Imma blaming fic writers now for my high standards in men. Thank you.

This is for my Lovesofsm

___

"Where are you?" the voice asked over the call.

"In my apartment only. Why?" She replied.

" Open your window and look down, Saakshi."

" Are you kidding me? It's 9:30, Dev! So late-" she literally yelled over the phone after opening the window.

There he was, standing, leaning against his Kia Seltos, and waving at her.

" It's never too late for stargazing and some surprises, sweetheart. Come down now. Please."

"Okay baba. I'll be there in 10. What's in your mind, Devdutt Padikkal?"

"You'll see! Wear sneakers by the way."

" Okay. Am coming."

She cut the call smiling and moved away from the window.

Although Dev talked about looking at the stars in the sky, he swore he saw them already, just then, by looking at her face.

Saakshi had never been in love. She didn't knew what it felt when your significant other would call randomly, give surprise visits and what not.

But she knows it now.

And she couldn't help but drown in the feeling.

Saakshi's POV

Wearing a peach hoodie and black trousers, and putting on the sneakers, I went out, locking the door.

"Pehle aap." Being his usual chivalrous self, Dev opened the passenger door and holding it, stood waiting for me to get in and settle down comfortably.

" Seatbelt, Saakshi." He reminded.

Am I not lucky to have him? Wait-

Am I getting too lovesick?

He drove out, not before turning on the playlist containing my favorites, 1D and Swift.

" I know you'll not stop poking all the way about what I've planned tonight. But sorry. Nahi bataunga." 

" Accha ji?"

" Haan ji. Oh btw, there's some pastry in the brown bag behind. Tumhare liye."

When I was a kid, I wanted a prince for myself, like the ones Cinderella, Belle or Ariel had.

As a teen, I wanted an Aditya Kashyap or Surinder Sahni.

But now, as an adult I wish for a true human, a real man, someone understanding, compassionate. Someone who and with whom there's no pretending. Someone who'll love and adore me for what I am.

I think I've got more than I had dreamt of.

"How are you so good and cute?" I pulled his cheek, only for him to hold my knuckles with his free hand and place a kiss to them.

And am melting again into a puddle.

Is he real?

" Earth to, Madam." Dev replied and focused back in the road.

Looking out if the window, I felt the breeze and devoured the pastries. I offered him some, but he denied, stating diet issues. Duh.

" There's cream on your lips."

Surprising me, he wiped it off with his finger and continued, " Red and pink looks good on you."

Am I blushing that much?

Gosh. Someone please stop that and these butterflies in my stomach!

"Dev! Am tired! We've been walking for long! My legs - Whoa!"

Without letting me finish he picked me up.

" Hold tight. We're almost there."

" You're behaving like those male leads in romantic novels and movies, Dev."

" Because am in love. Everything is fair in love and love."

After a pause, he mumbled, " Lavender and Jasmine."

Huh what?

" Your Lavender shampoo and Jasmine body wash."

Gosh. What is he made of?

How am I falling for him harder that I already have? Is there no limit?

The rest of the walk through the reserve was silent.

" Here we are."

Softly he let me get in my feet, only for me to get speechless.

We were near the end of a cliff facing the Mumbai City and the clear starry night sky.

It felt and looked something unexplainable.

"This is so beautiful, Dev! Thank you so much! Look at that star!..."

" Am already looking at mine."

And we had a long deep meaningful kiss.

We sat in the grass, in each other's embrace and talked literally about everything in the world.
From hilarious stories in his practice to me accidentally bumping into neighbor's car with mine, him missing Ghar ka khana and what not!
We even were talking about how we hate cheesiness only to realise we're cheesier than most couples.

" It's 1?" I screeched, looking at my watch.
Time flew like nothing!
"Let's have some ramen before getting back home, what say?" He asked, pulling me up from the grass.

"And butterscotch icecream?"
" And butterscotch icecream."

Getting back to the car, we drove off to a 24*7 food joint.

"Aaram se, Saakshi. It's hot!"
" Am fine with it...."
" You're clumsy so..."
I smirked and pointed to his shirt, " says the one who spilled food on his t shirt."
Shaking my head at his sheepish smile, I took hold of a tissue and cleaned it.
Clumsy mujhe kehta hai aur khud kya hai?
Huh.

Third person POV

Who's this mystery girl named Saakshi with the star Indian cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?
What's cooking?

A tear rolled down Saakshi's eyes as she saw the headline of the portal and also the crowd outside her apartment gate.

How and why?
How did the paparazzi get hold of her and their relationship?

" This is hurting me, Dev. More than what I supposed it to be. Ghar mein sab pucch rahe hain. I just said that we're good friends... they're troubling my parents, coming in my office, staying outside my apartment...I can't even go out to get groceries... Also their questions and everyone's assumptions all over my socials...This is hurting to much. Humari duniya bohot alag hai Dev, isliye shayad. ...Khair chodo. Kal tumhara match hai aur main kya ulta seedha bol rahi hoon."

" It's okay to let out, Saakshi. I understand. Duniya alag hai, I understand, but I love you inspite of it. I love you for being you....I handle everything...
Stay safe. Bye."
He cut the call abruptly.
Tears rolled down Saakshi's eyes.

___

It's wasn't that Saakshi wasnt surprised to see Dev bringing her to the same cliff.

She just decided to be silent because she was getting a weird feeling out of it.

" Look at the sky and tell me what do you see tonight."

" Just black everywhere, due to the clouds."

"And what we saw the first time we came here?" Dev asked again, putting his hands in his pocket.

" The starry bright night." Saakshi replied, softly. She'll never forget that night.

" Our life is like the sky Saakshi. Sometimes starry and sometimes cloudy. Things don't work in our favour always. But we overcome it, right. Now answer me, very carefully."

"What, Dev?"

"Will you marry me?" Dev asked, seriously.

After an eternity of silence, Saakshi spoke up overwhelmed, "Are you sure, Dev?"

"I've never been this sure, Saakshi. I don't have any ring to propose with right now, just my heart. Will you let me in your life forever? Will you let me love and adore you forever?"

"Yes, Dev. Yes!"

4 years of friendship, 2 years of courtship finally turned to eternity.

No brownie points in guessing from where the second phone call was inspired from. Lol.

Also hope you liked it, Saakshi 🫀