Chapter 9 (Ashu POV)
I took her hand. We went up to the 6th floor and into the restaurant; La Terrazza. Everything was so elegant inside. I felt like it was fit for royalty. It smelled divine. There was live music playing softly. The entire restaurant had the most stunning panoramic view of Rome. This was probably the best view you could find of the entire city. We were shown to an elegant table for two. The table was already dressed with the finest china and cutlery. It was almost dark outside. The sun had just set. This was the most stunning time of day here in Rome; twilight.
We sat across from each other. It was a candle light dinner. I reached across the table and held her hand. The candle light made her eyes glitter beautifully. They were so deep. This is the depth I fell into regardless of how much I had once tried resisting it.
"You look so sexy…" She whispered to me, with that naughty glint in her eyes. I couldn't handle compliments and she knew this, but she did it anyway, to tease me.
"Are we going to order or not?" I snapped. It sounded harsh even though I hadn't meant it to be.
"Wow what a comeback…" She sounded a little hurt.
"I'm sorry baby…I didn't mean it to come out that way…you know…" She looked surprised and she stopped me. "Did you just call me baby?" I smiled. "Yeah, I did…you say it often so I'm starting to…I mean it suits you too…" She blushed. Her mood completely went back to normal because I'd called her baby.
"That's the sweetest and cutest thing ever…Dr. Ashutosh calls his wife 'baby'…oh my God!" She clapped excitedly. "I really need to hear that again…it sounded so perfect coming out of your mouth…"
"I never told you but…I also love it when you call ME baby…" I confessed. She grinned. "I could tell…I'm always trying to note what softens you up…you know, in case I need to use it later…"
We continued talking. We ordered our dinner too. Service was quick. The piano music in the background became louder. Nidhi became quiet, but I knew she was listening to the music carefully. It was classical music, a piece by Rachmaninoff. I knew it well.
We ate in silence. It was a peaceful silence. Content too. I was watching her carefully. She didn't make eye contact until the very end. She was watching something behind me now. I turned just a little and saw that a few couples were dancing behind me. I understood now, what was next. I barely made eye contact with her, but it was enough for me to notice her pleading stare. I sighed. It made my blood boil. I wasn't able to understand my own aversion to dancing. I loved music, so why couldn't I enjoy dancing?
She slowly slipped her fingers in between mine. I couldn't stare at our hands forever. I had to look into her eyes sooner rather than later. I met her stare.
"Please…"
I exhaled. "Nidhi…I can't…you know me well…"
"Please…please! You won't have to move…you can just hold me…"
"Nidhi…this place…this public place…I can't make a fool of myself…if I hold you and pretend to dance, that's not good enough…I'd like to dance…but I can't…Nidhi please…"
"Please just try…I'll show you…." Her voice trailed off at the end. She looked down. The atmosphere changed. I felt tense. Her pain was my pain. She was hurting. She wanted something and nothing was wrong with it, I just couldn't give it to her.
I pulled her arm a little. "Honey please…don't get so depressed…Nidhi I will give you everything you want, but you know my limits…I just stink at dancing…"
She looked into my eyes and nodded. She tried to smile. But no, it wasn't happening. It wasn't going to happen. Her eyes were swimming in tears. They were threatening to fall if she blinked. It shook me up. My throat became dry. A chill passed through me, seeing her look so crushed. I let go of her hand and leaned back in my chair. I had to change myself.
