Yours insanely

19.On the rocks

You stood near the gate, randomly staring at the bougainvillea and the rose plant Shubman sent for you after the day he didn't show up at the diner.

"I mean, he said the same thing last evening," you told no one in particular. "Anything for the summer and 10:30 in the morning. And the shoes match my dress though."

Surely, the plants won't mind you ranting to them.

You brushed a hand down your sundress, walking back and forth your doorstep and the gate.

When your phone dinged with a notification, you stopped pacing.

It was a text from Shubman saying he was there with his favorite endearment for you.

Good to go. You had already placed the key under the rose plant. All you held was your phone and a 500 rupee note in its cover.

You walked out of the gate and sure enough, a car stopped right in front of you.

Except he didn't get down from the backseat. He had driven there alone.

Black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and rivaling the temperature, Shubman walked to you.

"Hey, baby," there it was, favorite endearment. He smiled, placing a kiss on your forehead. "You look beautiful."

"You too," you said and didn't know if it was him or the weather at this point.

"Shall we?" He asked, flashing his dimples and you nodded, walking with him towards the car.

Shubman opened the door for you, making sure you were comfortably seated before he closed it and made his way to the other side.

Once he got in too, he asked if you liked the music or if you wanted him to change it.

"This is fine," you said, smiling a bit as he fussed over such little things for you. "You look cute when you fret, by the way."

He looked at you like you put up all the stars in the sky, while also wondering if you'd say the same thing if you were to see all the blood in his hands.

Then he took your hand in his, placing a small kiss on your palm.

You both drove for an hour, with you asking him where you were going every ten minutes, and him telling you each time that it's surprise with the same smile.

Shubman finally stopped in front of what looked like a high-end restaurant.

"We're here," he said, unfastening his seatbelt and you followed, unintentionally leaving your phone behind on the dashboard.

Once you both got out of the car, he walked to you quickly, holding out his hand for you.

You took it and honestly, he looked more excited than you were.

Holding hands, you both walked inside the restaurant and the fact that there was no staff present was overshadowed by the scenery.

It was a sea facing restaurant.

You gawked at the beach in front of you, a smile growing on your face.

"Seriously," there was no containing your excitement. This was the best thing ever.

As if he could read your thoughts, Shubman walked you both past the lounge and closer to the waves.

"A little walk on the beach?" He looked at you with a coy smile and you nodded with the enthusiasm of a kid given a free ice cream pass for a day.

You let go of his hand, taking off your shoes before you walked towards the water.

Shubman did the same as he left his shoes behind, rolling up his pants before he joined you.