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REALLY LONG!

●PART 1●

Shivaay looked up the building.

Never in his lifetime had he thought that he would come to his brother Omkara's girlfriend for help. He remembered vividly when Gauri told him about her new matchmaking business along with her friend Mallika, he had laughed. He had actually told her that in the world of 'Tinder', such businesses were a waste of time and as a business man, he felt it wasn't a good investment. He had even advised Gauri to get into Trades.

But boy, he was wrong.

The business was a success.

And there he was.

Right in front of their building, looking at their board.

Their hot pink board.

'Give us your arrow and we will aim it at the right heart'

The cynic in him mocked him as he entered inside.

"Come on in Bade Bhaiya!" Gauri smirked at him when he came in.

"Don't need to rub it on my face Gauri, I'm here." He raised his hands as he shook his head.

"I didn't say anything, did I?" She gave him a toothy grin as she took him inside. "Since we are related, you will be meeting up with Mallika!"

"Gauri, you know me better. What if Mallika sets me up with a Dracula or something?" Shivaay asked worriedly and Gauri chuckled. She handed him a booklet and said,

"Fill these out while Mallika gets here. And don't worry; we don't take paranormal beings as our customers."

*

"Gauri, this is my friend Annika!" Mallika paused when Annika tugged her. She shook her head at her and continued, "I'll better get going to Om's brother." She left from there hurriedly.

Annika gave an awkward smile to the overly enthusiastic girl in front of her. Both she and Mallika were ever smiling, but Annika felt it was part of the package in the business. They'd have to make their customers believe they were happy all the time for them to feel confident around them.

When Gauri led Annika to an isolated room with heart décor, she knew coming there was a terrible idea.

"So, Mallika tells me you've had difficulties getting over your ex." Gauri initiated the conversation as they sat on their chairs.

"I am over Daksh!" Annika impulsively defended herself with a slightly shrill tone. She cleared her throat and resumed speaking, "It was a long time ago actually."

Gauri nodded slightly, "What are your expectations at the moment? Do you want to get into something serious or are you looking for a fling?"

"I don't know actually," She bit her lip. If not for Mallika, she would have not even been there. Gauri scribbled something on a book, which Annika noticed, had her name on it. Gauri handed a bunch of paper to Annika and asked her to fill it out and Annika felt she was taking her SATs instead.

*

"I don't understand why I need to tell you if I'm scared of spiders or not!" Shivaay scratched his head. If it was not for Gauri, he would have reported the company as a spam the moment he started taking the questions. It was more of an aptitude test and Shivaay would rather go through some of his deal papers.

"We have our reasons Mr. Oberoi." Mallika smiled at him. "Gauri tells me that you want someone to accompany you to social events..."

"And also, a companion. I never really had the time to go on dates or for a relationship the last five years. I'm not into social media nor do I have to time to socialize with people. That is the reason I came here!"

"Hmm, yes. I meant to ask would you want the girl to be in business as well actually."

Shivaay looked at her, slightly embarrassed. For some reason, he had the need to tell everyone that he wasn't out of his game and only didn't have the time. "I have no preferences. But it would be better if she isn't a doctor because then, we both wouldn't have any time at all for each other."

*

"Gauri, why do I have a feeling..."

"That Annika and Bade Bhaiya would be a perfect match!" Gauri completed Mallika's sentence. They grinned at each other widely. There was no way that wasn't going to work out!

*

1st Date

Shivaay fidgeted his sleeves. His date was 10 minutes late and the guy hated to wait for anyone. He opened his gallery once more and looked at her picture. There wasn't any doubt she was gorgeous. She was 25 and was working in an event management firm. Her name was... Anita!

"I'm really sorry I'm late. I thought I had lost my keys but they were in my pocket the whole time!" She sat down and gulped the glass of water.

Shivaay looked at her up and down, clumsy much! He cleared his throat a little, "It's alright Anita!"

She looked at him blankly and disbelief slowly crept on her face. "It's Annika," She said, not concealing her annoyance.

Well, who got his date's name wrong? She on the other hand, had also googled him; she even knew his height!

"Oh."

Shivaay was embarrassed. He realized it was too late to say sorry and he normally never asked. But the date etiquettes left him in dither and the moment had passed. But human beings had flaws, right? Shivaay knew he wasn't entirely on fault because it was she who was late and clumsy. He saw her lazily put her straw back on the drink and it fell. Really, REALLY clumsy.

"Manners maketh man." Annika mumbled underneath her breath. When Shivaay looked up, she gave him a smile and shook her head.

"Would you like to place an order?" He asked politely.

She tried not to think about how much he sounded like a waiter. She gently shook her head. It wasn't that she wasn't hungry; well, she always was. But looking at him carefully or rather calculatingly sipping his espresso as if he was measuring how many millimetres went in a sip made her lose her appetite. She also did not understand how he drank the whole dark bitter thing. And there she was, drinking her candy floss flavoured milkshake with m&ms in it.

They did manage to fight off the awkwardness and make polite conversation. It was almost nice, the keyword being almost.

"I was actually in one of these events that happened last week, Negotium. The arrangements were pretty bad. It felt more like a party rather than a business event." Shivaay reviewed the lack of expression on her face. She was totally unenthusiastic; he did not know why he was even trying to keep the conversation a little alive.

The bill arrived and the two were kind of relieved. They got up immediately and both made no efforts to be even a little courteous.

"Goodbye Annika." I hope not to meet you again.

"By the way, Negotium was my first solo project. Goodbye!" She turned to leave instantly. I hope not to meet you again.

.

.

.

"You've rejected nine guys Annika. I think you should give Shivaay a try again." Mallika sighed. She knew Gauri probably did the same with Shivaay. Annika and Shivaay were looking at wanting similarities that they did not see how they complemented each other.

"Dude, are you serious?"

"Let's start over. It's your first date again!"

"My second first date, you mean?"

*

"Well, that lady shouldn't have driven the car when she clearly can't drive!" Shivaay sipped his espresso. Annika however, was having cold café mocha this time.

"That's a horrible thing to say. Are you trying to say women can't drive? How sexist is that!" She placed her mug down along with her share of the money. She was a little glad she was only there for 20 minutes and her time there was over.

.

.

.

"Bade Bhaiya isn't sexist! Trust me." Gauri tried reasoning with her, while she was startled.

In the other room, "I can't believe you tried sending me back to her!" Shivaay exclaimed. When he left the room, he saw Annika standing there with Gauri. He marched to her, "Look, I never once said women can't drive. I just think woman who is 8 months pregnant shouldn't drive recklessly!" And he stormed off. Annika looked at Mallika and Gauri who cocked their eyebrows.

*

"Omkara prefers cult movies while I'm a rom-com girl. That isn't a good reason Bade Bhaiya!" Gauri rolled her eyes.

"She said she doesn't like Star Wars! Do you not have any other dates for me? I demand a refund!" He groaned in frustration.

"This was your third date!" Mallika decided that she would keep sending them back until she gets a feasible reason. She was glad both had chosen the blind date category, else that wouldn't have been possible.

*

"Why is it always you?" Annika asked as she sat down. She was sent to different cafeterias in the city but with only one person.

"Okay, I'm refunding!" Shivaay exclaimed. But being a gentleman he was, he pulled up a chair for Annika. When she moved toward the chair, he pushed it back in.

"You know what? I'm not going to be chivalrous anymore. Because some people call me a sexist!" He went back to his chair and Annika rolled her eyes.

"Will you let that go?" She mumbled as she sat down. He raised his eyebrows. "Look Shivaay, if you are expecting an apology from me, forget it!"

"Trust me, I don't make such mistakes. I know you better than you think I know you, at least in this matter!" He scoffed.

And what was supposed to be a date became a debate.

*

"No wonder you are still single," Gauri buttered her bread at the breakfast table as she started narrating the reasons Shivaay had given to the whole family. "I'm telling you Dadi, she is really nice!"

"She is single too. You seem to have no problem with that." Shivaay protested.

"You both are equally weird." Rudra paused for a minute. "Maybe that's why she is perfect for you!"

"I am not weird. I don't think it's me who thinks bow ties are cool! She said it on the sixth one!"

"And you told her on your fifth that 'Green Day' isn't a good band." Omkara argued.

"She said she doesn't like Jay Z. Or more like, she didn't prefer rap."

"Bhaiya, let me remind you that you are the person who dated Tia for a long time who listened to chants. Since when music preferences seeped into your criteria?" Priyanka asked, clearly amused. Shivaay rolled his eyes at that.

"And guess what happened the seventh time. They fought over 'Game of thrones'!" Gauri's statement made Dadi sigh. She was on the verge of confirming that Shivaay was a lost cause.

"I hope the eighth isn't over a TV show too!" Tej spoke too soon.

"You are mistaken....

"Well, 'How I Met Your Mother' is the best show ever." Shivaay claimed as they sat with their coffees.

Annika scorned. "Have you watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S.?"

"No."

... and she said that he has bad taste."

"Look guys, I never once ridiculed her taste. She is judgmental! Isn't that a valid reason?" He turned to ask Gauri.

"May I ask one thing Shivaay? Were you not?" Omkara was enjoying the whole conversation that put his austere cousin in a show of embarrassment.

"Choti Maa, at this rate, you probably will never become a saas!" Rudra gave her a sympathetic look which made Pinky furious. "What happened in the ninth and tenth?"

"It was on food! Please don't ask." Gauri raised her hand in defeat.

"Maybe Bhaiya isn't interested in girls at all!" Rudra earned a smack from Shivaay while Pinky's eyes widened in horror.

"Shivaay, did you not find anything nice in this girl? She closed her eyes praying.

"I mean yeah I did. She did not think twice before writing me a cheque when I told her about our 'Feed the Hunger' event one our eleventh urm... date." He scratched his head.

"Also, they read the same books! How is that not a reason anymore?" Gauri argued.

"Business digest?" Rudra asked in disgust. His dad and brother were enough in his life.

"NO, Hosseinei. She said that on our thirteenth I think."

"Shivaay, did something nice happen on twelfth?" Omkara asked curiously when he saw a small smile fighting its way on Shivaay's face.

"No. She was just 'telling' me why Indian is better that Continental." Shivaay rolled his eyes and turned to Gauri, "I want a proper date this time Gauri." He left the table but not their conversation.

"Should I send them on another? Mallika and I are hopeless right now."

"Gauri, you should send them. This girl Annika is perfect for him. Shivaay is just not used to someone not agreeing with him." Shakti finally spoke up after observing Shivaay keenly the whole time. Plus, he knew Shivaay wouldn't sit through thirteenth times if he wasn't even a little interested in the girl.

"That's true puttar. He seems to be affected by her." Dadi hadn't missed how there was something different in his eyes.

"I guess I can try one last time." She took her phone up to call Mallika.

*

"This business dinner is important Gauri. How can you say that Annika is the only one available now? I NEED A DATE!" Shivaay gave her a death glare while Gauri just gulped.

.

.

.

"He has no option. He almost begged you know." Mallika knew she wasn't being professional. But those two made it impossible. Dadi had made it clear that the family wanted to meet Annika during the business hosted by the Oberois. Tej lied to Shivaay that everyone had to bring a date because of the theme. Shivaay was too worried to think that they had no theme at all.

"Well, I guess I will go then!"

*

I didn't get into details with the dates because it would probably become a short story and I can't have another ON GOING story atm😂

I really hope you guys liked it.

Vote if you did!