Arya's Pov:

I called up Desh to inform him that I had arrived in Bangalore, as soon as I got off the plane. He told me that it was impossible for him to leave Riya's house presently to come pick me up as she would become suspicious. Anandith had already hinted at my arrival and so it was better if I went to her place by myself. So after Desh finished telling me where she lived, while I noted it down in my tiny notebook, I got into a cab and started my journey to her house.

On the way, I stopped at the florist to buy a bouquet of roses. It seemed like the most romantic thing I could think of, at the moment. I don't know what made me do it. I was known as a guy who had no clue about stuff related to romance in my college days. I hadn't ever fallen in love, this was my first time so it was all a new experience.

I wouldn't lie and say that I hadn't had a crush on anybody. Everybody had those sometime in their life. But I had never bothered to act on my feelings or think too much about it. Until now.

I was lost in my thoughts and didn't notice that we had reached until the driver spoke. I got down from the car, took my luggage and paid the cab man. Then I stood still, for a while, observing my surroundings.

Riya's bungalow looked beautiful from the outside. Her garden had sooo many varieties of flowers and the grass looked so inviting. The porch was lit up with a soft luminescence and the doorway mat said "Welcome"

As I walked further inside, a thought struck me. Would Riya be at home? Desh had forgotten to mention that.

I rang the doorbell hesitantly.

A boy, who seemed to be a few years older to Riya, opened the door with a dazzling, bright grin.

" You must be Arya?" He eyed the bouquet of roses in my hand thoughtfully.

I nodded my head. Then-

" Ohh...are you Anandith?"

" Yeah."

We both shook hands, then he smirked.

" No funny business here okay?"

I blushed.

" Whaaaaat?"

" Kidding bro. Chill. "

" Haha okay," I said with a nervous laugh. " Where's Riya?"

" Oohhh so eager are we?" He teased. " Didn't you have a long journey? You must be tired. First, go freshen up, then I will tell you. "

"Alright," I said with a sigh and he chuckled.

As Anandith showed me around, a boy suddenly came and clapped me on the shoulder from behind. I jumped, momentarily surprised, almost dropping the bouquet in my hand.

I turned around to see an impish pair of eyes staring at me.

" Aah Aryaaa..... We finally meet," Desh said with a grin, giving me his hand to shake.

" After all the drama," I said, with a smile of my own.

I thought I would hate the guy. I thought anybody who was close to Riya would be my competition. But I couldn't hate any person who had such a jovial personality. He just radiated happiness and his eyes were full of mischief.

" Where's Riya?" I asked for the second time that day. I chided myself for being so desperate. It's just that- I really missed those big brown eyes that crinkled when she laughed and those rosy cheeks that blushed just for me and those kissable lips...that I desperately wanted to touch.

I realized that someone was desperately trying to call my attention to something and I snapped out of my reverie.

" What?"

" Ahhh stop dreaming about her and come back down to earth," Anandith said. " You will have plenty of time for that in the coming days."

Without realizing, I blushed. Oh god. That too, in front of two guys. Why did my cheeks have to betray me like this at such a moment? I was sooo embarrassed.

" Aww sooo adorable, " Desh gushed. " If you plan on being cuter, I will consider giving up Rahul and stealing you from her."

I looked at him, completely confused.

Anandith looked at him in a funny way. And started laughing unable to stop. Desh just smiled like they had a secret going on between them.

I just huffed and tried walking away when I heard Desh say " Kidding man, just kidding."

" I don't even know what you're taking about," I said exasperatedly.

" You will know soon. In good time, my friend. "

Riya's POV:

My friends suggested we go for a walk. I don't know why they suddenly wanted to but I didn't question them since I loved anything to do with nature.

In addition, the beautiful weather was a motivating factor to leave the house.
I swung our hands in rhythm with our footsteps as we walked, the breeze blowing our hair all around. I was extremely happy for some reason. I just had a feeling, an intuition, that something good was going to happen today. I started bouncing on my toes, and skipping, releasing Meera's hand.

" I am sooo happy!" I sang.

We had reached the park near my house and an old couple gave me a look at my outburst.

" And why are you soo happy?" Meera asked me.

" Uhmmm let me think....Arya said he likes me!" I yelled, making sure there was none around us.

Kajal giggled into her hand, while Nikita grinned.

" I am so eager to meet him in person," Kajal said. " I wonder how hot he is in real..."

" Hey! " I said. " No hitting on my boy...uhhm crush!" I said.

Kajal caught my slip. " Your boy what?" She said grinning.

" Nothing nothing," I said, blushing tomato red.

" Anyways what's up with you lately? When did you become so boy crazy? I thought I was the only one who was obsessed with my boy friend,"Nikita said unashamedly.

"Well, considering that it is Arya, even a Puritan can go crazy," Kajal said.

" Ohhh nooo...no.no...please don't tell me you're falling for him Kajal," I said, a little scared.

" Nah, chill, I was just teasing. Don't worry."

Meera was really quiet throughout our exchange and I wondered why.

"What's wrong Meera?"

" Nothing. Can't a girl be quiet? I just didn't have anything to say. "

I doubted it, but I kept quiet.

" Hey look at that bird!" Nikita exclaimed. " It has such colourful feathers..."

She was the total bird lover among our group. What do they call people who study birds? Aah ornithologist... We often teased her saying she should have become one instead of taking up dentistry.

But the bird was honestly pretty. And as I looked at it, I was reminded of Arya's eyes... Aaahrgh. I was a goner.

After a while, we returned back home, and I rang the doorbell.

Arya's POV:

I was then introduced to Rahul, though I had seen him through facetime. There was a palpable tension between Rahul and Desh, but I still couldn't put my finger on what that meant.

Rahul seemed shy but he still greeted me with a warm smile.

A while passed before Desh said that it was very interesting to stare at each other but we should think of something else to do to while away our time, until they returned.

By this time, I had realized that 'they' included Riya since I couldn't see her anywhere in the house, and my heart started beating faster without my permission.

Then the doorbell rang. None of the boys made an attempt to open it. I stood frozen too, until Anandith said " Go ahead, open it. Don't worry, it isn't my parents. They have gone out."

I slowly walked toward the door and opened it. I vaguely registered Riya's eyes, before I heard a squeal and I was enveloped in a warm, tight hug.
I took some time to enjoy the moment. Her arms felt so perfect around my torso. Her head fitted so perfectly in the crook of my neck as her hair fanned out all around. She was so cute and I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. I unconsciously began stroking her hair and stopped momentarily, when she lifted her head to look into my eyes.

She didn't let me speak or utter a single word.

" Omg I predicted something good happening today...this is sooo amazing. Aryaaaa I missed you sooo much!" She said, hugging me again.

I was grateful to her friends and brother who just stood watching us with amusement in their eyes, without uttering a single word.

Riya was just like a bouncing ball right now. She was so full of energy that I doubted if her friends had mixed something in her drink, for fun. I gave her the bouquet of roses and she squealed further with excitement.

" I missed you too Riya, more than you ever know," I said softly.

" Uhmm, " she said, then blushed as if remembering something.

" Uhmm yeah about that thing you said...," she said really cutely, with a mesmerizing demure smile.

" What about it?" I felt like teasing her for some reason. It made me the happiest man to see her blush for me. And lately I had been having a surge of confidence when it came to talking to her.

" Nothing, " she said, releasing me from her hold, and running to her bedroom.

After she left, her friend Kajal cooed.. " Aww you guys are seriously the most adorable pair I have ever seen."

" What are you waiting for? Go after her," Anandith said, winking." But keep the door open."

I nodded in a daze and walked in the direction Riya had disappeared to.

Being gentlemanly, I knocked on the room door.

" Can I come in?" I called.

She opened the door with a smile and said sheepishly " Sorry for that."

I shook my head from side to side, unable to believe that she would apologize for such a silly thing.

I took her hand in mine and kissed it. I don't know what came over me.

" Aryaaa...what does this all mean?" She asked shyly.

"What?" I asked.

"This?"she said, moving the hand I didn't have in my hold, around us.

"Ohhhh, Thaaaat," I said, wanting to prolong our conversation. "I don't know, you tell me."

She huffed in annoyance and started walking away when I pulled her by her waist and wrapped both my arms around her.

"This?" I repeated, whispering into her ear and I felt her shiver. "It is called acting on impulse."

Then I turned her in my arms and looked into her eyes. She had an innocent look on her face. At the same time, it looked like she was waiting for something with anticipation. That is when I knew that this was the perfect moment to utter those five words again.

"I really meant it when I said it Riya. I really really like you,"

Her grin widened at that staement.

"I don't know how long I have waited for you to tell me that face to face," she said.

"And do this," she said, as she reached one of her hands up to my forehead and brushed a lock of hair that had fallen over my eyes.

I leaned over and kissed her cheek as I watched a red hue slowly spread across it. It was fascinating to watch every movement of hers. It was like we were in our own bubble.

"Soooooo," Riya said.

"Ahh yes, so will you go on a date with me?" I said, mentally berating myself for forgetting the most important thing I wanted to ask her.

Riya grinned and nodded, a giddy smile overtaking her face.

"Of course you will..." I said, cheekily. "How can you refuse such a handsome man like me right?"

"Aaaarghhhhh ," she said. "Desh is spoiling you."

I chuckled and then took her hand again in mine. I liked holding it...could you blame me?

"So dinner tonight?" I asked.

"Sure," she said, jumping up to hug me again.

After a few moments of talking, we exited Riya's room and found all her friends right outside with matching smiles.

So the naughty kids had been eavesdropping then. Didn't they know of privacy?

"Yayyyyyyyy," Kajal screamed, literally deafening my ears. "Congrats Riyaaa."

She smiled shyly and hugged her friend back.

"So glad you finally got the guts to ask her out man," Anandith said, giving me a pat on my back and an awkward hug.

"So happy for you!" Desh said, pouncing on me to hug me but I backed away. He pouted like a kid and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Woh woh I get it, but I am not one for hugs,"

"Except if they are from Riya." I added winking at her and she blushed.

"So then what's the plan now?" Meera said.

"Dinner date," I replied. " But now, let's get to know each other."

"Omg that reminds me," Anandith said. "I will go call Tanisha right away."

"Oh god, I totally forgot too. Sorry Tanu, please forgive me," Riya said, like as if Tanisha was about to magically appear and slap her for not remembering to invite her to meet me.

After Tanisha arrived and screamed to Riya that "Yesss....he's soo hot. you're so lucky Riya!" and after Anandith finished shooting her a glare,we all sat on the floor and played cards. While playing, I got to know a little about Riya's friends. It felt like it was one step in getting to know her better.

She was sitting right next to me and had leaned herself against my shoulder. She was so close that if I bent my face a little, I could have kissed her. But no, definitely not when all her friends were there. I would save that for another time.

I continued playing, waiting anxiously for the needle in the clock to move faster so that I could take her out soon.

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Hellllloooooo,

You can all thank me for such a quick update later. My creative juices were flowing and I had a lot of fan pressure, so I decided to. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

So how was the meetup between Arya and Riya? Was it up to your expectations? Were they as cute as always?

And finally he asked her out! I am sooo proud of him :)

So as always, do vote and comment!!! :)

Adios amigos,

:) harshini :)