Sugar Rush! (✓)

SH (2)

N - Uh, let's go! - he said while gesturing her to lead the way. 

Avni gave him a small smile & started walking as he walked beside her. The sky was full of clouds and the air was damp with moisture, however, Neil welcomed the coolness to his skin with a soft smile on his face. He had always loved rains, no matter what people said about it being a nuisance! 

They walked together side by side in silence, the only sound being the rushing of wind & the rustling of leaves due to the wind. The roads were dimly lit with yellow street-lamps & Avni thought she was definitely going to write one such scene in her book. 

A - You know, I never liked rains! - she said as she looked at Neil. 

N - Why? - he asked with a small smile. 

A - The weather becomes so humid, damp & sticky. And, the sky becomes so dark, you can not spot even a single star. - she grimaced as she looked upon the sky. 

Mirroring her action, Neil looked up the sky too while he nodded to himself. 

N - So, you like clear skies? Into stargazing? - he wondered while Avni smiled in an answer.

A - Yes. When I was small, my father used to take me to the countryside, we used to stargaze for hours! - she told while Neil flashed one of his gorgeous smiles - the one that highlighted the little freckles on his nose, she noted. 

N - Hm...stargazing is fun on laid-back summer nights, but rain has it's own charm, you know! I love to bake when it rains. - he told her. 

A - So, when & how did you discover that you wanted to do baking? - she asked excitedly. 

N(smiles) - My grandmother loved baking, she taught me how to bake when I was a kid. Growing up, it was just a hobby, I started my job at one of the top MNCs after completing my MBA. But, I always used to feel this hollow, you know, that it was not what I wanted. So after three years, I left the job, used my savings as investment & opened the bakery. I knew it was a risk but fortunately my family has always been supportive. Also, by god's grace the bakery turned out to be an instant hit. So...that was it! - he explained while looking at her & then at the road ahead them.  

A - That's so cool, Neil. Not many people have the courage to follow their passion! - she smiled genuinely which Neil thought was breath-takingly beautiful. Shreya tells me you want to start a chain of bakeries? - she then added. 

N(nods) - Yeah, that's correct. Currently, we have two outlets in Mumbai & I do intend to expand the chain. I..uh, don't know how you'll see it, but...I've never been a city-guy! I've always preferred towns for settling down, you know! - he looked at her as if making sure that she wasn't getting bored. But when he found her listening to him with all her concentration, he smiled & continued. So, once I make a good rep for the bakery, I'll just open one in my hometown Panchgani & manage all the other outlets from there! - he completed as he looked at her. 

A(smiles) - I..I don't understand, how do we look at it so similarly, but honestly, I too, am not very fond of the city-life. I came to Mumbai just for the exposure, you know! And, I've heard Panchgani is a great place! 

N(smiles) - You've not visited? You're missing out, Avni! You should visit sometime! Around September would be great. - he thought out loud making her smile. 

There was a comfortable silence for a while which Neil decided to break. 

N - Okay, so apart from romance what genres do you like? - he asked.