NOT PROOFREAD 

"Let's get to the next destination, shall we?" neil winked at avni who was still recovering from the stunt he had pulled earlier at the diner. 

That infuriatingly dashing man. Damn!

And, that way they ended up going on a long drive. Well, who hates long drives now, tell me? All it needs is a special person with you and any journey would be amazing with them.

Avni hadn't seen neil this carefree in all those months they started working together. Well, maybe she brings out the best in him just as he brings out the best in her.

"Where are we going, neil?" avni asked for the tenth time.

"Not telling, avni. Don't waste your energy, love," he smiled smugly at her scowl.

After a good thirty minutes, she heard him saying "And, we reached," exclaimed neil excitedly as he asked her to get down.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, all she could see was a clear night that is filled with multiple stars. It felt like she could see the whole galaxy. And, to top of that, when she glanced down she saw a blanket on the grass filled with a basket which awfully looked like a picnic basket.

"Woah. Neil, this is--"

"Ooo, have i rendered Ms. Avni Ayesha to go speechless?" he teased her. 

Avni scowled. "Shut up, dork. But, don't you think this is too much?" avni whispered.

Neil sighed, As he approached his love. He gently cupped her face and lift her chin so that they drowned in each other's eyes. "Our first date, avni. Couldn't afford to ruin it now, can we? And coming to 'too much'. Anything i do for you will always be less."

Avni heart skipped a beat. As cheesy as that sounded, it felt good. Real good, hearing from someone whom she loved. 

"Chalo, i am starving. Let's eat?" avni said tried to ease the moment.

Neil chuckled. "way to ruin the moment, love" he muttered more to himself. 

Neil opened the picnic basket "So, we have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Chicken sandwich, hot maggie, and Hot chocolate."

"No dessert?" Avni pouted. 

Neil smiled at her antics which were only reserved to him. "Patience, young lady!"

"Okay, what do you wanna eat?" he asked her.

"Obviously, chicken sandwich." she winked at him.

Avni here is madly in love with chicken. She loves to eat chicken with all her heart. 

Avni took a bite and savored the taste immediately letting out a cry. "Oh my god, neil. This is so delicious."

She practically shoved down the whole sandwich and hocked on her own breath causing neil to smile and pat her back. "Woah, Woah. Slow down, tiger. It's all yours.  It will not run away, you know?" he smirked. 

"oh, shut up neil," she said smiling slightly and resumed her eating. 

They have managed to fill their tummies within a good thirty minutes. And, neil secretly resumed his surprise and sneaked out on her and got all the supplies.

He slowly took out a chart and a long telescoped flashlight. After setting them on the ground, he went to her from the back and whispered: "Please don't kill me, kay?" and sat on the back of her taking her in his arms, till she collided the front of his chest.

Avni was shocked. She couldn't move. His scent was invading into all over her senses. Yes, he was in her personal space. But, god it felt so right with him in his arms.

He snuggled her closer to him and place the chart in her hand. She looked at him confusedly. But, when he signaled her to look at that. As soon as she took a good look at what it actually is, he saw a wide smile on her face and she squealed in delight turning back to him and tackling him to the ground.

She didn't realize she was on top of him, practically straddling. With the same wide smile "You didn't." she asked him. She couldn't imagine someone to do this for her. 

"Oh, you bet i did, love!" he whispered. Her eyes widened and he can see the tears glistening in her eyes. 

"Avni, i would love to have you like this. But, can you please get up?" He chuckled managing to deviate her.

That's when she realized the position they were in. She immediately got up and sat far away from him. Sighing, neil went behind her again and grabbed her till she reached his chest and his legs were either side of her. She gulped at the proximity and glanced at the chart; Star chart. A star chart. She loved constellations and this was one thing she always wanted to do, to find the stars and count them.

"How do you even know, that i like constellations?" avni whispered as if she couldn't believe she was here right now ready to fulfill her dream.

"Oh, avni. You wound me." neil dramatically clutch his chest. He moved front till his breath is on her lips "You really thought i would take you on a date without knowing you Ms.Avni Ayesha?" 

"Bu-but?" 

"No, buts. I know everything about you avni. And, i adore every piece of it." 

Avni smiled. "I am flattered Mr.Khanna," she said taking his hand in hers and gave a tiny peck. 

Neil was happy and so was avni. This date is turning out to be the best one for both of them. Avni couldn't believe her luck. She didn't even think in her wildest dreams that someone would do something like this for her.

"Let's see." avni exclaimed excitedly when neil handed her the telescope.

She managed to fix the telescope and started looking for the constellations. 

After a good 10 minutes, neil was getting impatient. He wants to get to know about the constellations too. 

"I think, i found one," said avni calculating if she is indeed right at her assumption or otherwise. 

But, neil just smiled and encouraged her to go ahead.  She moved aside and allowed neil to come front so that he could see from the telescope. 

As he was looking into the telescope he heard Avni's voice. " So, look at the 'Cup' and 'long handle'- that is Ursa Major or The big dipper." avni stopped to see if neil can understand.

Neil left the telescope and looked at her with a guilty expression that made her want to laugh so hard. He looked so cute, so innocent. 

She placed her hand on his shoulders and told him "Don't worry. when avni is here why to fear?" she winked at him and arranged the telescope so that, when it was his turn, the first thing he would see was the constellation.

"Look at the left, you will find four to five stars almost looking like a long handle when attached. And then, come to the right attach all the stars, it somewhat looks like a cup. and, that's the big dipper. Got it?" she asked him.

He nodded in a yes and showed her his thumb. She smiled and continued her ranting " You know since we have located the Big Dipper, it also has another meaning. Now, look at the handle, where we can recognize that the handle is actually the head and neck of the 'Great Bear' Ursa Major. The 'cup' is actually part of the bear's chest and his 'front legs' extend from the cup's bottom right corner." Avni smiled and said "Understanding this helps us easily identify Ursa Major once we've located the Big Dipper. You want me to tell you a secret?"

Neil got out of the telescope and now looked at her. "The Big Dipper is not technically a constellation, but part of a constellation known as Ursa Major," she said slyly and smiled.

"Now, the next constellation." avni squealed.

Neil just chuckled and looked at her. She unconsciously snuggled into his chest. She felt very warn considering the starry night. God, that warmth was like heaven. She promised herself that she would never forget this day or this moment with him.

"Look, it's The Orion."

Neil took the telescope again and kept looking. He had absolutely no idea of what he was supposed to look or what he was actually looking for. 

"It is one of the easiest constellations to spot in the sky, you know? The most noticeable part of Orion is the pattern called Orion's belt. This Belt contains three brightly aligned stars, (Zeta), Alnilam (Epsilon), and Mintaka (Delta). Alnitak is around 800 light-years away from earth and is 100,000 times more luminous than the Sun. Okay, enough about the history, i will brag about it another day, okay? Let you figure out the Orion." she smiled. 

"Now, look for the three bright stars first. The one i showed you earlier is a hunter belt. So, from there search for the three bright stars. Later, you should be able to make out Betelgeuse, the bright star that form's the hunter's armpit, and follow that east along the hunter's arm, which is holding a bow. Other stars fill out the rectangle of the hunter's upper body and, if you look carefully, you should be able to make out the hunter's sword hanging from his belt. And, that's how you find Orion'The Hunter" 

That way, avni had neil immersed in her knowledge of constellations. And then, that very moment he fell in love with the constellations. He didn't know if it was because of his avni- his love talking about them with so much passion and a rare twinkle in her eyes or it was really interesting as she said. But, for her everything was interesting. 

When neil glanced at the time, it was already late and the sad thing was they had office tomorrow. So, no matter how much he yearned to keep avni all to himself that was practically impossible. So, he slowly took her hand and headed to the car. 

Neil cleared his throat making avni look at him. "So, are you, umm.. officially mine, yet?" he asked. 

Avni was flabbergasted at the audacity of this boy. So straightforward and blunt. God, he would be a death of him, she thought mentally. She didn't reply to him though and neil didn't bring that conversation again. She did not reply, mainly because she was in shock and secondly she wanted to make it special.

The rest of the ride was calm. It was a comfortable calm. Both the entities were savoring the moments they have made the whole day. They lived every moment, scratch that, every single minute of the day. And, it was pretty amazing. 

The ride was finished before they know, Avni didn't wanna leave it. She wanted to cuddle with him and do nothing more than savoring the warmth of him. But, she knew she had to. 

He knows she had to leave. 

He took her by her hand to her door and stopped. This was his cue to leave. Avni slowed down and pulled her hand out of his grasp and embraced him tightly. Neil was in a shock to respond to the hug at first. But, after a few seconds, he embraced her as tightly as possible and stood there savoring each other's warmth.

They didn't know how much time they stood there in each other embrace but, it felt complete. Avni beamed at him and said "Thank you so much for an amazing day, neil. I had lots of fun." She cleared her throat and went on her tiptoes, so that her breath was at his ear and said "Yes, Khanna. I am yours and you are mine" she winked, pecked her cheek which was longer than needed and made some distance. 

"Glad, i can make you happy avni." he managed to give her a smile while still in a shock.

God, that smile! Avni mentally chided herself for feeling like a lovesick puppy.

"Don't boost your ego. But, this is the best date, so far" she winked at him.

"No promises Ms. Avni Ayesha," he said slowly coming out of the stunt she played and approached her very slowly as if the predator comes to the prey.

"Good night Khanna!" she said and pushed him and signaled to go his car. " And, do not forget to text me when you reach home, okay?"

"Oh avni!" neil said as he cupped her cheeks. " You worry too much. But, okay i will text when i get home safely. Thank you for today. And, only mine, okay?" he whispered the last part, making her nod in a yes, and kissed her cheek sneakily before she comes to her senses and beat him, he also managed quickly pecked her forehead, looked at her with so much love for the last time, this night and left.

A little later, she got a text from neil, which said 'I reached, love. Good night!' She quickly sent a reply and retired to her bed.

Maybe, just maybe she did the right thing agreeing to go to date with him. After all, he was worth it. 

Only his. Damn, right-Only his!

TADAA! I guess it's done. What do you think of this date? 

Love, Seneca.