Chapter 9 :

Anvaya's POV

The ride to the café was of around ten minutes, before we three couples took a table for each pair and sat down.

We were on the first floor of the café, which had no roof. The rooftop café was indeed a good idea because of the beautiful view of the sea, painted in various shades of orange palette and red.

The sun was drowning under the water, burning in its last, most beautiful intensity.

And the way the sea water washed off the shores, just soothed my heart. I wasn't a chaotic person—searching for fun in moving and running. I just liked to admire things while sitting in a particular spot.

"Anvaya," I looked back at the man in front of me, upon being called out.

"Hm?"

"I know the scenery's better than me but I really want to talk to you now. I'm getting impatient," he replied impatiently, looking at me with his green orbs.

My cheeks heated up in shyness, while a chuckle left my lips at his behaviour.

"I'm sorry. Okay let's get to know each other?"

He nodded quickly, smiling at me.

"So I wanted to know, I mean please don't mind me for saying this but—you look Indian but still you don't—you know what I mean right?" I asked, placing my words in a fumbled way while trying not to sound rude.

He shook his head, still with that smile, "No, don't worry. I don't mind. I'm actually half Indian, half British. My mom's Indian, from Jammu, and my father was born and brought up in Kingston upon Hull, England, but later on moved to London after graduating."

I nodded, "How did they meet?"

"She was a lecturer here, in Delhi University, and my father was here for some university tour from University College London. And when they met, he fell in love at first sight. He was actually a non believer of such things but he was the first to break his believes," he laughed.

His laughter sounded good, indeed.

I chuckled, "It's interesting though."

He nodded, "It could be more interesting if we have a story to tell our future children, you know."

He said with a shy smile, making me look away in shyness too. He flirted openly but didn't make me uncomfortable at all.

"So where do you live now?"

•

"The ice-cream's delicious," he exclaimed, taking a spoonful of cookie crunch ice-cream from his cup into his mouth.

He hissed, closing his eyes because of the coldness that hit the skull. I laughed.

I actually liked men like him.

He was honest, free minded and a gentleman. He didn't fear to show what he felt and that was a plus point.

Maybe this will make me consider the fact that I could date him?

"Don't eat it together. It's not running away, you can still have it with patience," I said, chuckling.

He shook his head, "You don't know how heavenly it tastes. My mom doesn't let me have cold things much because I catch cold easily so having ice-cream after so long, I can see myself in heaven."

I laughed out loud, "Oh God! You're really something. Have it then. Just don't catch a cold."

"Why? You'll take care of me, won't you?" he asked, looking straight at me.

My eyes widened at his way of flirting so openly. He had been flirting like that from the moment we decided to walk around the beach, to know each other more, after the food.

Nitya and Mimi went with their boyfriends to some other place before we return home.

"Stop flirting," I scolded playfully, taking a scoop of my ice-cream into my mouth.

"Okay okay, I'm sorry," he laughed. "So, you didn't tell me about your parents."

I stiffened, hearing his words.

As much as I wanted someone to call my mother and my father, I hated to remember them too. I'd lose my memory just to never remember what that family, where one finds their comfort and happiness, gave me nightmares.

Seeing me go silent, he spoke up, "I'm sorry if I triggered your past. Let's talk about something else. Come with me," saying, he didn't even give me a chance before dragging me with him, throwing our empty ice-cream cups into a nearby dustbin.

"David, where are you taking me?" I asked, being pulled somewhere.

"Just come with me. I bet you'll love it," he replied looking back at me with a smile.

"You're here to enjoy with me. So it's my responsibility to make sure you're happy," saying, he gave a wide smile, a smile that was nothing but genuine. A smile that reached his eyes.

No one needed to tell me that it was genuine because I felt it. My heart felt it.

In today's time, it was hard to trust such words, people with good intentions because traitors are everywhere. Good people are there, but they're rare.

And maybe, I'm lucky today to meet someone from that rare population.

I didn't reply, and just let him take me somewhere.

I knew I could trust him, even without him proving me that. He was respectful, caring and honest. And that's what made me like him—as a friend for now.

Few minutes later, we were inside an open restaurant area. The area was really wide, and being situated at the beach, it had the open system. The place was cozy and beautiful, decorated with plants and fairy lights.

Against the backdrop of the evening sky, the restaurant area glowed like a home.

"Why are we here, David? We ate an hour ago."

Without replying, he pointed somewhere behind me. So, as I turned around to see what it was, my eyes widened in surprise.

There was a white swing, placed on a large fake grass carpet. It was facing the sunset, making a perfect spot to enjoy the summer's evening breeze and the beautiful sunset.

I gasped, "Wow! I never knew that this spot was here all the time."

I was surprised.

He chuckled, "But now that you know, let's enjoy it, hm?"

I nodded in excitement as he made me sit on the swing and got behind me to help me swing.

"I'll help you. You just close your eyes, relax your mind and let yourself relax. Just enjoy the moment, okay?" he spoke gently near my ear, making me slightly relaxed.

His voice was like a soothing balm to my restless soul.

How could someone be so kind and gentle? How could someone care for someone else like that?

So many how could's ran across my mind, but keeping them aside for a while, I closed my eyes and decided to enjoy the moment. I wanted to feel peaceful and loved at the moment, regardless of the mess my life had.

"Don't open your eyes when I open your hair, okay? It'll help you relax," he whispered again, slowly taking off my clutcher, making my hair fall free.

It was as if my scalp was freed from some burden tied to it.

I relaxed more, letting out a soft sigh.

"Just listen to the sound of the waves and breathe calmly, forgetting everything and everyone, including me. Just think that you're alone on the beach, enjoying your time alone. The water splashing against the rocks, the soothing sound of the wind and the rustle of the leaves on the trees are the only sound you hear," he continued muttering, slowly and softly against my ear.

And somehow, I found myself flowing with his words.

The sound of people and vehicles buzzing in the background faded, giving way to the soft sound of the warm breeze surrounding me. The sea was colliding with the shore at its peaceful pace, making my heart rest in peace for a while.

The surrounding was lively, without anyone to interrupt and curse me.

No pain, no hate, no curse and no burden.

I was free, my soul was free and somehow, only that mattered to me at the moment. My life had been through bads, more than goods. Belonging to something carved in the shade, I never really thought I could face the outside world.

But when I moved out to live with my best friends, I knew what I really wanted in my life. I knew what peace was, what happiness felt like.

I had everything, but luxury always doesn't look like luxury. When you're wrapped by notes and gold, you start finding happiness in small things.

Minutes rolled into maybe an hour when David's deep voice echoed in my head, "It's getting darker. Let's go home now."

My eyes opened slowly, as I looked at the beach in front of me.

The sky was completely dark now.

The moon was there, glowing in the dark sky with the twinkling stars. Their beautiful reflections were floating on the water, like a beautiful night painting.

The sea was itself a form of beauty, which is why it looked beautiful no matter what season or time of the day it was.

It was serene.

I nodded, "I'd totally lost the track of time."

"It's good that you did. You got to enjoy some time with yourself and that's what matters," he said, smiling down at me, as he slipped his palm into mine.

I let him do so.

He felt comfortable, he gave me the reason to feel good about myself, he made me feel like someone valued.

I felt nothing romantically, because it was just the starting. But he was a nice man and maybe, if things stay stable in the near future, I might consider dating him.

Feeling comfortable with a man in today's time was a big thing.

Later on we decided to get back home, but David seemed to have different plans.

He took me to a flower shop and got me a customized bouquet, we got bracelets made by ourselves for each other and then clicked pictures.

I was surprised to know that he had actually hired a photographer to click our pictures while we were together. He wanted to capture the real moments of us smiling and talking. And the fact that he hired someone to capture us secretly was somewhat wrong. So he apologized for that.

If I say, the afternoon and the evening spent with him was quite nice, I won't be lying. It was something memorable.

Soon I was dropped at our apartment, before he left for his home.

We even got our numbers exchanged.

Maybe, somewhere, my heart was willing to let this man in.

But I'll take my time.

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