Pretty with your hair down

The party reached 'Tony's' in 20 minutes. Within that drive time, they had all fought for songs which they wanted to sing and for food that they wanted to order. After giving the car for valet parking Vikram asked Mike and Teddy to go ahead and get a booth.

After they left it was only him and Akira standing under a tree. It was a bit breezy and Akira started rubbing her arms with her palm. "Here take my jacket", Vikram said and covered her with his jacket. "Thanks", Akira replied politely and started looking down. She knew that Mike would have told him about everything. Just like Mike even Vikram had told her a thousand times not to date him. In fact ever since she had started dating him, Vikram had stopped talking much with her. She knew he was gonna repeat, "I told you so." She was ready to hear his scolding, but she was surprised when he asked - "Why are you wearing heels today?"

She had no answer. Vikram closed in and said - "If he didn't value you for who you are then he is an idiot and I would hate it if you would change even one percent because of him." Akira had no words. She couldn't understand why he always said the right things which her heart always wanted to hear. Deep down in her heart, a part of her felt that Anthony left her because she wasn't modern and upbeat like the blonde Becky. She didn't know under which trance she ditched her shoes and picked up those heels. "Next time I see you in these ugly shoes, I am gonna make you walk barefoot", Vikram added and acted like he was angry.

She then looked back at his warm eyes and said, "I won't" and held her pinky finger out. That was her way of promising things. Vikram held her pinky finger in his own and smiled at her. He then hugged her and gave a gentle pat on her head. This tiny creature stirred so many emotions in him which she had no idea. There was so much genuineness and affection in between them which did not need a name tag.

A few minutes later Vikram said, "let's go else they will kill our songs." "Umm... wait. I have spoiled your shirt. It must be super expensive right", said Akira and immediately took a wet wipe out of her bag and started cleaning Vikram's shirt which she had soiled with her tears and lip balm. Vikram saw those tiny hands cleaning his shirt so seriously. At that moment he just wanted to kiss her.

"Jeez Akira, you have done much worse when you were a kid. I am just glad that you didn't pee all over me.", chuckled Vikram to lift her mood up.

"You!!!", Akira kicked Vikram hard and started darting ahead.

"Wait!", said Vikram and held her wrist. He coughed a bit and then he went up to her. She felt he was going to hug her again as his hands embraced her. But the next second before she could realize he had pulled out her hair band with one hand and opened her ponytail in one shot. With his other hand, he adjusted the strands of hair falling on her face and said - "You look so much pretty with your hair down".

"I do?", asked Akira innocently.

"Yes you do", sighed Vikram and pulled her into Tony's.

Meanwhile couple of meters away inside a car a figure was watching them like a mock spectator. His fists had balled up. His gaze followed Akira till she went inside Tony's. His insides were burning up but he didn't know why. Instantly he pushed the gas and sped his car. His niece who was sitting next to him went in shock.

"Why are we leaving uncle? You had promised me that you would take me to Tony's today". She was almost in tears.

"Some other time Kate", he said.

Kate made an angry face and said - "I hate you Raymond Uncle".