*Aslesha*

"Toh tum dono date pe ja rahe ho" Pari says wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"For the 100th time Paro, it's not a date!" I snap at her.

"Ha ha.. isliye tu apni scooty nahi laayi aaj. Viraj ke peeche chipak ke baithna hai. Romance karna hai" she teases and I roll my eyes.

Her phone buzzes as a message pops on her screen. "Okay Aashi, Rudra mujhe bulaa raha hai gate ke yaha, he's gonna drop me home. Mai nikalti hu, chalega na?" she asks and I smile sheepishly.

"Bahot ghai ho rahi hai ha. Best friend ko akele chhod ke ladke ke paas bhaag rahi hai. Chal ja. Usko rukaate mat reh har chiz me" I say and she hits me understanding the double meaning of what I said.

"Bye Aashi" she says and goes hopping towards the gate.

Viraj hamesha ki tarah late hai. 6 bajj ke 10 minute ho chuke hai. I go to the place where he parks his bike.

Royal Enfield Himalayan.

This bike has my heart. Really. And Viraj owns it. Iske paas koi ghatiya scooter nahi ho sakti thi kya? Bike bhi best hi use karta hai. I stroke my hand over it's plush leather seat and smile. Kaash mai bhi ek baar isse chalaa paau. It's a beauty. A royal beauty.

"Insaano ko bhi kabhi itne pyaar se dekha karo" I hear Viraj's voice behind me and I turn and narrow my eyes at him.

It's as if he had a shower because he looks really fresh. Practice ke baad toh shower lena padta hoga.

"It's the Royal Enfield Himalayan with 411 cc and top speed upto 145 kmph. How can you not love this beauty" I say looking at it with awe.

I've always loved Viraj's bike. Always admired it from afar. But today I'm gonna experience it! Yayy!

"Whoa! Bikes ke baare me ek ladki ko itni information. Impressive" Viraj says raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"Kyu? Bikes sirf ladko ko pasand hoti hai kya?" I retort and he chuckles.

"Kya ladki ho tum" he murmers to himself but I hear it and smile a little.

He gets on the bike and I take a minute to just drool at the sight. The black t-shirt he is wearing with faded jeans give him the ultimate bad boy look. He is a bad boy actually.

And those messed up bed hair which look so good on him. The sexy messy kind. He seriously looks like a model.

"Aslesha? Kitni baar kaha hai it's not good to stare like that. Itna hi achha laga view toh photo kheech lo. It'll last long" he smirks making me blush and I scoff.

"Mai nahi dekh rahi thi" I say feeling embarrassed that he caught me. He wasn't even looking at me. Pata kaise chal jaata hai isse?

He chuckles as I literally hop to get behind him.

"Tumhari iss khushi ka faayda uthaa ke bahot chance maarne wala hu mai" he says pressing the break and I jerk in my seat grabbing his shoulders. I hit him on his arm suppressing my smile.

We swiftly exit the college premises and I have an urge to squeal in joy. I'm riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Not actually riding it but whatever.

"If you'll let me ride it, tum jitna chaho chance maar sakte ho" I say boldly had his back shakes with silent laughter as I chuckle behind him.

"You're crazy! Hold tight paglu and get ready to fly" he shouts as he fastens the speed and I grin behind him like an idiot, my hands automatically encircling around his waist.

My hair is flying backwards and I know it's gonna be super tangled but I don't care. And boy, does he know how to ride a bike. He drives swiftly and smoothly and I don't know if it's the bike or just the Viraj Singhania factor.

After 20 minutes we reach the place which is on the outskirts of Goa, on the way to Cabo de Rama fort actually.

'Chai-nese corner'.

I get down from his bike and he goes and parks it. It doesn't seem very fancy but it's hygienic. A small stall with a few tables and chairs set in the open. There are not many houses around here. It's just on the side of a long road.

"Jaldi karo I'm starving here" I complain when I see him walking slowly. He grins and quickens his pace.

"Fareed chacha kaise ho?" Viraj greets a man who smiles warmly at him. "Bilkul thik beta. Tum kaise ho?" he asks.

"First Class" Viraj answers. "Ye meri dost hai Aslesha. Aapke hotel ka khana khatam krne aayi hai" he says looking at me and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Hello Fareed chacha. Kuch din pehle Viraj yaha ki bhajiya khilaya tha. Aur mai toh aapki fan ho gayi" I say as my mouth starts to water.

"Chhotu! Veer aur uske dost ke liye special table laga side me. Tum bass kaho tumhe kya khana hai. 10 minute me pesh karta hu" he smiles as another guy about our age, who I seem is Chhotu, sets the table.

I go and sit there and take the small cardboard paper which is the menu card.

"Sabse pehle toh ek plate Chinese bhajiya laana. Nahi 2 plate. Viraj tum bhi khaaoge na?" I ask and he nods with an amused look in his face. "Ha toh 3 laana. Ek triple schezwan rice aur.. um kya special hai aur?" I ask Chhotu.

"Sab waise achha hai. But crispy mera farevet hai" he says with a smile and I smile a little at the word he used for favorite. "Toh ek teri farevet crispy bhi" I say handing the card to Viraj.

"Mera ho gaya. Tum bhi de do jaldi se order" I say and Viraj and that guy both look at me with wide eyes. "Chhotu mere liye Hakka noodles with manchurian" he says and Chhotu nods and goes away.

"Tum itna khaa paaogi?" Viraj asks me his eyes still a little bigger than their normal size.

"Of course tum kha paaogi. Mai bhi kisse puch raha hu" he says answering his own question and I just shrug.

"Bakaasur" he mutters under his breath. "I heard that idiot" I say kicking him below the table and he laughs.

"How did you discover this place?" I ask. "Ek baar tehelte tehelte dikh gayi" he says and I nod. The sky is getting dark and the black clouds above us are promising rain. Khane tak na aaye baarish bass.

"Tum Kathak kab se kar rahi ho?" he suddenly asks. "4 saal" I answer and he slowly nods.

"Cricket ke alawa tumhe aur kya pasand hai" I ask keeping my elbows on the table and my chin on my palm.

"Shy ladkiyo ka talent expose karna" he says looking at me wickedly and I roll my eyes.

"Ha-ha very funny" I say with a straight face.

We stay quiet for a while, hearing the wind blowing and the clatter of utensils as the aroma of spices lingers in the air.

This feels good. His company feels good.

Sometimes I wonder, if we'd not be like that in school driving each other insane, we'd definitely be good friends. It scares me how Viraj has become such a huge part of my life in the span of just a few days. Is this all pretend or is it real?

These talks, the way he is.. is it for me to get into the competition or is it genuine. He seriously has irresistible charms, I gotta admit that.

He hated me a few days back. God, I hated him just as much. My dance just changed our whole connection.

My dance.

I look at him and he is already staring at me.

"Viraj? It's not good to stare like that. Itni hi achhi lagi toh photo kheech lo. It'll last long" I say smirking and he chuckles.

"Meri hi billi mujhe meow" he says and I laugh as his clear blue eyes, contrasting with his black t-shirt, twinkle with amusement.

His. Eyes. Are. Fucking. Beautiful.

Now I'm the one staring.

"Kya ye sab real hai Viraj?" I ask softly and he frowns. "Kya matlab?" he asks as his body stiffens.

"Ye tumhara achha wala behaviour. Is it all pretend to get me to participate?" I ask as he ponders the question for a while, his face becoming tense.

Gosh, is he seriously pretending? Is it fake?

"Ye lijiye aapki Chinese bhajiya. Aur crispy aur ye triple schezwan rice. Veer bhai aapke noodles" Chhotu comes back with the food and I literally bounce on my seat.

Khana aa gaya, khana aa gaya.

I quickly press the fork in the bhajiya dipping it in the schezwan sauce and twirl it and put the whole one in my mouth.

"Mmm.. god I'm in love" I say as the hot spiciness fills my taste buds. Viraj smiles and shakes his head.

While eating he tells me about Rudra's birthday which will be after two weeks and how they are planning to celebrate it at a farm house.

"Khana banane ki responsibility tumhari" he says and I just nod because my mouth is full. It's gonna be a 2 days stay.

I clear my plate and Viraj looks at me with a big smile. "I'm really proud of you, you know. I finally found someone with whom I can eat all this stuff" he says and I dramatically flip my hair and he laughs.

Chhotu brings the bill and I am about to take it but Viraj quickly snatches it. "Na beta na" he says and I sigh.

"Let me give my share atleast" I say and he shakes his head.

"You have to pay me back by getting selected tomorrow" he says ruffling my hair as he gets up and I slap his hand and follow him.

Just a few seconds later there is a loud thunder and it starts raining heavily. We're inside thankfully. Viraj pays the money and I walk towards Fareed chacha.

"Chacha maine isse behtar Chinese kabhi khaya nahi. Mai abhi regular customer banne wali hu. Stock jyada rakhna ha" I say and he laughs. "Jarur" he says.

"Chalo" Viraj says appearing beside me and I give him a are-you-crazy look.

"Baarish dekho. Rukte hai thodi der" I say and he shakes his head and runs outside and I laugh looking at him.

Such a kid he is. Pagal kahi ka.

I smell the strong aroma of adrak wali chai and then I remember that this is 'chai-nese corner'.

Chai bhi toh famous hai yaha ki. Aur heavy khane ke baad chai peene se khana digest bhi hota hai. I order a kadak adrak wali chai and look around to find Viraj.

I can't find him. Gaya kaha ye ladka?

I quickly pay for the chai and take the two paper cups and stand towards the edge and see him making a paper boat with a little girl and a boy.

Aww..

"Viraj" I call out and he comes towards me.

"Ye lo" I say. "Upar se pakdo, bahot garam hai" I warn him and he takes it from me running his hand through his now completely wet hair.

Sexy sexy sexy. I wanna run my hand through his hair. Sexy sexy sexy sexy sexy...

Stop it!

We silently drink the chai watching the two kids splashing each other with water and playing. I throw the cups in the bin and go and stand beside him.

"I love the rains" Viraj says in a raspy voice beside me and I look at him as the little droplets on his face slowly run down his face.

"Scratch that, I love thunder storms" he says.

"You know Aslesha, jab mai chhota tha na tab mujhe thunderstorms bahot scary lagte the. Like the sky is angry at you. But now that I'm a bit older, something about its roar soothes me. It's comforting to know that even nature needs to scream sometimes" he says looking at the sky as a lightening strucks and a flash appears on his face making it glow. His clear blue eyes seeming bluer than ever.

I look at him awed. This guy has so much to him than what he actually shows. The thing that he said right now was so deep. Intense.

I look at the sky with him for the first time actually understanding the beauty of the rain. Thunderstorms.

My daze is broken when I get a splash of water on my face.

"Viraj Singhania! You dumb prick" I shout as he runs outside and I run behind him.

He runs outside to that little open space. His running gets slow as he is laughing loudly and I grab his t-shirt from behind and yank it so hard that he stumbles behind and falls in a puddle.

This time I'm the one laughing. Oh my god that was so funny. I hold my stomach laughing.

"Viraj... Tum girr.. tum girr gaye" I say between laughs as he slowly gets up like he's ready to pounce on me.

"Aslesha Mathur, run for your life" he screams as he suddenly gets up and I run slapping my feet on the slippery ground but just in a few seconds Viraj wraps his hands around my waist and swings me up in the air as I squeal.

He carries me in his arms bridal style and I feel his warmth seep through my t-shirt even in this cold.

He is hot. Literally.

I get goosebumps on my body and I don't know if it's because of the pouring hard rain or our proximity.

"Ab tumhari baari" he says walking towards the same puddle and bending down to throw me. I squeal and tighten my arms around his neck.

"Nahi mera favorite t-shirt hai ye! Kharab ho jaayega" I say pressing my face in his shoulder as he chuckles.

"Achha?" He says lowering me down again and I press myself more into him.

"Please Viraj. Mat naa" I whine not understanding whether to struggle out of his clutch or hold him tighter.

"Say I'm the most handsome guy you've ever seen" he smirks and I slap his shoulder. "You're the most ugly guy I've ever seen" I snap at him and he lowers me again.

"Bol rahi hu bol rahi hu. You're the most handsome guy I've ever seen" I say and he laughs.

"And the most sexy.."

"Viraj Singhania I'll seriously kill you" I say and he gently places me down but doesn't let me go completely.

The rain is pouring hard on us as Viraj tucks a strand of hair behind my ear as his finger slowly lingers down my jaw leaving a trail of fire burning in his touch. I close my eyes at this different yet exhilarating sensation that I feel through my body.

"Promise me you'll give your best tomorrow" he says and I gaze into his clear blue orbs which have turned a shade darker.

"I promise" I state without hesitation and he smiles slowly as his gaze lowers and stop on my lips as he bites his own lip.

Suddenly the rain stops completely and the moment is broken. I gulp down nervously. What the hell was happening?

Taking my hand in his, he leads me towards the bike.

He gets on and I get behind him, my front pressed to his back and when I wrap my hands around his waist, I can feel every muscle and curve under the thin fabric of his t-shirt which is right now clinging to his body.

I have an urge to slip my hand under his t-shirt and feel his hot skin.

Are you out of your mind Aslesha Mathur? Your hormones are all over the place.

Kya kare ab ye hai hi itna hot.

Oh god look at my dirty mind.

This time he rides slowly but not too slowly. I wanna press my cheek on his back. Okay that'd be seriously inappropriate.

Usko chance maarne ke liye manaa kar ke khud chance maarne ka soch rahi hu.

After around half an hour he drops me in front of my house. "Sambhal ke jaana. Roads slippery hai, tez mat chalana" I say.

"Yes ma'am" he says and off he goes. I sigh and get inside the house quickly stepping inside the bathroom and getting a hot shower. I stand there for a really long time just thinking about today and wondering what'll happen tomorrow.

But I feel secure that Viraj will be by my side. He really has gotten under my skin.

I wear my comfy pajamas and sit near the window gazing at the thunderstorm which has started again. I hope he's reached home by now.

My phone buzzes and I look to see a message from an unknown number.

*Just wanted to remind you that kal sardi bukhaar ka bahana dogi toh bhi m gonna drag you on the stage - V*

Of course it's Viraj. But isse mera number kaha se mila?

*Aww your sweet words are just what I needed right now. Btw mera number kaha se mila?*

I send him the message and save his number as 'Dummy'. Yea that suits him. I instantly get a reply.

*I have my sources* I read the message and roll my eyes. Smirk kar raha hoga type karte time pakka.

I should say thanks for today. Bahot hi achha time raha. I had so much fun. I know days like this will stay in my memory till death.

*Thanks for today dummy. Waiting to ride that lovely bike of yours soon ;)* I type and press send.

I hope sahi me mujhe chalaane de.

*Never. I don't let anyone touch it. Now go to sleep, we don't want you tired tomorrow for the selections. Gn paglu*

I get his message and smile.

*Nighty night* I reply and instantly fall asleep to the sound of the rain as I dream of thunderstorms and hypnotizing blue eyes.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

Hello everyone. Not a long rant today, aaj aap log bolo aur mai sunnti hu aapke reviews. Incase you guys don't know, a quick reminder that I love you all! All those who like and comment and even the silent readers. You are amazing. So keep reading :)