***Piya's POV.***

"How about this one?" Subu asks, showing me the black top.

"It hasn't been washed yet." I say.

"Well, this." She says, showing me a gray top but I shake my head, "But why?"

"It will bring down the mood." I say.

"Like your other clothes are colorful." She says with an eye roll.

"Do you have something?" I ask.

"Yes. But it is in white. The color you run away from." She says.

"And the color your brother likes. Give it to me." I say and she makes a weird face at that.

"I hate when you accept the things you don't like just for 'someone'. Like really." She says and I sigh.

"It isn't like that. I don't like wearing whites because they catch stains pretty easily and I am a cook." I say.

"Still not a good excuse. Here, catch this." She says, throwing a pair of light blue jeans and a white cable knit bishop sleeves sweater.

"Don't you have a cute skirt?" I ask.

"I do. But it is better if you wear jeans." She says.

"But why?" I ask.

"You are coming with Veer on a bike." She says and I look at her with wide eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"Oh, no! Did I give away a major spoiler?" She asks.

"Duh!" I say. "How did you know about this?"

"Well, we are leaving for Manali today. Us by car and you and Veer by bike. It was actually prearranged and two people were going to take the bike. And when Veer came to know about this, he asked for it. But I thought after we made him beg a little. I was curious what he looked like, but unfortunately I couldn't ask. Rihaan gave away the key way too early." She says, sounding disappointed.

"I need to get ready." I say.

"If you get showered and changed in just fifteen minutes, I promise to do your hair." Subu says and I blink then rush in the bathroom quickly, "Seriously, and you say it is not for 'someone'. Geez!"

As Promised, Subu curls my hair a little, and puts white hairband on. She also does a little light make-up on me and then asks me to help her get packed for Manali. We finally woke up Kanika who slept late, because apparently she was talking to someone till very late. Who? We will never know what she told us.

We got forty minutes late and surprisingly, Veer didn't call me or text me at all, nor did any of the other boys. And we got to know the reason why when we reached the lobby just when they groaned and moaned and every one of them was taking medicine.

"Did you all get drunk last night?" Subu almost yells.

"Don't yell." Dev says as he rubs his head.

"We were just celebrating." Rihaan says and puts his head on Subu's shoulder and she pushes him away.

"You too, Veer? You are recovering from a head injury." I say.

"I drank only two." He says.

"Two what?" I ask.

"Two beers." He says.

"We are not going on a bike." I say.

"Who told you about bikes?" Veer asks then looks at Rihaan who, in turn, looks at Subu, who looks at me, "We would be fine. I woke up earlier than these two and had a nutritious breakfast and took my medicine too."

"So what is that?" I ask, pointing at the bottle in his head.

"These are my supplements. I missed taking them tomorrow. You can check." He says, giving me the bottle.

"That's okay. I trust your word." I say.

"So we can... take the bike?" He asks.

"Yes, we can." I say, and he smiles.

"If you both are done with your romance, can we just go? I need to catch some sleep." Kanika says.

"Same here." Dev says.

"Same here too." Rihaan joins in.

"Let's just get going." Subu says.

After putting our belongings in the car, Veer starts the bike and waits for me. I wave at others as they drive away and wish us to have a great journey. After wearing my helmet, I sit behind Veer, but he doesn't start riding.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He asks, and I check myself.

"Bag, bottle, gloves, jacket... What else?" I ask in confusion and he puts on the brakes suddenly, which makes me bump into him with my hands on his back.

"That." He says and I look at him with an open mouth.

"Seriously, Veer. You could have just said so." I say.

"This is more fun." He says, and does it again and this time my arms tighten around his waist.

"Stop it." I say.

"Keep holding me and I won't repeat it." He says.

"You are literally threatening me." I say with a fake glare.

"Am I?" He asks and does it again.

"I said stop it, Veer." I say, but a chuckle left my lip, and he laughs.

"Hold on tight." He says.

"I am." I say and he finally rides.

While the ride with Dev was fun, Veer is another case entirely. It is fun and totally romantic, just like I wanted on the first day of our trip. It was cold, but the day was clear and so was the road. We didn't hurry to get back to Manali as we were enjoying the ride very much.

We stopped at some places and clicked pictures together. At first we were conscious, as it was different to click pictures together now. But then we did it anyway and as many clicks went by, our nervousness slipped away with it too and we clicked so many pictures.

We reached Manali around 2 but we didn't go to the hotel right away and decided to have lunch somewhere else alone, together. I informed Subu, and she sent me a good luck gif. We stopped in front of a dhaba, which has gotten many recommendations, and Veer took my hand as we walked towards an empty table.

"So what will you have?" He asks.

"Hmm..." I think as I see the menu, "It is a tough choice."

"As always." He says, and I look up at him with a frown.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"What I mean is that you eat everything. That is why whatever we ordered in the hotel, you didn't put in any demands, requests or complaints. Select something you really want to eat today." He says.

"Then I will have kadhi chawal." I say with a big smile.

"Your favorites. Anything else?" He asks.

"Lachha paratha with matar paneer." I say, and he smiles back at me.

"Thanks for letting me know my favorite choice." He says, "Now order your sweets."

"No, you do it. I am totally confused at that one, as I love all of the options." I say.

"Really? You love Gulab Jamun?" He asks.

"Yes." I say excitedly.

"You love Ras malai?" He asks.

"Yum!" I say as I get lost in that dream.

"Kheer?" He asks.

"Lovely." I say.

"Kulfi?" He asks.

"Cold but creamy." I say with eyes closed.

"What about me?" He asks.

"Love to... Veer!" I exclaim when I realize what he asked, and he laughs loudly at my reaction.

"By the way, finish your sentence, please. Love to what?" He asks.

"Love to kill." I say, and we chuckle.

After ordering the food, Veer says, "Give me your hand."

"Why?" I ask.

"Just do so." He says and I stretch my right hand towards him.

He puts something in it which is cold for a second and I ask, "What is it?"

"See for yourself." He says and takes his hand back and it is a piece of ice.

"Veer!" I exclaim again and throw it on him while he laughs.

"Sorry! Sorry! Here is your gift." He says and I become cautious when he comes to stand behind me.

"No! First, show me what is in your hand?" I ask.

"Why?" He asks.

"Well, I can't trust you now. What if you slid another ice piece into my sweater?" I ask.

"You mean to say I will do that rather than take a peek at you?" He asks with a frown and my mouth opens in shock.

"Veer!" I exclaim again.

"I know you love my name, but please turn around and close your eyes." He says and I keep looking at me suspiciously, "Please. I promise no pranks. If I do that, then... take my sweet dish away."

"You don't like sweets." I say.

"I love gajar ka halwa." He says.

I sigh and turn around as I say, "Fine."

"Now close your eyes." He says.

"Closed my eyes." I say as I do so.

After a second, I felt something cold against my neck and almost got up, but then he whispered to me, "Trust me."

"Is it done?" I ask when I don't feel his hands on my neck anymore, brushing against my skin ever so gently.

"Yes." He says and I open my eyes and find him sitting beside him, "How is my gift?"

I touch my neck and find a chain and look to see it has a pendant. The glass pendant holds a white daffodil flower in it. Frozen in ice and time. It looks beautiful and unique. I smile up at him and hug him excitedly.

"It is very cute." I say.

"I am happy that you liked it." He says and I pull back.

"I love it. My first gift from you as your girlfriend. But... I didn't get you anything." I say.

"That's okay." He says.

"No. That's not fair." I say.

"Well, if you feel that way, then it's on you to pay the bill." He says with a smile.

"Okay." I say.

"Not okay. I was kidding." He says and I chuckle.

"I know. You know what? I will give you a wonderful gift when we go back. That's a promise." I say.

"Then I will hold you to it." He says.

Our first ever date was so perfect and so good that I am positive that we will grow close to each other as days go by.

Ahh! I love him.