"Happy Birthday Mrs Singhania"
"How did you know? "
"Well of course I will know the birthday of the woman I lo... married."
Arya was overwhelmed by the kind gesture. She never thought someone would care enough about her to do all this. And yet there he was giving her a nonchalant shy smile.
" Thank you " she whispered her voice breaking
Rehan held her free hand lying on the table
"No thank you sorry between friends. " He said with fake seriousness.
She chuckled nodding her head.
"By the way I don't want to ruin the whole vibe by singing happy birthday to you in my awful voice so maybe it would be better if we just do the whole thing in silence. " He joked.
"But I like listening to your voice"
Saying that Arya went to on to cut the cake as if nothing happened.
But Rehan couldn't hide the blush that was forming on his cheeks.
"By the way , I hope you don't mind there being no candle. I don't really like blowing out candles on one's birthday. Why would someone want start a new year of their life by extinguishing a source of light and welcoming darkness. But this is my opinion. If you want we can light some candles or......"
She clasped her hands over his mouth.
" Thank you. No one has ever done anything like this for me. "
"Then they are the idiots because you deserve the world. "
Rehan winked
Smiling both of them fed each other a piece of cake suddenly self conscious and meek.
Rehan forwarded her his hands, "would the gorgeous lady grant me a dance ? "
"That's the least I can do for you after making my day. "
Rehan tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ears as they danced to a slow melody.
"Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?"
" You did. But I won't mind hearing it one more time " She replied staring back into his deep brown orbs.
" Beauty is whatever brings you joy "
" Edna St Vincent malley "
" Impressive " he looked at her in surprise.
" What? I like poems" Arya responded rolling her eyes.
Soon enough their laughs filled the sphere around them.
The two souls lost track of time as they danced under the cloudless sky , unaware of anything but that moment. Because it was magical and that's all that mattered.
*
"Could you please switch off that God awful music. "
"It is not awful. "
"It's making me go back to sleep and we have a flight to catch. "
" Someone's in a good mood. " Rehan said chuckling.
"No shit Sherlock. " She groaned.
"Have you finished packing?"
"Does it look like I have?"
Arya turned and collided with Rehan who was coming towards her. As if in reflex, he caught her before she could fall.
"Aww. Mrs Singhania cant stay away from her husband's arm's that long. Can she? " He teased her only to get a glare in return.
He winked at her teasing her more.
"If you wink at me again I swear to god I'll stab you in the eye. "
Rehan let go of her.
"No need for that much violence this early." He said in surrender.
" Good. " Arya replied satisfied with her actions.
"It's good to know something's never change. "
"Always keep in mind to remember that. " She said showing him her tongue.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Arya opened the door to see Jacob, their tour guide.
"Hey Jacob , we were about to leave for the airport and we wanted to thank you for everything. " She beamed.
Rehan was confused at her sudden shift.
"Yeah thank you Jacob"
" It waz my pleasure "
She turned towards him.
"Tho chale?"
" Haa meri maa. Lead the way. "
*
"Here"
Rehan handed her a big piece of chocolate.
"Thank you"
"Figured you would be hungry and
Turns out I was right. "
She gave him a sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry for shouting at you today morning. I am a bit grumpy in the morning. "
"That is a bit? " He looked at her alarmed.
"Mai sorry bola na? " She responded biting into the chocolate.
He chuckled.
"You can sleep now if you want. "
"I was also thinking the same thing. You know, great minds think alike. "
She laid her head on his shoulder and started to drift into sweet oblivion.
T
he last thing on her mind before she slept was she knew.
She was falling for him. Like the soft drizzle of the first monsoon shower.
*
"I think I left my phone at the counter. I'll come back. "
They were in London and had checked into their room.
As Rehan was going towards the reception , a girl bumped into him.
She had a bunch of papers on her hands which were scattered everywhere.
"I'm so sorry "
"It's okay. I wasn't looking where I was going. " Rehan apologised.
"Well anyways. I'm Rachel. "
"You have a beautiful name that is deserving of your beautiful face." Rehan replied with a genuine smile.
Little did he know that someone was listening to everything and burning in a corner silently.
They exchanged a few pleasanteries which felt too pleasant to Arya. He never asked her these things.
" You know Rehan, men like you are really rare nowadays. I wish I had a boyfriend like you. "
Rehan smiled and said a polite thank you.
Arya had had enough. She went to the room without waiting for Rehan.
"If you are free , I can buy you a drink."
" Sorry. But I don't drink and I'm pretty sure my wife will be waiting for me. "
" Ohh , yeah sure. Anyways thank you for helping me. "
" No worries. "
*
"Where are you off to? "
"The bar. "
"Why ? "
"Because I want to. "
"I'm coming with you. "
"No you are not. I'm going there by myself. You can go with yourself. "
"Why are you so angry all of a sudden. "
"I am not angry. This is just the way I am. If you don't like this , just leave me alone. That is what we agreed on right ? So it will be better if we stick to that. "
Saying that Arya stormed out of the room.
"This girl is going to be the end of me. "
H
e pinched the bridge of his nose.
He quickly got ready and followed her to the bar downstairs.
Arya was sitting at the bar , nursing a glass of beer in her hand.
Something had snapped in her head when she saw him with her.
For a moment she was terrified that he would leave her for someone like that girl.
Beautiful, confident and unique.
Honestly who would want to love someone like her.
Black eyes ,black hair. Dusky skin and a violent temper.
Even she found it hard to handle her temper sometimes. But then she realised that she never really had any choice in that. Afterall they were just strangers who were forced into this and even then Sarah's face nagged her in her dreams.
Arya was becoming more and more sceptic about Sarah. After spending all this time with him , never once had he tried to misbehave with her. He was always a gentleman even when he was acting like a prick.
"You look so lonely and I think it's a crime for beautiful girls like you to be lonely. "
She turned towards the owner of the sound.
"I'm Jack"
"Arya"
"So Arya, can I buy you a drink?"
She was about to decline the offer but the image of Rehan and that girl today made her say the opposite.
" I would love that actually. "
Arya could feel someone watching her. Rehan was glaring at them with so much intensity that it made her shudder for a minute.
But this was good. He also need a reality check.
Arya talked with Jack for sometime most of which was her forced laughs.
Then he started getting more touchy and it was getting too uncomfortable for her to handle.
She tried to brush him of and stand up but Arya was feeling really drowsy and light headed. She tried to stand up but lost her footing and fell on someone. Not a someone. Rehan.
She couldn't hear anything other than some muffled sounds and before she knew she was being carried away by a huge mass of muscle.
*
That bastard was flirting with her. Right in front of his fricking eyes. Rehan was furious. He had watched him looking at his darling with lust filled eyes. He didn't say anything because he knew he didn't have the right to. But then he ......
God. I should have killed him.
" Let me down you idiot " Arya screamed at his punching his shoulder.
"Here" he replied dropping her on the bed.
He turned to leave but Arya pulled him down towards her by his collar.
"Why did you do that? "
"Do what? "
She was caged between his arms but he knew he was powerless against those fierce black eyes.
"You know you are so cute when you blush but you look hot when you are angry. " Her words were like a caress , soft and arousing.
Her fragrance was intoxicating for him.
"Why do you guys always get the best things? Long eyelashes, beautiful eyes , dimples and the perfect lips."
She whispered tracing the features with the tip of her finger which came to a rest on my lips.
She pulled him down a bit more that their lips were about to collide.
"Arya I don't think this is right? "
She raised her eyebrows.
"Why ? We are married. "
"Yes. But you are drunk. "
"But I want to kiss you. "
A new swarm of butterflies erupted in his stomach at her innocence
He leaned down and kissed her nose.
Arya's eyes fluttered at the soft touch and released the grip on his shirt.
" Go to sleep now Mrs Singhania. "
I got up to leave but was stopped by a hand holding on to mine.
"Will you stay? Please."
He couldn't refuse her. Especially while she was looking at him with those wide puppy eyes.
Rehan smiled nodding his head and got into the bed. Soon enough Arya was fast asleep, holding on to him and using his hand as a pillow.
He gazed at the most beautiful woman he has ever set eyes upon.
"I love you Arya Mehta. I don't know why. I just do. And I wish for all my days to start and end like this. In your arms. "
Rehan kissed her head with a small smile.
Their first kiss.
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I'm so damn sorry for ghosting you guys for 3 months. Sometimes life just doesn't go as we plan. I don't think I deserve to justify what I did , so I'm not going to.
Anyways, hope you guys loved the chapter. I know this isn't what you wanted but it's coming on the next chapter. But I have a happy news. The next chapter will be solely about our Dhruvika.
And I wanted to publish this chapter today itself as it is Vijaya dashami and I think I won't get a much better day to restart my journey on this book.
And happy Dussehra â¤ï¸
Keep commenting. It makes my day. ( I'll reply to all the people who commented these past months. I Love talking with you guys. )
Bye bye. And love you 3000
XOXO
â
I can't look at you without thinking you are the best thing that ever happened to me. "