chai and yap

Mayukh POV:

It had been a week since that day. This last week had been extremely busy for everyone, me and her. She had a lot of work to do and I also had a lot of work to do. So, I didn't disturb her.

Still, we always managed to have lunch and dinner together; I want to make up for what I did. To an extend, I am, but it will take time and I know that.

So, as today was Sunday, I planned to take her out, so I can get to know her and enjoy time with her and we can finally come on the same page.

"Are you free?" I asked her, as she came down in the morning for her chai.

She looked at me, confused, "Yeah?"

"Why the confusion in that tone?"

"No.... I'm just asking. Why?"

"Well, it's Sunday, and I want to go out, and I want to go with my wife."

She looked at me, and then gave me a small smile, "Sure."

I got up, kissed her cheek, "we will leave in 3 hours." I said and left.

Once I reached the room, I got ready to do my work. After working for 2 hours, I closed my stuff and then decided to get ready for the outing. I wore a simple white t-shirt and jeans and then got ready to go down.

Waiting downstairs, I checked my phone, where I texted Mom Dad, Aai Baba and Kiddo. After Aai Baba's loans and everything was sorted, I decided to make sure that they aren't hiding more things. So, I call them regularly to make sure that they're on track and everything is okay, including things with Kiddo. After getting a positive reply, I waited for her.

My eyes went on her after 5 minutes. She looked beautiful. She wore simple black cargo pants and a light brown full sleeve crop top, with her hair braided and her usual slight makeup.

Wow!

"I'm ready." She said, looking at me.

I smiled, "Let's go." I got up, held her hand and we headed out of the main door. We walked to the car in silence, I didn't like it but I knew she isn't very comfortable yet, or is she?

I guess I'll find out today.

Once we sat in the car, I started driving. It was silent for 10 minutes until she spoke, "Where are we going?"

I looked at her, "You'll know soon enough, but let's just say, you'll love it and it's exactly the kind of stuff you like to go to!"

"Okay then!" She smiled and sat back down.

Within 1 hour we reached a beautiful water body area just on the outskirts. It had a beautiful oasis, with a lake and sitting area nearby. The weather was pretty and it had slight drizzling going on. We got down and I saw her take in the view. "Wow!" She whispered, "this is amazing." She said, looking at the view, admiring it.

"It really is." I said, looking at her. I caught her hand and we walked towards the area to sit. I quickly went to get a cup of chai for both of us and then joined her to sit, "Here."

She smiled and took it, and then sat down.

We sat in silence until she smiled, "Thanks for this, I love it."

"I love it too," I replied, "I have heard of it for so long but never actually been here, so I thought to check it out with you."

"Great idea." She chuckled.

I grabbed her hand, then sighed and pulled her close, so she was sitting next to me, "Can I ask you something?"

She nodded, "Yeah?"

"Why are you so restrictive? Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Is there something?"

She stiffened, "why would you ask that?"

I sighed, "Nikku, it's just that," I caught her hand, "I want us to move on together. I know that our past hasn't been good, we've been in a lot of mess with your masi and everything, and trust me I don't hold that against you. I just, I want us to be able to move on together."

She looked at me, "I.... I understand. I know I haven't been good to you, but—"

"No, you've been fine. Infact it's me who hasn't been entirely good to you, but I swear I will be better now. I'm trying my best."

"No, you're fine." She said, "You're trying your best with me even though you got dragged into this unnecessarily. You were just having a simple holiday and you got involved in this crossfire and—"

"If I hadn't gotten there, you'd be married to someone 3 times your age and God knows how you'd be treated there." I said, angry.

"Hey." she said, catching my hand, "It's okay. I don't think we should go into the past."

"You're right, but it's just unfair. But anyway, I mean to say that, you've dealt with a lot and so I understand why you might not be open to talking or anything, but...."

She sighed, "I was just afraid of trusting again, I know that you've given me no reason to doubt you but I just, the word marriage just scared me and when Aai Baba found out and suggested we marry, it caught me off track, then they spent so much money and I had so many things to repay and everything and it just—"

"Relax." I said, stopping her, "I know everything. I need you to understand that I'm here for you and your family. Heck! They're my family too, not just yours and I don't want you to feel guilty that I'm taking care of them. If you take care of my family then why wouldn't I take care of yours?"

She smiled, "You're so sweet."

"I know!" I smirked, "but you know what's sweeter?" I said, coming closer to her.

"W...what?" She asked, whispering.

"You." I said and closed the gap between us.

I held her close, as I kissed her, and I smiled as she kissed me back slowly. This was new. She'd never kiss me back so intently. I held her slowly and caressed her cheek as I kissed her as she held my hand. She's a beautiful soul.

We let go and I looked at her, "Can I ask you for something, Nikita?"

She nodded, "Of course."

I held her hand, "Can we please start over? I know that there's too much history between us for us to completely act like nothing happened so we don't need to, of course, but I want us to be a couple. We've been friends from before. I mean, in school we've always been friends, right?" She nodded, and I continued, "Can we blossom this friendship into something more? Can we try to be a couple?"

She smiled, "We can.... And by the way, I had told you that KKR would win that season!"

"Aye! No! I had said that long back, you were the one over analyzing it." I argued.

"Oh hell no! It was you. I was the one being positive about the season, even when we had 2/3 bad games.... And then there's you."

I chuckled, "Alright ma'am, you win!"

"Of course I do!" She smiled.

We sat and had chai and spoke about a bunch of things after that. I was so happy, I finally got the girl I wanted back. I saw her sit comfortably and talk to me, just like she did before.

"You know, Armaan and I were always so close." She said, "We had so many fights and banters about KKR and MI. It was fun!"

"Armaan and his hate for KKR. I hate it."

"I know right! There's absolutely no reason, but I loved your grade from school, my grade was pretty boring." She said.

"Trust me, my grade loved you too." I said, thinking about the old times, "Especially my group."

"Really?" She asked me, "I thought you guys found me annoying!" She chuckled.

"Annoying?!" I exclaimed, "Please, it was the other way around, "They all liked you and infact I'm sure that Armaan had a crush on you."

"No way." She joked.

"Oh I'm sure, it was a tiny crush, but I'm sure it was there...." I then caught her hand, "he wouldn't have been the only one, though."

"What?" She asked.

I chuckled, "Well, I always had a thing for you too. Ever since you replied to my story that day and yapped about cricket got so long, I felt like I finally got to talk to someone who thought the same way as me - which was very true - it was amazing." I confessed.

She looked at me in shock, "You liked me?"

"Of course I did, is that even a question? You are like the female version of me, only that you talk way more than I do! Armaan and my friends knew as well."

"Why didn't you tell me anything?"

"Well, I didn't how you felt and if I'm being honest, I knew that I had university to go and I didn't want to get into a relationship knowing that the future is unclear."

"That's very smart. I like that." She said, but then looked at me, "But, how were you so sure I'd like you back?" She chuckled.

"Oh!" I grabbed her hand, "If I wanted to pursue you properly and win you, there is no force that would stop me. We'd be dating for over 4 years then." I said, confidently.

She blushed, "I see."

"You will." I smirked, "You surely will. Do you want to head back?" I asked her.

"No. Can we stay for a while?" She asked.

I smiled and we sat down together, revisiting more in the past, and for the first time after knowing her back after 2 years, it felt like I'm talking to the same Nikita as I did when we were in school.

~•~