They were standing in front of the bustling night food market of Delhi. Aarushi gaped at the active atmosphere before her eyes. The street was packed with foods of all variety and flavors ranging from spicy chhole bhature to steamy momos. The aroma of spices and mouth drooling delights tickled her famished insides as water poured inside her mouth at the heavenly sight of such delicious foods.

'Are you only going to feast with your eyes standing here?', Ajay's teasing voice interrupted her drooling. She twirled around to face him with twinkling eyes. Her lost energy had instantly returned after witnessing such rich and tasty foods.

'It's marvelous! I never knew such place existed in world!', Aarushi chirped with stars in her eyes. She had never stepped out to enjoy some actual days for past whole year. Her amusement had been restrained to café in front of their college, lectures and work while her friends had explored their youth free mindedly. The night market offering such delicacies was way out of arena of imagination of a girl who had followed the strict parchment of rules all her life.

'You never stepped out of the regulations of college, how can you know about this sight then; well, now that you know, let me take you to enjoy its wonders', he stated leading the way into crowded narrow passage. Inside was a whole different world, stalls and shops selling all kinds of international and national dishes were lined against each other creating a hubbub of all kinds cultures. Splattering of spices and rich fragrance of freshly cooked yummy dishes bewitched every visitor who stepped in there.

Students of their age formed the majority of age group that was seated on small temporary arrangements awaiting their orders. The rustle of animated life that flowed around them rejuvenated a reverberating energy inside every tired soul. Aarushi gawked around the shops decorated with bright lights and boards reading all kinds of unique names owners could come up with. Every now and then an authoritative voice would be heard calling a subordinate or some customer calling "waiter" in traditional loud way as they placed their order. There wasn't a shop in sight without a bunch of people sitting around waiting for their food while cooks worked in open kitchens showcasing their expert chef skills.

They stopped in front of an average looking snack corner. Aarushi read the board recording its name as 'Delhi Chaat Corner'. Her eyes ran over the menu pasted in front of them, every name that one could come up with when he thinks of delicious food was printed upon that menu. The shop was roaring with customers' chatting as they stuffed themselves with all the delicacies. They found a small round table with space for two and occupied the seats opposite each other.

'What do you wanna eat?', Ajay asked her as his eyes ran over the menu placed in front of them.

'Honestly I cannot decide anything. It all looks delicious to me, if I can I'll probably try everything!', the foodie inside her betrayed her. She hated to admit it, but delicious food had always been an irresistible temptation for her and right now she was sitting in the heaven of that. Ajay chuckled at her straightforward honesty as Aarushi playfully scowled at him.

'I'll place the order then', saying he rose up; moving to nearby counter. Aarushi counted seconds inside her head before the order was served. After a long wait of whole seven minutes, Ajay sauntered over carrying a plate masala dosa and two cups of beverages.

'Tuck in', he said as he placed the dinner in front of her.

'Where's yours?', she asked frowning at the empty table in front of him.

'I don't feel like eating', Ajay replied taking a sip from his apple green mocktail. Aarushi raised her eyebrow questioningly.

'It had been a long day, it's practically impossible for you to not to be hungry, until or unless you are physically sick or your mental peace has been unsettled', she stated realistically.

'That sounded like something from those medical books; tell me did you eat up the whole book to recite those lines?', he asked sarcastically. Aarushi rolled her eyes at his sullen response and dropped the conversation deciding to let him starve if that's what he desires for.

She put the first piece of papery dosa inside her mouth. The crisp made a soft crunch as it was churned by the action of her teeth. The tangy taste of pulses and perfectly cooked papery thin dish immediately pacified her famished body.

'Umm... It tastes like heaven after all that hardwork, it's sad some people don't get to enjoy this delicacy', she spoke up indirectly directing her remarks at Ajay.

'A wise advice; you should keep your mouth shut while eating', he said with a sardonic smile and looked away rolling his eyes.

'I'm sorry, I just have a habit of appreciating good and this is just not good, it's fantastic; the sound of that brown crisp crunching inside your mouth, the sweet and tangy flavor of tamarind lingering on your tongue, the slight coarse of the coconut remains and spicy red chilli flavor of this sauce induces a blissful feeling of completeness in every part of your soul; the mouth watering sensation that surges throughout draws me into the magnetic field of this phenomenal course inducing an irresistible current of happiness and joy', Aarushi said dramatically. She glanced at Ajay still staring in other direction.

He was trying his best to appear indifferent but was failing terribly. Aarushi suppressed a smile at his childish stubbornness. She knew her words had done their work, hitting the bull's eye.

'It's a pity for someone to miss out this treat', she faked a sigh glancing at him from under her lashes as she took another bite. Aarushi spotted him stealing glances from the corner of his eyes. She took a morsel, wrapping it in sambhar , she leaned across the table forwarding her hand near him.

'I know you don't want to eat it, but still it won't hurt you if you smell it', she said flashing a sweet smile.

'I am not interested', he replied shortly. Aarushi pursed her lips to prevent the grin from appearing.

'I know that, but not even getting to smell such tasty food would be the biggest regret; who knows when we will get another chance for a sneak out night treat', she saw him gulp as he turned his face in her direction.

'Inhale the exotic scent of this tempting bite', she started with a mesmerizing and dramatic edge. Ajay looked down at the bite in her hand.

'Can you feel its deliciousness?'

'Yes', he answered transfixed by the hot fragrance.

'You crave for it now, right?'

'Yes'

'Do you want to eat it then?'

He opened his mouth to answer but before words left his thoughts the morsel was stuffed inside his mouth. Ajay widened his eyes taken aback by the suddenness.

'What?!', he exclaimed in displeasure.

'What what?', Aarushi retaliated putting up a guiltless mien.

'I told you I don't want it', he groaned.

'But you yourself agreed upon craving for it when I asked you moments ago', Aarushi replied promptly blinking her eyes in pretentious innocence.

'That', he paused thinking something. Aarushi raised her brow prompting him to continue.

'That was because you bewitched me', he completed with a childish pout.

'I didn't do anything'

'You did; your flowery words bewitched me', he whined stubbornly.

'When you knew they were flowery words why did you fall for them?', she asked simply. He frowned at her and turned away huffing annoyingly.

'Fine, I'm sorry for bewitching you; let's eat the dinner now', she gave in to his childish tantrum.

'No'

'Why? I apologized for my deeds right', she said.

'Persuade me'

Aarushi nearly smacked her forehead in frustration over his words.

'What am I doing right now?', she replied in a carefully controlled calm voice.

'No you are not. Persuade me in the right way', he cried.

'Ok, then you say what should I do? I'll do everything as you want me to', she sighed giving in to the tantrum. His eyes twinkled mischievously as soon as the words were said.

'Everything as I say?'

'Everything as you say, it's my word', she promised with resilience neglecting the doubts arising inside her over the open ended promise.

'Cool, so you feed me'

Aarushi nearly spilled her drink at those words. 'Has he gone crazy or has he made me go crazy?', she thought trying to register the actual meaning with multiple rounds of checking. There wasn't any error in its meaning; it was the same as it sounded.

'F-feed you? Am I hearing splits or it's really what you said?', she stammered uncertainly, asking for a final reconfirmation.

'Yeah, that's exactly my wish. You said you will do everything as I want', he replied restating her promise as the corners of his lips twitched over her restlessness. Aarushi bit the end of her lower lip nervously; his wish had come as an unexpected surprise which was hard to classify either as sweet or as horror.

'Have your words always been just empty shell Miss Sharma?', he questioned raising his eyebrow shrewdly with a quintessential smirk plastered all over when she didn't answer. Aarushi took a glance at him and quickly arranged a sweet seducing smile.

'Let me beat you at your game', she thought as she leaned across the table.

'I never eat my words Mr. Sanghvi it's just that, I wonder if you will be able to take in the authenticity of them because I'll never back out', she replied in a low voice.

'Try me and know it yourself', he said with a clever smile.

Aarushi took out a morsel wrapping it in coconut chutney she brought it closer to his mouth. He took it from her hand and chewed happily, beaming with utmost pleasure.

'Now answer me, what was that drama for?', she enquired. She had judged his put up act almost the very next instant but decided to go with it as he had wanted.

'Which drama?', he asked quickly putting up an innocent look. Aarushi widened her eyes giving a "You know what I am saying" look; Ajay mimicked her expression only to annoy her further.

'If you aren't telling me, then better starve', she replied briefly.

'Ok, ok, don't flare up now; I just wanted to have some fun', he said. Aarushi narrowed her eyes, asking him to elaborate.

'Fine, don't glare at me like that; I agree I had a tiny hidden self interest as well'

'And what was this tiny hidden self interest?'

'I am not obliged to say that right now, but yeah it is fulfilled now', he said with a sly smile. Aarushi glared at his mind boggling words. Ok, he had agreed to have more than one purpose but now, he wouldn't tell what it was, what kind of nonsensical thing is that?

'Are you sure your mind is positioned the right way as human mind?', she spoke sappily.

'Very much I believe', he answered with a frown.

'If yes, then why does it never behave like one? I had a hidden purpose but I won't tell you, what kind of logic is that?', Aarushi asked.

'It's my logic, besides I didn't say I won't tell you I said I am not obliged to tell you, I will definitely say it with a right timing and obligation', he replied. Aarushi gave it a thought and realized he had played with words to trap her so she couldn't say anything more.

'You played the word game!', she cried out with vexation.

'Tit for tat, you might be the master of language and literature among us, but I am not less', he said with a mocking smirk. Aarushi glowered at him as she stuffed him with another bite to make him shut up for good.

'It was the best dinner of my life', Ajay said with a wide grin. Aarushi rolled her eyes fighting back an acceding smile; it wouldn't be justifiable to forgive him this soon.

Aarushi pushed a few notes accounting for her share towards him. Ajay raised his brow questioning her act.

'My share', she mumbled rigidly.

'It's alright, consider this my treat', he flashed a reassuring smile.

'Not a chance! Accept this amount', she replied shaking her head in disapproval.

'It's not much anyways, save it for later'

'Nope! I am not giving in, accounts must be tallied fairly. Keep it or I would gladly accept Viraj's company for further work in project and you would be thrown with Sarthak. You don't want that, do you?', Aarushi contradicted in a sugared tone knowing that she had won this argument. Ajay gave her a serious scowl understanding her intentional move. There was no way he would be working with Sarthak after their icy encounter sessions. He let out a noisy grumble snatching away the few notes from the table in front of her and approaching the cash counter. Aarushi smiled widely as her words hit the right target.

He ambled over to her settling the bill in no time. He looked like he wanted to say something but he wasn't yet forgiven enough to do so. Aarushi stood up and walked away towards exit doors without a second glimpse leaving him staring open mouthed after her. She could figure him gathering her left over belongings as he chased after her calling out her name. She didn't exempt any attention to her name call, walking as quickly as her steps allowed through the people packed street.

'What's up with you?!', he cried gasping for air as he caught up with her after his run for about three hundred meters or so.

'Nothing', Aarushi gave her one word reply.

'I know what that means now, drop the act and tell me what have I done?', he switched to direct interrogation after her single word answer. Aarushi pursed her lips in a hard line refusing to reply. He exhaled a defeated sigh.

'I am sorry for whatever I did, is that fine now?', he attempted to pacify her with a scotched edge to his voice.

'You don't even know what you did and yet you are sorry? And you still expect me to acknowledge this half hearted confused apology', she aggravated turning around on her heels. Ajay grabbed her hand making her shoot daggers at him with a piercing gaze.

'Fine, don't forgive me. Let me give you a sincere apology then', he said dragging her away without waiting for a reply.

Aarushi was occupying the seat on the stone bench beside a towering tree as she waited for Ajay to return with hands folded across her chest. A light breeze blew around carrying the scent of night time flowers from the nearby garden. She shuddered as the cold air prickled her skin. She hadn't realized the temperature drop all this while, the warmth from stoves and crowd had it all covered up, but sitting here it was impossible to avoid it. She looked around to put on her pullover but it was nowhere in sight.

In fact she hadn't seen it since she left the library with Ajay. Aarushi backtracked the mental tape of events realizing that she had left her pullover on the wooden table inside library. Another jest of wind hit her inducing a shiver and goose bumps to rise over her arms.

The chillness of night didn't stop her from admiring the beauty of that clear winter night. That's the thing about cold winter nights, even though the frost is nerve numbing, still one cannot bear to look away from the winsome blanket of clear star studded sky and pacifying stillness of nature as the cool breeze slightly ruffles its serene surroundings. Aarushi sucked in the frivolous beauty carving the details of tranquility in her mind's picture.

'Peaceful, isn't it?', the very well known husky voice said to her. Aarushi nodded shifting to make space for him. Ajay settled in the place beside her and held out a chocolate ice cream. Aarushi gave him a questioning look as she took the cone from him.

'My sincere apology', he cleared up.

'Did you retrieve your mind or something that you are sincerely apologizing to me?', she asked sarcastically.

'When I think about it, I think you were half correct when you said my previous apology was confused and half hearted', he replied thoughtfully.

'What do you mean by half correct?'

'Actually I still don't know what I did to annoy you; so confusion part is intact, but about half hearted I think it needs to be amended', he said.

'What? You want me to rephrase it as confused and heartless, half hearted was too kind for you?', Aarushi hurled at him.

'Why do you always jump to conclusions without listening?', Ajay retorted with pleading eyes.

'Why do you always break your words half way?', Aarushi looked away rolling her eyes.

'Fine, you win. Should I continue now?', he asked. Aarushi gave him a curt nod fixing an icy glare on him.

'Heartless wasn't the amendment I was referring to... Aarushi, my every apology to you will always be honest and heartfelt; be it in past, present or future', he said sincerely. Aarushi scoured his face for any traces of deceit or mischief.

'Are you sure about that?', she asked dubiously.

'More than I want to be', the seriousness of the words washed her heart with golden assurance.

'Do you want to rethink your words, I am afraid you'll end up eating them', she mocked him.

'Miss Sharma, I never eat my words, although you might be afraid to take the authenticity in them', Ajay replied with a smirk, retrieving his playful self as he phrased her previous words. Aarushi playfully narrowed her eyes at him as the corner of her lips twitched with a smile threatening to appear anytime. She let out a small chuckle bringing down her intimidating stance.

'Am I forgiven now?', he asked flashing her favorite dimpled smile. Aarushi gave her approval as she happily chomped on her delicious ice cream. Ice cream in winter evening is nothing less than a complete definition of heaven and Aarushi was enjoying this heaven thoroughly with one person she always manifested to enjoy it with. She slightly rubbed her arms as another gust of wind ruffled her.

'Where's your jacket?', Ajay asked her casually as he munched on his cone.

'I think I forgot to take it from library when we left', she replied as another shiver ran down her spine. Aarushi's eyes widened in surprise when something warm and cozy wrapped around her bare skin.

'Wh-What are you doing?', she let out a flustered stammer as color, which had nothing do with cold weather around them, washed her cheeks.

'Put it on, I don't want to work with a sick partner for next half of project', he commanded as his hands delicately moved around adjusting the parka around her shoulders. Aarushi busied herself in devouring her ice cream as her cheeks burned crimson. She opted to remain silent for next few moments giving some time to settle her unfurled butterflies.

'The moon and stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?', Ajay's low whisper caught her off guard. She turned her eyes to look in the direction of sky above; it really was a beguiling sight. The dappled face of moon played hide and seek with flimsy dark clouds, peeking and disappearing behind them like a notorious child. Stars stood transfixed like diamonds glowing and emitting faint glow.

'Actually, I never expected to meet you again like this', Ajay confessed in a low voice. Aarushi turned her head towards him, something in her told her to remain quiet. Ajay was looking straight up but his eyes had travelled in to some unreadable thoughts.

'It was a surprise for me, a big one; but then I realized something', he continued with a strange longing.

'I realized that... you changed; you weren't the same Aarushi as you were four years back...'

'I don't know what caused this unpredictable change, but today, I finally caught a glimpse of that old Aarushi somewhere in you, it might sound a bit weird; but it really felt nice, to see her again', he concluded closing his eyes with some obscured thoughts. Tears glistened in the corner of her eyes as his words came to an end. She quickly looked away hiding the moisture that threatened to expel itself. It was too overwhelming, too wrenching; a few words had unleashed the age old pain that never showed itself but also never stopped consuming her, hollowing her every second of every minute for past four years. What can she say? Why she changed or how she changed? Even if she says everything, will he be able to accept, will they ever remain as they are now?

'I don't know why you said that, but nothing remains forever... some things adorn our pasts, let's leave them to adorn that past only, bringing them to present would cause nothing but hurt', she replied in a low controlled voice as her memories travelled back to the day disaster had knocked on her doors.

[Flashback]

That day, she returned home in a perfectly cheerful and joyful mood. They had recently shifted to their newly build residence in front of the beautiful lake. It wasn't just the house of her parent's dream, but also a mansion which acquired popular fame throughout city with its structural layout and grandiose. But for a fourteen year old girl, what did the grandiose and magnificence meant? For her it was her home, a place which offered peace and love to her. Materialistic things aren't the true source of happiness yet they become an integral part of life with the hidden feelings of person behind them. That edifice wasn't just a build of stone and bricks; it was a structure of dream and love.

Aarushi was living the vibe of a beautiful melody inside her room when muffled sounds reached her. She removed earplugs listening intently. She could make out a conversation going on in the main hall and it wasn't an exactly a pleasant one. She emerged out of her room trying to make out the source and reason behind commotion.

An unknown couple was standing at the entrance yelling for some overdue payment as her father tried to pacify the middle aged duo. Aarushi hid herself behind a wall, within the range of hearing but out of sight.

'We have been hearing this for last few months now sir! You and your employees are deceitful people, robbing us from our money!', the man howled at her father. Aarushi's father managed a business of cooperate firms. After losing his father at sixteen, he had decided to shoulder the financial problems of by taking up some menial jobs. But god's will wasn't really in his favor, despite the long hours of tiresome work he barely managed to acquire minimum of the wages.

After Aarushi's birth, he had always felt guilty of not being able to provide the best of the conditions to his own child. Driven by financial pressure and continuous judgmental taunts of society he had decided to start his own business with the help of his two friends. They started off as a small firm working in accordance with banks to make the system of deposit and withdrawal more people friendly by setting up the cooperation. Slowly, the business bloomed to its fullest.

Her father occupied one of the highest official positions and represented the public face of cooperation. His work was acknowledged with awards and praises while his amicable attitude acquired golden words from every visitor. Over past ten years, he had successfully established a name for himself. He had been thinking of merging their cooperation into a nationalized bank for further operation and retiring himself from high grade position to pursue his interest in legal field when tragedy struck his way.

Everything changed with just a phone call which informed him about financial fraud of a similar firm. The public demand for money shot up suddenly creating an imbalance between input and output resulting into rising doubts of a similar financial swindling. Her father had been trying to satisfy public pressure by trying to retrieve loans distributed to people and making people understand the circumstances, but his effort so far had been to no avail.

'God will punish you for your deeds swindler! Your children will also suffer like the way you made us suffer! You used up our money to build your wretched bungalow, you'll pay a heavy fine!', the lady bawled angrily, cursing her father.

'Sir, ma'am, I understand your concerns, but please try to analyze the situation; we are doing our best to regulate the cash flow as soon as possible, but we'll need public support as well. I am greatly sorry for the trouble you had to endure, I assure you, your money is all safe and you'll get it back in no time; let's talk outside for now', Raghvendra pleaded pitifully. The couple exited the door with dirty looks on their faces followed by Raghvendra.

Their screams rang in Aarushi's ears, who had heard every word of conversation. She ran to her room, shutting herself inside as tears ran down her cheeks. The piteous condition of her dad, his pleads and their curses repeatedly replayed inside her she wondered if that's what her father had been going through every day for past few months and the thought produced a new surge of angry tears to stream down; she couldn't bear listening to such harsh words being thrown upon her father or family, that too from the same people who had not long ago paid the utmost respect to them.

She buried her head in the pillow cloaking the sound of her sniffs until her eyes turned puffy and red. Soon she drifted into an uneasy sleep tired from all the crying. Her eyes opened again with more sounds coming from hall. It was already twilight outside. Aarushi stood up and walked over to the hall with feeble steps. Her mother was engaged in a fierce argument with her dad; it was a rare sight for Aarushi who had never seen her parents get into a fiery argument, banters were normal with them, but serious fights were once a blue moon thing.

'How can you do this, Raghvendra Ji? That was all the gold I had received from my mother and mother in law! How dare you use it for payments to those people! They were our family heirlooms!', her mother yelled furiously.

'Listen Pramila, I'll retrieve it all, I promise you; the company is in dire need for money, employees are all leaving one by one, people's money is at stake, I cannot turn my back now', her father replied massaging his temple in frustration.

'Gold is a home's hard earned treasure and you have just hanged a killing knife over it by mortgaging it under Jaswant's name! It wouldn't have been this big issue if it had been under mine or your name, but him! Have you completely lost your senses?', Pramila screeched condemning her husband's foolish trust and actions.

'Jaswant is like a younger brother to me, my most trusted employee... I can trust him with my life; he would never do something to harm us. I sent him to keep it mortgage under his name due to the need of situation or I would've never done that', her father tried to explain hurriedly.

'What circumstances would lead you to take such idiotic decisions?'

'A group of people arrived at our office two days ago, they were threatening to create havoc if I left the office without giving them money, I had no option but to send Jaswant and mortgage gold', Raghvendra elucidated.

'What you did is unforgivable for me; it was indeed a stupid decision. I am putting my trust in your words this once, if anything happens to our family because of your business, I won't let you off', Pramila walked off giving a baneful warning leaving Raghvendra pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

Aarushi heard her parents' talk; she could make out the seriousness of situation hovering above them. She looked past the window at the evening glow outside. The sun wasn't just setting in the horizon that day, it had set in their lives also, hurtling them all into the endless bounds of darkness.

[Flashback ends]

A/N:

Did you enjoy Aarushi's bewitching technique and Ajay's tantrums and apology? 

The first piece of mysterious puzzle of their past is here. More pieces coming up in subsequent chapters. I am unable to update regularly due to various study jobs, apologies for delay. Do stay updated for future chapters, more sweet stuff coming up!!

If you have any hashtag name for our protagonists, do share it with me. I have reached my wit's end but still couldn't come up with something satisfactory. Suggestions are openly welcomed!!

Thank you!!