CHAPTER – 8

          Within a week the shoot got complete and Viren arranged for a wrap up party.

“Attention guys. This party is to celebrate a good news as well as a bad news”.

Pallavi twitched her eyebrows while Pranav looked least bothered.

“Well yes, the good news is the completion of my first film as you all guessed and the bad news is that our Pallavi escaping death, shattering all our hopes of getting away from her constant blabbering forever”.

Pallavi had her mouth wide open in shock while others laughed.

“VIREN!!!!”

“Easy, easy.... girlfriend, jokes apart this party is as much for you as it is for the film. C'mon dear we opted Chinese cuisine just for your sake. So thank you for staying in our lives to torture us and...”

Before he could complete his words, she started whacking his head. Everybody laughed out loud, even Pranav couldn’t help a smirk.

                                                    ************

The party ended around 11 at night. All are heading back to hotel. Their flight back to India is early morning but Pranav is not in the mood to hit bed; he had plans.  Something made him ask Pallavi if she would like to join him; maybe because he’s aware their moments together are coming to an end.

 Pallavi knew he loved roaming around in foreign countries where he is not easily recognized and even enjoyed shopping. She readily agreed, wanting to spend some more time with him. They visited some night attractions the city offered and indulged in some shopping. Since it’s a short distance back to their hotel and the alley is decorated tastefully for Christmas, they decided to go by foot, enjoying it. They indulged in small talk while walking on the snow covered footpath.

“Why do you love shopping? It isn’t a thing one would associate with you!”

Pranav just shrugged his shoulders.

“What interests you about shopping?”

He did not answer that question immediately but felt like he is collecting his thoughts.

“My mother used to take me whenever she went for shopping. She was a shopaholic”

Pallavi smiled.

“After her death, I used to miss those shopping spree in my life. One day I was walking through some street of New York, I just shopped a little and it felt like she is beside me. Then it became a habit. I can't do this freely in India. So whenever I come abroad I take time for it”.

Pranav did not have many happy memories with his parents but he realized he did cherish the ones he had with them. She saw the stress lines on his face and decided to change the topic.

“King, you know what is coming to my mind when we are walking like this? Your debut movie 'Intezaar'; in it there is a scene where you walk through such a snowy street with Actress Soumya and you just kiss her out of the blue. Haayyee that is the first kiss I ever saw. You know, initially I didn't understand what is happening. Apparently I watched it when I was 11. So naturally I didn't understand. But my sister told me that is a kiss”.

Pranav looked on dumbfounded. But oblivious to his thoughts she continued with her rant. When she saw that he had stopped walking she turned and questioned him naughtily.

“You are too slow. Need help with the bags? Already an old man huh?”

Obviously he got miffed by it.

“What?”

She giggled and took a step towards him. But suddenly she slipped on the snow glazed pavement. But Pranav caught her on time.

Time stood still for them. Pranav had his arms wound around her waist and his eyes were lost in hers. Both didn't know for how long they stood like that. Pallavi's fringe is dancing with the wind on her cheek. He moved his hand to her cheek and pinned it behind her ears. Slowly his eyes moved towards her lips and she felt her breathe hitching. His eyes pierced into hers. A car passed by and the sudden force of the wind that came with it brought them out of their reverie. Immediately she moved out of his arms. She was flustered; he clueless. An awkward silence crept in. Their mind and heart were pulling them into different directions. Just then she realized they were close to their hotel.

“Let's go”

She walked as fast as she can. He followed her silently. They entered the hotel and went straight to the elevator. There were 2 other foreigners in the elevator. The sexual tension between them is taking a toll on her sanity. They got down on their floor and she made way to her suite. She entered, but couldn’t stop herself from turning back. She is taken aback when she found him standing just behind her at the door with a very strange expression writ on his face. She went numb.

He slowly moved towards her and she moved backward. The magical pull they felt towards each other didn’t allow them to hold back. Pallavi hit the wall behind her. He stared at her lips. She feels strange sensations within her. She didn’t want to pull up defences and pretend. She knew it is wrong, but she wanted this moment as badly as him.

He slowly cupped her left cheek and ran his thumb over the blush on her right cheek, Pallavi shivered; they didn't break their eye lock.  Dev inched towards her lips, their breaths mingled and he whispered huskily "Pallavi".

 She saw the desire lazed in his eyes and knew very well the same desire is mirroring in hers. She closed her eyes surrendering herself to him. Getting her approval Pranav covered her mouth with his.

His lips smooched her very gently first. But soon the kiss turned into a sensual one. He ran his tongue along her lower lip and she sighed. He took the opportunity and sucked on her lips greedily. He bit her lip and she gasped in his mouth. He drove his tongue in tasting every inch of her. Their kiss grew more and more hungry. He couldn't get enough of her. Whereas Pallavi is feeling numb; she didn’t know what to feel. It didn’t seem like those kisses she had seen and read of, it felt weird to her. Yet she couldn’t resist the feelings it was rising in her.

The shrill ring of Pranav's cell phone ended their beautiful moment and inevitably brought them to senses. He checked her face to read her thoughts but she is looking anywhere but at him. He wanted to talk to her, so disconnected the call. But when he lifted the phone she saw Janaki’s name on display.

Pallavi froze.