Note: Lines in Italics are Raman's dialogue from their previous date

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"Kya aap bina kuch kahe mere sath chaloge?"

Did she just say that!?

Bin kuch kahe bin kuch sune
Hathon me haath liye
Char kadam bas char kadam
Chal do na saath mere

"Ishita! Please aaj ek baar bin kuch pooche, bin kuch kahe mere sath chalo"

Isn't this something that I had asked her on our first date? 

Did she choose those words deliberately or is it just a co-incidence?

I was engrossed in thoughts when I found her expectantly staring at me!

EXPECTATIONS! 

I know how it feels to be disappointed!

I will never ever let her feel that.

I slipped my hand in hers and she gave a full smile which made her look even more beautiful.

"Thanks Raman! Is haath ko mai zindagi bhar aise hi thaame rahungi"

"Thanks Ishita! Dil karta hai zindagi bhar aise hi tumhara hath thaame rahun"

Co-incidence No.2 or Deliberate choice of words No.2?

I rubbished those thoughts and walked with her as she towed me towards the parking lot.

As I reached for the car keys in my pocket, she signalled me to wait and fished for something in her purse.

The very next moment, I heard car doors unlock.

So she plans to take her car...Hmm...No big deal...My car or hers...All that matters is the one I ride with!

I approved with a smile and was walking towards the passenger seat to open it for her when she walked ahead of me and opened it. I assumed she would take the seat and began to retrace my steps 

"Ek minute" I heard her say and turned back

"Aap yahan baithiye please" 

Me in passenger seat while my wife drives????

Something that's against the male ego eh!?

Male Ego!? Fortunately I don't have one!

So without cribbing I let her have the pleasure of driving while I enjoyed the ride with my dearest wifey!

On a second note, it was in favor of me as I could stare at my beautiful wife without having to worry about crashing into another vehicle

She closed the door for me and settled herself into the driver's seat.

"Are we ready to go?" she asked looking at me

I chuckled. So this is an Action Replay of our first date

Great! I am enjoying it!

"Kya hua?" she asked as I chuckled

I shrugged not letting her know that I had known what she was up to.

"To chalein?" she asked and I nodded in affirmative.

My eyes were all on her. I noticed her every feature as if trying to figure out if I had missed memorising any part of it last night.

I don't know why but every time I looked at her pretty face I yearned to see her  more.

We did not make any converstaion.

Not because either of us was on Avoid Talking Spree or something like that.

But because I was too busy staring at her to initiate a conversation and she was too nervous to come up with one.

I wonder what made her nervous?

I could clearly see her gulp every few seconds and noticed a slight shiver in her arms although she tried her best to put a bold face.

Was she nervous about driving?

That can't be! She has been driving for years in the streets of Delhi. So that's not a possible scenario.

Was she nervous about my presence around her?

Why would that be! I have been around her for an year now. She was never so nervous before. So that could not be a reason too.

Was she nervous about the date?

Could it be? But we have been on a date before. Although she did not talk much then yet she wasn't nervous as far as I remember. So I don't think that's the reason too.

Was she nerv...

A sudden jerk and the halt in the movement of the car put a brake to my analysis.

She was clutching the steering tightly and her eyes were closed.

Did we have an accident?

First thing I did was check on her.

She seemed fine to me so I looked at the front panicking if we had hit another vehicle but I found nothing.

Confused, I looked back at her and she was still holding the steering wheel, her knuckles turned white due to the pressure and her eyes were shut tightly.

Worried, I held her shoulder beginning to call out her name.

"You are making me nervous Raman"

There! She answered to all my doubts even before I voiced it out.

Wait! What? I am making her nervous? Why? Another series of questions popped up!

"Kya?" I asked

"You are making me nervous" she repeated this time looking at me

"Maine kya kiya?" I asked innocently

"Aap mujhe nervous kar rahe ho" she said in Hindi as if I did not understand English

"Mai tumhe nervous kar raha hun?" I asked baffled

"Haan. Aap mujhe nervous kar rahe ho. Ek to jabse gaadi me baithe hain tab se ghoore ja rahe ho"

Oh! She is annoyed by that...

"To kya hua? Apni biwi ko ghoorna gunah hai kya?" I asked

"Biwi ko ghoorna gunah nahi hai, par itna ghoorne ke baad bhi uski tareef me kuch na kehna gunaah hai. Kitni mehnat se mai aapke liye tayyar hui, aapne ek shabd bhi nahi bola"

Oh! Reason#2 of annoyance

"Aa..." I opened my mouth to say something but was cut short in between by her

"Rehne do kuch bone ki zarurat nahi. Mai janti hun ke aap mujhse badla le rahe ho"she said folding her arms across her chest

Finally she got her hands off that steering wheel. I was afraid the blood supply to her fingers would stop if she continued holding it so tightly.

Wait a minute! What did she say? Badla?

Accusation#2

Ilzam pe ilzam?

"Mai tumse badla le raha hun?"

"Haan aap mujhse badla le rahe ho"

"Par maine aisa kya kiya?"

"Jab se hum gaadi me baithe hain aap ne koi bath nahi ki"

"To isme badle wali bath kahan se ayi?"

"Aur nahi to kya? Jab aap mujhe date pe le gaye the maine aap se bath nahi ki thi. Aur aaj mai apko date pe leke ja rahi hun to aap kuch nahi bol rahe. Ye badla nahi to aur kya hai?"

I chuckled mentally. I dare not chuckle in front of her now.

Bahut gusse me hai Jhansi Ki Rani. Agar hasne ki galti ki to talwar lekar yalghaar kar degi.

"Badla nahi Badlaaav" I said tactfully

"Kya matlab?" her turn to be baffled now

"Mai tum SE badLA nahi balke tum ME aye badLAAV ko dekh raha hun"

"Mai samjhi nahi"

"Mai ye samajhne ki koshish kar raha hun ke in do dinon me tumhare andar jo badlaav aya hai uski kya wajah hai"

Her arms across the chest found their way to the end of her dupatta fidgeting with it while I saw color rise up her cheek and eyes bent down shyly.

I just love to see her blushing.

I tilted towards her and huskily whispered "Mujhe is badlaav ki wajah samajh nahi arahi. Tum hi bata do ke iski kya wajah hai"

She didn't look up, continued fidgeting with the corner of her dupatta and blushed harder.

I assumed she was too shy to answer so I went back to my earlier position

"Jisko aap date pe le gaye the wo Miss Ishita Vishwanathan Iyer thi. Jo aapko date pe le jarahi hai wo Mrs. Ishita Raman Bhalla hai"

Did she just say that!?

-----To be continued-----

And the romance begins............