After our amusingly awkward “US Techie date,” we stayed connected through occasional calls and texts, often spiced up by his playful jabs about the memorable encounter.

A month passed, and while he mentioned going on a work trip abroad, my routine remained unchanged.

Now, I’m on an office trip to the hills, relishing two days away from the city’s bustle, exploring a hill station with a hike and some adventure sports.

While en route to our destination, I received a call from my office receptionist informing me that someone had called a couple of times asking for me. I brushed it off, saying I was unavailable. She teasingly stated,

“Maybe your client has become restless to talk to you.”

She passed on three different numbers. The first one I dialed went unanswered, but as I dialed the next… Oh my… how could I forget this unique special number? It was him. And the first number was his driver’s…!

I called from my official phone, which he didn’t have. When he heard my voice, he exploded.

“What the hell, where have you been? Why is your number off? And why did the receptionist say that you are not available every time I called? Do you have any idea how long I have been trying to reach out to you? I was thinking of coming to your office to check,”

He exclaimed, his frustration mixed with worry evident in his tone, and rattled off all of this in one breath, not even giving me a chance to open my mouth and utter a word in between.

My cheeks flushed with joy. Ah! He is worried about me,

Despite the joy bubbling inside me, I maintained my composure and calmly replied,

“I’m not in the office; I’m on a trip. Unfortunately, my phone got damaged in a minor accident, and I haven’t had the chance to fix it yet. That’s why it’s off.”

“What? An accident? Are you okay?”

His tone softened, sounding concerned.

Quick flashback: Two weeks ago ( Before this trip),I was out for a ride, and as I was crossing the road to the other side, a mini-truck came speeding towards me. Despite seeing it from far away, the driver didn't slow down. Before I could make it to the other end, it just passed, scratching the side of my bike. I remember being thrown into the air and falling somewhere to the ground (thankfully wearing my helmet). My bike and my phone also fell in separate ways. My bike was severely damaged, and my phone, which I found with a shattered screen. I was lucky to walk away with only a few bruises. Though those around me were understandably shaken up by the incident, I was fortunate to walk away relatively unscathed with the help of the audience and a kind doctor who came to my rescue to ensure I reached home safely.

Since we weren’t in regular touch, I didn’t feel the necessity of updating him about my accident or providing an alternate phone number.

I shared the details briefly. Amidst the process of physical healing and managing everything else, I couldn’t bring myself to change the phone or restore the data. I relied on my official number, which he didn’t have. (There was no other means for him to reach out to me other than calling my office or visiting me in person.)

He listened intently, his tone softening. “I want to see you right now. I want to know how you are doing.”

The concern in his voice and eagerness to meet me could be sensed in his words.

I shared about my destination and plans, mentioning I would be back in just two days, reassuring him that there was nothing to worry about. I had already healed from the bruises and was excited to be in the forest for wild hiking and adventure.

“Woah! Hmm, wild fun without me?” he teasingly exclaimed, before encouraging me, saying,

“Have your wild fun in the forest with your mates. I’ll be waiting for the pictures. We’ll catch up once you’re back in town.”

Throughout the journey, I couldn’t shake him from my mind, replaying our conversation over and over. All these days, I hadn’t allowed him to occupy my thoughts or missed him much, as I was dealing with many other things. But now, the effort he put into reaching out to me, the concern in his voice, and his eagerness to meet me—it all made me feel like melting into his embrace.

The next day, I was away from my phone, engrossed in activities. At night, I noticed his missed calls and messaged him, sharing bits about my day and sending pictures of my stay and the hiking we had enjoyed. He stayed online and continued chatting, opting for messages instead of calls (the thought of talking with him surrounded by others made me uneasy).

When I mentioned that I was sharing a room with other girls and would experience sleepless nights ( though it was fun ), he replied, “I understand your comfort zone. I’m the same. Sharing a room and getting a good night’s sleep? Impossible for me too.”

Ah! We were speaking the same language. This effortless conversation, our shared wavelength, confirmed how in sync we felt.

Then he popped up with a question about our return time for the next day. I filled him in on our plan, mentioning a couple of water sports adventures lined up until noon. “We’re so excited to fit in some last-minute fun before heading back!” I told him. We’d then hit the road and reach the city late at night.

Him: I was wondering if there’s a way I could pick you up midway so we can drive back together?

Me: Ah! Road trip with you? Sounds exciting, but how could I swing that with my team?

Him: Tell them that you have a surprise visitor… (wink)

Me: And who might this surprise visitor be? (Smirking)

Him: Let’s just say someone who wants to whisk you away for a romantic adventure on the way back.

Me: Hmm, tempting idea, but my team might need some convincing though.

Him: Well, I don’t know how you’ll convince them. Tell them your boyfriend is in town, and he’ll pick you up. (Smirking)

Oh my… Boyfriend? blush, blush. Did he mean it? Whether or not, just the thought of that sent a tingle down my spine.

Now my sleep was elusive. Even hours after our chatter ended, I remained wide awake, lost in a swirling sea of thoughts.

The following day, the adrenaline rush of water adventure couldn’t compare to the excitement bubbling within me. All I desired was to be with him, to feel his presence, his warmth. To inhale his scent, kiss him, hold him close, caress his hair with my fingertips, and catch up on all the missed conversations.

Lost in my thoughts, caught up in my fantasy, my phone suddenly rang. It was him, calling to confirm my departure time so that he could finish his work and drive to pick me up as we planned. My heart skipped a beat! Did I hear that right? He was serious. Is he really coming? My excitement surged.

Growing increasingly impatient to be with him, despite our scheduled water sports, I felt no interest in continuing. However, I went ahead, keeping my phone away, and assumed he might call me in between to check whether we had left or not.

An hour later, as expected, I found missed calls from him. I returned his call, informing him that he could leave, and I shared details of a coffee shop I had visited earlier on my way to the hills. I suggested he could wait there if he arrived early.

As the day progressed, we were further delayed, departing later than planned. By the time we set off, the sun was setting, and he was already near the cafe where we had agreed to meet.

During the journey back, I informed my team about my impromptu pick-up. They teased me, saying something amusing when they saw him coming towards me. Hmm, who cares or pays attention to them when all my senses are focused on him?

Their teasing didn’t faze me; instead, I reveled in their mischievous looks and wondered what kind of stories or imaginations they might be concocting while I created my own story here (Entranced in my fantasy world).

There he was again, smelling fresh and looking classy, while I stood sweaty, with messy hair, sun-kissed, and tanned, clad in my backpacker attire, bare and feeling sticky.

The impatience and eagerness to meet were so mutual that the moment we held each other, we embraced tightly, and he couldn’t stop kissing my sweaty bare neck. His touch made my whole body tingle, my heart race, and my breasts ache with desire, as I caught a faint whiff of his musky cologne mixing with the scent of my sweat-sticky skin. I held onto his warmth and passionate embrace so tightly that there was no room for air to pass between us.

With his lips pressed against my parched lips, our kiss deepened, our tongues moving in perfect rhythm, our souls synchronizing and dancing to the same tune, evoking quicker and heavier breaths with pleasure and ease. Despite my sweaty skin, he showered me with kisses all over my face and neck, savored my lips, and inhaled a distinctive aroma without hesitation.

When I noticed that he didn’t let go of my hand throughout the drive, and drove with one hand, I knew that we had loved and desired each other from the very first day, even though we didn’t express ourselves through words.

And that’s where I’ll leave you for now, perched on the edge of your seat (or phone screen), allowing your imagination to run wild with what unfolds next!