Chalein?" He asked again as Anupama's lips parted.

Oh! This is it! Anuj's heart beat sped up as he decided to close the dist—

"OUUUUCHHH!" Anuj jumped back in terror, as he nursed his poor waist that Anupama had pinched real hard.

"Anu wha—

"Aaj kal aap bahot badmash ho gaye hain!" Anu interrupted him as she glared his way and continued, "Ghar main koi nahi hai! Andar chalein!" She mimicked him.

"Yaar, Anu! Itni zor se koi chimti karta hai kya!" Anuj whined. Quite a cruel wake up his girl had given him.

"Haa toh! Confession se pehle toh nhi thhe itne badmash?"Anu asked as she checked her nails. They were sharp.

"Haa toh tab tum par haq nhi tha na!" Anuj replied as he raised his kurta a bit to take a look at the place which was stinging.

"Dekho! Lal ho gaya!" He complained, scrunching his nose.

Anu couldn't help the smile at the face he was making. He wanted to be consoled. So Adorable!

"Kurta neeche kijiye, aur pandal chalenge toh boliye warna main jaa rahi hu!" Anupama shrugged and turned to leave.

"Confession se pehle toh tum bhi aisi nahi thi! Kitni dhaus jamati ho!" Anuj retorted as he held her hand to stop her in her strides.

She turned around with a smile at that, "Tab aap mere nahi thhe na!"

"Aur ab?"

"Sirf mere hain"

His face broke into a smile on hearing that. What a nice ring these three words had!

'Gadha hi rahega tu!'

Anuj broke out of his reverie as familiar words echoed in his mind, and he tugged at his collar.

"P-pani...pyaas lag rahi thi"

"Pandal main pani hai..chaliye",Anupama offered, ready to tug him along when he held her back, his no very absolute.

"

Anupama raised her brows at that as he turned his gaze away, "Gala sookh raha hai..pandal tak...ghar samne hi haina. Tumhe itne cute se face par taras nhi aa raha!" Anuj ended his plea with a puppy dog look as Anupama gave in with a sigh.

"Theek hai, chaliye!"

'YES!!'

As Anupama unlocked the house and walked in towards the kitchen, Anuj loitered around in the drawing room for a few seconds before he looked out and about, and closed the door.

When Anupama came back, she found him seated on the sofa and offered him the glass. Anuj gulped down the water slowly, his mind reeling.

"Oh, Mr Sati savitri! Confession ke baad bhi bahot sari cheezein hoti hai ek relationship mein", Devika shouted exasperated while Anuj counted to her the times, he and Anupama had gotten lost in each other's eyes.

Devika groaned as she heard him rave about how their fingers had touched accidently that day and how they had held hands some other day.

"Gadha hi rahega tu! Tu 5 saal ka hai? Haath pakadne se aage kab badhega! 26 saal tune Tapasya main laga diye,aur teri pace ko dekh kar lagta hai ki tujhe 26 saal aur lag jaenge "haath pakadne" se aage badhne main! Tab tak toh tera kuch bhi kaam ka nahi rahega!"

Anuj who had been drinking water while his phone was on speaker, choked at the cutting insinuation.

"Ye kya tu—

"Tu-tu kya! 26 saal se tu pyaar karta aaya hai usse. You are not really expecting Anu to take the first initiative?Dono buddhe ho jaoge! Thoda assertive ban! Initiative le! Kuch arman hai bhi ki nhi, bol raha hai 'haath pakda tha!' Devika scoffed and cut the call while Anuj was left gaping.

Anuj was determined. He will have his kiss today. As he handed over the glass to Anupama , she was about to walk away when he caught her wrist and pulled her into his arms once again.

"Anuj! Aap aaj pagal ho gaye hain!"Anupama chided him, squirming in his arms.

"Ho gaya hu tumhare pyaar main!"Anuj replied as he snatched the glass from her, dropped it on the sofa and pulled his glasses away.

Anupama's eyes widened. "Ye aap kya—

"Ek kiss", Anuj interrupted her as with one hand, he caught her hands behind her back while placing the other one against her jaw

Anupama leaned into his touch,getting just as intoxicated.

"Darwaza— Anu murmured, her eyes going towards the door only to find it closed.

"Band hai", Anuj completed, his patience slipping as he tipped her chin to look into her eyes.

He leaned in, when suddenly Anu interrupted him. "Ek minute!"

"Kya hua?

"Mere hath chodiye na!"

"Taki chimti kar sako! No!" Anuj denied her resolutely, his eyes full of suspicion.

"Nhi karungi!"

"Pakka?"

"Promise!"

Still a bit unsatisfied but giving in nonetheless, he let go of her hands.

And came to regret it the next second, as Anu pushed him hard enough to make him fall on the sofa behind while she raced towards the door, unlocked it and stepped out.

A surprised Anuj looked at the door as Anu waved at him. He pouted offended, "Tumne promise kia tha ki—

"Nhi bhari chimti maine!" Anu shrugged as she signaled him to come out.

"Aa rahein hai ya ghar main lock kar jau? Fir jab baa aaengi toh--

"Aa raha hu!" Anuj shouted frustrated, as he got off the sofa and strode out of the hallway and into the garden.

"Ek baat bolu! Tumhare haath nhi, hathiyar hai! Kabhi chimti, kabhi dhakka—

"—Aur kabhi cuffs!" Anupama completed for him, as she linked her arms with his. "Chalein?"

His frustration melted at the sight of her brilliant smile and he smiled too, "Wherever you want to".

And they walked off towards the pandal, distancing only at the entrance but still keeping close enough.

As the night of dandiya progressed, much to the chagrin of vanraj and baa, Anupama kept Anuj company throughout. They danced, and won, and had lot of fun.

"Best Jodi huh!" Anuj murmured,looking at the trophy.

Anupama nodded, glad to see him smiling.

"Kal milte hain", Anuj spoke up,clearly not thrilled about leaving her.

"Hmm.." Anu nodded as he opened the door of his car.

"Anuj...wo kya hai?"

Anuj looked towards the other side where she had pointed, while Anu caught his unsuspecting face in her palms, and placed a kiss against his cheek.

Anuj's eyes flew open in shock as he felt soft lips pressed against his stubble.And when she pulled back, blushing red, Anuj covered the said cheek with his hand and looked at her, in pure disbelief.

"I---you---ye---" Anuj fumbled jumbled words as Anu finally looked into his eyes, still very shy.

'I can die a happy man now', he thought as he saw her blushing.

"Ek kiss.....mil gayi aapko" Anupama replied and Anuj nodded, his disbelief giving way to belated embarrassment. He had forgotten all about it.

"Bye!" Anupama waved at him and spun away from him to leave quickly.

Anuj waved too, the said cheek still covered by his hand and when he sat inside the car, adjusting the front view mirror, he gingerly removed his hand to find her signature on his cheeks and his heart started drumming in his ears, as he reddened head to toe. How was he to live!

"Anuj?"

"HAAN?!" Anuj jumped in his seat as he found Anupama leaning at the car's window.

"Mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap Devika ki advice itni jaldi maan lenge", Anupama remarked and bit her lips as Anuj looked at her horrified.

"Tumhe kese pata—

"Vo advice-cum-speech maine aur Devika ne saath main likhi thi. Aur main Devika ke saath hi thi jab aap dono baat kar rahe thhe".

Anuj palmed his face as he heard her. So she had heard him being all silly about her, eyelocks and fleeting touches. Not only that, he had played right into their prank. Brilliant!

"Ek minute....wo wali baat bhi tumne..."Anuj hesitated as Anu furrowed her brows before realization dawned and she started to chuckle.

"Nhi, that 'kuch bhi kaam nahi karega' was all devika", Anupama stressed and Anuj wanted dharti maa to swallow him.

"I-I should leave. Ka-kaam hai bahot" Anuj excused himself as he turned on the ignition. Anu was having fun at his expense but he was dying from embarrassment.

"Vese badmash Anuj wasn't all that bad either", Anupama whispered as Anuj's face brightened up with hope and he leaned towards her.

"Then—

"One day at a time!" Anupama interrupted him, placing her forefinger against his impatient lips while he nodded. "Ok"

"Bye"

"Bye".

So how was it?