Suvarna's POV.

"Shishir Mehrotra it's not funny! Do you realise you have the weirdest possible being for a cousin? He cannot even be called a human! And now he will go on -"

"Suvi-"

"-and on and on about this. I will never be able to face him-"

"Suvi-"

"-without him making weird comments-"

"Suvi-"

"- or make oww fawes or rwim."

Why are my words coming out gibberish?? What is blocking my mouth?

Ohh!

My eyes closed even as he lifted his lips away from mine. He had just brushed his mouth over mine for maybe two seconds but it felt like my mouth was on fire.

"Suvi- It's all right. Okay?"

I nodded. Of course my tongue was not functional any more.

I felt him hook my chin between his thumb and index finger to lift my head that had bent on it's own accord.

My eyes remained shut.

"Suvi look at me." He said softly.

I shook my head in denial.

"Please?"

I shook my head again, refusing to open my eyes. No way! I cannot open them now!

"You want me to coax you to open your eyes?" he asked his lips brushing my nose. I could sense his smile against my skin.

I frowned in confusion for a fraction of second and then my eyes snapped open.

"Spoilsport." His smile widened, even as he shot me a triumphant look.

I glared at him before dipping my head to land on his chest.

"Thank you for making me the happiest man on Earth." I heard Shishir  say as he kissed my hair.

"Flatterer." I said burying my head tighter on his chest inhaling deeply his manly scent.

"You have no idea Suvi, how I have longed to ask you this question. Long before I came to London." He said softly as he rested his head on mine.

I frowned in confusion and pulled back to look at him. "You mean since last week when you came back to Delhi? Why didn't you say anything then?"

"No you Dumbo," He said pulling my nose gently. "Since we were still children."

At these words it was time for my heart to start it's crazy dance again!

"Really?" I managed to whisper through a chocked throat. "I thought it was only me." I sighed softly.

"You? " He looked at me in shock.

I shrugged slightly." I did not realise it completely at that time. But after you had come away I used to miss you so much. I had thought you to be my first crush."

"First? You mean you had more crushes?" He asked scowling darkly at the thought. I fought back the smile at his words.

"Uh huh. " I said evasively, wanting to tease him.

"Suvi." He warned.

"Are you jealous?" I asked him with a smug expression .

"No! Shishir Mehrotra is never jealous."

"Oh? Then you don't mind – the list?" I teased him further.

"LIST?" He practically exploded drawing a chuckle out of me.

He narrowed his eyes at me "You were intentionally stringing me along weren't you?"

I laughed openly at that as he pouted moodily at me. "Not funny at all. And remember I am NEVER jealous."

He mocked punched me on my cheek as I nodded still grinning broadly at his childish conduct and gave him a hug that he eagerly returned wrapping his arms around me.

"Let's go and tell that brat about us. Okay girlfriend?" He gave me a tender smile as I lifted my head up from his chest.

"Okay." I returned his smile.

He immediately wrapped his around my waist and pulled me towards the door.

We went out to find Paresh with his eyes glued on the television screen, his attention totally captured by the hot kiss scene showing.

Ha! Virgin eyes of an innocent being!

As soon as he saw us he covered his eyes with a hand and shouted. "CAN I OPEN MY EYES? IS IT SAFE-"

The Dramaqueen!

Shishir laughed and slapped his back. I grabbed his almost empty bowl of pop corn and poured the remaining few over his head.

So much for me thinking how to face him!

"Okay okay. I give up. I know nothing was going on in there. Something had fallen in Suvi's eyes and you were taking it out." Paresh said as he bounced up on the couch shaking the pop corn off him.

"Preciously." Shishir said with a serious expression sitting down and pulling him down beside him.

"Both of you are mad!" I said smiling at them. I moved to sit across from them as they burst out laughing.

Before I could sit I felt Shishir's hand on mine and he tugged me to him, making me sit beside him on the other side from Paresh.

Emotions crashed through me as he draped an arm on my shoulder. "Paresh, I have asked Suvi to be my girlfriend." Shishir said as he turned his head to glance at me. I smiled at his tender expression and saw his lips pull into a smile.

"Why?" Paresh's voice floated in.

Did that buffoon just ask –Why?

"What do you mean why?" Shishir asked him.

"Till even last week you both could not even recall knowing each other-" Shishir playfully pulled his neck in his arm in mock strangle gesture.

"Suvi while I explain 'why' in detail to this ass here, go and get ready." He told me.

"Ready for what?" I asked confused.

"We need to go out on our first official date." He shot me a heart melting smile that made it difficult for me to think straight.

"Er- um- but we have already had dinner." I said trying to calm my nerves.

"Glutton. Thinks only about eating." Piped in the voice from the head still tied in Shishir's strangle.

"Shut up!" I said going red in the face.

"Ignore him Suvi for now. Go and get ready. Wear something casual and put on sneakers." Shishir said giving me a slight push.

"Sneaker?" I asked in surprise. "Where are we going?" It was already dark so I wonder what he is planning.

"Treadmill, for a run together. The gym is going to be a very important part of your lives." Piped in the best from under Shishir's arms

I flung a cushion at Paresh as I got up to leave. Shishir was just smiling and not giving any explanation.

My eyes fell on the centre table in front of us and my heart froze. I fell back on the couch and reached out, hands trembling at the magazine lying on it.

"Suvi?" I felt Shishir's arms engulf me.

Shishir's POV.

I saw her expression change to that of sheer shock. I gathered her in my arms and saw she was stiff with the aftermath of whatever had shocked her.

"Suvi?" I called out to her, Paresh had also immediately sprung up and was standing next to her.

She moved her eyes to me and pointed at the magazine. I looked at it and was thoroughly confused. What is she trying to show? There is no photograph on the magazine cover.

She pointed once again and said. "On – his- that man's T shirt-" she said pointing at the symbol on one corner of the cover page. She looked at me, her eyes sad.

I put my hand on her cheek "Are you sure? Not something similar but this?" I probed gently.

She nodded "Positive."

"Okay. We will figure this out. You go and get ready. All right?" She took a deep breath before nodding and getting up. She gave me a feeble smile and walked towards the room she was staying in.

I watched her as she closed the door behind her before slumping back on the couch.

"This symbol-?" Paresh  stated in a knowing voice.

I nodded. "Yes. The emblem of my alumni- My law college."

"If someone was trying to pretend to be you or that you are involved then this makes perfect sense. Other than that button and your passport they must have stolen a T-shirt of yours too."

"No, none of mine got stolen. I wold have known over the three years if it was. I wear them at least three to four times a year, during various get together and reunions." I said looking at him seriously.

"These T shirts are a matter of pride and no student, old or new would ever want to part with them."

Paresh's eyes widened as he realised what I was thinking. "This could mean, someone who is from your college or someone close to him is involved."

"Yes. It does look like that. But who? And again why?" I said looking at him. "Moreover how will anyone in London know Suvi? Or how is connected to me?"

Paresh whistled softly. "This is getting more and more confusing day by day."

"I am going to get to the bottom of this no matter what." I said determinedly.

I got up " I need your help to fix some things for our date."

He nodded as we went towards my room.

***

"Where are we going?" Suvi asked as we entered the elevator.

"Down." I told her with a shrug.

She hit me playfully on my arm. Don't act smart. Of course we are going down. But where are you taking me?"

"Nowhere, really." I said smiling. I was relieved to see she was not looking upset any more. She is really a very strong person and does not let her worries or fear reflect easily.

"Fine, then I will go back upstairs. " Suvi said moodily.

I laughed at her expression as I pulled her out with me when the elevator doors opened. She looked around at the cars as we stepped out. This elevator opened directly inside the garage of apartment block.

I lead her by the hand to the extreme side of the garage and she soon realised what I was upto.

"A cycle ride?" she asked sounding happy.

"You like it?" I asked feeling delighted with her happiness.

"Just like old times!" she beamed at me making my heart skip a beat.

As we approached the one I owned I felt slightly nervous. Paresh had already wheeled it out and kept it ready while I had escorted Suvi down.

"Suvi."

"Hmm?"

"One cycle?" I asked apprehensively.

She looked t me for a few seconds before nodding.

"Just like old times." She repeated softly as a gentle smile graced her lips.

I got up on the seat and she sat herself on the front rod. We had rode cycles like this scores of time in our childhood years. But this was different. This was my first ride with my girlfriend for our first date.

Now we were not going to just relive our childhood memories, but also were going to make many memories together.

"So, Miss. Suvarna Sharma. Are you ready to go on our first date of a cycle ride and gorging on street side food of London?"

"Really? You will have street side food?" I could hear the surprise in her voice.

"There's always a first time." I said.

With her I was ready to try anything.

&&&

That is the beginning of their first 'date.' More in the next chapter!

So Someone from London is involved. Shishir will really need to figure this out and get the wrong doer punished.

Hope this chapter made a good read.

Do vote and leave your comments.

Love from me to you.:)