Disclaimer : All the characters written below are imaginary and a work of pure fiction. There is no resemblance to any incident or situation and is written as work of fiction.

Ritwik's face changed seeing her. He didn't know why he disliked her so much. It cannot possibly be because of the fact that she was late just once. He was not like that. But there was somthing in her which made him uncomfortable.

His face stiffened as he came and stood in front of them.

"so you guys obviously know each other...." Aman said playfully hitting his back. "Mishti this is the surprise I was talking about....meet Ritwik my best friend and Taani's brother....I hid the fact from both of you although I knew that she was joining Noon Fashions...."

"good evening sir...." she said without meeting his eyes. Her voice quivered a little.

"sir...." taani laughed loudly. "bhai this is so funny...." she stopped earning a glare from Ritwik.

"arrey beta you work in Noon Fashions?" his mom caressed her hair. "which department?"

"designing...." she said with a smile. Choti maa's touch had the same warmth.

"aunty Mishti will be doing all the sister's rituals in our engagement...." Aman told her.

"for sure beta....won't you change?" she asked her lovingly.

She shook her head. "I am good cho...." she stopped immediately. "aunty....i am good...."

"she is crazy aunty....who comes in formals for an engagement...." Aman said pulling her hair and held her hand and pulled her hands to make her meet his mom and Taani followed.

"this name...." Ritwik was looking at their retreating figure when he heard his mom's voice.

"what name mumma?" he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Mishti...." she said with choked voice and quickly wiped the corner of her eyes.

"what's wrong with that?" he frowned , not knowing his laddoo's name was Mishti.

"nothing beta....reminded me of someone with the same name....let's start the rituals?" she said looking at him lovingly and he nodded and was about to walk away.

"Ritwik...." she held his hand.

"haan mumma?" he looked back at her.

"take good care of this girl in office...." she said softly and walked away leaving Ritwik frowning. His mom had never said this for any employee ever without any reason. Why would she said that now. May be because she was Aman's best friend. May be. He shrugged his thoughts away and went ahead for the rituals to begin.

The rituals were done with Taani getting engaged to Aman and Ritwik was sitting with Aman and their guy gang.

"I cannot believe Sheetal out of everyone....this is so unbelievable....right from college we three have been together...." Aman said in disbelief as Ritwik told him what she had done.

"leave it I don't wanna talk about her...." Ritwik said in disgust and looked away to find Mishti sit in a corner alone. Aman followed his gaze and saw him staring at her.

"pretty nuh?" he asked in his ear making Ritwik turn towards him and glare.

"jokes apart....you didn't even wish or greet her properly....that is so not you....even after knowing she is so special for me...." he asked seriously.

"I don't like her...." he said honestly. Aman was the person in front of whom he didn't have to hide anything.

"why?" Aman frowned.

"I don't know...." he literally snapped back at Aman earning a chuckle from him.

"and that is the reason you don't like her....She confuses you....Bro....you will never meet a stronger girl that her....it takes guts to shift to a different city and stay alone when you were born with a silver spoon...." he said proudly.

"as in?" Ritwik frowned.

"Me and Mishti are school friends...." before Aman could finish , he cut him off.

"she is also from Delhi?"

"yup....we all are...." Aman chuckled. "yes she is from Delhi....she shifted here last month....her father runs one of the leading fashion houses you know?Khanna Group Of Industries?"

"What?why is she working in our company then?" Ritwik looked at her direction. Super weird girl.

"She doesn't want to just get into her father's company....she wants to work and establish herself as a designer....prove to herself that she is good at what she does and deserves the position that she will hold in her father's company...." Aman said smiling softly looking at Mishti.

"weirdo...." he said frowning. But deep down he was impressed. Not everyone has the guts. And the ethics. Atleast he didn't. He had started working in her father's company right after his education. This thought had not even crossed his mind.

"not only that....you won't believe she handles her expenses just by her salary....stays in her own apartment whereas uncle has his house in this city....she travels by cab and rickshaw while fleets of cars are parked in her house...." he chuckled.

Ritwik was quietly listening to him.

"why is she sitting alone?" he asked Aman.

"I'll go and check....she doesn't know anyone here except me mumma papa and Taani....they are also busy attending guests that is why may be...." Aman got up and went to her. Ritwik rubbed his temple and went to the buffet area to grab a plate of starters. He was hungry.

It was late night when the function got over.

"Mishtuuu....you didn't meet papa....come...." Taani came and pulled her to her father. Ritwik was talking to his dad finally about the Sheetal incident and his mom was also standing there listening to them in disbelief.

"papa....no business talk today...." Taani frowned and wrapped her arms around his elbow. "meet her....Mishti....Aman's rakhi sister.... and this is my papa....the best papa...."

His father looked at his mother hearing her name. She shook her head gesturing him that she was not their Mishti. He looked back to see her , his eyes glistening.

"nice to meet you sir...." she said politely and touched his feet.

"no beta....girls don't touch feet...." he held her shoulder immediately and pulled her up. "bless you beta...."

"she works in Noon Fashions...." his mom informed his father.

"really?" his face lit up as she caressed her hair. "don't call me sir okay?call me uncle....and did you have dinner?"

She nodded softly.

"and ice cream?" he asked involuntarily because their Mishti loved ice cream.

She gulped and nodded struggling to hold her tears back.

Ritwik and Taani looked at each other confused. Mumma papa were acting strange. May be the strangeness of this girl was infectious , he thought in mind.

"I will leave now uncle....bye aunty...." she said politely.

"Aman's driver will drop you....chal...." Taani held her hand.

"Taani I will book a cab don't worry...." she patted her cheeks.

"no way....Taani is right....Ritwik....drop her till the car...." his father told him.

"ji papa...." he nodded obediently.

"that's alright sir....i mean uncle....i will be fine...." she said immediately.

"shhh...." his mother caressed her hair. "it is not fine....Ritwik will drop you to the car....and drop by to meet us okay beta?" she said lovingly and she nodded with a soft smile.

She waved them bye and walked behind Ritwik who walked ahead of her to the parking.

"kaka....drop her home...." he told the driver of Aman's car who nodded with a smile and sat in the driver's seat.

"good night sir...." she said without looking at him and opened the door of the front seat.

"Ms. Khanna...." he called her from behind. She stopped , closed the door and looked at him.

"whatever happened in office...." he licked his dry lips.

"it's completely fine sir...." she said politely.

"actually me Aman and Sheetal were really thick together....we couldn't really listen to anything against each other....I had not expected in my wildest dream that she would....you know...." he fumbled with his words.

"I understand sir....don't worry I didn't feel bad...."

He nodded uncomfortably. Something in her made him uneasy and uncomfortable.

"so yeah....umm...." he looked here and there trying to figure out what to say. May be he just wanted to keep up with the conversation.

"bye sun...." she stopped immediately.

"huh?" he looked at her confused at her change in expression. Suddenly she looked scared.

"i mean....bye sir...." she said quickly and bit her lips and sat inside. He frowned in confusion and looked at the car speeding away in the darkness of the night.