“Lekin uss privilege se pehle…mere ek sawaal ka jawab do.”

(But before that privilege…answer one question.)

Her breath hitched when she heard his question. What should she answer? Should she be truthful or lie to him?

“Pankti ka number hote huye bhi aaj mujhe call kyu kia?”

(Why did you call me even after having Pankti’s number?)

“Mai…wo…”

(I…that…)

She stuttered and he smiled.

“Pasand krti hu mujhe?”

(You like me?)

Her eyes widened and she tried to search for a way out of this situation. She didn’t want to embarrass herself anymore. 

“Mai…aisa nhi…”

(I…it’s not that…)

“Mai krta hu. Tumhe pasand. Bhut jyada.”

(I do. I like you. A lot.)

He confessed and she froze. Her eyes snapped up to his and she saw only sincerity and truth in them. There was no hint of mirth or teasing. 

“A-aap…”

(Y-you…)

“Hmm. Mai. I like you, Swaraa. I know it sounds stupid coming from a grown-up man’s mouth, but I had a crush on you the first night we met. Tab sirf attraction thi. But slowly, with time, this developed into something else. I don’t know about love, yet. But I really like you.”

(Hmm. I….It was just attraction back then.)

Swaraa was tongue-tied. Shaurya understood her dilemma. He had shocked her with his sudden confession.

“Take your time. Koi zabardasti nhi hai. Just do what you like. Mai pasand hu toh bta dena. Aur nhi bhi pasand tab bhi bta dena.”

(There is no force….Let me know if you like me. And even if you don’t, just let me know.)

He cupped her face and planted a sweet, soft kiss on her forehead. She melted right there. Her eyes fluttered shut and she gripped his suit jacket, feeling overwhelmed.

That night, Swaraa couldn’t sleep. His words kept replaying in her mind. She tossed and turned and kept thinking about it.

Why was she so confused? What was she so confused about? He liked her. She had a crush on him. Why couldn’t she give him a chance?

Because it was not as easy as it seemed. At least not for women. She had to consider a lot of factors. Her safety was the first. 

She knew he was a renowned businessman and a gentleman. But she had even heard fathers do wrong to their daughters, he was just a stranger to her.

Swaraa knew she was thinking too extreme but that’s how her mind worked. That’s how every woman’s mind worked when it came to her safety from unknown men. 

She needed to discuss it with someone before she lost her mind. Her Anisha di was out of station for some meeting. She would return after two days and the first thing that Swaraa would do was discuss it with her. The one person she could trust with her life after her parents.

Anisha listened to Swaraa’s rant calmly. She could see the panic and dilemma on her face and in her eyes.

“Kuch samajh nhi aa raha di. I want to trust him, give him a chance but dimaag keh raha hai that I don’t even know him that well.”

(I don’t understand anything di. I want to trust him, give him a chance but my mind is saying that I don’t even know him well.)

“Dekh Aru! Agar problem ye hai ki tu unhe jaanti nhi hai then the only solution is to get to know him. About his views about things and other things about him. Aur agar problem ye hai ki wo predator na nikle toh you’ll know it with a few things.

(Look Aru! If the problem is that you don’t know him then the only solution is to get to know him….If the problem is that he might turn out to be a predator then you’ll know if with a few things.)

Swaraa frowned but listened carefully.

“If he thinks about women in a wrong light, uske expressions pr show hoga. It might be too subtle to be noticed but reactions honge. He might react to seeing women in short clothes. His gaze might wander when any girl passes by. He would not look into your eyes but at your body while talking. Wo baar baar touch krne ki koshish krega. Aur bhi bhut cheezein hoti hai jisse idea lag jaata hai. If his gaze makes you feel uncomfortable, then you know he’s not someone you want to spend your life with.”

(If he thinks about women in wrong light, it will show in his expressions. It might be too subtle to be noticed but reactions will be there….He might try to touch you repeatedly. There are various other things which indicate that.)

Swaraa nodded in understanding. She knew the answer to a lot of questions was in negative. Like, for example he hadn’t seen him react in any wrong way to seeing her in short dresses. She didn’t know if his gaze stopped at any girl who passed by but she knew he looked into her eyes while talking to her. He didn’t touch her unnecessarily and his gaze did not make her feel uncomfortable.

Maybe she should come clear to him. That she was still in doubt but ready to give them a chance. She wasn’t committing but just getting to know him better before doing so.

Shaurya understood her inhibition and was thankful that she at least decided to give him a chance. 

It had been two months since she’d decided to go ahead and give them a chance. Shaurya had left no stone unturned to woo her.

He had taken her out on multiple dates. Contrary to her fears, he had never once touched her inappropriately. 

He would hold her hand randomly, keep a lingering hand on her back when guiding her somewhere and kiss her forehead when they parted.

All in all, he had been sweet and caring towards her. Even now, the two were together in her boutique.

Her cabin smelled of freshly baked cupcakes. The ones he’d brought for her when she had told him one day that she liked red velvet and chocolate cupcakes from a certain bakery shop.

She had grinned so wide seeing the delicacy that Shaurya felt his day being successful.

She took a big bite out of the first cupcake and moaned in delight after having her favourite sweet after such a long time. Shaurya smiled seeing her indulge so wholeheartedly.

“You have a little frosting here.”

He mumbled and pointed at the corner of his lips, indicating to her the area where she had the frosting.

Swaraa wiped the corner of her mouth absentmindedly. She missed a little bit of frosting and looked at him. He shook his head and indicated again. 

She took out her phone’s camera and poked her tongue to lick the cream clean. He chuckled, making her lower her lashes and giggle. 

He loved how comfortable and open she had become with him. He never wanted her to fear being judged from him. Or fear him at all.

She hadn’t said the words aloud but he understood why she’d been so reluctant in the beginning. He too had a sister and understood things well. And he’d made sure not to make her feel threatened at all.