"But I thought we can be friends !!!" - Raymond

Akira read the line like a hundred times and her heart fluttered with happiness .

"And here I thought I already was (smiley face)" - Akira

"You are trying to double cross me here?" - Raymond

"Ha ha . . . Not at all" - Akira

"Ok then, see you on Sunday . What time should I come and pick you up?" - Raymond

"No need for all that formality . I can come to your place . I already know where it is" - Akira

"I guess there is a confusion here . I don't stay with my sister . I stay separately . So I am quite sure you don't know where my pad is" - Raymond

"Oh, I see . You can text me your address . I will be there by let's say five?" - Akira

"I am asking for a favor as a friend here, not as a boss . I will pick you up at 4:30 pm . Sounds good?" - Raymond

"Yeah" - Akira

"Cool, the deal is sealed then" - Raymond

"Now you are speaking like my boss" - Akira

"Am, I?" - Raymond

"Yeah . You know earlier I thought of you as a very ice cold and reserved sort of . You gave a typical boss vibe kind of" - Akira

"And now?" - Raymond

"You still do (smiley face)" - Akira

"Oh, please" - Raymond

"Sorry, I was just kidding" - Akira

"So?" - Raymond

"You are still my boss with a boss vibe but its different now . I mean you are like an onion . One has to peel your layers to know the kind and considerate side of you . Why don't you let people see the good in you in the first place?" - Akira

"Because I don't want them to see the good in me" - Raymond

"Why?" - Akira

"Because that's when people start taking advantage of you . They take you for granted . It's like a game of love . Till the point a guy is after you he will do everything in his control to please you . But once he has your green signal, you are taken for granted . You know the theory - The maid was once upon a time a reigning queen . " - Raymond

"Love is not a game" - Akira

"It is a well-calculated game of chess . You make the right moves, you win . But one wrong move and there you go . Check-mate" - Raymond

"I guess that's what happened to me . Probably I was stupid . I gave too much without even thinking about what I deserved in my relations.h.i.+p and see what happened" - Akira

"I guess that's why he dumped me for someone younger and prettier, who could give him what he wanted" - Akira

Raymond started regretting his words . He didn't know that it would remind her of her past and make her feel all sad .

"Probably I should have done other things rather than taking care of him" - Akira

"Akira, when I say this you should know that I am speaking it from the bottom of my heart . All these theories are applicable for other girls, but not for you" - Raymond

"Why not me?" - Akira

"Because you are not like others . You are not a p.a.w.n on the chessboard . You are the queen with your own terms . You are not someone to be played with or conditioned . I wouldn't dare to" - Raymond

"Why wouldn't you?" - Akira

"Because a person so pure like you deserves unconditional love . A love which is far away from all games and all conditions . A love with no boundaries that transcends even the concepts of mortality" - Raymond

"Your words make me feel so warm . But does love like that exist?" - Akira

"Maybe it does . Maybe you just need to open your eyes and search (smiley face)" - Raymond

"Have you ever found such love?" - Akira

"I guess so" - Raymond

Her heart broke when she read it . The b.u.t.terflies which were running all over the place came back silently . Suddenly the vibgyor of happiness turned to a black and white image .

"Oh, so you are in a relations.h.i.+p?" - Akira

Raymond laughed in his head after seeing her question . He could clearly sense her disappointment .

"If I would have been in a relations.h.i.+p then would I be talking to you this late in the night? Would I be asking you to come and teach me to dance?" - Raymond

A smile returned back on her face .

"Yeah right . But it's not wrong to be friends with someone even if you are committed . I mean if someday you get your girl then will you stop being friends with me?" - Akira

"We might not be friends by then" - Raymond

"But why?" - Akira

"Why do you want to think about something distant and ruin what we have now Akira? Who has seen tomorrow? I am speaking to you today, tomorrow I might die . There is no guarantee of tomorrow . So stop worrying about the future and start living today . In fact, start living now . Do what your heart pleases and not what will please others" - Raymond

"I will" - Akira

"So to be practical, come to teach me to dance only if you want to, not because I told you so" - Raymond

"But I want to" - Akira

She replied instantly without even thinking for a second . His heart swayed with joy . There are hundreds of ways in which you can touch someone's heart and this was her way of doing so .

"Thanks . Should I be humbled now?" - Raymond

"No, just remember me when you dance on the D-day . That would be more than enough" - Akira

This girl had no idea how bad he wanted to dance with her on the gala night dinner . But he decided to give her some s.p.a.ce and didn't tell her up front . He didn't want a 'YES' from her just because he was her boss . He wanted a 'YES' from her only if she also wanted to dance with him the same way that he did .

"Your favor will be returned as a dinner treat on Sunday evening" - Raymond

"C'mon, there is no need for that . Plus I don't like eating so much outside" - Akira

"Fine then what about dinner at my place?" - Raymond

"You cook? Oh my G.o.d . Is anything there that you cannot do?" - Akira

"Well you can be my sous-chef"- Raymond

"I am honored then" - Akira

They talked endlessly like two teenagers in love . There was a bit of inhibition, a bit of eagerness to explore the other . There was a curiosity to sail into each other's territories and find out what was underneath . But at the same time, they were themselves scared of their own vulnerabilities so they had their guards up the whole time .

"Ok, now go to sleep . It's really really late right now" - Raymond

"Ok, if you say so" - Akira

She really didn't want to go to sleep . She just wanted to keep texting him . He had become like a drug that ran deep in her veins and in no way she could survive without him .

"Good Night Akira" - Raymond

"Good Night Raymond" - Akira

He saw her text and tossed uncomfortably on the bed . He didn't want to end the conversation but he didn't want to push his luck either . His heart yearned for her, but he decided to keep his foot down . He didn't do that for her, he did that for himself because he was scared of getting too attached with her . He was slowly becoming aware of the power that she had over him and wanted to cast it away . But he knew that he himself had given her all the power and he knew that over time he won't be able to quit her .

The next day evening Akira got all ready for her dinner with Vikram . She wore a pair of ice blue jeans and a black tank top and layered it with a denim blue jacket . Vikram was also dressed up casually in denim jeans and a linen black s.h.i.+rt .

"Oiii we are color blocked", Akira said and pinched Vikram's arm .

"But I thought we can be friends !!!" - Raymond .

.

Akira read the line like a hundred times and her heart fluttered with happiness

.

"And here I thought I already was (smiley face)" - Akira .

.

"You are trying to double cross me here?" - Raymond .

.

"Ha ha . Not at all" - Akira .

.

"Ok then, see you on Sunday . What time should I come and pick you up?" - Raymond .

.

"No need for all that formality . I can come to your place . I already know where it is" - Akira .

.

"I guess there is a confusion here . I don't stay with my sister . I stay separately . So I am quite sure you don't know where my pad is" - Raymond .

.

"Oh, I see . You can text me your address . I will be there by let's say five?" - Akira .

.

"I am asking for a favor as a friend here, not as a boss . I will pick you up at 4:30 pm . Sounds good?" - Raymond .

.

"Yeah" - Akira .

.

"Cool, the deal is sealed then" - Raymond .

.

"Now you are speaking like my boss" - Akira .

.

"Am, I?" - Raymond .

.

"Yeah . You know earlier I thought of you as a very ice cold and reserved sort of . You gave a typical boss vibe kind of" - Akira .

.

"And now?" - Raymond .

.

"You still do (smiley face)" - Akira .

.

"Oh, please" - Raymond .

.

"Sorry, I was just kidding" - Akira .

.

"So?" - Raymond .

.

"You are still my boss with a boss vibe but its different now . I mean you are like an onion . One has to peel your layers to know the kind and considerate side of you . Why don't you let people see the good in you in the first place?" - Akira .

.

"Because I don't want them to see the good in me" - Raymond .

.

"Why?" - Akira .

.

"Because that's when people start taking advantage of you . They take you for granted . It's like a game of love . Till the point a guy is after you he will do everything in his control to please you . But once he has your green signal, you are taken for granted . You know the theory - The maid was once upon a time a reigning queen . " - Raymond .

.

"Love is not a game" - Akira .

.

"It is a well-calculated game of chess . You make the right moves, you win . But one wrong move and there you go . Check-mate" - Raymond .

.

.

"I guess that's what happened to me . Probably I was stupid . I gave too much without even thinking about what I deserved in my relations.h.i.+p and see what happened" - Akira .

.

"I guess that's why he dumped me for someone younger and prettier, who could give him what he wanted" - Akira .

.

Raymond started regretting his words . He didn't know that it would remind her of her past and make her feel all sad

.

"Probably I should have done other things rather than taking care of him" - Akira .

.

"Akira, when I say this you should know that I am speaking it from the bottom of my heart . All these theories are applicable for other girls, but not for you" - Raymond .

.

"Why not me?" - Akira .

.

"Because you are not like others . You are not a p.a.w.n on the chessboard . You are the queen with your own terms . You are not someone to be played with or conditioned . I wouldn't dare to" - Raymond .

.

"Why wouldn't you?" - Akira .

.

"Because a person so pure like you deserves unconditional love . A love which is far away from all games and all conditions . A love with no boundaries that transcends even the concepts of mortality" - Raymond .

.

"Your words make me feel so warm . But does love like that exist?" - Akira .

.

"Maybe it does . Maybe you just need to open your eyes and search (smiley face)" - Raymond .

.

"Have you ever found such love?" - Akira .

.

"I guess so" - Raymond .

.

Her heart broke when she read it . The b.u.t.terflies which were running all over the place came back silently . Suddenly the vibgyor of happiness turned to a black and white image

.

"Oh, so you are in a relations.h.i.+p?" - Akira .

.

Raymond laughed in his head after seeing her question . He could clearly sense her disappointment

.

"If I would have been in a relations.h.i.+p then would I be talking to you this late in the night? Would I be asking you to come and teach me to dance?" - Raymond .

.

A smile returned back on her face

.

"Yeah right . But it's not wrong to be friends with someone even if you are committed . I mean if someday you get your girl then will you stop being friends with me?" - Akira .

.

"We might not be friends by then" - Raymond .

.

"But why?" - Akira .

.

"Why do you want to think about something distant and ruin what we have now Akira? Who has seen tomorrow? I am speaking to you today, tomorrow I might die . There is no guarantee of tomorrow . So stop worrying about the future and start living today . In fact, start living now . Do what your heart pleases and not what will please others" - Raymond .

.

"I will" - Akira .

.

"So to be practical, come to teach me to dance only if you want to, not because I told you so" - Raymond .

.

"But I want to" - Akira .

.

She replied instantly without even thinking for a second . His heart swayed with joy . There are hundreds of ways in which you can touch someone's heart and this was her way of doing so

.

"Thanks . Should I be humbled now?" - Raymond .

.

"No, just remember me when you dance on the D-day . That would be more than enough" - Akira .

.

This girl had no idea how bad he wanted to dance with her on the gala night dinner . But he decided to give her some s.p.a.ce and didn't tell her up front . He didn't want a 'YES' from her just because he was her boss . He wanted a 'YES' from her only if she also wanted to dance with him the same way that he did

.

"Your favor will be returned as a dinner treat on Sunday evening" - Raymond .

.

"C'mon, there is no need for that . Plus I don't like eating so much outside" - Akira .

.

"Fine then what about dinner at my place?" - Raymond .

.

"You cook? Oh my G.o.d . Is anything there that you cannot do?" - Akira .

.

"Well you can be my sous-chef"- Raymond .

.

"I am honored then" - Akira .

.

They talked endlessly like two teenagers in love . There was a bit of inhibition, a bit of eagerness to explore the other . There was a curiosity to sail into each other's territories and find out what was underneath . But at the same time, they were themselves scared of their own vulnerabilities so they had their guards up the whole time

.

"Ok, now go to sleep . It's really really late right now" - Raymond .

.

"Ok, if you say so" - Akira .

.

She really didn't want to go to sleep . She just wanted to keep texting him . He had become like a drug that ran deep in her veins and in no way she could survive without him

.

"Good Night Akira" - Raymond .

.

"Good Night Raymond" - Akira .

.

He saw her text and tossed uncomfortably on the bed . He didn't want to end the conversation but he didn't want to push his luck either . His heart yearned for her, but he decided to keep his foot down . He didn't do that for her, he did that for himself because he was scared of getting too attached with her . He was slowly becoming aware of the power that she had over him and wanted to cast it away . But he knew that he himself had given her all the power and he knew that over time he won't be able to quit her

.

--- .

.

The next day evening Akira got all ready for her dinner with Vikram . She wore a pair of ice blue jeans and a black tank top and layered it with a denim blue jacket . Vikram was also dressed up casually in denim jeans and a linen black s.h.i.+rt

.

"Oiii we are color blocked", Akira said and pinched Vikram's arm