The tea stall is small. It has little shed and a small bench to sit on. Reena sat on the bench while Aarav went to tea stall owner to order.

" Bhaiya..2 kadak cutting with adrak. "
( Brother 2 strong half tea with ginger ) He ordered. He took the glasses from him and sat on the bench besides her. He kept the glasses beside and took out his handkerchief. He folded it twice and grabbed the glass and handed it over to her.

" Its too hot.." He explained.

She smiled and took the glass and holded with handkerchief. Now somewhat she is impressed. She hang out with many of her male friends before but none of them did such a cute gesture. She mouth a thank you to him.

" umm..woww. Now I feel alive. " He explained after a first sip.

" Yess..its truly amazing. " She agreed taking a sip.

" You are from Bangalore itself..? " She asked.

" No..I am from Delhi. Came here to explore. " He winked. For a movement she didn't know what to react.

" And I supposed you live with a roommate so you are also from not here. " He tried to guess.

" Yeah..attention to detail haan. ? " She asked raising her eyebrow.

" Yep." He smiled.

" Yess..you guessed it right. I am from Jammu. "

" Explains your fairness. " He replied.

" Not every person lives in Jammu is fair.." She laughed.

" True..but mostly the people I know are fair. "

" Like..? "

" Like my previous two clients and one friend and even in such a cold rainy night where wind is so chilling you never shivered once bcs you must have used to coldness I figured out. " He said while finishing his tea.

" You are a keen observer. " She complemented. He looked at her and lost in her beautiful smile for a while. He composed himself and took her glass from her hand when finished.
He paid the bill and they continued walking. Suddenly two boys started following them on bike. Aarav looked back at them. The boys were staring at her legs from back as she is wearing skirt. Aarav slowed down his steps and started walking behind her blocking their view. He glared at them with a deadly look. The boys then increased their speed and went ahead. This did not go unnoticed by her. After the boys went ahead she matched with his footsteps to walk together. She gently smiled at him and he gesture through his eyes not to worry.

They reached in front of the Aryan Enclave in a while. Both of them were little tired but their faces were shining just like they meant to have this walk.

" Thank you so much " She thanked him for helping her out.

" No problem. "

" Aarav would you like to come in ? "
He looked straight in her eyes as first time she took his name. That too in such a soft tone.

" I would love to but..its too late and I should too return home. " He replied.

" Yeah..okay. " Her face showed disappointment.

" Reena..I know todays tea on me but If you want you can call me for a tea treat another time. " He said smiling a little.

" Yess..Sure. " They exchange their numbers.

" Okay..I need to go..byee.." He waved at her goodbye and started to walk in the direction from where they have came.

" Aarav..Boston corner is this way. You are going in opposite direction. "

He took a deep breath and slowly walk closer to her. He scratch his neck nervously before answering.

" I am Sorry but I lied to you. " He said in apologetic tone. She was silent.

" What you mean..? " She asked concerned. What..? did he lie to me but why..? and about what..?Thousands of worst possibilities came in her mind in that five seconds.

" Actually..I don't live near Boston Corner. " He slowly tried to explain.

" So..where do you live..? " She asked curiously.

" Just in front of the bus stop, from where we started walking. " He cutely smiled at her. She felt her mind is numb.

" What..? Then why did you walk with me all the way here..? She is confused as hell.

" Well..you were alone, the road was empty, the rain and plus there was no single vehicle available. So I walked to accompany you. " He explained while putting his hands in his pants pocket cutely smiling.

" And If I would have asked you to get on my bike. You would never have trusted me. Basically no girl in the world will trust a stranger and will get on his bike so.." He explained the whole scenario.

She smiled at him and started hitting him on this shoulder lovingly. Look don't hit me. I just wanted to help. He tried to explain and they both started laughing.

" How will you go back.." She asked after laughter died.

" I will call my roommate. He will came on my bike. "

" Roommate..? But..You said you live with your family. " She asked confused.

" Have you lied about that too. "

He apologetically nodded a yes and again took a hit on his head.

" Ouch..See you were scared when you arrived on the bus stop. And if I would have offer you to walk with me. You would never have so I fake dialed a number and act to speak with my mother so you won't feel unsafe. "

She listen to him and broke into laughter. " What more you have lied about..? " She asked him.

" Nothing more. Haan..just one thing. " He came more closer to her. His voice is low and intense.

" What " They both were looking at each other intensely. Her breathen has quicken as she met his eyes.

" I mean..I have not lied but I showed like that..that I am not attracted to you. " He slowly said taking a deep breath. She blushed in response.

" Me too.." She replied slowly and his face lighten up. They both looked down blushing. He called his friend after a while and he came up with his bike to pick up Aarav.

" Okay..I should leave now. " He said and tried to go when he felt her hold on his hand. He looked back at her amused.

" Thank you." She said with a tear in her eyes. He can't hold it anymore so he pulled her into a hug. They remain like that for sometime. He slowly broke the hug and wiped her tear.

" You are always welcome. " He said while looking at her.

" And I promise you will not face any situation like this anymore. "

" How " She asked. She knows what he is going to say but still she wanted to hear from him.

" Told you na..The man committed to you will never leave you alone..and I am going to be that man. " He said and she hugged him again. They slowly broke the hug and he waved her goodbye. Her face has lightened up as she bid byee to him making her way towards inside her building smiling and blushing to herself knowing she found her committed man and she is ready to be his committed girl for lifetime.

And that's a wrap.

So what u feel about this story..?

I was listening to song " Raat akeli thi " from merry Christmas movie and this plot come to my mind.

Do listen to the beautiful song.

Love Sanika ❤