[ ɪɴᴅɪᴀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ♬♩♪♩]
"It's okay, love. I won't hurt you," Raj tried to reassure me, his voice soft, but I couldn't believe him. I shakily stood up, trying to put more distance between us.
"Please, Lavanya, relax. You're not well," he said, steppin...
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✧ Lavanya's POV ✧
The car ride to the restaurant was enveloped in a comfortable silence, yet my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I finally summoned the courage to break the tension.
"Raj," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "what are we to each other?"
Raj glanced at me briefly before focusing back on the road. "Hmm?"
I took a deep breath, my palms clammy as I wrung my hands in my lap. "I mean, this is our second date, and you haven't asked me to be your girlfriend. I'm not really sure where we stand."
Abruptly, Raj stopped the car, his expression serious. He turned to face me, the dim light from the dashboard casting shadows on his chiseled features. "Why are you asking me this now?" he asked, his tone steady but with an underlying tension.
"I just need to know," I admitted, my voice trembling with vulnerability. "Are we something more?"
Raj's gaze softened, and he reached over, placing his left hand gently on mine. The warmth of his touch sent a flutter through me. "Lavanya, I really, really like you. Maybe even more than just liking. If I told you directly that I'm falling for you, you might freak out."
He sighed deeply, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his voice. "I want us to be official. There's a lot I want to tell you, but it might be confusing now. So, Lavanya, will you be my girlfriend?"
My heart raced, a mix of nervousness and excitement swirling within me. I bit my lower lip, feeling a shy smile form as I nodded. "Yes, Raj, I want to be your girlfriend."
A wave of relief washed over Raj's face, replaced quickly by a joyful smile. He squeezed my hand gently, leaning in to press a tender kiss against my lips. It was sweet and soft, a promise of what was to come. "I really want to kiss you more, but we're running late," he teased, his tone playful as he pulled back, leaving me breathless.
My cheeks flushed, the heat radiating from my skin only intensifying as Raj's smirk made it worse. I turned to look out the window, my heart soaring with happiness. It felt like a dream come true-a moment I had longed for.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Raj's friends Varun and Riya were already there, and I felt a twinge of nervousness about meeting them. I wanted them to like me, to see the connection Raj and I shared.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Lavanya," Riya greeted warmly, her smile infectious.
I bowed slightly, my voice trembling slightly. "Nice to meet you too, Miss Riya and Mr. Varun."
They exchanged amused glances, clearly finding my formality amusing. "Just call us Riya and Varun. We're friends outside of work," Varun said with a friendly grin that instantly made me feel more at ease.
