20/11/2019 - Wednesday- At Chennai.

Shiva's P. O. V :

I slowly moved my face away from her. She was breathing fast and rugged, I was shaking a bit too. I took away my hand over her face and turned back to my seat slowly.

Her hands were still over my shirt. After a minute, she finally composed herself and turned to look back at the screen.

I thought I was about to get a tight slap from her, but no. She adjusted her hair and looked at me sideways. I was gaping at her not knowing how to undo what I did.

I hope I didn't ruin this day. I was instantly regretting the kiss.

" Sorry " I said slowly.

She didn't turn to my side. She was staring at the screen. I was becoming more tense as she didn't respond at all.

" I didn't mean to do it. I really didn't. Talk to me" I said.

She didn't budge at all. My fear was increasing every minute.

"Look, I am sorry, I shouldn't have done it. I just did it out of senseless anger. I crossed the boundary. Sorry for spoiling your mood " I said.

This time she looked at me with open mouth. She closed her mouth soon and shook her head and muttered something under her breadth. She was definitely angry.

" What do you mean by spoiling my mood? " She finally asked.

" You know I mean, I shouldn't have done it. I did it out of nerve, it's bad, I know. " I blabbered.

" So you think it was bad? " She asked raising her eye brows.

" It was worst. I shouldn't have done it. Forgive me. " I said.

" So you mean the kiss was the worst? , I thought you enjoyed it. " She said biting her lower lip.

" Yeah, wait, what? " I asked confused. She was having so much of fun by giving me riddles. She leaves me out of sense.

" You have lot to learn though " She said giggling.

I was still out of words. I thought she was going to shout at me, but she just didn't. Why was I not able to come up with a retaliation! Why am I so confused!

I suddenly remembered how good it was to kiss her, her soft cheek and her God damned lips, it had happened few minutes ago, but the time apart felt like years together.

Part of my mind still wanted to pull her close and kiss her again for all her notorious replying. I shook my head to throw away the dirty thoughts. I decided to give back her riddles.

" So, was that enough to prove that I wasn't gay? " I asked again, intentionally making my lips graze over her ear. She shivered a bit and looked at me.

" Yes. All doubts cleared " She said looking at me.

" Shall we watch the movie now? " I said. She shook her head and turned to the screen.

I tried to focus on the movie but my thoughts were constantly drifting back to the kiss. I never thought it would be this much distracting.

After few minutes, the image of Anjali trying to kiss me came to my mind, the absence of this interest that I have now made me shiver. Will I have to spend my entire life not liking the physical contact with Anjali.

Suddenly , Aparna laid her head over my shoulder,she was fast asleep . I adjusted my seat to let her rest comfortably. She must have been tired because of her lack of sleep.

I slowly moved her hair away from her eyes and pushed them behind her ear. She felt at peace. I didn't know , if to be scared of this closeness or to be happy.

Every minute I was spending with Aparna, I was starting to regret my engagement more. I was yearning to be with Aparna.

Here I thought spending a day with her would make me not regret missing a chance with her, I thought I would finally let her go, but the plan had back fired and I was trapped with more regret.

I decided to keep all the regret for the future and not miss out on the present, where she is with me. This moment when I could look at her sleeping near me and console myself that this was enough.

The movie sound felt like a lullaby and soon I was dragged into sleep too.

I felt someone shaking my shoulders. I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

Aparna was looking at me with folded arms.

" So, are you going to sleep here all day or should we go with your plan? " She asked repeating the words that I had told earlier.

" Movie? " I asked with blurred eyes.

" It was over 10 minutes ago. I was trying to wake you up. You really sleep like a log! " She said laughing.

I looked at the time and it was close to 1:30 pm.

" Shit, we are late! " I exclaimed and got up.

I walked out of the theatre and Aparna walked behind me.

As we left the theatre , it was starting to get cloudy.

She directed me to the mall and we reached our next spot after 30 minutes.

" Isn't this mall a bit old? " She asked looking at the exterior.

" One of the first malls to come up in Chennai. Come in. " I said and dragged her inside.

This place has too many memories with Hari and Karthik, we used to come here to watch movies all the time. Everything was retro, but I still like this place.

The main plan was to stay away from the area where my home was, stay away from any mall big and famous, so that I don't get caught by anyone.

We sat inside a restaurant and started eating .

" Next what? " Aparna asked after finishing her plate of briyani.

" Follow me! " I said and walked in the direction of the snow world.

As I bought the tickets, Aparna was looking at me in disbelief. I got the two sets of coat , gloves and boots.

" Are you serious? Isn't this play area for Children? " She asked.

" Trust me " I said and handed her the coat.

She got it from and wore them. We handed over our mobile phones and wallet at the entry. I wore my set and walked into the room slowly.

The place was quite big, it had artificial snow covered everywhere. We had a slide and a mini igloo. They had a disco stage at one side with a polar bear.

Three other people with two kids were there inside.

Aparna was looking at the interior with wide open eyes. Her face had become completely red, she looked like a tomato.

" I thought, it was your biggest wish to play in snow, but you don't seem to like it now" I said walking inside. The floors were slippery and it was difficult to walk.

" How did you know? " She asked smiling.

" I did stalk your profile! " I said and when I turned back, she wasn't there near me.

Suddenly a huge ball of ice hit me straight on my face and I knew where it came from.

I shook off the snow and looked at Aparna, she was standing with another huge ball.

" Tch, tch , bad idea ma'am " I said raising my eyebrows , and she threw the ball again. I dodged it and she looked at me shocked.

I quickly took a hand full of snow and threw at her face.

" My hair! " She shouted at me.

We were playing all around the snow room.

" Can we go on that slide? " She asked me.

" Yeah! " I said and started climbing the slippery stairs with my grip less boots.

Aparna caught my hand and climbed the steps with me.

Two people helped us climb on the sledge ,I sat on the front part, Aparna sat behind me.

" Ready? " I asked.

She hugged me tight from behind and nodded her head.

One of the helpers pushed the sledge and it rode horribly on the uneven slide.

Just as we reached the bottom part, the sledge lost balance and threw us front.

I fell on my face on the iced floor and Aparna fell over me.

She was laughing continuously as she got up and helped me up.

" I hope this doesn't damage my million dollar face! " I said touching my hurting cheek.

She shook her head laughing and went over the disco stage.

After few seconds she started dancing to the random song playing there. She pointed me to come up and I shook my head, I couldn't embarrass myself by dancing here.

She started dancing with the polar bear toy kept near the stage. I was laughing looking at her. She kissed the polar bear looking at me, and I knew that if I don't go up, she would torture me by making out with the bear.

I went up and we both danced like maniacs. She didn't bother at all about my crappy dancing skills.

" Time's up! Come out! " The person announced and we both looked at each other with sad faces.

We walked out slowly. And stared removing our coat and gloves.

We got a candid photo of us sliding in the sledge, Aparna was closing her eyes tightly behind me and I was screaming with my mouth wide open. It was the best candid. I placed the print safely inside my wallet.

" You know what, we have so many places like this in Bangalore, I always thought that it was for children. I didn't know it would be this much fun! " She said with wide eyes.

" I couldn't take you to manali to fulfill your wish , this is what I can afford! " I said laughing.

" Well thanks! " She said.

Suddenly she started searching something around her neck. She took off her jacket and was rigorously beating it all around.

" What happened? " I asked.

" My gold chain! It is missing! " She said shivering.

" Calm down! Give me the jacket! "I said and rechecked her jacket.

We got back the coat that we had worn and checked them again. Nothing was there.

" I think it would be inside! " I said.

She nodded her head.

" If you are going in again, we can't give you the coat and gloves! " The person in the ticket counter said.

I stared at the person, gritting my teeth. We definitely don't look like kids who lie to go inside and play with extra time!

Aparna nodded her head and we went back into the snow room. This time, the chillness inside there hit me differently.

We started searching the room, the floor was filled with snow, I moved it away with my shoes and looked everywhere.

My hands were starting to become numb.

Aparna walked to me with tears brimming from her eyes. The tip of her nose and ears were turning purple, she was shaking visibly.

Gold chain or diamond, it was not worth freezing to death. I dragged her out of the snow room.

As we came out, I hugged her tightly and she melted under my hold. She was still crying.

" It's okay! " I said consoling her.

" It was a gift from my sister. It has been with me for 10 years. " She mumbled under her breath.

After few minutes, she stepped out of my hold and looked at me.

The purple on her ears and nose was gone. But her eyes were red and puffed.

I didn't know what I was thinking, that moment, I couldn't bear to look at her that way.

" Stay right here! " I said to her and walked back into the snow room again.