All about the apple juice

"The song is about to finish", he said and twirled her again around him before pulling her close.

"That's it? Such a short song", she complained as she arched herself on his arms.

"I promise I will make all your nights like this", saying that he bent his head and kissed softly on her chest and then mumbled,

"It's time to separate", he said and then slowly stood upright and brought her upright along with him. He then kissed her hands and said,

"Laters baby !!!" and left.

Akira stood there sealing all the moments carefully inside the chambers of her memories for this was the best night and the best time spent with him ever. She wanted to treasure it till death.

She could see many couples dancing around her but the light was so dim that it was difficult to figure out who was who. She breathed a sigh of relief for she now was confident that neither Scarlett nor Vikram could have seen them being all intimate as they were positioned far from them when the dance had started.

She stood there with her hands folded across her chest and a few seconds later when the song finished the light was back on with max luminosity. It blinded her eyes all of a sudden and when she opened her eyes, she saw Vikram marching towards her with a clear sign of worry on his face.

The moment the lights were turned on, he frantically searched for her and found her standing all alone in one corner, with hands folded and her face looking all blank.

"What are you doing here alone?", he asked all worried.

Akira didn't say anything and just shrugged her shoulder.

"What happened Akira? Did he say anything to you?"

"He had nothing to say for we have nothing to explain to each other Vikram. Now can we go back to our seats? I don't want to spoil my mood over these petty things", she said and looked at him.

Her words soothed him instantly.

He felt utterly relaxed to hear that the bitterness between them hadn't been resolved. He was scared before thinking that probably they might be able to fix things once they come close with each other, but seeing her all stranded in the dance floor alone in a corner somehow gave all the solace to his heart that he needed. But he didn't let his happy thoughts escape on his face.

He stretched his hand out for her.

"Let's go up. You need to liven up a bit. For a change I will let you have just a glass of champagne", he said and smiled at her.

"You Mr. Vikram Shah are going to let Miss. Akira have alcohol?", Akira asked all amused.

"Ok now don't push your luck. Just one glass. That's it. Now come", he said and then they both walked up towards the VIP area.

Once they were seated he instructed the waiter to get two glasses of champagne for them and while they waited for the champagne to come, he said,

"I have something else to show you tonight. So just this one glass ok. I don't want you to be all tipsy afterward".

"What are you going to show?", she asked with all childlike eagerness.

"You will know when you see it", he said and softly tapped on her nose.

"Oh C' mon Vikram. What's with all this surprise. Just tell me already", she pestered.

"Just hang on a few minutes more, we will take our leave soon".

"So we aren't staying till the end of the event?", she asked.

"No we are not", he said and smiled looking at her for the naive heart of hers had no idea of the huge surprise that he had planned for her meticulously.

And just then the champagne arrived.

The waiter served it first to Vikrama and then to Akira.

"Cheers !!!", Akira beamed and raised her glass.

"To us", he said and his eyes gleamed with happiness.

She took a sip of it and it tasted weird. She made a face and looked at him and said,

"Does it taste like this?"

Vikram smiled at her naiveness and said,

"It's an acquired taste. You will like it after a while".

But she liked it already for it tasted like apple juice and probably it was apple juice. Out of curiosity she looked into the crowd below and saw him standing in one corner with his headset on.

Her lips curled in a smile for she understood that her drinks had been switched by him.

She gladly sipped on her apple juice and smiled.

"So you like it?", Vikram asked.

"Very very much", she replied and giggled for she wasn't answering Vikram, she was answering Raymond.

Once they were done, Vikram excused himself again for he wanted to double check all the settings and arrangements on the top floor before taking her up.

The moment he left, she picked up her phone and texted,

"Apple Juice? Really?" - Akira

"So what do you expect me to do?" - PRIVATE NUMBER

"It was just a glass of champagne. Nothing would have happened" - Akira

"A glass ??? You are not going to have even a drop of alcohol with any man other than me Miss Akira" - PRIVATE NUMBER

His possessiveness somehow made her happier.

"Oh... In english we call it as BEING POSSESSIVE" - Akira

"Then be it !!! When I said I will make you all mine, I meant it with every sense. Your time, your body, your feelings they are all mine and no one will have the luxury to have any moments with you. And when I say no one, I literally mean no one". - PRIVATE NUMBER

"I am all yours Raymond, trust me" - Akira

"I know but I need you to trust me even more right now Akira. I have nothing but love for you in my heart. So remember that. So if I do or say something that hurts you tonight, then just hang on. Just let this night pass, because from tomorrow there would be no one from stopping us from being together". - PRIVATE NUMBER

"What is happening tonight Raymond?", Akira asked.

She was unable to understand what was going to change overnight.