The moment the flight landed at the Marco Polo International airport, Akira’s joys knew no bounds for it was her dream destination. Last year this time, she was just dying to have a glimpse of the man she loved and today she was with him, in flesh and blood, away from all the pain and unhappiness, and surrounded with nothing but love.

An infinite endless love that knew no boundaries.

The excitement was visible in her eyes. Even before alighting the flight, she started to ask all sorts of questions to Raymond.

“Are we taking a gondola ride?”

“Are we staying next to the water deck?”

“Are we…”

“Shhh….!” Raymond closed her lips with his thumb and index finger while she was still speaking and said,

“It’s 8 am. And you need to rest. First we will have breakfast and rest in the room. Sightseeing in the evening.”

Akira frowned and puckered her lips and seeing that Raymond somehow couldn’t bear to keep her in mystery and said,

“We are staying at the Gritti Palace and it does have beach access!”

“Wuuu aaaaa awwwwuuuuuu”

“What?” asked Raymond and released her lips from his grip.

“You are an asshole!” said Akira and winked at him even though what she originally said was – ‘You are awesome’. She then picked up her purse and got ready to alight holding the hand of the man. She was never going to let it go.

After going through the procedures as they came out from the airport, a car and an SUV was ready to receive them. On the back of the car was a silken banner quoting – RAF. Akira was more than pleased to see it and ran her finger on the silken material as their bags were getting placed in the SUV.

Raymond then quickly texted both David and Katherine, to let them know that they had landed safely and then moved ahead and placed his hand behind Akira’s back who was fondly taking pictures of the RAF banner.

“I can get someone to do the picture clicking job. Didn’t know you were so much into taking snaps.”

Feeling the warmth of his fingers on her back Akira turned and said,

“I am not, but I love treasuring super important memories,” and saying that she clicked again and took a picture of Raymond.

“Akira!”

“Come on. Be a sport now!” Akira giggled and then entered inside the car as Raymond held the door open for her.

“Are you feeling OK?”

“Uh huh!”

“Anything I can do to make you feel better?” asked Raymond as he saw her flinch a bit, holding her palm over her lower stomach.

“Nothing! It will just go away. I just need a hot shower right now!” Akira said and placed her phone back in the purse and tilted back.

Raymond stayed silent for a while, trying to munch back the words that he was about to say and turned his face towards the window, but Akira could see that he was smiling.

“Why did you smile?”

“Nothing!”

“Tell me. Why are you smiling?”

Raymond turned towards her and sighed and then coming close to her, he said,

“Will tell you later!” Because he didn’t want his private conversation to be heard by the driver.

But an adamant Akira could never understand the desires of poor Raymond, and she asked.

“Tell me now. What were you about to say and why did you smile?”

“Let it go Akira. It was just a fleeting thought!”

Raymond could swear that his armpits started to sweat hearing that naive girl’s question and on the other hand the driver, who had been bringing thousands of couple into this Romantic destination knew exactly what the young man wanted but was too shy to tell in his company, so he turned back and said,

“Madam, Sir is too shy to tell. Maybe he wants to join you in the bath.” And saying that the old cabbie let out a chuckle, but both Raymond and Akira turned red. She started fiddling with the strap of her bag while he unbuttoned his wrist buttons and rolled his sleeves up.

Picking up the phone from her bag she texted Raymond as she was unable to speak anything at the moment.

‘What else ghastly thoughts you have in your head.’ – Akira

Hearing the beep and looking at her expressions, Raymond understood that it was a text from Akira. So he unlocked his phone and read the text and then replied.

‘Ghastly… 🙁 ‘ – Raymond

Seeing the sad smiley sent by Raymond, Akira’s heart melted instantly, and she replied, 

‘OK not ghastly, but dumb because you know my state!’ – Akira

‘I don’t mind and you know that!’ – Raymond

Seeing his text, Akira’s eyes popped out of her socket, and she turned towards him with nothing but surprise written all over her face.

“What?” asked Raymond, looking at her as if it was all normal for him. And seeing his blank latent response, she replied,

‘Won’t you be repelled. I am down. How will you have a bath with me?’ – Akira

Seeing her message Raymond took a deep breath and whispered into her ears. “I have promised to be a part of you in sickness and in health. You are dear to me all the time. Twenty-four seven and three hundred and sixty-five days a year non-stop. No matter in which state you are.”

Akira looked at the man all amazed, unable to believe what he said. She had no idea that the man who was so ice-cold to others had a heart that melted like butter for her.

She interlocked her hands in his and leaned on his chest.

The cabbie looked at them through his mirror and smiled. All these years, he had been the cabbie for hundreds of couples and just in twenty minutes with them, he could know if the couple was going to last long or not. And seeing these two he knew that they were meant for eternity.

He smiled and continued driving.