Separated Love

Chapter 6: Kartik and Naira Go Shopping

    We pull up to our apartments and Bhai and Keerti di walk out. I offer to sit in the back, but Keerti di tells me to sit in passenger. I have butterflies doing backflips in my stomach. I'm going to the Fresher's Dance with Kartik. Crap! I have absolutely nothing to wear. I look up and realize Kartik's looking at me.
    "Uh Kartik, can you look forward and drive? We're not trying to die." Bhai jokes. Kartik quickly looks forward and we all laugh. This feels so normal.
    "So, what's your plan for tomorrow night?" Keerti di asks with a smirk on her face. Bhai and her keep messing with us on purpose. Kartik looks over at me, expecting me to answer the question.
    "I'm going to the Fresher's Dance tomorrow night." I tell her.
    "No way! Kartik is going too!" Keerti exclaims. Bhai starts cracking up.
    "Keerti, Naira knows you advised me to ask her to the dance." Kartik says sounding annoyed. I'm feeling so awkward but for the first time in a while, I'm also genuinely happy inside. Keerti di hears Kartik's response and apologizes but can't wipe the grin off her face.
    While we're eating at the café, Keerti di asks me if I have any outfit in mind for the dance. I tell her that I have to go shopping for clothes. Keerti di insists we all go shopping together, and before any of us can say anything, it's decided that we are going. It's actually great to see Keerti di so confident. After Aditya she was so broken. I'm so happy for her. The waiter comes with the bill, and Kartik reaches into his back pocket when we both realize his wallet is with me. I reach into my bag and give him his wallet. Keerti di and Bhai start smirking again.

***

    Once we arrive at the mall, Keerti di and Bhai head a completely different direction leaving Kartik and I alone. Gosh they're not being subtle at all. It's so clear they're trying to bring Kartik and I together. Kartik and I walk forward in silence. I decide to make conversation.
    "So, do you have an outfit planned out for tomorrow night?" I ask. I silently hope he wears a black suit. He looks so handsome in black.
    "No I don't. Maybe after you decide what you're wearing today, I can find a matching tie." I look up surprised. "Uh if you're okay with it. If not, I completely understand." I'm more than okay with it. Rather than responding, I give a reassuring smile which tells him it's fine with me. As we are walking forward, Kartik stops at the window of a store. He is admiring this beautiful baby blue colored dress. "Naira, do you mind trying that on for me? You'll look beautiful in it, and I know this color always suits you." I don't think I'm able to hide the happiness from my face. We both head inside the shop. We get the dress and I go to the fitting room to try it on. As I'm putting on the dress, I realize I'm going to need help zipping it up.
    "Kartik," I call out.
    "Yeah Naira? Everything okay?" He asks.
    "Yeah...um do you mind zipping this up?" He is silent for a second and then he comes up to the door. I open the door letting him inside. I'm looking forward into the full sized mirror. He walks in and looks into the mirror. Our eyes meet in the reflection.
    "Wow," he says in a quiet husky tone. He keeps looking at me making me feel shy. He brings his hands slowly up my back - our skin touching. My breathing instantly quickens. He takes his time with zipping up the dress, and his eyes continue to meet mine in the mirror. We say nothing, and take in the moment. As if this silence between us is saying more about our longing than words ever could. "Naira, you are so beautiful." I can feel myself blushing. At that moment, my cellphone rings, making us both realize where we are, bringing us back to reality. It's Bhai calling. I pick up the phone, while Kartik is still so close to me. It's making it tough for me to get words out.
    "H..hhello..." I say stuttering. I tell Bhai the shop we are at and Kartik takes it as his cue to leave from the fitting room. I grab his hand and make him stay. He seems confused. Once I get off of the phone with Bhai, I tell Kartik he's also going to have to unzip the dress now. Kartik takes a deep breath - oh looks like I'm not the only one struggling to breathe. It makes me smile. As he begins to unzip the dress, I realize that I may have to keep some distance from Kartik at the dance. Being around him I lose all control over myself. We both get so lost in the moment. I think back to when we were in that shed, and how badly I wanted Kartik. He looked so hot without his shirt on.
    "Hey, please get this dress." He says this looking so shy it pulls at my heart.
    "I will," I say almost too quickly, making us both smile. He leaves the room and I look into the mirror. My cheeks are as rosy as they can be - surely from what just happened. As I begin to change again, I realize how excited I truly am for tonight. Kartik and I are going on a date for the first time in so long. I just hope everything goes well, and we don't fight tonight.
    Once we buy the dress, Kartik offers to carry the bag for me. We're walking through the mall trying to find a matching tie.
    "Can you wear a black suit?" I ask, catching him off guard.
    "Why?" Now I know he's fishing for a compliment.
    "You have the same effect on me in black that I have on you in blue." I don't think he expected me to actually be honest. His eyes widen and then all of a sudden he becomes shy and smiles. His shy smile is my absolute favorite.
    "Yeah, I'll wear it." He responds looking down.

***

    I enter my room at night and head to bed. Even Papa seemed excited about me going to this dance. I begin writing in my journal. Things have been amazing between Kartik and I recently. I don't know how long it's going to last, but all I know is that I don't want it to stop. We're going to the dance together tomorrow, and the thought of it makes me so incredibly happy. Maybe if things continue to be this great I should be honest with him about how I got hurt. We have been warming up to each other a lot lately. Perhaps this is what we needed. Some time alone to start working things out. This time that we have alone could allow us and ONLY us to properly communicate what our issues are. With that, I decide to stop writing and get some sleep for my big day tomorrow.

***

Author's Notes
    I read a quote by Jay Shetty recently that said, "Lack of communication ruins everything because instead of knowing how the other person is feeling, we just assume." Keeping this in mind, I'll leave this as a hint for what's to come. This chapter was supposed to be a lot longer, but I decided that I want the next part to be its own chapter because something big is about to happen. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for what's coming up!