CHAPTER 12: For The First Time

This chapter is dedicated to @dezertroze who is like one of the coolest fans ever!! Love you tonnes! <3

Needless to say, Vihaan had become the hot topic of our family gossip for the rest of the week. He was a big hit with all my aunties and uncles (who still were completely oblivious to my ulterior motives) and of course all my cousins.

“Who was that boy talking to you Avnu?” My aunt Anu had asked at Ajji’s party.

“Er, that’s my friend Vihaan Atthe, why?” I had asked innocently.

“No no, no reason at all. Tell me, is he single?” she asked, wagging her eyebrows at me.

“I don’t know Atthe. You should ask him na?”

“No need of all that trouble, ya. I was asking because I have a wonderful girl in mind for him. First class!” she said enthusiastically.

On that note, I quickly escaped from Anu Atthe before anything regarding me and Vihaan was to slip out of my mouth. Ajji, on the other hand didn’t miss a chance in telling everybody how traditional, how sophisticated (she must have heard one of us use that word, I suspected), how funny and how handsome “her” Vihaan was.

Vihaan of course was basking gloriously in the spotlight.

“This is good Avni! Your family already loves me!” He told me over the phone.

“Hello, don’t get carried away, huh!”

“I’m not, okay? This is all going to play a very important role when I come and sweep you off your feet and get married to you.” He said proudly.

“Excuse me; we haven’t been dating for two seconds and already marriage?”

“You think I’m dating you just for kicks?” He had a playful ring to his voice.

“Obviously!” I laughed.

“Har har. Very funny. Trust me Avni, first impressions mean everything, ayta?”

“Oh really? What was your first impression about me, then?”

“That’s easy! When I first saw you at Bhavna’s wedding, I remember myself thinking you looked like Lady Rambo.” He said.

“YOU THOUGHT WHAT?!” This cannot be true.

After two seconds of silence, I heard him burst into a fit of laughter.

“Not funny.” I said flatly.

After laughing for another twenty seconds, he finally calmed down and said, “In all seriousness, when I first saw you itself, your smile knocked me senseless, Avni.”

What the hell can I say to that?

“Of all the moments, you choose to be silent now, Avni?”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOSHH! It sounded like a gust of wind was blown into the mic of the phone.

“Hello? Avni? What’re you doing?”

Before I could answer, Vihaan started talking in Gibberish and muttered complete nonsense.

“Vihaan what the hell are you doing?!” I asked alarmed.

“I’m not doing anything!” I could barely understand what he was saying.

The noise suddenly stopped and then there was silence.

“Hello?” I said quietly.

“HIIIIIIIIIIIIII!” it sounded like a hysterical girl was screaming into the phone.

“Vihaan are you with friends or something?” I was completely confused.

“WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?!”

“Wha-”

“RINGDINGDINGDING DING DING DING!!” Before we could say anything, “WHA PA PA PA PA PA PAW!”

In the midst of all the commotion Vihaan screamed, “Wait, is this your landline?”

“Yeah why?”

“How many landlines do you have Avni?” He chuckled. "I'll call you later."

Oh shit. I’m going to kill them.

“AMAAAAYYYYYYYY! AMRITTTTTAAAAAA!!!!” I screamed into the receiver.

I heard a cackle of laughter, “LOL.” Amay said and then, BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP.

I stormed out of my room to get a hold of those two brats.

“LOL? What the hell, Amay! You just ruined it.” Amrita said.

“YOU TWO ASSES! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU’LL?!” I screamed.

“We just wanted to say hi, Avnu!” Amay said.

“THAT’S IT!” I shouted and ran towards them. Before I could blink, they had gotten up and were gracefully prancing over the furniture towards the balcony. I felt helpless as I ran around each chair, trying hard not to knock it down. By the time I got to the balcony, Amay and Amrita had settled next to Ajji’s feet and were acting like two sweethearts (which they were most definitely not!).

“Avni, why do you look so angry?” Ajji asked, looking up from her books.

“Ajji, you know what these two idiots were doing?” I hissed and told her the whole story, thinking she’ll take my side and teach those two a lesson. But instead, Ajji just laughed out loud and hi fived the two of them.

Frustrated, I shook my head and walked away.

***************

On Friday, I was completely excited, since it was the first day back after a month’s break between spring and summer at Agni.

I walked in to my office and found my boss Abigail Mathew sitting comfortably on my chair, gazing at all the photos on my table.

“Had fun with your family, Avni?” She said with a straight face.

“Er, yeah.” I mumbled.

“Are you ready to get back to work, or do you want some more time off?” She asked. She didn’t sound cheerful at all.

“I told you I was taking a break for a month, na Abby?” I said, getting a little scared.

“And you did! If you are ready for some serious work, I think you should start prepping for June 2.”

“What’s on June 2?” I asked, confused.

“Your fashion show. Your designs along with Anisha’s are chosen for the Summer Carnival!” She said as a grin finally lit up her face.

“Wait, what?” I asked part confused and part pleasantly surprised.

“You heard me,” She winked.

The fashion shows hosted by Agni were attended by some of the most important people in Indian fashion. This fashion show was definitely going to propel my career like crazy!

“Get started, Avni. I am counting on you.” Abigail said and left my office.

By lunch, I had already created my team of six tailors and designers. My goal was simple: Fashion for the Indian Naari. I wanted to make clothes for the working class women in India. My clothes were going to be simple, elegant and chic.

I got myself four cans of Cocacola and plunged into work and buried myself in it for the rest of the day.

**********

I returned home at 10:30 in the night, completely tired and famished. After eating everything made by Ma, I headed straight to my room and passed out as soon as I hit the bed.

“WUZZGOINON?!?!?!?!?!” I screamed and woke up the very next second when a jet of water slapped my face.

“Get up, you idiot! It’s 10:30 am!” I heard Amrita say somewhere at the back of my mind, since I was still half asleep.

“You had slept like the dead, Avni.” Naina said.

“Why the hell did you put water on me you guys?” I snapped.

“You didn’t answer us, or Vihaan’s 10 missed calls! What else could we have done?” Rutu said.

“Wait, Vihaan called?” Now I was wide awake.

“Yeah! He kept calling you, and since you obviously didn’t answer, he called the landline!” Naina said.

“He thought you were dead too.” Amrita nodded.

I grabbed my phone and called him immediately after shooing my sisters out of my room.

“You shutting the door won’t stop us from listening, you know!” Amrita said after I banged the door on their faces.

“Rise and shine sleepy head!” Vihaan said cheerfully.

“Sorry for not answering, Vihaan. I was so tired.”

“Get dressed. I’m coming in 45 minutes.” He said and cut the call.

With a small flutter of curiosity and excitement, I quickly showered wore my favourite orange Kurti with blue jeans and matching accessories. Half an hour later, I was downstairs pacing in my hallway, anticipating Vihaan’s arrival.

“Why are you all dressed up?” Ma asked noticing my pacing.

“I’m going out Amma.” I said as Ajji approached the scene.

“Where? With whom? When are you coming back?” Ma asked.

“I’m going out with Vihaan, Amma.”

With that, her entire facial expression changed from doubt to complete and utter amusement.

“Ohooo! Vihaan is taking you out?!” Ajji said clapping like an excited seal.

Right on cue, I heard Vihaan’s car pull up at my front gate. I did not waste a second in telling my mother and grandmother to behave themselves as they would never listen. I quickly ran to my front garden, determined to race Ma and Ajji to him so that they don’t get the opportunity to make Vihaan feel uncomfortable, but unfortunately, they followed me right at my feet.

“Vihaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! So nice to see you, Chinna!” Ajji squealed.

“Come in na, son? I will make you hot, hot Bajjis!” Ma said, her eyes as wide as tennis balls.

“No aunty, thank you. I just ate.” He responded politely.

“Where are you taking Avni ha, Vihaan?” Ajji asked in a sing-song tone, wagging her eyebrows at him.

“That’s a secret Ajji!” Ajji was stumped, of course. She said no more after that, and resorted to gazing dreamily at him the whole time.

“Aunty, we need to leave now. I’ll bring her back by eight sharp, I promise.” Vihaan said as he slowly walked out of the garden. Ma didn’t say anything, as she was completely taken in by Vihaan and his gentleman-ness.

“Where are we going?” I asked Vihaan once we were in the car.

“Just wait and watch,” Vihaan said smiling to himself. “You look beautiful, by the way.” He added.

My mouth went on an automatic shut down when he said such things, and this time was no exception to the rule. Since I couldn’t say anything, I leant towards him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Are you hungry?” Vihaan asked taking my hand into his.

“I am! I woke up just 45 minutes ago and didn’t eat my breakfast. I’m starving.” I groaned.

The weather today was perfect. The sun was shining merrily down at us, the wind kept all of us from roasting into tandooris. We drove on to the outskirts of Bangalore and I was still kept in the dark about where we were headed.

“Vihaan, you are driving me crazy! Tell me where we are headed to na?” I asked.

“Tell me, do you like picnics?” He asked me, his eyes fixed on the road.

“I love them!” I said getting excited.

“That’s good! So Ms Avni, how would you like to stay here for the rest of the day, just me and you?” He asked.

“Why, I would love it, Mr. Vihaan.” I smiled.

We pulled up at the edge of one of the greenest places I had ever seen (in Bangalore at least).

“Did you plan all this?” I asked, totally loving it already.

“I tried to.” Vihaan said.

From the back of his car, he produced a box of Pizza, coca-cola, water and a large blanket.

We settled under a large Gulmohar tree and set up the blanket.

I, unable to control my hunger attacked the Pizza as Vihaan rolled around laughing at me.
“What? I am hungry okay?” I half grunted as my mouth was full of yummy pizza.

“You eat like a cavewoman, Avni.” Vihaan said.

“Thank you. I will consider that a compliment.” I said as I washed the Pizza down with Coke.

He finished his slice and lied down with his head resting on my thigh.

“I could stay like this forever.” He said.

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about everything under the sun. I didn’t have to try to keep the conversation alive. That’s what I loved about Vihaan: his simplicity. He could have taken me out for an extravagant lunch or a dinner, but he knew me much better than that. Besides, that lunch or dinner in a fancy restaurant wouldn’t have been nearly as perfect as this is.

“So Avni, did you have a good time?” He asked as we held hands and walked back to the car at 6 pm.

“I did, but I know a way we can make it perfect.” I said playfully.

“Oh I think I know how,” He said and pulled me closer. Had he read my mind?

“I love you, Vihaan.” I whispered when we were centimetres apart.

“I love you.” He said and kissed me softly as the butterflies in my tummy went into a frenzy and began doing somersaults.

Even though I was a grown-ass 24 year old, he made me feel dizzy and nervous. He made me feel love like I have never ever felt before.

I guess that’s what happens when you meet the one.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Did you'll like it? If you did, don't forget to comment and vote! :D

I promise you guys, next chapter onwards, its going to be full of masala and romance!

I am totes free from now on so I'll be updating a bit more frequently!
Please don't forget to send in your suggestions! I would love to hear your side of the story! :D
Thank you all for your love!

Until next time, A.