Later That Day:-
(Ashish was waiting for Erica in the restaurant. After about 5 minutes, she rushed in and joined him.)
Erica: I see you are still so punctual.
Ashish: Aadat se majboor.
Erica: Ohooo.
Ashish: And I see you are still a late comer.
Erica: Yaar. I am only 5 minutes late. I would been on time. But got caught in some work.
Ashish: Office mai hi ghar basa le.
Erica: Please. Ab tu bhi shuru mat ho.
Ashish: ( holds his hands up in a surrender position and laughs ) I see that you are getting lots of lectures on this topic at home.
Erica: Yeah. My house feels like a University.
Ashish: 😂😂😂😂😂😂.
(Erica reached forward and pulled his cheeks hard. Ashish winced. But she continued pulling his cheeks.)
Erica: Your cheeks are sooooo soft!!!!
Ashish: Ouch!!! Eri it hurts!!!
Erica: Tu haste huey KITNA cute lagta hai!!!!! I gonna cry!!
Ashish: 😂😂😂. Chhod mere gaal.
(Erica stopped pulling his cheeks.)
Erica: So... trip pe kaha jaayenge?
Ashish: Lets order something first.
Erica: Oh yeah!! I forgot I was hungry.
Ashish: Tereko kab bhook nahi lagi hoti hai tu woh bata.
Erica: Arrey I am on an empty stomach since morning.
Ashish: Why? Are you on pot fourth?
Erica: Shutup. Its only for married couples. I am not married.
Ashish: 😂😂.
(Ashish looked at Erica while she flipped through the menu, talking about random things. It reminded him of the first time he and Aditi had met each other in Starbucks. When he had hugged her for the first time. When they had made jokes together. When he had paid the bill while she was distracted to annoy her. The first time when he had called her 'Princess'. It was 23 years ago. But he remembered each and every moment. He often read the old chats when he used to talk to her as "Raunak" before she found out he was "Ashish". A tear rolled down his eye. Then another. Before he could wipe them off, Erica spotted him. She had just given the order and was about to say something.)
Erica: Ashu!!! Kya hua?!
Ashish: Arrey kuch nahi woh... aankho mai kuch chala gaya.
Erica: Stop lying to me. Tell me the truth.
Ashish: Arrey yaar kuch nahi hua.
(Erica held his hand and gave it a squeeze. She knew what happened. She had her doubts. But was too scared to ask him, knowing it would confirm her suspicions and break her heart. She had her reason for not marrying anyone. It was Ashish. She loved him. Since they met. She loved him like anything. She had sworn not to get married to anyone except Ashish. She looked at him and gave his hand a harder squeeze.)
Erica: Ashu....
Ashish: Every thing around me reminds me of her. I don't think I can ever move on from her.
Erica: You have to Ashu. You can. Yes you can. I know you can.
Ashish: You trust me so much?!
Erica: I trust you alot. I have faith in you. You will move on.
Ashish: I will try my best.
Erica: Yeh hui na baat.
Ashish: I can.
Erica: You can.
Ashish: Yup!!!
(He wiped his tears and gave her a smile. Erica kissed his fingers and left his hand. The dinner arrived. As they munched on, Erica tried to move Aditi's topic away. She had resented her a lot. She hated her. For marrying Ashu. For betraying him. If she had not happened, Erica and Ashish would have been a married couple today. And Ruhaan would have been her son.)
Erica: So... You didn't tell me yet.
Ashish: What?
Erica: Where you wanna go?
Ashish: Oh right! Kahi bhi chalega.
Erica: Tere ghar ke baaju mai jo paani puri wala hai waha chalte hai😛.
Ashish: 😗🙂.
Erica: You promised me that you would take me to Manali. Waha leke chal.
Ashish: Ok. I'll book the tickets. We'll go....
Erica: Tomorrow?
Ashish: Let me check if we could book tickets for tomorrow.
Erica: Yeah sure.
(Ashish took out phone and searched for bookings. After 15 minutes, he looked up.)
Ashish: I got it. Kal chalte hai.
Erica: Yess!!! I'll call Ruhaan and check if he's coming.
Ashish: Sure.
(Erica called up Ruhaan. After 3 rings, he answered the call.)
Ruhaan: Hello Peri!
Erica: Hi Roohi!!
Ruhaan: Kya chalu hai?
Erica: Actually kal mai aur Ashu Manali jaa rahe hai. You coming?
Ruhaan: Kal jaa rahe ho aur tum log aaj bata rahe ho.
Erica: Hum logo ne bhi abhi decide kiya.
Ruhaan: You guys go ahead. I have some work tomorrow.
Erica: Yaar aa jaana plz.
Ruhaan: Arrey I won't be able to make it.
Erica: What are you making?
Ruhaan: Thats not what I meant.
Erica: So you are coming tomorrow.
Ruhaan: No other option. You ain't taking a 'No' for an answer.
Erica: Good boy. Pack your bags and be ready by 7 in the morning.
Ruhaan: Sure. Bye Peri.
Erica: Byee Roohi.
(Erica ended the call and looked at Ashish. He smirked.)
Ashish: You call my son Roohi?
Erica: He calls me Peri.
Ashish: Hehehehe!!! Why?
Erica: He wanted to call me 'Eri'. But you and Jadoo call me that. So he calls me 'Peri'.
Ashish: 😂😂.
Erica: Anyways, waiter ko bol bill laane.
Ashish: I paid it.
Erica: KYU?
Ashish: Aise hi. Sexy lagta hai.
Erica: I hate you.
Ashish: Tell me something I don't know.
Erica: Shutup. Chalo. I'll drop you.
Ashish: Yeah sure.
Jo thha yahi tak thha....😛🙏
Next part soon..😁💙
