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Chapter 55
'I'm so sorry Moti...I wanted to take you somewhere nice but it's so late we missed the reservations!' Viren looked at Nivi apologetically as they walked to his bike which was parked outside her house but she shook her head, 'Don't be silly Viren; I feel worse that you had to work this morning, we could have cancelled...' she stopped as Viren frowned at her. 'I've been looking forward to this all week, there's no way I'm letting anything else get in the way!' He'd told Dadi he needed Nivi's help with some wedding errands but they'd already been delayed by first his work and then Nivi's endless chores.
Nivi laughed at the stubborn look on Viren's face; he looked a little tired but extra cute today in a red jacket and white tee shirt with black jeans and red trainers. 'Accha baba nothing else will get in the way...oh no!' they reached the bike and Nivi frowned as if she'd just remembered something and Viren sighed asking 'Kya...ab kya yaad aa gaya?!' in a defeated voice. 'I just remembered... I forgot to feed the cat!' Viren looked upset and automatically started to complain when he suddenly realised what she'd said, 'Nivi! You don't even have a cat...!' Nivi started giggling at the look on his face and Viren shook his head, 'That's just mean; you're mean! Get on the bike before I decide to take Dadi to lunch!'
Nivi laughed even harder but then made herself stop as Viren looked even more annoyed, 'I'm sorry Viren; I was only joking...' she put her hand over his on the bike's handlebar and smiled, 'I actually have the perfect idea for lunch!' Viren gave her a smile and seemed to cheer up instantly at her words; as Nivi got on the bike behind him, he flipped his visor up and asked, 'Right, so where to Moti?!' in a determined voice as he revved the bike. Nivi smiled to herself as they drove away thinking the bike matched Viren's impatience perfectly! After a little while, she directed him towards a cafe she sometimes went to when she was working through lunch.
When they got there she told Viren to wait outside and he took his helmet off and frowned, 'Err Nivi, won't it be hard for me to eat from out here..?!' Nivi laughed at Viren's confused expression and ruffled his hair, 'Bohth bhook lagi hai?' Viren smiled into her eyes as he shrugged; as long as he was with Nivi it didn't really matter if he ate or not. Nivi smiled back at him saying, 'Just wait here, won't be long!' and then disappeared into the cafe.
She came back out holding a picnic basket and said 'Let's go to our park for lunch!' and Viren was distracted for a second by her smile and by the way her hair was being tossed around by the wind before he realised something. 'Umm how are you going to carry that on the bike Moti?' Nivi told him not to worry about it but to go slowly. She sat down behind him and held the basket with one hand, resting it on her knee while she held the side of his jacket with her other hand, 'Chalo Viren...'
Viren thought Nivi's picnic idea was perfect but as he started the bike he thought of something to make it even better... 'Are you sure you'll be ok Nivi..?' he asked over the sound of the engine and turned his head to see Nivi nodding. 'I think you need to hold on better...' he took her hand and brought her arm around him so that her hand was resting on his chest instead of his jacket, 'Like this...' He smiled as she said 'Viren...' and he knew she was blushing but she didn't move her hand curled her fingers around a bit of his tee shirt as they set off again.
***
'This spot is perfect!' Viren trailed behind Nivi as they walked through the park and she found a spot she liked and she explained that the big tree would give them some shade. 'Yep it looks great...' he answered without looking away from her; he wasn't really paying attention to their surroundings... she was dressed in pale pink and Viren wondered if it was the same churidar she'd been wearing the first day when he'd almost run her over... It was amazing that she could look just as good in a simple outfit as she had done fully dressed up the night before.
Viren smiled as he remembered carrying her in his arms and saw that today she was wearing strappy sandals but this time they had a wedge heel. He'd got home really late last night so he hadn't seen her again but he'd sent her a goodnight text since it had been too late to call her. This morning he'd had to go to the site again and got back late so their lunch plans had got messed up. 'Viren aren't you going to sit down?!' Viren blinked as he realised he'd spaced out and Nivi had already laid out the picnic blanket and food and was waiting for him to join her. 'Sorry...I guess I'm a little tired,' he shook his head clear and sat down opposite her.
Nivi frowned at him, 'You're not getting enough rest Viren! You work too hard and you don't take care of yourself...' She looked worried so he moved over to sit next to her and put his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder. 'I'm fine Nivi, it's only till Sid gets married and then I'll have only one job again...' He sighed into her hair, feeling at peace for the first time in a while; everything had been so hectic lately, he never seemed to get any time to just be and this was perfect. Nivi reached up and put a hand in his hair and he smiled and closed his eyes.
'Viren...don't you want to eat..?' Nivi curled her fingers into his hair as she asked and felt his arms shrug around her. She felt at home and didn't want to move but she was already worried about him and he hadn't eaten all morning. 'Tum mujhe apni haathon se kilaogi...?' Viren's voice sounded tired but she could tell he was smiling as he spoke. She leaned forward to where the food was laid out and then held out a bite, 'Yeh lo Viren, it's a bit cold now...'
Viren lifted his head off her shoulder and smiled a little sleepily before eating it. He closed his eyes and smiled, 'Best thing I ever tasted!' Nivi laughed at his sudden enthusiasm and held out some more which he ate happily. She was about to reach over to get more when Viren suddenly hugged her and then kissed her on the cheek, leaving her a little surprised. She blinked at him, feeling her heart beating a mile a minute as he smiled into her eyes, 'I love you Nivi...'
Nivi didn't know how Viren always managed to surprise her; he'd been half asleep a minute ago and now he was wide awake and looking at her in a way which made her breath stop. She swallowed and told herself to calm down as Viren laughed at her expression and tweaked her nose before reaching down to get some food; he held out a bite and she took it with her heart still beating a little faster than normal. Neither of them said much as they fed each other but the moment was perfect enough without needing words.
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