Reception:

The reception ceremony was held in the lawn by the lake. The stage was beautifully setup. The cool breeze blew gently, making the atmosphere beautiful. Soft romantic music played in the background. The newlyweds arrived. Everyone was dressed brilliantly.

Aastha was standing beside Anika. Anika was dressed in a pretty creamish and golden net saari with heavily embroidered maroonish borderand sleeveless blouse. Her wavy curls were back. She looked extremely beautiful. Uncomfortable, she was fidgeting with the saari.

Aastha seeing her-"Anika ...achi lag rahi hai...kyun saari ke saath kabbadi khel rahi hain." 

Anika-"pehle hii itni thandi hawa chal rahi hai upar se..yeh kitni exposing hai...yeh backless blouse ki kya zarurat hai."

Aastha smiling-"Ab meri choice hai toh classy toh hogi.."

Anika-"Classy? yaa right." she exclaimed sarcastically.

Aastha-"Dehknaa aaj tujhe tere SSO dehkte hi reh jaayenge."

Anika stiffened at his name. She then looked around, where was he?

As if on cue, he appeared in sight. He was approaching towards the stage with Jyoti. Smiling at something she was saying.

"How cute.!" She whispered and in a moment realising, "wait a minute maine SSO ko cute bola..!" shocked at her realisation. She took a deep breath and again saw towards him he was looking incredibly handsome in the three-piece black suit. His face lit up even more with the smile that he wore. And his hair perfectly set as usual.

As he looked up in front, he was astounded at the sight he saw. He just couldn't look away. There she was standing dressed beautifully in a saari revealing decent enough of her curves. Her bare arms looked perfect in those set of glittering bangles. Forgotten was what Jyoti had been saying. All he knew was her. As a slight gush of breeze blew her hair he sighed.

Their eyes met. Confusion, desire and awe reflected in both their eyes. As he approached closer, her heartbeats sped in proportion. Finally he reached where she was, retrieving whatever of his senses he could he spoke-"Hi..!"

Anika-"Hi" she wore a smile.

And before they could speak further they were called for a photograph with the newlyweds.

Both moved. Anika stood beside Sojal, while he stood on the other end beside Varad.

After the photographs as they were getting off the stage, Anika stepped over her saari and was about to trip over the thick mat on the stairs when Shivaay held her at the right moment by her waist and straightened her up quickly to avoid a scene and escorted her to a corner "you okay?" with his hand still on the back of her bare waist.

"Hmmm..." She could see concern reflecting in his eyes. She liked the feeling, the one his concern sent up in her system.

"Sambahl kar chala karo...jab dehko girti rehti hoo!" he exclaimed.

Anika -"Nahi wo yeh saari ...aur...sandal..."

Shivaay -" heels kyun pehni ...Itni lambi toh ho..aur kitni lambi hona chathi ho."

Anika smiling-"Maine heels nahi pehni hai..!yeh meri original height hain."

Shivaay looked at her from top to bottom, she was right.! To cover up-"haan toh theek se...chala ...karo" he said without making eye-contact.

Anika-"Ab main theek hoon.." she said softly. 

Shivaay realized and took his hand off her. Awkward.

Anika to lighten the tensing up situation-"Hmm..shayad dharti maa mujhse thoda zyada pyaar karti hai." she winked.

He sighed at her stupid justification. "You know what...tum..." he went closer..."poori like complete crack ho.!" Was he going to say that or momentarily had some other plans?

Anika was dazed at his almost husky voice near her face. Gulping-"Maine suna hai...ek paagal ko sab paagal dikhte hain..!"

He gives her a sidelong stare, nodded his head and saw the scene on the stage.

Then looking at his watch, "dinner start karvate hain.."

Anika-"hmm..chaliye..!"

They instruct the waiters and return to the spot. Where they see couple dances happening on the stage to some old retro hits!

Both stop midway looking dreadfully at each other.

Shivaay-"aahh...wo hum...wahan." He said pointing to a silent and dimly lit railing by the lake.

Anika-"Haan wahan chalte hain"

So both move away there to avoid a possibly forthcoming embarrassing scene for the two.

As they reach the thick stone railing. They were welcomed by the gushing wind. She closed her eyes feeling the breeze and he looked at her from the corner of his eyes, sighing.

Anika-"Kitna sukoon hai yahan."

Shivaay glancing at her-"hmmm bahut."

Anika seeing the view-" Its beautiful hain naa?"

Shivaay -"Totally..!"

Feeling his eyes on her she looked towards him, they were closer than she had assumed. She was lost in his eyes looking at her. His handsome face was a magnet attracting her eyes.

She gulped as his long stare seemed to read her soul. Involuntarily she moved closer and he inched closer. Soft music was playing in the background. The atmosphere seemed to have intoxicated them. Both looked into each other's eyes. Almost naturally his hand went to her waist and hers over the lapels of his coat. Their lips moving closer.

And they met.! She could feel his lips touch hers. Both remained still feeling the other. There were magical sparks, at the contact. None hastened to reach more. They stayed like that, feeling the touch through their lips.

*Arey chod chaad ke apne saleem ki gali anarkali disco challi.

An instant of contact and it was lost. It was Aastha's phone ringing loudly. Both made a crash landing into the real world, looking away almost instantaneously. She was beet red due to embarrassment, he turned a shade pale at what had just happened. They had almost kissed.!!

"Wo Aastha ka phone main dee ke aati hoon.." she went away without turning, due to embarrsment.

He saw her retreating figure. "Damn it..!" He said flushing his thoughts which were a natural consequence of the sight of her exposed back. He turned the other way.

"Phel gaya raita...yeh kya hua...! Main..ne ...unko..." she closed her eyes with the scene flooding her mind.."beta teri chop ho gayi ...naa jaane wo kya soch rahe honge. Lekin maine kaise...O noo..! Ab maine unhe kaise face karungi! "she mumbled to herself , walking to the place where Aastha was.

"Phat the wuck...! "he said covering his face with his palms. "Damn you Shivaay you should have stayed away. Pata nahi kya soch rahi hogi...obviously...yeh hii...ki maine kitna bada jerk hoon. How am I supposed to face her? I almost kissed her..! "he sat on the sofa nearby thinking."Yeh maine kya kardia..!" totally irritated.

Both were totally confused at their sudden awkward encounter, each thinking that they had crossed the limit, not realising that it was mutual.

"Aag dono taraf lagi thii..!"

P.S

Hope you all liked it.!