4. Starry Nights

“I’ll pick you up at 7pm,”

“But I can’t” – he cut the call before she could say anything. Deepika threw her phone on the bed. She didn’t know what to do; she didn’t know how to stop him.

“Ranbir can’t do this to me, what should I do” she thought to herself.  

“No, I’m not going,” she whined, falling back onto the bed to get her phone to see the time. 

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It was almost 6.45pm and Deepika was watching TV at the hall with her parents and sister. She was restless.

“Papa I’m going to bed early today, I’m having a headache,” she told her parents who were watching TV at the hall.

Her sister was there, giggling away when Deepika told that.

Deepika knew her sister would find out either ways. She signaled her sister to meet her up in her room and her sister quietly followed her.

They went to Deepika’s room and closed the door.

“He’s picking me up at 7 and I don’t know what to do. If mama catches me then I’m screwed.”

“Tell Ranbir not to come then, it’s easy you know,” Anisha said jokingly knowing how much Deepika actually wants to see him.

Deepika’s phone started ringing. She looked at her phone and then smiled. Realizing Anisha was still there looking at her and smiling, she dragged her out of the room.

“Just manage for me,” Deepika said while closing the door.

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She opened her bedroom window and looked outside. Ranbir was waiting for her. She managed to squeeze herself out of her window and jump onto the grassy area in her garden.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You look gorgeous if it isn’t obvious,” he said while giving her a bunch of red roses. He knew how much she loves flowers.

“You got me flowers,” she said innocently as took the roses from Ranbir, brought it to her nose and smelt it.

She couldn’t stop smiling.

“Well I figured since it’s a date, why not just do it right.”

As they walked up the sidewalk to his car, their hands brushed together. He held out his hand for hers and held it tightly.

They got in the car, and he drove away.

“Where are we going?”

“For a long drive. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me,”

“Not that, but I have to be home soon. If my parents found out, I’m grounded.”

“I’ll drop you back home before your parents wake up.”

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It was a dark, quiet night as the roads were empty. There wasn’t any traffic since there were barely cars on the road. 

They have been driving for about two hours. All the time in the car, they were talking, joking about each other and trying to get to know each other better. She told him about her family and her life, her favorites and so did he.

Ranbir then stopped the car beside the beach.

They rolled down all the four car windows and got out of the car, leaving the radio playing out loud. Ranbir went to the nearby stall and got Deepika some food since she was hungry.

They sat on the hood of the car, with their backs lying on the windscreen, enjoying the music, food, the breeze and most of all, each other’s company.

It was a starry night.

*kabhi kabhi mere dil mein started played on the radio*

“I love this song,” she said as she started humming to the song.

Ranbir turned to look at her, gazing her instead of gazing the stars. She caught him staring at her, and turned to look at him.

“You’re something different you know,” he said with full of admiration in his eyes. 

She looked into his eyes.

She realized how deep she has actually fallen for him.

She felt completely out of your control of her heart. It was like butterflies, anxiety, and euphoria all came together.

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, closing the gap between them. He gazed into her eyes and stared at her lips.

He leaned in and kissed her on her lips. It was more like a peck.

He pulled back as quickly as he leaned in to see if she approves of it. He didn’t want her to regret it because he wanted this moment to be perfect.

Deepika looked at him. She saw the love in his eyes. He was looking at her the way she always hoped a guy would and she knew this moment was everything she ever dreamt of how her first kiss would be. It was much more.

She placed her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him passionately.

They kissed, for what seemed like a forever. Neither of them could pull away. It’s like they just had no control when they are with each other.

Deepika pulled back, breaking the kiss.

“Wow,” she looked at him shyly.

“That was my first kiss, and it was -”

“Amazing,” he said while he pulled her closer to cuddle.

She wrapped herself in his arms and placed her head on his chest, feeling the warmth of his body.

“I love you babe,” Ranbir said while kissing her forehead.

They cuddled as they watched the sun rise together.

It was a moment that would last forever in their memory.  

Signing off with love, 

Marge