--------------

Hello, my lovelies! <3

Hope you are great as always and this is gonna be the last chapter I post in a while... 

I'll be back by the first week of June that's for sure but I don't think I can update till then :(

Hope you will still support me nonetheless and I hope there will be more views, votes, and comments on this book when I am back! <3

Hope you enjoy the chapter! As always, don't forget to comment your heart out! 

Happy Reading <3

--------------

Author's POV

She came back home in a hurry, informing her family about Ekansh taking her out, and got ready in a hurry. She wore a black kurti with light makeup a pair of golden jhumas and texted Ekansh sitting under the ceiling fan.

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c5/13/8a/c5138a43f5f6e1ca5d2f7110e898c79b.jpg

"I'm ready!" she sent him a text before scrolling through YouTube to find something to watch. "I'm on my way, see you in 10," came his reply.

"Ohk," she replied, watching a K drama MBTI meme compilation.

She loved the concept of MBTI, the Myer's Briggs Type Indications. It really shows how different people think and react differently according to the environment they grew up or the challenges they face in life.

It helped her as a counselor to understand different people's perspectives and views.

It was a great way of finding relatable memes too. Watching INFJ memes one after another was her way of passing time while also learning something, perhaps different.

Soon the doorbell rings, as she gets up and looks in the mirror for the last time before she moves out of the house, biding everyone goodbye.

Ekansh's breath stuck in his throat as he saw Akshita dressed in a black kurti with gold embroidery. Slightly limping on her left leg, the wound on the corner of her lips had healed better than her forehead.

Ekansh wore a black shirt with dark brown trousers, he was looking hot. Ekansh loved the fact that they were twinning, it brought a smile to his face. He loved the simple yet elegant way in which she carried herself. Her jhumas glistened under the streetlights.

Ekansh opened the passenger door for her, she smiled sitting in not missing his hand hovering over her head. He ran across to the driver's seat as Akshita fastened her seatbelt.

"Do you drive?" he asks, out of the blue, turning his Mercedes. "Yeah, I got my license at 18, couldn't wait..." She says, chuckling at her statement as his eyebrows raise.

Passion for driving, he makes a mental note to himself.

She takes a deep breath. Her sense of smell was limited to only one; Expensive. She was sitting in a Merćedes after all.

Taking about expensive she remembered the surprise she had brought for him, it was the first time she spent the money she earned on anyone except family, that too on a man who could be her husband.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked, as he started driving, "Nothing, Where are we going?" she asked back, changing topic, "It's a surprise... I don't know if you'll like it-" "You see it doesn't matter if I like it or not because you don't really know me, all I care about are your efforts..." she says.

His eyebrows raise, "You really mean that?" he asks, not believing it, a frown on his face appeared his mind suddenly went to his ex.

Akshita was so different and genuine. He regretted wasting his first kiss on her.

"Of course, you see, I am a very mature person," she says dramatically, noticing the change in his mood.

They stop at a traffic light, and for the first time in his life, Ekansh didn't curse the red light. Ekansh smiles at her attempt to lighten his mood, "I've heard that a lot."

"You talked to Amarpal? When?" she asks, suddenly, her eyes widen in surprise. "How did you know?" he asked, confused at the sudden yet accurate question. Her eyebrows raise in victory, her eyes calmed down smile on her face, "You said it, just now..."

Ekansh's mind took a minute to catch up, he narrowed his eyes playfully, "You are very smart aren't you?" he said, resisting the urge to pinch her nose "I know," she said dramatically, waving her hands on her shoulder.

He chuckles, shaking his head, turning the engine back on as the traffic light turns green. "How exactly did you know that I talked to your brother, I mean I have an idea but I wanna confirm..." he asks, driving at a steady speed.

"Well, first, only Amar would tell you, I am mature. Why? I don't know either it was just a hinge, and you replied, 'How did you know?' which meant that it was true, so my spidey sense was right, and if you're wondering, what if he didn't tell you Rasika did, then I am a hundred percent sure you'd reply, No, Rasika did. Why? Because I asked spontaneously and anyone would subconsciously want to answer as quickly as possible and you have no intentions of lying to me, it was a meaningless question. So... yeah," she says, explaining her thought process, while Ekansh is just surprised.

"And all that went through your head in what- like 5 seconds?" he asked, "Umhm," she replied, "You have a psychology degree right?" "Hey! They don't teach you that stuff in your textbooks! I just notice you know, if you do too I am sure you will come across many things like this, I mean you are a business owner, we all know you have many manipulative tricks up your sleeve too." she says, defending herself, "You're not wrong..." he says, agreeing.

"Hum us famous bar mai ja rahe hai? I don't drink." (Are we going to that famous bar? I don't drink.) she says noticing they were heading on the same route as to a popular bar in town. [I don't know or have visited Bhopal, so all my dear citizens of Bhopal I am sorry.]

"No no, we're not heading there, I don't drink either..." he says, clarifying, "Really?" she asked, in disbelief.

He nods his head like a child, "Like not even a sip?" his eyebrows knit together at the question, "not even a drop?" she asks, pinching her thumb and index finger.

"No," he replied, smiling at her cuteness, turning the steering wheel and taking a sharp right turn. She keeps her hand down, inhaling a sharp breath, looking out her side of the window and mumbling something to herself.

'Why do you think of such inappropriate things, Akshita? He's just driving, there's nothing hot about it!' her brains scolded her heart, 'My god, that was so HAWT-'

"Akshita?" Ekansh's voice brings her out of her daze, "Hmm?" His eyes narrowed concerningly, "App thik ho-" (Are you okay-) "Ha ha bas kuch soch rahi thi..." (Yes, yes, I was just thinking of something)

She noticed he had stopped the car. Land full of trimmed green grass was seen from Ekansh's side of the window, as she turned to see out her window, he kept his palm on her eyes, his hands large enough to cover both her eyes.

"Promise you won't open your eyes till I tell you to?" He asks, "Promise!" she replies like a child, with her pinky raised. Ekansh hesitates for a moment before twisting his pinky with hers.

She smiles brightly, her eyes closed as he removes his hand.

He opens his door, and runs to her side, opening her door, giving her his hand to hold as she walks, her eyes closed.

"Open your eyes now..." he said, "Pakka?" (Promise?) she asked, not wanting the surprise to be spoilt, "Pakka." (Promis.) he said chuckling at her cuteness.

She lets out a breath, her lips in a thin line. She opens her eyes, a bright smile forms on her lips, her eyes twinkling at the scene. It was a treehouse with gold lighting, and a ladder leading up to the tree house.

"Oh-my-freaking-god!" she says, staring at the sight, she runs behind the tree before Ekansh can stop her, it was his second surprise and he wanted to see her reaction.

He ran behind her; her feet shaking like a kid in excitement as she saw the picnic carpet, the food, her Payal jingling. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouuu" she blabbers throwing her arms around his neck, not caring about anything.

She was very happy.

Not only did he do all this, but he made sure to keep her favorite food, the efforts made her heart dance in happiness.

A big smile made its way on Ekansh's lips as he chuckled, hugging her back.

She was like Mercury, excited and jumping. "Can we eat now?" she asked eagerly, breaking the hug.

"Well... this was a surprise for later..." he says, as he wanted to spend some time talking to her in the treehouse before dinner.

"Surprise..." she says, her eyeball moving to her right as if she was remembering something, "Surprise! Well... I sorta have a surprise for you too..." she says, remembering what she had brought for him.

The pocket of her kurti felt heavy as she looked around at the treehouse, the picnic. Her shoulders slumped, "I don't know if you'll like it..." she said, looking around at what he had done for her.

"Well... someone told me, it doesn't matter if it should be according to my likes or dislikes, what matters are efforts." he said, quoting her.

She smiled, taking her phone out and placing it on a tree branch, making sure they both were visible in the frame.

"What are you doing?" he asked, "Believe me, you'll thank me later." she said, setting the camera up.

She hits the record, walking to him, standing in front of him. His hand sweat in his pockets as she looks back at the camera to make sure it's recording again. "It's recording..." she says nervously.

He bends his head backward, "Just tell me already!" he asked, his heart hammering in his chest.

She took a deep breath.

Ekansh felt his heart skip a beat as she came down on one knee, pulling out a small red velvet box.

She opened it, revealing a gold ring.

It was a simple ring, with her name engraved on it. 

Ekansh forgot how to breathe, his heartbeat thudding in his ears, his body still as a rock.

"Ekansh Aadhirath Malhotra, will you accept this Promise Ring, and be my boyfriend...?" she asks, her eyes locked with his.

She felt a shiver down her spine as his eyes flickered over to the ring.

He blinked twice, his mouth opening and closing.

He forgot how to form words out of his mouth.

It was a yes, a huge clear, and loud yes, yet his tongue and throat betrayed him. Akshita's eyebrows raised in anticipation.

If he was nervous, she felt the pressure of the seven seas on her shoulders, as she knelt, waiting for an answer.

'Say yes, say yes, say yes, say yes' she prayed in her head as he let out a wary breath.

"Yes," he says, as his hands comb through his hair, his head bent down at the scene.

She lifted her left hand to put the ring on his finger. Instead, he gripped her hand, lifting her and wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug.

She chuckled as he dug his head into her neck, his hair tingling in her ear. "Ungli mai anguthi to pehna ne dejiye!" (Let me put the ring on your finger at least,) she says, chuckling as he wipes a treacherous tear before Akshita could notice it.

He breaks the hug as Akshita takes hold of his hand, slipping the ring on his ring finger.

A sad smile takes over her lips, "It's not that expensive... I used the last bits of my salary on it.. I didn't plan on buying it, it was last minute. If not, I would've bought something better-" she starts her guilt-blabber.

"Better?" he asks, looking at the ring on his hand. "There is nothing better than this, Meri Jaan..." he says, looking at her. Her nose scrunches up as a silly smile takes over her lips.

"Did you spend the money you earned on this?" he asked, staring at the ring on his finger. "Umhm," she hummed as Ekansh felt something tingle in his heart as he read her name which was engraved in it. 

She spent her money on him. This was the first time anyone except his family had done something for him. 

'She proposed to you EKNASH! What could be greater than this?!' his conscious asked as his eyes moistened but he didn't let the tears fall out.

"I usually spend all my money on loans, taxes some bills, and spoiling my family. And I keep some left for my entertainment... Guess this will be my new entertainment now," she says, a proud smile on her lips as she takes his hand, looking at the new ring. 

[I dare you to go read the second quote in the first picture of Ekansh's Aesthetic photos in character's page]

~ 2,000 Words 

----------------

Hello again, Lovelies! <3

Yeah, it is exactly 2000 words [Not counting the note at the starting ofc]

Well! How'd you like the chapter? 

What do you think of Ekansh's planning?

Akshita's Proposal? Did you like the gender switch? 😁

Let me know your thoughts and as always! Vote if you liked the chapter!

Until next time! <3

 ~ 2,227 Words