Always & Forever (Billionaire Love- Virat Kohli)

|05| Vappucino's

It was Hridaan’s idea to go to Vapuccino’s, and the other four, fortunately, agreed. Giya and Anushka were open to any restaurant, given their limited knowledge of the area’s food joints.

Virat was behind the wheel, Anushka was riding shotgun, and Giya found herself squeezed between Hridaan and Siddharth in the back. Although she was cramped, Giya was determined to play matchmaker and set Anushka and Virat up.

“Swati, I don’t know why, but it feels like I’ve seen you somewhere before,” Siddharth said suddenly.

Anushka was taken aback and nervously glanced at Giya for support. Giya, sensing the tension, decided to deflect. “Ha ha ha! Very funny, Siddharth. That’s an old pickup line. Maybe try something new?” Virat teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Noooo, I’m serious. Why don’t you all believe me?” Siddharth protested, sounding like a petulant child.

“Because you never say anything believable,” Hridaan laughed, and soon, everyone, including Siddharth, joined in the laughter.

Anushka sighed in relief, grateful to Virat for unknowingly rescuing her from an awkward situation. She didn’t want her true identity to be revealed—she was in L.A. to establish her own career and independence, away from the shadows of her family and Bollywood connections.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Virat looking at her with concern. “Kaha kho gayi thi aap?” he asked softly.

“Nothing serious. Just lost in some thoughts,” Anushka replied with a smile. Virat smiled back, his gaze lingering on her.

Virat had been glancing at Anushka from the corner of his eye, wanting to engage her in conversation. But his fear of seeming desperate had held him back. For the first time, he felt a strong attraction and was eager to know more about her.

Unable to resist any longer, he tapped Anushka’s shoulder lightly to get her attention. When she looked at him, Virat was momentarily lost in her eyes, which seemed to hold countless stories. As Anushka spoke, Virat found himself captivated by her presence. Her smile alone made him feel as though butterflies were fluttering in his stomach.

“Eyes on the road, Mr.,” Anushka suddenly reminded him, pulling him back to reality. A car was approaching, threatening to cause a collision. Thanks to Hridaan’s quick reflexes, he maneuvered the steering wheel, avoiding the accident.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how I zoned out,” Virat apologized, feeling guilty for the lapse that nearly led to disaster.

“Chill, yaar! It happens. By the way, were you lost in thoughts about your girlfriend?” Anushka tried to lighten the mood and distract Virat from his guilt.

“As if he has one. Our Harsh is single and also a virgin,” Siddharth teased, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.

“That’s good then. Swati is single and also a virgin. They’d make a perfect couple,” Giya said impulsively, then immediately regretted it.

If looks could kill, Giya would have been buried ten feet underground. Anushka was visibly annoyed by Giya’s matchmaking attempt. She was focused on building her own career and didn’t want her friend’s attempts at matchmaking to interfere.

Virat noticed Anushka’s discomfort and saw the daggers she was sending Giya’s way. To comfort her, he gently held Anushka’s hand. She froze, startled by the unexpected gesture. “Swati, listen to me,” Virat said softly.

With his left hand holding hers and his right still on the steering wheel, Virat spoke reassuringly. “Ignore their words. They were just joking.”

Anushka felt her anger dissipate, comforted by Virat’s words. He seemed to be her anchor, providing a sense of calm in the midst of the chaos. “Okay,” she nodded.

Virat grinned, relieved to see her smile return.

Soon, they arrived at Vapuccino’s. While Giya, Siddharth, and Hridaan quickly exited the car, Virat and Anushka took their time. Virat, ever the gentleman, opened the passenger door for Anushka and helped her out.

By the time Anushka and Virat entered the restaurant, their friends had already secured a table. Anushka and Virat took the remaining two chairs, sitting next to each other.

When the waiter arrived, Anushka and Virat ordered pasta, while the others opted for burgers and French fries. As the waiter left to place the orders, the group naturally divided into two clusters. Virat and Anushka chatted enthusiastically about their shared love for pasta, oblivious to Giya, Siddharth, and Hridaan’s plans to bring them closer together.

The food arrived promptly, and the group devoured their meals with gusto. Within ten minutes, they had finished, and the waiter came to clear the table.

As Anushka reached for her purse to pay her share, Virat interjected. “Shooo! The bill is on me, Swati,” he said casually.

“But I can pay,” Anushka protested.

“Sorry, but I like to be a gentleman,” Virat insisted with a smirk. He pulled out his card and settled the bill.

“I’ll return the money one way or another,” Anushka whispered into Virat’s ear before joining Giya.

On the way back, Virat made sure the girls were safely dropped off at their apartment. “Thank you, Mr. Driver,” Anushka teased as she exited the car.

Virat winked but said nothing more. Anushka took it as a sign to leave.

As she opened her apartment door, she received a text from Virat. “Tomorrow at 4 p.m. I’ll take you to the publishing house.”

Surprised by how he got her number, Anushka replied, “How did you get my number, Mr. Driver?”

Virat’s response was playful: “You never know what I’m up to! I got your number with a bit of magic.”

Anushka smiled at his message and texted back: “Okay, so Mr. Driver is now Mr. Magician. Good night, and you better be on time.”

Virat replied almost immediately: “Alright, madam! Good night.”

Anushka read the message and didn’t reply further. As she reflected on the day, she realized that Virat was slowly becoming her friend. She was looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.