"Ouch Akira", Vikram winced.

"Be a man dude. You are dancing off with such a small pinch. What will you do when I land you a sucker punch?", said Akira and started showing off her fist.

"Shut up and come here", Vikram said and stretched his arm out to give her a hug.

She smiled and hugged him back. She stood there comfortably in his arms for some time.

"I will hug you like this and you will forget to land your everything, including your sucker punch", Vikram said and gently stroked her hair.

"Huh your moves are so underhanded and unethical", Akira muttered and stormed towards his car.

He looked at her storming away. Her cuteness was killing him, making him fall in love with her every single day, over and over again. He pinched his brows and muttered under his breath,

"What I am gonna do without you?"

Then he followed her and got inside the car. While he was putting on his seat belt, Akira asked,

"At least now will you tell me where we are going?"

"La Zoirie", Vikram said and started off the car.

"I remember I told you not to pick an expensive restaurant", Akira said with a miffed tone.

"Well, technically we are going to eat there for free. So I guess it's the least expensive one" Vikram said.

"For free? Why and how?", Akira asked

"Actually mum got a free dinner pass for this restaurant as part of some event in her social circle. Don't even ask me the details. But yeah that's the gist of it", Vikram said.

"Wao... perks of having an amazing mom", Akira said and elbowed him to tease him a bit.

Their friendly banter continued till they reached the restaurant which was just 20 minutes away from Akira's place.

Vikram had pre-booked a candlelight dinner with a very romantic setting. They had got a couch with dim lights and fragrant candles and flowers all over the place. Akira beamed with happiness and she was a sucker for all these things. Vikram knew it well that how much she loved these things so he had instructed the restaurant well before starting from the fragrance of candles, the color of the flowers, to the playlist, etc, etc.

"Wao, it's just perfect", Akira said looked happily towards Vikram.

"You like it?" he asked.

"Like it? I love it Vikram. It's just perfect", Akira said and sat on the couch.

Vikram joined her and signaled the waiter to bring the menu.

"So what are you up to these days?", Vikram asked.

"Nothing much to be honest. So much has happened in the last couple of days that I desperately want my life to be boring and back to normal", Akira said and gave a faint smile.

"Don't worry everything will be all right. You have already faced the worst so everything from now on will be better than that ok!!! You need to trust me on this one", Vikram said and placed his palm on Akira's and gave out a gentle smile.

"God, you always speak what I really want to hear. Like you are some kind of psychic or something", Akira said and mocked him a bit. Then she took the menu card and started searching in the appetizer section.

"So how was the party yesterday?", Vikram asked because he was really curious to know about the level of interaction that Akira was having with Raymond.

"It was so much fun you know. The kids had literally created a riot in the house and we were just somehow managing to tame them. But it was very enjoyable. The stories they tell, my God. These days kids are just unbelievable", Akira said and smiled recollecting a few of the funny incidents.

"What about your boss? Did he give a helping hand too?", asked Vikram.

"Duh, he was late as hell. By the time he came, cake cutting was already done and most of the kids had already gone home. He reached somewhere around 10:00 pm or something. Katherine was so mad at him...."

While Akira was ranting about the party, Vikram immediately sent a text to a private number.

"He reached the house at 10:30 pm around. Find out how far is the office from there and at what time did he leave office with David" - Vikram.

"Plus my magic show was so dope. All the kids just loved me and wanted to see it again and again", Akira kept on telling her stories while Vikram's concentration was half split between his phone screen and Akira.

A few seconds later Vikram's phone buzzed and he checked it immediately.

"He left office just 15-20 minutes before. Doesn't look like he went to any hospital with David" - Private Sender

Vikram read the message and drank his anger which was surging within him. His fists were clenched and his jaws were taut. Even when the restaurant was centrally air-conditioned, beads of sweat started forming on his head.

"Hey, are you ok?", asked Akira all concerned after seeing him sweat.

"Do you have a fever or something?", she asked and placed her palm on Vikram's head to check his temperature.

"I am fine, its probably work stress. Don't worry. You are with me so now everything will be fine", Vikram said and took Akira's hand from his forehead and placed it on his lap. But Akira wasn't satisfied with his answer and made a face.

"Are you hiding something from me? Why do I get the feeling that you are lying? Are you sick and you still came out just because you had promised me to come for dinner?", she asked.

"Jeez Akira, you should write a book - 101 ways to over-hypothesize, for Dummies. Will be a best seller, I can guarantee you", Vikram said and chuckled.

"You!!!", even if you are sick, you still can't stop mocking me. Huh !!!", Akira said and pouted.

"Well some habits just don't go", Vikram said and patted Akira's head.

Akira pushed him back and said,

"You dare to do that again Mr. and you will face my wrath. I will curse your food to be infested with insects and slime", Akira said and started moving her spoon in the air like her wand.

"Can you just stop being so dramatic and order the food. I am starving for God's sake", Vikram said and handed her the menu again.

"Well, I am in a mood for pasta. What about you?", asked Vikram.

"I will have mushroom risotto", Akira said and smiled at Vikram.

"Mushroom risotto? Since when did Mushroom risotto become your fantasy Akira. You always loved pasta right?", Vikram asked. He was surprised by her food choice.

"Ah, nothing nothing!!! Recently someone from my work had suggested it. I tried it once and I liked it. So I thought I will give it a try again", Akira said and placed the menu card back on the table.

Her mind was flooded with memories of her flight journey. Raymond's soothing voice echoed in her head

"Try mushroom risotto. It's nice".

A smile floated on her face as she remembered the way Raymond had taken care of her during the flight journey.