Foresight

Chapter XXXIII

The breeze blows along his hair, making it fly behind him. On Pallavi's insistence, Rajesh agreed to take off his headband. They had taken a long ride to the beach to catch the sunset. Rajesh could not stop taking glances at her face from time to time. Her smile was so mesmerizing, her luscious lips so inviting, her rosy cheeks so soft.

'Wow she is so beautiful. Damn time ran away fast' Rajesh thinks as he takes one more glance.

"When we are with someone we like, time flies" Pallavi replies, as she walks in the sand, with her sandals in her hand, enjoying the breeze.

"Ohh. I thought it was just in my mind. I didn't know I said that out loud" Rajesh grins sheepishly.

"You didn't say it out loud. But it was evident in your face." she replies, turning back towards him, with her head tilted to her side, in a romantic way. "Ohh and by the way if you want to see me that much why don't we click some picture here. That way you can keep looking at them at your convenience" she adds.

"Yeah but that won't compare to your face" Rajesh flirts back.

"That is true. I am the most beautiful girl in the world" she replies back cockily.

They both sit down and watch the sun, inching its way to the horizon. Rajesh gets up to get some ice cream for them. He hands over strawberry flavor to her and retains chocolate flavor with him. Pallavi takes a bite eagerly as child, only to cringe and spit it out with an audible yuck.

"Hey what happened you didn't like it?" Rajesh asks as he leans towards her

"Yeah. I don't like it. How is yours" she asks, wiping her lips with her hankdkerchief.

"Why don't you try for yourself" Rajesh suggest as he extends his ice cream towards her.

"Are you sure? If I like it, I will finish it" she warns him, opening her eyes fully.

"I am sure. In the meanwhile hand me your strawberry ice cream. Let me get a taste of that" saying that he snatched the strawberry ice cream from her hands and passes his untouched chocolate one. She eagerly bites onto it and lo! A smile flashes on her face. She hungrily bites another chunk, before guiltily looking at Rajesh, with her big doe eyes. He just laughs at her shaking his head and gorges onto her strawberry ice cream.

They head to the water and get their feet wet in the waves. As they pass time, Pallavi's face turns little serious.

"Rajesh why are you so nice to me?" she asks as she turns towards him.

"What do you mean by that. You are an attractive, successful girl. Why should I not be nice to you" Rajesh explains, perplexed with her sudden change in her mood.

"You still don't need to. We are just business clients." She answers.

"I would like to maintain a good relationship with my clients." He fights back.

"That's not the only reason why guys are good to girls you know right?" she asks with a tone of sarcasm.

"Ok. I will be frank. I think you are beautiful. From the day I saw you for the first time in your office, I was smitten over you. Over the time you have showed that you are talented, independent, strong. So pardon me, but I would like to see our friendship grow" Rajesh blurts out, knowing that honesty is always the better way to a girls heart.

"I will appreciate your honesty. But I can't guarantee anything more than platonic friendship and client-provider relationship" she replies, looking at her own feet, sinking into the sand as the waves recede back.