Siddhesh's POV:

Her eyes filled with kohl enhanced the browns of her beautiful eyes such that I felt my heart skip a beat... She kept looking at me and next minute she pushed my glasses from my nose back to my eyes and softly whispered...

'Dont stare so much Mr Siddhesh Pai...not good for your health' she said while her hot breath fanned on my ears and I breathed a little more deeply while she giggled and I closed my eyes absorbing her giggle.

'Siddhu take some more Kashi Halwa na' Sushma aunty said and I opened my eyes realising I was lost in her. Damn!!!

I opened my eyes to see everyone kept looking at me wierdly...She wasn't standing next to me any longer...did I dream all this? Am I hallucinating? I thought for once. Shaking my head I digged upon the Kashi Halwa and nod at once.

'Arey take some more na Siddhu...you can eat from that bowl there too...I only took a spoonful from it...It's not a soiled plate' I hear her cheerful teasing voice and I lift my gaze up only to realise I wasn't dreaming this!
Shit!!!

She was hugging Sushma aunty from behind leaning on her shoulder by keeping her chin on her mother's shoulder and staring directly into my eyes. Her shiney eyes were shooting into my soul. I was feeling a burning sensation in the pit of my stomach. Something within shivered and I didn't know why I couldn't take my eyes off those eyes...

That mischievous smile on her lips teasingly uncomfortable...next minute I winced in pain. Only to realise I burnt my tongue with a spoonful of hot halwa.

'Siddhu..eyyyy....you are a baby...where is your concentration' Shalini shouted making me drink some water by lipping me a glass. I swallowed while Sushma aunty said...

'What were you thinking Siddhu...I hope it didn't burn much' and I lift my head up again only to see two eyes digging into my soul again without even blinking. But suddenly 'she' winked at me and I choked upon water causing to wet my shirt and I began coughing badly...water coming out of my nose and mouth and Mukund Bhavaji kept tapping on my head so I stop coughing.

The hell this girl is dangerous!!!

'I....I'm....I'm done' saying I got up from the table and began walking past her to wash my hands while I hear her taking a bite of an apple...

'Are Siddhu... what happened...'

'Nothing' I say while trying to walk away but she takes a step asking...

'Bite???' and I again swallow a lump...

'The heck... what do you mean' I ask in horror...sweat beads forming on my forehead...

'Apple' she says taking another bite and offering me.

'Nnnnno... thanks' I say and quickly run away from there.

I could still feel her gaze on me. Why was she behaving like that suddenly.

I didn't dare to come out of the room for next four days. I avoided saying I have important meetings to handle...until it was Friday. Weekends were off but I still sat working and extending on a Friday evening...I don't know why I was behaving like this... it was too much for my poor heart to handle...those eyes...i couldn't take my mind off those eyes...that gaze...I completely avoided meeting her. She tried coming to my room getting me food but I told Sushma aunty to not let her do work as it was her exams. She frowned but I wanted to actually keep away from her. It's like suddenly she grew up and the feelings between us abruptly.... CHANGED!!!

I sat scheduling a few meetings and checking some documents...I ran a publication house...a newspaper in London but my dream was to move into digital media and own our channel too..It was a big dream but I was working hard...After sometime...I saw Shalini and Mukund Bhavaji come to my room while I was sending a few emails...

'Enough of your work...get up... we are going shopping...get ready' she said while I smiled saying...

'Shalini yaar...I have two meeting lined up...there is this Itali'

'I don't care...my shopping is more important.. Please Siddhu it's my first baby shower...and anyways I haven't got time with you...this time Mukund finally agreed to shift here thanks to my pregnancy... else I wouldn't have got this family time as well' she whined and I smiled.

'But I'm terrible at shopping...look at my dressing sense...these glasses, this oiled up hair and my oversized clothes are a joke in our family...you want me to select your saree?' I asked while I hear a voice from behind ...and my breath hitched.

'Your oversized blazers are not because you don't have style sense...it's because you are a tall and a muscular man...you like it comfortable...your glasses are because you once forgot to remove your lens and next day you had a swollen eye, and you oil up your hair because if you don't then you get a headache... turning into migraine which stays for a week minimum. So stop calling your comfort as your low style IQ... and our family members are jealous... because no one is as tall and muscular as you...Shalini look at those biceps yaar... have you seen anyone with these cuts hiding under these loose loose shirts' saying she quickly holds my forearms pressing her soft fingers and looking at me and I feel like someone gave me 440 volts shock right now...

My eyes meet her shiney ones as she smiles a little while I try to find myself in the depth of her eyes for a brief moment...her soft palms still holding my right forearm digging her nails in and I feel the same fire in my stomach again...

'Ahhhem Ahhhhhhhem' I hear Shalini and Mukund Bhavaji clearing their throat and a sudden feeling of embarrassment hits me hard ..I break the eye lock looking elsewhere while she still looks at me straight in my eyes although Mukund Bhavaji teases her...

'Oyeee Ragi...assa ki gelli (You there or dead inside? In Konkani) he asks and she replies...

'Still here Bhavaji...was always here... people left... overnight' she says and I realize the intensity of those words.

'Ummm Shalini I think...we must leave now..I have a meeting at night 8:30...so shall we?' I ask while still not having the guts to meet that gaze again...

While I went to wear my blazer Shalini said...
'Siddhu... tshirt jeans please... we are not going for a business meeting' and I nodded.

I went to change and while coming out I heard giggles in the room. I saw Shalini was showing Ragini the frock I had brought for her and I was hell embarassed...

'Siddhu...you gave your Ragini her gift? You still think the frock would fit her?' she said bursting into a loud laughter giving a hi fi to Mukund Bhavaji while the owner of those two beautiful eyes kept shooting me with a smile...

I quickly went and pulled it from Shalini's hand and said...
'Ummm ...I....I didn't know... she was ... all grown up... now...I....I'm sorry Ragini...I'll get you something next time' saying I took a step away while I felt a pull on my hand and I realise she held my wrist..

'That is my dress now...my gift from MY Siddhu' she said stressing the MY word and my heart leaped at that...I felt like my ears went pink now...

'I will still take it Siddhesh Pai...Give me my gift' saying she took it from my hands while looking straight into my eyes...

Shalini and Mukund Bhavaji cleared their throat again saying...
'Guess we will get ready...youuuuuu take your gift Ragini...bye Sidddhuuuuuuuu... don't get lost into each other's eyes again...we can't keep coughing' I heard Shalini and I quickly left the frock's loose end off while Shalini and Mukund Bhavaji left...

I went to pick my wallet while I saw she was still standing there holding the frock in her hands and I was feeling my throat going dry...

She took a few steps closer to me...looking into my eyes she said ...
'Its a beautiful gift Siddhu...let me thank you for it' and before I could understand I felt her soft lips on my right cheek.

I froze like ice!!!