DESIRES - Tarini & Samir

Excuse Me? Who Are You?

It was our first date.

I'm Tarini, a successful young CA from Delhi. Two days ago, I met Samir at a business after-party. We'd exchanged a few words before, nothing more than polite greetings at corporate events. He was always there in the background, just another face in the crowd. But that night, things were different.

The after-party was buzzing. The clinking of glasses, the hum of laughter, and low conversations filled the air. I was with a few colleagues, sipping on a cocktail, when my eyes wandered across the room. And there he was. I’d noticed him before—tall, broad-shouldered, always well put together—but tonight, something about him caught my attention in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

Samir was standing near the bar, talking to Mihir, one of my colleagues. He wore a maroon, long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, and a pair of well-fitted pants that complimented his V-shaped and athletic physique. His coat was draped casually over his arm, and a glass of champagne sparkled in his other hand. It wasn’t just his appearance that drew me in; it was the way he carried himself—confident but understated, effortlessly charming without even trying.

As I watched, I caught him stealing a glance in my direction. It was subtle, almost like he was testing the waters. For a moment, I thought I imagined it, but when our eyes met, he didn’t look away. Instead, he gave me a small, almost knowing smile, like we were sharing a secret. My heart skipped a beat.

His gaze lingered just a second longer than it should have, and I felt a strange, magnetic pull towards him. I’d never felt this way about anyone before—there was something about him that was drawing me in, something I couldn’t quite put into words. He wasn’t just another guy at the party. He was... different. I wanted to know more.

As the night went on, we didn’t get a chance to talk. He remained the mysterious presence on the edge of my awareness, always in the background, watching but not approaching. Part of me was relieved—it would have been too soon, too intense. But another part of me was undeniably curious. Who was he?

The party ended, and I didn’t see him again after that night. Life moved on, as it always does, and soon enough, I pushed the memory of him aside, buried under the weight of work and my busy schedule.

Then came my best friend’s birthday. After a day of fun, we ended the night at a bar, celebrating with drinks and food. The hours flew by, and before I knew it, it was 11 p.m. I had a meeting scheduled for the next morning, and I couldn’t afford to be late, so I decided to head home a little early.

Before leaving, I stopped by the washroom. In my hurry, I splashed water onto my shirt while washing my hands. "Great," I muttered, trying to dry the spot with a tissue. I wasn’t paying attention as I stepped out, still focused on the water stain, and I bumped into someone—hard.

I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat. It was him—Samir.

His hands were on my waist, steadying me before I could fall, and for a moment, we just stood there, inches apart. His touch was firm but gentle, and I felt a spark of something between us, something electric. His face was close, so close I could see the hint of a smile in his eyes.

“You alright?” His voice was deep, calm, yet laced with something that sent a shiver down my spine. It was like a warm embrace, comforting, yet at the same time, there was a husky edge to it, a tone that made me feel things I hadn’t expected. It was the kind of voice that could make you want to curl up in his arms... or do things to him that I shouldn’t even be thinking about right now.

I couldn’t speak. My brain had short-circuited, and all I could do was nod. He released one hand from my waist and, without missing a beat, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket. He gently dabbed at the water stain on my shirt, his touch light and careful, as if he didn’t want to cross any boundaries. His fingers brushed against my skin through the fabric, sending a wave of warmth through me.

There was no one around. We were still inside, standing just outside the ladies’ washroom, hidden from the rest of the bar. The world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of us, standing so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My back was pressed against the door, his face only inches from mine. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and intense, and I knew then that he wanted to get closer. But he didn’t. He was a gentleman, after all, and he wouldn’t rush this—not yet.

But the tension between us was undeniable. His breath was warm against my skin, his lips so close, and all I could think about was how much I wanted him to close the gap, to kiss me, to touch me. I’d never felt this kind of intensity before. It wasn’t just attraction—it was something deeper, something raw.

We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, our eyes locked, neither of us willing to break the spell. I could see the desire in his gaze, the restraint in his posture. He wanted to get closer, I knew that much. But he was waiting, holding back, letting me set the pace.

My heart was racing, my mind spinning, and before I knew what I was doing, I broke the eye contact and blurted out, “Uh, excuse me.”

Excuse me?! What the hell, Tarini?

I immediately regretted it. Here I was, face to face with the man who had been on my mind for days, and I said excuse me? He stepped back, letting me go with a soft smile, like he understood, like he wasn’t going to push. He wasn’t going to be the first to make a move. It was maddening.

But the truth was, I didn’t want him to step back. I wanted him to pull me closer, to kiss me right then and there. The air between us had been so thick with tension, so electric, and now... now I had ruined it with those two ridiculous words.

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