Akash stopped on his track and looked at her intently. Madhu still did not look up at him.

"Then what is it??" He asked softly in a defeated tone.

"I just.. I find it hard to think straight when you are around!" Madhu mumbled bashfully in an almost inaudible whisper.

But in the quiet room, her voice was like a cello kindling his heart. His eyes darkened instantly.

"What did you just say??" Akash asked in a disbelieving whisper. But his voice was deep and husky making a shiver run through her skin just by listening.

Madhu did not dare reply this time around. She just sat there and shook her head biting on her lower lips tentatively. She fidgeted with her already sweaty palms. The whole atmosphere suddenly felt hot and suffocating for her making her cheeks burn.

It was hard for her to keep her breathing under control as it was. But on top of it, Akash took a small step towards her making the gap between them completely disappear. Her knees brushed against his legs.

Akash got down and sat down on his knees in front of her in such a way that his face was at the same level as hers. Looking at her shy blushing cheeks, he suddenly felt really really stupid. How many times had he seen it, but he was still not able to understand what was happening.

His hands unconsciously extended towards her face but then stopped just shy of touching them and fell back to his sides. She looked so beautiful and so innocent that he was afraid his smallest touch is going to end up staining her.

Madhu heaved up all her courage and lifted her eyes by just a minuscule to see what he was doing. But when their eyes met.. she couldn't look away. His eyes were filled with so much adoration that she felt as if she was drowning in them.

The time came to a standstill. Madhu could hear her heart galloping all around the place.

Akash's hands irresistibly went to her cheeks. As he held her warm cheeks, he leaned over and pecked on her temple. He rested his forehead against hers and said in a ragged voice, "You drive me absolutely crazy Madhu."

Madhu's eyes widened hearing his hoarse voice. His had always been gentle and soft unless of course, he was angry. But she couldn't really figure out what made him angry now. And since there were only two of them around, it was impossible for it to be someone other than her. But even after racking her brains with all her might, she couldn't figure out what it was. So she decided to apologize first.

"I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to.. I didn't know I was doing that." Madhu whispered nervously snuggling into his touch. His touch was like a straw giving her the courage.

Akash first gaped at her not understanding why she was apologizing. But seeing her nervously biting her lips, his own lips twitched gleefully as he peppered small little kisses all over her face. His sweet little tortures made Madhu's face turn red like a tomato and her eyes opened wide in surprise. The places he touched felt as if they had caught on fire.

With each touch, her chests heaved up and down due to short of breath. At one point in time, she really couldn't take it anymore. She forcefully pushed his away preventing him from his sweet torture. But then she leaned over and buried her face against his chests forcefully hiding her face from his onslaught and teasing.

Akash let out a chuckle.

"Madhu.. Look at me," He called softly when he failed to pry her face out of his chest.

Madhu stubbornly refused to face him or pull her face away.

"I want to tell you something.. it's really important.." Akash said gently trying to coax her.

"I won't trust you. You will just tease me again.." Madhu mumbled like an aggrieved little kid complaining to her parent.

"I won't tease you. Promise.." Akash swore very solemnly.

Minutes ticked by.. Madhu slowly leaned backward revealing her face.

"There you are.." Akash said delighted arranging her disheveled hair.

"What did you want to say??" Madhu asked timidly.

"I think I am going to end up marrying you one day.. And you are going to be the most beautiful and happiest bride ever." Akash whispered with a happy smile on his face. His voice was firm as if he was making a promise rather than a statement. He did not know what it was himself but just now when he looked at her blushed face with her black eyes looking at him with so much innocence, a sudden image of the same face wearing a bridal lehenga and a bright smile just popped into his head like a damn slide show.. And his gut told him that it would feel like he was dying if he were to ever see her like that to become someone else's bride and he would feel sorry for the rest of his life if he ever let her go.

Madhu's eyes widened to its maximum extent shocked. Her heartfelt as if it's going to leap out of her ribs any second.

They had only been dating for about a few months and he was talking about marriage.. Madhu's face paled scared.

"I now know how you look when you are scared after all.." Akash said softly caressing on her pale cheeks. He knew it was sudden. Frankly even he hadn't thought things that far yet. But when he sees her face and when he is around her.. He knew nothing is ever going to feel quite like it. So he did not want to let it slide.

Maybe typically people do get scared in such a situation.. but for him.. he felt elated somehow as if finding a treasure or something. He felt as if he couldn't wait for that day.

But things needn't be the same for everyone. He knew.. but still looking at her pale face.. his heart fell an inch.

Marriage might not have been something they had talked about between them but he also told her that he was serious about her. So, even if it was sooner than he thought, they would have eventually gotten there. But looking at Madhu, he knew she did not have the slightest idea or thought about marriage between them. That just meant that he never gave her the sense of security in their relationship all this time and he felt suffocated by it. He did not know what he did to let her feel so insure.

"What are you thinking about?" Akash asked out loud resting his hands against her cheeks seeing as she was not speaking.

Madhu forcefully shook her head to clear her muddled mind. Her head was in a deep shock.

"Ma.. marriage??" Madhu mumbled in such a small voice that it was almost like she was scared to even spell it out.

"Why? You don't want to?" Akash asked softly. Somewhere seeing her shocked face and scared eyes, he had calmed himself down. So he did not show any of his feelings. He hid his own pain and agitation. He just looked at her and observed every last change in her eyes and expression to know what she wanted and what she felt. He wanted to know so that he can prepare himself.

Maybe he could make a plan as to how to convince her. He could work harder on making her feel comfortable and secure in their relationship.

But to Akash's relief, before he could run his own mind wild, Madhu shook her head panicked as she explained anxiously, "No.. no.. no.. It's not like that.. I just.. I just never thought about it.. I never knew I could think about those things.."

Akash frowned. "What do you mean??"

She had never thought about it.. it was understandable because even he never thought about it seriously before this moment. But the last line..

I never knew I could think about things.. He wanted to know what she meant by this. He had never given her the impression that he was having a passing affair with her. But the fact that she had told him this meant that somewhere without him knowing.. he had made her feel like that. He did not know what to make of it or how to correct it. But talking it out should be the fastest way to correct it. So he waited for her answer patiently.

"I just never thought things could go that far between us!" Madhu answered slightly absentmindedly after a long pause.

"You thought I was playing with you??" Akash asked once again but this time he couldn't keep his voice as calm. In spite of all his efforts anger still seeped into his voice making it slightly rugged. Knowing she might have thought that way and hearing her say that she had thought that way about him were two different things.

But Madhu neither notice his anger nor the change in his voice. She just looked straight ahead and answered in the same absentminded flat tone, "I didn't know I could ask for more.."