Serendipity

VIII

♪♫ Mai baarish ki boli, samajhta nahi tha

Hawaon se mai yun, ulajhta nahi tha

Hai seene mein dil bhi, kaha thi mujhe ye khabar

Kahin pe ho raatein, kahin pe savere

Aawargi hi, rahi saath mere

Theher ja theher ja, ye kehti hai teri nazar

Kya haal ho gaya hai ye mera

Aankein meri har jagah, dhoodhe tujhe bewajah

Ye mai hu ya, koi aur hai meri tarah

Kaise hua, kaise hua

Tu itna zaruri kaise hua...♪♫

________________________

"Let's watch a movie tonight!"

Evara turned around to see Neil smiling at her.

"No hi, no hello, just straight to the point." She taunted him.

His smile turned into a full-blown grin as he snaked his arm around her waist and leaned forward near her ear. "Hey, Gorgeous! I look forward to spending a lot of time with you." Then unexpectedly, he pressed a soft kiss on her cheek.

She pushed him a little to see his face. She made a fake angry face. "Aren't you getting too bold, Mr. Khanna?"

"I'm talking to my girlfriend, Ms. Kapoor, as long as she's comfortable nothing is 'too bold'." He replied dramatically, playing along with her.

The last two months felt like bliss to Evara. Neil had been sweet and attentive since the day he had told her about his feelings.

Evara liked him too and didn't let go of any opportunity to tell him just that.

She wrapped her hands around his neck. "I would love to."

They settled in Evara's living room to watch the movie. She chose a movie to watch while Neil had prepared snacks and drinks; the perks of having a Michelin chef as a boyfriend.

They were halfway through the movie and he was well invested in the plot. She smiled to herself when a mischievous idea hit her. She took a grape from her bowl, threw it at his face, and laughed at his shocked expression.

His expression soon changed as he pretended to be angry but she saw the glint in his eyes. Her eyes widened, she shrieked and ran away from him as he chased her. Her laughter echoed in the house when he caught her waist, lifting her off the ground and twirling her.

He tackled her down on the sofa and tickled her. "You think you are funny, huh?"

"Please!" she let out in between the laughter.

"Fine." He stopped. They looked at each other for a second and burst out laughing again.

◀▩▶

"So, how is life?" Sameera asked.

Evara and Sameera were in Neil's restaurant, catching up.

Evara smiled thinking about how her life had changed drastically since she let Neil in. "It's good."

"Hmm. I think you're lying." Sameera said in a teasing tone. "I think it's beyond great considering you haven't stopped smiling since we met this morning."

"It's just... I don't know how to put it."

"He makes you happy." It was an understatement.

Evara looked into space for a second, a small peaceful smile on her face. "You know, Sam, after Aman, I never thought I could be this happy again. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I might find someone like Neil."

Sameera smiled. "But you have."

"I have. It's... it's strange."

Sameera frowned. "What is?"

"I loved Aman, I truly did, and loving was easy. I still had to put in effort but it was easy." Evara stopped for a second to collect her thoughts. "With Neil, it's somehow different. He puts me at ease and being with him feels so natural like a second nature as if we've been in love our whole life. He makes me laugh with his weird sense of humour, life seems fun when I'm with him, and most of all I feel safe around him."

"You love him."

It wasn't a question but Evara still felt the urge to answer her. "I do. How crazy is that? I wasn't even looking for love in my life."

"Magic only happens to those who are not looking for it."

"You're right." She sighed. "It feels like a dream."

Sameera took Evara's hand across the table and gave it a gentle but firm squeeze. "It's real, Eva. All this happiness is real and believe me, you deserve every bit of it and more."

"Thank you."

◀▩▶

Sameera left because she had a date with Karan.

Evara was in Neil's cabin glaring at the one-way glass from where she could see a woman continuously checking him out. She had stayed back because he was going home after the meeting.

After a few minutes, Neil came back to the cabin but Evara didn't pay him much attention.

She was still glaring at the woman who was checking Neil out. She felt Neil leaning over toward her but she didn't react.

"Why don't we like her?" he whispered in her ear.

She looked at him. "Because she was checking you out."

"Are you jealous?" he asked amused.

"No. I'm not the jealous kind, Neil, but what's mine is mine."

He nodded and kissed her cheek. "Noted, Ma'am!"

She smiled at him.

"Shall we?" he asked and she nodded.

The drive home was comfortably silent as soft music filled the car. It was peaceful, she didn't feel the need to say anything.

She was about to go inside her apartment when his voice stopped her.

"Evara?"

She turned to look at him in question.

"I'm yours, always!"