"Tariq bhai, Astrid," Sanvika said the next day as they were prepping food for the restaurant before opening for the day. "I am thinking of hiring one more employee. For serving and counter."

"Huh? What happened? You always said hiring one more employee for this tiny place is a waste of money." Tariq asked surprised.

"Well, money is for spending and we are earning enough now. And if there is one more person I can take a break once in a while. And it is rude to ask Mr Flower to help out all the time."

Astrid and Tariq were looking at her suspiciously though. "What?" She asked.

"Why do I feel this has something to do with Vivaan being here?" Astrid asked.

"What? No. I was thinking about this for a while." She said appalled, trying to hide her embarrassed face. It did not help her that Vivaan came in through the open door just then.

"Good Morning...Coffee Delivery." He said with his brightest smile while holding up four take-out cups. "What happened?" He asked seeing everybody's expression.

"Nothing," Sanvika got up to go to him.

"Here," He handed her a cup. "Café latte. With extra cream. Just the way you like it." Sanvika took the cup from his hands, looking into his eyes with a smile. Tariq nudged Astrid to show her the way Sanvika and Vivaan were looking at each other.

"I did not know what to get you guys. So I just gt café latte itself. Is that okay?" Vivaan turned to the staff.

"Personally, I prefer espresso, but this is fine..." Astrid said as she took the coffee.

"I also personally prefer masala chai, but can drink this once time...." Tariq took the cup.

Vivaan followed Sanvika out through the back door of the restaurant. She was sipping her coffee with a thoughtful face. She sat down on the fallen coconut tree. "You okay there?" Vivaan asked examining her expression.

She looked up and nodded. "Just that I missed this taste."

"Oh! Can't you just buy it?"

"It comes in ₹150 – ₹200 a cup, Vivaan. I cannot afford it. And I can't just buy for myself. If I am buying, I have to buy for my employees as well. I am the owner after all." Vivaan nodded understanding.

"I can buy for you every day from today," He smiled.

"Don't do that," She said. "I accept this costly coffee today because you bought it already. But I don't want to support capitalism by promoting these kinds of international chains that sell overpriced things. I can make instant coffee at home."

"Instant coffee tastes like crap," Vivaan said, but he saw Sanvika's stern eyes. "Okay, okay... I won't buy you coffee anymore. But what the hell, Vicky! Can't I even buy a cup of coffee for my girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't we agree to date each other?"

She finished her coffee. "I don't want to put labels."

"Why?"

"Just..."

"Tell me..."

"I told you, no reason..."

"Vicky,"

"Vivaan?"

"Forget it," He shook his head.

She got up. "Plus, I don't want you to spend a lot of money on any date. As I said, I want to date like normal couples. Not exceptionally rich couples. I am not rich."

"But I am rich," he reminded her.

"I know that. But if you flaunt your money in front of me, I am going to hate that. I left hating that money, remember?"

Vivaan made a troubled face. "So I need to cancel the dinner I had planned?" He asked. "I had booked a table for us."

"Booked table where?" Savika asked.

Vivaan sheepishly grinned and told the name of the most reputed five-star hotel in the city. "Okay, Okay... I will cancel it." He told her, seeing her expression. "Can't even treat my girl to a dinner." He put his hands to his hips and looked around. Sanvika was sternly staring at him. "What? I said 'girl' okay, not girlfriend."

" I noticed," She said. "But I don't have time for a dinner date anyway. The restaurant is packed at dinner time. I can't get off work."

"Ask your Mr Flower to help out a bit," Vivaan said.

"I can't..." Sanvika's voice trailed off... She was not slow-witted. She could see Shardul's eyes ever since Vivaan came back. How could she ask the guy who still loves her to help at the restaurant while she goes on a date with Vivaan? She is not that heartless.

Vivaan looked at Sanvika's face, and he understood her reason. "Guess, that is not a good solution. But... if you are always going to be in the restaurant, when do we get to hang out for real?"

"You can come to the restaurant," Sanvika said, casually.

"I mean, alone... by ourselves..." He stepped closer, "Coz we may be doing other stuff too, right? Since we are dating."

Sanvika smiled, teasing, "Other stuff?"

"You know..." He waded away a strand of her hair and edged closer. His finger threaded through her fingers. And he whispered in her ear, "things like these...." Sanvika bit her lip to suppress a happy smile. Vivaan backed off.

"You know it is totally weird that you just did that, what you just did, with me," She said. "I mean, like... It's us."

"Huh? Who was the one who kissed an innocent 15-year-old boy?" He stood back. "Took my kiss virginity."

"What is a kiss virginity?" She scowled. "That does not exist. And... you.... You kissed me the second time. At your house."

"I did," he said. "And that is why -" he stepped closer, "That is 'us', the real 'us'."

He picked Sanvika up and placed her against the restaurant wall. And then his lips were on hers. His hands encircled her. Sanvika closed her eyes and kissed him back. It was passionate, yet familiar and comfortable for her.

For Sanvika, she knew she loved him since the moment his lips had touched hers for the first time in their lives. And it was not the first kiss that Vivaan remembered.

Vivaan began to leave her lips and kissed down to her neck. "We can't do this here," Sanvika muttered even though she was really enjoying it.

"I know." He said, slightly backing off from her, and he settled his forehead on her shoulder. "I will go mad." He panted. Sanvika gave a chuckle, "Shall I tell you something that will double that?" He looked up at her. "Let us take things slow." She said.

"What?"

"Slow... Like a normal couple."

"Have you gone mad? We practically did it that day you came to Mumbai."

"But we did not do it. And it is us... I want to go slow. Enjoy every moment. Be a normal couple. I don't want to just burn up and burn out. I want stability."

"Stability?" He asked.

"Hm..."

"Why? So as you can leave me later?" There was sadness and accusation in his eyes. His hands were still at her waist, but the intensity of his eyes was too strong for Sanvika.

"To create memories." She looked down.

"To leave me later," Vivaan said again.

"Can we not talk about that?" She looked up.

"Then when will we talk about that, Vicky? I don't... Okay, eave all that. You promised to tell me your big reason for leaving. Whatever happened between your mom and you."

"I will tell you," She placed her hand on his chest softly, "But not right now. I have to get back to help in prepping for the opening. Have to clean and stuff."

"But..."

"And you have to go to work, right? So let's save it for some other day?" she freed herself from him. "Alright," He said. "But you promise you will tell me."

"Yes," Sanvika said, walking back into the restaurant.

Back at the resort construction site, Vivaan was sitting at the base structure, browsing 'ordinary dating' through his mobile. Diligently he typed 'What do ordinary couples do on dates'. He got results like 'movie', 'dinner date', 'long drive' etc. But that just confused him because he has done movie dates, dinner dates, and long drives with his past girlfriends. But that were not really ordinary ones. The dinner dates were in five-star hotels and drives were in his latest model sports cars.

The movie may be the most ordinary date he had, but since he hated crowded movie theatres, he always took his girlfriends to his house where a private home theatre system is installed. Except for the time he stayed in a dorm in Harward. Then Jaime and he did go to a normal movie theatre.

He was sitting confused when the assistant construction engineer passed by him. The construction engineer, Chirag, was 30 years old and unmarried. Vivaan had even heard him once talk on the phone with his girlfriend. "Chirag Ji," Vivaan called.

"Yes, sir."

"Eh..." Chirag waited while Vivaan hesitated.

"Can I ask for some life advice?" Vivaan started, "I have some doubt."

"Sure, sir. Go on..."

"What actually do ordinary couples do on dates?" Vivaan asked, embarrassed.

"Pardon me, sir?"

"I need to plan a date. But she doesn't want me to spend money on the date. Or involve anything related to money. But how can someone plan a date without any money involved? I have no idea how to do that."

Chirag smiled at him.

Vivaan knocked on the counter at San's restaurant, where Sanvika was behind the counter. "Come on a date with me."

Sanvika looked up. "When?"

"Right now," He said.

"Right now?" She scowled. The restaurant was jam-packed and the kitchen was busy. Sanvika's apron which she wore over her shorts and t-shirt was dirty already, and she had her pen behind her ears, and hair tied in a bun.

"Yes, right now." He said, "And don't worry about the restaurant. I have asked one of the construction worker guys to replace you for a few hours. He has experience working as a waiter so it will be okay. 'You' can pay him later for his work."

"I can't just leave this job to a complete stranger." She said.

"Oh, come on. It won't work unless it is tonight." Vivaan whined. "We are already getting late. And look he is even here. The replacement..." Sanvika looked around to see a very young guy walk in. "Now he is not a stranger to you," Vivaan said, "let me introduce you guys. Vicky, Yashvant. Yashwant, this is Vicky... I mean, Sanvika Singhania."

"Just 'San'," Sanvika said to Yashvant and turned to Vivaan. "What is he – sixteen?" The boy looked way too young in her eyes.

"I am eighteen." The boy said. Sanvika turned back to him. "And don't worry madam, I have worked in restaurants before." Sanvika was looking at the boy with unsure eyes. Tariq came out of the kitchen hearing the conversation.

"Go on, San..." he said, "I will keep an eye on the boy and teach him everything."

"Great," Vivaan grinned.

Sanvika turned to Vivaan, "Fine. Let me go get changed."

"We are getting late. Just come as you are."

"You expect me to go on a 'date' in these clothes?" She indicated her t-shirt and shorts.

"You look perfect," he said. And took her hand and pulled her outside. She barely got time to take off her apron. And throw away the pen behind her ear to the restaurant floor.

They reached the main road from the beach. There was a yellow Vespa parked on the roadside. Vivaan hoped on it and said, "Get on..." Sanvika hesitated. "Who's is this?"

"Ours for the night." He said.

"Don't tell me you bought this for the date."

"No. I rented it." She did not believe him. "Seriously, I rented it. From the rental service. It's ₹250 for half a day."

"You expect me to believe that – you – Vivaan Oberoi – rented a rental service scooter?"

"Yup. Who wanted a 'normal date'? Now get on, we are already late."

"Late for what?"

"You will know when we get there."

"Do you even know how to drive a scooter?" She asked as she got on.

"I drive a motorbike..."

"It's different from a motorbike, you know..."