"Wow, you look amazingly hot in that poncho top" Rajesh comments, with a thumb's up and a wink. Pallavi had dragged away Rajesh from his office for an evening shopping trip when Rajesh lost his bet. Betting over small and trivial stuff had become their trademark for a relationship. As if that were not enough, Pallavi was really good hustler when it came to giving her opponents the odds on the bet. Very often she would make Neeraj her prey. He was dumb enough too, every time to fall for her skills to dupe him out of his money in his wallet.

"So you are grateful that you lost the bet right" Pallavi comments, as she swishes around, showing off her maroon poncho top, embroided with native American arts and white fringes.

"I am more grateful for this" Rajesh mutters under his breath cunningly with a smirk and pushes Pallavi into the trial room.

"Rajesh noo" Pallavi wails faintly, in vain. Rajesh is successful in pushing her into the room and kicking the door with his foot. He turns around momentarily, only to lock the door and pins Pallavi against the mirror, clutching her hands over her head.

"Ahhh" Pallavi utter s faint seductive moan, loud enough to send chills down Rajesh's spine.

"Lucky for me, no one was around when I made the move" Rajesh utters, eerily close to her face. Pallavi can feel his hot breath against her face, resulting in her heart beat rising, deeper breaths.

"So what are you going to do with me in here?" Pallavi asks in a seductive tone.

"This" is all Rajesh replies, before digging his face down her nape of the neck, planting light kisses.

"Ahhh Rajesh, go easy.." Pallavi moans, closing her eyes shut in the ecstasy.

"You smell so amazing Pallavi" Rajesh moans in between his kisses. Rajesh puts his hand deftly behind her waist, pulling her closer.

"Excuse me. Could you please hurry up?" come's a feeble voice from the other side, with a knock following the request. With the moment ruined, Rajesh grunts in anger a little bit, while Pallavi breaks into an uncontrollable laughter.

"Just a minute" Rajesh answers, tidying up his shirt, which has dishelved a bit. Pallavi also tidies up in the moment and they both decide to face the embarrassing situation, together and in a stride. They open the door and make their way out of the trial room, without making eye contact with the spectacled girl standing outside, who shakes her head in embarrassment herself. As Rajesh and Pallavi make their way out of the store, buying that poncho, they both break into peals of laughter, so hard that Rajesh falls down on the floor out of balance. This triggers another bout of heavy laughter for Pallavi, who is now clutching her stomach.

"Oh....my...god...Pallavi. That was way too close call" Rajesh comments as he gets up.

"Yeah. Let's not do that again" Pallavi adds on, now in control of her laughter.

"So let's head to food court" orders, taking huge strides, not noticing that Pallavi has not moved a step and is donning a poker face.

"Mr. Rajesh Khuranna" she calls, clicking his fingers, resulting in Rajesh turning around meekly, slouching like slave to a master.

"Obviously we have left something from the list 'gulp'. We will get to that first ma'am" Rajesh adds, looking at her with the meekest way possible.

"That's more like it" Pallavi replies, with a smile making its way to her face, destroying her deceiving poker face.

"Come on Pallavi. You really had me going there" Rajesh replies, heaving a sigh of relief.

"Quick march to the shoe store" Pallavi orders. In reply to that Rajesh comes to full military attention, extending his hand as if he were taking a pledge and replies "Heil Pallavi" , Nazi style.

"Very funny Rajesh" Pallavi replies and they walk hand in hand to the shoe store.

For the last hour and forty minutes, Pallavi keeps on turning every shoe store upside down, trying to find the perfect shoe. Rajesh's patience has been wearing thing with passing moment and he is almost on his threshold of lashing out. But he realizes that lashing out will never lead to a good thing. it will just ruin the moment. So he decides to play Pallavi's game on herself.

'I have been with her for the last six months and if I have not earned even this much, it would be a real shame' he contemplates before hatching out a plan to catch her off guard.

"How about we make this more interesting Pallavi?" Rajesh insinuates his idea, as he takes his seat next to her.

"I am listening" Pallavi replies, cocking her head to his direction, while still bent, putting on her slippers.

"I am saying that I have enough guts and skill to walk in this shop wearing that heel" he says, pointing to a six inch, crystal shaped, pink stiletto.

"Make it the whole mall floor, with me two steps behind recording your antics and you have a deal" she adds, getting up and turning towards him, secretly challenging him with her puppy dog eyes.

"You got it" Rajesh shakes it and takes the stilettos and dons them.

Shaking, he gets up, and heads to the shop door, one step at a time, with Pallavi following him recording the scene with a laughter on her face. One step at time, Rajesh makes his way across the floor. People all over the floor are looking at him. Some in astonishment, some in disgust, while some in cheerful.

"Way to go Rajesh. Just a few more steps and you are the winner" Pallavi cheers from behind. Getting the cheer from his girlfriend, Rajesh speeds up a little, only to trip. Not the one to lose his face in such a situation, Rajesh manages his best trying to balance himself, with pretty much all the dance moves in the world. for the whole two minutes, Rajesh swirls around, waving his arms in all possible direction to regain his balance. Lucky for him, he is able to get back to his feet.

'Easy easy. You can do this' Rajesh thinks to himself and take s a calming breath. As he manages to bring himself back, some people who have been watching, hoot loudly, as to cheer him.

"Quite the support you got here Rajesh. You think you can make the last few steps. All this people counting on you and the pressure is mounting" Pallavi adds, getting on his nerves.

Just at that moment, Rajesh makes a dash for the shoe store, running the last ten steps, just on his toes. Successful in his stunt, Rajesh makes it to the shoe store, without tripping or falling.

"I won, I won" Rajesh dances, removing his stilettos, mocking Pallavi. She just out's her tongues in return.

"We will take these." Rajesh tells the salesman.

'Rajesh, they are costly." Pallavi mutters, dragging him by his arm.

"Hush sweetie. It's my present to you" Rajesh, puts his finger on her lips and heads to the counter, leaving Pallavi dazed. Once done at the shoe store, they head to the food court.

"That was very sweet of you Rajesh, getting me those stilettos. I have been wanting to get such a pair since ever" Pallavi says, resting her head on his shoulder, as they climb on the escalator. Rajesh gives peck on her temple as reply.

"So now that you have won the bet, what do you want as reward?" Pallavi asks

"I don't know. It's been long since I had a good drink." Rajesh replies, shrugging his shoulders.

"Hey, I know a good brewery. It's not far from my hostel. Got really good ambiance too. We can have some stuff there" Pallavi chirps up.

"Really? That is awesome." Rajesh nearly jumps in excitement.

"Yeah. Let's get a takeaway. We can eat on the way. I will feed you from behind" Pallavi suggests.

"That is awful sweet of you honey." Rajesh gives her a peck and they head into a burger joint. They grab a couple wraps and burgers and head for the brewery, with Pallavi feeding Rajesh from the back.

"One pitcher of German ale please" Rajesh orders before even settling down on the table.

"Add a pint of Guinness to that" Pallavi adds on, settling down on the table .

"Nice choice, going with the Guinness" Rajesh compliments her.

"So when are you planning to let your parents know that we are dating and are looking forward to settle down in the future?" Pallavi asks, knowing it's the exact question which bums out Rajesh. Surprisingly, Rajesh doesn't seem to go off with her question.

"I was expecting when you would ask it. Actually, I am thinking that within the next month, I will let them know." Rajesh replies confidently.

"Rajesh are you serious?" its Pallavi's turn to get thrown off guard.

"Yes. Company is going really good. Our expansion last month went really successful. And with you also investing on us, it has been little more easy on the financial side. Actually, 2 months ago we paid off Tarun's mother's huge investment which we had borrowed when we started. Plus we have recruited five more interns now. With a total team of 18 people, we are looking at a real good growth factor" Rajesh assures her.

"That and all is good to hear Rajesh. But you really think that your parents will support our relationship?"

"Well they know you. They like you. And my father is pretty progressive on his thinking. So the age factor and your previous relationship will not be much of a hindrance. As for my mother, all she cares about is that the girl should be respectful and be from a good family, which you are. I sure they will be proud to have you as their daughter-in-law."

"That is real supportive Rajesh. I hope that I fulfill their expectations"

"Ahh don't fret. You will do fine. i am thinking that after we get hitched, they might end up liking you more than me" Rajesh chuckles up. Pallavi joins in. As they snuggle up little in the corner, the waitress gets back with their drinks.

"To the future Mrs. Khuranna" Rajesh makes the toast and they both clink their glasses together. While Pallavi really relishes her Guinness and sips on it slowly Rajesh on the other hand, being the typical guy, chugs down his first glass in a single glow, ending with a foam mustache. Looking at his mustache, Pallavi breaks into small, cute peals of laughter. While she recovers from her laughter, Rajesh pours himself another glass from his pitcher. They take their time with the rest of the drink, enjoying the ambiance...snuggling up more in the corner....teasing each other.