Arohi's pov

Kashinath looked positively shocked after that phone call.

Who could have called? What could that person have told to get such a strong reaction out of Kashinath Agnivanshi.

"All okay?" I asked, looking at him in concern. Why the hell am I even concerned?

"Of course," he said coldly and my spine stiffened at his tone.

Of course. Even if everything isn't okay, why would he say anything to me?

I am his fake fiance. Nothing more! Not his girlfriend or wife to share his problems with me.

"Shall we go then, Mr Agnivanshi?" I asked in a formal tone and he frowned at that.

"I have already told you to call me by my first name. People need to know that we are a couple." Kashinath hissed at me in annoyance.

"Well, in that case, even the tone you use with me should be proper, Mr Agnivanshi. I don't think any loving man would use such a cold tone with their beloved fiance. And since the people around here aren't very fluent in the language we speak, the body language and the tone of your voice is more of a concern here," I said in a haughty attitude.

He cursed something under his breath.

"And yeah! You are the father of a five year old, Mr Agnivanshi. So, be careful when you swear the next time. It doesn't matter whether she can hear the exact words you say or not. But, yeah, she will definitely realise you are saying something bad. And that is not a good influence on a child." I couldn't help but point out.

When I was around ten years old, I was fostered by a man who cursed a lot. He never does it loudly when the kids are around, but from his body language, it was evident that he was furious and it used to terrify the hell out of me back then.

Mia is already estranged from her father. Terrifying her more will do her no good. And it will do no good to Kashinath either. He needs to do everything up his sleeves to win the little girl over.

"Fine," he said, grudgingly and I couldn't help the smug grin that formed on my face.

It is not everyday I get to make The Great Kashinath Agnivanshi to agree to something I say.

Together, we walked to that first shop where the old lady gave Mia a toy.

Maybe I could buy some gifts for Bhumi, the twins, Bani and Gaurav. The things are not very expensive, but they all look good.

I surfed through the things there and bought two bracelets, one for Bhumi and one for Bani.

Then I bought a wooden block set for the twins.

Then I saw a men's tee shirt printed 'Kasauli' on the rack.

This will be nothing compared to what Gaurav has in his walk-in wardrobe, but it is my gift and I know he will love it, no matter what the cost is.

I took one of a suitable size.

"That's a men's tee shirt." Kashinath pointed out.

"I know. It is for a man only." I said with a casual shrug.

"Who?" He asked and there was an edge to his tone.

I frowned at his tone. Didn't I just tell him to watch his tone?

Well, I am not going to answer him anything if he is going to use that tone on me again.

Let him learn his lesson on his own.

"I asked who?" He asked again in that arrogant tone of his and I just ignored him and paid for the things I brought.

As we walked towards the car, I could feel the tension radiating from Kashinath in waves.

What have I done to annoy him so much?

Just because I ignored a question of his, he is annoyed?

Bloody spoiled man! Let him brood over it. See if I care.

"Can we have fries, Roohi?" Mia whispered, when I buckled her into her car seat.

She so badly wants to eat fries, but her ego is stopping her from asking her daddy.

She seems to have inherited bucket loads of ego from her father.

Well, it needs to be corrected when she is at this young impressionable age itself. Else, she will grow up into a mini version of Kashinath.

"Mia, sweetie, you should ask your daddy" I said softly

"You ask daddy," Mia whispered.

This is the first time Mia used the term daddy for Kashinath. At least the first time I am hearing it.

"No. He won't listen to me. But he will listen to you. Come on, baby. Ask him before we reach the restaurant." I said and closed the back seat door and got into the passenger seat.

Kashinath was already seated inside.

So much for a chivalrous Agnivanshi! I thought with a scoff.

He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly. His knuckles have turned white.

What the hell is his problem?

"I bought it for my friend. Next time you ask me something in that tone, I won't be answering you." I said and folded my hands across my chest and looked outside the window without paying him any more heed.

He started the engine and the car started moving out of the street.

Once we covered a little distance, I heard Mia shuffling in her car seat. I turned back to see her looking at Kashinath now and again.

I hid my grin, looked out and started counting in my head to see how long it would take her to get those words out.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six..

"Can we have fries for lunch, daddy?" Mia asked, in a low voice.

Kashinath applied a sudden break and he looked at Mia in shock.

The emotions flitting across his face made my heart skip a beat.

I have never seen this many emotions on his face ever.

Mia was looking apprehensively at her father.

Then a wide smile appeared on Kashinath's face.

"Of course, Mia boo. We can have fries." Kashinath said and pressed the accelerator again.

"My name is too?" Mia asked, making us both frown.

"What?" We asked in a chorus.

"That white coloured thing. In which we can dip the fries and eat." Mia explained and we both laughed when we figured what she meant.

Mayonnaise!

"Aren't you the cutest thing in the world?" I asked, as I turned around in my seat and reached back to lightly pinch her chubby cheeks.

"Of course, baby. We can have your 'my name is' too." Kashinath said, using the same word as Mia.

*******

Kashinath's pov

She had bought a tee shirt almost my size. Who could be that friend?

A male friend close enough for her to buy a gift?

Why the hell am I bothered by it anyways. Why the hell do I feel myself burning at the thought of this friend.

She could buy anything for anyone. It is none of my business.

What if this guy is more than a friend? A voice from inside my head asked

It doesn't matter who it is, I told my alter ego, firmly.

Then why are you having a death grip on the steering wheel? Why are your knuckles white? Why the hell are you panting? My alter ego retorted sarcastically.

Well, I am just worried about my plan. I don't want someone to come and ruin the fiance drama I am going to lay out. It will cause heavy losses for me, I said, effectively shutting my alter ego's voice.

Mia seems restless, she was shuffling around in her car seat.

I watched as Arohi turned to check on her and then a smile appeared on Arohi's face.

I wonder why she is smiling?

Is she thinking about this friend of hers?

If he is more than a friend, how come she reacted so intensely to my touch?

I could still feel the way she shuddered at my touch. I have never had such a responsive woman in my bed ever.

That kind of chemistry is very rare to come by.

The thought that she could have felt the same way with another guy? It is unthinkable.

For some unfathomable reason, I couldn't even digest the mere thought of someone touching her.

How twisted am I?

Why the hell am I being so territorial?

Oh goodness! This thirst for her, it will only be quenched once I had her in my bed.

That is the reason for all the rubbish going through my head.

I have never had to hold back myself when women were involved. They were always willing and ready for me.

First time, a woman is fighting her attraction towards me and the sexual frustration building up in me is making me think and behave weirdly.

I was satisfied when I came up with that explanation.

And before my thoughts went in various directions, my daughter spoke for the first time, acknowledging me.

"Can we have fries for lunch, daddy?" Mia asked, in a low voice.

I applied a sudden break and looked at Mia in shock.

The breath caught in my lungs as I heard her call me daddy for the first time ever.

Oh God!

Did I hear it correctly? Or was I just imagining things??

She couldn't have called me daddy, could she?

A small smile was playing on Arohi's lips and from the look of it, I knew I heard right.

Mia did call me daddy!

Oh God! I want to shout at the top of my voice!

I want to gather my little girl in my arms and pepper little kisses all over her little face.

But the middle of the road is not the right place for it.

A huge grin appeared on my face as I realised Mia has started accepting me slowly.

"Of course, Mia boo. We can have fries." I said and pressed the accelerator again.

"My name is too?" Mia asked, making us both frown.

"What?" We asked in a chorus.

"That white coloured thing. In which we can dip the fries and eat." Mia explained and that brought out a laugh from me.

Oh God! My little girl is so cute!!

"Aren't you the cutest thing in the world?" Arohi asked, pinching Mia's cheek fondly.

Aren't you two the cutest duo in the world, that annoying alter ego of mine popped it's head again with a dreamy sigh.

I shook my head to dispel it from my head.

"Of course baby. We can have your 'my name is' too." I said and drove towards a McDonald's outlet.

I had planned to take them to a proper restaurant, but since Mia wants fries, the best ones are available in McD.

As we reached there, I helped Mia out of her car seat, and held her hands before she could slip them into Arohi's.

I kinda felt jealous seeing my daughter's obvious trust in a stranger rather than her own father.

That is what Arohi is. A stranger.

Your fiance, my alter ego reminded me.

I rolled my eyes and decided to ignore that annoying part of me.

As we walked towards the ordering, the girl at the counter shot a flirtatious smile at me.

"Mr Agnivanshi? What a pleasant surprise," she said, batting her lashes.

Of course she knows me. Everybody here knows me. Even people all around the world know me.

How Arohi failed to recognise me is beyond my knowledge.

"How can I help you?" The woman asked, giving me the eyes.

Damn!

Any other time, I would have enjoyed the attention and flirting. I might even have taken her up on her offer, because she is obviously pretty.

But for some reason, her flirting was irritating me and I wasn't finding anything attractive in her.

I couldn't understand why, because she is my usual type.

Tall, slender and pretty.

Suddenly I was feeling angry and frustrated at this woman's flirting, when I should have enjoyed it like usual.

"One happy meal for Mr Agnivanshi's daughter. One All American triple cheese burger for me." Arohi hissed, glaring at the woman at the counter.

I looked at her, surprised at the fury in her eyes.

She was throwing lasers at the woman who seemed equally shocked.

"Place your order and find us at the corner table, when you are done with your business." Arohi directed her fury at me and then turned on her heels and walked away with Mia.

What the bloody hell happened now?