Recap - Arjun uniting with his mother, inviting Aarohi for dinner

"Congratulations Mr. Arjun. We are deeply impressed by your work " Prakash shook hands with Arjun. He smiled in response

"Thank you so much Mr. Dixit"he shook hands with him.

"And i must appreciate. Ms. Aarohi. She presented it very well. Tell my wishes to her"

"Sure"

Arjun peeped outside his cabin and saw Aarohi sitting in her cabin. Talking and Laughing with her colleagues. Everybody was celebrating the success of their company. He admired her now. As a woman and as a person.

By evening everyone left early. Aarohi had few works pending. When she was done she walked to the parking area where her scooter was parked. Her eyes fell on Arjun who stood besides his car.

"Mr. Arjun?"she walked to him

"Ms. Aarohi?"

"What happened. You didn't go yet?"

"My car tyre is punctured. Need to catch a taxi i guess"

"Oh..Shall I drop you?"she asked , a bit unsure

"What?"

"I mean..That day. You dropped me and today I'm dropping you..That's it"

Arjun stood still, wondering

"Are you coming or not?"

"Fine"he took his car keys and walked towards her.

"I'll drive it.."he said

"Why? Trust me Mr. Arjun..I'll drive better than you"

He raised his eyebrows and sighed making her chuckle. He sat behind her. Maintaining utmost distance with her. He felt a bit awkward too.

Her hairs fell on his face. He inhaled her fragrance. She smelled heavenly.

"What did Mr. Dixit say?"she asked trying to initiate a conversation with him

"He's quite impressed with our company"

"See i told you right. Everything went well. Mr. Arjun"

"All thanks to your confidence "he smiled a bit

"Oh..okay..so when im i getting my treat?"

"For what?"

"For impressing Mr. Dixit."

"What do you want. Ms.Aarohi?"

She stopped her scooter making him look all around

"Why did you stop here?"he asked

"Give my treat"

"Where?"

"There"She pointed at an ice cream shop

"Ice Cream?"

"Yeah yeah..its been long since i had one. Please Mr. Arjun"

"Are you serious?"

"Please Mr. Arjun. After all i struggled a lot for the deal right?"she pouted. He sighed

"Wait here. I'll go and get them"she said giving the scooter to him.

"Why did i take a lift from this girl" Arjun said to himself holding his head in his palm.  She returned with 2 ice creams in her hands

"You'll have two ice creams at the same time?"he asked surprised

"No..this is for you "she said forwarding the ice cream

"For me? I don't like ice creams" he frowned

"Mr. Arjun you're impossible. You hate ice creams? Like..seriously?"

"Yes..and I'm not going to have it"

"You can't say that. Its my wish and ive worked hard for this deal to..."

"Okay fine. I'll have it. You don't have to say it again and again"

She giggled and gave one to him. He looked at his ice cream and then watched her eating hers. Like a baby. He smiled a bit. Watching her.

"Hello..what are you looking at? Have it before it melts"

He nodded And started eating his. After a while she bursted out laughing. Leaving him puzzled

"What? Why are you laughing?

"Look at yourself. Is this the way of having ice cream?"she giggled noticing ice cream in corner of his lips

"What are you saying?"he asked. She sighed and rubbed off the ice cream from him.

Her fingers brushed with his lips sending shivers down her spine. Arjun was startled too. But he hided it well. She withdrew her hands immediately

"Im..sorry"

"Let's go"he ignored it.

She started her scooter again. A small smile playing in her lips. He massaged his temples. He had severe head ache from the morning. She noticed him through the mirror

"Are you okay?"

"Yes.. Its just a small headache "

"Do you want Tea? Probably you will feel better "

"No. Its okay. I'm fine"

He wished to have some. But all he wants to do is to get home and collapse into his bed. Without asking him she stopped her scooter

"Now what?"

"You wait here Mr. Arjun. I quickly grab two cups of tea"

"I told you. I'm fine Ms. Aarohi..Lets get back home"

"Just wait here. Mr Arjun. I'll come now" she walked to the stall and came back to him. With two cups of tea.

"Thank you"

He was about to take a sip until she stopped him.

"I'll take you somewhere. Sit"

"Where to?"he asked

"Just sit Mr. Arjun"

He sat behind her. 5 minutes later. She stopped the scooter again.

"Where are we?"

"Come with me"she grabbed his hands

Arjun blinked his eyes in surprise and catched his breath. At the sight in front of him. They could see the whole city.

He felt all his pain vanishing away. With the breeze touching his face. He felt peace. He felt relaxed

"This is Hyderabad. Which you've never seen. Hows it?" Aarohi asked excitedly

"Beautiful" that's all he could say

"Sit here"

They sat on the ground. Gazing at the city. And sipped their tea in silence.

"Mr. Arjun..Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you talk to Ramya aunty?"

"I did"

She smiled in relief

"Why you were angry on your parents?"

He fell silent. And gazed at the vast sky

"Sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just curious"she kept her thumb under her chin.

"Its okay. Anyway its important for you to know"

"Yes?"

"Kavyas last rites were done in Vishakpatnam. Her parents came. Everyone came to see her for the last time. I locked myself in a room. For months. I forgot that I should live for my daughter at least. I was devasted and shattered. I barely ate. Drank continuously. I was turning into a monster.
Nivi was turning 2. That year. I still mourned Kavyas death. All of a sudden i felt guilty. For not taking care of her. I was slowly recovering until that day.
Yogesh uncle and shalini aunty came to visit us. Thara is their daughter. They wanted me to get married to Thara. For Nivi. I denied. I couldn't think about Anyone in Kavyas place. I argued. They forced me. I thought atleast my mother would understand. She didn't. They arranged a register marriage without my knowledge. I left my home that day with Nivi. And warned them Never to contact. As parents they couldn't understand their own son. I was broken to take a decision. I distanced myself from them as Well as Raj"

Aarohi listened to him carefully. She could see the guilt engulfing him

"Are you okay. Mr. Arjun?"

"I wasn't..until i talked to maa yesterday. I'm feeling better now. Ms. Aarohi "

She smiled at him. For few minutes. No one spoke

"Shall we go? We are late"he said breaking the silence

"Yeah sure"

They walked back to her scooter.

"Give me the keys. I'll drive it"he said

"No its okay. Mr Arjun i can drive"

"I want to go home right now. I'm sure you will take me to eat biriyani next"he said for which she laughed. After a pause he joined in her laughter

"Hm..not bad Mr. Arjun. Cracking jokes and all huh?"

He tried to hide his smile and snatched the keys from her

"Sit"

She sat behind him and held his shoulder 

"Will you mind if I hold you"she asked chuckling

"You can. Don't blame me after falling down"he said starting the scooter. She circled her arms in his waist , making him smile. He was feeling a lot better , already

She wished to freeze this moment. She felt goosebumps all over her skin. To be with him. This close

15 minutes later they were in front of his house. Aarohi was talking to Divya over the phone.

Arjun got down from the scooter and looked at her

"I'm so sorry Mr. Arjun. Will you let me go now? Divya just called. She  told me that Tinku is not feeling well. "

"Its okay. You can go Ms. Aarohi"

"Please apologise to Ramya aunty from my side. And to Nivi too"

Arjun nodded with a smile

"Sure and..i had a great time today with you"

Aarohi felt shivers as soon as she heard it. She couldn't believe her ears

"Okay..Thank you"she bited her lips and tried to hold back her smile.

"Bye"He turned to leave

"Mr. Arjun..one second"

"Yeah?"

"Can you please permit me leave Tommorow..? I want to.."

"No Ms. Aarohi. I have work for you. I'm sorry "

"But Mr. Arjun"

"A big no. Good night"he walked inside leaving her disappointed. She sighed and started her scooter.

Arjun felt light hearted after sharing his life with a person like Aarohi. He doesn't know why. He couldn't let her permit leave for a day. He didn't had any work for her yet the thought of spending a day without her made him feel uneasy.

Arjun wasn't in his senses to realize that he had already fallen for this girl

__________

Precap - Aarohis Birthday