Hers To Love

Chapter-21

Arun drove us home. He left me at my doorstep and said, "Freshen up. Wear something casual and comfortable. I will pick you back in thirty minutes."

I nodded, and he dropped a quick kiss on my lips before we parted. Once the doors were closed, I rushed into my bedroom, thinking of what to wear. I opened my wardrobe and stared hopelessly at the mess inside. Remembering the neatly organised rows of clothes in Arun's wardrobe, I wondered what he would think of the chaos in mine.

After ten minutes of perusal, I decided upon a white kurta set I bought last year. It was not too casual and not too grand. Just perfect. Laying the clothes on the bed, I rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower. I had fifteen minutes left when I got out of the bathroom. I quickly got dressed and did some basic makeup. I donned my favourite peacock earrings, the silver complementing the silver thread in my dress.

I left my hair loose and flowing behind me. When I looked in the mirror at last, I looked dewy, fresh, and happy. Just like a girl in love was supposed to look. Sharply on the thirty-first minute, my doorbell rang. Arun and his punctuality.

I combed my hair one last time and walked towards the door. When I opened it, Arun was standing at the threshold wearing a full-sleeve white shirt and khaki pants. He looked absolutely yummy. It took all the self-restraint in me to not pull him into the flat and have my way with him. If my looks were lusty, Arun's looks were something else.

He took in my appearance from head to toe, not even bothering to be subtle. I wondered if we would make it to this date or spend this night in our usual and favourite way.

"You look beautiful," he said when he was finally out of his reverie.

"Thank you," I said, coming out of my flat. "Shall we go?"

"Yes," Arun said and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes in satisfaction.

We both locked our respective flats and rode the elevator down to the building's parking lot.

"Another parking lot," Arun said, smirking as he noticed the blush on my face.

"Don't get any ideas. I don't want to ruin my hair before our big date." I said, cocking my head.

"What about ruining your lipstick?" Arun asked and dropped a peck on my lips.

"That," I said, smiling up at him. "You can ruin whenever you want."

He led me to his parking space. There was a new addition there. A black Harley Davidson.

"Wow, I didn't know you had a bike." I said, running my hands on the shiny surface.

"I bought it years ago. It's at our main house until now. I just had it shipped here yesterday. For us."

"For us?"

"Yes. As I said, I don't want you to miss out on any normal relationship experiences. That includes riding on your boyfriend's bike."

I hugged him, unable to believe that this man— who I once thought was the most inconsiderate man on earth— could be so thoughtful. I didn't know I was missing that feeling until he said it out. Yes, I wanted to ride with my boyfriend on his bike. I wanted to go the movies with him, eat ice cream, take long walks in the park, and many other things normal people in love do. People who didn't start out as we did.

"Thank you," I said.

"Don't thank me," Arun murmured against my hair. "I need this too."

A few moments later, I was on Arun's bike, and we were zooming off on Delhi roads, weaving through traffic. Arun and I had explored all the borders of intimacy a long time ago. But riding on his bike was a differently intimate thing. We were in our little bubble of the world while the rest of it went by on all sides. I was all he could hear, and he was all I could hear.