You and I

Chapter 6

Dharam froze, the air heavy with Tara's floral perfume, mixed with something like caramel and chocolate.

He took a deep breath, infusing his lungs with that sweet mixture of fragrances.

His eyes moved to Tara, to find her so close to him that he could see his reflection in her orbs.

Instinctively, Dharam closed his eyes, waiting - waiting to feel her lips on his.

He almost shuddered, his heart drumming ecstatically as he felt her warm breath fanning his face, and something warm on his cheek.

Surprisingly enough, a wave of disappointment washed over him as Dharam realised that Tara had kissed him on his cheek, not on his lips!

His heart was drumming in his ears, and he shot his eyes wide open, to find Tara's face an inch from his. But without another word, she turned, walking away to her home.

Dharam's eyes went wide, and his breath hitched in his throat. But even before he could comprehend what had happened, Tara had walked into her villa, the main door closing behind her with a thud.

For a while, Dharam stood there, rubbing the spot on his cheek where she'd just kissed him.

Woah!!

A shy smile curled his lips, and he grinned shyly.

This was the first time a woman was kissing him - except Gayathri, nobody had ever kissed him before, not even on the cheek! Heck, no woman had even come so close to him except his ex wife!

His brain just wouldn't work!! His heart was running a marathon and his ears were full of the sound of his loudly drumming heart.

Even though a chilly breeze was fluttering, he felt hot - very hot! Beads of sweat had pooled on his forehead. But it was a  spot on his cheek that burned however - the spot where Tara had kissed!

Dharam closed his eyes to calm his nerves, but his mind played that scene again - of Tara moving close to him to kiss his cheek.

And Dharam shot his eyes wide open in shock and surprise - he couldn't believe he felt disappointed that the kiss was on his cheek and not on his lips!!

He scratched his head absentmindedly.

Once he regained the sense in his limbs, he slowly stumbled into his car, and brought the engine to life.

As he drove back home, a smile kept playing on his lips - a rather shy smile that is!

As he shot a glance to the passenger seat, Tara's words came back to him - let go off your inhibitions and live life as it comes.

He nodded.

He'd spent all his life living by the rules, conditioned under his inhibitions.

It was time to let them all go and just, live!

And for that, he needed help - but whom to ask?

A few names popped in his mind - his close mates and cousin brothers. But they were all too nosy! And they'd all report to his parents that he's dating Tara!

He didn't want to tell anything to his parents - not yet anyway!

So then who??

Four other names popped in his mind - Abhi, Kunal, Nikhil or.... Rohan?

Dharam pondered over the four names, but surprisingly enough, his mind seemed to lean towards taking help from Rohan Kapoor!

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

Leaning against the main door of her villa, Tara panted for breath.

Her face felt very hot, and her heart was drumming in her ears!