Anamika catches a taxi. She's on the way to her senior Vineet Kumar's office when she receives yet another text from the man.

It's a location not far from their office. He wants her to meet him there?

Having reached her office, she decides to take a walk following the maps in her smartphone.

She's surprised when she reaches a familiar open street cafe. This is where they sometimes have their coffee--

"Anamika! Over here!"

Vineet's voice reaches her ears and she looks around to find him sitting at a table. He waves her over when their eyes meet.

"Baitho.."

He pulls a chair when she approaches him. And she takes a seat--

"Sir aap yaha? Aapne yaha kyun bulaaya? Mujhe lagaa hum office me milne wale."

Vineet shrugs. "Ab kaam hi aisa tha, Ana."

Anamika smiles-- "Acha, batayiye kaisa kaam?"

"Just wait, my dear assistant.. Patience rakho." He grins.

A little later-- a huge chocolate cake arrives. And with that two mugs of steaming coffee. Anamika looks on surprised, while Vineet continues to smile sweetly.

"To my super annoying-- nahi nahi, super hardworking assistant! Mera treat!"

Anamika is thrilled, and equally confused.

"Sir, ye... magar.. kyun?"

Vineet smiles widely-- "I told you na, treat hai... you worked hard on the case."

First her sisters and now her senior. Anamika isn't sure if she deserves so much praise. She hangs her head feeling a little upset.

"Sir... maine kuch nahi kia..."

"Huh?"

Vineet doesn't know why the girl is looking so sullen. Plus, he's noticed something is off about her these days-- like she's in deep thoughts-- and she's worried about something.

"Ana, tum aise kyu keh rahi ho? Yaad karo, tumne kitna kaam kiya tha. Wo clues, unke liye tumne din raat mere sath kaam kiya. Aur hearing ke din, you ran with me... all the way to the court. Tum ghoda bhi chad gayi thi, case ke liye... And you never complained. Aisa sirf tum hi karsakti ho, I'm sure."

Anamika is surprised, but also very happy.

Vineet goes on-- "I'm very strict, Ana. And honestly, you're really amazing to bear with me. Koi dusri ladki hoti toh kab ka nikal jati.... And you will become a great lawyer one day. I'll guarantee you that... so isliye khud ko kam mat samjhna kabhi."

Anamika smiles. A mix of emotions swirl in her heart, and she's sure she's half swooning at her senior. He's helped her a lot in building the confidence she needs as a lawyer, and he still is.

"Thank You sir... thankyou for this treat. And thankyou for being my guide."

Vineet nods. "Thank You ab na bolo. Tab kehna jab you fight a case by your own and win. "

Anamika nods, a serious look on her face-- "case toh main jeetungi hi..."

She thinks about her sisters, their current predicament. She wonders if their problem could be solved using lawful methods-- and that's when Vineet waves his hands in front of her face.

"Hello, kaha kho gayi? Cake nahi khana hai kya?!"

"Sir, this looks amazing... par..."

"Par kya?"

"Sir, my sisters treated me too..."

"Ohh, tumhare teen sisters hai na."

"Han, sir. Wo teeno meri jaan hai! Kitni masti karte hai hum.. Kitne khushnaseeb hum jo ek dusre ka saat mila..."

Anamika trails off lost, in thoughts and when she returns to her senses, Vineet is staring at her with a slight smile.

"Kya dekh rahe sir?"

"Dekh raha hoon, you love your sisters too much."

Anamika nods. "Yeah... too much. Main unke liye kuch bhi karungi..."

Her eyes harden again. And Vineet notices this.

"Ana, kuch hua kya... I mean koi pareshani?" he asks. "Aaj kal mujhe lagraha ki... kuch to baat hai... is it related to your sisters?"

Anamika is stumped. She didn't realize she was wearing her emotions on her face.

And she doesn't know if she can tell him about the fraud that's rendered her sisters bankrupt--- Vineet might want to help, but at the same time, he might hate her for lying that she came from a poor family--

"Nahi sir..." she shakes her head. "Aisa to koi baat nahi hai... hahaha..."

She laughs it off, but Vineet isn't convinced. He feels the girl is hiding something but-- he lets it slide. And for now he can only say this--

"Ana, agar kabhi kuch problem hai to batana...I'll not force you to share, but I want you to share, jab bhi tumhe mann kare."

Anamika is touched. She nods, smiling sweetly. Vineet gives her a pat on the shoulder reaching across the table. And that cheers her up once more.

"Oops! Coffee thanda ho rahi! Chalo peete hai! Yeh cake bhi to bahut mast hai!"

Vineet can't believe how fast Anamika's mood keeps changing--

"Aram se-- arey khao, piyo, magar aram se..."

Anamika doesn't pay heed to him at all. She hurriedly stuffs a piece of cake in her mouth, causing him to laugh.

"Didn't you say you already received a treat from your sisters?"

"Han, sir," Anamika nods while reaching for her coffee, "unhone mujhe bahut khilaya tha. Par main na aapkeliye bhukkad banungi! Wo kya hai na, jab koi pyar se khilata to main mana na karpati kabhi."

Vineet laughs again-- "Tum bhukkad kab nahi thi... tum bhukkad hi ho, always."

"Sir!" Anamika glares at him.

"I mean, tum bhukkad ke saath saath bhulakkad bhi ho..."

"Aur aap mister Akdooo, samjhe!"

Anamika yells, putting an end to their argument. Vineet laughs and soon they are laughing together.

"Good, you smiled."

Vineet is happy that she smiled. She looks beautiful when she smiles-- and he hopes whatever that's troubling her she can share it with him one day. For now, he'll take care of her as much as he can.

Meanwhile, Anamika doesn't know what to say. Did he do that to make her smile? The gesture is so sweet, she might fall in love if this goes on...

***

Ruhana drives her car lost in thoughts. Their life had been good, but now everything is so complicated, she doesn't know what to do.

She rounds a corner-- and that's when notices a biker speeding off in the same direction--

She turns the steering wheel and pushes on the brakes, but too late, her car has already bumped into the bike.

The guy on the bike topples to the ground. Ruhana exits her car, face drawn in horror. She slams the door shut, hoping it's not a vicious accident. Well she didn't hit the bike hard, and she was driving slow, so the biker must be alive.

Sure enough, he is. The guy stands dusting his pants-- he takes off his helmet. He doesn't look like he's in pain at all-- Ruhana heaves a sigh of relief. And he's incredibly handsome--

"Oh mehlon mein rehnewali madam, ankhei kahan thi aapke? Aasmaan mein chand taaron pe bichaya tha kya, zara sadak pe bhi bichadijiye kabhi, especialy jab aap is pesh-keemti gaadi chalarahe hai--"

Ruhana is taken aback. No one gets to talk to her like that-- what does this guy think?

"Tum-- tum samjhte kya ho apne aap ko? Tumhe sadak ke uss paar jana tha-- tum wrong route mei aye the, mister! Wo to meri aankhei sadak pe thi, isliye tum bachgaye aaj! Warna mere pesh-keemti gadi ke neeche aake dab jate tum."

The guy isn't pleased, he glares at her. Ruhana glares back. The glaring match goes on for a while, no one wanting to back off. And then ultimately he's the one to pull his eyes away. He picks up his bike, and drives away muttering something about 'bade ghar ki ghamandi ladkiyan..'

Ruhana wants to yell at him, teach him a lesson for judging someone he barely knew, but she doesn't want to create a scene. Sighing, she returns to her car and begins to drive away.

It's as Angel says, tujhe har sadak-chap ko tameez sikhane ki zarurat nahi hain, behna.

So she'll let him go for now... but if they cross paths again... she'll definitely teach him a lesson.

***

Priyanka faces off her Boss, Aditya in his cabin. This is the second time she's in here alone with the new editor. Well, the guy has been here for six months now-- but they never had such one to one interactions.

Though she's annoyed, she manages to smile. "Aapne bulaya tha sir?"

"Yes, Miss, Rathod." Aditya smiles a little. "I'm sorry to call you here on such short notice."

Priyanka doesn't know what to think. She didn't know he could smile like that, and he apologized?

"It's okay sir... bataiye kya kaam tha?"

What Aditya says takes her breath away--

"Didn't I tell you that you'll be working with me? We're leaving for Shimla right now."

"What!??" Priyanka shrieks, "abhi?? ABHI!?? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SAYING!"

"Shh... keep your voice down. Warna log samjhenge I'm sexually harassing you--"

Priyanka can't believe what she heard-- and before she can stop-- "Shut up, you stupid jerk!"

"Excuse me!"

Aditya is glaring at her now. Priyanka smacks herself on the head. In her rage, she nearly forgot he's her boss.

"I'm sorry, sir.. It was just I was so shocked. And that comment regarding... I'm sorry."

Aditya lets out a sigh. The silence that prevails between them is awkward.

"I trusted Dushyant when he said you were capable."

That comment out of nowhere is a blow to her pride-- Priyanka narrows her eyes.

"Come again, sir?"

Aditya sighs again. He just said what felt right. He trusted Dushyant but it seems there's nothing special about this girl. Nothing at all. She lacks sense, she lacks journalist qualities. And on top of that she has the nerve to yell at her boss. He felt maybe there was more to her, he was curious as well but-- what a disappointment--

"Miss Rathod, Hum shimla ek important assignment keliye jarahe hai... ghoomne keliye nahin... aur.."

"Main kya karti sir? How do you expect me to react? Aapne suddenly boldia ki--"

"A journalist should always be prepared Miss Priyanka!"

It's Priyanka's turn to let out a sigh. Great! They haven't begun working together, and they are already arguing.

"Can I at least inform my sisters? I mean, mere sisters are quite protective of me. They'd be worried if I'd disappear..."

A beat's silence. Aditya eyes her warily. Then he nods, and so Priyanka exits the cabin dialling up Angel's number. Well, since Angel is busy she might call Ruhana? Maybe she'll send texts to each of them. That would do.

Sending the texts, she takes a deep breath-- she doesn't want to go back into that cabin again. But she needs to. Backing off would mean betraying Dushyant's trust, and not to mention it would be an insult to herself.

"Ugh! Ye sab Dushu ke bache ne kia! Dushyant main tujhe chodungi nahi!!"

Since she can't yell in a loud voice, she keeps it low. And when she turns around-- her nose bumps into someone's chest--

Mr. Tall and scary, Akdoo boss aka Aditya!?

"You have no sense of direction either huh?"

Priyanka glares at him. So the insults begin again.

"Come, we're leaving for the airport."

They are leaving now?

"Ye baat apne mujhe pehle kyu nahi bataya? I'd have come with my bags--"

Aditya is walking ahead, but now he turns around.

"I told you, ye tour nahi hai. Am I carrying bags?"

The guy's hands are empty as he flashes them for her to see. Priyanka bites back her frustration.

"Even so, we'll need some essentials Mister Kapoor..."

Aditya grins, he takes a step closer-- "you've had an easy life, haven't you? Jaha sab tumhare liye set hai. Kuch karne ki zarurat nahi..."

What does this guy know? Priyanka glares at him harder. His eyes are beautiful but they are so cold-- and she thought he was a friendly guy all along!

"Not pleased, are you, Miss Rathod. Then prove me wrong. Show me what you've got."

With another smile, Aditya turns around hurrying out of the office. Stomping her foot Priyanka follows him. She can't tolerate him at all! But of course, she will show him what she's made of!

***

Angel steps inside superstar Mahesh's huge mansion. She waits in the garden as some people have informed her.

There are a few chairs, a table for two, and a kettle and teacups. Must be nice to have tea while sitting in the garden. She's reminded of the tea time masti with her sisters. They'd sit in the garden, talk until it's late into the night, sometimes they'd sit watching the moon--

And now they might lose it all!

No..No they won't...

Her thoughts are cut off as someone approaches her. A man clad in black suit, and the superstar Mahesh itself...

Whoa! Whoa! Mahesh is even more handsome in person. She always thought his movies were pathetic, so was his acting, but the guy has grace-- well she shouldn't have judged his movies without watching them till the end.

"So shall we begin your audition?" says the man in black.

"Let's see if you've got it in you..." Mahesh comments looking at her once over--

He's scrutinizing her outfit?! Scumbag! Angel is more irritated than ever. And what audition are they talking about?

The two guys are sitting now, occupying the chairs while she stands rooted in her spot.

"Well, why don't you begin?" Mahesh is the one to speak first.

"What? Kya karna hoga mujhe?" Angel gestures with her hands-- "I don't know, manager ke bhi audition lete ho aap log?"

"Manager?!"

Both Mahesh and the guy next to him are shocked.

"So you are the manager?"

Angel nods at Mahesh, meeting his eyes. Great now he's checking her out more thoroughly-- and just when she begins to feel it's appropriate.

"That outfit and style I thought you were here to give your audition as a female lead..." he mumbles sighing.

Just then a man with a gun draped around his shoulders, dressed in a black suit rushes to Mahesh's side-- his bodyguard?

"Sir! Mahima is here--"

"Not again!!" Mahesh groans, panicking. But then he smiles looking at Angel.

"I have an idea.."

Now Angel is thoroughly confused. Why does she feel like she's gonna be in deep trouble?

***

Ruhana drives to the studio Dushyant had told her to visit. Oops. she's late! It's all thanks to that guy who ran into her car--

Stupid biker with that stupid ego--

Heavy music reaches her ears as she approaches the entrance to the studio. Just behind the glass doors is a world that's so dear to her. She's loved dancing all her life-- but never thought of shaping it as a career. Hell, she never danced in the open.

But now she's excited to learn, excited to embrace new things. Confident, and happy, she pushes the glass doors--

A dozen kids who are dancing to the song look her way. A guy standing in the middle of them is angry at them for stopping the dance---

"What are you guys doing? Why did you stop--"

He's got his back to her, but he slowly turns around to face her, following the gazes of the kids--

Ruhana can't believe the sight that greets her---

***

TBC!

Finally! I was able to finish the chapter! I know not much but more excitement will come. :) stay tuned!

My sistas, I hope y'all liked it. <3
My dear RuVineet, thankyou for the lovely pics...

and everyone, sorry for the super late update.

Those who read vote and comment, thankyou so much.

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