Chapter 121 - 220

The night was still young and the roads were jammed. Horns were blaring all over the place. But inside the car… there was absolute silence. Except for the noise of the air conditioners, there was pin-drop silence.

Adam had a focused expression on his face as he drove through the busy roads while Preethi sat beside him in the passenger seat quietly deep in thoughts. What Charan said this afternoon kept repeating on her head. But she was nowhere near finding her answers in her head. She knows that she is going to have to talk to Adam about it but then she did not know where to start or what to say.

"Something on your mind??" Adam asked, at last, breaking the silence.

Preethi did not reply. She did not even acknowledge the question. She just stayed quiet and pursed her lips.

"You okay there??" Adam asked again when she didn't answer.

Preethi nodded this time and said, "Yes… everything is fine…"

And Adam did not pry thereafter. He just focused on driving and got them to her hospital. The car came to a smooth stop outside the hospital. The seat belts made a clicking sound and the doors opened. Preethi got down and waved a bye and left without a word.

Adam looked at her receding figure with a complicated expression. He could feel her pulling back from him. But he couldn't figure out why. He can do something only if she can tell him what was wrong… but with her keeping, her mouths sealed… he can't really do much.

Just as he was pulling out of the lot, Preethi came back running. Adam stopped on his tracks and lowered the windows. He stuck his head out and asked, "You forgot something??"

She did not answer and neither stopped. She just went right to him and pecked him on his lips and went back the same way before he could even comprehend. By the time he made sense of it, Preethi was standing a few feet away waving at him biting her lower lips to suppress her grin.

Adam's face softened and he gestured with his hands and beckoned her closer.

But Preethi just shook her head and said, "Pick me up here. Tomorrow morning. Sharp at 8." She then proceeded to walk backward still waving at him.

"Maybe I will just wait for you here till tomorrow!!" Adam hollered back.

"Get your handsome arse home now. And be here at 8 sharp…" Preethi hollered back grinning from one ear to another.

"Yes, ma'am…" Adam said and made a mock salute. And at last, pulled away from the lot with a big ass grin.

….

The next morning, Adam stood there outside the hospital bright and early as requested in jeans, a crisp shirt, and a wide grin in place. That grin did not falter even for a second until he saw Preethi walk out of the hospital and then his grin widened.

Preethi was tired out of her bones but still, her lips spread seeing Adam wait for her all dressed up grinning like an idiot. Just as she neared him, she was swept away, lifted high up on air swung around for a swirl. Once the surprise faded, a giggle bubbled in at the base of her throat and her hands circled around his neck.

And when her feet touched the ground, before she could even catch a breath, a pair of lips came crashing on to hers and gave her a smothering kiss that took her breath away. His lips were soft and gentle against her. He was in no hurry but he still managed to take her breath away.

When he pulled away, she was dazed and panting for air.

"You ran off before I could do that yesterday!!" Adam said running his palms over the side of her head taking deep breaths.

Preethi leaned into his touch and smiled.

He then took her hands and led her to his car saying, "Now come on. Let's get you home. You look tired…"

"You would too… if you come out after working a 12-hour shift in the emergency room." Preethi said rolling her eyes.

"But I didn't say you didn't look beautiful!!" Adam curry-flavored shamelessly.

Preethi just shook her head. She did not have the energy to even bicker with him. But then she thought about something else and asked, "Hey, are you free next weekend?? I have a night shift all this week. So I would have a long weekend."

Adam answered, "I guess. If nothing else comes up between now and then… I will be free. Why?? You want to go somewhere??"

Preethi nodded and said, "Yes… And I want to talk to you about somethings…"

Adam's hands clenched at the steering wheels unconsciously and lips pursed. He did not like the sound of that. It looked so serious. But still, he did not say anything. He just smiled and said, "Okay…"

Of course, Preethi saw the change in his posture. She extended her hands and pulled on his cheeks.

Adam looked at her with a questioning look.

"It's not serious. SO you don't have to look like that. I just want to talk about somethings and spend some time with you." She lectured in the same tone she would use to lecture her own son, Akil.

Adam frowned but then nodded. Only then Preethi let of his cheeks. Adam silently rubbed his cheeks. He was not delicate but then he was not used to being pulled by the cheeks. So it hurt slightly.

Of course, Preethi noticed this too. She leaned over and pecked his cheeks and made a cheeky face.

Adam's lips slightly twitched but he still maintained a stern expression and said, "Not enough…"

Preethi lips twitched but she still complied and pecked once more and asked, "Enough??"

Adam shook his head with the same fake stern face.

Preethi narrowed her eyes but still leaned over. But this time around instead of her soft lips, her sharp teeth met with his cheeks making Adam hiss and sharply turn around to look at her.

"What?? Still not enough??" Preethi asked teasingly.

Adam's lips twitched as he said looking straight at her, "Not even close…"

"Hey, eyes on the road." Preethi scolded.

With all the bickering, Preethi did not even know how she got home until the car came to a standstill outside of her gates.

"Thanks for the ride…" Preethi said and got down. But to her surprise, Adam followed suit. Preethi looked at him confused.

Adam just pulled her into a warm hug and held her for a minute longer and pecked on her temple before driving away.