“You seemed to be messaging your family. The way you kept your mobile ready in your hand made me feel as though you were prepared to call the police at any moment. At the same time, you kept checking which route the car was taking. You stayed alert, searching for something on your phone, and then sat upright as though you were trying very hard to look brave.”
Oh God! He had noticed everything!
Yet he said it all without teasing her, as though he were simply sharing an interesting observation. That helped her relax.
Looking at her face with a smile, he said, “And then there was the way you behaved when that unexpected attack happened. That was when I was completely floored.”
His eyes rested on her appreciatively.
“They somehow got information about us before we reached the place we were expecting to meet them, and they came to attack me. They must have been told that I was the only person in the car.
“If I had been alone, it would have been fine. But with you in the car, I was worried about how I was going to handle them. If you had screamed at that moment, done something reckless, or foolishly come out trying to help me, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to handle that situation.”
Saranya realized that what she had seen in his eyes that day had been admiration. Pride blossomed across her face.
At the same time, though she had been looking directly into his eyes while talking until then, the intensity of his gaze suddenly awakened a shyness she had never known before. She lowered her head.
“I know quite a lot about you. I wanted you to get to know me on your own. That’s why I requested your father not to tell you anything about me.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Praveer. I’m an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
“My job isn’t a nine-to-six job. I may have to leave for work at any time. I can’t promise that I’ll always be home for festivals, birthdays or anniversaries. I may be transferred frequently. It’s a risky job, but at the same time, I genuinely love what I do.
“Do you like me?”
His eyes rested on her eagerly, waiting for her answer. The way he asked seemed to carry the expectation that she would give him a positive reply.
When she remained silent, he asked again, “Do you like me?”
Instead of answering his question, Saranya began telling him what she had thought about him when she first saw him. She told him how she had mistaken the police officer for a car thief and then finally admitted:
“Back then… I was really frightened by your moustache.”
She stopped.
Praveer casually stroked his moustache and laughed at what she had said. For a moment, Saranya felt as though even his moustache was laughing along with him.
He suddenly broke the silence between them.
“Are you still afraid of my moustache?”
Shyly, she shook her head.
“No.”
Hidden within that little answer was the acceptance he had been waiting for. Like a policeman catching a thief, he caught it at once and gently intertwined his fingers with hers.
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Saranya saw an entire future filled with love and adventure unfold before her mind’s eye. She met his loving gaze with her own.
The End.
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