Avni constantly searched every nook and corner of her bag for something.

'' Kya dhoond rahi ho?''

'' Nai.Nothing.How much longer before we reach my place''

''In a few minutes"

"Drive faster''

'' So I was thinking why don't we plan something like our double date again? May be a picnic.Will you ask Ali?''

''He can't come.He is busy''

''The whole week?"

''Yes. ''

'' Next week?''

''He will be busy then too"

'' Next month, the month after that? Or will he be busy the whole year?''

'' He is a pretty busy person"

" I'm sure he can find time for his beautiful girlfriend.Give me his no. I'll convince him"

''No"

'' why not?Don't worry I'm not going to steal him from you.He is not my types''

''He won't like it''

''Oh. That's my problem.Leave it upto me"

"Nope.Not happening"

''yes it is happening.I'll make it happen"

"Ali is not my boyfriend.There.I said it.You were right" she gave up throwing her hands in the air

"I knew.But this was fun" he chuckled.

Disappointed with her capability to hold on to lie, she turned her face away from his smug face towards the window, only to realise they weren't moving anymore. But it wasn't her apartment,it was a restaurant.

''I know you were hungry.Thats why the grumpiness, isn't it?"

Annoyed with his accuracy,she folded her arms and continued with her grumpy face.

'' Is that a 'yes'? Acha chalo gussa chodo.Lets have dinner.Its on me "

"Mujhe nai jana"

''C'mon don't behave like a kid now"

" I don't want to eat inside.Lets order take out''

'' And eat where?''

'' Wo main batati hoon''

'' Here"

After getting the food,they drove a little ahead and came to a stop by the side of a less crowded street.

Avni stepped out, with Neil following her.She pointed to the bumper of the car with her eyes.Neil climbed up without wasting a moment.Her spontaneity and carefree atitude pleasantly surprised him.

He lent a hand to Avni and pulled her up.

Leaning back on the windshield, they looked at the sky filled with shining stars, a rare view these days.The cool breeze brushing over their faces blew away the tiredness of the day.

The relaxing aura of the serene night overpowered the strangeness of the company.

''Thank you for everything you did today. You helped Bebe despite being so busy"

'' My pleasure.Tumhari Bebe bahut achi hain Neil.Bahut pyaari aur tumse bahut pyaar karti hain.You are lucky''

'' Wo toh hai.Ring selection ke liye bhi thanks."

After an initial hesitancy, he took out the pendant, placed it his hands and looked at her nervously.

'' This is for you.Just a small token of thanks "

" I can't accept that.And you don't need to gift me anything.I helped out because I wished too.And loved spending time with your Bebe.Thats enough payback"

" Its not payback.I just am thankful for the help"

" Fine.Still can't accept this"

Her non-acceptance felt worse than he anticipated it to be.He hardly managed to cover up his disappointement.It was like he had failed at his favourite subject...no more than that...like someone had walked over his heart.

'' So how was your day?'' the question fulfilled its purpose of changing the topic and distract Avni from concentrating on his dispirited face.

''Hectic tha '' she continued munching on her sandwich as she continued describing her day.

'' Most of the day was usual like always.But..."

The clause piqued his interest.

''Today a patient of mine,  a small 9 months kid recovered completely.Saw him smile and laugh for the first time today since he was admitted 5 days back.His parents were so overjoyed to see this.They just kept expressing their gratitude and blessed me "

Though he tried to concentrate on hearing everything she was saying, but he couldn't take his eyes off her eyes...eyes which were now sparkling with joy and satisfaction.He had never seen her this way.She was genuinely happy. Ecstatic,excited and exuberant.Her face glowed as she talked ; as if she had inhaled some divine energy.

'What was it about her? ' he thought to himself. What was it about her that he liked so much.He couldn't put a finger on it.He felt unexpectedly happy when she was around.She intrigued him like no other girl ever had.He liked how her eyes sparkled ; just the way clear water sparkles when touched by the morning rays of sun.He didn't care about anything or anyone else when he was with her. The thought of meeting her in the evening had helped him sit through a line up of boring meetings.Everything sort of disappeared when he was with her.

It took a click of fingers to snap him out of his thoughts.

''Kya?  Kahan khoye huye ho?" she asked raising a eyebrow.

'' Nai kuch nai''

'' Bore ho gaye? "

" Kabhi nai.''

As he tried to look away from her sparkling eyes, the smudge of sauce on her nose caught his attention.Pointing his index finger towards her nose he tried to tell her about it.

" There's something on ur nose''

'' Kahan ? Yahan? '' she kept asking him as she tried to remove the stain.

He deliberately mislead her.After enjoying her aimless search for a while, he moved his hand  towards her nose to help her out of her misery.She flinched at first but then stayed still.He wiped the smudge with the hook of his fingers...which lingered their for a moment too long.

'' We should go.Its getting late"

He agreed unwillingly.

Avni struggled to get down properly.His offer to get her down  met with disapproval.Stubborn as she was, she finally slipped her way to the ground.But unable to find a proper balance she tripped, only to find him blocking her fall.Her hands landed on his shoulders and his left hand landed on her waist.His hold was strong...enough to hold her still and gentle... holding her like a delicate piece of glasswork.

Time stood still in that moment.For the first time ever she was looking into straight into his deep auburn eyes.His eyes were a shade of deep chocolate brown.Deep...deep like the ocean, honest...just like him, intense... like a burning fire ..yet... calm like still water. If eyes could talk...his definitely would.They were staring into hers,  deep down, as if ready to uncover her truth... to peel off the layers of pretence and resistance ... and look straight into her soul. This sudden awareness kicked  her self consciousness right back.He was breaking through the impermeable walls set around her heart.

She stepped back straightening herself.He couldn't decipher the sudden change of her facial expressions.Suddenly she was back to her former stern self ; back into her tough external shell and the carefree girl was lost. 

                              ***~***

In another part of the same city :

Richa stood alone outside her office waiting for a cab. Her car had broken down just as she was getting ready to leave for home.As she waited for her cab alone outside her now empty office on the crowd free road,  a bike screeched to a stop right infront of her.She had started to look for ways to run  , when the helmet came of the rider and a known face was revealed.

'' Ali ??!!! " she was relieved seeing him

" I was going back to my apartment,  when I saw you "

" I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life" 

'' Kya hua?"

" My car broke down "

" Come I'll drop you home.Will get a mechanic to see this in the morning"

" Can't thank you enough for this "

His smile was genuine and so was her eyes which were grateful to him.