Continue from last part....

Happy reading folks....

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Point of view: Mahir's POV....

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I quickly pack up my things after work, since I need to reach her home soon to discuss the new event. I drove off to her place. In the parking lot, my phone rang. It was Heli. Enquiring about our whereabouts, we cut the call. Then I make my way to elevator and then I reach her floor soon. And then I rang the bell of her apartment only for her her to open the door in a few seconds while grinning like a chessire cat at me.

As I entered, she hugged me suddenly making me lose my balance literally but still I managed to stand straight and then chuckling we went in.

"Mahir you got late. I was waiting.", She said pouting when I look at clock. It's 4:30 so yeah half an hour late.

"Sorry I got busy so. How was your event?"

"It's still going on Mahir. But my staff is there to look for it. Also I have done my part that is planning, instruction and supervision, so it will go good.", She told smiling.

"Great.", I told her sitting on couch finally sighing.

"How is your work going? And how is Heli's preparations going?"

"It's going great Bela. She is busy today with final trials and tomorrow is the day."

"Too excited for it.", She chirped making me chuckle. I check my phone only to realise it's going out of battery soon. So I started searching for power bank in my stuff when she spoke.

"What are you searching for?"

"Power bank. My phone is dying."

"Wait lemme bring charger."

"Sure thanks.", I smiled only to get a charger and I plugged it in to charge my phone.

"You go and freshen up if you want, till then I am making coffee. What say? You are looking really pathetic and tired.", She said chuckling. Yes that's what I must be looking like. I smile only for her to show me way to washroom giving me a towel. As I go in, I quickly washed my face and came out in few minutes looking for her.

"Bela?"

"In the kitchen Mahir.", She yells and I make way to kitchen only to find her making coffee and preparing something else.

"Wow you know how to cook?", I asked wiggling my brows when she rolls her eyes.

"No I don't know much cooking but yeah I can make pasta so that I don't starve", she said pursing her lips.

"Wait lemme help you.", I said chuckling at her teary eyes and horrified look while she was cutting onion.

I took vegetables from her cutting and helping her, while she went to drain the boiled pasta. And we make pasta together only to see her serving it in two plates. And as I looked at her confused, she forwards one to me.

"Here take it. I know you must have skipped lunch.", She said looking at me with plates in her hand.

"How do you know?", I said furrowing my eyebrows.

"I know workaholics like you so. Take it.", I take a plate from her and we make way to the living room with pasta and coffee having it together.

Then after having it, we go to kitchen, and I help her with dishes too. Then we soon start discussing the new event which we will be collaborating for.

"And we have to organise this event in Paris.", I concluded the discussion finally telling her about Paris and waited for her reaction when I saw her eyes widening.

"PARISSSSS! Are you kidding me Mr. Sehgal?", She exclaimed literally yelling on the the top of her voice while her eyes were popping out of socket. I knew this reaction would follow.

"Yes. You like Paris I know.", I tell her grinning.

"Mahir! I love Paris. That's why only I love french. I am so excited you know—", she was saying but I cut her off.

"I know Bela. I know. That's why only I recommended you to the clients. At first they came with two options of event planner asking me who will do it better. But I knew it that you are the best here and at the same time the destination is Paris so how can I let you miss it.", I told her realising how happy am I too.

"Whom did they wanted as their event planner other than me?", Bela said narrowing her eyes at me.

"Out of this all you caught only this.", I narrowed my eyes back at her.

"Yes because I keep an eye on my competitors.", She said pouting only to make me chuckle at her.

"Yeah okay. Um wait I guess I remember that competitor's name. Wait a second. I guess Ruhi?", I said because I actually remembered her name because she shared it with my old friend, who apparently left when I needed friends the most.

I told her only to see her scowl at me.

"What?", I asked.

"I don't like her!", She said glaring at me.

Okay. She doesn't like her. But? Why is she scowling and glaring at me? What did I do? Should I leave? I don't want to make her mad at me. I didn't even do anything man.

"Are you mad at me?", I asked nervously roaming my hand in my hair.

"Why would I be? It's just that I. Don't. Like. Her."

"Okay. What can I do for you then? I mean is there anything I should do so that you stop glaring at me?"

"See. I don't like her because... Um. I have reasons. And yeah if you want to do something for it then stay away from her. Call me toxic or clingy whatever but I don't care. Bottom line."

"Ohh yaa I was going on a date tonight with her. Thank god you told this to me now only.", I said sarcastically rolling my eyes.

"Hehe lol you can't even think of going on a date with someone else being commited. You are not like that so I am not buying your sarcasm. And by the way if you want to know reason why I don't like her, then in brief she was in same school as mine. She was a spoiled kid who used to bully others. And then later she had no idea of event planning field yet she opened a firm because I opened one and she hated me. That's why her staff and secretary handles everything till now because she is just interested in demoralising others.", Wow that was a freaking story. What is with the girls named Ruhi? I have bad impression of one and Bela too has bad impression of one.

"Bela don't worry. I will stay away. It's as simple as that if you have a problem with her then I have too. Now I guess I should leave.", I said getting up looking at clock.

"Mahir no. What about dinner? Please stay no.", She said pouting to which I looked at her, then again at clock, then here and there and then again at her. And who can refuse to her puppy eyes and pout I gave in mouthing an 'Okay' to which she beamed in joy.

Then she quickly went to kitchen and I followed her knowing she doesn't know how to cook.

"Indian food?", She asked beaming and I immediately nodded my head in yes because who can refuse Indian food.

"You are Indian? I mean I saw in your documents that your nationality is British so I just wondered.", I said suddenly and she looked at me for a second before speaking.

"Um. My nationality is British only but origin is Indian. My dad was Indian. And um... Mom was British. I was too young when I even went with dad to visit India. And dad used to cook Indian food and used to feed me. Um. I didn't live with mom much so. He raised me up that's why I can be called half Indian.", She said smiling sadly. I don't know should I ask about her any further or not.

"Ohh", that's all I said, before continuing, "Where is your dad now?"

She just looked at me silently with sorrow and pain in her eyes, before nodding in no.

"He is no more. I was 16 then. And then nothing was the same ever after that.", She told me.

"And your mom?", I asked immediately regretting this.

"Mahir. Um. Please don't call her my mom. Even I was calling her mom to show you that I am a normal girl. But heck I am not. Call her Marilyn. I call her the same. And she lives with James, that is her husband.", She told sadly while looking everywhere except me.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have asked.", I quickly said holding her by shoulder seeing her eyes tearing up.

"It's okay. I trust you. At least I opened up on this topic for the first time."

"You are strong you know that right?", I asked only to see her smiling while tears were running down her cheeks. And with this I brought her wrapping my arms around her in a supporting hug. She has been so strong. I was rubbing her back to calm her down when suddenly we heard a phone ringing. It was hers apparently so she backed off looking at me while faking a smile and leaving. I was waiting for her in kitchen then for few minutes when she finally came after few minutes.

"Mahir? Do you have some other important work? If you have then you can go and do it. Sorry for stopping you.", She said in one breath as she came into view. It took me a minute to realise what did she meant. Is it a mannerful way to dismiss me.

"No. Um. Okay if you want me to leave then I am leaving.", I said calmly but it sounded more harsh than I thought it to be. Because why did she stop me when she wanted me to leave?

"Noooo.... Mahir. No. Sorry. Um leave it. I guess we should go out to have dinner.", She said suddenly completely changing the topic. And she was looking anxious.

She is hiding something for sure that's what I can guess. And she wants me to leave, with her or without her.

"What is it Bela? Why are you being anxious? Should I leave?", I asked, calmly this time.

"Noooo", she said looking here and there and moving her hands fixing her hair nervously.

"What is it?"

"Mahir. My mom, um, Marilyn is coming with James. Here."

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