Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

20 ~ The First Date

"It is a risk to love. What if it doesn't work out? Ah, but what if it does?"

Ruhanika

I sighed internally as Dev dismissed my curiosity with that infuriatingly calm tone of his. "I told you, you’ll find out when we get there, Rooh." Just like that. No hint, no clue. Nothing.

Ugh, surprises. Who even came up with the idea of surprises? Whoever they were, they clearly didn’t consider people like me—people who thrive on knowing things, who can’t stand the suspense of being kept in the dark. It’s like slowly dying of curiosity, piece by piece. I frowned, watching him, hoping to break that wall of mystery. But his face, calm and unbothered, gave away nothing. He was utterly unaffected by my restless energy.

Then, as if sensing my frustration, he closed the distance between us with effortless grace. My breath hitched slightly as he stopped in front of me, towering in that commanding way he always does. His dark, piercing eyes softened just a bit, and before I could react, he cupped my face with both hands, his touch gentle but firm. The warmth of his palms was soothing, almost grounding, as if silently telling me to calm down, to trust him.

And then, he kissed my forehead. A soft, lingering kiss that made my pulse stutter. Time seemed to freeze, and all I could focus on were his lips pressed against my skin. My heart raced faster than it ever had. Thank god it’s dark, I thought, mortified at the thought of him seeing my face, which I knew was turning redder by the second. Was I blushing this hard, or was I on the verge of catching fire?

He pulled back slightly but didn’t let go of my face. "Do not frown," he murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "We’ll be there soon. I don’t want you to be mad at me on our first date." His thumb traced my cheek as he spoke, sending shivers down my spine. The way he said our first date made my heart leap—something about it felt so personal, so intimate. I barely managed to nod, the tension in my body easing just a little.

I opened my mouth to say something, to protest maybe, but before I could, he spoke again. His voice was deeper, softer, as if meant only for my ears.

"क्या हमने आपको बताया की आज आप कितनी खूबसूरत लग रही हैं?"
(Did I tell you that you are looking exquisite today?)

Oh. My. God. If I thought I was red before, I was wrong. This… this was a whole new level. I was sure my face had now gone full red Asian paint, or whatever shade of embarrassment there was beyond that. His words were unexpected, catching me completely off guard. Why is he being so… romantic all of a sudden? I felt like a schoolgirl caught in the middle of a fairy tale. No, worse. I couldn’t meet his gaze, not with the way my cheeks were burning.

"We should leave now," I mumbled, casting a desperate glance around, trying to focus on something—anything—that wasn’t him. It was all too much. His voice, his touch, his closeness. I needed space to breathe, to calm the storm he’d stirred inside me.

But of course, Dev being Dev, he didn’t listen. Instead, he smiled—a soft, knowing smile that only deepened my flustered state. With gentle fingers, he tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my skin in a way that made goosebumps spread across my arms.

"अगर आप यूँ ही हमसे शर्माती रही तो हमे ये योजना रद्द करनी होगी, ताकि हम आपको जी भर कर निहार सके।"
(If you will keep shying away like this, then I have to cancel the plan so that I can see you to my heart's content.)

His words were like a challenge, daring me to handle this side of him, the side that left me breathless. Who is this man, and what has he done with my cold, unyielding Dev? My heart raced so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. He had always been the brooding, silent type—the one who rarely showed affection. But tonight… tonight, he was different. So tender, so playful. And it was making me fall for him all over again, harder with every second.