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The dress had an almost iridescent glow to it. It was white but it was also all the colours of the rainbow. Sona was in awe. From where did Abhay even get it? She had never seen anything like this before!

"Damn!" Tarni whistled. "Bhai never gave me anything like this before."

"You don't even like wearing flowy dresses," Sona snorted as she still stood transfixed in front of the mirror. She was wearing a pair of butterfly earrings, Aksith had given it to her long ago. It perfectly matched her necklace though, which she hide inside the round neckline.

"You look like you are going to prom," her best friend remarked, still appearing a little salty. "You know, the one we never had?"

Sona giggled, remembering the times when Tarni had almost convinced the college authorities to conduct prom for them but it all went down hill when Abhay gave a much better idea of having a carnival instead. It wasn't his intention to crumble her plans but Tarni was still very much murderous.

"Ya! I feel cheated," she whined. "Bhai and his own prom."

"It's a date, Tarni beta," Sona's mother peeked inside the room. "You should ask Shreyash to take you on 'prom', too."

Sona stiffed a laugh while her best friend acted like she had gotten the best idea ever. She immediately started texting furiously on the phone.

"Sona, turn this side."

"Why?" she frowned as she looked at her to only see that she was clicking a picture of her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" she went forward to snatch the phone but Tarni dodged her skilfully.

"I am telling Shreyash how you are going on a date and what dress bhai brought for you and all," she said, typing furiously with one hand as she used the other to shoo Sona away. "If he doesn't get the hint I am going to haunt him."

"For the rest of his life?" Sona's mother snorted, crossing her arms. "I think he already knows that."

Tarni gasped, looking offended. "Aunty!"

🦋🦋🦋

Sona was busy checking her phone the whole ride to the hotel. Abhay had told her he would pick her up but she insisted on coming alone, not wanting to bother him. He had already told her before hand that he was going to pay for everything today. Why would she bother him by asking her to drive all the way from the company to her house and then back to their date destination?

To say she was nervous would be an understatement. She was shivering in anxiety. She had texted Aksith, asking for another pep talk. He was acting so civil with her now, and she knew why. He had rejected her proposal.

Her eyelashes trembled as she looked at the last text they shared. He told her he didn't need new curtains. But how did he not? Wasn't he blabbering about them a week before? Now suddenly when she asked him to think about a possible marriage between them, he didn't need them anymore.

He was definitely rejecting her. And how much ever she liked the colour red, she couldn't make a wedding saree out of it.

"We are here, ma'am."

She looked up, paying the driver as she descended the cab. Abhay was already waiting for her.

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at him. He was wearing a leather jacket and his hair were all different. What was different? Why was she hit with Deja vu?

"Sona," his dark eyes met hers.

Her pink painted lips parted. He looked so much like the 20-year-old Abhay.

"Abhay," she felt goose bumps rising on her bare arms.

"Beautiful as always," he titled his head as he gazed at her, she looked away with red cheeks.

"T-Thanks," she muttered stupidly, he couldn't even hear her.

"Come."

She looked at his out stretched hand and then at his face, slowly she let her fingers graze his and he caught her whole hand, intervening them together.

Sona felt her heart was going to jump out of her chest as she felt the skin of his palm, she gulped, looking at him as he led the way inside the hotel.

She had never been here before, probably because there was no reason for her to go to some fancy hotel. The place was huge and they even had to take the elevator. She was very sceptical about it though, she wasn't found of them and she liked walking the stairs more.

"If you get stuck," he said as he looked at her apprehensive face. "I will be there, too."

She couldn't even say anything expect look like a fish as she followed him in.

Soon they were in an opening, fairy lights lit the place as very few people lingered here and there; mostly couples. They weren't holding hands anymore and Sona took her time in rubbing the sweat off them, already embarrassed that her hand was clampy the whole time Abhay was holding it.

He was talking to the hotel staff about something so she stood a little away, looking around the place as she rubbed her arms. Why was it cold now? Walking in heels on grass was also another sport she couldn't play.

"Is something wrong?" she asked when he walked towards her.

"No," he shrugged his leather off.

"N-No!" she waved her hands but he had already draped it around her. "It will ruin my whole l-look!" she huffed slightly.

"It's cold, Sona," he said a little sternly as he made her feed her arms inside the sleeves. They where so large! How will she ever eat? "Also, you can wear this dress anytime again and not ruin your look. I just don't want you ruining your health today when it's cold."

She touched her nose holding the urge to stick her tongue out as she used to do when they were kids.

"If you stick your tongue out I will bite it," his eyes darkened as he saw her expression, his words were no joke either and that made Sona feel flushed.

"I-I wasn't going too!" she spoke defencelessly.

"Good," he took her hand again. "I wasn't going to either."

Sona pouted slightly, she gazed at the back of his head wondering why she suddenly felt like a child again? For whatever reason all she could think about was how Abhay used to hold her hand when he took her to the kirana store to get chocolate for her. The feeling of nostalgia was making her feel bittersweet.

"Wow!" she gasped, looking at the blankets and pillows on the grass. A small tent like structure was built at the end, covered in white net that flew down the blanket. There was a small levelled platform in the middle, all the food already set. "These people do custom stuff like this?"

Abhay glared at her slightly because of her superficial words. "No," he said. "It was on special request."

She blushed. "It's really pretty."

He only hummed.

Sona was never much of a foodie but as she looked the vanilla chocolate shake drizzled in syrup and decorated with heart shaped chocolates she instantly took a sip. The sweet flavour hit her throat, the coldness numbing the dryness away.

"So damn good," she whispered to herself as she continued drinking it. Her eyes lifted up to Abhay, he was rolling up his sleeves as he sat cross legged in front of her, then her brown eyes drifted up to the setting. It looked like the perfect dinner date.

"Of course you'd drink the milkshake first."

She chocked on her drink, coughing violently. Abhay's eyes widened slightly and he quickly poured her a glass of water.

"Didn't have to say it like that," she muttered as she wiped her mouth.

"What?"

"Nothing!" she faked him a smile. He nodded and then she glared at him.

Abhay took it to himself to serve her the food and she didn't complain. Though she insisted she would do the same for him, he agreed without hesitation. So now as she set a small part of everything in his plate, he wouldn't stop looking at her.

"Abhay."

"Yes?"

"Do you still not like mushrooms?" she asked.

"I like them," he said, though he didn't sound like he was conscious of his words. Sona rolled her eyes and didn't scoop up the mushrooms.

"Let me click a picture," she spoke suddenly, remembering that she absolutely needed to take some shots of this place. So, with the leather sleeves rolled up she unlocked her phone and snapped some pictures, discreetly taking one of Abhay too.

He swiped his phone and then pointed the camera at her.

"What are you doing?" she touched her hair.

"Taking your picture," he said.

She opened her mouth, ready to retort but then she closed it, knowing well he probably saw her click his picture. She felt her heart beating faster. Damn, what was he doing?

Then he stood up, making her alert. She blinked when he sat beside her instead.

"What?" he pulled his plate from the other side of the table.

She couldn't even say anything.

His knee brushed hers, again and again during the whole dinner. Sona felt annoyed after sometime, so she put her knee on his instead so he wouldn't move it around so much.

"How are you Sona?" he asked.

How are you? She blinked. Why did she feel no one had asked that to her recently?

"Umm. . . " she bit on her lip. "H-How are you?"

"Why so nervous, Sona?" he questioned with a small frown. "It is the date or is it me?"

"Both," she mumbled.

He took her hand again, using the tissues to wipe her fingers for her. "I am just Abhay, Sona. Just Abhay."

"I am not Sona," she said, taking her hand away. "I am not Sona anymore."

Her words made his eyebrows crease, his face was crestfallen. "I will make you the Sona as you were before," he said very righteously. "Without the pain."

She sniffed at his words. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She didn't say anything, just bathe in the glow of the fairy lights.

"We are under the same stars, Sona," he said, his eyes reminded her so much of the stars itself. "We've always been."

She felt her throat closing up, "I am scared."

His expression softened. He put his arm on her shoulder instead and when she didn't move away he hugged her. Uncrossing his legs he pulled her closer to his chest as her hair got into his face.

"I will never hurt you," he promised. "I will never hurt you so much that you will feel we aren't suppose to be together."

Her arms were cramped against his chest, her breathing turned heavier as she gazed at him with her wet eyelashes. "I used to love you very much."

Her words hurt him, it was clear on his face.

"I love you very much," he said instead as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

She gave a short laugh at his words. "You were really special to me."

"You are very special to me."

"I gave you my heart."

"You have my heart. "

He pursed his lips when he saw the glint on her eyes. "Is this a way of fishing for compliments?"

She narrowed her eyes, trying to move away from his hug but he only held her close.

"I am not letting you go, Sona."

"You don't even compliment me!" she whined instead.

"See, see, see," he flicked her forehead. "Acting like a child again."

"I-It's not my fault you make me act like me child!" she crinkled her nose and winced in pain.

"Probably because you've always been a child," he smiled at her slightly. "Tell me sachi, sachi, do you still not sleep with your butt in the air?"

"I don't!" her face burned in embarrassment and she hit his chest.

"But you do," his eyes sparkled. "I can see your room from mine."

She was shell-shocked, with her mouth agape she hit him on his chest again as he laughed.

"You also dance in the rain," he commented and she lost it. She picked up the pillow beside her and started thrashing him with it, her actions beyond violent. Abhay shielded himself with his arms but Sona had other plans as she took another one and started hitting him.

But soon roles were reversed, Abhay got his weapon too and Sona found herself losing when he tickled her instead. She squirmed and yelled at him to stop, but he wouldn't listen.

"T-That's cheating!" she gritted her teeth. "I-If you don't stop. I will kick you!"

He stopped immediately but he didn't get up, hovering over her figure, his face only seemed to get closer.

"Sona," he mumbled against her lips, his eyes flickering to hers. "Sona?"

"Abhay?" her heart was in her throat as his mesmerising dark eyes entrapped her.

"Can I kiss you, Sona?"

She nodded her head. "N-No."

He laughed, and that's when she realised that their bodies were flushed. She looked away from his face and towards the stars in the sky, wondering how things had come to be. She remembered wanting to kiss him so badly, she remembered wanting to hold his hand, in fact she remembered how much she wanted to marry him too.

And now as she looked into his eyes, she wondered if she still wanted those things.

Abhay Singh, she thought, will my heart get broken if I give it to you again?

"No, Sona," he laughed at her. "If that's a no then why are you nodding your head?"

She blinked back into reality. Abhay was on top of her. He was about to kiss her. They were so close that she could hear his heartbeat. She tried getting up, pushing on his shoulder with an anxious face.

"A-Abhay. . . ."

"Sona," he gently laid her back down, her fingers dug into his biceps and then he placed a scorching kiss on her forehead. "I'll love you just like you loved me, promise."

"Trust me," his eyes were pleading her. "I am just the same Abhay I always was. No more, no less."

"Abhay," her eyes welled up slightly.

"I love you," he gave her a smile.

🦋🦋🦋

Her house seemed so quiet that it was suspicious. She got off the car and waved Abhay goodbye but he insisted on walking her till the door. Maybe he wanted to stay longer.

"Sona?" he spread his arms slightly with a small smile.

She hesitated as she looked at the dark windows and then she stepped closer. He engulfed her into his fruity smell and strong arms, Sona felt her stomach churring.

"Another date next week?" he mumbled against her hair.

"Okay," she bit her lip.

"Can I kiss you again?"

She didn't have time to ask what kind of 'kiss' when his lips landed on her forehead. His dark eyes fell on her mouth, his fingers digging her waist moved towards her lips instead. He tapped them gently with an innocent smile.

"Next time."

She glared at him with a red face.

"Maybe I've always like you Sona," he said. "For god knows when, but when I read your letter, that was the first time I wanted to kiss you here," he tapped her lips again.

She held his fingers and squeezed them tightly but no pain flashed through his eyes. "Okay, goodnight."

"No kiss for me?" he asked, almost tauntingly with the same smile.

"You didn't ask nicely," she said cutely, stepping away from him and turning away. "Bye."

He didn't press her as he smiled, his leather jacket tied shinning in the moonlight. "Goodbye, Sona."

She ran to her room immediately, kicking her heels as she jumped into her bed. With a red face she looked at phone that has just pinged.

It was Abhay.

Close your window ;)

She gasped, moving towards her window and shutting the curtains. Another ping came in and she saw it was a picture of her. It was so ugly!

Delete it!

No.

She gritted her teeth, throwing her phone on her bed when she went back to change. But just as she unzipped her dress another notification popped up. She dived towards her bed. It was not Abhay but Tarni.

I was wrong about Aksith liking me Sona

He always liked you not me!

With that there was a picture of a letter attached.

did you like the date? idk if its the best⇒

so guys remember i told you someone was deceiving someone?

yeah it was actually me

then come back here and tell me about your wtf moments? ⇒

i will post a of the next part on my Instagram :)