chapter 23

Chapter 23A heartfelt confession She thought she saw a figure detach itself from the shadows and then merge with it again. “Who is it?” she asked, her heart in her mouth. She heard a man whistle softly, breaking the calm of the dark night. He walked towards her, whistling the tune, ‘I have had the time of my life’. She recognised the tune and knew it was Ved. She felt a strange sense of relief. She ran towards him and threw herself into his arms, snuggling close to him. “Silly, you gave me such a scare!” He said, amused, “Ishq dear, people around us are having quite a feast looking at us like this!” She opened her eyes instinctively and stepped back. Even as he threw his head back and roared with laughter, she realised what a fool she had been to fall for this line. “You rotten thing! Just you watch.” She ran after him, and he ran ahead, dodging her around the tables and the chairs. And then he vanished into the shadows. “Ved, where are you?” she asked, following him.She jumped as he came quietly behind her and scooped her up in his arms. Hidden from view, behind the bushes, Smriti was giggling at the drama unfolding infront of her. Reassured that Ishiqa was in safe hands- she quietly slipped away.“Where are you taking me! Put me down, Ved,” she beseeched.But, truth be told, she felt her heart skip a beat. She put her arms around his neck and snuggled closer to him as he walked to the ‘I Love You’ rose pattern.  Then he put her down and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I am so madly in love with you, Ishq.” “I thought you’d never say it, Ved. But I hope you mean all this truly and it is not one of your pranks,” she said sniffing, a tear rolling down her cheek. She took the box of tissues that he gave her and started to laugh and cry at the same time, as on every piece of tissue she picked, there was a message written, “I love you”, “I am crazy about you”, “Your gorgeous eyes take my breath away”, “Your innocent and beautiful ways make me want you more and more”, “My sleeping beauty now has a prince to wake her up every morning” and several more in a similar vein. “I don’t believe this is happening to me. The Ved Kashyap, heartthrob of millions, is in love with a girl like me! Pinch me quickly, Ved!” She held out her arm to him. “You forgot to say something, sweetheart…” “Me? What?” She looked at him, feigning innocence. “Say it Ishiqa, I am dying to hear those words, those three words that are going to change our lives forever.”She smiled shyly. “I love you.” She buried her face in his chest. “Let us dance and celebrate our love.” He seemed to have thought of everything! There was a music system placed on a table, probably battery run. He switched on the music and under the umbrella of the twinkling stars in the sky, they danced holding each other. First they moved slowly, and then the passion built up as the soft, sensuous music added fuel to the fire burning within them. Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm, and they kissed softly, exploring each other’s mouths gently. They came up for air. Ved smiled at her affectionately. “Phew, I just have to take one look at you and all my good intentions are out of the window! Dash and bang!” He took a deep breath to calm himself, then he took her by her hand and seated her on one of the chairs. On the table was a silver bucket filled with ice, in which lay a bottle of champagne.  Ved unscrewed the cork, poured the fizzing liquid into the two flute glasses lying beside the bucket and raised a toast, “Cheers to our love.” She slid her hand around his, “To our love.”What next, her eyes demanded as she looked at him flirtatiously.As if on cue, she heard a movement behind her. A waiter wheeled in a trolley that had a beautifully iced cake and exotic looking food, and left immediately. She looked up at him in wonder. “You really had everything planned! I think I have to watch my step and not fall into any more traps with you!” she joked. He eyed her lustily. “You cannot escape me anymore. If you have any second thoughts, I know just how to make you weak with desire…” His voice caressed her sensuously. She turned away laughing, hiding just how weak she already felt. “I smell food! I am very hungry with all the running around you made me do while you flew happily in that fancy plane of yours!” He gave her a crestfallen look. “I am hungry too but the only edible thing that comes to my mind is you. Even covered fully, you look ready to eat.” His eyes feasted on her. He stepped closer. “Ved, I am hungry! Remember?” she said, escaping his advances as she giggled.He muttered, “Spoilsport,” and served her food with an exaggerated flourish. She cut the heart shaped cake reluctantly. “Do we have to break the heart?” she asked.“It will fill us with more love, my love,” he said, and fed her a piece. She took a piece and brought it near his mouth. But as he opened his mouth to take a bite, she pulled it back quickly and put it in her mouth laughing. He chased the cake to her mouth and licked the sweetened lips. She froze, her eyes eagerly fixed on his.Seeing the desire shining through her eyes, he laughingly turned away. He felt her hands pummelling his back. He relished her sweet, lilting laugh belying the violence of her action.