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The door bell rang breaking the silent ambience. He was sitting comfortably on the couch in the living room clearly unaffected when his mother passed by him giving him a glare to which he could only shrug. However he had little time for such trivial matters. After all, time was slipping away and if he truly liked Saumya he would have to something and soon.

"How's my son?" a deep masculine voice broke his reverie. There stood his dad wearing the most elegant of his suits. That's odd. No one wears a suit in an airplane. Apparently he had gone to another of those extravagant parties before finally heading home. Akshit could only shake his head as he was engulfed in a manly hug.

"Man up, my son. And yeah do groom yourself well. We have a girl to meet."

Akshit's eyes widened.

"Why? I said I'm not interested."

"She is my best friend's daughter."

"So what Dad? I don't want to marry and that's final. How old is she? Twenty? She'll be young and dumb and..."

"She's mature if that's what you mean and definitely over twenty."

"Is she tall?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes," the reply thrashed his hopes.

"Is she intelligent?"

"One of the most successful in her field."

"Are you sure she doesn't like anyone?"

"No, we're certain, Akshit. Now, if your questionnaire is over let's sleep." His mother's voice sounded.

Akshit stood there staring, aghast. His look mirrored that of a shrivelled up brinjal.

"Do you like someone?" His mother asked with a smirk. "You said you don't like anyone. That's why I assured her mom that you two could marry."

Damn it, Akshit! Now, what? You should tell them. But now? It's quite late. Tell them tomorrow. You should definitely man up my heart.

"Damn Ma! Why? You can't decide for me. I have my own life."

"Look at him Ashok. He's talking like this to me. Now, tell me is it wrong for me to have the desire of seeing my daughter in law and grandchildren?"His mother pouted.

"Come on Ma. You already have two grandchildren."

"At least meet her, Akshit. Do you intend to spend your whole life single?" His father's voice held a tone of finality.

Heaving a frustrated sigh, he got up and went to sleep.

Lying on his back, his mind wandered back to Saumya. Her gentle laugh as she had mocked him in the hospital. How her eyes had glittered when she held the baby in her arms. Her beautiful face with those black eyes which always entranced him. Her pink lips which she licked ever so slightly without even realising. Her melodious voice as she had sung the song in the car. Their first kiss in her room. Her lips had been as soft as they were flushed and it seemed that they had been sculpted keeping him in mind.

A sigh escaped his lips. I've to stop my parents no matter what. With this thought he drifted off to sleep.

"Akshit, chalo (let's go), we're ready."

Action!

"Mom, I can't go. My head is aching."

"What?! Aww my baby. Wait I'll bring a paracetamol. Then you can take a nap and then we'll go." Saying this, she turned around.

What just happened? They seem really serious about this.

"Mummy, it's aching continuously. Can't we go meet some other day?"

"Beta, they are going out of town today and they will return a month later. We have to meet them today."

He could only groan in frustration. Why Akshit? You should have just told them in the beginning. Yeah and then face their teasing! Don't you remember what they had said? They want a servant who would do their work day and night, not a daughter in law. He internally chuckled at the thought.

With a sulking expression, he sat in the backseat as his father drove him to one of those high end diners with continental cuisine. He could still feel the box in his pocket. He didn't know what made him keep it but somehow he wanted to run from there and share his feelings to Saumya. If only he could...

"Akshit are you going to sit there all day?" His father's voice broke his trance and he got out.

They were leading him to one of the reserved tales on the second floor. Somehow, though his thoughts were preoccupied with Saumya and the ring. He could feel guilt dampening his spirit. No, this is wrong. I'll be doing wrong to that girl. I have to tell my parents.

They had reached the second floor when he called out.

"Mom! Dad! Wait. I have to tell you something." He took in a sharp breath and lifted his face to meet their gaze. "I like someone," he said in one breath.

"What?" his parents asked with widened eyes. "Whom do you like?"

He glared intently at his shoes. How would he tell them he liked Saumya?

"I... I..." He lifted his gaze to find them smiling.

"Took you long enough, my son.Do you like her?" They asked pointing to someone sitting along near the glass window. Even with her back turned towards him, he could recognise her. It was hard not to. But as realisation dawned on him, his eyes widened.

"We know you like her. Just go and meet her. She is waiting. And yeah we're only a couple of tables away." His mother trailed with a mock warning look.

He couldn't help the goofy grin from spreading across his face as he went towards the table where she sat. She was wearing a light pink kurti as she nervously played with her hair. She was staring at the scene out of the floor to ceiling glass window. His parents were smart. He had to give them that. However, he couldn't help the throbbing of his heart against his ribs. His hands were growing clammy with each step that he took.

All will be good. You like her and so does she. Don't worry, Akshit.

As he reached her table, he spoke up, "Hi, Saumya."

She turned her head, her eyes mildly surprised as she took in his form. He definitely looked handsome with that stubble of his and those chocolate brown eyes.

"You're here too. That's great." Is he the one Bua talked about? No, you're being ridiculous Saumya. Even though she desperately wanted it to be true.

Feeling his intense gaze glazing over her figure, she squeaked, "So what brings you here today?"

He had only opened his mouth to reply when her phone began ringing. It was Esha.

"Hey, where are you guys gone? Trying to ditch me?" She looked around to find Esha standing with Savita aunty a couple of tables away and furrowed her brows.

"Di, how dumb can you be? He is the match Mom was talking about and we're going out now. Have fun. This diner is booked only for you." Esha winked at this.

"What?" Her exclamation made Akshit smile at her knowingly.

"You knew it all along, didn't you?" she glared at him, her phone still tightly clutched in her hand.

She looks cute. Seriously Akshit, wrong time. She is glaring like a fucking dragon right now.

"I... well I was told just now."

Unsurprisingly enough, she face palmed herself.

"We've got one hell of a dramatic family. Let's sit down." She discreetly adjusted her hair while saying so.

Taking a seat, he said, "I've to tell you something."

"Go ahead Akshit." She could feel her heart racing as she stared at his face. Stoic as ever as he masked the minute traces of nervousness.

"I'm not sure if you feel what I do but I can't seem to focus on anything but you Saumya. From the day I met you, I've wished that you would be happy. That I would be the cause of your happiness. I've wished to spend every moment with you. I'm not sure why I'm sounding so cheesy though." Chuckling at that, he continued,"I just want to see the real you. I want her Saumya, the girl who would live one day at a time, enjoying her life to the fullest. We are two imperfect souls Saumya but we make up for what lacks in the other. I've got the jester part covered and you the sarcastic," pausing, he winked. "On a serious note though, I'm not sure I know what this is but Saumya I'm willing to wait. Wait for you to let go of the past and head towards a new beginning. I... Can I kiss you?" His gaze dropped to her pink tinted lips with a longing she felt too.

Her eyes held unshed tears as her heart hammered. She sealed the distance between them as she kissed him. Her desires surpassed the vines of rationality which had engulfed her being as he seemed to take the control, his hands wrapping her in a hug. It was passionate as if sealing the promises their lips couldn't utter. Both felt contented as they parted.

Her face was flushed as she let her hair cover her blush.

"I really want to move on Akshit but I..." Her gaze dropped to her lap. "I haven't told you everything."

She blinked back her tears as Akshit held her hands in his, quizzically looking at her. "Actually, after I returned back to India, Samar came back. He apologised for his mistakes. I was broken and didn't want to believe that he was wrong so when he apologised I accepted and we decided to marry. The preparations were going on in full swing but a week before the wedding the..." She paused as a lone tear escaped her eyes.

"After the accident he told me that he would marry me only if I sent Pia to an orphanage. How could he dare to say that! I didn't want to think it was he who was saying that. But I was done and we broke up. I didn't talk to him after that."

Akshit couldn't hold it in himself as he got up and hugged her. She could sense his jaw clenched and his muscles tensed.

"Where did you say he went again?"

"Back to London." She mumbled looking up. Sure enough, his eyes were glossed over with an emotion which could only be termed as anger and hatred. However as he looked at her sad countenance, his anger subsided.

"Everything is good now Saumya. Are you willing to let go?" He asked as he lifted her chin up. She nodded slowly.

"I promise Saumya, I'll never let you be sad. When something bad happens, I'll joke and make you laugh. When you feel lazy enough, I'll cook your favourite food." She laughed at that.

"Thanks a lot Akshit. By the way do you know how to cook?" she asked, cocking her eyebrows.

"Uh yeah," he paused, scratching his neck. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me. I can't imagine my life without you."

"Akshit," she said as they broke the hug. "Promise me that you'll share what you feel. You don't have to be strong in front of me. You can show your vulnerabilites to me. We both know we are vulnerable. Whatever may be the reason we can sort it out together."

He stared at her as she said that. How could someone be this selfless.

"I love you, Saumya," he finally spoke up as he took out the box from his hand. Opening it, he continued, "I know this is not what is customary but what about us is usual." He cracked a smile as his heart picked up.

"I love you too," she murmured as she picked the bracelet and hugged him.

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