Arya's POV:

"Have a safe trip kanna( darling), call when you reach," Mom said as she bade me good bye before I got into the car to leave for the airport.

My sister tackled me with a hug and I affectionately kissed her cheek.
" Bon voyage!" she told me.
" Come back with lots of chocolates."

" Alright," I said smiling. I waved at both of them and got into the car.
..............
I always loved the airport. It gave me this feel of being free. A sense of freedom.
After I finished checking in all my baggage and the security procedures, I sat on a seat, waiting for the announcement for boarding.
Since I had nothing much to do at the moment, my thoughts wandered back to Riya. Everywhere I looked I could see people like her. I was going mad.
I recalled an incident that had occurred few minutes back.
*
I was standing in a queue waiting to check my bags in when a girl walked past me. She had short hair upto her chin and big bright eyes like Riya's. They reminded me so much of her that I couldn't help but stare at her. She seemed a little younger than Riya, though.
"Treesa," her mom called. " Can you help me with this bag?"

(A/N : @ChristineLovedale this is for you :* )

I wanted to see Riya so badly. I missed her so much. Her vibrant energy was something I envied. I was sober and quiet and disciplined. I needed to learn how to loosen up.

Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't realize it was my turn next.

" Sir?" The lady behind the counter questioned. " Your bags?"

I snapped out of my reverie and placed my suitcase on the conveyor belt.
*
I had really been so stupid.
This was the right moment to call Riya. I HAD to try.

I knew she was angry and wouldn't pick up the phone, so I decided to facetime, considering that she had an IPad at home.

After a few rings , surprisingly her face popped up but she had this small frown. Her hair was sweeped up into a high pony and her eyes were wide in surprise.

My heart was about to leap out of my chest. I could feel myself starting to blush.

Snap out of it idiot, I told myself.

And then I realized I had said it aloud, when Riya gave me a confused look.

She looked so damn adorable that it was hard to look away.

"Heyyy, " I said, smiling, but she didn't reply.

Stupid me, what the hell was I doing? I was so tongue tied I couldn't get a word out.

"Hi! How are you?"

I hit my head again. I was acting like a doofus.

"Riya, I really missed you."

She turned her head to look at me and I felt a buzz when our gazes locked.

"Really? I assumed Shyla was enough for you?"

I winced. I should have thought of what I was getting myself into before I called. But as usual, I was impulsive and something made me want to see her face so badly.

"Riya, don't be like that. There's nothing going on between me and her."

"Oh? Well, what am I supposed to infer from " she was in the bed with me?"

" I was drunk out of my mind Riya. I didn't know what I was saying. I am sorry?"

She looked at me with a disappointed frown.

"Drunk?" she said softly. "At this hour of the day? Why did you drink Arya? What happened?" she asked me, concern evident in her voice.

I heard laughter in the background. I could see some of her friends trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. A raven haired boy with brown eyes was waving....at me?

"Guys get out. I am having a serious conversation," she told them, in this authoritative tone I'd never heard her use before. A goofy smile crept up onto my face.

"Oooh with lover boy?" The same boy asked, and Riya blushed.

It was the most adorable thing I had ever seen.

"Desh, shut up."

Oh so that was the ever famous Desh. The idiot who claimed Riya was his. And he had been waving at me? Why?

"Hey, Arya? Desh here," he said, suddenly appearing on the screen. "Sorry for that stupid prank bro. I was simply messing around with you."

Seriously? Messing around with me? And I had drunk myself to death thinking that he actually had feelings for her? Something was seriously wrong with me.

"Sorry bro," he said again, when I didn't respond.

"Doesn't matter," I replied, with a wave of my hand. " It's in the past now."

Luckily the conversation we were having had been momentarily forgotten. It made me all the more embarrassed now to tell Riya the reason I had started drinking. It seemed silly, frivolous and all right ridiculous.

" Hiiii, I am Kajal, one of Riya's best friends. I've heard loadsss about you. Riya can't stop-"

Riya shut her up by placing a hand over her friend's mouth and I smiled.

"Sorry, she loves to ramble Arya. Ignore her."

" No no, Kajal is totally right. Hi, I am Meera. "

"Nikita."

"Rahul."

I was getting confused by so many people introducing themselves to me. I know Riya had mentioned her friends to me, but it was overwhelming to meet them all at once.

"Meera?" I said, suddenly remembering something. "Are you by any chance dating Manan?"

"Yes yes! How did you know?"

She was so bubbly that I couldn't help but grin.

" Well, he's one of my closest friends. And he does talk a lot about you."

"Oh well, " she said, her face turning pink.

"Anyways Riya, I just called to tell you that I am leaving for New York for a dental conference. As you can see, I am calling from the airport. I will call you on 8th and wish you, but if I can't for some reason and there's some signal problem, Happy birthday in advance. I WILL try my best to call you though."

"Awwwww," the girls cooed. "You guys are too cute. "

"I take back what I said about you and Desh Riya," the one who I assumed was Kajal said. " You two are cuter. "

Riya's expression brightened at my change in mood and she smiled widely.

" You remembered? That it is my birthday?"

" Of course! How could I not? After all I lo..I mean you're such a good friend of mine..," I said, quickly correcting myself in the last moment.

Seriously? Was I just about to say that I loved her?

Riya raised an eyebrow at me but grinned.

" I will be waiting for your call Mr Mahadevan."

__________x__________________

So our love birds finally talked huh? Aren't they too cute for life?

You guys should he sending me hugs right now...just kidding...

Just wanted to give you something to coo about on Valentine's Day... :)

So guys how many of you have Valentine's? ;)

So anyways...something's finally happening...

Did you think sensible, steadfast Arya could actually turn into a stuttering mess?

Read, vote, comment and as always enjoy :D

Adios amigos,
:) harshini :)