Ranveer showed Deepika out of his Mercedes Benz sedan. His eyes wandered as the chauffeur drove away. The attendant of the restaurant greeted them with a courtesy inspired from familiarity and before Ranveer could mention his reservation, the attendant said, "Your table for two is ready sir."

Deepika smiled and Ranveer tipped his head. A waiter rushed on attendant's cue to escort the guests to their table by a beautiful dry stump of a tree with a polished trunk and decorative lights hanging by the branches, the only sources of light for the table.

The waiter lit a candle on the table illuminating fine designs on the table cloth. They sat facing each other while another waiter appeared with two wine glasses that he placed in front of them, another poured complimentary wine.

Deepika took her glass and sipped a tiny amount trying to figure out if it was any different from the numerous others she had tasted. She couldn't tell any difference.

She looked up at Ranveer who seemed lost in his thoughts while a waiter blabbered his routine pleasantries before he placed the menu in front of him and another in front of Deepika who was a bit more responsive than Ranveer and smiled at him not sure if he even saw her. The waiters left them alone to decide their meal.

Her eyes turned to Ranveer. The lost eyes and brooding expression covered by the manly facial hair made him look nothing short of a dream.

He is thinking about that bitch! Deepika felt anger rise within her. She imagined kicking the fat slut in the gut laughing internally on how she would bounce when she landed on the floor.

Poor Ranveer, she thought, he is thinking of all the ways he could have avoided that incident.

She moved to hold his hand resting on the menu across the table. The dancing flame suddenly grabbed Ranveer's attention and broke his thoughts. He sat back straight pulling his hands off the table before Deepika could reach him. Their eyes met.

"Where?" she said.

He smiled. Deepika felt she could just get up and kiss him right at that moment. But she let that pass. A second chance shouldn't mean falling in love even harder while he doesn't even care.

"Befikre", he said for the first time. "It'll be out next week," he opened the menu.

"Oh, yes. How's that going? The buzz seems great."

"Yeah. We'll start with television promotions this week."

"That...That is the worst."

"Yeah, isn't it?" Ranveer chuckled.

"It is, it is. No doubt about it. Just absurd how people still buy into it."

"I mean it is so weird," color returned to Ranveer's eyes, "I am promoting good film making on a platform catering to people who are just okay with any kind of shit. Standards don't matter. At. All."

"Sharin says it works. She has her theories about it but works, it fucking does."

Both laughed.

Suddenly Deepika remembered something.

"You order the food, I need to make a call," Deepika stood up.

"To whom?"

"Sharin."

"You're working already? Your schedule has just been over."

"Oh, it's nothing."

She stopped short beside him and said, "You look great, by the way."

"Yeah, you look wond..." Ranveer was interrupted by a peck Deepika planted on his lips. And then she left leaving Ranveer wondering what was that all about. He knew Deepika wasn't into a public display of affection, and who is even watching here.

Before this night began he was worried about bringing things back to normal before he could judge his feelings for Deepika, and now it seemed like she was already too much in love.

The bitch is weird.

"Bitch, you are weird," said Sharin over the phone.

"Just do this for me, Sharin. Just this once," Deepika replied.

"What, right now?"

"Yeah, please."

There was silence on the line. Deepika waited for her reply with anticipation.

"Okay, let me see," said Sharin, with a sigh.

"You are a darling, Sharin."

"Just don't get hurt."

"Yeah," said Deepika with her smile weaning. "Bye."

"Bye."

Sharin hung up.

Deepika pulled herself together. Sharin is right, she thought, I must not get hurt. But I want to do this, nonetheless.

She returned to the table. Ranveer had placed the order and was checking his phone.

She sat in her chair and said point-blank, "Do you wish to continue this relationship?"

Ranveer was taken aback. Just when he thought everything was fine Deepika dropped a bomb.

"What?" was all he could manage.

"You heard me," said Deepika not rudely.

Ranveer sighed. He thought about what to say. He could say I love you, he could say I do not love you, but how should he say I am not sure if I love you so give me some time while I make up my mind. And all this without offending her. It would be like asking Deepika to audition for the role of his girlfriend.

"Let's meet your parents," fired Deepika.

"Hmm? For what?"

"You know, to tell them we are in a relationship, of sorts."

"Hey, wait for what? Where is this going?"

"I mean you are serious about us, right?"

"Uh, yes, of course. I just need some time," Ranveer said with a lot of effort.

"For what?"

"Hey, why don't we meet your parents?"

"What?" Deepika blurted.

"Yeah, if we were to meet someone's parents, why not yours? You're the one too eager." he regretted the moment he said this but it was coming. He had to say this, it was high time Deepika quit busting his balls.

Deepika eyed him but he didn't flinch. She too didn't wish her parents to meet with her boyfriend who she wasn't sure would last till her next movie's premiere.

Food arrived. Three waiters placed beautiful cutlery with intricate designs in front of them with an elaborate looking mutton biryani simmering hot in a handi. Next, they placed a small dish containing coal inside the handi and replaced the lid. They placed the handkerchiefs, poured freshly opened wine in new glasses. Ranveer and Deepika munched on salad waiting for the food to be served and waiters to leave preparing for what would come next in their argument.

Finally, a waiter removed the lid of the handi and removed the coal dish. Fresh aroma entered both the stars' nostrils and their mouth watered. But they still wore hostile looks when looking at each other.

"Anything else, sir?" the waiter asked.

"No, nothing, for now, thank you," replied Ranveer.

"Ma'am?"

Deepika shook her head.

"Enjoy your food, sir. Tell me if you need anything. Ma'am."

The waiter smiled and left.

Ranveer and Deepika picked up their forks and ate quietly. No one said anything, probably waiting for the other one to spew their hate or apologize. Both were convicts and both were judges.

---------------------------------------------------------------