Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is  growing up.

~ James Baldwin

Jagati

We have been playing with my dumb idea from the last 2 hours, we won the toss and chose to bat, and instead of 50 or 20 we made it 10 overs because who has the time and energy to play when it's 53 degrees outside.

Why is there no indoor cricket? Where we could play it in an air conditioned room?

We are done with batting and scored a whopping 153-5.

Lucky me I didn't have the chance to bat, because I never lifted a cricket bat in my whole life.

Everyone was shocked to see all the foreigners playing cricket. Well, What they didn't know was, cricket is just like baseball and they all were baseball players at some point.

My master mind knew that when I walked with an idea of playing a game, and I knew they were going to choose cricket because it's the IPL season and that game is on everyone's minds.

There are two topics any Indian man can never resist talking about, cricket and politics. I played on that ideology and won.

So, now I am standing behind the stumps being a wicket keeper, while Devansh and his people are batting. And the score right now is 120-4, with 3 more overs to go.

"We need a time out." Raj announced to the other team.

We all gathered in one corner of the ground, Devansh is so good at this game and now I can see it why. Playing for the other team with millions at stake, I cheered for him. He looks so godly while playing it, you can watch him play forever. 

Man, he looks so steamy like a piping hot Biryani...

And she started comparing him to food, don't you have some brains lady..

Yeah Whatever! Look at him...glistening in the sun like a warm glazed donut.

I don't know if it was the mention of donut or that I was looking at Devansh my mouth started watering like crazy, I had to take few gulps before it flew out and made it look like I had some drool on my face.

"Stop staring at him and do something, we are losing..." Shreya nudged me and I had to take my eyes off him.

I looked at my team rubbing the sweat off with the towels and pouring water on their heads to cool themselves down from the scorching heat.

"What's the game plan?"I asked Raj, as he asked for the timeout.

"We can't win if Devansh keeps batting, we need to get him out." He stated the obvious while I rolled my eyes at him.

"I did trash talk him and it's not working." Luke from JD team said and the others agreed with him.

"Trash talk is not gonna work on him, he is not hot headed. We have to do something else.." Raj said while uncle sat down on the chair tired of standing from the last hour.

"I have an idea!" Mark yelled with a sly look on his face.

Why is he looking at me like that? Is that gonna involve me?

"I know way to distract him, but it's not appropriate. We know that no guy can act straight when his girlfriend/wife talks dirty to him. So Jagati talk dirt.."

"MAARKKK, that's Dev's father and you are embarrassing me.."I screeched on top of my lungs and stopped him from completing that sentence pointing at uncle.

What would I say to Dev? And what does talking dirty mean?

I know, I can give you one now..Are you ready?

Your legs remind me of Dum Biryani..you know why? They look like chicken legs..juicy and tender, I could eat them right now..roarr..

That sounds more like cannibalism, and he is more of a horse than a chicken.

"I am deaf, you can do whatever you want." Uncle said hiding his smile, interrupting my thoughts.

"Time's up guys..Please Janu, keep the idea in your mind. We don't want to lose do we?" Raj whispered in my ear and left me alone.

I put on my gloves, walked to the stumps with a dilemma. I kept fidgeting with so many thoughts, and weighing my options.

As I stood there Raj came in and threw a ball at Dev, he winged the bat so conveniently and the it was out of the boundary making their score 126-4. If he goes on at this rate, we are gonna lose this contract and my life is doomed. Jamie is gonna kill me if knows that I gambled such a big project with my stupidity.

"Dev!" I said his name in a sultriest voice I could bring myself too.

He looked at me with raised eyebrows, swinging the bat in his hand practicing his shots.

Here goes nothing..

"You know that you have Dorito body right? Do you know what flavor of Dorito you are?" I asked him cringing on the inside at my question.

"Are you hungry? I told you to eat something during halftime."He began complaining that I eat less.

I am trying talk dirty with him and he thinks I am hungry. What have you done with your food obsession?

Don't blame me, we eat it together and we love food.

"I am not hungry. And you are Flamin' hot.."I blabbered out to stop that annoying voice in my head.

He stood there confused and looked like I was crazy for saying that. I leaned closer to him and whispered, so no one else can hear me.

"You know what I like the most about Doritos..the Dorito dust that sticks to your fingers..I love to lick it off..yumm.." I said to him in a deepest voice I could gather myself and moved back to my spot as I could see that Raj was ready to bowl.

I was sweating a river, regretting my words and actions. Raj threw the ball at his foot and Devansh winged it again and started running towards the other end to make some runs.

As I was observing him and the way he runs so effortlessly , Shreya called my name out loud, threw the ball in my way and from the corner of my eye I could see Devansh running back to his place.

As soon as the ball landed in my gloves I turned to Dev and winked at him making him pause for a second, I quickly removed the bails on the stumps before he reached and that's how he got out.

Raj yelled out really loud in happiness, came running to me and lifted me off the ground and started twirling. Everyone joined us and gave me a hug and appreciated me, if only they knew the actions which led to this moment.

I saw Devansh walk away with a disappointing look, which made me feel guilty. After Dev left the ground, it was easy peasy for Raj, Mark and Shreya to kick out other people with their amazing bowling skills.

We won by 15 runs, so finally the project stands and I can get these people to listen to me. We celebrated our win and I came back home with Uncle. 

I couldn't find Dev in the house and I looked everywhere downstairs without Aunty and Uncle noticing me.

Is he mad?

I don't know, I am scared. We just made up and life was going smooth after such long horrible times, I don't want to go back to that again.

I walked into my room to take a shower before I go find Dev and apologize to him. As I opened the door I could see Dev in my room lying in the middle of my bed without a shirt on him, just in his black jogger, like he was advertising the bed for couples to have some fun on.

Should I close my eyes or keep them open to gawk at those beautiful abs?

Don't they look like chocolate bars..beautiful..Can I touch them once? Please....

Shut up and stop acting so desperate.

Control yourself Janu, Control..

"De.. Dev! What are you doing here? This is my room right?" I asked him after clearing my throat which was completely dry because of monster inside me.

He got up from the bed with a smirk on his face and some expression that I never saw on his face.

Is he walking in slo-mo? or am I just imagining it?

I don't know, I think I am losing my mind with all the dirty thoughts clouding my mind.

If he comes 2 more feet closer I am going to touch him, I don't care what you say..

"You said that you like flaming hot Dorito's right?"

"I am sorry, It was so hot out, I couldn't stand there anymore.Mark gave me the idea to do that and distract you. We needed that win." I rambled taking a step back as he started walking to me.

My heart is thumping so loudly that I could hear and feel it going ballistic, I think my heart is ready to come out of my chest at any moment.

"Don't you want the Dorito dust on your fingers?" He asked with his husky smooth voice and it just made my knees weak and I just stumbled not able to hold my own weight.

He caught me in his arms before I fell down on to the floor.

I am touching his abs..my chocolate bars...

They are so hard and rock like, not soft and comfy like a jello.

Why would abs be soft and comfy? You are losing your mind.

I looked up to his face, and found him gazing at me intently. My hand immediately went to his cheek feeling the little stubble on his beard, those black eyes and the warmth they are radiating in my body..

His intoxicating smell made it impossible my brain to think rationally, at that moment I wanted to place my lips over his, and that's what I did.

He shuddered at my actions and growled into me, all my sense panicked as he deepened the kiss and it's like he understood my panic because he is rubbing my back comforting me that It was okay and I started slowly melting away in his touch. He never kissed me after his decision of taking it slow, but all the tension and the wait that built up to this moment felt like it was worth it.

I would have gotten lost in him if my body didn't need oxygen to breathe. After breaking apart, I clung on to him like my life depended on him, and he held me for life.

As we took small sips of air in, he gently brushed my hair with his fingers calming my heart down and I was lost in his world and until I heard his voice.

"You know sometimes I wonder, how I impressed you? I certainly don't have the charm." He asked making me frown at his question.

"You didn't have to impress me Dev..I was always in love with you." I replied clutching him tight embracing the moment we are in.

He let out a low chuckle and kissed me on my head.

"ANSHU..."Aunty's voice made me get away from him

I miss his hug

"Where did this boy go? He always sits in that garage, I should burn it down." Aunty mumbled loud enough that we heard it and Dev scratched his head in embarrassment.

I love this man of mine, just that smile makes me forget all the pain I went through.

"I'll go and see what my mom wants." He said putting his shirt on.

"Will you come back again?" I asked him.

Damn! My insecurities.

He held my chin and made me look at his face, and his eyes emitting love were calming me down.

"I will always come back to you, Go take a shower and I'll be here when you open the door again." He said soothingly, brushing my cheek with his thumb.

I just nodded like puppet played on strings looking at him, he placed a kiss on my forehead and left the room leaving me light hearted and a with smile on my lips.

As he promised he was there in my room when I came back from my shower, he even got me Kheer to celebrate the win even though it was not a fair win on our side.

Relationship is never about having a handsome boyfriend or beautiful girlfriend, it's having a person who cares, respects, understands and comforts you in a way no one ever can. And I have that with Dev, he loves me the way I am, he accepts me, my stupid personality and I feel real lucky to have him in my life again.

And I am back.

So, How was the chapter? Hope you enjoyed it.

I extended the story a bit, because I felt like I was taking it fast. Let me know if you think I am prolonging it too much.

Anyway it's Christmas season guys and time for winter break, What's your fav Christmas song? 

Carol of the bells is my all time favorite and this version among all , Listen to it.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Love,

Sneha