The Imperfect Couple (Complete)

Chapter 16

His own words of acceptance resounded in his ears. He was never like this before... it was like he didn't know the reason for his own actions, but he did what he felt like... it was the feeling... so unbelievingly serene... so unearthly pure...

He rested his forehead on hers with his hand, maintaining her close till that troubling restlessness in his chest subsided completely.

Like he had always been waiting for this... like they were always meant to be like that... together.

"You've got dimples!" her sudden loud exclamation made him recoil back as the words appeared so confusing and out of context.

And only then he realized that he had been smiling. Feeling both embarrassed by his Romeo like attitude and her unexpected comment, he turned his face sideways.

"My goodness! Are you blushing?" she giggled, making him go red.

Aditya and blushing! Or maybe he was. Then, to analyze it all, the girl really had some miraculous hold over him. He had just buttoned her shirt without her being bothered at all and then her simple, obvious remark makes him blush like a newly wedded groom.

"I am not" he defended, still facing sideways. He hated the embarrassing situation she had put him in, but the worst part was he still couldn't just stand and walk away. So the only reaction he could manage in his pitiable situation was his highly uncomfortable look of furrowed brows.

"Yes, you are," she said adamantly while getting on her knees in childish excitement and poking his cheek right cheek which made him grin shaking his head.

"So what were you up to back there?" he asked as they started walking and added, placing his hands in his pockets, "Am I really stuck with a lesbian for the rest of my life?"

"Hey!" she pointed her finger as she chased the roughish boy who never failed to have fun at her expense.

"Stop! I give up" she spoke panting with her hands on her waist.

"You really need to build up your stamina. You are gasping only after half a mile," Aditya said, striding back to her with not so impressed expression on his face.

Feeling insulted with his statement, Charu tried hard to control her heavy breaths.

"It's nothing. I am just... actually I didn't have my breakfast. So." She finally found a proper defense in between her ragged breaths.

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Ankita frowned in panic as she spotted Aditya striding towards the beach shack, she was appointed to guard.

She didn't approve of any of it. Charu meeting her crush for a romantic candlelight dinner...

Then the possibility of her husband catching them together... And top it all, her helping Charu in all her scandals.

'What are friends for' she smirked in resentment at remembering Charu's words.

Definitely not for helping their friends cheat on their spouses!

'Hi, Aditya!' Ankita nervously tried to strike a conversation as he started to ascend the steps to the restaurant.

'Hey!' Aditya responded. He knew she was Charu's friend. But they had never met officially. Charu made sure not to introduce him to anyone in her life.

'What's up!' she continued cheekily.

'Well, I was on my way to get a few beers for my friends before a random stranger decided to chit-chat for no apparent reason.'

Ankita smiled shamelessly at his taunt. Mentally making a note to strangle Charu for putting her in this dilemma, she laughed pointlessly. 'You are so funny, Aditya!'

Flashing a clear fake smile at her weird behavior, Aditya moves up the stairs again.

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Charu smiled shyly as Karan held out a hand, urging her to the dance floor. Charu accepted, and he tugged her closer as the surrounding music changed to slow and romantic.

This was just like movies. Charu had imagined this moment a million times. Here she was, in the arms of the man of her dreams.

'You are looking beautiful, Charu.' Karan complemented in a soft tone. 

With practiced shyness she had learned from 90s movies, Charu lowered her face and smiled.

Beaming at the response, Karan stared at the modest girl. He was mad at her. She had completely confused him on the bus yesterday. But the way she looked tonight in this dress, he couldn't resist her anymore. She was too attractive to be ignored. 

With desire cropping up to his eyes, he bent forward to kiss those soft pink lips when she suddenly moved her head upward, hitting his chin the process.

'Aah' Karan cried in pain.

Aghast at the sudden unwelcome turn of events, Charu stumbled for an apology. 'I am so-so s-sorry K-K-K-Karan!'

At the unintended reference to a Bollywood movie's similar dialog, Karan laughed heartily.

Feeling at ease by his reaction, Charu too broke into a chuckle.

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'I know about you and Charu!' Ankita sighed in relief as the haughty boy finally stopped dead in his tracks.

Happy at the desired reaction, Ankita smiled understandably at his dumbfounded expression.

'She told you about us?' 

Ankita nodded in agreement, wondering if she imagined a hint of hope in his voice.

She searched his face for any trace of emotion, but to no avail. He was just looking at her with furrowed brows. Realizing she still needed to explain her reason to stop him, she continued, 'Well, I just wanted to talk to you about Charu. You see, she is an innocent girl. I want you to know I am there to protect her. I want to make sure you never hurt her feelings.' Ankita winced internally as she blurted whatever came to her mind at the moment. She was prepared to make a fool of herself for her best friend.

Aditya raised his brows with an amused smile. 'So the birds of a feather, indeed, flock together,' he said, crossing his arms.

Flushed inwardly, at his implied insult at her and her best friend in the same sentence, Ankita stiffened her posture in defense. Charu had brought up, frequently, how Aditya never failed to point out her follies. Nobody would believe they were a married couple. 

The husband was hell-bent on proving his wife's foolishness. And the wife, well, the wife was currently on a date with another man! But she had no time to ponder on life and its treacherous sense of humor now. She had to make up something to say quickly.

Finding a glimpse of his day-dreamer wife in her best friend, Aditya impatiently shrugs, 'You know what, alcohol is anyway bad for me.' and strolls past her, back to the shore, much to her relief.

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