The next day, I woke up with new excitement. Though it was not a date-date, but it was going to be just me and Rajat. So, it was a date. Whether you say it out loud or not. I don't want to accept this, but just the thought of this evening was making me happy. I showered and decided to wear an off-white, bell-sleeved tunic, which has a multi-coloured embroidery work, and a pair of light blue jeans. Aanchal had already left for her coaching classes, keeping my breakfast on the table with a note, ordering me not to step out without having my breakfast. Ok, mommy! I finished my breakfast and left for the office.

The day was bright and warm. The weather was pleasant. As soon as I got to my desk, I became busy with all the new projects Kriti gave to me. I worked the whole day but my enthusiasm never dropped. I was eagerly waiting for the evening, and finally, I was done with my work. I tried my best to keep pace in control, but I am pretty sure it seemed like I was running to the main gate. I didn't know if he would call or if I was supposed to call and let him know that my working hours were over. So, I waited for some time and called him. His phone was busy. I looked around for some more time and called him again. He was still busy. I decided to wait for him in the cafe, and as I opened the cafe door, I found him standing there showing all of his teeth. He sure was looking gorgeous in his formal. 'I tried calling you', I said. 'But I wanted you to be surprised. I knew you would come here anyway', he chuckled. I gave him a look and we both settled on our table. I ordered my regular Cappuccino and he ordered Cortado. I have to admit, I haven't met many people in my life who even know about Cortado. And on top of that, I didn't know this café serves that. 'So, Cortado huh?', I asked. He nodded. 'I know it's very unusual. Some people don't even know anything like that exists.' Exactly! 'At least I didn't, a year or so ago. But there is this European band that visited St. Martin's last year for our yearly fest...', my eyes widened. European band for a college fest? Rajat stared at me for two seconds. '...Yeah, we have got sponsors.' Okay, Mind-reader! 'So anyway, I happened to be the coordinator of that event and that's when I came to know about it. Cortado was the only thing that the whole band drank throughout their stay. Later when I tried it myself, I realized what the fuss was about. I even googled about it to know more,' he said, somewhat embarrassed. 'You should try it sometime.' 'Sure. Next time, you do the orders. I trust you.'

As soon as those words left my mouth, I realized the weight of what I said. I said next time. I don't know if there would be a next time. I mean, sure we would have coffee next time. But it could be individually. It doesn't have to be both of us together at the same café. Why did I have to say that? I could have just nodded there. I could have stopped right after I said sure. 'So... there is going to be a next time then?', Rajat asked cutting the internal voices that kept screaming at me for not thinking twice before saying things out loud. I looked at him and found him smirking. Well, not smirking, but smiling? I stared at him. Whatever this smirk or smile thing he is doing with his face, I don't know if it's intentional or not but it's working. Focus Nitya! Say something. Say anything. Have to be words... 'Um... ahm... I mean sure, why not. After all, it's been years since we met. We could meet for a second coffee, for old time's sake,' I tried to smile but I'm not sure if that came out as a smile. Right then I notice Rajat's mouth settling back into its straight line. Congratulations Nitya for messing up the moment. Way to go! 'Exactly my thought. What were you thinking?', and there he did the smirking thing again. And just like that, I know we were good.

I enjoyed every minute that I spent with him. It still felt magical just like it used to in my school days. Soon we left the cafe and now, we had no idea what to do. There was an awkward silence. Clearly, none of us were ready to say goodbye yet, but we didn't have any other plan either.

While looking around, I saw a boy, probably holding his baby sister. She was crying for something. The boy went inside a shop and bought her a balloon, and she started giggling. Watching those little kids, I smiled too, and both of them crossed the road and went away. It reminded me of my own brother, the only one who actually cared for me. My real family.

When I turned to Rajat, I found him staring at me already. He reached for my hand but didn't grab it. He looked at me again, as if asking for permission. I gave a little nod, and he held it. Firmly. 'Come with me', he said, and I started walking behind him like a kid. He didn't tell me where we were going. I didn't ask either. I trust him. I sat on the back seat of his bike and started to his destination. Soon we reached a mall. I was confused, why would he bring me here? We went to the top floor and took the stairs to the terrace. What could a terrace of a mall have? I wondered, but soon I got to see, what it had. The view. The height, at which we were standing. All of that added up to something we don't get to see very often. I could see the whole state in front of me. The small building lights, the black sky with shining stars, it felt nothing less than heaven. The cold, peaceful waves of wind were embracing us. 'How did you find this place?', I asked him. 'I don't know. One day while roaming around the mall, I thought of the view I will get if I could reach here. I started looking for the way to this terrace. At first, I thought people aren't allowed here so there must be guards around, but didn't find any, and so I made my way up here,' 'You know, how much I love these views.' I smiled. Because I knew. It felt good that I knew something about him that some other two of his acquaintances might not. I started enjoying the view again.

The peaceful environment had both happiness and sadness. It provided me with solace, but it also brought in the memories of my past. I could see the flash of images in the back of my mind, which I didn't want to see again.

I never really cared about sharing my personal life with anybody. But today, I felt like I could share those horrible memories with Rajat. 'You know, I never told anybody how I felt, or how I was. Actually, no one really cared to know. Like ever. If I was okay,' I said. Rajat slowly turned towards me and stared for a moment. 'I'm listening...', I looked at him through the corner of my eye for a fraction of a second and then looked down and smiled a little. Although what I was about to share isn't something I would smile about while telling somebody, something about that moment made me do that. He's listening!

'I was in 8th standard. It was Diwali, the last Diwali with my brother. All of us were dressed so nicely. I remember he bought me a pair of bangles for the occasion,' I smiled again remembering that detail. 'He always used to bring me gifts after he started tutoring. He genuinely loved me, regardless of how much I scored or what I did. They were beautiful and I was so happy when I wore them. In the evening, we all went to our terrace to burn the crackers, while I just stood in one corner because I didn't like them. I still don't. But I used to enjoy those rockets that went up and would scatter and sparkle. But then suddenly, I remember my brother calling my name. He just caught hold of my hand and pulled me hard, and had it not been for him, I could have broken my bones or maybe died', I started choking. I could feel my eyes tearing up. 'But this was not it, while saving me, somehow his kurta caught fire, and before we could think, the fire rose. He was immediately taken to the hospital. But he couldn't make it. He left me. Alone. My entire family was busy blaming me. Nobody bothered to ask me how I was doing.' A tiny droplet escaped the corner of my eye, but I managed to wipe it before Rajat could notice. 'What is there to blame you? I mean, you are not responsible for what happened! Your parents could have lost you too that day,' Rajat asked with a frown on his face. 'That wouldn't have a big deal for them. For my parents, especially for my father, I'm responsible for every misfortune that has happened to our family,' I scoffed. 'Why so?', he asked deepening the crease between his eyebrows. I sighed, 'Well that's a different story. My parents never wanted a girl, because apparently, we bring unwanted responsibilities, which my father didn't want to take. They even tried to abort me. They didn't tell me that. I heard them, talking about it.'

'And since they couldn't do that, their only intention was to get me married to whomever they get. They just wanted to get rid of me no matter how hard I try to prove myself. That's when it hit me that I had to look out for myself. So, when I got the internship, I decided to run away.' There was silence for some minutes. I know that's a lot of information to process, and I decided to give Rajat all the time he needed to digest them.

But before I could say anything, he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight. 'Everything will be fine Nitya. You're not alone!', he said. He took a second or two to look at me and smiled and then hugged me again. I don't think I have ever been in such close proximity to anybody. And here Rajat was hugging me. I was introduced to his fragrance. Minty and aquatic. It made me a little uncomfortable, to be honest. But eventually, I settled. His warm embrace and consoling words relieved me. But the grudge I held against him, didn't allow me to feel the peace that I should have been feeling at that moment.

I slowly stepped back and smiled. I asked him to drop me home as it was already too late. He drove me to my apartment and left assuring me to text me later. On entering the flat, Aanchal asked me how was I so late. I told her that I met my friends and couldn't check the time. She asked me to change and eat while she went to sleep as her coaching classes were early the next day.

After I came back to my room, I thought about the whole day. I never realized that someday I would actually share my family problems with anybody. Honestly, after I told him about these dark parts of my life, I felt light. I did. It felt like somebody lifted off that big, heavy rock that I have been carrying for God knows how long. But then, the second thought that crossed my mind scared me a bit. What if all of this... proves to be temporary again? Rajat has left me once. He is capable of doing that again. Besides, could I trust him with everything that I told him today? Because now he knows my vulnerable points! I don't know. Maybe I was thinking too much. And so, without thinking about anything anymore, I went to sleep.