At the Night Piya's House

Piya's POV

How's your day, Sister?, Siya ask me while I am watching the news on the T.V.

Fine, I dryly reply because nothing interesting happened at the office except my self-pity session.

Just Fine, I thought it was amazing as you brought the cookies, chips, and chocolates.

Those things remind me of the moment when the beast saw the snacks on my desk. I am sure that his lips curve up a little with a slight smile but within a blink, his face turned serious. Am I over thinking? Arghh!

What happened to my child? Papa asked me.

Nothing Papa, just hungry

Again?

The question comes from my mother who narrows her eyes on my reply as we all had the scrumptious supper.

Mummy, I mean hungry for the ice-cream

Let's go then

Before my mother can say anything, papa gets up from the sofa and asks us to get ready for a night stroll to the ice-cream parlour.

Yeahhh!!!

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At the Shekhawat Mansion

I'm bored, Atharv says seeing everyone busy in their mobile, T.V and laptop

Boredddddddddd

This time he whines loudly with a sad face and sits beside Aryansh's mother because she is the most innocent and easy to melt person in the family.

What happened my dear child? Why are you bored?

I am bored and want to go outside for a drive, Atharv replies

Okay, so go. Who's stopping you?, the question comes from the Aryansh

Not alone

There is still time for your marriage Atharv. Until then you have to manage by yourself, Atharv's mom sarcastically replies.

Mom, Atharv makes a weird face and turns towards his aunt.

Will you come with me for a drive, Atharv asks her with a puppy face, which can melt anyone's heart.

No, she is my wife, Ajay possessively answers on his wife's behalf making Atharv sad.

Ignore him, we will go

His Aunt agrees as she is unable to see his sad face while sending the please look towards her husband.

Fine, we all will go, Ajay replies.

What? No, I'm not coming, Aryansh answers as he is busy with some work on his laptop.

Okay

We all are going, Ajay orders in a strict tone which Aryansh can't deny so he leaves to get changed.

You need not to be that strict (bhaya) Brother, Sunaina pitches in because sometimes Ajay can be very strict towards Aryansh but he ignores her words and goes outside.

The Shekhawat family goes for a drive without knowing that tonight they will meet some new faces, who might become very known to them in the future.

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Picture perfect, you don't need no filter
Gorgeous, make 'em drop dead, you're a killer
Shower you with all my attention
Yeah, these are my only intentions

The Sharma family is sitting in a cosy yet modern ice-cream parlor waiting for their ice-creams and sundaes. Justin Beiber's intentions are playing, Piya and Siya lip syncing the lyrics while swaying their hands. Their mother sighs on their antics and their father is busy taking their video. The order number is called out and Piya goes to take it as she is sitting at the outer side of the table. Their table is inside the parlor whereas the counter is near the entrance.

In her excitement, Piya collides with the person who enters the parlor. Piya loses the balance but before she can touch the floor the other person catches her.

She shut the eyes in fear and her hands held the stranger's shoulders. He holds her waist and stares at her frightened face.

Lovin' you now, a little more tomorrow

That's how I feel, act like you know that you are

She slowly opens her eyes and sees herself in the arms of the Beast. She stares at him in fear and confusion, and thinks what he's doing here.

Her mind raced with hundreds of thoughts which imagine him following her to give more work or to scold her for missing any work in the evening or to find himself a scapegoat to let out the frustration.

Third Person's POV

Piya slowly opens her eyes and sees herself in the arms of Aryansh. She stares at his eyes in fear and confusion, and thinks what he's doing here.

Her mind raced with hundreds of thoughts, from imagining him following her to give more work to scolding her for missing any work in the evening or came to find himself a scapegoat to let out his frustration. Well, imaginations don't have any limits.

Aryansh doesn't know what's happening but he wants to hold her. The background noises make them realise their positions. They correct the positions and stand straight but their hands are still at their original place.

One's eyes are in fear and the other is in shock. Aryansh sees someone entering the parlor so he brings Piya closer to him. She also moved near him in the haze.

Seeing these two drown in each other, Shekhawat makes cough sounds which brings them out of the reverie and they both distance themselves. Finally!

Before Piya can escape, the Shekhawats surround them to quench their curiosity as they all saw the statue moment which happened earlier. The only question that is going on in their mind is *Who is she*.

Fortunately for Piya, her family is sitting inside so they didn't see anything otherwise they would have also surrounded them.

Hi Piya, to satisfy everyone's curiosity, Atharv breaks the silence.

Hello Atharv

Piya replies with a smile but that vanishes after seeing the other people's reactions.

This is Piya, Aryansh's mother, aunt and grandmother voice out in surprise.

The New Intern, Digvijay Shekhawat narrowed his eyes in an understanding manner.

Hmm, Ajay hum to answer their questions.

What are you doing here?

Atharv tries to make the atmosphere normal but sees Piya's reaction which says, Are you an alien to ask such a question. What I will do in an ice-cream parlor, obviously eating ice-cream. He corrected the question.

I mean how come you are here at night ? Ice-cream night with friends?

No, I came with my family, Piya says pointing inside.

Okay

Hello

Piya is clueless and doesn't know what to say except the hello. They are her boss's family and ignoring them will be an insult but she doesn't have the guts to speak to them.

Hello, everyone answers at the same time which makes her more afraid to say anything else.

Do you work under Aryansh? Sunaina asks.

Yes, Mrs. Shekhawat

Does he scold you? Padma Shekhawat asks

Her question lifts Piya's mood and she thinks that this is the time to let out her misery but she feels an angry glare from her boss.

No, he doesn't scold, Piya hesitantly answers but she continues. He expects strict professionalism from everyone otherwise they have to face the repercussions.

She gets angry vibe from Aryansh.  She hears her order number calling again and leaves the place.

Excuse me, my order number is being called out. It is nice meeting you all.

Piya takes the order and goes to her parents.

Her actual test starts when the Shekhawat family come and sit beside their table especially Aryansh and Atharv are sitting parallel to her. Piya behaves as if she doesn't know that they are sitting beside their table.

Sister, this is really good. Now I know why you love Fruit Exotica

Siya happily chirps without having any idea about her sister's situation.

What happened Piya?

Her father asks when he sees her silently eating. Earlier she was singing songs and now she's in pin-drop silent mode.

Nothing Papa

Piya glances at the beside table and sees Atharv enthusiastically waving his hand. This is the first time when Piya wishes Atharv to be like the beast who completely ignored her presence as she is a stranger. Atharv's extroverted personality is making her afraid of her family's reaction.

Do you know them? her mother asks as she notices the Atharv's gesture.

To avoid the unnecessary confusion and lies, Piya replies.

Yes, Mummy, they are my bea.. (stopped herself from realizing that she was going to call her boss, the Beast, in front of her family and him, who pretends not to know her but can hear her)

Really? Excited Siya asks . Are they "The Shekhawats"?

Piya nodded her head and Shekhawats can also hear the little bit of their conversation. To avoid the misunderstanding Atharv goes to greet Piya's family

Hello Mr. & Mrs. Sharma, I'm Atharv Shekhawat.

Aren't you too young to be her Boss? Siya asks

No, I'm not her Boss. Her Boss is my brother, pointing towards Aryansh.

Okay, sorry, Siya Apologizes

No problem

When Aryansh hears his name, he goes to greet Piya's family which shocks his family because he doesn't like to talk with strangers unless related to the work.

Hello Mr. & Mrs. Sharma

Aryansh greets them but regrets the next moment on seeing Mr. Sharma's glare. Piya noticed her father's hard expressions and whispers.

Papa

Hello Mr. Shekhawat

Piya's father replies without the smile, which he was giving to Atharv.

Aryansh feels bad but seeing his face one can say that he doesn't care about Mr. Sharma's opinion about him.

I hope you all are enjoying it. I heard so much about this place ice-creams, Atharv, the ice breaker, interrupts.

Yes, they are really good, Siya answer.

Great, bhai (brother) shall we place the orders?

Yes

They both go away from the Sharma family table. Piya sees the Shekhawat family and gives them a smile who also reciprocates.

After some time, Piya realizes that she forgot her phone in the car and tells her parents that she will go and get it.

Her father insists on leaving it in the car as they will be leaving in sometime but Piya persists for getting the phone back. Piya is thinking of ways to escape this place before the beast arrives. Her phone in the car gave the best opportunity to put the escape plan into the action.

Fine, you go and get your phone, at last her father allows her to leave.

One more person notices the Piya leaving the parlour and decides to follow her.

I have a call to attend

Aryansh says and leaves the parlour from the other side before Atharv can ask anything.

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