Padmanabh looks at Vrishali who is busy admiring the beauty before her. While she admired the view, he admired her.
They have visited the Eiffel Tower on the day of their arrival. Padmanabh decided to take Vrishali on a date to the Eiffel Tower again.
"I have never thought I would be having a date here," Vrishali said dreamily looking at the city.
Vrishali was surprised when Padmanabh brought her on a date to Le Jules Verne. A restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
Vrishali turned her gaze back to Padmanabh who is sitting opposite to her with his gaze fixed on her.
He dressed in a black dress shirt and black trousers. He tucked in the shirt and wore a long black coat.
Vrishali dressed in a black bodycon dress which she personally stitched. She wore a long black coat with her hair curled into beach waves.
"I hope you are happy," Padmanabh spoke as they waited for their food.
"Happy? I'm beyond happy! This is... I can't explain. Watching the city from here is surreal, the city is too pretty." Vrishali smiled and Padmanabh lost seeing her smile.
"Do you drink wine?" Padmanabh asked.
"Yes, and you?"
"I do, only on occasions," Padmanabh replied. The chef came with the server personally to meet Padmanabh.
"Good evening your Royal Highness."
"Good evening your Royal Highness," the chef greeted bowing his head in respect.
"I'm Frederic Anton. I hope you are having a lovely time," the chef introduced.
"Good evening, Mr Anton," Padmanabh spoke.
"Good evening Mr Anton. We are having a lovely time here," Vrishali spoke.
The server gently placed the food on the table. The chef picked the wine bottle and served the glasses.
"I will take my leave, Your Royal Highness and ma'am. Please enjoy your meal," the chef bowed his head before taking his leave.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
Vrishali picked her glass and Padmanabh did the same. They clicked their glasses before taking a sip. Vrishali tasted the wine, the food and wine were paired by the chef. The chef personally prepared a menu for Padmanabh as he won't be eating meat.
"Hmm, I love the taste of this," Vrishali said looking at her wine.
"Yes," Padmanabh replied.
"Have you been here before?" Vrishali asked placing her wine glass down, picking her knife and fork.
"Yes, I have been here for a business breakfast."
"You know, my parents had their first date here. It was their first vacation and in this restaurant, my dad got to know that my mum was pregnant," Vrishali said. Vrishali's parent's marriage was also an arranged marriage. They had their first date after their marriage.
"Interesting."
"Arjun jiju proposed to Naina Didi in front of Eiffel tower. It was her dream proposal," Padmanabh spoke.
"Wow, That's so sweet."
Vrishali never had a dream date or dream proposal as she never thought about it. But she thought she would be having a proposal as she was going to marry a foreigner.
Instead of a proposal, she had an engagement. She doesn't regret though after all this. She is grateful that she married Padmanabh not someone else.
"How is Vijay?" Vrishali asked.
"He is doing good, he went to Sydney to meet Tania," Padmanabh said.
"Yes, I have seen the post on his feed. She is pretty," Vrishali said taking a bite of the lamb.
She placed her fork down and picked her phone. She clicked pictures of Padmanabh.
"Smile... I'm not eating you or beating you," Vrishali said.
"I don't know how to pose," Padmanabh spoke.
"Lol, you got an Adonis face and body. Just sit normally and look at the camera giving that intense look."
"Why would I give intense look to the camera?"
"Then give it to me but keep your eyes focused on the camera."
"Okay."
Vrishali clicked Padmanabh's pictures then gave her phone to him to click her pictures.
"I will take your photos on my phone," Padmanabh said.
"Sure."
Vrishali patted down her dress and coat, pushed her back smiling at the camera. She changed her position and expressions posing for the camera.
"I will remove my coat," Vrishali said.
"Okay." Padmanabh waited as Vrishali stood up removing her coat.
Vrishali looked like a model to Padmanabh as he clicked her pictures. She took his breath away and Padmanabh understood that Vrishali is photogenic.
Then they clicked pictures together. When they are done with the photos Vrishali put her coat back.
"Have you decided the name for the hostel?" Padmanabh asked eating his dessert.
"Yes."
"What did you decide?"
"Hostel Vrinabh," Vrishali says excitedly.
'Vrinabh.' Padmanabh repeated the word in his mind.
"Sounds good."
"Do you wanna know how I got the name?" Vrishali asked.
"How?"
"It's our names... Vri from Vrishali and nabh from Padmanabh. I wanted it to be special. At first, I thought of Padmali but I decided on Vrinabh," Vrishali explained.
Padmanabh looked at Vrishali in surprise, he didn't know that Vrishali decided the name based on their names. He thought Vrinabh is a word which he doesn't know.
"I don't have any words, that's a great idea." Padmanabh spoke with an impressed look.
"Thank you." Vrishali smiled tucking her hair.
*
"Vrishali... Look here," Padmanabh said.
"Wow, that looks so beautiful." Vrishali awed looking at the Christmas lights. Vrishali held onto Padmanabh's hand as they strolled through the streets aimlessly.
Padmanabh and Vrishali went to Boulevard Hausman to enjoy and watch the sparkling Christmas lights.
"This reminds me of our night walk in Tirumala," Vrishali said looking at Padmanabh as they walk slowly.
"Yes, even I was thinking about that night," Padmanabh spoke looking at her.
"Do you think it's going to rain?" Vrishali asked as they saw lighting. It suddenly became windy in the evening and clouds turned black.
"High chances of a shower."
"Where did we park our car?" Vrishali asked.
"A km away from here," Padmanabh replied.
"That far?"
"Yes."
"I'm fine unless it starts to pour-" Vrishali stops midsentence when they feel the cold drops dropping on their face.
Vrishali looked at Padmanabh wide-eyed, Padmanabh holds Vrishali's hand before pulling her with him.
They were walking aimlessly away from the crowded streets. Now there isn't any cafe or shops for them to halt or hide from the rain.
They ran together towards the closed shop where there is a shelter. They leaned against the wall under the roof as it started raining heavily. Vrishali looked at Padmanabh before laughing. Padmanabh joined her...
They waited under the roof watching the rain and the street lights. Vrishali enjoyed the music playing in the building.
There is a Christmas party going on and the music can be heard along with the laughter. An idea popped into Vrishali's mind as she turned her head up to look at Padmanabh.
Padmanabh is nervous, he was about to tell Vrishali when she pulled his sleeve for attention.
"Hmm?"
"Do you know how to dance?" She asked a bit loudly because of the rain.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Because I want to dance now," Vrishali said excitedly.
"Like now? Under this roof? I don't think we can dance under this roof."
"We gonna dance under the pouring sky." Vrishali removed her bag, kept it on the dry floor. She didn't give Padmanabh a chance to speak as she stepped out in the rain.
Padmanabh watched as Vrishali drenched in rain in seconds. "Come on, it's just rain."
Vrishali pushed her hand out asking Padmanabh to take it. Padmanabh looked unsure, as a kid he loved rain and drenching in rain.
"Okay." Padmanabh removed his coat and phone placed them on Vrishali's bag. Vrishali smiled as Padmanabh took her hand joining her in the rain.
"I hope you know the steps for the song," Vrishali said giving Padmanabh challenging eyes.
Padmanabh shook his head, pulling Vrishali closer to him with his arm wrapped around her waist.
"Haha..."
They started dancing to the tune of the song, Vrishali can feel the excitement and happiness. She laughed as Padmanabh twirled her around then picked her up.
"You are good at dance," Vrishali complimented Padmanabh.
They are completely drenched in rain, laughing while dancing looking at each other.
The street is empty with only them dancing while the lights shined bright with the music playing in the building.
"Wow! This is insane, I love this" Vrishali spoke as they speed danced.
They reached the last bit of the song, they ended their dance with Padmanabh's arms holding Vrishali, with Vrishali leaning down looking straight at Padmanabh.
"I know you didn't have your fairytale or the way you wanted to fall in love. Things didn't go our way but I'm glad that our paths crossed. I may not tell you but trust me you mean so much to me. I..."
Vrishali's heart is racing because of the adrenaline rush of pure excitement.
"I love you," Padmanabh said pulling the ring box out of his pocket.
Vrishali looked at him with wide eyes as he pulled the ring out of the box. Vrishali didn't reply just placed her hand for him to put the ring on. Padmanabh did what she wanted with a happy smile.
"This is not a new ring, this is the same ring I gave you on our wedding day. This ring is special to me as I bought it spending my first income. I have made alternations so that it can fit your ring finger," Padmanabh spoke stroking his thumb on Vrishali's ring.
Vrishali snapped out of her daze of love. "I... I love you..."
Vrishali cupped Padmanabh's cheeks, stood on her tiptoes placing her cold lips on Padmanabh's cold lips.
Padmanabh's eyes widen when he felt Vrishali kissing him. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms picking her off the floor.
He shyly kissed her back not knowing anything about this kiss. Vrishali pulled away smiling before kissing his lips.
Padmanabh repeated what Vrishali is doing and enjoyed it. He felt different kinds of emotions relating to happiness exploding in his body and mind.
They pulled away from the kiss breathing heavily, Vrishali looked at Padmanabh with dilated eyes.
"I have never wanted a fairytale. Marrying you is one of the best things that happened to me. I feel so grateful that my grandparents chose you not someone else..." Vrishali said before giving a peak to his lips.
"Addictive..." She whispered looking at Padmanabh's flush face. The rain stopped but they are drenched.