Heya guys! Back after long. The new chapter's here.

Caution: A long chapter ahead.

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Being the owner of a company as indulging as an interior design firm, one needed creative ideas at the tip of their tongue and no distractions. One needed all their focus on their work during the working time and nothing coming in the way of working on the projects.

But Neil had a problem.

For the first ever time, he found it a little too tough to work. In the past, thoughts about achieving new heights, working for the betterment of his life and that of his employees, had always kept him dedicated.

But today, a certain hazel-eyed lady had occupied his mind, keeping him distracted. It looked like Pari's words had come true today.

He wasn't Neil anymore.

Well, that was true though because he was no more the serious man at work. His employees had been looking at him weirdly for the few days that had passed after meeting Aarohi. His family saw a change in his demeanour at home too. He was always happy at home but now, he looked forward to leaving his home and Abhimanyu, his brother, had started getting suspicious too.

He knew not much could be done in that matter but one thing he knew that was important to be done, was to find out what Aarohi had thought over, with regard to his proposal at the park.

Consequently, he was now headed to the Goenka Sadan. He didn't know what he was to do after going there. He didn't have any work there; all the plans were ready and the contractors were hired and ready to start with the work in a few days' time. But he wanted to meet Aarohi and get some words out of her as soon as possible.

Parking his car outside his destination, he walked in on to the door of the mansion. Just as he was about to enter, he heard a voice that made him freeze, "So, what do you think jo aap chahte hain, woh Akshu ke liye sahi hai? No, bade papa. Whatever plans you have for her, this marriage and all, are not right."

His brain went into an overdrive listening to the panic and frustration in her voice and he wanted to rush ahead to comfort her but his feet didn't cooperate. He kept listening on how their Bade Papa, Manish Goenka, was not happy about Akshara's denial and Aarohi's adamance.

"I don't get this. I don't get why you people don't understand that it is Akshu's life we are talking about. Maine us din bhi bola tha, Akshu ko decision lene do aap sab." Aarohi almost shouted, her eyes squeezed shut in frustration.

He looked around at all others. While Suwarna, Mimi and Akhilesh looked puzzled, Kairav and Vansh kept glancing at each other, after looking around. However, the subject of the heated argument, Akshara, was looking at her phone in a desperation that he did not understand. It looked as if she was waiting for somebody to drop in to help her out.

It made Neil feel a little unjust about the situation. While Akshara was standing silent, Aarohi was fighting for her. Neil did not know what to feel in this situation-whether to feel angry at Aarohi for being so concerned about her sister whom she was complaining about a few days back or to feel adoration at her ferocity for her family.

After a moment of Aarohi's words, Akshara, who kept looking at her phone, looked up at the entrance and noticed him. Her eyes widened and she looked nervous. Glancing back at Aarohi and her Bade Papa, her facial expressions changed.

"Enough!" Akshara's voice rang clear in the hall and everybody looked at her startled. Neil's eyes widened, his brain confused to see her sudden reaction to everything. Why now? His inner self scoffed at her even when he adored her as his bhabhi.

Moving in between the two, she looked at Manish and said, "Bade Papa, aap bahut mayine rakhte hain mere liye. Papa aur Sirat mumma ke baad, you were the one jinhone mujhe Papa ke pyaar ko miss karne nahi diya and I always want ki jab bhi mujhe life mein koi decision lena ho, you are happy with it. Lekin this time, there is a decision I have already taken and I want you to approve it." Emotions that showed on Manish's face in the duration of Akshara's words throughout were a mix of anger, disappointment and pain.

Releasing a deep shuddering breath, Akshara now looked at Aarohi with soft, pleading eyes, "Behen hai tu. You know me well. I am sorry for the pain I caused you with this drama but this time, I want to fight this battle on my own. Help me please?"

Aarohi looked annoyed. Her clenched jaw and flared nose were proof enough. But when she complied easily with a sigh, Neil, who was taken aback at her easy submission, raised his eyebrow. "Thik hai. But how?" Akshara gulped and showed Aarohi something on her phone and Aarohi's eyes widened.

"Are you serious? You can't call him here. Pehle yahan pe sab sort toh karle. Yeh kya tarika hai?" Aarohi squeaked, her eyes widened and she looked a little comical. It took a few seconds for Neil but when he understood the implication, he was shocked too.

His brother's doom's day was here.

And it suddenly made sense why Akshara had looked nervous on seeing him. Not that he had not imagined it happening, but to realise that his brother was now taking a step forward in his love life made him panic too.

From the day he had found out about the relationship of his 'Bro' and Akshara, he left no opportunity to tease his brother, who still didn't know that Neil knew about everything and annoyed Akshara because she knew about the reality.

While he had silently thought and dreamt of how things would unfold in the midst of Akshara's arranged marriage fiasco, he never in his wildest dreams thought this was to happen.

Just when he was in his thoughts, he heard Akshara call out for him. Startled, he looked at everybody's faces and felt eyes that kept looking at him. But when his eyes landed on Aarohi, she looked at everybody who wasn't him.

He walked in, folding his hands in the gesture of greeting, "Namaste everyone." The tension that lingered in the room didn't make him feel easy and he didn't know what to say and kept his eyes lowered.

He looked up to see Manish call out to him, "Neil bete, aap yahan? All good?" While nobody else asked him the same question, Neil knew the question resonated with everybody's doubt on his appearance at the residence of Goenkas.

"Uhh, actually main yahaan Aarohi ke liye aaya tha. I wanted to talk to her about something." Just when Neil said these words, he immediately looked in her direction to find her eyes widening more, if that was even possible. Maybe her eyes will pop out today. Neil thought

"Woh maine hi bulaya tha. Pari wanted some help regarding her job. She wanted some guidance in that, as she told me. I thought dono interior designers hain, his help will do me good. So.." Aarohi rambled and trailed her words at last. Neil looked at her with amusement and maybe, Aarohi read that look and shook her head minutely.

"If you guys are busy, I'll leave. I don't want to intrude." Looking in Manish's eyes, Neil said those words and was a little surprised to see the guilt in them.

Just when Manish opened his mouth to say something, everybody's attention went to the loud voice that reached their ears.

"AKSHU!"

Neil's eyes widened on seeing and hearing his brother rush in and hug Akshara tightly. Nobody else had a different reaction at the unexpected turn of events.

While everybody stood frozen, Abhimanyu panicked about Alshara's well-being. Frantically searching her arms and face for any sign of injury and distress as he asked her the reason for her texts.

"Excuse me! Yeh kya behaviour hai Dr. Birla?" Kairav came forward and asked, in anger at the young man's audacity to march in his house and behave so cosily with his sister.

"And how dare you hug our sister, more importantly!" Vansh came forward too with a look of anger and flared nostrils. All of the family was looking at Abhimanyu and Akshara while the two only looked at one another and Neil thought it was better to intervene before it got worse.

But Aarohi being a quicker person, acted a little faster on the similar idea she got in her mind, "Arey, listen everybody. Let's sit and talk, no? It will be easier to discuss and carry out the interrogation that way. Akshu," Aarohi took the matter in her hands and looked at Akshara, "you take him along to our room." Giving a once over to Abhimanyu, Aarohi rolled her eyes and took her family to the living room.

And then began the most crucial meeting of a girl's life- the talk of her relationship and introduction of the only potential groom to the family.

Indeed Neil had no idea what he had come for at the Goenka Sadan.

Nor did Abhimanyu, who not only was stripped of his secrecy but also, his mere decency of being a responsible boyfriend.

◇◇

"Wait! You mean Akshara, our sweetheart, is Abhi bhai's girlfriend? And my boss, Neil Birla is the brother of your sister's man?! Oh. My. God. What is all this?!" Pari screeched and growled into the phone as she was given the account of what happened in the day, by Aarohi at night.

"Um, yeah. Apparently, nobody knew that all of us were so well connected. Besides, I didn't even know it was Neil who is your boss. It is so weird and tough to accept all these changes and dynamics of our lives, Pari." Aarohi shared her worry with her best-friend.

"Oye! Don't worry meri Roohi. All's going to fall back in place." Pari reassured Aarohi. Squealing the next moment, Pari continued, "Right now, you should only worry about how this marriage is going to happen. Put all your focus on this major event, okay? There's so much to prepare for and I really want all of it to go well."

Aarohi laughed at Pari's enthusiasm. "Pari yaar! You'll seriously damage my ear drums someday now, I tell you. Besides, there's two months left for the engagement atleast and a lot more time for the marriage. So, chill! We have plenty of time for planning."

"Well, it's easy for you to say this. Madam, when you'll be asked to make daily trips to the market for one thing or the other and still there will be tasks left unattended, I'll ask you then to chill." Pari scoffed at the nonchalance that Aarohi showed for this relationship that was now escalating a step further towards lifetime love and bliss.

When Aarohi had called Pari in the night, Pari never imagined a big turn of events to be revealed in this manner to everybody. It took a lot of time for her to come in terms and for the two girls to discuss what and all happened.

And now, the two were engaged in conversations about the celebration that would be approaching them in a few months.

"But there's one good thing about the delayed functions at least." Pari started, in a slightly changed tone that Aarohi caught but couldn't decipher its cause.

"And, what is that?" Aarohi whispered, feeling a little uncertain about what it could be.

"You'll have a good amount of time now to pamper your Akshu and spend time with her, Roohi. This will be of benefit to you now. It will help you in the future for easy access into the Birla house so make full use of it." Aarohi's mood turned solemn at the words and she sighed.

It struck her right then that what had happened. Agreed that Akshara's marriage was now fixed even when the dates weren't cleared out yet but now, Akshara was going to get married to the man of her joys, her sorrows and her dreams. It sank in then that she would now be the resident of Birla house and it would take her away from Goenka Sadan.

And Aarohi's heart pained at this realisation.

She certainly wasn't ready for this change.

After all, which sister would ever be willing to let go of the one person she holds dearest because of her love? Which sister would be willing to let go of the one person who reminds her of their parents and keeps the joys intact in her life?

Certainly not Dr. Aarohi Goenka because if it were in her control, she would tie her sister up and keep her with her.

Alas!

The world worked in mannerisms that were complicated yet simple for people to learn as they grew up.

Pari definitely spoke rightly. This would be beneficial for her to survive later on and then-

"Wait! What do you mean by future easy access into Birla house, huh?" Aarohi furrowed her brows and looked at nothing, trying to decode the meaning of Pari's words when she was startled by Pari's laughter.

"Oh goodness! It took you so much time to reach the main point of my words. You're hilarious Aarohi Goenka. Pata nahi, how did you get your doctor's degree and licence. Tch, tch! Poor patients!"

Aarohi raised her finger in her front, as if Pari were present in her bedroom, sitting across from her. "Don't you dare say anything about my profession, okay? I can bear any stupidity of yours or any words till the time it stays strictly..."

"Personal and harmless? I know. I have heard this line many times and I still continue to say such things. Did it change anything in your behaviour towards me? No. Did it deter me from speaking? No."

Aarohi loved Pari like her own friend because it was not everyday that a person from same gender easily found a place in the curious mind and heart of Aarohi Goenka but Pari Sisodiya had somehow gotten place in the heart and mind of Aarohi in her school days and since then, stuck through thick and thin with her.

Despite all the love she held in her heart for Pari, Aarohi hated how smugly Pari retorted against the statements Aarohi made yet it warmed her heart at how well Pari knew her to say words that wouldn't hurt her but only rile her up a little.

"Okay fine. Come back to the main topic and explain your statement." Aarohi spoke after a few seconds.

"Well, you know right how it has come to a full circle of life that the man who is my boss, is also sweetheart's devar and he is my best guide too," Pari began, waiting for a second to see Aarohi's response. She continued, pleased, "I meant that maybe you could.."

"PARI!"

Listening to Pari as she began, Aarohi had an inkling that the words were somehow related to Neil because it was him who was her boss but she was flabbergasted at the insinuation from Pari.

It was scary.

Not because of what Pari implied but because it was also what Neil asked of her. Was it some sign or just mere coincidence?

While Aarohi wanted to dismiss it as just some normal coincidence, her heart knew the truth and its beats ran faster. She knew if Pari thought that the two of them could date and give each other a chance then most probably, Neil wasn't a bad guy to give a chance to.

She had found him to be an extremely caring, sweet and generous guy but what she didn't know was that Neil Birla was a persistent guy too. And a severe one at that.

◇◇

Neil opened the washroom door and hung his towel on the chair. Sighing, he looked at his brother who was seated on his bed. To someone, it would look like Abhimanyu was perched on his bed with his phone in his hands. But Neil knew his brother was in deep thoughts, his mind anguished at what happened in the day.

Just when Neil was about to say something to Abhimanyu, his phone rang. He looked at the screen and found it was Aarohi's call. His brows furrowed looking at the screen, trying to gauge the reason for her call.

Picking up the call, he answered, "Yes Ms. Cute, bolo."

"Neil, I need to talk to you right now please. Can you meet me? I can't.." Aarohi's heavy voice reached his ears. He was startled to listen to her voice that depicted some sort of confusion, fear and despair.

"Relax first. Take deep breaths. Yeah?" Neil spoke in a low soothing voice with apprehension. Looking at his brother who was now alarmed, he signalled for the keys to his bike.

"Now first tell me where are you? And speak calmly."

"I'm at the park we met on that day. I was here for a walk and something struck my mind. Neil, I need to talk to you. Please, yahaan aajao." Aarohi's choked voice, spoke out the words somehow.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming there. But first share your location with me, Akshu bhabhi and your brother." Neil spoke as he rushed towards his closet to get his riding jacket. Zipping it up, he rushed out, not before signalling Abhimanyu about calling him later.

"Okay Ms. Cute. I'm leaving home. Just give me 15 minutes, I'll reach there. Till then please stay calm. I promise to try and sort out your problem." Neil said as he disconnected the call after assuring her and wearing the helmet.

Roaring the bike on the road, Neil's mind thought about what could've happened. Why Aarohi was in panic and distress, was troubling his mind. Speeding up his bike, he rode faster with the help of minimal traffic on the roads.

In spite of everything, Neil found a smile creeping on his face as he thought about how Aarohi was now approaching him on her own. It had stung him how Aarohi had made no attempt to converse with him or even look his way throughout the day.

But what had stung more was that she had made no effort to share what problem it was that had created discomfort for her for when he met her at Goenka Sadan, he discovered something that definitely uprooted his beliefs.

Sighing, Neil applied the breaks of the bike and parked it. Moving off it and removing his helmet, Neil shook his head to get some hair out of his face as he pocketed the keys and hung the helmet.

'Let's no more think about this. Focus Neil. Focus on the present.' Neil thought and jogged off to see what new storm awaited him.

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Ahh! It's finally a relief to my hands, heart and mind to bring something more to the table. Honestly, I'd never thought I would get a chance to write before I finished my boards but I'm glad that I posted this. Updates are, like many other authors', not really planned. But I feel good to put this up.

Thanks for the support, even in my state of dormancy.

Love you lovelies!

Till the next update!!

Love,
~LoveKaur