BE MINE

The Date

Neil reached a few minutes before the said time at the restaurant he booked for their Date night. The waiter escorted him to his table and left taking an order of a cup of green tea. Neil tapped on his Fitbit throwing his gaze nonchalantly around. The place is very classy , spacious and very cosy. Perfect for a dinner date. A sigh left his chest wandering how it will go, his time with Tina. What kind of conversation he may have to make the vibes between them back to normal. By then the waiter came back with a cup of tea. Next He handed Neil the menu and left.
Seeping in his tea he took up the menu book in his hand and busied himself looking into it to kill some time. But the next moment something took away his concentration, his gaze flickered up by a sweet female voice.
Seeing her standing there in that crispy white office attire pairing with an olive green shirt underneath, was like his breath knocked out of him. She is looking h.....even completing that sentence in his head is getting him his adam apple blob ridiculously.

Avni: Tina got into something very important at the last minute...aaand.... she asked me to join you. I mean.... Avni gnawed on her lips nervously feeling very much aware of the place. With an apologetic gaze she kept looking at Neil, who was sitting there in a very stiff posture watching her blankly.
No matter how much he has got annoyed, pained by her behaviour of avoiding him from last few days he has never thought seeing her talking to him again can be this exhilarating.
His chest fluttered watching her from head to toe. Is she in real?

"Huh!" being in a daze the only word came out of him as a reply when he sensed she was saying something to him.

"Tina couldn't make it" Avni stated anxiously. Her scull prickled in anticipation. What if he mention that day? What if he accuse Avni intending to replace Tina?

Neil: What does she think of herself? She can't cancel a date with her boyfriend. Does she? Avni came across a very angry Neil that's what she was expecting. As soon as her words had finally registered in his brain dismissing his dazy state he collected himself, thought something to reply and then instantly an idea hit him. He can't let this opportunity go without a little fun. Why not? this is how he can also take a small revenge from Avni for avoiding him so long.

Avni: Umm.... being nervous her grip around the strap of her laptop bag tightened. Her face fell, heart escalated as she stood there all helpless.

Neil: I won't tolerate such kind of irresponsible behaviour. Neil added with a fake displeased tone. By then watching Avni standing there all apprehensive it is getting hard for him to keep stifling his laughter some more minutes which he is holding up in him this long. The moment he saw her anxious face Neil couldn't resist the urge to play with her a little. So he pulled an act of being hurt. It wouldn't be an honest statement if he says he is disappointed seeing her instead of Tina. That's so unexpected.

Avni-I think I should leave. I am sorry. Her small sorry voice came out followed by a huge gulp. Her sheepish eyes fixed at Neil. She shuffled on her feet to leave.

Neil: You should be. Now sit down and do not look at me. Look somewhere else. I am trying here to act hurt and serious. His last words made Avni frown in confusion. Finally Neil broke the intense air around them.

"C'mon have a seat" he repeated, inclined his eyes towards the seat.

Neil! Her lip mumbled his name still being in shock. But a huge breath of relief blew out her chest the moment Avni saw him grinning and his words finally registered in her brain. So it was all an act. She couldn't help but let out a giggle gently shuffling to get in her seat.

Neil: It's okay Avni. Things happen like this all the time. Neil assured her with a genuine smile this time. It's been a while since he heard her take his name, there is a foreign feeling shifted inside him.

Her heart swelled up watching His considerate approach towards such irascible situation Tina has put them both into. He is such a gentle person. Avni thought reluctantly taking her seat. He is the Neil she exactly thought he would be before she met him in person, years back.
Only if she knew the real cause.

Avni: So you are not mad? Avni asked one more time reassuring his state of mind. She is not yet fully recovered from her jumpy state.
Reluctantly She put her bag on a spare seat, kept her phone on the table a little away from a glass of water that the waiter has put for them after Neil had arrived.

Neil: ofcourse I am. And I would have a little talk with Tina later on about this. But at the moment I am famished and want to enjoy my food only.
And.... He trailed off and said the last word holding a secretive smirk.

Avni: And? Avni repeated after him growing a little restless looking at his smirk.

"And the company surely" Holding some mischief in his voice Neil stated with a wink, which made Avni heat up her cheeks a shade darker. She looked away for a few seconds in an attempt to hide her rapidly beating heart and that blush down her throat shoving a thick lock of her hair away from her shoulder while Neil couldn't help but stare at her beautiful face. His gaze lingered at her burning cheeks. For the first time His heart left a soothing effect followed by a thumping essence at the sight his eyes just witnessed, the effect that little naughty act of him left on her.
What I would do to see that face everyday? This is the thought that came into his mind when his eyes locked on her red cheeks.

Honestly speaking not a single ounce of annoyance he felt at this arrangement of Avni's arrival instead of Tina. Why ? He questioned himself again and again. His eyes not leaving her. Some bizarre emotions are hitting his brain these days which he has no logical answer to any of them. Therefore he thought it's better he pushed such thoughts for later at the back of his head and got into living in the moment.

He couldn't take that smile off his lips the entire time he spent with her.

In contrast a smile crept on her lips too when she recalled the scene an hour ago. she was so anxious by the thought of meeting him but it seem things are not as bad as she thinks they are. It's not that bad spending time with him when he is being this nice, playful. He seems in much cool temper with such ridiculously last minute plan change by Tina. She wanted to ask him why, then thought not to pry on. Asking some arbitrary questions about the cause of his oddly good mood she doesn't want to actually offend him and make the air awkward. Therefore for the moment she concentrated on the delicious food he ordered. She just prays he doesn't mention the day in his house.

"I hope you like Chinese" out of the blue he asked, his words caused me to freeze in the mid chewing my food. That delicious sweet and sour crunchy prawn I was about to gulp.

Shit.

Thanks to all those positive comments thats I received for the previous chapter and also who took time out to vote Means alot

Big thanks to NeilAvni_love

Silent readers a vote can do. Will be waiting for all those comments and votes

Lots of love