"Can we tell them?"
"No."
"Please?"
I sighed.
"No."
"Why not?"
I crossed my arms over my chest.
"What is there to tell really?" I demanded. "We went out to dinner."
"And we kissed." He grinned.
I blushed.
"And we're going to go see that new movie tomorrow." He reminded me.
"Yeah..." I agreed hesitantly.
"Sounds to me like we're dating." He said smugly.
"Ssh!" I hissed, looking at our friends who were, thankfully, oblivious that Samrat and I hadn't joined in the wedding conversation yet.
Samrat chuckled, leaning closer to me.
"I want them to know." He said quietly, running his fingers over my jaw bone. I fought to keep my eyes open. "I want everyone to know."
"Then shout it from a rooftop." I sniped.
"Okay." He grinned, taking a deep breath as if he was preparing.
My eyes widened and I clamped a hand over his mouth.
"What are you doing?" I shrieked.
He let out a muffled laugh and kissed the palm of my hand.
"What are you two doing now?" Nupur called from the living room. "Please tell me you haven't killed each other in there."
Samrat snickered from behind my hand and I narrowed my eyes at him, glad our friends were sitting on the couch facing away from the kitchen were we stood.
"Not yet." I called back. "But ask again in a minute or two. It's still early."
Samrat licked my hand and I yanked it back, rubbing it on my jeans while glaring at him.
He wasn't bothered. Somethings will never change.
"She's kidding." He called back. "It was a bit shaky there for a second but I got the gun away from her and I think I've talked her down."
I rolled my eyes as our friends laughed.
"Oh, you wouldn't kill him would you, Gunjan?" Mayank called, smirking at me over his shoulder.
I glared at him.
"I haven't fully decided yet." I said easily, brushing past Samrat to join the rest of them in the living room.
"Stop being moody." Nupur rolled her eyes. "We're talking about taking a small vacation."
I raised my eyebrows.
"I thought you were talking about the wedding." I admitted.
She snorted indigently.
"I am capable of talking about more than just the wedding." She huffed, shooting me daggers.
I shrugged.
"But only just barely." Suhu cut in, all business. "That's why we've decided we need a vacation."
Nupur turned the daggers on Suhu and I stifled a laugh. Suhu was nothing if not blunt.
"What?" Suhu flicked her hair over her shoulder. "I'm just saying we all need a break from the madness so we can be refreshed and rejuvenated by next week when it's time for the actual wedding."
Nupur started to retort but Mayank whispered something in her ear that made her blush and she allowed a begrudging nod.
Suhu and I snickered.
"So where are we going?" Samrat asked.
I jumped slightly, looking for the man that owned the voice. He leaned against the wall right to the left of where I was sitting by Suhaani. I hadn't even heard him follow me into the room.
So I was a little jumpy but I really didn't want our friends to find out that I might, maybe, actually... like truck-napper. Okay, I know for positive that I liked Samrat but I really didn't need my friends making kissing noises every time I talked to him, or make sick jokes every time I stared at him for too long(which was bound to happen.) And I really didn't need Nupur interfering. If we told her now that I liked him and that we were... gulp, dating she'd have our wedding planned by next week. Hell, she'd probably start buying the over priced baby outfits now. I just wanted to see where this went naturally and natural for me and Samrat was the occasional romance and arguing like four year olds the rest of the time... until he kissed me quiet.
I shivered. Our first kiss had only been two days ago. ...Our second had followed shortly after. Our third-seventh happened yesterday when he came to my house to watch The Life of Brian. We were on a Monty Python kick now. Although it's a good thing I've seen it more times than I could count because I missed the great majority of it. He had to kiss me quiet a lot.
"Vegas baby!" Adhiraj chimed, bringing me out of my haze. It took me a moment to remember the question. Oh yeah, the destination of said vacation. Vegas? More drunk people and strippers. Ugh.
"Why?" I wined. "Don't you think that's a little cliche?"
"I've never seen the strip, Gunjan. Shut it."
I rolled my eyes at Suhu's command but didn't say anything more. Even I knew not to mess with Suhaani when she was set on something. And she was most definitely set on Vegas. Her eyes were shinning in excitement even though she tried not to let it show.
"And when are we supposed to go on this blessed vacation?" I asked, sarcasm spewing forth. "Some of us have jobs."
They all stared at me blankly and I glowered.
"I have a job!" I huffed.
Nupur laughed.
"We're going this weekend." She stated. "And don't try to get out of it or me and Suhaani are packing for you."
I shut up real quick. There's no way I'd be getting out of this if everyone insisted I go and it wasn't worth risking Nupur and Suhaani being in charge of my wardrobe.
"You can write on the plane." Samrat said quietly and I sent a small smile to him. At least he was trying when everyone else was making fun of me.
My smile vanished as the devious spark lit his eyes. I knew what was coming now.- Hyde.
"Besides, Vegas could be fun." He said slyly, grinning wickedly. "You never know who'll get drunk and wake up married."
Our friends all gasped dramatically.
"Is that a threat, Samrat?" I asked, my voice even.
He just chuckled.
"No one knows how to wound my pride like you do, sweetums."
The room was silent as our friend's eyes darted from me to Samrat and back to me again. They looked like they were watching a very heated tennis match. If I had my way it would be more like fencing. Why don't I ever have a sword when I need one? Or at least something pointy? Adhiraj had taken to gelling his hair recently, something that irritated Suhu to no end. Maybe I could just stab him with Adhi's hair. Alas I couldn't even find a piece of paper to give him a paper cut.
"Okay, you two." Nupur finally broke the angry silence. "Stop with the poorly veiled foreplay so that we can keep planning."
I rolled my eyes, flopping against the back of the sofa.
"I hate him." I grumbled under my breath.
"No you don't." Suhu assured me quietly, patting my shoulder.
No. I don't.
Sigh.
"So, Vegas?" Samrat hummed, coming up behind me.
I twirled around on him.
"So, drunk and married?" I countered.
He didn't have the decency to look shamefaced. He shrugged, laughter dancing in his eyes.
"You never know what can happen?" he said in a taunting voice. "So can we tell them now?"
"What, are you just going to torment me in front of our friends until we do?"
It kind of seemed like his new game plan.
"They're going to be mad if they find out on their own."
I sighed. He was right. Must he always be right? I'd love for him to be wrong. Just once.
"So is that a yes on the tormenting me until I cave?"
He pretended to think about it and I huffed.
"It's a very entertaining prospect." he grinned. "But no. I'll wait until you're ready."
He didn't let me get too excited.
"But you must commit this conversation to memory and when they find out on their own later remember I wanted to tell them."
I grinned.
"Deal." I agreed without much thought. "Conversation committed to memory- you threatened me with public torment if I didn't tell them."
I smirked.
"That's going to earn you major points with Nupur by the way."
He chuckled, looking towards the back yard where our friends had disappeared. It turns out now that they've got something to take their minds of wedding planning for a while Nupur is going to drive us all nuts with vacation planning now. Go figure.
My eyes settled on Samrat after a moment to appreciate him in the way I only can when we're not bickering. He was beautiful.
"Thank you, Samrat." I said quietly, motivated by the rare moment of peace. "For not telling them until I'm ready."
His answering smile was just as serne as my own.
"You're welcome." he replied. "Thank you for finally giving this a shot."
I bit my lip, smiling coyly.
"Yeah, well you were persistent."
He nodded, good natured.
"I'm irresistible." he said seriously.
I scoffed.
"It's a good thing I know you're kidding or I'd feel obligated to prove you wrong."
He grinned, stepping closer- a hand going on each side of me to rest on the counter. Trapped.
"I think you keep my ego in check just fine." he chuckled.
"Oh good." I said. "I wouldn't want to encourage that big head of yours to the point of explosion." I joked.
He licked his lips, leaning in closer so that I could feel his warm breath fanning over my face.
"That would be a tragedy." he played along.
I felt my breath hitch and I knew he noticed it too because his green eyes grew more vibrant and his lips twitched into a smile. But he refused to move those last few inches- torturing me.
I let out a frustrated growl but still he remained frozen, hovering just above my slightly parted lips.
"Do you think I could safely initiate a kiss without sky rocketing your already bloated ego?" I breathed.
His grin grew.
"There's no way to really tell I suppose." he egged me on in a clinical tone. "until you do it."
"Well then," I smirked. "for science."
And with that I crushed my lips to his, grasping his brown locks in both hands, tugging a little rougher than I'd intended as his tongue swept out.
I moaned. The plan had been to gain control of the kiss and walk away, leaving him wanting more. He couldn't possibly think I'd let him get away with that marriage comment without some type of retribution. But in that moment both my shoulder angels were in full agreement. -To hell with the plan!
I nipped at his bottom lip and he groaned.
"Nasty."
I jumped, releasing my hold on Samrat's hair and Samrat was quick to put some space between us, his cheeks slightly pink.
"You are extremely lucky Nupur didn't come for her own wine." Mayank grimaced. "But then again, I'm not going to have to worry about keeping my mouth shut for long. If you two keep this up she'll know in no time."
I blanched. Stupid, stupid, stupid! What's the first thing you do when you want to keep your new relationship from your friends? Well every genus strategist knows it's C, Alex- make out with him in said friends kitchen.
I smacked Samrat's arm. If he was less attractive, and magnetic, and seductive I wouldn't have done anything so stupid.
"What was that for?" Samrat demanded. "You initiated that one."
Mayank's face scrunched up.
"I don't want to know." he said seriously.
Samrat and I stared each other down as Mayank gathered glasses and the wine bottle.
"The stork." he whisper/reminded me ominously as he passed.
I sneered, my face blushing bright red as Samrat gave me a questioning look.
"Mayank-out!" I pointed to the door from which he'd emerged moments before.
He gave me an incredulous look.
"It's my house." he reminded me. "By the way, everyone is wondering where the two of you keep disappearing to."
He smirked once more before letting the door fall closed behind him.
"That was all your fault." I pointed to Samrat.
He rolled his eyes.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetums."
I glared at him.
"Let's just get back out there so that no one else comes to check on us."
He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
"That could be an interesting way to tell them." he suggested.
I poked his chest.
"You are on very thin ice, buddy." I warned.
He held his hands out in feigned surrender. We both knew neither of us would ever surrender.
"Yes, dear." He said, his voice silky smooth.
It was getting harder and harder to be annoyed with that man everyday!
My phone beeped as I settled down on the porch beside Nupur, far away from a certain green eyed tempter. Mayank was right. They were all going to figure it out sooner rather than later if we kept this up. Although Samrat had never hid his efforts to woo me so he didn't really have to change his demeanor at all. It was me that was going to end up blowing this if I showed just how much I wanted to go sit beside him- even after his obnoxious comments and threats of public torment.
I flipped my phone open, not thinking much of it. It had to be Neil because no one else texted or called me except for the people sitting next to me in our lopsided circle around the porch.
Don't think I forgot Mayank s comment. You going to tell me why you were talking about the stork with my cousin? -your on thin ice oaf.
I couldn't help but grin at his signature, glancing across the circle where Samrat wasn't even trying to disguise the fact that he was staring at me. I whipped my head back to my phone before anyone saw me staring back, because honestly, that would be the unusual thing.
The stork. It's what we're going to tell Nupur when I have his love child in a couple months. -the owner of an on thin ice oaf.
I bated my eyelashes at him innocently. He frowned at me dramatically once he'd read the text, hitting send with playfully narrowed eyes at me.
Don't even joke about that, Gunjan. -not as easily distracted as I look.
I laughed, causing my friends to shoot me strange looks. I tried to cover it with a cough that came out sounding more like someone was strangling me and Samrat winked while they were busy looking at me. I blushed bright.
Eventually my friends got back to discussing airlines and hotels and I pressed reply on Samrat's message. Should I tell him what Mayank was really talking about? Mentioning it might make it awkward but him having to drag it out of me would make it just that much more awkward.
I sighed.
It's a long story. I eventually typed. I'll tell you about it later.
I watched out of the corner of my eye as he checked his phone, shielding it with one cupped hand from Adhiraj- who was trying to look at it over his shoulder. He looked at me with calculating eyes and I gave him a low key smile so that he'd know it wasn't anything to worry about. We'd met our quota of deep conversation for the week. He nodded minutely, smiling down at his lap in I can only assume was reaction to my own.
Don't you think it's wierd how we're already so good at the silent conversation? -a hopefully on thicker ice now oaf.
I wrinkled my nose as I thought about what I had just read from Samrat's newest text message. So that's what had him all smiley huh? Come to think of it we were pretty good at communicating silently. Which I found hilarious quite frankly seeing as whenever we try to communicate regularly we end up sounding like four year olds.
Trippy. I thought only old married couples had that particular talent down. -the woman who's considering if the oaf is on thicker ice.
Samrat didn't say anything else for the rest of the evening, or at least he didn't text anything else. But he did walk me to the chumbucket when I was ready to leave, which he announced loudly to the group. Of course I told him he could walk me to my car only if he intended to walk in front of it some other day. He just snickered, kissing my knuckles like a true gentleman and told me he was walking me anyway.
No one thought anything of it because they had grown accustomed to this type of behavior from us so there was nothing to worry about. You see, if we had told them about us they all would have crowded around the front window like overly protective parents and we wouldn't have been allowed our mini make out session before Samrat helped me into the cab, running his fingers through his hair to mask the fact that my fingers had been running through it seconds before.
I giggled.
"It's not going to make a difference." I told him truthfully, tucking a strand of my own hair behind my ear. "It always looks like that."
He rolled his eyes, leaning in for another kiss but I put my hand out so he ended up kissing my palm and not his intended target. He pulled back, raising one eyebrow.
"There's no need to push our luck." I nodded towards the house, where no one was standing at the front door like they would have been had they thought I was not still trying to get him to stand in front of my beloved truck. But they were probably getting curious. Soon someone was going to come out just to make sure I hadn't in reality run him down.
My friends had a great quantity of faith in me.
He nodded in agreement.
"Do you wanna run over my foot so that they're not suspicious?" he asked, straight faced.
I pretended to think about it.
"That might be a good idea."
We both stared at each other, almost daring the other to crack first.Samrat grinned first, running his fingers through my hair and I swatted his hand away.
"Hands to yourself, Samrat." I laughed.
He held his hands in front of him as if to show he wasn't hiding any weapons and took a dramatic step back. I chuckled.
"Mayank was teasing me when I was on the phone with him at the coffee shop." I blurted.
He raised his eyebrows, probably trying to follow my hectic round about way of thinking.
"He said if I ended up pregnant with some 'freaky haired baby' I was supposed to let him believe it was the stork."
I bit my lip, eyes wondering over his frozen face nervously. We had been dating for two days. I couldn't think of one man on earth that wouldn't run for the hills, or at least panic, with the mention of children- even if it was only a joke from his cousin. Except for Chako but he was, quite frankly, a loon.
And panicking was exactly what it looked like my dear truck-napper was doing. If I wasn't busy half gnawing my lip off I would have laughed. He looked petrified. His expression was frozen and his eyes were wide.
He stayed like that for what seemed like forever until he doubled over, holding his stomach, letting lose the loudest laugh I had heard since Adhi took on the bet to eat his way through the 54 flavors of ice cream at the parlor down town. It wasn't quite as hysterical as Adhi's had been though.
I frowned. Was the thought of having children with me that hilarious to him? Just the idea sent him into a laughing fit huh?
"You don't have to laugh quite that hard there, truck-napper." I snipped, glaring as I turned in my seat and prepared to close the door on his giggly self.
He caught my hand, settling it on his chest as he righted himself and tried his very best to compose himself. Another couple laughs escaped but he was trying.
"Don't be mad." he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes, glaring at a random spot over his shoulder, but didn't say anything.
"Oh no." he said seriously. "The silent treatment?"
I still didn't say anything. He raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't know you were capable of the silent treatment."
I scoffed, glaring harder if that was possible.
He released my hand, stepping closer to the truck and ducking slightly so that he blocked the doorway and I had no other choice but to meet his gaze. I huffed.
"What did I do?" He asked, clearly confused.
Such a guy.
"You idiot." I finally caved.
He smiled, just slightly.
"I think I prefer that to not hearing you talk at all." he admitted.
I refused to let myself melt.
"Is the idea of us having children that freaking funny to you?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.
He looked confused for a moment and then his eyes widened when he realized what it had seemed like to me. He cursed under his breath.
"Gunjan, that's not at all what I meant." He promised, cupping my face with both hands, trying to get me to crack in my stony expression. It was going to take a lot more than that, buddy.
"What did you mean?" I asked patronizingly.
He sighed, looking up in a way that eerily resembled the look Nupur had when all the pots and pans were falling in her kitchen the day I had met him.
"I just thought it was funny." he shrugged. "You looked so worried and then you just blurted it out. It took me off guard..."
He trailed off, eyeing me carefully.
"It's a little funny." He continued cautiously. "Not the thought of it. But that Mayank would say it in the first place. And then I remembered the blush you were sporting in the coffee shop and it all clicked..."
I rolled my eyes. I guess it was a little funny when you look at it from his point of view. And I had completely taken him off guard with just blurting something so random out there.
"I'm still on thin ice?" he ventured.
I cracked a smile, unfolding my arms in defeat.
"Definitely." I nodded. "But I'll throw you a pair of ice skates. You'll be fine."
He chuckled.
"Nice." he smirked. "You want me to cut through the ice even faster?"
I just looked at him.
"You've never been ice skating have you?" he asked, twirling a piece of hair around his finger.
"I avoid any sports that involve hand eye coordination religiously." I admitted.
He laughed.
"Well I went when I was a little kid." He said. "Don't through me the ice skates. How about throwing me a get out of jail free card in stead?"
I laughed.
"Nope." I popped the 'p.' "But I can be your look out. I'll warn you when your about to fall threw."
He snickered.
"How thoughtful."
I smiled angelically.
"Don't you think so?"
He shook his head, amusement twinkling in his eyes and he leaned in to kiss my check. I let him.
"Guess what?" he whispered, close to my ear.
I closed my eyes, leaning against the head rest and just enjoying the feel of his hand in mine, his breath wafting over my ear.
"You really did rob a bank the day you stole the chumbucket?" I guessed, a smile pulling on my lips.
"What? No. Guess again."
I snickered.
"You really were staring at Neil that day and now I'm going to have to fight him for your affection?"
"That is not funny, Gunjan."
I laughed.
"You told me to guess."
I opened my eyes to look at him and he rolled his eyes, still good natured though.
"Remind me never to do that again." he said seriously.
I snickered.
"Never do that-"
"I'm just going to tell you, okay?" he cut me off.
I giggled, sitting up straighter and giving him my full attention.
"Try it again." I said.
He frowned.
"Ask me again." I prompted.
He sighed.
"Guess what, Gunjan?" he replied, all robotic.
I widened my eyes, raising my eyebrows almost to my hairline, and feigned all encompassing interest.
"What?"
He chuckled.
"Smart ass."
"What?" I repeated.
"That was our first fight." He said smugly.
I sat there for a moment, shocked. It was most definitely not our first argument since we had met but I suppose it was since we'd started dating... a whole two days ago.
"It wasn't a fight." I corrected. "It was an argument."
He just rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. The point is we got over it."
I nodded.
"We did." I agreed. We had fairly quickly for that matter. But then again it hadn't been a fight.
"And we always will." he said, not sounding unsure of himself at all.
I scoffed.
"And how can you be so sure?"
He gave me a look like it was completely obvious.
"Because I'm irresistible." He reminded me.
I cracked up.
"Oh, of course." I remember sarcastically.
"And I've got a secret weapon." he added.
I tilted my head to the side, still smiling.
He gave me that little smirk that he had at the coffee shop and I gulped but then his lips were on mine.
"I plan on kissing you quiet when ever I get the chance." he whispered.
I let him continue for quite a long while. Let's be honest, shall we? I couldn't have stopped that kiss if I'd waned to, which I most definitely did not.
"It's okay." I said, my voice confident. "I can always give you a piece of my mind afterwards."
He chuckled.
"One of the things I love about you, dear."