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I huffed, slumping forward onto my knees, my hands resting atop them as I drew in large, desperate breaths to replenish my oxygen supply. Moments later, I straightened up, adjusting my sling bag, and locked eyes with Abhinav, who stood nearby, tapping his foot impatiently on the ground, his arms folded across his chest, his gaze fixed on me.
"Are you here by foot or did you drive?" He raised a questioning brow, observing my ragged breath and flushed face with curiosity.
"Is that even a question? Of course, I came by car. You can't possibly expect me to cover a one-hour distance on foot, Abhinav," I exclaimed with disbelief.
"Then why is your face so flushed, as if you've journeyed here on foot?"
"Because of you. Given your relentless insistence on punctuality and discipline," I retorted.
"You do realize you kept me waiting for a good 15 minutes here, Nitya," he sighed.
"And I did apologize for that. I lost track of time while engrossed in the files of my new client," I explained.
"Never mind. I've grown accustomed to it by now," he chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. "Let's head inside now. I really don't feel like waiting out here any longer," he suggested.
I nodded in agreement, craving refuge from the evening's chill. Side by side, we stepped into the restaurant. With reservations secured beforehand, we easily found our designated table. Abhinav courteously pulled out a chair for me, and as I eased into my seat, I expressed a brief yet sincere thank you. Across from me, he settled into his own seat.
A short while later, his phone chimed, prompting him to excuse himself and step away to take the call. In the meantime, I took the opportunity to browse the menu and placed orders for both of us. Left with nothing to occupy the moment, I stared absentmindedly at the tablecloth, until distant laughter and giggles drew my attention.
I glanced over at a nearby table, noticing a couple seated there, likely newlyweds, judging by the Henna adorning the bride's hand. The man tenderly held his wife's hand, gazing at it with affection, while she regaled him with a joke, eliciting laughter from them both.
A sudden memory flashed in my mind, and before I could halt it, it played out vividly in my head.
*Flashback starts*
"Adwait, what are you doing with my hand?" I asked, curiosity sparking within me as he persisted in studying my palm with an inscrutable expression.
"I'm trying to puzzle out how you have such small hands," he remarked, squinting his eyes in contemplation. "They don't seem to match the rest of your physique," he added.
I gaped, withdrawing my hand from his grasp. "Did you just call me tiny?"
"No, my Sweetheart, what I meant is that your hands are delicate and adorable," he clarified, attempting to reach for my hand once more.
