, still lost in Vani’s thoughts.

“Pacific mall gye the hum.”

(We went to the Pacific Mall.)

His eyes snapped open and he looked at her. She was smiling too sweetly at him. As if he’d done something to offend her.

“Achhi baat hai.”

(Good.)

He said and she continued.

“We were at cafe The Bliss.”

She dropped the bomb and he slowly looked back at her. He chuckled nervously and said.

“Achaa?”

(Really?)

“Ummhmm…and you know what the strange thing is…mujhe laga ki maine waha aapko dekha…Vani didi ke saath.”

(I thought I saw you there…with Vani didi.)

Veer decided to play it cool and shrugged.

“Haan toh? We went for dinner. Wo bhi waha aayi hui thi and coincidentally I was there too because of a meeting. So we decided to have dinner together.”

(So?...She was there and coincidentally I was there too because of a meeting.)

“Right! But you don’t know the most surprising part.”

“What?”

He asked a little scared now. 

“I saw you guys in the parking lot.”

He closed his eyes. Then, he cleared his throat and looked at her with a smile. 

“Sunn Varu! Abhi na kisi ko batana nhi ok?”

(Listen Varu! Don’t tell anyone yet ok?)

He started and Varenya bounced on the sofa with a knowing look.

“I knew it! Aap jaise pura time phone mai dekh ke haste rehte the na…mai samajh hi gyi thi ki koi toh ladki hai. But Vani didi? Sahi hai bhaiya. I like her. She’s so nice. And pretty. And helpful.”

(The way you kept laughing while looking at your phone…I understood that there is some girl. But Vani didi? Good bhaiya.)

He chuckled at her sudden change of mood. She inquired about their relationship and he sat there answering her questions.