When Prisha came out of her room in the evening after a good crying session and nap, she had assumed that Rishi would be gone.

"You're not leaving?"

She asked hopefully when she saw him at dinner. He didn't meet her eyes but replied curtly.

"Only till your brother finds my replacement."

And just like that, her smile and hope vanished. Rishi knew how he was controlling himself from pulling her into his arms and peppering kisses all over her face until all she remembered was how to laugh freely.

The next day Prisha had already sat on the breakfast table when Rishi came out of his room, greeted all of them still not meeting her eyes and politely moved out of the house waiting for her.

Prisha looked at his retreating back and then at her breakfast. She suddenly felt like not eating anymore. He wasn't having anything and she didn't want to have anything without him.

"Mai baad mai kr lungi breakfast. Abhi mann nhi hai aur late bhi ho raha hai."

She said getting up and rushed out behind him. Her brother was noticing every move of hers very sharply. He understood why she left abruptly.

"Let's go!"

She declared reaching the car beside which he was standing. He looked at her shocked and then looked back at the door. He wanted to ask why did she not have her breakfast but restrained himself.

They sat in the car and for the first time, Rishi felt like hitting himself. He should have always sat in front. As if sitting beside her, so close that he can smell her fresh jasmine fragrance wasn't enough that she had to go on and admire him with hearts in her eyes.

"Go on a breakfast date with me?"

He choked on his saliva and looked at the driver to see his reaction but the man was well trained and continued to drive as if he hadn't heard this woman ask him out on a date.

"What?"

"Date with me?"

She repeated and he closed his eyes in exasperation. He chose to stay silent and heard her huff.

She turned her face away. Why can't he just accept his feelings? A mischievous idea struck her and she looked at him with a naughty smile.

"Uncle aap car yahi side pr laga lo. Mujhe thoda time lag jaayega."

The driver nodded and parked the car. Prisha took her bag and got out of the car. Rishi followed her with a frown.

She entered a coffee shop.

"A table for two please."

She asked the serveuse politely and Rishi took a deep breath understanding what she was playing at.

Prisha took her seat and motioned him to sit down.

"I know whar you're doing. And I am not sitting beside you."

Her smile fell and she looked at him with a scowl.

"Fine! Lekin mere sar pr mat khade raho. Sit here!"

She said pointing towards the table beside her. He did and she gave her order.

Prisha looked at him only to see him looking around the place in search for any threat. Will it kill him if he spared a glance at her? She grumbled and her gaze fell on a man sitting at a table, two tables away from her.

He was eyeing her and smiled when their eyes met. Prisha gave him a weird look but then looked at Rishi. She remembered the event which triggered him in Vegas. She was dancing with a stranger and he didn't like it.

Maybe if she gave attention to someone else, he would voice out his feelings. If not, then she'll understand he really isn't interested in her and it was all alcohol speaking.

She gave the man a flirty smile and he sat straighter ar the attention being given to him.

He waved at her and she smiled in acknowledgement. She tucked her hair behind her ear and motioned him to join her, thinking that he wasn't going to.

But when the man got up and actually started walking towards her, she got nervous and looked at Rishi. He still wasn't looking at her and this annoyed her.

The man sat in front of her and greeted her.

"Hi."

He said in a really excited voice and Prisha saw Rishi's head snap towards them with the speed of lightning. Haa! Take that Mr. Verma!

"Hi!"

Prisha answered looking at the man. He looked more of her age. Maybe even younger than her.

"My name is Rohan."

He introduced himself and she smiled.

"Pr- Priya. I'm Priya."

She said not wanting to give away her real name. Rishi narrowed his eyes at her. What was she trying to do? He could see her looking at him through side eye. Did she want to make him jealous?

"You're so beautiful Priya."

The man said and did something which neither Prisha, nor Rishi had expexted. He held her hand and placed a firm kiss on her knuckles. Prisha looked at him wide eyed and then at Rishi after pulling her hand back.

She chuckled awkwardly and thanked the man. How should she politely ask him to get lost?

"Can I have your number? Let's go on a date sometime."

He said and Rishi's control snapped. She wanted to go on a date with him. Not this fucking chimpanzee.

He got up and knocked on his table.

"Get up!"

He ordered looking at the man who looked surprised to see an interruption.

"Who are you man?"

Rishi held his collar and pulled him up. Prisha was thankful because the shop was mostly empty due to morning hours.

"Rishi!"

He gave her a stern look and pulled the man away from the table.

"What the fuck bro? Leave me!"

"Stay the fuck away from my wife! You want her number? Stay away from her or the only number you'll remember if the number of bullets I put in your body."

The man gulped and nodded. Rishi left him and he scurried off without wasting any other moment. Rishi went and sat in front of Prisha who was looking at him in shock. Her order had arrived by then.

"What the hell was that?"

"How can you be so careless? He could have been dangerous. You cannot just go around invited strangers."

She bowed her head and started getting up.

"Where are you going now? Have your breakfast."

He called out and she glared at him.

"Mere breakfast buddy ko tumne bhaga dia. Khud tum mere saath kuch le nhi rhe. Mujhe akele khaana pasand nhi hai. Ye bahar kisi ko de dungi. I'll have lunch with my friends later."

She said and he felt bad. He knew she didn't have breakfast also. She rushed off to the car and he sighed. He ordered a croissant for himself and took her coffe and bread to the car.

"I told you I don't want it."

"I'll have it with you. Khatam kro isse."

He said handing her the cup and she smiled.

Her hands were all crusty after eating so he pulled out his handkerchief and started wiping her hands.

She did notice how he wiped her right hand's knuckles for a few extra seconds. A smile formed on her lips. It felt as if he was trying to erase that kiss the man gave her.

Prisha was getting restless. Her preparatory leaves were going on and she couldn't go to college. Which is also why she had no reason to go out with Rishi and spend time with him.

An idea struck her and she went to her brother sitting beside him. He kissed her head and she smiled at him.

"Mai thodi der bahar walk pr ho aau?"

She asked knowing very well what his reaction would be.

"Bilkul nhi! Time dekha hai? Raat ke 10 baj rhe hai. Abhi bahar yard mai walk kr le. Kal chale jaana park."

She pouted and gave him her irresistible pleading eyes. He cursed and looked away.

"No! I'm not falling for that. If papa permits toh baat krenge."

"Papa!"

She whined and he looked conflicted. There have been no threats since a few weeks. Maybe that wretched man had finally stopped.

"Chale jaao lekin dhyan se. Aur Rishi saath jaayega. Rishi make sure everything is fine. Aur security le jaana."

Her father said and Prisha grinned. Yay! Plan successful!

Rishi nodded and they drove to the nearest park which itself was about 10 minutes from home.

Rishi posted two guards each on every entrance of the park. Since the walls were protected by high grills and barbed wires, no one could climb it leaving only the gates as the entry points.

After he was sure that they were secured from each end, he entered the park with Prisha. She removed her slippers and took them in her hand. She started walking and sighed in contentment as the cool grass sent shivers of bliss down her spine.

They just silently walked besides each other. Prisha looked at him with a soft smile from time to time. While Rishi looked around them making sure there was no danger.

"Let's sit for a while."

She whispered and he stopped. She sat on her place and he followed suit after a minute of contemplation. She slipped her hand in his and intertwined their fingers, while keeping her head on his shoulder.

"P-Prisha?"

He asked confused. She had been vocal about her feelings but never touched him openly like this.

"This is not appropriate."

He said although he was in no mood to ask her to leave. How he wished that they lived in a parallel universe where they could be together.

"Really?"

She asked and he hummed.

"I've told you multiple times that I am not interested that ways."

What a liar he was. She must have caught on the lie he just spoke because she smiled in a challenging manner.

"You're not? Toh phir why are you still wearing the ring. Since you believe this marriage is a sham because none of us are Christians, so ab tak kyu pehni hai ye ring?"

He looked at the ring surprised and his thumb unconsciously played with it.

"I-I-just-it's-I forgot about it."

"Toh ab yaad dila dia na. Ab utaar do."

He closed his knowing very well what she was trying to prove. He couldn't do that. He couldn't just take it off. Prisha sat back satisfied when he made no move to take it off.

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