Author's note:
Please listen to the song 'Oh oh' from the film 'Thangamagan' as your read the chapter!
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Srishti bit her lower lip as she eyed herself in the mirror, her tiny palms fiddling with anxiousness. Her heart did somersaults as she remembered that her boyfriend wanted to take her out on a date that evening. A formal soiree as he titled it, she quickly brushed her hair and took her phone to keep it in her bag before stepping out of the door.
It was the first real date that he was taking her out as he mentioned, Adhiran kept the location as a secret but she only got the gist of it to be a nice restaurant when he asked her to dress formally,
His car arrived at the exact moment he had promised her, not too early, not a minute late. Srishti took slow strides towards him and he held her hand,
'Good evening, Moonshine. Are you ready to go?' he asked her, kissing her knuckles as he opened the door for her,
' Greetings my dear, but you still didn't tell me where we are going!' she told him as a matter of fact and he chuckled,
'Surprise nu sonnene !' he replied in the same tone,
' Don't get me wrong ma.. aana enaku intha surprises laam rombavae puthusu…athunaala dha kekren' she held his arm and he looked at her with a small smile, eyes softening with consideration,
'Unna yaarumae surprise pannathu illaya?' he asked her, his voice dropping low,
' Erm.. na chinna ponna irukumbothu ennayum Chandru vayum appa oru naal oru exhibition kootitu ponaru…
Other than that, I don't remember having any similar experiences…' she sighed telling him her heart and he took a deep breath,
' Ellathukum serthu na panuven.. en promise ' he kissed her cheek as he drove them away, his car playing a mellowing love song,
A moment passed as the prelude of the song played, Adhiran's beady eyes stole secret glances of her delightful visage and dainty features as he breathed to steady his thrumming heart, ' You look like a fairy from the heavens, Road ah paathu vandi ootavae romba kashtama iruku ' he mumbled biting his lips and Srishti giggled at his compliment,
'Thank you ma' She was at a loss of words, Adhiran looked no less than a renaissance gentleman clad in a sable suit with a striped ivory shirt underneath. His curly brown hair was neatly styled with a few tresses messed up gracefully by the wuthering wind, his cologne, a sweetly intoxicating blend that shredded her senses, sending tiny blades of fire dance on her skin,
It was comfortably reticent with a few simple words spoken throughout the ride. Adhiran and Srishti felt like two teenagers who had their first fling as they saw each other and smiled often.
Adhiran held her hand in his as they reached the small restaurant covered in glittering lights and lush trees , a soft breeze brushed by spreading the indolence of the evening Jasmine flowers that were groomed around the place. Srishti 's heart raced again, this time in pure excitement,
Blue Moon Over Avila, the name of the restaurant read in an elegant cursive carving above the main entrance decorated with aromatic flowers, lilies and dangling daffodils. Srishti smiled subtly as she looped her arm around his, letting him lead them inside the place. A waiter welcomed them gracefully,
'bonsoir monsieur et madame, How may I help you?' he offered a polite smile,
' Bonsoir, Can you lead us both to table number 7, S'il vous plait?' Adhiran spoke in a gentle voice,
