Bani - Ohh Shit..!

Veer - Kuch kaha aapne Ms sharma?

Bani - Na.. Nahi..

Veer- Par maine toh suna... Aaj kal log kitna jhuth bolne lage hein nahi.. Matlab dil main kuch aur.. Zubaan pe kuch aur.. (He says teasing her)

Bani - I was tired and i just blurted out some random stuff..

Veer - Tum Safai kyun de rahi ho.. Main toh bas in general bol raha tha...

Bani - Abb raat ke barah baje aapka general news session khatam hogaya ho toh main ghar ja sakti hu..?

Veer - Yeah... I will drop you.

Bani - You don't have to.. Main chali jaungi..

Veer - Tum har baat par itni Zid kyun karti ho?

Bani- Aur tum har baat par bas apni kyun chalate ho?

Veer - You have to listen to me!

Bani - And can you enlighten me, why exactly am I obliged to listen to you?

Veer - Cause I am your Boss.

Bani - You are mistaken Mr singhania kyunki office timing khatam hogayi hein, which means ki na toh main aapki employee hu aur nahi aap mere Boss.

(She packs her bag and starts moving towards the lift. Veer follows her and gets inside the lift.)

The elevator closes. Veer pins bani's hands over her head. He presses her body between the elevator and his own solid form, trapping her completely. Both their breathings laboured while their chest was heaving. There eyes looking for something in each other's eyes.A long simmering fire was awakening between them. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest . His gaze suddenly softens while his grip lightens.

Veer - Tum meri baat kabhi samjhti kyun nahi ho..? (He says softly looking into her eyes)

Bani - Tumhein shayad pyar se samjhana aata hi nahi.. (She says lowering her gaze to avoid the heat building up between them)

Veer - Pyar se..? (He says making her face him by lifting her chin towards him, there lips were almost brushing against each other and that's when the lift opens.)

Bani comes out hurriedly, trying to gain her composure.. Veer almost comes out and tries talking about what all happened today.

Veer - Bani.. Woh.. aaj..

Veer was about to complete his sentence that's when Bani feels dizzy and she falls in Veer's arms.

Veer - Hey.. Heyy... Sweetheart.. Tum thik toh ho..?.... Aakhein kholo . . . (He says in a worried tone while taking her in his embrace. )

(He rushes to his car and gets a water bottle
He sprinkles some water on her face and she slightly gains her consciousness)

Bani - Ve.. Veer..

Veer - Yes sweetheart.. I am right here ...

Bani tries getting up but she again stumbles. Veer tries helping her .

Bani - Veer.. Main karlungi..

Veer doesn't listen to her and picks her in his arms. She could sense the care and a different feeling in Veer's eyes. Where as Veer who was habituated to watch horrendous situations and bloodshed was extremely concerned about Bani being unconscious.
He opens the cars gate and puts her on the seat.

Bani - Veer.. Maine kaha na.. I will manage.. Woh maine aaj khana nahi khaya aur bas isiliye shayd...

Veer - SHUT UP! (He says and gets inside the car, banging the door) . . Tumhe apna khayal bhi nahi rakha jata.. Kaam zaruri hein ya health.. Woh toh accha hein ki main tha agar nahi hota toh... Socha hein tumhe kuch hojata toh mera kya hotaaaaa!?

(He says involuntarily, blurting out the secret in his heart)

Bani - Hojata toh..? (She says softly)

Veer - Toh kuch nahi..Tum meri employee ho, meri zimmedaari ho, isiliye main tumhara khayal rakh raha hu.. BAS! (He says trying to deviate the discussion in another direction and composing himself)

Bani didn't know why, but she didn't like his answer. The fact of him calling her just a "Zimmedaari " was not sitting well with her.

Bani - Mr singhania, aapko meri zimmedaari uthani ki koi zarurat nahi... Mujhe toh samjh nahi aata hein ki aapko meri zindagi main itna interest kyun hein ???

Veer - Cause I Care for you dammit!!!
(He says looking straight into her eyes. Bani keeps looking at him.She could sense him being angry but it was clear that whatever he said he meant it.)

Bani - Why?.. Kyun bar bar tum ye jatate ho?.. Mujhe pehele khud musibat main dalte ho aur phir usse bachate ho.. Kyun? Haan maine kha na nahi khaya par kyun nahi khaya cause my jerk boss had given us a lot of work... Which coincidentally happens to be you !!

Veer - Ye sawal toh maine bhi tumse pucha tha ki kyun tumhe meri parwah hein, kyun mere zakhmon ko dekhkar tumhe farak padta hein... Tumne toh koi jawaab diya..

There was a moment of silence between them.

Veer - I am sorry!

Veer says suddenly breaking the ice between them.

Bani - What..?

Bani - Wait a second.. You know what I have started imagining things, pata nahi kya sun rahi hu .. (She says in a dramatic tone)

Veer - Hogaya tumhara..?

Bani - No I mean seriously did you just say that five letter word ?

Veer rolls his eyes

Veer - Abb sunogi..

Bani - Phone do Veer.. (She says with a placid expression on her face)

Veer - Mera phone.. Par kyun?

Bani - Vivaan se kuch bohot zaruri baat karni hein mujhe..

Veer - Kya..?

Bani - Uske Boss ki halat bohot kharab hein mafi wafi mang rahe hei,doctor ki sakht zarurat hein.. (And she starts laughing)

Veer - You are laughing.. ? Like seriously you are laughing.. ?

Bani still keeps laughing not paying heed to his words.

Veer- Fine! Nahi bolunga main. (He says like a child while Bani found his gesture extremely cute)

Bani - Accha Baba. .Bolo Bolo .. Sunne ke liye main na jane kabse betab hu..

Veer - No Bani really I am sorry, since day 1 humare bich bas galatafahamiyan huyi hein.. And I know I have kinda been a jerk but I am sorry, I really am.. Sorry , meri wajah se tumhe iss shehar main apni peheli raat tumhe Jail main guzarni padi,sorry maine tumse batameezi se baat ki and Sorry meri wajah se aaj tum behosh hui.Sorry for each and every thing....

Bani - Veer...

Veer- Shh..No please let me complete sweetheart..

Bani - Thank you..

Veer- Hear me out once... Wait.. What?

Bani - Thank you Veer for helping me out.. though you been a jerk is still unarguable .

Veer - Really.. I means thanks for..

Bani - I am definitely in a dream right now.. Veer singhania ne Thank you aur sorry aaj dono jo bola hein mujhe .

Veer chuckles

Bani - Why do hide this?

Veer - What?

Bani - This side of yours! The good side. Kyun har waqt yun dikhate ho jaise tumhe farak hi nahi padta kisi cheez se, jaise ki tum mein dil hi na ho..

Veer - That's cause mujhe farak nahi padta Bani and Jazzbaton ki koi jagah nahi hein meri zindagi mein..

Bani - Veer jab hum dusro ko dikhane ke liye, unhe jatane ke liye aesa dikhate hein na ki humein farak nahi padta, iska matlab ye hei ki sabse zyada agar kisi ko farak padta hein toh woh hum hi hein..

Veer stays silent

Bani - Aur raha sawaal jazbaton ka.. Emotions ka.. Toh woh tu mein hein.. Jab tum Arnavji ke sath rehte ho tab jo tum parwah karte ho, woh jazzbat hein, jab tum Bela ke liye protective feel karte ho, woh jazzabat hein, jab tum unn bacho ke sath uss din khel rahe the, tab jo muskurahat tumhare chhere par thi, woh jazzbat hein aur tum kehte ho ki jazzbat se tumhara koi vaasta nahi..?

Veer - Itna notice karte ho mujhe.. (He says with a slight smile forming at the end of his lips)

Bani - Tum bhi toh karte ho.. (She says softly)

There moment gets broken as Bani's stomach growls.

Veer Chuckles

Veer - I think humein pehele iska ilaaz karna chahiye ..

Bani smiles embarrassingly.

Veer - So kahan chale?.. Hotel Taj , Grand Hyat ya phir..

Bani - Wait.. Wait.. Wait! Hum iss mein se koi bhi jagah nahi jane wale hein okay..

Veer - Toh hum kahan jayenge..?

Bani - Humare office ke pass ek bohot hi accha restaurant hein, ambience bhi accha hein, and before you start speaking in third person again, veer singhania ye and woh, i am telling you ki hum wohi ja rahe hein..

Veer - Accha baba thik hein.. Mai waise bhi mana nahi karne wala tha.. (He says with a soft smile. No one had ever dictated over him like that, but Bani giving him orders was something which he really liked )

They reach near the restaurant. Veer parks the car and both of them enter inside the restaurant at the same time.
As they enter they hear the confetti's and flowers falls on them.

Employee 1 - Congratulations Sir and Mam, you are our 10,000th customer!

Veer and Bani give an awkward smile.

Employee 2: Aapke liye Sare arrangements, aaj humare taraf se honge... Aaiye..

The employees guide them towards their table. Bright lights were all around and the aroma of scented candles was all around as well. The whole scene was just mesmerizing, making the whole mood affectionate.

Employee - I hope you like our arrangements for your date!

Veer and Bani - DATE!?

Employee - Yes sir, aap dono couple hein right .. So we just wanted to make you feel special..! (She says with a bright smile)

Veer - Actually we aren't ...

Bani -(Interrupting him) We love it , you can collect our order in sometime.

Employee - Yeah sure mam! (She leaves from there giving them some privacy)

Veer - What was that..?

Bani - What was what?

Veer - Why didn't you deny that we...

Bani - I thought there was something going on between us Veer.. (She says her eyes focused on her champagne.)

Veer - Are you flirting with me Ms sharma?

Bani- How can I... SIR!(She says emphasizing on it and slowly siping her drink while looking at him)

Veer - You are playing with fire sweetheart.. (His gaze still fixed on her)

Bani- Maybe I want to get burnt..

(She says and Veers mouth was left open, looking at her flirty and seductive side. Bani looks at him and she laughs )

Bani - Kya hua Mr Singhania.. Didn't like the show when it's the other way round?

Veer - So this was for revenge.. Huh(he says sipping his drink)

Bani - Yeah.. (She winks)

Veer - And I thought my charms have actually started working on you ...

Bani - Not possible (she says flipping her hair)

Both of them laugh while the employees were adoring the couple from the corner of the restaurant by looking at there smiles.

Veer - Well.. Nothing is impossible Sweetheart.

Bani - Subah aur Raat ka kabhi milan nahi ho sakta..

Veer - Shaam ko dekhlo.. Dono ka tab sangam ho hi jata hein.. (He says with a smile. He didn't know what he was doing,teasing her or giving false hope to himself)

Bani smiles back.

Employee - Sir mam, your order?

Veer - I will take baked vegetable pancake in white sauce with..

Bani - Aloo ke parathe, with raitha and a slice of butter and yeah he will take the same..(She says in one go with a smile)

Veer - Aaj tum mujh par kuch zyada hi hukm nahi chala rahi ho..?

Bani - Tumhe jeena sikha rahin hu.. And trust me tumhare uss continental dish ka toh nahi pata par haan ye aloo parathe kha kar tum ungliyan chat te reh jaoge..

Veer - Aaj ka din maine tumhare naam kiya hein so .. Whatever

After some time the employee comes back with the dish and serves it to them

.

Bani - Hayee.. Ye khusboo ..

(Veer looks at the smile on her face. Hum aksar badi cheezon main apni khushiyan dhundhne lag jate hein aur inn choti choti khusiyan ko bhul jata hein par bani ki muskurahat ko dekhkar Veer ko iss bat ka ehsaas ho raha tha ki khushiyan ki chabi humare hathon main hi hoti hein)

Bani - Abb khaoge.. Ya bas yunhi muskuratein rahoge . .

Veer starts eating , getting embarrassed by Bani's comment while Bani chuckles looking at him. Veer takes a bite and he feels the flavours bursting in his mouth, it really felt like heaven.

Bani - So..?

Veer- What so..?

Bani - Kaisa laga..?

Veer - Okay..

Bani - Liar.. Shakal pe dikh raha hei kitna badhiya laga tumhe..

Veer - Okay fine, it's great!

Both of them continue talking a bit about each other's family and interests. It now seemed like a perfectly arranged Date. After sometime the staff's play music.

Na Chain Se Jeene Degi
Na Chain Se Marne Degi

(Veer extends his hand as the music plays. Veer and Bani interlock their fingers. Veer holds her waist, pulling her closer to him. Bani was blushing and was facing down while their bodies moved with the rhythm of the music.)

Aa Chalo Le Chalen Tumhein
Taaron Ke Shehar Mein
Dharti Pe Ye Duniya
Humein Pyaar Na Karne Degi

(As the music starts they move their bodies with the rhythm of the music... gazing at each other...lost.

Bani's hair flew with the wind. Veer places his hand on her waist. While he interlocks the other with hers. Bani's heart flutters with feelings and excitement of sorts.

Dono ko kuch ehsaas ho raha tha...par kya? Ye woh bhi nahi samajh paaye...Unn dono ka dil bas ye chahta tha ki woh lamha wohi tham jaye...)

Mujhe Pata Hai Oh Jaanam
Chahe Kuch Bhi Ho Jaye
Tu Khud Mar Jayegi
Jaani Na Marne Degi

(Veer then swings bani backward . He could smell the lavender in her hair. This always drove him crazy. They continued dancing, losing themselves in each other.)

Jo Tum Na Meri Baahon Mein
Main Toh So Nahi Sakta
Khuda Ne Tujhko Diya Mujhe
Tujhe Main Kho Nahi Sakta

(Bani places her hands around his neck while he holds her waist. They both smile at each other, taking is as much as they can of the moment...)

Main Mar Jaunga Agar Kabhi
Kehna Pad Gaya Ye Sanam
Main Tera Hi Hu Magar
Tera Ho Nahi Sakta

Veer aur Bani dono ke hi dimaag aur dil main jung cheedi hui thi. Veer ka dimaag humesha ki tarah usse rok raha , usse keh raha tha ki woh bani ko bhul jaye aur dil... Dil baar baar usse Bani ki oor dhakel raha tha, usse keh raha tha ki jiski yaad har sans lene pe aaye koi usse kaise bhul sakta hein bhala.

Humein Maar Hi Na Daale
Buri Nazarein Logo Ki
Ye Hath Chudayenge
Na Hath Pakadne Degi

Bani ka dil usse Veer ke kareeb jane ko keh zarur raha tha par dimaag baar baar ye yaad dila raha tha ki kis tarah unn dono ki duniya alag hein aur unka ek hona, saath milkar rehna namumkin. Par usse kya pata tha ki mohhabat ke liye kuch namumkin nahi.

Chalo Le Chalen Tumhein
Taaron Ke Shehar Mein
Dharti Pe Ye Duniya
Humein Pyaar Na Karne Degi

The song ends but Veer and Bani still keep swaying with the music. The music of love.

Employee - Sir.. Mam..? Actually humara restaurant close karne ka time hogaya hein.

Veer and Bani come out of their trance.

Veer - Ye.. Yeah.. We are leaving.

Bani - Thanks for your service.

Both Veer and Bani come out of the restaurant.

Woh dono chup zarur the par dono ki aakhein bohot kuch keh rahi thi. Khamoshiyan aksar lafzon se zyada bol jati hein aur aaj kuch waisa hi ho raha tha. Veer aur Bani dono apne Jazzbat samajh nahi pa rahe the ya yun kahu ki samjh ke bhi samjhna nahi Chah rahe the.

He starts driving. Bani was looking outside the window with a smile on her face. Her smile which had now become a drug for him, a drug necessary for his survival. He was intoxicated by her fragrance, her beauty both inside and out.
Bani on the other hand was playing with the bracelet on her hand to avoid an eye contact with him. She didn't know what would happen if this all continues but she didn't want to think about it right now.

Veer- Sweetheart ...

Bani -Hmm..

Veer-What is love for you? (He asks out of no where catching her Offguard)

Bani - Suddenly ye sawal kyun..?

Veer - Bas yunhi . ..

Bani - Mere liye Mohhabat izzat se ibadat tak ka safar hein. Ek rishte main izzat hona bohot zaruri hein aur jab salon sal ye izzat reh jaye toh woh ibadat main badal jati hein.

He smiles hearing her thoughts.

Bani - Aur tumhare liye..?

Veer - Mujhe nahi pata pyar kya hein.. Haan par ye phool, cards and stuff is definitely not love for me.

Bani - I agree..

Veer - You do..? (He asked in a surprised tone)

Bani - Yes.. I mean phool, cards, romantic bante ye galat nahi hein par haan pyar ka matlab bas yehi nahi hota hein. Pyar ka matlab toh hota Ek dusre ko samjhna, bina kahe dusre ke dil ki baat samajh jana , khud uncomfortable hokar bhi kabhi kabhi dusre ki comfort ki chinta karna and of course woh pyare pyare jhagde karna...

Veer -Humari tarah.. (He says slowly)

Bani - Kuch kaha tumne?

Veer-Nahi..

Veer stops the car in front of Bani's house.

Veer-Yea.. Yeah.. I was just telling that we reached.

Bani - Yeah... Waise I had a great time today.

Veer - Me too.. . Today was...

Bani - Our first Non-date (she chuckles)

Veer also chuckles

Veer - Yeah, I guess so ..

Bani - Veer can we be friends?

Veer - Friends?

Bani - Yeah.. I mean I really want to stop all these fights and dramas happening around us.. So can we? (She says extending her hand)

Veer - Yeah sure (he says with a smile)

Bani - But Veer I have to tell you something .. Hum friends zarur ban rahe hein and I am glad about that par I can't fulfill your demand. Look I have a job, I have a family and I can't come and live with you...

Veer - Bani...

Bani -No Veer, you need to understand..

Veer - Look Bani, We are friends but Arnav Bhai is my priority and I..

Bani - Okay fine.. Let's not talk about all that right now.. We will talk about it tomorrow.. Alright?

Veer nods. Bani tries taking off the seatbelt but it gets stuck. Veer notices Bani struggling with the seatbelt. He leans towards her and reaches out for the seat belt. His hand brushing past her hair. Her heart skips a beat. Their proximity was bringing back all the feelings that she was trying to bury in herself since the kiss that they shared . She was, once again lost in her thoughts, just staring at him. That's when Veer moves back and she notices that he had helped her with the seatbelt.

Bani - Th.. Thank you Veer.

Veer also comes out of the car to see her Off.They see Mahir outside the door waiting for Bani but that's when they notice someone else beside him and that was.... Bela. Mahir also turns and looks at Bani with Veer.

Vani/Behir - TUM DONO!?

***

Khwab aur khwaish ke bich ki kashmakash ka naam hi zindagi hein!

Hey dear readers!

So how much was the chapter?

Did you like Vani's non-date?
What was your favourite moment from this chapter?
How are Veer and Mahir going to react now?

I made certain changes, so precap remains the same as it was earlier! One more chapter free of unwanted people🤭

Love you guys!
Stay tuned ;)