Kajal stretched her limbs breathing in the clean cool air. The slight mist around made everything beautiful, ''Mom, I will be out for a walk.'' Informing her mother she hopped down the stairs of her cottage , removing her slippers she let her feet feel the coolness of morning dew on the grass. It was refreshing, she opened her arms wide and filled her lungs with fresh air. She twirled around and collided with a hard wall. There were two yelps and she fell flat on her back, ''Hey are you hurt?'' Came a male voice and she lifted her annoyed eyes up to meet his smiling ones, she looked at his extended hands and slapped it,'' Couldn't you watch where you were going.'' She reprimanded Tarun who stood smiling at her. He squatted down, ''Actually I did but before I could apply breaks to my feet, we met with an accident.'' He replied with a smile

''Do you have some kind of wheels instead of legs?'' She asked annoyed as she rubbed of the grass blades and dust off her clothes. He watched her amused, she shook and moved ahead. He followed her , ''You hate me , don't you?''

''I don't even know you, hate is a very strong emotions.'' She replied

''You know , you are first one who doesn't like me...much.'' His words froze her steps, turning around she took a step forward, ''Does opinion of others or them liking you matters to you that much?'' She gave him a teasing smiled walking ahead.

''No, but its an amazing feeling to be popular among the crowd.'' He replied walking along with her.

'' Popular among the crowd ? That sounds something like low on confidence to me .'' She replied tongue in cheek.

''hey that's mean, if you are popular it boots your confidence okay.'' he replied. She abruptly stopped colliding her back to his front again, ''I think you have an issue of brake failure and have you ever heard about loving yourself or being comfortable in your own skin. That's called confidence. Looking at others for approval makes you weak.'' She smiled, took steps backwards and walked off.

He frowned and screamed for her to hear, ''I like your confidence.'' That came out sarcastic .She smiled and replied turning around for a minute, ''And I hate your brakes.'' He shook his head and went about his jogging schedule.

***

When he walked back into the cottage his mother looked excited about it. She walked around the cottage excitedly. ''What's up with mom?''

''She is excited about the combined outing with her best friend's family'' Jatin replied

''But why? Dad we came as a family, it's our personal time.'' Tarun whined.

''It's okay, after years I have seen her so excited. It's just one day.'' Tarun gave in, but he wasn't happy about his mother's plan. Kajal too had the same idea, she didn't like his views . It was becoming difficult to control her annoyance. She found his thinking too shallow and didn't like being around him

The group explore the local market, Kajal stopped at every artificial jewellery shop inquiring about the different ornaments. She was intrigued to know the different kind of jewellery available in the region. One of the shop keeper who was an old lady explained her in detail about the patterns and inspirations their designs were derived from. Kajal made a note of everything, as a gesture she bought a pair of anklets for herself.

''Are you a workaholic ?'' Tarun asked, he had been noticing her for too long. Their parents have formed a group and ignored the kids completely, indirectly they were being pushed to accompany each other. He didn't fail to notice the way she kept herself busy exploring everything alone, ignoring his presence to the max

''It's called Passion, you won't understand because you thrive for popularity and I for satisfaction.'' She replied without looking at him. He froze and stared at her back, walking away from him.

''That was rude Kajal." This time his voice came annoyed

She took a deep breath and turned around to face him, ''Look Tarun, we aren't friends and I don't want to be. I never asked you to comment or inquire about my profession achievements or ideologies because I never asked you about the same . I am stuck here like you, still I am maintaining a distance. Then why can't you do the same and let us both be at peace.'' Her outburst shocked him, her attitude had already been hurting his over pumped up ego. She was the first one till now who refused get influenced by his presence. He had tried to get an upper hand but she with her replies had failed him every time.

Kajal walked off maintaining a safe distance from their parents. She had given in to the idea for the sake of her mother, but she hated Tarun's boastful attitude. She had noticed his annoyance whenever she would give back, she was least bothered. She wasn't the one to live and breathe as per other's opinion. She loved herself and was proud about it.

"I have seen them together in the morning, I think our plan will work.'' Devyani excitedly told her friend. Sheela was little apprehensive, she had been taken aback when her childhood friend proposed the marriage between their kids. Being dark skinned, she had faced too many rejections in the past and she feared the same for Kajal.

Though, Kajal was a lot different from her. Confident bold and intelligent Kajal had made her own place. She had taken the sharp features and impressive personality from her father, she even took his ideologies. Sheela knew her daughter was beautiful in and out, but definition of beauty differs from person to person. She was hesitant to speak her mind out loud to her friend, but the matter was about her daughter and she couldn't offered to ignore the nagging feeling.

''I don't think they are a good match. Your son is far good looking than Kajal, it won't work.''

''But Kajal is beautiful, I don't find her any less than Tarun'' Devyani replied. She was right in a way, Kajal was attractive, and for Devyani had altogether a different definition of beauty.

''I think you should ask him once and I will do the same. Let's not move in haste, it can crush the lives of our kids.'' Sheela expressed her concern, her eyes on the duo who stood pole apart busy in their own world. She knew Kajal would have done something to push Tarun away. A day before she had clearly expressed her displeasure about him. Sheela huffed, her husband had always treated Kajal like a son and that made her too strong headed.

The drive back to resort was a quite one for Kajal and Tarun. They were being again pushed to the back seat of Innova as their mothers kept chatting non-stop all along the drive. Kajal preferred keeping her eyes on the passing road while Tarun stole few glances at her, miffed not being able answer the arrogant girl. She intrigued him, her indifference was something he never faced. He had the habit of getting attention and people melting around him, Kajal looked like an unattainable goal.

Kajal turned and got her eyes locked with Tarun, who still had his gaze glued to her face. Instead of turning she raised a brow, making him turn quickly. This time he smiled, he had intentionally kept his eyes on her to make her uncomfortable. Somehow he wanted to gain a point over her, but she like past she again crumbled his hopes and expectations about her. Little did he knew that his mother had seen the smile and taken it to be his liking for Kajal

***

Kajal refused to join her parents for dinner, she excused herself on the pretext of having a headache. She didn't wanted to meet and act good with Tarun again. Little did she knew, Tarun too excused himsef giving their parents again a wrong idea. After finishing the food she ordered in the room, Kajal hopped out to have a quite walk. Walking little away from the cottage she made her way to the quite side of the lawn stepping down a little on the slope. There was no crowd around and she could hear was crickets and owls. She got settled on a small rock, pulled her knees together, resting her chin on it she stared at the darkness. The sky was clean and stars made it look more vibrant, she loved it.

''I never meant to question your ideologies Kajal.''

Kajal yelped , slipped of the rock. But before she could further roll over, Tarun grabbed her wrist pulling her close to his chest, ''hey, I never meant to scare you.''

''Yes, you never mean anything yet things happen.'' She replied breathing hard, still standing in his arms . He chuckled , letting her go he pulled her safely over the slope, ''This time it's your fault. Who asked you to come at this dark lonely corner.''

''Who asked you to follow me to this corner?'' She answered with another question

''I wasn't following you, I was out on a walk. A relaxing one.''

''Then why had you to turn my relaxing time into a stressful one? '' She was really annoyed

He lifted his palms in surrender, ''Look, I didn't wanted you or us to end up like enemies if not friends. I don't think our mothers are separable , so let's just be cordial for their sake.'' He extended his hand. She stood glaring at him with her arms crossed over her chest and a deep frown marring her forehead. Thinking for a minute, she accepted his offer, ''But no more judgmental words....'' Her words halted as her phone rang flashing Robin's name. She tried walking away but a tug on her hand made her turn. Tarun still held her hand with his eyes locked with hers, ''It's impolite to leave one conversation for the other.''

''Fine, will you excuse me Tarun. The call is really important.'' She said with a mock smile

He smiled and let her go. Moving at a distance he watched her talking happily and then she exclaimed jumping happily like a kid. His brows went up, 'So miss angry bird does know how to smile. The one on the other side must really be a blessed soul' he decided to leave but loneliness around and the late hour refrained him from leaving her alone there. Kajal went about ranting to the caller for good twenty minutes. Her eyes went wide when she found Tarun still waiting for her to finish, she quickly concluded and walked to him, ''There was no need for you to wait.''

''I know, I just did what I felt was right.'' He replied

''Chivalry haan!'' she teased

''No, I didn't trust you about reaching safely to your cottage. I was dead sure that even an appearance of small insect could made you yelp and tumble down. Though, the insect wouldn't want that , but he wouldn't be capable enough to save this weight of yours. Practically , I saved that insect or animal from a future guilt.'' He finished with a wide grin. She blinked , staring at him with her mouth wide open. Tarun felt victorious after shutting her up at last, he took a step forward and closed her mouth with a push of his forefinger, ''I don't want you to be guilty of an insects murder either, so please close your mouth.'' She blinked and stepped away to slip again, he grabbed her arm in time pulling her back to his chest, '' See, my prediction was right.'' He joked

She looked up at him, her 5'8'' seemed dwarf to his 6'3''. She had a habit of a influencing and not getting influenced. She wanted to throw the blame at him but stayed quite . She didn't wanted him to mock her again. Whispering a small thanks she stepped away, he walked her to the cottage , all his way he kept dancing about shutting her for once. She ignored with a shake of her head.

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Done . Do let me know your views . Don't forget to vote and comment