They reached the park and Priya laid the bedsheet down. She sat on it and asked him to join. He removed his shoes and sat beside her reluctantly, looking around to check if anyone was looking at them.

“Hum yaha aise baithne aaye hai?”

(Are we here to sit like this?)

“Kyu? Aapko jhule jhulne hai?”

(Why? You want to swing?)

Priya joked and giggled, making Atharva roll his eyes.

“How long are we just going to sit here like this?”

“I am carrying my book, mai toh baith skti hu. But you need to lay down.”

(I am carrying my book, I can sit.)

“Excuse me?”

He looked at her incredulously. 

“Jee. Letiye aaram se.”

(Yes. Lay down.)

“Absolutely not!”

“Mr. Sehgal!”

They had an intense, glaring competition which obviously, Atharva lost.

“I can’t believe I am doing this.”

He muttered as he laid down very awkwardly.

“What now?”

“Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun soak your skin and let it relax you.”

“Poetry likhti ho kya?”

(Do you write poetry?)

He quipped, making her chuckle but did as instructed. 

“This is so awkward.”

He mumbled after a minute. Priya sighed and shook her head.

“Achha only 15 minutes. Agar uske baad bhi ajeeb lagega toh hum ghar chal lenge.”

(Ok only 15 minutes. And if you still fell weird then we will go back home.)

She heard him hum and focused back into her book. 10 minutes later, she heard his soft breathing and looked at him only to see him deep in sleep.

A smile crept on her lips and she chuckled softly. He looked so peaceful and cute while sleeping. Priya did not realise when she started leaning towards his forehead.

When her lips were just inches away from his forehead, she realised what she was doing and snapped back into reality.

Her eyes widened and she sat straight. Her heartbeat accelerated and she quickly got up and rushed away from him.

“Kya kr rhi thi tu? Are you mad? Why were you about to kiss him? Wo koi boyfriend nhi hai tere. He’s just a patient.”

(What were you doing?...He is not your boyfriend.)

But was he? Priya had never felt anything close to what she felt with Atharva. Amidst all the teasing and their sessions, she had started to grow attached to him. 

Could it be possible that she had a crush on him? Priya gasped in realisation and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I have a crush on him! Kaise face krungi unhe?”

(How will I face him?)

Priya moved her hands in front of her face like fans and tried to cool herself down.

“Shaant Priya shaant! Ye tujhe pata hai ki tujhe crush hai. Unhe thodi pata hai.”

(Relax Priya relax! You know you have a crush. He doesn’t know.)

She took deep breaths and paced around trying to calm herself down. Priya didn’t realise how long she stayed in that panic mode.

The day started setting and she realised that they have to go back also. She moved back towards the place Atharva was sleeping. He was up now and was sitting like a lost child.

“You’re awake? Achhi neend aayi?”

(Did you sleep well?)

She teased and he gave her a stink eye.

“Height kam nhi ho jaayegi aapki agar tareef kr denge toh. You can admit that I am doing a good job.”

(You will not lose your height if you compliment a little.)

She twisted her lips and started to move back. Atharva picked up his coat and got up, before calling for her softly.

“Priya!”

She turned and raised her eyebrow at him.

“You’re doing an amazing job. Thank you!”

She wasn’t expecting the compliment and her cheeks instantly reddened. She looked away and stuttered.

“I…ummm…you’re….you’re welcome.”

Atharva looked at her in confusion. Why was she behaving like that?

They were in the car and Priya was continuously staring at Atharva. He didn’t look at her but asked.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Huh!?”

She asked, a little startled. He turned to face her and asked again.

“Kuch laga hai kya?”

(Is there something?)

“N-nhi toh. Kyu?”

(N-no. Why?)

“You were staring.”

Her cheeks reddened and she looked ahead.

“I was not. Mai bas soch rhi thi.”

(I was just thinking.)

She said quickly. Atharva raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms.

“Achha? Kya soch rhi thi?”

(Really? What were you thinking?)

“Mai soch rhi thi ki…ki…haan ki agle session mai kaha jaa skte hai.”

(I was thinking that…that…yes that what could we do in the next session.)

She was still looking ahead. Her eyes wide, due to panic. Atharva continued to look at her in amusement. She slowly turned her head towards him and blushed seeing his gaze directed towards her.

“Kya?”

(What?)

She asked in a soft whisper and he chuckled in amusement.

“You’re being weird.”

“I…I’m not.”

“You are. You are blushing. And stuttering. And being shy.”

“Aisa…aisa kuch nhi hai. I was just…thinking about….my crush.”

(It’s…it’s nothing like that.)

His amusement vanished and was replaced by something even he didn’t understand. Priya had no courage to look at him so she did not see the change but she was thankful that he stopped asking questions.

The next Sunday when Priya came into his cabin, she was silent and calm but a smile played on her lips. She didn’t speak, just sat in front of Atharva and looked at him.

Atharva waited for her to ask him to get ready to go somewhere. But when she did not say anything for a long time, he looked at her. She was still looking at him with a soft, knowing smile.

“What? Aren’t you going to ask me to get ready to go somewhere?”

Her soft smile turned into a teasing one. She leaned forward and exclaimed.

“Lag gyi na aadat! Mazza aata hai aapko unn outings pr?”

(You got addicted! You enjoy those outings right?)

She asked, pointing her finger at him. Atharva’s ears turned pink in embarrassment and he looked away.

“Aisa kuch nhi hai. I was just asking because…I have work to do later. Toh jo bhi hai jaldi krke wapas bhi aana hai.”

(There’s nothing like that….We have come back after doing whatever activity you’ve planned.)

“Aaj kuch nhi plan kia maine. Aap kaam kr lo aaram se.”

(I have not planned anything today. You can work.)

She teased and he tensed. She did not plan anything? But he wanted to do something, go somewhere, just relax himself. And he didn’t know how to do it alone.

Priya was enjoying the teasing. She saw how he got worried at her words.

“Plan nhi kia…but…what about…the sessions?”

(Did not plan…but…what about…the session?)

He asked and she shrugged.

“Yoga aur meditation toh hum kr hi rhe hai.”

(We are doing yoga and meditation.)

“But…”

Priya burst out laughing at his expressions and Atharva realised that she was playing him. He gave her a stink eye and looked away in mock anger.