Alrighty, so this is a lil different...first time I've ever posted a fic on Kryan, but this was requested by Rubina and the concept was so cute and true to Karan and Krystle that I just had to! However, this is probably one of the cheesiest things I've ever written, though mind you, most of my work is pure fluff anyway.
Side note: I'm currently addicted to Ek Duje Ke Vaaste and it's the sole Indian serial I've seen since EHMMBH, which is insane. Anyone else with me?
Krystle surveyed the snowy white grounds, enthralled. Snow fell in tiny white flakes all around her, alighting in her hair, her thick fluffy coat, her little gray beanie. Lights ablaze and a massive Christmas tree before her, the atmosphere cheery with the approaching festivities. It was beautiful and she loved it here. Covent Garden.
Though perhaps, what made this place the most magical of all...had less to do with the lights and decorations and season...but more to do with the hand entwined with hers, the man standing by her side as they gazed at their surroundings in wonder.
"I love London, but I have to say this is my favourite place in it, especially during winter," Karan remarked.
"I agree. It's so beautiful," Krystle nodded smilingly. She shivered, still unused to the cold weather.
Karan brushed a few snowflakes out of her hair, "We've been out a while, maybe we should get back? It's getting cold."
"No, let's stay out a while longer," something caught her peripheral vision and she dragged him over to a lit up reindeer figure. "Karan, look, it's Rudolph."
"Rudolph?" he eyed the figure questioningly.
"Haan, baba, Rudolph!" she said excitedly, "He's the reindeer that guides Santa's sleigh with his big red nose."
Karan couldn't help but chuckle at her childish enthusiasm, "If you say so."
She started humming Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer under her breath and then did a little spin around with her arms outstretched, face tilted upward to feel the snow landing on her skin.
"What are you doing?" he inquired with a crooked grin.
"This might be the last time I feel snow until we get back to India," she reminded him, still looking to the skies, "I want to enjoy it."
"Ah, I get it."
A snowball hit her straight in the face. "Karan!" she spluttered, shaking herself. He was doubled over with laughing so hard that he didn't notice that she'd aimed a snowball right back at him. "Hey!" he protested, yet still chuckling, "I thought I'd help you enjoy it a bit more."
She glowered back at him, removing her mittens to rub the snow out of her face. "Here, let me help," he moved towards. She took a step back warily and he held up his gloveless hands, "No more, I promise." He held her face between his hands, rubbing off the already melting snow gently.
"Your cheeks are red," he commented.
"So are yours," she reached up to brush off the bit of snow from his beard, "And your nose. I should call you Rudolph from now on."
"That bad?"
She leaned her head to one side, surveying him, then smiled, "No, I was just teasing."
He smiled back, lifting her up to place her on the stone wall behind them. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"I needed a better vantage point," he explained, moving closer, shivering slightly.
She brought her legs on either side of him, "For what?"
"For this." He leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. Once. Twice. And then paused as he felt her cold hands unbutton the first few buttons of his coat and slip inside.
"You're freezing," he hugged her close, pushing his forehead against hers.
"And you're warm," she nestled snugly against him.
"We could go inside," he suggested casually, "I could warm you up far better-"
She pulled back reprovingly, "It's our last day in London. I'm making the most of the snow, remember?"
"Your hands are like ice!"
"I thought you were warming them up for me," she responded sweetly.
He sighed, shaking his head ruefully, "Chameli's got a new lipstick colour on."
She frowned, "I do? I didn't-"
"Your lips are turning blue," he informed her.
"They are not!"
"Well, they won't be if..." he leaned in again, but she pushed him back, laughing, "Karan! We're in a public place."
"No one's watching," he reasoned. It was true. Everyone was so busy with shopping for Christmas gifts and couples out on romantic strolls were probably too absorbed with each other to pay attention to them.
A gust of wind whirled past them. "Krystle, I really think we should get going-"
"No," she shook her head stubbornly, "No just yet." She hopped down from her perch on the wall and grabbed his hand, "Come on, let's walk around."
"Fine," he said in mock reluctance. It wasn't long, however, before she realized he was tugging her in a specific direction. "Karan, where are we going?" she asked suspiciously.
"You'll see," he grinned, "Just trust me."
He stopped in front of what appeared to be a restaurant, warmly lit up on the inside. "You're hungry, aren't you?"
"Not that hungry," she argued, but he put a finger to her lips, "I've already booked reservations, come on."
She entered it with him and gasped. It was more a conservatory and less of a restaurant, with little trees lining the walls, a hedged archway and golden lights glittering from overhanging branches that covered the entire ceiling. "This is so beautiful," she breathed.
"I thought you'd like it."
A waiter guided them to their table and Karan held out Krystle's chair, removing her jacket. "Is this why you asked me to wear a dress before coming out?" she laughed, "And I thought you were crazy for making me wear it in the cold!"
"Well, I did try to bring you inside," he pointed out, sitting down across from her. "You look gorgeous, by the way." The simple red dress she wore perfectly accentuated her figure, the sleeves falling off the shoulders, leaving them bare and glowing in the golden lighting. He didn't realize he was staring until she snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"You're beautiful," he said simply. It didn't matter where they were, where they went...she could admire the lights and the people all she wanted, but the only thing he was looking at...was her.
They exited the restaurant after dinner, Karan adjusting her beanie over her head as they left. "The food was amazing," she marvelled.
"It was," he agreed, "Rajiv suggested this place to me, I'll have to thank him later."
"What's it called, again?"
"Clos Maggiore," he attempted to pronounce the name.
"We need to come here the next time we come to London too."
"Sounds good to me." He led them over to an immense Christmas tree, covered in tiny pale blue lights. The snow had died down a bit, although Krystle was still thankful she'd worn heeled boots instead of pumps.
She rested her face under his neck, while he drew his arms around her, peeking out to watch the bustle of passersby from afar and the twinkling lights that shone like tiny jewels in the darkness. "I think I've realized why I love London so much in winter."
"The snow?" he inquired.
"Well, that's part of it too, I guess, but it's also more than that. I love the celebrations, the lights, the decorations, everything! Everybody just seems so happy and relaxed. And even if people are busy shopping, there's that whole aura of giving and sharing and joy. Even watching the couples walk around, hand-in-hand, makes me happy."
"You do realize we happen to be one of those couples?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I know, that's what makes it even better. It's almost like we can share in their happiness, you know?"
He shook his head at her, smiling. She was so sweet and charming, his girl.
"And also," she continued, "I get to spend time with you, alone. We don't have to constantly worry about other people, it's like our own little getaway. You do so many things for me, so many little sweet surprises."
"I like seeing you happy," he shrugged.
She smiled, looking up at him, eyes sparkling, "I love you."
He cleared his throat, "About what you said...me surprising you...I've got one more surprise left for tonight."
"Should I close my eyes?" she teased.
"No. I want them wide open," he laughed, a little nervously, "You know, I've realized...even when we first met, we first became friends, I loved seeing you happy. That's probably been one of my most favourite things about you. Your smiles, your laughter...And then when I started to fall in love with you, I realized I never wanted that happiness to fade. And yeah, there've been bad days too, we've argued, we've had our misunderstandings...but we've always made up in the end, and you've never lost your smile. I guess...I've realized that I want to be the only person to be responsible for making you this happy, I mean, I've realized it for a while now, but I want it to be official and I want to be in charge of your happiness for the rest of our lives." He took a deep breath and then reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a tiny box and opening it to reveal a ring, inlaid with diamonds, "So will you let me?"
She looked at him wide-eyed and he had a split-second panic attack as he wondered if she'd refuse and then she whispered, "Yes." Louder, "Yes." She let him put the ring on her finger and then hugged him tightly, laughing as he spun her around, "Yes!"
He kissed her with all his love and relief and happiness, only to pull back. "You're crying," he frowned.
She laughed, "I'm happy."
And he'd be responsible for that happiness for the rest of their lives.
Current Affairs
