'Celebration Of Love'

Sonakshi Rastogi may be a very good actress for the world, but in her personal life, she was a simple woman, like any other.
She was a bit nervous, as she laughed with Rohit over the gift, that Payal had arranged for them, in her eagerness, and naivety. Sonakshi played with her fingers, looking everywhere but at him.

How embarrassing! Maine to kabhi aisa socha bhi nahin..handcuffs! Oh, God! What if Rohit likes this stuff? No..no..he's not like that, right?

Rohit also looked here and there, unable to believe his nervousness. He was the one who had insisted on coming here, in the first place.

Yeh handcuffs dekh ke Sona darr to nahin gayi? How embarrassing..mujhe kaisa samajh rahi hogi..ab kya karun..say something Rohit..say something romantic..

'Kafi garmi hai na aaj, nahin?'

Wow! Way to go, Doctor Surgeon!

Rohit mentally rolled his eyes, while Sonakshi gave him a funny look.

'Air-conditioning to on hai, should I lower the temperature?'
Sonakshi got up, shuffling from one foot to another.

'I wanted to raise the temperature..not lower it..' He muttered under his breath.

'Kya?'

'Han, han..kar do..'
Rohit also got up, as Sonakshi moved to the panel.

He hurried over to the table, where champagne was being chilled in a bucket, with two glasses beside it.
Rohit made to open it, when Sonakshi came behind him.

'Uh, Rohit..I don't..'
Sonakshi gestured to the bottle in his hands.

'I know, lekin thoray se kya hota hai..we can just celebrate, you know..us being here, together..our special night..'
He looked up, and their eyes met.
Sonakshi swallowed, at the intense look in his eyes, and lowered her gaze. Rohit smiled at her embarrassment, finding it endearing.
'Okay? Will you have a drink?'

Sonakshi didn't want to sound a prude, and she needed a bit of Dutch courage, so she nodded.
'Okay! Just a little bit..'

Rohit popped the cork, and poured some in both the flutes, before handing one to her.
Sonakshi took it from him, her gaze not wavering from his face.
Rohit tipped his glass to hers.

'To the celebration of love..'

They both took a sip from their glasses, Sonakshi gulping a large mouthful, in her haste. Rohit raised an eyebrow at her eagerness, but she just smiled back, this time sipping slower. Rohit watched her, in surprise, as she downed the whole glass, while he still drank his.

'Sona! I have something for you..'
Rohit reached behind her, and picked up a bag, handing it to her.

'Ek or gift? Yeh kya hai?'
Sonakshi gave it a suspicious look.

'Nothing like that!'
Rohit chuckled, referring to the handcuffs.
He put down his glass on the table, and took hers too.
'This is something that I got for you, by myself. Will you wear it, for me?'

Rohit ran the back of his hand over her arm, left bare by her sleeveless kurti. His hand was cold, from the icy glass he had been holding, and Sonakshi shivered, slightly.
She was enticed by his tone, and nodded.
Turning around, she left, leaving Rohit looking after her.

***************************

Rohit lit more candles, as he waited for Sonakshi to come out of the bathroom. His heart was drumming in his ears, as he turned off the main lights of the hotel room, leaving the room aglow with the candlelight. It looked romantic enough, without being too dark.