~ArSh FF~ |Written In The Stars| *Note-Pg50* - Page 25

~~Chapter 13 - Our First Date~~

We went to a restaurant, a place called Flauvin's. I offered her my hand, and she accepted my gentalmanly gesture, and together, we walked, fingers intertwined with each other. It felt good.

''I can't believe you asked my father's permission.'' She smiled.

''It's not a big deal.'' I pulled the chair out for her, and she observed the people - they wore fashionably. With her simple dress, she felt like a plain Jane. I noticed her discomfort and kept a reassuring hand on her's. ''You look beautiful tonight.''

A smile lit up her face. ''Thanks, you look very well yourself.'' She pointed at my black suit that matched her black dress, properly finished with a tie.

We talked for a while, about anything and everything. I felt at peace with her, complete, satisfied, happy. I'd been with many girls, prettier girls, more interesting girls, but no one made me feel the way she was, right now.

''Would you like to start off with something to drink?'' The waiter arrived.

''Sweet tea, please.''

''Make that, two.'' I smiled.

When he went away, she looked at me questioningly. ''This restaurant is really nice, are you sure it's okay?''

''Don't even worry about it.'' I flashed a full-blown smile. ''Choose whatever you want.''

''Okay.'' She nodded and took a look around. There was a dance floor, a simple one. Two couples were enjoying themselves, the couple closest to them were in their mid 20s. We were the only teenage couple tonight. She looked back at me. ''Would you like to dance?''

''Uh..'' I pause. ''Sorry, I don't dance.'' He shrugged.

''Me neither.'' She smiled. ''I mean, not usually in front of anybody.''

''N..no.. I mean, I don't. At all. As i-in, I can't.'' I stammered.

''Everybody can dance.'' She rolled her eyes. ''Come on, you can't be that bad.'' No response. ''Please.'' She shrugged. ''For me.'' She stood up and pulled me along. ''Come on.''

''How can I say no to that?''

We went to the dance floor, I raised my arms, struggling with the whole slow dancing thing. She held my hand and kept my one arm around her waist, and intertwined her fingers with my other one. Did she have any idea what kind of a rush that simple gesture gave me!?

I stepped on her foot by accident and she winced. ''Ow.''

''Sorry. I told you I'm bad at this.'' I sighed.

''But, it's okay, since you did warn me.'' She laughed.

''So.'' A pause. ''What's number one in your list?''

She shook her head, grinning ear to ear.

''Number one in my list is getting out of my house when I'm older.''

''Getting out isn't a problem.'' She sighed. ''It's more like, figuring out what to do what you're grown up.''

''What do you mean?''

''I mean, you can do anything.''

I swayed her around in my arms and pulled her back. We stared at each other for a long minute, before she broke off shyly.

-

After that, I decided to take her for a 'surprise'.

''Where are we going?'' She asked.

''You'll see.'' I opened the car door for her and rushed to the driver seat. A moment later, I stopped the car in the middle of the road, got out of the car and pulled her passenger door open.

''Where are we?''

''Come on.'' I took her hand. ''Run run run run run..Okay now, stand up.'' I made her stand in the middle of the road and pointed to the right side. ''One foot there.'' To the left. ''One foot over here.''

''You're acting like a crazy person.'' She looked up at me. ''What's going on?''

''Right now, you're in the state line.'' I grinned.

''Okay?''

''You're in two places at once.'' He pointed back to the board 'Welcome to Mumbai'. She looked at it and blinked, remembering their conversation in the car. I wanna be at 2 places at once.

A smile lit up her face before she moved forward and hugged him. He pulled her off the ground and swept her around. They stood there for a minute before Armaan winked. ''I have another surprise for you.''

''What is it?'' She asked, standing on the road again.

''In the car.'' He pulled her back, made her sit on the passenger side and took out three cards. ''Butterfly, rosebud or star?''

She shook her head. ''You choose.''

''Butterfly.'' He picked the card up and pointed. ''You told me you want a tattoo, right? So, where do you want it?''

She blinked, taken by surprise yet another time in one day. She pulled her sleeve down, and pushed her hair back. ''Right here.'' She pointed at her shoulder blade.

''Okay.'' I forced the word out, my eyes held her gaze as I leaned forward and pressed the card on her shoulder. I went over the other side again, gently rubbing it down. All this while, my hand stroked her shoulder gently. When I was done, I pulled the card back gently and blew it. ''Yet another wish granted by Armaan Santa Mallik.''

She laughed and punched me lightly on the chest.

We walked around near the graveyard after that. ''How can you see moments like this.-'' She paused, breathing the wild air in. ''-Feel moments like this and not believe? It's like the wind, I can't see it, but I feel it.''

''What do you feel?''

''I feel wonder, and beauty.'' She let the wind play with her hair, drinking it all in. ''And joy. Love.''

She turned back, only to find him staring at her intently. ''I might kiss you.''

''I might be bad at it.'' She blinked.

He took a step forward. ''That's not possible.'' He slowly raised a hand to her cheek, brushing her hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, awaiting what's coming next. Although, what he said completely left her dumbfounded. ''Shilpa, I love you.''

She opened her eyes and looked at him for over a minute, trying, hoping, wishing it wasn't true. It was. She could see it in his eyes, she could feel it in his touch. She knew she loved him too, but how could she just say that when she was holding something within her that could tear them apart even before they begun?

''I told you not to fall in love with me..''

The words lingered in the air for a while, before I placed a gentle kiss on her lips, softly brushing her cheek with my hand. She leaned her forehead against mine, and I kissed her forehead tenderly, assuring her that she did deserve to be loved. I didn't expect her to say 'I love you' back anytime soon, it was only a week ago that I'd insulted her in front of my friends. I clutched her hand tightly. ''Let's take you home.''