Bhumi's POV: 

"Hey, Kapoor. Want me to pick up some delicious dessert for you when we wrap up here in the evening?" I asked Jai as soon as we reached the café where I work.

"Uh, no. It's fine, Bhumi," he said awkwardly.

"Come on, silly. I'll be getting some for myself anyway. So if you want something, tell me. No need to be so formal," I said, giving a light punch to his muscled arm.

"Apple pie, maybe?" he said, sounding more like a question.

"Apple pie it is," I said, grinning, and he smiled back at me.

OMG! Did you see that? He smiled at me. And he looked cute smiling.

"Aww, you smiled," I said, clutching my heart in a dramatic way, and I saw his cheeks getting tinted with a pink hue.

Oh God! Is my bodygua- I mean, my personal protection officer blushing?

I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Drama queen," he muttered under his breath, but I heard it clearly.

"That I am," I said proudly, winking at him.

"So, I'll be working until five in the evening. You can either wait here until my shift is over, or you can go somewhere if you want. It's your choice. Here's my two-wheeler's key," I said, handing the key to him.

"Thank you, I guess," he said doubtfully. I hope he won't waste his time standing guard for the café.

"Take good care of my baby, Kapoor," I said with a warning note, pointing my index finger at him.

"With my life, Bhumi," he said, crossing his fingers over his chest.

"Okay. Bye-bye, J," I said, waving my hand at him.

"J?" he asked, looking at me with a confused frown.

"Short form for Jai. I'm too lazy to always call you Jai or Kapoor. J will do. And it sounds cute, doesn't it?" I said cheekily.

J or Jai, it is the same when it comes to syllables, but who cares.

"And I am surprised that you're not lazy enough to stop talking for at least five minutes," he said in disbelief, and I frowned.

"Are you bothered by my non-stop chattering, J?" I asked with a pout.

"What if I am?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Sorry, buddy. Can't help it. If it bothers you, you'll have to suck it up and bear with me. You have no other choice," I said with a casual shrug, making him shake his head.

"Thought so," he said and let out a small chuckle.

"Okay. See you in the evening, J. I don't want to fight with the manager for coming in late. I need to hurry up," I said, rushing towards the door.

"Okay. Ah, Bhumi, I forgot to mention. Mr. Mehrotra asked me to inform you to call him immediately. He said it's important," he said, suddenly all business.

"Okay, J," I said with a shrug and walked into the café.

"Oh, here comes the new owner of our café, who got, may I add, recently engaged," Arohi said with a dramatic bow in front of me, and I rolled my eyes at her theatrics.

Owner?? What the hell is she talking about?

"Well, this café now belongs to your beloved fiancé. So technically, you are our new boss, Bhumi. Congratulations," she said, winking at me playfully.

"Why don't you go and announce it to the whole world on the mic, Roohi?" I asked sarcastically..

"Uh-oh. Sorry, Bhumi," she said, smiling sheepishly at me.

I shook my head and walked towards the kitchen.
I entered the kitchen and hugged Uncle Bun, who was working on a cake.

"Oh, isn't it my favourite girl?" he said, kissing my forehead. I returned the affection by kissing both his cheeks.

"The one and only," I said, grinning ear to ear.
Uncle Bun is our chief cook here. His name is Castor Baros.

He's short and obese with a huge potbelly, giving him the nickname Uncle Bun.

He's in his early fifties. He's like a father figure to us. He lost his family fifteen years ago in a boat accident. His daughter was our age, and he always says that we remind him of his lovely daughter. And he treats us like that too.

"Now, come on, Bhumi darling. Get on with your work. Chop chop," he said, and I walked out of the kitchen to start the day.

As I was preparing the coffee, my phone started ringing.

Arya-Devil-Mann

Oh, I totally forgot that I had to call him. J had told me to. I picked up the call on the third ring.

"I told Jai to inform you to call me immediately. Didn't he tell you, Ms. Basu?" He growled from the other side.

"Hello to you too, my beloved fiancé," I said extra sweetly, and he scoffed.

"Why didn't you call me when I told you to do so immediately?" He demanded.

"Oh, I forgot," I said, shrugging casually..

"What do you mean you forgot?" He asked in disbelief.

"I am at work, Aryamann. I am busy here, and I forgot. It's not a big deal. Now tell me, what's the pressing matter you have to tell me?" I asked, not wanting to get into a fight with him now. I don't want a ruined mood while I serve the customers.

"We are making our first public appearance tonight, Ms. Basu. I am taking you out on a date. I will pick you up at sharp seven. Be ready by then," he said and hung up the call without waiting for my response.

A date? Public appearance?

What all nonsense do I have to bear with regarding this stupid contract I signed?

The day passed by in a blur, and it was already time to go home.

Yippee.

I came out to see J again standing in attention near my scooty.

Oh, goodness! Can't he just change his posture just for a few seconds?

"Hey, J," I waved at him, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

That's all??

"Let's go," he said.

Damn! He's back to his serious look.

I liked him smiling better.

After that, we drove to my apartment, with me as usual talking and bleeding his ears off.

As soon as I reached the apartment block where I live, I gave him the apple pie and bid him goodbye.

I plopped myself onto the couch as soon as I reached my apartment.

"Hey, lazy bug," Arohi called me as she took a seat next to me.

"What?" I asked lazily.

"Go take a shower. You stink," she said, scrunching her nose in mock disgust, and I threw the couch pillow onto her face, which she dodged with a laugh.

"Let me take some rest, Roohi bear. I am tired," I said, groaning.

"It's already half-past five in the evening, Bhumi. Go take a shower before you fall asleep," she said, pushing me a little off the couch.

"I'll take a shower at night," I said and laid on the couch, hugging the small square pillow to my bosom.

Am I forgetting something? Why do I get this awful feeling that I'm forgetting something very, very important?

Soon, I fell asleep with no care of the outer world. All that mattered was my imaginary prince charming sweeping me off my feet.

"Bhumi. Bhumi. Come on, wake up, sleepyhead. Your phone has been ringing for quite some time. Come on. Get up," Arohi shook me hard.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm up," I said sulkily and picked up the mobile phone without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I said sleepily.

"I'll be there in thirty minutes," he said and hung up.

Who? What? Where?

I opened my eyes properly and looked at the caller ID and saw Arya-Devil-Mann.

Why did he call me? Why was he comi- oh, damn!

The date!

I looked at my phone and saw it was half-past six already.

And he's supposed to be here by seven.

Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! He's going to strangle me if I say I forgot about the date.

I don't even want to imagine what will happen if I tell him I fell asleep.

I sprang up from the couch and ran to the bathroom, knocking Arohi to the floor on my way for the shower.

"What the hell, Bhumi?" she yelled at me from the floor.

"Sorry, Roohi. I have a date tonight, and I need to be ready by seven. Or you will have to plan my funeral," I screamed from the bedroom and dashed into the washroom for a much-needed shower.

Oh God! Bhumi. How could you forget a date? Your first date, Bhumi Basu!

That too with The Aryamann Mehrotra!

I took the quickest shower of my life and came to my bedroom wrapped in a towel.

Now. What the hell am I going to wear??

I have nothing to wear!

Will he like what I wear?

Wait! Why do I care whether he likes it or not? It's not as if this is a real date.

Then why should I impress him?

I took a red long skirt and top which I bought from a local stall named Trends last week.

I go to Trends for shopping mostly. I'm a Trends girl. They have the most comfortable daily wear. And they are very economical.

The only flaw is that there will be many pieces of the same kurti. But who cares as long as I am comfortable.

Comfort matters more than looks.

I blow-dried my hair and left it open as there was not enough time to get my hair done. Then I proceeded with applying some eyeliner and a little lip gloss.

There! I am done.

I don't like caking my face with makeup. I have a little sensitive skin, therefore not all brands of makeup will go well for me.

And the good brands are always expensive.
So I got used to the no-makeup look. Anyway, at the risk of being called narcissistic, I am beautiful enough to go without makeup.

So, now I am ready for my first-ever date.
It is such a sad thing that my first date turned out to be fake.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang, and I walked towards the main door, knowing very well who was on the other side.

Aryamann's POV:

God!! This girl is unbelievable.

She is one of a kind.

She was sleeping when I called her to inform her that I would be there soon.

That crazy, stupid girl.

I am going to strangle her when I find her within my arm's length.

I pressed the calling bell and stood there, waiting for the freak to open the apartment door.

"I am coming," she shouted from inside, and seconds later opened the door.

There she stood, wearing a simple skirt and top, with her beautiful hair cascading down to her hips.

The smell of aloe vera and olive butter hit me hard. She seems just out of her shower and looks fresh like a newly bloomed flower.

A natural beauty!

"Is there something on my face?" She asked, touching her cheeks with a frown on her face.

I must have been staring at her for quite long.

What?? I am a man! Of course I admire beauty. And she is a beauty.

I cleared my throat to dispel unnecessary thoughts from my mind.

"What are you wearing?" I asked coldly.

"Are you blind?? This is called a skirt and a top," she said in her usual devil-may-care tone.

"We are going on a date," I said as if that should simply convey my message.

"You told me already," she said, looking at me as if I am stupid.

"Goodness!! Woman, we are making our first public appearance. And you are wearing this crap??"

A/n

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SF❤️