"How about we grab some coffee first? Then we can proceed for lunch." Tarun suggests. Not a moment has gone after Tarun finishes his sentence, Neeraj and Rajesh Face palm themselves with a loud thud. "You fool, its already 1:30pm now. By the time we finish lunch it will be around 3'o clock. Then we can do some window shopping and we can have coffee and we will drop her home." Rajesh states the better plan.
"Yeah man you are right. Your plan sounds better dude." Tarun accepts as he swerves into the basement parking lot and searches for a decent parking spot.
"We can always trust on Tarun to make very shitty plans" Neeraj adds on as he opens his side of the door and gets out of the car and adjusts his shirt. All four of them head inside the mall, decide to hit the food court after some window shopping. Just the name of shopping triggers Jenny to go into shopping mode and she exclaims "Yesss" and heads towards the nearest cosmetic shop to check out some new shades of lipstick and some perfumes. A soon as she takes a few steps away from the trio, she realizes that she is not with her friends to check for makeup stuff and she turns back sheepishly, only to realize the trio shrugging their shoulders and following her to the shop.
"I am sorry. I heard the word shopping I went into my usual shopping mode. We will go to other shops,, sports shops maybe" Jenny, replies sheepishly. Hearing this Tarun sports a warm smile and rests his hands on her shoulder, reassuringly.
"Its ok. We will also learn some stuff to look for. This way I can pick a gift easily for you in the future"
Jenny looks down with a slight embarrassment in her face and mutters "Thanks", just above whisper, only enough to be heard by Tarun.
"And when guys go shopping, we don't enter sport utilities shop. At least we don't" Neeraj adds on, putting his hand over Rajesh's shoulder. The next hour and half is spent in various cosmetic outlets, searching a nice perfume for Jenny. Though Rajesh and Neeraj were showing the same excitement they had when they entered the mall, Jenny could read some level of boredom and frustration on their faces. But since Tarun was showing full support, she decided to go ahead with her pace of shopping. Still not able to find her choice of perfume, though determined to buy it, she decides to put her persuasion tactics into play. Making her best puppy dog face, she turns towards Tarun and asks permission for just one more shop with a small gesture. Unable to refuse her puppy dog face, Tarun nods in agreement. She hops in excitement and gives him a small but a tight bear hug. Also since she just leans ahead for the hug, rather than coming close, her ear meets with his chest, feeling the beating heart, which seems may burst out any moment now. Though the hug only lasts for a mere 3 seconds, Tarun is able to inhale the scent of Jenny's hair and lo!!! Cupid attack successful.
Rajesh and Neeraj watch Tarun standing rooted in the spot, while Jenny has made her way out of the shop and is making way to her next shop. "You go with Jenny, I will bring Tarun" Rajesh decides and Neeraj sprints out of the shop and tries to look for Jenny. Luckily for him, he spots her entering one a little far and he sprints to that shop and accompanies Jenny. Jenny's attention suddenly turns towards the lanky figure that is huffing-puffing and she is startled as the person is bent down, clutching his knees and trying to catch a breath. She heaves a sigh of relief when it turns out it's Neeraj.
"HH...Tarun got...little trans...hooooh..fixed in trance of...your hug. Rajesh will... bring him her" Neeraj tells in between his huge huge puffs of air.
"Its ok. I am sorry I left him back there. Excitement of shopping" Jenny exclaims again making a puppy face, though Neeraj is still bent down, catching his breath.
"Earth to Tarun, Jenny has gone to the next shop. Lets go" Rajesh imitates the action of action speaking into a imaginary walkie-talkie, while poking Tarun on his shoulder, hoping to bring him from his trance.
"Ohh...huh. Yeah lets go" Tarun stammers as he turns and takes a few steps, evidently in the wrong direction. Rajesh whistles to him and points towards the right direction and they head out of the store. Rajesh spots Neeraj standing next to Jenny, as she tries on a couple more perfumes. As they head to the store, Tarun lets out his confession.
"I think I am in love with Jenny dude"
"I know dude. Just take it slow. Don't rush up"
Tarun just puts his hand over Rajesh's shoulder and they meet up with Jenny at the store. Just as they meet up, to Rajesh and Neeraj's relief, Jenny exclaims that she found the right perfume. They both have a small high five as a celebration, as now they can finally head for pizza. But just as they are about to come back to reality from their mini-celebration, they turn to Jenny, only to find a dejected look.
"Tarun lets head for pizza. I am kind of hungry" Jenny explains as she keeps the bottle back in the shelf.
"Why are not buying the perfume? You said that is the one" Tarun asks in a bit of shock.
"The after-smell is not good. So I don't want it", though Tarun is able to see clearly that Jenny is lying. Not wanting to push the topic though, he agrees with her and they all head to the food court. Plates of delicious food flows the table, as Jenny gets to know about Tarun from his friends, along with some embarrassing moments about him. Jenny turns around at those times to laugh at him or tease him playfully, which is replied only by a sheepish grin or a light brush to his back hair or just lunging on the food kept on the table. Once done Neeraj and Rajesh are done with stuffing their stomachs, the group head towards the nearest coffee shop. Just as they enter the coffee shop, Tarun excuses himself for restroom break and vanishes in the light crowd of the mall. Rajesh and Jenny find a seat for themselves, as Neeraj places the order for coffee after asking Jenny her preference. Tarun returns after fifteen minutes, with a mild glow on his face.
'You are the best mom in the world' rings as Rajesh takes out his mobile from his pocket and answers without looking at the screen. Most of the replies come in monosyllable 'yes', 'ok'.
"Hey sorry to leave you guys hanging, but I need to take off. Some guests of mom are arriving, so I have to be there." Saying this as Rajesh gets up, Neeraj also joins suit stating to pick up his niece from school as reason.
"You sure you don't want me to drop you?" Tarun asks them, now sipping his coffee hurriedly. Jenny also looks with a concern in her face, though her concern is over her date getting cut short.
"We will manage man" Rajesh replies reassuringly and he and Neeraj head to the exit after offering their pleasantries.
"How about we hit the beach after coffee? I think it will be nice ending with a good romantic setting" Tarun suggest, looking deep into Jenny's eyes.
"Just drop me home by 9'o clock" Jenny whispers into his ear, goes for a peck in his cheeks but stops short by a millimeter, seducing Tarun to his core.
Tarun, not being able to handle the tension, cups her face into his warm hands and leans in for a passionate kiss. Jenny is shocked by the sudden reaction which she shows with a mild resistance, but later realizes his chivalry and affection and gives in. But Tarun is also not just a clueless nerd. The moment he feels Jenny coming up for the kiss, he breaks it up and backs away, leaving Jenny hanging in the middle of their sexual tension. Wanting to have some romantic moment at the earliest, they finish they finish their coffee's in silence and as quick as possible and head for the parking lot.
Just as they close their car doors, Tarun leans towards Jenny and plants a passionate kiss. Jenny isn't far behind and cups his face with her soft hands and participates in the kiss with equal zeal. Not wanting to raise any unwanted attention, they break away after a full minute of rigorous kissing. Tarun starts the car and heads towards the nearest beach, which is fifteen minutes away.
With the evening breeze hitting her face, sun setting in the distance, it's the perfect romantic setting Jenny could ask for. As she is absorbing the moment into her, Tarun approaches from her side and hands her a glass of sugarcane juice. They sit down, Jenny nuzzling into Tarun's protective arms, relishing her sugancane juice,
"I have had this sugarcane juice like a million times before, but it never tasted so sweet until today" Tarun tells her.
"Maybe they put more sugar into it today by mistake"
"I think you sweetened it by your presence" Tarun whispers into her ear and gives a small peck into her cheeks. Jenny turns towards him and blows a kiss, all the while blushing from his sweet flirting.
"I got something for you. It's not that big or great. Next date I will get you a better price" Tarun tells her and fishes out the perfume from his pocket. Jenny is blown away by his sweet gesture, as she looks at his hand, the same perfume she kept away at the shop because it was too expensive.
"You bought it? I thought you were just whiling away your time, but you noticed what I was looking for and you bought it for me" Jenny exclaims as she takes hold of the perfume bottle, glistening in the sun rays.
"You told that you liked this one. But you kept it back. So I thought I should gift it to you. Satisfied to some extent?" Tarun asks with a slight hint of question.
"I love it Tarun. Thank you" and Jenny plants a full blown kiss to his lips.
"Wow Jenny. For a kiss like that I could buy you the world." Tarun replies in a hoarse, clearly the effect of the kiss hasn't worn off yet. Jenny just blushes in return, as they both watch the beautiful sunset, mesmerized , lost in the moment..