41. 1st Date

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A bike stopped in front of Meera making her step back, clutch her pendant.She looked at the man with scared eyes and raging breath.

The man signaled for her to sit on the bike while she was just perplexed with the situation. When she didn't move, the man removed her helmet and looked at her.

Aashrit was there sitting on a Royal Enfield bike in a black shirt and pants with a leather jacket over it and gloves in his hand, looking at her raising his brows.

He looked so serene in her eyes that she couldn't move her eyes. He looked exactly like the man she had always imagined riding a bike with.

" Thank you Bulbul for looking at me like this and making me feel proud," Aashrit said making Meera come out of her thoughts.

Meera blushed at his statement but soon remembered his actions and looked at him with accusing eyes complaining to him for scaring her while sitting on the   bike. She reached her hand at the back to hold onto something but there was nothing and she was scared of holding him so she put her hand on her legs.

As Aashrit started the bike, Meera got startled and put her one hand on his shoulder and held tightly.

She quickly removed her hand as she composed herself and put her hand on her legs. Aashrit looked at her through the mirror and held her one hand in his and put it on his shoulder from behind. Meera was startled by his action.

"I don't like to ride slowly, and I don't want you to get hurt so you better hold me tightly bulbul," Aashrit said.

Meera held her other hand up to hold him but stopped again.

"I am not ticklish bulbul, you can hold me" Aashrit chuckled giving Meera some comfort and she held both his shoulders.

"Bulbul?" She finally uttered out after being confused for so long.

Aashrit looked at her through the mirror "Yeah you are my bulbul. Whenever you speak, it always reminds me of that small bird who sounds so sweet to the ear." He said making Meera blush and silent also.

Meera loves bike rides and it was a dream come true for her.

"Is it safe?"Meera spoke unknowingly.

"I am pro at bike riding even though I don't do it much," Aashrit said sounding offended.

Meera giggled which made Aashrit look at her through the mirror and smile at her.

"You ride a bike without any security. Is it safe? What if someone saw you?"

"Oh !!!! don't worry. Our guards are there but at a safe distance." Aashrit assured her.

" But how come you are here that too on a bike," Meera asked confused.

Aaashrit looked at her curious yet confused expression through the mirror " Well once during our night talk session, my wife  told me that she loves bike ride and what type of husband won't fulfill their wife's wishes." He said looking at her while Meera smiled " And also I need to make my wife fall for me too." He completed and noticed her smiling and blushing at his statement but didn't say a word.

Meera was happy, she was happy after a long time feeling the emotions she hid deep somewhere. She was free. She wasn't bound by any clutches. As the air was cutting with the high speed of the bike she was feeling as if she was a bird flying high up in the sky without any fear of her wings getting cut by someone. She closed her eyes and took a puff of air letting it settle in her gut through her mouth and filling her with coolness deep inside. Her body shivered with excitement and happiness while a big smile was intact on her face.

Meera always loved bike rides even though the last time she rode on a bike was with Naman. It somehow soured her mood and she looked in front with a sad look. She suddenly remembered those people who used her, misused her, spoiled her.

And before her mood could be much worse it was lifted again on seeing something on the road.

There were some stalls of Bangles, jhumka, and other stuff. It looked like a small fair(mela). She looked at them with so much excitement. She wanted to ask Aashrit to stop for a moment here but she didn't dare to do so. So, she decided to keep looking at the stalls until they were out of her sight.

Aashrit looked at her from the mirror and saw her mood changing from excited to sad to happy to again sad. He followed her line of sight and found her looking at stalls. He turned the bike shocking Meera and stopped in front of the shop.

"Aashrit ji!!!!" Meera exclaimed.

"If you want something, you don't have to hesitate instead you should have asked me with all the authority," Aashrit said to her making her heart flutter.

"He noticed me, " She thought while walking towards the stall bringing a constant smile to her face.

As she reached a shop she saw many beautiful bangles hanging there.

She liked a pair of bangles instantly "Bhaiya, can you show me these"

The shopkeeper stood up immediately to show her the bangles.

"Sister, give me your hand I'll make you wear it."The young boy said not knowing her identity.

Meera nodded and forwarded her hand but before the boy could even hold her hand someone else did, startling both Meera and the boy. Meera looked at the hand holding hers and found her husband.

"I'll make my wife wear these bangles myself," Aashrit said glaring at the poor boy whose eyes went wide.

" Maharaj," The young boy said with fear and joined his hands in front of him.

Aashrit just looked at him and controlled his anger seeing that he had no bad intention and to calm down the environment he said to him "Till then you bring those bangles" He said pointing towards the other one.

The young boy nodded and ran to bring the said bangles.

Aashrit held her hand lightly and made her wear bangles one by one making sure to not hurt her in the process. While all this time Meera was appreciating him, looking at him with all the hearts in her eyes. Her heart was doing a summersault with all his touches. She was so lost in him that she didn't even realize when he made her wear all the bangles. It was just when he spoke and she came out of her thoughts.

"Beautiful," He said.

Meera smiled at him "Then I'll buy them" She said.

She looked at some other bangles and asked the boy to pack them for her while Aashrit was busy looking at her exciting face which was glowing and a glint was there in her eyes. He never knew that such simple things could make her so happy. He was just admiring her when he noticed her opening her purse to take out money and he hurriedly held her hand.

"Try these," He said giving her one more pair of bangles. She forwarded her hand to take them from him but he pulled her hand back.

He held her hand in his "You are a bit harsh I noticed, so just let me do this" He said with a stoic face trying to not show his urge to touch her while Meera was confused with his actions trying to decode them with his face which was giving no hints.

"Keep them on your hands." He said and Meera just nodded and opened her purse to bring out the money but he just kept his hand on her and shook his hand in no.

"Let me," He said bringing out his wallet.

"Why is this minimum bare is making me fall more for him? " She thought in her mind.

She came out of her thoughts when he held her hand and dragged her to another shop. There were jhumkas dangling there which was so ecstatic to even look at. Meera made a face and started moving to other stall when Aashrit stopped her.

"If you like it then buy it." He said confused.

"They are nice but I already have so many."

"So what?" He said and dragged her towards the jhumka stall. And increased many more pairs of jhumkas in her collection.

They kept shopping for more than an hour without even realizing the time and the amount of stuff they bought.

"You should buy this," Aashrit said looking at a beautiful Multicolor dupatta.

"No," Meera said making Aashrit look back at her "I mean Aashrit jii we already bought so many things. I don't even know how we are gonna carry them , we are on the bike and not a car. Now you want to buy more stuff." She said putting her concern in front of him.

"You don't worry about that bulbul, we don't have a car but our guards have, so chill and buy whatever you want," Aashrit said making Meera realize her blunder.

She slapped her head and muttered a sorry while Aashrit took the dupatta and put her on one shoulder deciding it was looking best.

And that's how Aashrit bought her many things making her happy and smiling out wide.

They were near the car when guards were putting the stuff inside they bought when something caught Meera's eyes. "Please wait for me here. I am coming in a second" She said and ran to somewhere. Aashrit just shook his head and asked Adwait to keep an eye on her while he made sure the guards kept the bangles carefully in the car.

"The number of bangles I found broken would be the number of your broken bones," He said to guards making them gulp in fear.

Meera went to a stall and saw Man's jutti. They were looking authentic. The shopkeeper saw her and came out running. Everyone in the fair till now got to know about her identity.

"These are the authentic jutti from Jaisalmer, Rani sa. They are very comfortable also." The man said and Meera thought it might be a nice gift for him and she nodded at him. She already knew his shoe size so it wasn't a problem for her. She chose the best jutti in it and asked him to pack for it.

As she turned, she was startled to see Adwait. He looked down and said, "Maharaj asked me to protect you".

Meera just nodded and gave him the bag "Please put it also in there." Adwait just nodded and left behind her.

As Meera reached there, she saw Aashrit already on the bike and she sat behind him and put her hand on his shoulder before he could comment something and she embarrassed herself.

The air was flowing through her face to her hair. Some locks were coming to her face, and a smile was intact . She just wanted to stop time at this moment.

Her chain of thought broke as Aashrit held her hand from forward and pulled her forward a little. She was startled for a second.

"Bangles suits you." He commented and a smile came to her face unknowingly.

These little moments give him hope that maybe these feelings are not one-sided. Her hold on his other shoulder went tight unknowingly but it didn't go unnoticed by Aashrit and he controlled the smile threatening on his lips. He held her hand and started playing with her bangles and fingers making her heart go wild. Aashrit looked at her through the mirror and found a shy smile on her face giving him the courage. He then lightly tugged on her hand making her fall on him.

"Aashrit..............." Unknowingly the words slipped off her tongue making her eyes go wide." sorry woh....." She tried to explain herself.

"I guess I would prefer you call me Aashrit, my dear Biwi" Aashrit said putting her hand on his stomach.

"And hold me tightly.........we are gonna go a little fast," Aashrit said and accelerated the speed making Meera put her other hand on his stomach and scoop a bit closer to him.

As the speed increased, she put her head on his back enjoying the little moment they are having. She tightened her hold on his stomach , scooping closer , resting her face on his back.

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That was a really long chapter......

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