Indifferent

Entwined hands

Varun's POV

That beautiful blush of hers refused to leave her face all the while I was driving. While I wasn't the kind to tease someone or be playful even in the slightest, she so very easily and effortlessly brought out that side of me, and that masculine ego in me felt satiated knowing that I was the reason behind her blush.

It must have been after quite a lot of time that I had dressed up in casuals. Not that I have anything against them, but I didn't really need to. Seeing her now all pretty and dressed up in those black and white clothes, I do not know how and why but I felt the need to complement her, and so I did. Well, the result was better than expected - her stare on me.

I never have been the one who would wonder about and expect compliments of some other person. Haven't really had much of those all my life, so that was the norm for me. Yet, when it comes to Deepika, I feel proud when I see that not so subtle appreciation on her face, in her words. And I look forward to that.

Something was changing in between us, within me- and it was all for good, I think.

I could feel her getting a bit nervous when we entered the mall. Her fidgeting fingers and the constant tucking of hair behind her ears gave that away.

But what made her nervous?

"Deepika. aap thik hai?"

(aap thik hai? - are you fine?)

My voice was gentle as I spoke. She needed that, I knew.

She shook her head once and then went back to her actions glancing here and there - a tiny hint of trepidation on her face.

She was nervous of the crowd. I understood it.

"There's a lot of people. I usually don't go out much, and if I do, its with Bittu. No one really notices us, so that had worked fine. Here, uhm"

She hesitated for a bit.

"Please tell me.", I urged on again.

"Aap famous hai. And you have that aura which commands attention, so people are staring at us.", her voice was a whisper.

(aap famous hai - you are famous)

Why can't people just mind their business?

While I can't actually tell them to do so, I can comfort her.

I gently took her hand in mine, and entwined our fingers firmly.

Her palm was clammy, naturally due to anxiety, but my cold and dry one fit perfectly within hers.

Her eyes were a little wide as she stared at me, and then at our entwined hand, and then back again at me. A pretty smile bloomed onto her face as she gave in to my actions and held on tighter.

"I am with you, hmm?", my voice felt soothing to even my own self, and she appreciated it.

She nodded in gratitude, a wide beam now on her face, and we sauntered away.

People still stared, and she knew that they stared, she felt that they stared, but it seemed as though none of it mattered to her anymore. And that's all what I wanted.

My heart thudded a bit more than usual taking in the fact that she derived comfort from me. In all of her nervousness and all of that anxiety coursing through her, she trusted me enough to be comfortable with me, to take care of her, to be with her, and honestly, this left me feeling truly warm and giddy on the inside.

She trusted me!

"Varun, that was an amazing film. Thanks for bringing me here.", she gushed happily, still holding my hand in hers, her grip tightening with excitement.