AN: Hello everyone. Back with the chapter I was looking forward to write the most. As usual, thank you to all of you for giving this story so much love.Happy reading...


"Kuch serious baat kar lein? "

"Haan lekin mujhe bhook lagi hai. " Tarika said sounding grumpy.

"Hein? "

"Kya hein? Khana toh khaane nahi diya tumne. Bhook nahi lagegi kya? "

"Arre yaar... abhi toh koi restaurant khali milega bhi nahi... new year's eve pe toh sab bhara hua hota hai... "

"I don't know mujhe toh khana hai kuch na kuch.. " said tarika rolling her eyes.

"Ab toh umm... ice cream chalega? Yaha paas mein hi milta hai... "

"Ice cream? Its literally December. "

"Haan toh mumbai mein konsi thand hoti hai? Ab yaha aaspas toh ice cream hi milta hai. "

"Thik hai chalo. " Said tarika rolling her eyes. But smiling internally. She loved troubling him without any reason.

"Konsi khaogi? " asked Abhijeet once they stopped near the ice cream and parlour.

"Umm... butterscotch? "

"Really butterscotch? That's like the worst flavor ever. "

"Did I ask for your opinion? Tum baccho ki tarah choco chips wali khate ho maine kabhi judge kiya? "

He opened his mouth to protest, but kind of felt at loss of words. He always loved these childish arguments that they kept having. He just shook his head and got out of the car.

When he came back with the ice cream he found her leaning against the trunk of his car.

"Lijiye madam. " He said handing over the ice cream to her.

"Thanks, " She smiled at him taking a bite from her cup. "Haan. Chalo ab baat karte hai. "

"Kis baare mein? " Asked Abhijeet as he was lost in her childish antics.

"Really? Jis liye tum mujhe beech party se yaha lekar aaye ho... did you forget sometime back you called me your girlfriend? Itna casual tha tumhare liye woh? itni jaldi bhool gaye... " She teased him.

"Oh no. God. Sorry. "

He yet again had a realization of how fond he was of her. Since the time they had their dance, he had seen her shocked, blushing, confused, excited, happy and now she was teasing him. All about the same thing. God, this woman!

"Actually... Achha hi hai tumne direct yes ya no jawab nahi diya us time pe. Because... before we move any further with this, I want to discuss some things with you. " He said his face now getting a little serious.

"Yes, Go ahead. " She said getting serious too.

"Umm... so first and foremost, if we get into a relationship, we both have to make sure that it doesn't affect our work at all. Like, God forbid agar hum dono mein kabhi kuch problems ho jaati hai... toh woh humare kaam ke beech mein kabhi bhi nahi aana chahiye... aur ye zimmedari hum dono ki hai. Agar mein kabhi yeh bhool jau toh tum mujhe yaad dilana and vice versa. But, we have to keep our personal and professional lives separate. "

"Oh, Yes of course.That goes without saying. " She said adoring him. The sincerity in his words made her respect him even more.

"Good. " He said smiling at her as he continued, "Now secondly, ab tumhe itna time ho gaya hai yaha pe so you know how our job is. Kabhi kabhi khaane sone ke liye bhi time nahi milta. So, it is obvious ki hum dono ko ek normal couple ki tarah time spend karne nahi milega. So... mein nahi chahta ki uss wajah se hum mein koi problem aaye. Because whatever we do, there is never going to be enough time. "

"Yes, I know. " she said giving him the warmest smile. "In fact, it could be a blessing in disguise. Jab bohot time hota hai we start taking it for granted. Atleast we won't do that. Jitna bhi time milega, we will value it. "

Here, Abhijeet fell for her all over again. He was just in awe of how mature and understanding she was. He thanked his stars or whatever it was, that sent her in his life.

But, his face turned serious again.

"Now, the last thing... actually I don't know tumhe kaise batau... lekin batana toh padega. " His voice clearly had the tone of hesitation in it.

"Oh come on! You can tell me anything. you know that. "

"Woh... actually... Ye sun ne ke baad tumhe lag sakta hai ki mein kuch jyada hi future ke baaremein soch raha hu ya faltu mein overthink kar raha hu but aisa nahi hai. " He took a deep breath and continued, " Mein bas ye clear karna chahta hu ki I am not the kind of guy who sees himself getting married or having a family. Mujhe nahi lagta ki mein itni saari responsibilities lene ke layak hoon. Matlab family pe dhyaan dene ke chakkar mein job affect ho sakta hai ya job pe dhyaan dete dete family... aur mujhe dono nahi karna hai... "

"Toh iska solution hai ki family hi na ho? " She asked interrupting him.

"Haan matlab... mujhe toh filhal yahi solution najar aa raha hai. "

She just nodded her head at this. Not knowing what to say.

"Aur... mein ye tumhe abhi se isliye bata raha hoon kyu ki whatever it is that we have between us, means so much to me and I don't want to hurt you later. You know, aisa na ho ki baadmein when you seriously start thinking about your future and then I suddenly drop this bomb. So... I mean if you want some time to think you can have it. No problem. There's absolutely no pressure from my side. " Abhijeet said still in a hesitant tone.

She couldn't help but laugh a little. She had literally never met a man more honest than him in her life.

"Ab hass kyu rahi ho yaar? Mein yaha itni serious baat kar raha hu aur tum... " He said kind of annoyed at her reaction.

"Nahi mein tum par nahi hass rahi. I am just surprised ki you have given so much thought to this ki tumne pure terms and conditions hi bana diye hai. Aisa lag raha hai mein koi contract sign karne jaa rahi hoon... " She said suppressing a giggle. "Lekin isse hi prove hota hai that this relationship is going to mean a lot to you. And coming to the point, yes unlike you, I do want to get married and have a family life. "

He lowered his gaze on hearing this.

"Lekin I am not thinking about marriage for atleast 2-3 years. Abhi mujhe career pe dhyaan dena hai. " A teasing smile was back on her face, "aur waise bhi whenever I get married, I want my partner to be a human being and not a workaholic robot. So you don't stand a chance anyway. "

He laughed on hearing that.

"Toh matlab aage jaake if I change my mind, you are still not going to marry me? " He questioned.

"I don't know. Are you going to change your mind? "

" 99% toh nahi. But, you know life sometimes takes an unexpected turn. Like, I didn't ever think that I would someday want to date someone I work with, but here we are. Toh 1% chance toh rakhna padega. "

"Thik hai. Let's see. Time answers everything. " She said shrugging as she ate her ice cream.

"Hmm... Aur? Tumhe kuch kehna hai? "

"Nahi. Tumne hi sab cover kar diya hai and I am glad that we are clear about things right from the start. "

"Me too. "

Both of them smiled at each other.

"So? " He asked looking in her eyes.

"So... it would be an honor being your girlfriend Mr. Abhijeet. " Tarika said feeling her cheeks getting warm.

Abhijeet had the biggest smile on his face as he heard that. He couldn't believe that this has finally happened. He had lived this moment a hundred times in his dreams before. But he now realized that in reality, this moment was even more beautiful. Serene. Giving him butterflies in his stomach but yet, so peaceful.

He just kept staring at her. Hoping that this moment would never end. He wanted to pinch himself to confirm that this was not just one of his dreams. But he thought, even if it was, he would never like to wake up from this dream.

"Kuch bologe ya aise hi ghurte rahoge? " She said blushing.

"Haan matlab actually aisa hai ki tumne jab tak butterscotch ice cream nahi mangvayi thi I was sure about wanting you as my girlfriend but now... I am rethinking a little bit. " He teased her.

She hit him playfully on his arm.

He laughed and took her into his embrace. She wrapped her hands around his neck, hugging him back. Tight.

"I have never been this happy. " she said as she closed her eyes feeling the moment.

"Me too. " He said holding her even tighter.

They stayed in each other's arms, feeling each other's warmth for some time.

As they separated almost unwillingly, Abhijeet cupped her face and gave a very loving kiss on her forehead. Reflecting all the feelings which were still unsaid. May be mere words would never be able do the justice to them.

As he looked at her, she lowered her head blushing. He made her look at him by holding her chin. As their eyes met, they felt the distance between their faces was reducing. Their noses almost touching. They could feel each other's breath. Eyes closed, their lips were on the way to end the little distance between them, when Abhijeet laughed a little.

"What? " Asked tarika obviously annoyed.

"Nothing. I just realized that I am about to kiss a girl who had a crush on me when she was in college. Feels weird. " He said having a hard time controlling his laughter.

"Oh God! You had to bring that up. " She frowned and pushed him away.

"Arre! You should be happy you know. You not only get to work with your crush but also date him, kiss him and may be do a lot more than that. " He winked at her as he tried to hold her by her waist again.

"No! I am always gonna regret telling you that. Move away. You ruined the moment. " Said tarika sounding irritated. She tried to get out of his grip.

"Arre! suno toh... " He said making his grip tighter.

"Ab kya hai? "

"Happy new year! " He said in his most charming tone as they heard sound of fireworks.

She couldn't help but smile.

"Happy new year! " She said hugging him tight.

The fireworks in the sky glowing, as if celebrating the moment with them.


AN: Ab yaha tak padh liya toh batao kaisa laga? leave a review please. ;)

I'll see you soon with an update. :)