***Arush's P.O.V***

It was around 11:15am when we reached Kabir's place. The drive from the cafe where we had had our breakfast till here had passed in silence.

I'm sure that something was going on in Sahana's mind because she wasn't even looking at me, and neither answering my questions in more than one word!

"Sahana.... we're here" I said, parking the car inside the gate's of Kabir's compound, a little away from their villa.

It was a beautiful and peaceful place, with a few flowering trees nearby, and neatly mowed grass all around the drive-way.

"Are you alright?" I asked Sahana, caressing her cheeks with the back of my hand.

"Huh?! Yes it is a beautiful place" Sahana said, smiling at me....a smile that didn't reach her eyes!

"I had asked if you're alright...not how the place is" I said, pursing my lips.

"Oh yeah I'm okay" Sahana said before unbuckling the seat belt and getting out of the car.

Now I'm no expert in women or mind reading, but I have a feeling that something was bothering her. But what?! Everything was fine till we drove and even reached the cafe.

She herself even kissed me! Then what could have had gone wrong?!

Lost in thought, I followed Sahana and tugged her hand before she reached the door of the villa. Sahana turned to me, frowning and raising her eyebrow at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, still holding her hand and walking towards her.

"Everything's fine" she said, smiling at me and moving away from me. Every thing she spoke, every second that I watched her made me feel strongly that something was definitely amiss! But what?!

"Tell me else I'm not letting you go" I said, caging her in my arms.

With her eyes as wide as saucers, Sahana looked around frantically, probably making sure nobody was watching us, before trying but failing to push me away and getting out of my grip.

"Chodo na Arush somebody might see us" she whisper yelled, frantically trying to get out of my arms.

"Oho lovebirds ka romance chal raha hai?! I thought I'd heard someone and I was right... .though, the PDA.... never knew you'd be a PDA guy Arush!" came Kabir's voice as he himself came out of villa through the open main-door.

"Hey man! Sup?" I said, still not letting Sahana out of my grip, who was blushing more than ever.

"Kya bhai hug-shug... I've literally seen everything in life today!! Arush and PDA! Phew!!" Kabir said dramatically, winking at me.

"The right girl makes these things worth the wait, right bro?" I said, winking back at him and finally letting go off Sahana, but not completely - I laced my hand with her's, holding it in a tight grip while she still struggled to get away from me.

"Don't worry Sahana... I won't mind the PDA" Kabir said, grinning at her, whose face now was the exact shade of her duppatta.

"Well love-birds sorry to disturb you, but come on in" Kabir said, welcoming us into the mansion.

I and Sahana followed Kabir into the villa, Sahana still trying to pry her hand out of my grip, but failing of course. Did she really thing I was going to let go off an opportunity to hold her hand?!

Kabir stayed here with his parents and his younger brother who was pursuing MBA from a reputed college abroad, and was in his final year now.

In the living room, a very shy Riya was seated next to Kabir's mom, looking around nervously, whilst Kabir's mom looked at her in adoration. It was no secret that she always wanted a daughter, or rather, a good daughter-in-law who'd become a daughter.

"Oh Arush beta, ao ao... " Kabir's mom said, getting up to her feet as soon as she saw me and Sahana.

"Namaste aunty-ji" I said, smiling at her and folding my hands in a sort of prayer at her - the way we greet one-another here in India, our custom and a really good tradition.

"And this must be Sahana? You both do make a good pair" his mom said, looking at Sahana, who smiled shyly at her before going forward and bending down to touch her feet.

"Arre beta jeete raho...khush raho.. I must say Arush, your mother would be very pleased with her. Does she know about the two of you?" Aunty asked me after blessing Sahana and pulling her to her feet and looking intently at her.

"Uh she knows I'm going out with Sahana but she's not met her yet..." I said, rubbing the nape of my neck.

"Your parents would approve of her right away I guess?" she asked, smiling warmly at Sahana and indicating the two of us to sit down on the sofa.

"Yeah actually mom and dad have approved of her even without looking at her" I said, feeling immensely relieved at the thought.

"Hmm good good... and what about you Sahana? Your parents would agree?" aunty asked, looking at Sahana and taking her seat next to a shocked-looking Riya.

"No... my parents don't know yet... but I guess they would agree" Sahana said, smiling back at Kabir's mom, though she still looked a little troubled.

"I must say, this love marriage business actually makes things easier for us... I and Kabir's dad at least felt that Kabir did an excellent job by finding Riya... I doubt if we ourselves would have been able to find such a good match for him" Kabir's mom said, stroking Riya's head fondly.

"Just as long as both of you pamper me, I really have no issues" Kabir chipped in, grinning at his mom.

"See this is exactly what I was talking about earlier Riya beta... my son is really good for nothing... I'm glad I'm getting a daughter!" Kabir's dad chipped in, entering the living room.

We all chuckled at Kabir's expense, who sat down next to Riya, looking rather sulky.

"Arush beta... how are you?! And who's this charming young lady with you?!" Kabir's dad asked, sitting on the remaining empty sofa and smiling at me and Sahana.

"Hello uncle... I'm good... aap kaise hai?! And yes this is... Sahana" I said, indicating Sahana and feeling exceptionally shy so I refrained from calling her my girlfriend.

And in any case, Sahana was already looking too shy so rather not embarrass her even more right?!

"Oh this is Sahana?! You both do make a good couple... lovely" Uncle said, smiling at Sahana as she got up and went to get his blessings.

"Arre no no beta... don't bother... you kids will always have our blessings" Kabir's dad said, stopping Sahana from bending down and touching his feet.

Sahana smiled at him and sat back next to me, her hand on the sofa. I scooted a little closer to her, hoping that my movement goes unnoticed by Kabir and his family and the apprehensive-looking Riya, before placing my hand on Sahana's and pressing it reassuringly.

Sahana looked at me in alarm and looked away quickly, her gaze on Riya and Kabir's parents who were doting upon Riya.

The rest of the day passed almost peacefully, with all of us exchanging old stories, Sahana and Riya talking about their friendship while I and Kabir spoke about our's, and finally ending with how Kabir's parents found love via arranged marriage.

After lunch and a round of tea and snacks, I and Sahana took leave from Kabir and his family, and finally got back into the car and drove out of the drive way, Sahana getting lost in her thoughts again.

I took the road leading to the outskirts of the city and drove on, with nothing but silence in the car, and Sahana's anklets chiming from time-to-time whenever she moved her legs.

I stopped the car on the roadside of a deserted street and turned to Sahana, who was so lost in her own dreamworld that she was oblivious to where I'd driven her to, or what I was doing.

I moved forward and turning her face towards mine, pecked her lips a few times, which of course came as a surprise for her.

"I want to have sex with you Sahana" I said, nibbling on her lips.

"Yeah sure me too" Sahana said, making me choke on my own saliva.

"Did you even hear what I said?" I asked her, sitting back on my seat.

"What did you say?" Sahana asked, leading me to a face-palm moment.

"I just said I want to have sex with you" I said, rolling my eyes to her reaction. This time it was Sahana who chocked and spluttered before exclaiming "What?!"

"Of course not! I mean not right now at least... later yes.... You've been looking all lost and deep in thought from morning Sahana what's up?" I asked, glaring at her.

"It's just.... okay look I've never had this thing in my life where I'd ever even imagined loving someone or having a crush but here I am... with you... I'm getting attached to you emotionally...mentally... this has never happened to me! I'm getting scared Arush... what if things don't work out?! What if this just ends as abruptly and quickly as it began?! " Sahana said finally, her eyes sparkling with un-shed tears.

I looked at her intently, unsure of how to explain her or make her understand that things would be alright, specially since I had a little bit of the insecurity within me too - what if things just...end?!

To be continued...