Vikram dragged Akira inside the elevator . He stood behind her in close proximity . She smelled like Lavender but her hair was mild coconutty in fragrance . He so badly wished to embrace her and to take a deep dive into this fuzziness of coconut and lavender which was making him weak in his knees .

Just when the elevator door was about to close more people came in . The next instant he pulled Akira behind him . She wasn't taken by surprise because that's how Vikram was, always protective and always caring . She always felt relaxed when he was around because she knew he will take care of her . Whenever she missed her parents and felt lonely, she would call him up . He knew how to lift her mood well . He helped her to take the right career choices . Starting from picking the right college, to which scholars.h.i.+p to apply for, he was always there for her . Vikram was like her protective shelter, her guardian angel .

She always followed his words except once, when she chose 'Anthony' .

They had to go to the second floor to Tony's . When the elevator reached the second floor, he escorted Akira out . He enveloped her in his arms like she was some princess . After reaching inside he took his Jacket back from Akira's shoulder and waved at Mike .

Mike and Teddy had already taken a booth towards the corner . Vikram and Akira joined in . The waiter came and gave them an I-Pad to choose their songs to sing and then pa.s.sed on the food and drinks menu . Akira picked spicy chicken wings bucket and then pa.s.sed on the menu . Vikram ordered roasted peanuts and steak and then winked at Akira, "this time I am not sharing" . Akira mocked him back and said-

"Then you aren't getting my chicken wings either" .

"Ouch, that hurts," said Vikram and started patting his chest and they all started laughing . He looked into her eyes and said -

"Smile more, it suits you . "

She smiled and they both looked at each other . One was expressing her gratefulness and the other his concern .

The silence was broken by Mike .

"I am not getting you Mini-burgers Teddy", said Mike .

"Com'on Man!!!", said Teddy .

"Choose one", reprimanded Mike .

"But I want both mini-burger and chicken nuggets", said Teddy in a defeated voice .

Vikram looked at Mike fondly . Both the brother and sister duo led a very humble life after the death of their parents . Most of the money which they received went into their education and living expenses . No matter how many times Vikram's dad had offered to support them, these two never budged . He knew that Mike didn't have much money to foot the bill . Probably he would be blowing up his weekly saving here tonight . His throat choked a bit seeing this kid being so righteous .

"Let this buffalo eat as much as he wants . I don't want him to crib later that I kept him hungry," said Vikram with a chuckle .

"Hey !!! I am not a buffalo, I am a baby pig," said Teddy . He was fond of them all and never used to mind their jokes .

"But, bro I invited you . Why will you pay?", said Mike feeling a bit embarra.s.sed because he didn't want Vikram to know that he was a bit low on cash . He had mentally calculated the bill amount based on what everyone was choosing and he knew that he couldn't afford one extra item more .

"Well I am treating coz I am super happy today", said Vikram .

"Let me guess, you finalized a super big deal?", asked Teddy .

"No", said Vikram .

"Then what for?", asked Akira .

He turned towards Akira and looked into her eyes and said -

"Cause you left that moron and came back to", Vikram paused . In his head he wanted to say "to me", but then he continued,

"to us" .

Vikram dragged Akira inside the elevator . He stood behind her in close proximity . She smelled like Lavender but her hair was mild coconutty in fragrance . He so badly wished to embrace her and to take a deep dive into this fuzziness of coconut and lavender which was making him weak in his knees

.

Just when the elevator door was about to close more people came in . The next instant he pulled Akira behind him . She wasn't taken by surprise because that's how Vikram was, always protective and always caring . She always felt relaxed when he was around because she knew he will take care of her . Whenever she missed her parents and felt lonely, she would call him up . He knew how to lift her mood well . He helped her to take the right career choices . Starting from picking the right college, to which scholars.h.i.+p to apply for, he was always there for her . Vikram was like her protective shelter, her guardian angel

.

She always followed his words except once, when she chose 'Anthony'

.

They had to go to the second floor to Tony's . When the elevator reached the second floor, he escorted Akira out . He enveloped her in his arms like she was some princess . After reaching inside he took his Jacket back from Akira's shoulder and waved at Mike

.

Mike and Teddy had already taken a booth towards the corner . Vikram and Akira joined in . The waiter came and gave them an I-Pad to choose their songs to sing and then pa.s.sed on the food and drinks menu . Akira picked spicy chicken wings bucket and then pa.s.sed on the menu . Vikram ordered roasted peanuts and steak and then winked at Akira, "this time I am not sharing" . Akira mocked him back and said- .

.

"Then you aren't getting my chicken wings either"

.

"Ouch, that hurts," said Vikram and started patting his chest and they all started laughing . He looked into her eyes and said - .

.

"Smile more, it suits you . " .

She smiled and they both looked at each other . One was expressing her gratefulness and the other his concern

.

The silence was broken by Mike

.

"I am not getting you Mini-burgers Teddy", said Mike

.

"Com'on Man!!!", said Teddy

.

"Choose one", reprimanded Mike

.

"But I want both mini-burger and chicken nuggets", said Teddy in a defeated voice

.

Vikram looked at Mike fondly . Both the brother and sister duo led a very humble life after the death of their parents . Most of the money which they received went into their education and living expenses . No matter how many times Vikram's dad had offered to support them, these two never budged . He knew that Mike didn't have much money to foot the bill . Probably he would be blowing up his weekly saving here tonight . His throat choked a bit seeing this kid being so righteous

.

"Let this buffalo eat as much as he wants . I don't want him to crib later that I kept him hungry," said Vikram with a chuckle

.

"Hey !!! I am not a buffalo, I am a baby pig," said Teddy . He was fond of them all and never used to mind their jokes

.

"But, bro I invited you . Why will you pay?", said Mike feeling a bit embarra.s.sed because he didn't want Vikram to know that he was a bit low on cash . He had mentally calculated the bill amount based on what everyone was choosing and he knew that he couldn't afford one extra item more

.

"Well I am treating coz I am super happy today", said Vikram

.

"Let me guess, you finalized a super big deal?", asked Teddy

.

"No", said Vikram

.

"Then what for?", asked Akira

.

He turned towards Akira and looked into her eyes and said - .

.

"Cause you left that moron and came back to", Vikram paused . In his head he wanted to say "to me", but then he continued, .

.

"to us"