Shehnaaz reached home and fell flat on her bed exhausted.

"Hi Di, how was your interview?", asked Riya.

"Hmm.. I reached late so it's postponed to tomorrow.", Shehnaaz tells.

"I am sorry Di, it's because of me. I made you watch that movie with me and you got delayed.", Riya apologizes

"Hey, that's fine! It isn't really a big deal. Atleast I enjoyed watching the movie unlike spending time sitting in that boring appointment.", Shehnaaz said remembering her conversation with Sidharth.

"By the way, where is everyone?", Shehnaaz inquired.

"Everyone has gone to attend a wedding.", Riya informed.

"You didn't go?", Shehnaaz asked.

"No Di, since your marriage is already fixed, all the relatives will target me asking when would I get married hence I strictly denied to go with them.", Sighed Riya.

"Smart move!", Shehnaaz giggled.

"By the way Di, you should pamper yourself with some beauty massage. Your marriage is nearing.", Suggests Riya

"Arghhh.. I really don't want to get married.", Cries Shehnaaz.

"What? Di, you must be joking. Your groom is the Sidharth Mittal. He is a complete package any girl would ask for. Middle class girls like us, can't even dream of getting such a rich husband who is also extremely handsome and possess well carved body. What else do you want?", Riya asked.

"These are temporary things which would diminish after years. I seek love which would only grow with time.", Shehnaaz explains.

"Di, that will come only if you start living with him. How can you ask a stranger to love you, without even looking at you?", She asks.

"It isn't as simple as you see it. The grass is always greener on the other side of the river.", Shehnaaz sighs.
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Sidharth returns home and takes off his blazer. He hears a subtle clinking sound and puts his hands into it's pocket. It was the money Shehnaaz had given him. He rolls his eyes and throws the money into his wardrobe drawer where he kept his watches and wallets.

She is so irritating. How can dadaji even ask me to marry that girl? I am sure he must have not even met her once before mentioning her name in the will as a clause for my marriage. I need to do something before I am made to spend my life with such an irritating girl.
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Shehnaaz got ready early since she didn't wanted to hear taunts from Sidharth. She went to the bus stop and occupied the sit in the shed. She kept scrolling through her phone while she waited for the bus to arrive.

It had been over half an hour since she was standing there but the bus just didn't arrive.

"Hey Beta, are you waiting to board a bus?", Asked an elderly person

"Yes uncle. I've been waiting since almost 35 minutes but no luck.", She spoke with a disappointed face.

"Oh dear! Today is bus strike since the bus employees want the government to raise their wages. You will have to take an auto or cab.", Said the person.

"Oh God! I will be late again. Hmmm.. thanks for informing uncle.", She said depressed.

"Auto... Auto...", Shehnaaz waves her hand but it doesn't stop.

Arghhh.. I am running late. These buses had to go on strike today itself making it worse for me. That Khadoos Mittal will get another reason to taunt me today.  I so hate meeting him. It's just 2nd day, which means there are 13 more days to go. 15 hours to fall in love? I don't know about love but for sure, by each passing hour I will hate him more and more.

Oh hell!! Why am I counting 13? After 13th, I might have to spend my life with that Khadoos. Oh no no.. I can't let this happen. I have to do something, I can't spend my life with that Khadoos Mittal.

She finally manages to find an auto and reaches Taj. She goes inside and finds him sitting at the same place with his laptop. She goes and sits infront of him. He lifts his head from behind the laptop and looks at her and then at the watch. It was 6:52pm. She was chagrined when he poured a scornful expression on her.

He shut his laptop and kept it aside on the table. He then picked up the cup on the table and stared at her while sipping the hot cappuccino from it, sitting back comfortably into the cozy couch with his legs crossed.

She felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable by his silent stare. She took out her water bottle from her hand bag and gulped huge amount of water to quench her thirst. She than took a tissue paper kept on the table and wiped of the sweat beads on her forehead and upper lips.

She cleared her throat when he didn't speak even after a 5 minutes of her arrival but instead continued staring at her.

"Why are you staring at me like that Mittal?", She asks unable to withstand his stares anymore.

"I am just observing that how shameful can a person be who even after coming late doesn't apologize. But I must say, you are setting a new high and bettering your own benchmark set yesterday. So tomorrow, I guess you will come at 7pm?", He asks.

"Listen, I am sorry. I would have apologized earlier but your taunts doesn't cease even after apologizing. This place is close to your office and additionally you own a luxurious car. For you coming here is a piece of cake. People like me have to be dependent on public transport to commute. Do you know that today is a bus strike? Which means lesser mode of public transport. On top of that, this ricksaw drivers act as if they are doing some social service. They either don't stop or they reject the offer due to the long distance.

How will you understand all this? You sit in a luxury air conditioned cabin, then get up and board your air conditioned chauffeur driven car and then get down and sit in this air conditioned restaurant. Go out on road and try travelling in crowded public transport in the heat where you don't even know where you've placed your right leg and where you've placed your left leg. Your nostrils will be filled with variety of sweat odours and all you have to do is hold yourself from not throwing up on their face.

After all these struggles, when I come and sit infront of you, feeling already mortified for being late, all you have to do is taunt me with those sarcastic whips.", She goes on and on pouring her frustration when her phone rings.

"Hello.. Yes Riya, I am in middle of the job interview. I'll call you back.", She disconnects.

He narrows his eyebrows looking at her in surprise.

"Job interview?", He asks.

"That was my cousin, Riya. I didn't inform at home that I am meeting you. And moreover, this does sounds like a job interview itself. Your secretary gives me a call everyday to remind me of an APPOINTMENT I have with you. Look at yourself, you come formally dressed in that blazer jacket like you've come on an official work. So, it's definitely a job interview for the post of your wife. Arggghhh.. (Looks up at the sky) Oh God!!! Why? Why? Why me? What crime did I commit that you are punishing me into marrying this Khadoos?", She said in frustration.

"Khadoos? Really? Look at yourself! You seem to be having a verbal diarrhoea. Speaking non-stop like an irritating and screeching cicada.", He blurts in anger.

"Huh? What did you say? Cicada?", She asks furiously.

"Yes, you heard it right. Cicada! My ears are literally bleeding. I am the one who is punished here. I, who slogged and rubbed my ass studying MBA and working hard to take over Mittals. But looks like my old grand father doesn't care about my efforts and instead is more interested in making my life a living hell by tying me with a cicada like you.", He speaks in frustration.

"You!! Arrogant, Rude, Heartless Brat!! Why the hell did I agree to your proposal of giving you my precious 15 hours to try and fall in love with an absolute disgust like you who doesn't even know the difference between business meeting and the date?", She curses herself.

"Yeah, I agree. Instead, I could have offered you a lift to railway station since you wanted to jump infront of a running train.", He said sarcastically.

"Yes, that's much of a better option. But I don't need a favour from you. I know the way to the railway station myself.", She said.

"Huh! Emotional fool!", He scolds.

They both frown and look into different direction in frustration. There was an absolute silence. She looks at the time, it was 7:28pm. She got up and left the place. He glares at her departing figure and signals the waiter to get the bill. The waiter gets him the bill in few minutes. He pay and leaves.

While his car moved out of the Taj vicinity, he saw Shehnaaz standing outside, near the road. He asks the driver to stop at the distance while he observed her. She was waving her hand at the auto but none of it stopped. Frustration was clearly visible on her face. He smirked looking at her condition due to his anger.

Suddenly it started pouring cats and dogs and she was drenched in rain, annoying her even more. He smiled a little but then his conscience scolded him for such inconsiderate reaction. She was holding her handbag on top of her head to save her head from getting wet while her clothes stuck to her body due to wetness.

A thought of helping her came into his mind.

"Driver, drive towards that lady there.", He instructs.

"Yes Sir", said the driver starting the car and driving towards her.

Before they could reach her, she got into an auto and the auto drove away.

"Follow the auto", he orders. He wanted to make sure she was safe. It took them around 45 minutes to reach her destination. She got down the auto and ran into the house.

He observed her and then asked the driver to drive to Mittal house.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️