Last night, I harldy slept for a couple of hours thinking about everything happened that evening.

I could still feel his fingers dancing on my ankles tying the bracelet. And his warm kiss on my wet feet was sending tickles all over up to my cheeks.

I knew what was exactly going on between me and Karthik and how I feel about it. But what was stopping me to take a step forward. Why would I always wait for him to take a chance.

"Hey Ishiiiii", a voice coming from stairs interrupted my thoughts

"Hey Idiot, get up!! It's an exciting day for you", Rupa showed up sipping her morning coffee.

"What? Exciting day for me?", I asked rubbing my tired eyes.

"Yes, you are going to that floating cottage in swan lake"

"Floating cottage in swan lake?"

"Treasure hunt winners got a chance to visit it. Remember?"

"Yeah, I do remember"

"Then get up! Pack your bag already", Rupa screamed pulling away my blanket.

"Rupa, why don't you and Rahul go for it", I offered her.

"Look at her kindness, Aww!! Rahul planned for a much exciting thing than this. We are all going for boating!! So........NO THANKS"

"Are you sure?"

"Ofcourse I'm! You know how much I love boating! Come on"

*****************************************

"As informed, hope you didn't waste your time in kitchen Preparing breakfast. Three meals of the day will be served at the bank of boating arena and in floating cottage to those who are visiting it", holiday organiser Jayanadh said.

"Is this a sudden plan?", Sameera asked with not so happy face.

"No ma'am, everything is going according to the holiday plan", Jayanadh confirmed confidently.

Sameera is not happy to leave Karthik with me to floating cottage. She asked, "Can somebody else also join along with them to floating cottage if we are interested?"

"No ma'am, I'm sorry to say this. That cottage is meant for only two people", Jayanadh replied as politely as he can.

"No harm happens if one more person adds up right?", She said laughing weirdly.

People in the living room surprised looking at Sameera's stupid questions.

"But ma'am, we can't violate certain set rules in these woods. Those are meant to be followed at any cost for all of our safety"

Sameera didn't utter a word after that. Whole room kept quite looking at her.

"So, two vehicles are ready outside to drop you at your respective places", Jaynath broke the silence in room pointing outside.

Sameera's eyes were fully on me until I get inside our van. Karthik also stepped in and closed the door gently taking his seat beside mine.

After taking a kilometer of straight road, both the vehicles took two opposite ways. We waved back at each other's before vanishing into deep blanket of greenery.

"Are you alright?", Karthik asked looking at my expression less face.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

He asked again, "Is this about Sameera?"

I sighed, "Yes, don't you think she is attentive on you or.... may be us?"

"Ofcourse she is. Anybody can see that on her face. After all she has done to me, She just can't accept anybody beside me except her. Am I a robot here?" He shouted aggressively.

He continued, "I have told you everything about her. I'm sure you got an idea of what kind of a person she is"

"Yes I got it"

Few minutes of silence took place between us.

Unlike every time, I started conversation this time breaking our silence, "I can understand how she ripped your heart. I'm so sorry for reminding your past"

"No, I'm fine. Don't be sorry", he whispered.

"Just Calm down... Forget about her. Let's not allow her past to ruin this beautiful today", I said patting his wrist which formed a pale colour of his bracelet shape.

That reminded me of how he tied his bracelet to my ankle the previous day. Before I get a look at my ankle, he grabbed my hand from his wrist and smiled looking at it.

"What is that you are smiling at! Don't say that you know palm reading"

We both laughed out loud.

"If only I know, I would have read mine before anybody's"

"Then what are you looking at?"

"Just imagining how it feels holding this hand for rest of my.....ahemm.....JOURNEY"

We both giggled at what he meant moving into peaceful landscapes.

"Wait, you are scared of waters right? How will you be coming to boat house?", Karthik frowned.

"I'm not scared of waters. I'm scared of bridges"

"How is it different?"

"You will know when the time comes"

"Sir, this is the place", Driver said slowing down the van at a bank of peaceful lake.

"Wow!!", I gasped a breath.

"Isn't it just awesome?", Karthik said getting down from van other side of the lake.

I mesmerized at the beauty of lake and those few swans wandering in it as if it's their territory.

Meanwhile, Karthik came around to the right side of the van opening the door like a prince to help me get out.

"Shall we get inside?", Karthik waved his hands in a sign to move me first.

Driver seemed much familiar to the place. He got in the cottage on a steepy board which acts as a way from Bank of the lake in two steps and a jump.

He also helped both of us to get in with our bags filled with necessary things for a day.

"Food is all done kept in refrigerator. Feel free to microwave it before having. You can contact us over 9999 for any other services", driver detailed everything opening the doors of the cottage.

"How long can we stay here?" I asked taking the Keyes given by him.

"It's till 10AM tomorrow morning and I will come exactly on time to pick you back. Have a great time!", he smiled and release the anchor to let the boat float before he rode back in his van.

"That's all...he will just release the anchor and go away. What if this boat goes somewhere over night", I asked with a clear hint of terror on my face.

Karthik laughed at my worried face saying, "Nothing goes wrong here. Jayanadh told us before that it's a well maintained holiday spot if you forgot. And by the way, we are not in a river. It's just a tiny lake after all. This cottage hardly moves a few meters from here"

"Okay, thanks for your calming words"

Boat house is not so small and not so big but it's perfect for two people. It has a small living room with a couch, a tiny kitchen and a small bedroom with a queen size bed and an attached tiny bathroom to it.

We kept our bags in bedroom and came out quickly to explore it more.

Best of all, we found a balcony view point back side the house with a sitting table and two chairs arranged with a bunch of fresh roses in a vase on top of that table.

"OMG, this place is so beautiful and serene with all the minimum facilities one should need. I still wonder how do they give this place as a winning gift to people", I frowned sitting on a chair looking at Karthik who was enjoying the lake view leaning on safety rails of boat.

"Well, it's just for one day right?"

"Still it's gonna charge them to maintain a place like this and facilities right", I asked playing with the roses in vase.

"May be, it's kind of their strategy to attract more crowd here as their holiday destination"

He continued, "Do you want to have something?"

"Yeah, I'm very much hungry!"

*****************************************

It was 11 in the morning, we were sitting at balcony view point to enjoy the beauty of lake.

"Look at those flexibly designed beautiful necks going deep inside waters to search for food", I said pointing at two swans which are in our view from balcony sitting area.

"I can't see anything more beautiful than you here", he winked at me.

"KARTHIK...."

"Well, beauty not admired is a sin. A great man said once", he said looking into my eyes.

I smiled shyly setting back strands of my hair to the ear lobe.

"And you look even more beautiful when you does as such", he smiled even wider.

"Karthik you need to stop it okay!!", I laughed looking at him uncomfortably.

"Why is she blushing if she really don't like it?", He teased again making an eye contact with the eyes gazing down out of shy.

"I didn't say that I don't like it"

"So, you do like when I praise you. Ofcourse every women likes it when a man prises her", he said confidently looking at waters.

"Not every man though"

"Did you just.... Yeah, I got it I got it", he teased looking deep into my eyes.

*****************************************

It was five in the evening. We were getting soaked down in sun grabbing all the D vitamin required for body sitting at side of the boat where safety railing was absent still had an enough slab to sit safely.

"Sunset or sunrise?", Karthik asked sliding a packet of nuts in his hands.

"Sunset! So serene and I feel it lifts up my soul", I replied looking at gaint ball in a blend of golden yellow and orange colour setting down from sky.

"What about you?", I asked still looking at it.

"It's Sunrise. It gives me a new hope everyday", he replied having nuts lathagically.

Swans started heading to their nests calling it a day. They flew away in a folk to the bank of lake.

"Wow!! Didn't they look even more beautiful when they fly?", I said looking at the folk wiggling their feathery wings sprinkling some droplets of water on us.

"Yes they do. It's delightful!!", He whispered.

"Okay, I go get fresh up. Otherwise I can't catch sleep at night", I said heading inside.

"Okay, happy shower", he said still sitting there enjoying the view.

*****************************************

I switched to my comfortable pajamas and flip-flops. I didn't see Karthik in living room or kitchen or bedroom.

"Karthik?? Karthik!! Karthik????"

Where did he go in a while?

"KARTHIK?"

"Here I'm", he shouted coming from back of me and tied my eyes with a soft robe.

"What?? What are you doing?"

"Did I frighten you? Sorry if I did", He checked on me holding my hands into his.

"No, I'm fine. What is it? Why did you close my eyes?" I asked in a confusion

"Just wait and see", he replied taking me somewhere holding my hands.

"Wow this smells so good. Where are we?"

When he untied the robe from my eyes, I found myself at balcony view point filled with beautiful flowers and scented candles.

"OMG!! This is beautiful!!", I amazed touching almost every flower to feel it's tenderness.

When I looked back to ask what is happening, Karthik knelt down holding a tiny box in his hand.

By the time I understand what he is doing, he opens the box which has a ring in it and said, "I know it freaks you out for a moment. But let me pour my heart out. Ishitha, I fell for you the moment I saw you for the first time. Somewhere deep down in my heart, I knew that you are the one who was born for me. I know you don't believe in love. But just give me one chance to show you how love feels. I promise that you will experience a crazy love which you have never seen or heard before. I could sense that you too have feelings for me. If it is true, just give me one chance Ishitha. I will love you till the end of my breath. If it's a YES, accept my ring. If it's a NO.....throw this ring into waters"

I fell down on my knees with almost moist eyes for his words. My body weaken all of a sudden.

"Where these tears are coming from?", I smiled holding his wrists picking back my energy.

"Why are you crying? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm. Just give me a second", I laughed stupidly wiping off my tears.

"Karthik, It's time for me to admit my feelings too. I have never experienced a confession as yours before. Love used to seem dramatic and a fantasy thing which only happens in dreams until I met you. But you!! Haha changed my whole perspective on love. You are such a charm every girl wishes for. Lately, I have been craving for your presence around me all the time. You are the first thought which comes to my mind the moment I open my eyes in the morning and last thought before I close my eyes at night. I used to laugh at people when they cry watching romantic movies. But now, look at me. I'm crying in front of you. If this is what people call as love. Yes Karthik, I'm in love with you. And it's a yes!!", I handed my left hand to him with a happy tears rolling down my eyes.

He slipped the ring into my finger leaving a gentle kiss on my hand.

I grabbed his wrists into my hands and kissed them gently.

"OMG!! I can't believe this is happening", he screamed looking at sky with moist eyes.

*****************************************

We were enjoying our dinner in a floating cottage under moon surrounded with lit scented candles and fragrant flowers.

"When did you arrange all these things?", I surprised looking at the set up.

"When you were napping in the noon"

"You did this all on your own?"

"No, the same driver helped me out"

"Apparently, all this is a planned thing", I dropped my jaw.

"Well, I planned it just in the morning. Luckily all the things are available as I requested", he replied me with a wink.

"OMG! That was one crazy proposal I never expected in my life"

"Haha, I'm glad you accepted it"

"Who could reject a man like you", I winked at him.

We laughed out our hearts enjoying the delicious dinner.

Hello readers.......

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