"Lagta hai tumhe mujhse zyada ice cream pasand hai.  I need a taste of that." Veer said mischievously. 

                          
"Main apni chocolate ice cream kisi ke saath share nahi karti. Agar tumhe chahiye toh fridge mein se le lo." Bani made a face. 

                          
"Achha?" Veer took baby steps towards Bani. 

                          
"Veer... Yeh kya karne ki koshish kar rahe ho?" Bani asked curiously as she began taking steps backwards. Then, she had to stop. Her back thudded against the fridge. She tried to move away but he placed his hand on her side. 

                          
They both gazed in each others eyes longingly; not a word spoken by either of them. She thought she was trying to search for something in his dreamy eyes. He had such an impact on her.  No sooner he clutched his hands into her lower back, leaning her in against his muscular body; he carelessly caressed the molten chocolate stuck on her lower lip. Bani was honestly weakened by his gentle seductive touch. But she clearly saw when he sucked on his thumb to have a taste of her chocolate ice cream.

                          
"Not bad". He whispered in her ear. 

                          
"Veer tum... bohot badmaash ho." Bani gathered words as her chest rose and fall. 

                          
"Agar meri taareef hi karni hai toh kuch aisa kaho na jo mujhe pata na ho sweet heart"

                          
Bani was about to say something but suddenly they heard Ponky, Daksh and Monil scream in the hallway. 

                          
"Yeh log kar kya rahe hai.” Veer was confused. 

                          
"Praan nath yeh aapke happy waale birthday ki surprise party ki teyyari kar rahe hai." Bani did not know why but she just wanted to be dramatic in that moment. 

                          
"I guess I will have to act surprised then!" Veer smiled as he saw Bani giggling.

                          
"So do you want to go back and sleep?" Veer asked thinking about what they could do together if she did not want to sleep. Maybe he could read her something nice or show her his childhood pictures or... 

                          
"Tumhe neend nahi aa rahi?" Bani asked him. 

                          
"I have a meeting at seven. Agar abhi soya toh waqt par waha pohoch nahi paaunga." 

                          
"Mujhe bhi neend nahi aa rahi. I think I need some fresh air."

                          
"Ghar wali, hum drive pe chale?" That seemed like the best idea to Veer. 

                          
"Kya hum beach pe jaa sakte hai?" Bani just made it a hundred times better. 

                          
"Aapka hukum sarr ankhon par Mrs. Veeranshu Singhania" Veer bowed down and gestured "After you." 

                          
Bani handed a basket of fruits to Veer to carry and flipped her hair as she walked out of the kitchen. "Ghar waali ke nakhre uthaane ka sukh, har kisiko ko thodi prapt hota hai." Veer spoke to himself and walked behind her. 


                          
~~~


                          
Even if it was a few minutes past four in the morning, coming to the beach with Bani was a good idea. Veer smiled at the thought. She was playing with the sand when he sat behind her. "Yahaan aakar mere mann ko bohot shaanti milti hai Veer." Bani said to Veer as he wrapped his arms around her and enveloped her in an embrace. She was surprised. Yet again. Every time he looked at her, spoke to her or touched her, it felt like the most real habit that can be. For both of them. Warm and comfortable. "Haan Bani mujhe bhi bohot sukoon mila, never realized how badly I needed this." Veer whispered in her ear, his beard slightly pierced the skin of her neck. 

                          
Bani closed her eyes and murmured into the breeze, breathing in the briny aroma. Scrunching her toes, she felt the softness of the sand. She fluttered  as a shiver cascaded down her spine and her eyes opened. She could feel Veer's breathe on her neck. The sand blurred out in a long blissful trance, the shore fading into liquid silver, vivid in the brilliant darkness before sunrise. Her pale lips curved upwards.