***Piya's POV.***

I look down at Veer as he sleeps peacefully and every once in a while he would frown, which would turn into a smile when I run my hand through his hair. He would sometimes even snore, but I didn't tell him that nor did I tell him he doesn't like blankets much.

For the past three days, we have been in Mumbai, going from one interview to another during the day and one party from another at night. But today he is free, so he asked me yesterday where I want to go. I didn't tell him for obvious reasons, since I want to give him a pre-birthday surprise before we leave for Chandigarh.

Before Veer wakes up, I get up from the bed and call for room service for our breakfast and a single red rose. Then I get back in the bed and wrap my arms around his waist and snuggle up to him. And this is what wakes him up.

"Good morning." He says, literally crushing me to him.

"Good morning." I say.

He smiles down at me and says, "You look so cute."

"Stop it, Veer. You will crush me like this." I say with giggles.

"No. I want to just keep hugging you like this." He says.

"But we can't stay in bed. Remember, you promised me sightseeing? So come on, get up and get ready." I say.

"But I want to stay in." He says.

"And do what, exactly?" I ask with suspicion.

"Whatever you like." He says.

I scoff, "I told you what I would like, and that is going out."

"Okay. I understand. I am getting up now." He says and just then the bell rings.

"That would be our breakfast. Go freshen up while I see that." I say and push him out of the bed and towards the bathroom.

I open the door and take the cart inside after giving him a tip. I was arranging the breakfast on the table when my eyes landed on the flower. These three days have been a rollercoaster of fun and anxiety. When I made a decision to finally take the next step of our relationship, I didn't think I would be this jittery.

I have made plans for us, but I didn't want to dive in on the first day. For that big step, I needed some time with him. While I was surrounded by different thoughts, Veer had been nothing less than a gentleman to me. Yeah, we had our moments here and there when we would go beyond kissing but we would stop before it got off hand. Me because I am planning something and him because of me.

Living with him in this room was nothing less than a paradise.

We argued only twice. Once about him ditching me at the last moment for our outing and second me going out without him and almost getting lost. He told me he was rushing everything so we could at least get one full day to go out, so I forgave him. While I told him that I am not a small kid anymore and know how to take care of myself, especially when I would be leaving for Paris soon.

In the end, we made up nicely with lots of kisses and gifts and also just talking. Today is special, and I have made many plans for it because tomorrow when we go home he will remember that I gave him the bestest birthday ever. Not just me, but my everything.

"So where are we going today?" Veer asks as he looks at his phone to see if he got any work text from Lesly.

"It is a surprise. And don't worry I planned everything. You just need to drive." I say as I put a toast in front of his mouth.

"Okay." He says putting the phone away then he grabs my hand and takes a bite with a wink.

"Stop fluttering." I mumble to my heart.

"What?" He asks with a smirk.

"Nothing. Just eat." I say and stuff a big boiled egg in his mouth.

"Mmmm..." He tries to say and I try not to laugh at his gestures.

"We are matching." Veer says once we get ready in matching black t-shirt and blue jeans and are waiting for our car from the valet.

"Yep. I always wanted to try this. Twinning with my BF." I say.

"I like it. At least now I would be able to find you in the crowd." He says.

"Veer!" I say and push him.

"I just hope no one makes assumptions that we are in some kind of cult." He says.

"I am leaving." I say and turn to go in when he stops me by grabbing my hand.

"Okay. I am sorry. I was just joking." He says with a grin which melts me quickly.

"Fine." I say and take hold of his arm.

Our car arrives, and he opens the door for me. We first go to Siddhivinayak temple to take the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the new beginnings of our life, then from there we go to the Bandstand and visit an aquarium next. We have local cuisine of Maharashtra and enjoy a few too many sweets.

Then we visit the Gateway of India and take loads of pictures. Later, we were eating cotton candy and looking over at the beautiful sunset at Marine Drive. I put my head on shoulder and he put his head on mine.

"Should we go back to the hotel?" Veer asks.

"Maybe." I say and sigh.

"I wanna visit Cuba again." He says out of nowhere.

"Really? Is this beach not enough for you?" I ask teasingly.

"It is beautiful here, but Cuba is my favorite for beaches. I stayed there for the longest. Beautiful island with such breathtaking beaches, the lively cities I visited and the eccentric but friendly people. I made lots of friends there." He says.

"That's great." I say.

"If I win this tournament, I am taking you there with me for a vacation, if that's okay with you." He says.

"I would love that very much." I say.

"I would love that too." He says and places a kiss on my head.

"Can I ask you something, Veer?" I ask.

"Yes." He says.

"Do you really see us together that far in the future... in this relationship?" I ask.

"Of course I do." He says.

"Why?" I ask, being curious because I see the same but because I know no other way.

"Because that's how I see us. Moving forward. We will stop, but we will walk again too. There is no other way I know or... more like I don't want to know any other way than this." He says.

"We should go to the hotel now." I say when I feel my phone vibrate.

"Okay." He says with a little confused frown.

As soon as we reach inside the hotel, I push him into the bathroom with his outfit to get changed while I change outside as fast as I can. I wear a black dress with a square neckline and full sleeves. Then, after wearing the necklace he gave me and combing my hair a little; I tried to find my heels.

"Should I come out?" He asks.

"Not yet." I say and bite my lips as I wear heels and look at the mirror one last time.

"Now?" He asks.

I sit on the bed and take a deep breath then say, "Yes."

Out he comes, dressed in a casual white t-shirt with a black blazer over it and matching pants. Hair, sleek and shiny but yet so cool. His eyes find me and under his gaze I shiver as they run down my body then back up to my face, then look me right in the eye, dilated by love or something else... maybe.

"Where are we going?" He asks.

"Out." I say.

"Out where exactly?" He asks and takes a seat next to me.

"It is a surprise." I say.

"Am I allowed to kiss you?" He asks.

"Not now. Anticipation is good and more worth it." I say.

"That's true, but sometimes waiting too long can be too late." He says.

"What does that mean now?" I ask with a frown.

"Hmm... I don't know. I just said the first thing that came to my mind so you would kiss me... now." He says.

"No. Come, let's go." I say and take his hand.

We had a candlelight dinner at a very famous restaurant then hit the club. I always wanted to dance with Veer without being restricted to just being his friend and not under the teasing eyes of our friends. Here, no one knows us and it is as if we are dancing for the first time all over again.

The night was passing by ever so quickly that we didn't even believe it at first that it was almost 12 in the morning. Never had I thought that I would dance until that late and not feel tired. When we reached the hotel, I got a small cupcake from the cafe in the lobby while Veer was talking with Lesly.

"What is that?" Veer asks.

"Oh, nothing." I say and lay my head on his shoulder as we enter the lift.

While Veer goes to change, I put a small candle on the cupcake and wait for him to come out. When he does, I sing a song for his birthday. His eyes lit up with happiness as he walked towards me and waited for me patiently to finish the song.

"Happy Birthday, my dear boyfriend, Veer! May you always, always have me by your side." I say with a giggle.

"Well, I would want nothing more." He says as he takes me in his arms, "But just to add..."

He closes his eyes and makes a wish, then blows the candles. Then he removes it and makes me eat first, then I do the same.

"Now, can I get a kiss?" He asks.

"You shall get anything you want." I say, swing my arm around his neck to give him his much awaited kiss of the night.

The kiss, which started quickly and passionately, soon started to turn slower but more heated than before. Veer's hands, which were holding my waist, came to my shoulder and his lips soon left mine to run down my overexposed neck. I shiver at his touch, which he mistakes for hesitation and pulls back.

"What happened?" I ask, and my voice sounds husky to me.

"You need to get changed." He says.

"Why?" I ask with a frown.

"So we can go to sleep." He says with a frown, like what kind of question is it?

"Well... we can go to sleep after." I say sheepishly.

"After what?" He asks.

I look in his eyes, then kiss him ever so softly on his lips and say, "After."

An understanding dawns in his eyes and he takes breath after closing his eyes then asks, "Are you sure?"

I nod but then say, "Yes. I want this right now."

He opens his eyes and looks at me for a second then starts to lay me on the bed as he says, "Do you really-"

I put my hand on his mouth and said, "Don't ask me again, Veer. Please." He nods, but then he goes to say something and I interrupt and add, "I am taking pills."

"You came prepared?" He asks in astonishment.

"Yes." I say.

"Ah..." He sighs then gets up to remove his t-shirt, "Hope I was prepared."

"Hmm... I don't think you needed that more than me." I say as my eyes trace the fine physic in front of me.

I thought it would be super awkward and a little messy, which it was, but that didn't matter because what Veer and I were experiencing was beyond our imaginations. This was not how I expected it would be. I thought it would be more painful and not pleasurable at all. But it was more painful but much more pleasurable, too.

That night, we came closer to each other than we were ever before. With a sweet kiss to the lips, we slept in each other's arms.