Viren's POV

"Ask Swetha to come with you", I offered my mom who had been trying hard to take me along with her for shopping." Viren, we have to buy a saree for Payal and jewellery too. You know her better, you can help me. Besides Aarav has his vaccination today. She is taking him there. She will join us late.Don't argue now!", she glared. After my conversation with Sneha, I got back home to my mom dressed and about to leave. Had I been a little late she would have left and I, spared. But, now I have to go along and trot from one shop to other as my mom endlessly troubled the shopkeepers. I was at peace after talking to Sneha. I got some answers and all that I had to do now was to wait for her to come back. I expected to spend my evening staying away from her thoughts but apparently my mom would not let that happen.

"We also have to purchase the engagement ring", my mom declared after two hours ,while we left a heap of sarees in one shop and moved to the next one. "Ring? I think we will wait for her. She will choose one for herself", I said absent minded. "Why?", she asked gesturing the keeper to show a set of sarees she was pointing to." What why?She might have to wear it every day. What if she doesn't like what we select?", I questioned as my phone beeped. " You are right. Call and ask her to come here", she said and I put my phone back contemplating my answer. "She can't come. We both will do it some other day", I said hoping she will leave it at that." Why can't she come? Wait I will call Mrs.Sarda", she said fishing for her phone.

" Mom! Let it be. She is not in town", I said holding her hand." Where did she go?", she asked surprised. " She will be back the day after. We will shop on that day", I tried reasoning. "It will be late Viren, you will be left with just two days.Let's do it now", she was not convinced." Mom I will manage. Please leave the ring.Go forward with the saree and jewellery.I want her to really like it.",I finished and heard someone from behind," Wow! so much love!", that was my sister who has finally turned up to save me. My mom grinned at her comment while I rolled my eyes.

"Now that you are here, I will go breathe in some air", I said and escaped amidst their protests. I found a bakery and my stomach grumbled. It was almost dinner time and my mom and sister will take a lot of time to even think about it. I walked to the bakery and seated myself. I remembered there was a message I had ignored a while ago. To my surprise it was from Aakash, my friend. What the message contained was beyond my understanding.

Dude! You should have told. We would have taken care of everything ,it said and for a minute I was not sure if it was even Aakash. But it was him then may be it was a cross-text.

Was that a cross-text?, I replied hoping for him to respond immediately. I had placed my order and was waiting for it to arrive when I got the reply.

Ofcourse not!I can't believe you missed the chance of meeting us. You should have come along, another text that seemed like greek to me.I had the urge to call him up and bang him for his stupid messages but my order arrived and that stopped me from doing it.

I can't get a word of what you say. I managed to reply and dug into the pastries that were served to me. This man was fast as he replied in seconds.

Your fiancee is in Chennai! That is what I am talking about. I almost choked on what I was eating. I had to gulp down water and read the message twice.Payal was in Chennai? Was he serious. Does he even recognize her? That was when I remembered sending them her picture few days ago. So, there were chances he was right.I wanted to confirm

She is in Chennai? Can you click a picture and send me. I texted back without thinking how stupid that will sound and how freaked that girl would be.

Are you crazy?How will I do that?She is already freaked that I am constantly staring at her. Btw you don't know she is in Chennai? , he replied back but his questions could wait and I was not ready to take a no.

Aakash, please buddy. I will tell you everything later. I pleaded and it worked his next message was accompanied by the picture of a beautiful lady who was sitting all by herself at a corner table. It was Payal and my heart did a somersault looking at her. I smiled unknowingly. She was sure finding her way into my heart.

I dialed his number and was connected in minutes.

"Hey Aakash. That is Payal", I said not waiting for his greetings."See, I recognized her", he said in a proud tone. "Yeah!I know you are a genius and so I want you to do something else for me", I took my chance." Now what?", he said almost frightened. "You will have to go up to her and make her talk to me on your phone", I declared like I was asking a very simple thing. Like I expected he asked me thousands of questions and argued that he wouldn't do it. I had to plead, blackmail and emotionally corner him to accept what I asked him. He sighed and I could her him walk.

He held the phone away from him, I guess, as I could hear a lot of noises. "Excuse me!", Aakash's voice reached me faintly. I pressed my phone into the ear to listen more clearly. " Payal?", he asked and there was silence for a long time and my mind raced wondering what was happening there. I just hoped Payal wouldn't get up and slap him across his face. I chuckled at the thought. "There is someone on the phone who wants to talk to you.", Aakash said trying to be cool but I know how scared he was. There was silence again but this time it was broken by Payal's voice even more faint than Aakash's.

"Look mister,I don't know you nor can I think of anyone who would want to talk to me. So, if you leave now I will get back to my dinner.", she said and she sounded quiet rude. I could imagine Aakash curse me inside. He did not let any of that surface as he continued, " But I know of someone who is dying to talk to you", he said a little louder so that I could hear and now it was my turn to curse him. " Sir, will you leave or shall I call the security", she said now clearly agitated."Dude, she is not listening", he spoke into the phone.I thought for a minute and asked him to put me on speaker. Once I was sure he turned it on, I spoke.

*

Payal's POV

The distance closed and he stood right in front of me as my heart threatened to leap out of my mouth. My heart beat thumped in my ears as I refused to look up. " Excuse me!",he said and ironically his voice was polite. I slowly raised my head to look up at a man who was young and could be called handsome. He was dressed casually and was tall. "Payal?", he questioned and I was stunned to silence. What was happening? First, he stared at me openly ,then he had the nerve of walking up to my table and now he knows my name. This was unbelievable. It frightened me to think of the possibilities this stranger could know my name. Looking at his face, I could not think of seeing him ever before.

He looked at me, studying my expressions as I stared at back him, surprise evident in my face. Realizing I would not speak he continued,"There is someone on the phone who wants to talk to you". What? Who would want to talk to me and on his phone. This guy is getting on my nerves. I have to take a stand before he does some harm,"Look mister,I don't know you nor can I think of anyone who would want to talk to me. So, if you leave now I will get back to my dinner.", I said mustering up all the rudeness I could. I could see hurt in his eyes but he composed himself. " But I know of someone who is dying to talk to you", he said now raising his voice a little. This guy was thick skinned and nothing was effecting him. " Sir, will you leave or shall I call the security", I said finality in my voice. He was now taken aback as he stepped talking into his phone. The next moment he put his phone on the table and I could hear a voice that I had not expected I would hear.

"Payal! Viren here", he said and goosebumps formed on my arms. The spoon in my hand slipped clattering on the plate. My ears perked up and my throat went dry. Are my ears deceiving me? How can it be Viren, how did this stranger know him? A lot of questions hovered in my mind and then he spoke again. "Thank God! I found you. You just vanished.By the way, if you are wondering who is that strange guy standing in front of you. He is my best friend Aakash. He knows you from the picture I sent him few days back.", he said and I involuntarily looked up at the guy. He had a smile on his face but I could not reciprocate back still not understanding what was going on. " I know you are too stunned to say anything so I will talk and please listen to me", he pleaded. My attention was totally on his voice and my gaze on the phone, like I could see him through it. The phone was still on speaker and none of us bothered to change it.

" I know that you have come across some unexpected truths about me in the past days. I can totally understand you wanting to take time away, especially from me", he paused hoping me to chip in. I remained silent as a lot of unexpected things were happening at a time. "I don't know what is running in your mind but we will talk about it once you are back. I will tell you everything you want to know, trust me. I should have told this before anyone else had but what is done is done", he sighed. He seemed genuine and I was melting with his every word. " I respect your decision to have some lone time. I will not disturb you further by asking you questions like why did you leave? where are you?etc.", he said and I smiled still looking at the phone intently. People around me seized as all I could perceive was his voice and his emotions. "You don't want to say anything?", his voice told how much he wanted me to speak. I could not hold back anymore.

" Viren", I said and my voice was almost a whisper. I cleared my throat," Sorry, I did not tell you. I was disturbed and wanted to be away", I managed. " No, please don't apologize. I am happy I could talk to you", his voice was cheerful now. " See you day after then?", I asked controlling not to blush. This conversation and the way he reached me was in some way very romantic to me. " Yes. I can't-", he started but stopped, "Hmm.Can I pick you at the airport", he asked. "Hey,That is alright. I will meet you after I reach. Don't come so far", I said but he insisted making me tell him my flight timing.There was an awkward silence and then he disconnected.

I was hopelessly blushing when Aakash cleared his throat making me realize his presence. "I am so sorry Aakash. I was rude to you.", I said sounding very sincere. "That is okay. Anyone would do that. Looks like you love birds had a misunderstanding", he said and I blushed again. I need to stop doing that. " Anyways, would you like to join us?", he asked pointing to the table he sat before. I looked in the direction to find a lady who was pregnant. " That is my wife, Neetu", he smiled. How did I not notice her before? " Sure", I said and asked the waiter to shift my order to that table.

Like that, a day full of new things came to an end. Aakash and Neetu were sweethearts. They were entertaining and had become close to me in a very short time. They disclosed some very embarrassing secrets about Viren and I thoroughly enjoyed it. They knew about Viren and Priya, I could tell from the way they changed the topic whenever the discussion was anywhere close to it. Anyways,now I want only to hear from Viren and no one else.

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