Sweetest Thing..

After college, Purva reaches the caf and sees Karthik's car parked there. She parks her scooty and goes inside. Karthik sees her and waves at her. She walks to the table and sits down. The server comes to take their order but Purva doesn't want anything. Sensing the tension between the two, the server decides to come back later and leaves.

Karthik puts his hand over hers and asks, "Kaisi ho?" Purva gently pulls her hand away and hesitates. Karthik can't take this anymore and says, "Purva please tum aise chup matt raho. Mujhse fight karo, chillao, but please kuch toh bolo! Purva tum.."

But Purva interjects and asks, "Tumne Nupur se apna rishta kyun toda?"

Karthik is shocked to hear this but remembers his conversation with Anushka earlier in the day. He realizes why Purva has been so distant. He holds her hand again even though she tries to take it away. He looks at her innocent eyes and says, "Tumhaari wajah se nahi toda. Nupur se mera rishta kabhi jooda hi nahi. Woh apne parents ki duniya mein rehna chahti thi. She never tried to be a part of our relationship. Hamaari shaadi ko teen mahine ho gaye lekin humne teen pal saath nahi beetaye. Honestly, mujhe lagta hai ki usse mujhse zyaada KK Reddy ki property aur bank balance mein interest tha."

Hearing this Purva's tension starts fading away a bit but she is still not convinced and asks, "Toh tum usse samjha bhi toh sakte the na. Tumne koshish kyun nahi ki apni shaadi bachaane ki?

"Ki Purva. Puri koshish ki. Aur tum ne hi toh help ki thi meri. Remember?" He says. "Aur sach kahu toh mera dil uss rishte mein kabhi tha hi nahi. Appa ne select kiya rishta aur unpe trust karke maine ha keh di. Ek aisa rishta jisme na pyaar hai, na bharosa, aise mein koi kaise bandh ke reh sakta hai?"

"Leki agar hum tumhaari life mein nahi hote toh tum apni shaadi.." Purva says but Karthik doesn't let her finish and says, "Todd hi deta. Purva maine kaha na, meri shaadi ka tumse koi lena dena nahi hai. In fact, jab uss ne divorce papers sign kiye tab mujhe aisa laga jaise mein azaad ho gaya."

Still seeing doubts in her eyes, Karthik gets up and sits next to her and asks, "Pata hai mein tumse kyun pyaar karta hu?" She slowly shakes her head in denial.

He smiles and cups her face and says, "Kyun ki tumhaara dil itana accha hai ki tumhe dusro ki buraai nazar hi nahi aati. Tum mature ho aur sensitive bhi. And most importantly, jab tum mere saath hoti ho na toh mujhe kisi ki kami mehsoos nahi hoti. You're funny and sweet and kind and generous." He drops his head on hers and adds, "I love you Purva Sinha."

For the first time in days, Purva breathes a sigh of relief and holds his hands. He tilts her head and kisses her forehead making her smile.

He pulls back still holding her hands when the server comes back and says with a smile, "Ma'am? Ab kuch lengi aqp?"

Both Purva and Karthik laugh. Purva says, "Ji. Ek cappuccino."

"I'll have a black coffee." Karthik says.

The server writes it down and leaves. After the coffee, they leave to go home. In the parking area, Purva looks at Karthik and says, "Thank you Karthik!"

"Kis liye?" Karthik asks confused.

"Humaare dil ka bohot bada bojh halka kar diya tumne." She says.

He chuckles and pulls her towards him. She hugs him, and he caresses her hair. "Paagal!" He says. "Aage se aise maun vrat rakha na, toh tujhse kabhi baat nahi karunga. Samjhi?"

She looks up at him and nods with a smile. And then suddenly elated, as if she just realized something, she says, "Karthik?! Aaj humaari first official date hai!"

"Aree ha..! Chal, celebrate karne ke liye dinner pe chalet hai." He says.

"Nahi! Ma wait kar rahi hongi. Aur dinner bhi bana liya hoga unhone." She says. When he makes a face she says, "Kal chalenge! Pakka!"

He smiles and says, "Okay!"

She turns towards her scooty and he turns towards his car. As soon as he opens the car door, Purva runs back to him and hugs him from behind. "I love you, too, Karthik Reddy!" and kisses his cheek and goes back to her scooty and drives off.

Karthik stands there until she disappears in the distance and then gets into his car and goes home.

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