Anupama's hands stilled as Anuj grabbed her wrists, causing her to look up at him in bewilderment.

She got further confused when she saw him closing his eyes, and inhaling deeply, his grip on her wrists tightening considerably.

'What's the matter with him...?' She wondered as she observed his eyes firmly shut and jaw clenched.

Is he mad? Is he trying to restrain his anger on me, because I wore such a revealing outfit?

After all, her ex-husband always did that. Restrained his anger in public, whenever he felt like she embarrassed him. Then once alone, he'd go over and beyond the limits to let his brutal insults get ingrained in her head.

But atleast Anuj was still a gentleman about it, restraining his anger and closing his eyes even in private, while her ex-husband used to give her cold looks and death stares in crowds. Sometimes he even went as far as to humiliate her publicly.

She immediately shook her head to mentally get rid of her depressing past. She was over it now. She had given back to Vanraj for everything he did. And now he's suffering the consequences of his actions, all alone. His ego was in shambles, he was jobless again, and nobody cared to even talk to him.

From what Samar had told her, he was now an invisible member of Shah house. Nobody acknowledged his presence anymore. Even Baa had stopped talking to him, because Bapuji never left a chance now to taunt and insult him daily, and remind him of how ashamed he feels to be his father. So, to not provoke her husband more so he can humiliate their son, she eventually started staying silent.

Now, Vanraj had been reduced to a useless household item, like he used to think Anupama was before. The karma he rightfully deserved...

Sighing, she looked at Anuj, the man she was in love with. The man who was now like a role-model and father-figure for her children.

Vanraj Shah can rot in hell for all she care.

But Anuj's opinion mattered the most to her, and now his reactions depicted how much displeased he was. Is he feeling embarrassed too because of her..?

Plagued by her insecurities and assumptions, she lowered her head in defeat. "Sorry..."

Hearing it, Anuj's eyes shot open as he stared at her in disbelief.

She continued lowly, "Aapko apne gusse ko rokne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Bol dijiye jo aapke mann mein hai, mujhe bura nahi lagega..."

"Haan...?" Anuj was baffled, her words weren't making any sense.

She nodded and whispered, "Agar aapko main dress mein...acchi nahi lagi toh aap mujhe bta sakte hain. Mujhe bura nahi lagega."

He was about to reply when Anupama bit her lower lip in nervousness, making him lose his train of thoughts again.

Briefly shutting his eyes, his grip tightened around her wrists. Then he begrudgingly warned in a low tone, "Anu stop testing my patience, will you?"

Misreading his tightened grip and words, she felt her heart drop and she hurriedly assured, "Sorry, mujhe nahi pta thaa ki aapko mai dress mei itni buri lagungi."

Instanty understanding the gist of her rants, his eyes flew open and he released her wrists. He was out of words as he stared at her, gobsmacked.

Is she for real? Out of any conclusion, this was the one she decided to jump on...!

Now how will he explain it to her about what he's feeling was...far, far...from angry.

That the passionate thoughts he had repressed for so long because they're friends were now breaking from their confines and flooding his head upto the brim with full force, mixing with the immense love he has for her.

How would he explain his sinful desires to this pure, innocent soul..? Who looked absolutely etheral, angelic, and youthful in that dress.

But she has to know. He couldn't let his Anu doubt herself just because his crazy hormones are getting the best of him.

Making up his mind, he cleared his throat and demanded, "Anu, look at me." But she kept her eyes lowered firmly, refusing to look at him.

Anuj's hand shot up to cup her face, but remembering his limits, he retracted it back. Then, with the tip of his index finger, he lifted her chin, to tilt her face and meet her gaze.

As her big innocent doe eyes finally met his fierce ones, they instantly widened. "Ohh..." She let out in realisation.

'Guess she finally read the intense feelings for her in my eyes.' A corner of Anuj's lips lifted a little as Anu's cheeks furiously turned bright red, making her look more endearing if that's even possible.

He expected that she'd turn away shyly like she always did whenever he made a cheeky comment, but it didn't happened. Instead, her eyes widened more as they shifted from his eyes, to focus on some other part of his face.

Before he had a chance to comprehend, Anupama's hand shot up to his face, and she started caressing his cheek, her fingers moving tenderly over his prickly stubble.

Goosebumps spread through his body while his heartbeat picked its pace.

He loved how unlike him, she rightfully touched him without feeling any qualms or inhibitions. He was ecstatic to see the developments in Anu, how she was growing physically comfortable with him.

But as much as he enjoyed her caressing him, still she needs to stop! Her physical touches always evoked a different sort of reaction in him, even more so now since so much of her skin is visible to him in that dress, in all of its flawless glory.

On the other hand, Anupama was transfixed on the sight in front of her. She observed how his eyes darkened the moment she touched his face. Her face was incredibly warm, she was pretty sure the deep blush was easily visible on her cheeks.

"What are you doing?" Anuj asked, his voice low and husky.

With the amazement evident in her eyes, she whispered in glee like she couldn't believe herself. "You're blushing...!"

"What?" His brow furrowed in confusion.

She replied in that same astonished tone. "Yes! Your cheeks turned the slightest shade of red..! I made you blush! For the first time! Yes! "

She cheered joyfully, too happy with the fact that she succeeded in her plan! She finally got another reaction out of Anuj by wearing the dress. She made THE Anuj handsome Kapadia blush, albeit barely, but still it was a big achievement for her.

"Wearing this dress was so worth it. I finally got to see another side of you. I can't believe I made THE Anuj Kapadia blush, my plan worked like-"

Her eyes grew like saucers and she abruptly cut herself off, as her words registered in her brain.

But the damage was done, Anuj had already heard her loud and clear. Forget the tiniest blush she got out of him, when her face itself resembled like a bright tomato.

On top of that, Anuj was clearly enjoying the situation. Judging by the glint of mischief playing in his eyes and his killer smirk, she wished the ground could swallow her whole.

Pursing his lips, he folded his arms across his chest and started taking slow, calculated steps towards her, his eyes holding hers captive. Instinctively, she started stepping back carefully, keeping in mind of the high heels she was wearing.

As they moved together, she felt her back lightly hit the cold wall behind her. She was trapped now...

He thought the same judging how his heated gaze turned up a notch higher, as he continued to inch nearer. Her breath hitched as she felt the lightest brush of her bust against his sturdy chest. Oh god...

As she waited for more of that rousing sensation, he stopped right there. His one arm lifted up and he placed his hand firmly on the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her there.

His other hand with the barest of touch, lifted up her curly lock falling over her chest, wrapped it around his finger and started toying with it.

He was barely touching her, yet his effect was driving her crazy. What if he...

She lost her train of imagination as she felt his hot breath near her ear, whispering in his husky voice, "You know, you didn't just made blush by wearing that dress, you did a lot more than that.."

Her breathing sped up while her hands instinctively grabbed the hem of her skirt, holding it for her dear life.

She distantly remembered the scene from one Hollywood rom-com, which she had watched with Devika, Mukku, Kinjal and Nandini on a girls' movie night in Mukku's bedroom. She recalled the bold scene where the guy pushed the girl on one of the college lockers' and made out with her.

All the girls had squealed on that scene while she just shook her head. Because how would she know, she led on a boring life, and now, she was a 43-year old mother, college time was long gone...

But now, pressed between the wall and Anuj, she felt young again. She never knew she would experience that wild college scene for real, with Anuj. She felt like a teenager, sneaking out of classroom, meeting her boyfriend in the corridors.

In fact, she was even wearing a dress like a little girl, while her said boyfriend was clad in jeans and shirt.

She will forever regret how she missed out on creating some college memories with Anuj, just like every teenage couple. But now, trapped against a wall by him, while he whispered his enticing intentions in her ear, she felt the regret easing up, and felt young and in love again.

"What happened Anu, why do you look so....restless?" Her eyes instinctively closed as she felt his breath on her ear, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear as they whispered.

"Umm, I..." She tried to speak, but her brain had refused to formulate a reasonable response in the close proximity of her Shayar Kapadia.

As her chest started heaving a little, it brushed against his sturdy one repeatedly making her lose her senses. She felt him getting affected by that as well, when she felt his slightly elevated breaths against her ear.

"Just say the word, don't wait anymore, just say it and I'll ease up your restlessness quite well. If you want it too Anu, then Just. Say. Yes." His voice was rough and out of breath, while her state was worse.

She struggled to vocalize her response over her incessant breaths but failed.

Anuj's body was tense and taut, barely holding himself back from crashing into Anu's small, voluptuous one. His muscles felt like a stretched spring, waiting to break free any moment and envelope the bewitching beauty in front of him. His hands itched to run along her body, and feel the soft skin against his rough fingertips.

Before his hand could lose control and start fondling her, he released her hair lock and clenched his hand into a fist. To get rid of some tension in his body, his clenched fist started their own journey. She shivered as she felt his knuckles feather-light brushing along her arms to her exposed shoulder, trailing across her collarbone, to traveling upwards on her neck.

She panted as the sensation spread throughout her body, and her eyes rolled back as she felt his knuckles brushing along her cheekbones.

"Just. Say. The. Damn. Word. Anu!" His husky voice was a mix of demand and request, and she lost herself in him as his hot, heavy breathing caressed her exposed shoulder. Her hands mercilessly crumpled the fabric of the skirt, as the sensation drove her crazy.

It took all her internal strenght and she almost moaned the word out. "Yes–"

"Time up!" They both stilled as Devika's booming voice cut through their aroused bubble.

Anuj's face slowly came back from where it was situated near her ear, and as slowly as he could, he pulled himself back from the wall, effectively ending the warmth they were surrounded in.

"Kya yaar, tum dono ko itna time diya maine romance karne ke liye, itni der mein toh tum log kya kuch kar lete!" She let out, pissed and irritated.

Anuj shut his eyes in frustration, and pinched the bridge of his nose, his lips thinning in exasperation.

He could really murder her right there...

For the first time, Anu's facial features weren't contoured in embarrassment to be caught like that, in fact, she looked greatly displeased and annoyed to be interrupted.

Sensing she disrupted some really intense moment, Devika put two and two together about what they were doing. Her eyes danced in amusement as she teased, "Oohh abb samjhi! Maine tum dono ka teenage romance disturb kar diya. Kya baat hai, mere pyaare college couple Anu-Anuj, carry on."

She let out a loud laugh as two pair of eyes glared at her.

"Devika ki bachchi...!" Anuj hissed through gritted teeth.

"Kya Devika ki bachchi? Arre tum dono ke bachche kabse car mein wait kar rahe hain. Abb tumlog itna time lagaoge, toh woh yahi sochenge ki tum dono ka apna alag hi night out chal raha hai." Devika quipped, her tone suggestive.

This time though, embarrassment ran through both of them, as the innuendo in her words sunk in.

In addition to embarrassment, the tension multiplied as well. They were already frustated for being interrupted like that, now Devika's double entendre triggered their passionate imagination and frustration even more.

"Chalo ghar lock karo! Kiska wait kar rahe ho? Be quick!" Devika snapped her fingers in front of them, unaware of the rising tension.

"Kabab mein haddi..." Anuj muttered lowly to himself as he conspired numerous ways of murdering her for disrupting them. While Anupama pondered if it's too late to ask Devika to lock them both inside the house to carry on said night out.

At last, realizing Devika isn't going to budge, they begrudgingly moved away. Anuj grabbed his zipper-hoodie, locked the house and they made their way outside, all under the eagle-eyed watch of Devika.

The youngsters cheered from the backseat of Anuj's SUV, as they saw the three friends approaching.

When the sweet realisation had finally settled in Anuj that now his family isn't limited to 1 or 2 members, but a whole bunch of madness, laughter, love and chaos, he hadn't delayed in ordering the most luxurious SUV in market. Though he received an earful from Anu later and he quote "spoiling them & spending so much just for extra comfort", still his heart warmed when all the kids defended and backed him up, outnumbering Anu.

Then they all got collectively scolded from her, along with him. It was both hilarious and tragic.

As Devika settled in the backseat, Anuj went ahead and opened the passenger-seat door for Anu, who was walking rather slowly, balancing herself on those dusty-pink high heels.

Their eyes met when he offered his hand, and the unsaid tension passed through their gazes. Silently, she held onto his hand, leading to the sparks to travel along both of their arms.

Holding onto his steady hand, she lifted her heel and carefully settled in the seat.

Before he could shut her door, a series of 'awws' and 'oohs' erupted from the backseat.

It had became a regular occurrence now. Whenever Anuj and Anupama interacted even for a few seconds, Devika would start teasing them, now even the youngsters joined the bandwagon.

"How romantic!" Devika fanned her face dramatically. Anuj watched the way Anupama blushed at her comment.

The tension was already thick and soaring high between him and Anu, now this idiot has to go and add fuel to the fire.

Coming to her rescue, he argued. "What exactly is even remotely romantic about helping her in sitting comfortably?"

Everyone watched the friends' banter with immense interest as Devika countered back. "Are you mad! You guys scream the word 'chemistry'! If you both are even just standing together, nobody could think anything other than romance, if they look at you."

Devika felt accomplished when they both flushed at her statement.

Samar chimed in, backing her up. "Besides, in Titanic, Jack helped Rose like that to make her sit inside the car. So it sure was romantic."

Everyone else nodded while Mukku added. "And do you guys remember what happened in the car after that?"

Immediately Samar's hand was clamped on her mouth and Kinjal smacked her arm. Nandini just facepalmed herself while Devika laughed loudly watching Anuj's scandalized face.

On the other hand, Anu was confused. "Kya hua thha uske baad car mei? Maine Titanic movie nahi dekhi naa toh mujhe nahi pta.."

At that point, Anuj could just burst because of that thick, bustling tension in him. And Anu wasn't helping at all.

Mustering up some courage, he casually shook his head and changed the topic. "Kuch bhi toh nahi, let's go guys, we're getting late."

Closing her door, Anuj jogged to the driver's side and settled behind the wheel.

"Bataiye naa, mujhe bhi jaanna hai." Anu once again prodded.

"Uske baad Anu—" Mukku's voice got muffled again when Samar's hand was clamped again on her mouth, and Anuj couldn't be more thankful.

As Samar shot him a thumbs up, he smiled in relief and turned towards Anu. "Kuch nahi Anu, baad mei. Abhi late ho raha hai naa?"

He tried to coax Anu and thankfully, she agreed. "Haan baad mei mujhe Titanic dikhaiega."

Anuj coughed while the rest behind him burst into laughter. Finally Devika managed to let out. "Haan Anuj, Anu ko Titanic baad mei zaroor dikhana."

Whipping his head behind, he shot her a glare and she shook her head, then imitated of zipping up her mouth, while Anupama's brow furrowed more in confusion.

Turning back, Anuj finally started the car. Pressing the accelerator, he asked, "You guys ready?"

"Hell yeah..! To the club!" Devika cheered at the top of her lungs while the youngsters followed after her in chorus. Anupama laughed at their crazy antics, loving the refreshing vibe her Shayar always manages to pull out in people.

And Anuj just smiled as he drove blissfully; relishing in the sweet laughter of his Anu beside him, and the exuberance of his favorite chaotic people in the backseats.

Life was beautiful...and it's becoming more beautiful day by day.