Chapter 7

*Usha Pov* 

Next day, started as usual with their normal fighting’s and they didn’t even utter a single word about my marriage. Maybe they will forget about my marriage if I stay away from them and let them fight as much as they want. 

That’s what I decided and left the house feeling a little upset still about the way they talked about my marriage to some stranger. 

I reached the café to see Abhay sipping his coffee with a big frown on his face. I reached the table and sat in front of me. He didn’t acknowledge me at all. 

“What happened? Is your company in debts or something?” I asked him, snapping my fingers. 

“My company is more than fine than me.” he replied still not looking at me. 

“Ok then I will go and ask Mr.Raj for a date.” I said picking my bag. 

“What? Then what about me?” he asked holding my hand. 

“So you finally decided to look at me?” I asked back smirking and ordered some coffee. 

“Usha! My parents are behind me about my marriage. I don’t know what to do.” He replied. 

“No way! A similar thing is happening to me also. But they didn’t utter anything about that today so I think I am safe.” I said, smiling at the boy who placed the cup. 

“Dad too didn’t say anything today, so maybe I am also safe.” He said smiling back. 

We both started talking normally and then left the café. I stopped him when he started walking away and asked, “So today you will not stand me up right?” 

“That is not going to be the case. And shall I pick you up?” he asked. 

“I will be there by 7.” I replied and walked towards Raj Industries. 

Our meeting finished successfully so we all left the office at 6:30. I decided to reach the restaurant and wait for him. He already told me he reserved for both of us. 

After looking at the table booked for us, I went inside the washroom to freshen up a little. After doing that I saw Abhay sitting at our table. 

I looked at the time to note that it is already 7. Why not I just have some fun? I thought and sat at another unreserved table from where I can have a clear view of him. 

I ordered some juice and started drinking it drop by drop literally. After half n hour he started calling me. I kept my mobile in silent mode, so there was no problem. 

After ten more minutes, I lifted it and said “Hello?” 

“Usha! Where are you?” he asked, looking at the entrance. 

“Oh I am very sorry. Mr.Raj and I just sat talking generally, and we forgot the time.” I replied in a low tone. 

“What? So will you come now? I will wait for you.” He asked, and I see him rubbing his temple. 

“Sorry! I don’t think I can come there now. Shall we do it some other day?” I asked getting up and paid for the juice. 

I looked at the waiter to see him sighing in relief that I got up from there. Why is he behaving like I just made him lose a big order by sitting there? I mean half of the restaurant is empty. 

“It’s ok Usha! We will do it some other time.” he replied and I hung up bidding ‘Bye’. 

He leaned his head on the table and just laid there. I went to the table and cleared my throat after taking the seat. 

“I am leaving!” he said and then looked up. 

“Sorry about that. I just wanted to see how you will behave.” I said smiling. 

“You mean you lied to me on the phone?” he asked shocked. 

“Yeah! I actually reached before 7.” I replied and told him what I did. 

“So you did all this as a payback for what I did that day. I thought you forgave me already.” He said frowning. 

“Sorry! I didn’t do it like a payback, but just for a little fun. I know I shouldn’t have done it.” I said pleadingly. 

He still didn’t budge and just kept on frowning. I sighed and got up from my seat, and he immediately said, “Wait!” 

I went near the empty table beside ours and took the rose from it calmly. Taking a deep breath I turned around and said, “Abhay! Will you be my boyfriend?” 

He stood there stunned. I looked around to see no one saw this actually except another couple at the other side table and some waiters. 

“Did you just ask that?” he finally opened his mouth. 

“Looks like that only.” I replied shrugging. 

“But I wanted to ask you that, and you stole the chance from me.” He said frowning again. 

“That’s it!” I said and turned around to leave, but he immediately reached my hand and held it. 

“Yes! Yes, I will be your boyfriend.” He said, turning me around. 

“Good! Because this is the first time I asked someone and was always asked by someone else.” I said smiling. 

We both sat again at our table and ordered our food. He took the rose from my hand and placed it near him. 

“Why didn’t you take the rose from ours?” he asked, looking at the rose present in ours. 

“Well, I didn’t want to steal another chance from you if you wanted to give me that one, and also I wanted to do this as a surprise.” I replied, and he gave the rose to me. 

We started talking, what are our likes and dislikes. And even had great food along with a wonderful dessert. 

“So what is your big dream?” he asked when we were having our dessert. 

“That’s so easy. I want to eat ice-cream in front of the Eiffel tower.” I replied. 

“What?” he asked laughing. 

“Don’t laugh! When I was a kid, I always went to an ice-cream parlor near our house every Sunday. Then there is this big poster of the Eiffel tower on the wall, so I always eat mine looking at it. Then one kid teased me that it is not real so I can stop my staring. At that time, I decided to eat ice-cream at least one time in front of the real Eiffel tower.” I replied explaining. 

“Thank god! At least, you didn’t decide, not to eat ice-cream at all until then or something.” He said teasingly. 

I hit on his shoulder, but laughed along with him. It was time for us to leave, but I actually didn’t want to leave him and watch another fight at my house. 

“So what should we do now? I mean should we say this to anyone?” I asked him when we came outside. 

“I think it is better not to tell anyone and not even to “Mr.Raj”.” He said double quoting his name. 

“Then not even to “Shruthi”.” I said looking at him. 

“But…” he started to say, but then nodded. 

“Anyway she is still sad and even took one-month leave to go for some vacation, so I will not even have a chance to tell her.” he said, and I smiled at him. 

He dropped me at my home, and then I ignored as I decided their fighting’s going inside my room. 

Every day we called each other and meet each other even though secretly, but it was fun. And then I got used to the company too. 

Mr.Raj taught me so much by passing each day. He became a very good friend to me. 

I shared almost everything except my boyfriends name, of course. I and Abhay became the couple customers at the café and many small restaurants. 

We decided not to go to any fancy ones as we have numerous meetings over there and any company members may see us. 

We paid each other bills for all the dates alternatively. So that it will not be a burden on both. 

“So we have to go right?” I asked him while walking outside the theatre. 

“Yeah!” he replied but didn’t leave my hand and actually pulled me closer. 

“So?” I asked him letting him pull me, and he said “So!” 

“I love you, Usha.” He said holding my face in his hands. 

“I love you too. This one month was an amazing month in my life.” I said and he immediately pressed his lips to me. 

I smiled and kissed him back. We left each other feeling some ones gaze on us. We looked around to see some people gathering around us. 

We immediately left the place rushing towards his car. When we left the premises, we both had a good laugh. 

He dropped me and left for his house. I am just in a dreamy state, so I didn’t observe my parents and went inside my room. 

“Hello!” I lifted my phone when it started to ring. 

“I just reached my room.” He said, and I heard some shuffling. 

I asked him to give me a call everyday whenever he reaches his home. We talked for a few minutes, and then he suddenly stopped. 

“I am coming, Dad.” He shouted. 

“Hey dad is calling me. I will talk to you later.” He said. 

“Ok bye. Love you!” I said, smiling. 

“Love you too.” He said, and we hung up. 

“Usha! Come here, dear.” I heard Mom calling me. 

I left the room and went there to see both Mom and Dad sitting on the couch with smiling faces. 

“What happened?” I asked them confused. 

Then I heard the most dreading words about which I forgot completely. 

“One month is over!” They both said at a time, and I wish they didn’t at all.