"Okay, then come over to my house," Karthik said.
"I think it was just a joke, right?" muttered Deepika.
"No, I am serious," Karthik replied firmly.
"What kind of guy are you? We just met this morning and how cheap of you to ask like this," Deepika screamed, horrified at his invitation.
"Deepika, please don't react so loudly and don't overthink it," Karthik interjected, interrupting Deepika's train of thought.
Karthik nervously fidgeted with his hands, waiting for Deepika to respond. To his surprise, Deepika didn't say anything and ended the call. He wondered if he had said something wrong or offended her in some way. A few minutes later, Deepika appeared in front of Karthik, looking furious. She raised her eyebrow, challenging him to repeat what he had said earlier.
"Ma'am, please relax. All I want is, you to be safe, that's it."
From the moment he saw Deepika, he knew he had found his soulmate. He cherished every moment spent with her and felt confident that she was the one he could completely bond with and share his ups and downs. Despite Deepika's marriage dilemma, he believed that their relationship would end on a positive note. That's why he didn't hesitate to invite her to his home. To him, he was inviting his future wife. As they walked, the cool breeze from the trees brushed against their faces, and Deepika couldn't help but feel refreshed.
"My friend, don't entertain those wild thoughts that are running through your mind, especially at 11:55 at night! And you don't have to say yes," Karthik advised. "If you feel it's safer, I can drop you off at your friend's place."
Deepika felt relieved and reached for her mobile to check her friends' availability. However, she didn't want to disturb them at such a late hour. Instead, she opted to check their "Last Seen" status on WhatsApp. Her plan was to call them only if they were online or if their "Last Seen" was within the last 20 minutes.
Karthik understood her thought process and secretly hoped that none of her friends would be available. His prayers were answered by the Cupid god.
"Okay then, if you need me here, I don't mind sleeping outside your house," he said, gesturing towards the road.
"Fair enough," replied Deepika, and paced back and forth before stopping in front of him. "Maybe...we could spend this night together. Just saying."
"How?" Karthik asked, a gentle smile spreading across his face followed by a wink.
"Hmm...I've heard a lot about this place called Bistro Cafe on Mysore Road. It's only open in the wee hours of the night, but it's a calm, safe, and great place for open-air dining. I think we should give it a try," suggested Deepika, pausing briefly.
"I think it's an hour's drive away," she added.
"Let's go," declared Karthik victoriously, and they huddled inside the car.
☕❤ ☕
Bistro Cafe was located on the outskirts of Bangalore, as Deepika had mentioned, and it was over an hour away from her house. Although it wasn't the best idea to stay out all night, it was still a better option for Karthik than leaving Deepika alone or at a friend's place. He wanted to ensure that she was safe and he didn't mind the long drive if it meant spending more time with her.
As they drove towards Bistro Cafe, Karthik couldn't help but steal glances at Deepika. Her hair was gently swaying in the breeze, and her face was illuminated by the moonlight. He found himself lost in thought, wondering what the future held for them. Would they end up together? Or would their paths diverge?
The sound of Deepika's voice brought him back to reality. "We're here!" she exclaimed.
Karthik parked the car, and they made their way towards the cafe. The place was surprisingly busy, even at such a late hour. They managed to find a table in a secluded corner, away from the others and they engaged in small talk. They discussed their interests, their dreams, and their fears. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and Karthik found himself drawn to Deepika's infectious energy and enthusiasm.
Karthik felt a surge of happiness wash over him. He knew that he had found someone special in Deepika, and he wasn't going to let her go without a fight.
"What would you like to have?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't eat anything after 10 p.m. Snacking late at night can lead to health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure," she said apologetically.
With a smile on his face, Karthik interrupted her and said, "Hold on, don't go on with your scary list. It's just one night, we will be fine."
With a smile on his face, Karthik interrupted her and said, "Hold on, don't go on with your scary list. It's just one night, we will be fine."
Karthik and Deepika were enjoying the night, lost in each other's company when they suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Karthik turned his head to see two familiar faces - Naresh and his girlfriend Vidya, walking towards them. Excitement and surprise filled Karthik as he quickly got up to greet his friends with a big smile and warm welcome.
For the following 2 minutes, greetings and teasing filled the air while Deepika listened. Karthik introduced Deepika to his friends with a smile, and Deepika tried to hide her embarrassment while greeting them. "Deepika, Oh..." Vidya chuckled and glanced at Naresh. "Karthik, Deepika Nice Combination!" Naresh teased, adding to the lighthearted banter.
As the night wore on, the four of them enjoyed each other's company and shared stories and laughter. Deepika felt a sense of comfort with these new friends and was grateful for their welcoming nature.
At 4 o'clock, when the cafe was about to close, Karthik stood up and said he would pay the bill and return shortly. However, Naresh surprised Karthik by announcing that the bill had already been paid. He directed Karthik to take Vidya in his car and drop her off at her place while dropping Deepika back home.
Naresh couldn't help but grin as he watched Karthik's expression. After a few moments of awkward silence, he finally spoke up, "Don't worry, guys. I was just joking. We don't want to ruin your date. I'll drop Vidya off and you two can enjoy the rest of the night..sorry morning"
Deepika was taken aback by Naresh' use of the word "date," but decided not to make a big deal out of it. Naresh hugged Karthik, wishing him all the happiness in the world. Once Naresh and Vidya left, and they walked to the car. Karthik whispered, "I'm sorry about all the teasing. They're just happy for us."
So, what the next move?
"I think my keys might be at the office," Deepika said, thinking out loud. "I usually go to my yoga class at 5:30 AM, so you can drop me off there and then I can take a cab to the office once my class is over."
Karthik looked at her in disbelief, "Yoga? At 5:30 AM after a night out?"
Deepika nodded, "Yes, I'm a health-conscious person. And don't worry, I'll check the office for the keys while I'm there."
Karthik sighed, "Alright, if you say so. And what if you don't find the keys?"
"I'll figure it out," Deepika replied confidently, checking her reflection in the mirror.
☕❤ ☕
Karthik let her drive the car and they both seemed much happier than before.As she entered the yoga studio, she could feel the positive energy around her. She was glad she decided to come here, despite the lack of sleep. The yoga class was refreshing, and she felt more energetic after it. "Thanks for tonight. I had a great time." She smiled as she read the message from Karthik and replied with a simple "Me too."
After the class, she booked a cab and headed to the office to retrieve the keys. As she reached the office, she found the keys right on her desk. She picked them up and smiled to herself. It was a happy note to end the night.
As she drove back home, she couldn't help but think about Karthik. She never thought she would enjoy spending time with someone so much. Maybe this was the start of something new, something special.
She reached home, parked the scooty, and went inside. As she got ready to sleep, she checked her phone one last time. There was a message from Karthik, "Can't wait to see you again. Miss you.. Take care 😊"
She smiled and replied, "Me neither."
She closed her eyes with a content heart, looking forward to what the future holds for her and Karthik. Suddenly, she sat up in her bed, feeling restless and unable to sleep. She had tried everything from reading a book to drinking chamomile tea, but nothing seemed to work.
As she lay there, she couldn't help but think about her life and where it was headed. She had a great job, a supportive group of friends, and her own apartment, but lately, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
Maybe it was because all her friends were getting married and starting families, or maybe it was just a natural desire to share her life with someone. Whatever it was, she couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in a rut.
She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths, but her mind kept racing. She thought about all the things, but nothing seemed to calm her.
Finally, she sat up and turned on the lamp. She grabbed a notebook and pen and started to write down her thoughts. As she poured out her feelings onto the page, she started to feel a sense of relief.
She realized that she didn't need a man or marriage to complete her life. She was already complete on her own, and all she needed was to focus on the things that made her happy.
With that realization, she finally felt her body relax, and she drifted off to sleep with a sense of contentment.
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