*Listen to the above song while you read the chapter*

*here's chapter aesthetic and happy reading!*

"Its..Its your birthday? I-",Ekantha was short of words.

"Yes,its my birthday and thank you so much for giving me the best birthday gift ever",saying so he tried to pull her into a hug but she signed him to stop and look around since they were still in temple and it wouldn't be appropriate.

"Oh god, you are so adorable Ekantha",he said pulling her cheeks and she giggled.

"Anyways, Happy Birthday Abhi! May you always be happy and healthy and get what all you want in life",she said.

"Thank you so much, Ekantha! Guess what you are the first one to wish me, I sneaked out of the home before anyone else could wake up and wish me",he said.

"Are you serious? Didn't you say that aunty gave you flowers?",she asked.

"That was yesterday night, yeah yesterday night! Anyways here is the prasad, have it!",he said giving her some prasad[an offering that we eat after putting it near God]

Both of them had the prasad and then prayed to God once again and left from the temple.

They got back to the car and there was a comfortable silence and both of them were enjoying it,today was indeed a special day for both of them but both of them made it more special for each other by confessing their feelings for each other.

"Ammu",he called Ekantha who was busy looking out from the window with a small smile on her face.

"Yeah",she responded diverting her attention towards him.

"Can we..Can we go somewhere today after your work?Its completely fine if you don't want to, or if that would be tiring. I just wanted to ask that's all",he said while glancing at her occasionally while his whole focus was on the road.

"We'll surely go, as you wish Abhi",she said.

"No, I don't want you to agree for the sake of my birthday or something. Do it only if you feel like it and come only if you are not tired. I'll text you after your shift at 9pm, if you feel like it. We'll go and if not we'll go some other day, we have our whole life's time to do and explore things. All I want as of now is you to feel comfortable and we will take things just as we used to do before. Baby steps and we'll reach our comfort zones soon",he said and all Ekantha could do was adore him and his talks.

"Ammu, are you listening?",he asked glancing at her and at the road.

"Uh, yeah Abhi! I'm glad you think about me and give me my space and respect my boundaries. Thank you so much and yes I'll text you after my shift and send you the location if we are going somewhere then you can pick me up",she said and he nodded.

Soon they reached Ekantha's home and both of them got down of the car and Abhimanyu walked towards her side.

"All the best for today and I love you",he said coming close to her and kissing on her forehead.

She closed her eyes at his action, butterflies were all over in her stomach and a red hue formed on her cheeks.

He moved away, and she looked upto him. She looked around and pulled him into the parking lot after confirming that nobody was around, she tiptoed, cupped his face pulling him upto the height she could reach and kissed his forehead.

She let her lips linger there for a while, and moved away. All the time, Abhimanyu was in a shock. He was seeing a new version of his girl and this was surprising, exciting and what not.

Never in his wild thoughts, he has ever expected her to take the initiative to kiss or confess her feelings first, but all of it was happening on his day just added more things for his happiness.

She bent her head in shyness with a smile on her face.

"This wasn't because I had to, this is because I want to show my feelings",she said and a proud smile adorned Abhimanyu's face.

"I am loving this version of yours, Ammu",he said.

"What do you mean by that?",she asked narrowing her eyes at him.

"I was kidding, ma! I love you for who you are and I will love you however you turn out to be",he said and she smiled.

"Okay, I have to go now if I don't think want to be late to school. I'll go now, once again Happy birthday, Abhi and I love you",she said chuckling.

She walked to the stairs and turned around, waved him with a broad smile on her face earning another broad smile on his face and he showed her a thumbs up as a sign of all the best. She giggled and climbed the stairs.

She was falling in love with this version of herself too. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought of kissing a guy and that too on his forehead.

Forehead kisses were special for sure, they show sincerity and care towards the other person.

She always read or saw the guy kissing the girl on her forehead and wanted to experience how would it be if the girl does it.

And she did it with the person who she just confessed her feelings with, although that might be a bit fast but she felt good expressing her emotions like this.

She reached Vennela's flat and unlocked the door. It was a working day morning and of course Vennela's mother was busy getting ready while Vennela just came out of the bathroom, her mother was in the kitchen.

She sat on the dining table and noticing her presence, Kanyaka came over.

"Kanna, here have your breakfast and go to work. All the best for new beginnings. I found a home tution too just in neighborhood and I was thinking to give it a try from the next Monday",she said.

"Amma, you try doing things. If you like it continue, if not it's okay. You're never a burden for me amma, just remember that",she said to which Kanyaka nodded.

Ekantha had her breakfast and also made sure her mother had her share of breakfast. She didn't have the heart to change into another outfit and decided to wear saree for this day as well.

She packed her things and bid bye to her mother not before promising Vennela that she would fill her in with everything that happened once she returns home.

She walked to the bus stop and as usual got into her bus and reached the bus stop nearby the school.

Her day was as usual and she could wrap up her work just on time and decided to wrap up and leave to the shop before she gets late.

Asmita who has been observing her since the morning, decided to ask her about the change in Ekantha.

"Ekantha? You seem cheerful and also quite active since yesterday. What's the matter?",Asmita asked leaning onto Ekantha's desk.

"Nothing special, Asmita! Just the usual",she said and gave her a small smile.

"No, there is something! Tell me, tell me",Asmita said playfully.

Ekantha just smiled.

"Navvithe navaratnalu ralutayi ani undelanti ammayi, oka rojulo navvuki brand ambassador aypoyindhe(The girl who used to be so insecure to smile, as if she smiles all the diamonds will fall out from her mouth became the brand ambassador for smile just in a day)",Asmita said.

"Learnt that, this smile itself can fight a lot of demons and help me overcome things, I am here doing it with all my heart",she said and Asmita raised her eye brow and clapped for her.

"Good one, Ekantha! Trust me you're gonna rock everything you do if this continues and nobody would be able to stop you",she said.

All the time, hearing people tell her that she wouldn't be able to do so and so thing initially it made her rebel but later it made her insecure hearing it over again and again and again.

Hearing these words was something new, not only new it was uplifting as well.

"Thank you for trusting me, Asmita. I'll have to leave now. I need to be somewhere",Ekantha said completing packing her things.

As usual she walked to the bus stop and took the bus which takes her to the shop. She plugged in her ear phones and started playing some old telugu classic songs. Bus journey+telugu classic songs+window seat with hair flying was the best combo ever and she was experiencing it.

After around half an hour, she got down at the bus stop and walked to the florist shop. She prayed her Lord Krishna and Lord Ganesha before entering the store and entered to find Emma arranging some bouquet and keeping it on display.

Noticing someone's presence Emma turned around and Ekantha smiled at her.

"Hi Emma ma'am",Ekantha chirped.

"Hi Ekantha! And please call me Emma, you don't need to be formal in addressing me",Emma said and Ekantha nodded.

"Do you usually wear sarees?",Emma asked still busy in giving a final touch to the bouquet.

"Not usually, Emma! Sometimes I do. Coincidentally I wore two days consecutively that's all",she said.

"Alright, how are the bouquets for today looking? Do you want to suggest anything?",Emma asked.

Ekantha gave some inputs to which Emma was quite impressed with. Both of them were busy handling the evening rush.

Though it wasn't very easy for Ekantha to communicate with a lot of new people, she was trying to give her best. But she was telling herself that she would be taking one step at a time and for now, taking this step and choosing something like this is a challenge for her to come out of her cocoon.

As the customers started decreasing by quarter to eight, she turned around picked some flowers and was trying to make a bouquet by herself after asking Emma if she could do that for which Emma gladly agreed.

"Hello, May I have a bouquet for my girlfriend?",the voice disturbed her..

To be continued..

Hello dear readers!

How are you all doing?

I am good, almost done with semester ends just one more which is general type so I thought I'll give you all an update while I take a break from the exam routine.

Honestly after the confession I felt like writing their story more and more.

How was the update? Did you all like it?

Any favourite scenes in this chapter so far?

For me it was writing Ekantha's forehead kiss to Abhi 😗

I request all the silent readers to vote and comment your views! That motivates me as a writer, it's like boost up.

Do you guys want to read Abhimanyu's pov about this whole thing? If yes, let me know and I will write a chapter on it.

Do you like the way the story is proceeding?

Don't forget to vote and comment your views and share this story with your friends if you feel like this story is deserving for them to read it.

I'll see you all soon again with another update, till then take care, live life to fullest and sending you loads of love ❤

Your Author
Sakshi Devi