Not long after her friends have discovered her engagement ring, one particular Sunday witnesses Naina and Ash walking together on the ever-busy Mumbai streets towards a cafe where their scheduled meeting with Ruhana and Samrat is supposed to take place.

Naina is glad that Ash has chosen to walk the streets and not drive one of his fancy cars. He says he's not much of a celebrity unless a celebrity decides to drag him into her scandal, and they are safe. Naina finds some reassurance in those words.

They are en route to the cafe, but she is still in a daze, unable to believe that this is finally happening. The engagement ring on our hand glitters now in the golden sunlight of the morning, yet it is unbelievable that her bond with Ash has solidified into something this beautiful and it's now blossoming into a fragrant flower called marriage.

Now, all that is left is to win the blessings of her best friends and then all will be well. Of course, there are the shadows of the Mafia chasing her and Ash but Ruhana and Samrat don't need to know these details. They are safe without knowing this.

These fears of her about the distant future of her and Ash don't matter now. Naina is primarily concerned that something might go wrong during this meeting with Ruhana and Samrat.

Ash might also be nervous. He is walking ahead of her today, so she latches on to one of his hands to slow him down.

"Ash, please promise me you will win them over," Naina says as Ash comes to a halt and looks down at her.

Ash flashes her one of his confident, crooked half-smiles. "Relax," he says, "I got this."

Naina heaves a breath. Looking at Ash she opens her mouth to speak. "Please don't be rude to my friends, okay?"

Ash raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything for a moment. "Are you implying that I am rude?"

His question is followed by his frown.

Naina shakes her head. "No. You're...Just cold. And blunt. And overbearing," she punctuates each word although it is unintentional. "Especially to non-friends and people you have only just met."

Ash makes an offensive noise and sighs. "Okay, I got that. Is that how you see me now? When you look at the broad picture, huh, mohtarma?"

Naina stares at Ash and it occurs to her that they have reached an impasse. She hasn't noticed it before but they are standing in the middle of the sidewalk exchanging words with each other for a good five minutes now.

She takes a moment to process what Ash has just said. She doesn't know if he meant what he said but she has to make a few things clear.

"Are Nahin!" she nearly screams at Ash, not caring that a few passersby are watching them. "You know Ash. You know very well that I love you even when you are a sour puss. Why can't you understand that I am just nervous?"

Her outburst causes Ash to break into a smile. He only wanted to tease his lady, but he knows now, she misread the mood between them. Of course, he knows she is nervous; he knows how much her friends matter to her. He cups her cheek.

"I know," he says a little apologetically, "I was only teasing you. But now I have therapy to calm your nerves."

He smiles at the end of his sentence and Naina doesn't know what to think of it. Before she can wonder What kind of therapy it is, Ash bends down at his waist, tilts his head to the side, and kisses her on the lips.

The kiss is swift and brief but it still comes as a shocker.

Naina cries out and pushes him back. "What are you doing? We are in public!"

Her shrieks fall on deaf ears. Ash wraps his hand around her waist and pulls her closer to him. "You are still nervous, maybe we need more of that therapy."

He kisses her again and Naina can even bring herself to resist. When they pull back, however, she shrieks again, jumping a part from Ash. He looks like he wants to do more of his therapy, so she warns—

"Don't. Idiot, don't do it! Not in front of my friends!"

Ash glances behind his back and finds a young man and woman standing with contrite expressions on their faces. If he is not wrong they are Samrat and Ruhana and they are early to their meeting.

The cafe is also not far away, either. Ash and the Naina watch Ruhana and Samrat walk past them and enter the chic book cafe named Aladdin.

Ash and Naina are both sure that they have heard Ruhana muttering the word gross when she has brushed past them, but they ignore it, (particularly Ash, as he isn't someone to get easily embarrassed )and enter the cafe.

***

The four of them find a table in a secluded corner of the cafe and the discussion begins once they place their orders.

Samrat orders something sweet and creamy, a latte with double cream and a biscuit. Ruhana goes for her usual mochaccino with a hint of chocolate. Ash chooses his bitter, piping hot American and Naina, unsure of what to pick, goes with a hot chocolate, one of her many favourite drinks.

Maybe the hot chocolate can help calm her. She is really very nervous.

"Naina Parker doesn't have her parents to look after her. Her relatives who are alive and well don't care about her. We are all she has got," Ruhana says pointing to herself and Samrat after making sure that they are left alone and there isn't any server or individual listening to their conversation. "We're her best friends who have been next to her for many many years. You can't marry her without our consent, Mr Neves."

Samrat immediately nods gravely and says, "that's right."

Naina bites her lip and looks between her friends and Ash. The three of them look very serious.

Ash doesn't respond with anything other than a hmm. He suddenly feels distant though he's sitting next to her. Naina reaches out to hold his hand in hers. What will be the outcome of this?

Ruhana throws Ash an annoyed glance. Although he smiles and squeezes Naina's hand, he signals with his free hand to Ruhana, " bring it on."

"Why Naina?" Ruhana asks simply, folding her arms across her chest. "Why her? She is a simple journalist. Surely, you have got better choices— maybe Kiara Agarwal? Or maybe some hotshot businessman's daughter? Why her? What makes her special?"

Naina looks at Ruhana in shock. It's hard to believe this is the same girl who brought up some overly romantic notions when she had received a call from Gigabit's CEO — from Ash, a long, long ago.

Wasn't she on about fairytale romances and love-at-first-sights? Well, back then she also differentiated between admiring boys and choosing boyfriends, too. Naina thinks and looks at the girl.

Ash chuckles, which doesn't please Ruhana.

"As her friend, you must know what makes her special," he says much to the girl's annoyance. "But what reason can I give you other than admit that I love her?" He smirks at the end of his speech.

"Or do you want me to reveal the embarrassing details?"

"Gross!" Ruhana makes a disgusted face at Ash and looks at Naina. "He is gross! No, He's a pervert. I dislike him already. Kya dekha tumne isme?!"

Naina remains speechless and anxious. Samrat who's sitting next to Ruhana places a hand over the angry girl's shoulder.

"Calm down, Ruu. Allow me..." he clears his throat, but Ash beats him to it, speaking first.

"Oh you're the Shorty, Naina's childhood friend!" says Ash with a smile.

"Shorty?!" Samrat coraks, looking flabbergasted. "Naina!" Offended, he can only look at his childhood friend for help.

"Sorry, Sam!" Naina says, sighing and nudging Ash. "Ash, I told you not to call him that!"

Ash offers her a complacent smile. "Did you? I'm sorry, Samrat. Nice to meet you."

Naina sighs. She knows that look. Ash isn't sorry at all. This may be a friendly teasing but at the first meeting, this kind of thing is forbidden. But Samrat is a good sport. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Man I'm five-seven but you're tall! I accept... like what are you, six-three? Our Naina is a lilliput next to you!" He chuckles again but soon his eyes turn serious.

Just when Naina and Ruhana, and even Ash wonder what kind of serious question he might pop, he asks something very simple.

"Nice to meet you, too, Asher. I've always wanted to meet you ever since Naina mentioned... May I know your hobbies?"

Ruhana's jaw drops and then she groans. That's not the kind of question you ask when you're interrogating someone but yes she's curious to know the answer.

Samrat's friendly nature gives him a pause. Ash remains taken aback for a moment.

"Horse Riding." He says simply, bringing forth a smile.

"Smooth," says Samrat, extending his hand over the table for a quick handshake. " I love it, man. Naina says you also own a chopper! You're like a prince, huh? From those fairy tales, no maybe the modern-day prince as you own the chopper and all- ahh!"

At the end of his sentence, he groans in pain but Naina knows it's not because Ash has squeezed his hand tight when they shook hands, it's because Ruhana has stomped on his heel.

"Uh..." Samrat composes himself. He doesn't look overenthusiastic but he and Ash have a little guy talk about their hobbies.

He laughs when Ash says he can't drink.

"Oh, you're just like our Nain! She can't drink either. And look at me. And this girl here... Ruhana, she drinks like a shark!"

Naina clamps a hand to her mouth. That's typical Sam teasing Ruhana. It's nice but... Ruhana might not be pleased with the teasing, not before Ash.

"Ugh!" Samrat's groan again confirms the same.

"Sharks don't drink, you, guinea pig!" Ruhana nudges Samrat in the ribs in addition to stomping on his foot again.

"We're here to appraise someone right? Focus Focus, do your job right, Sawant," she whispers and then she looks at Ash. "You may be the prince charming, Asher Neves but you still need our approval if you want to marry our best friend."

Ash smiles a little, narrowing his eyes at his would-be bride's girl pal. "Our? I already seem to have the shorty— Samrat's approval! But you look like you're a tough nut to crack. Wait? You're sure you're not being extra hard on me because you're jealous or something?" He looks at Naina. "Are you sure we even need her approval?"

"Rude!" Ruhana chides him and looks at Naina. "He is so annoying Naina..."

Naina swallows. Why is Ash acting like this? He's picking on her friends just to have fun! Initially, it looked like everything was going well. But now everything is ruined.

"He is, Ruu... but if you are patient..." Naina tries to pacify Ruhana who is up on her feet but in vain.

"No. I can't be patient," ways Ruhana, "but for your sake, Naina, I will try. He is not only rude but also a pervert! I don't accept this! Asher Neves, you need to shut your ego and work your ass to win my consent. Samrat here may be a softie but I'm not!"

With that Ruhana grabs her bag and begins to make her way out. Like Naina, Samrat is also shocked at the turn of events but he still sips his latte. Only to have Ruhana drag him out by the collar.

Naina sighs after being left alone with Ash at their table. "That went wrong..."

Ash groans a little looking at Ruhana's retreating form. He usually isn't ruffled but now he is a little agitated. Naina's friends can't take a little teasing? Then they might not be compatible at all, especially him and Ruhana.

Naina doesn't provoke Ash further and they finish their coffees in silence.

Back on the street, Naina turns to Ash. "She is my best friend, Ash. You have to win her over. I want her to be happy for us. I want her blessings."

Ash listens to everything Naina has to say. He tried to make light of the thing but he understands the sentiment now. He will try harder now.

He smiles at Naina. "Don't worry I will win her over. Didn't I make the worst first impression on you when we first met in my office?"

Naina looks at him with wide eyes and he goes on.

"You surely had a poor opinion of me before it changed."

Ash had only meant to say that to stress the point that people's opinions change over time, that he can win over Ruhana but Naina hasn't got that sentiment.

She looks sullen now.

Her shoulder slump and her cheeks heat up. She looks upset.

"Yeah, when we first met... I thought you were a pervert." She looks nearly tormented as she confesses. "And when I came to know you were a mafia man, I thought you were cruel and heartless. But that was only a part of me. And it was constantly at war with the other part that was hopelessly attracted to you and that wanted to believe in you. You should know that I was drawn to you from the moment we met, Ash. At first, these thoughts of mine scared me but I am glad I remained Brave."

Ash narrows his eyes at Naina; he is feeling a little guilty now. He didn't want to hear a lengthy explanation from Naina but hearing her say a few things about him warmed his heart.

His smiles. "I know Naina. I felt the same about you. I was drawn to you, too, but the only exception here would be I knew you were miss goody-two-shoes from the beginning."

Naina thwacks Ash on the chest playfully and they hug. Ash promises her he'd win her friends over and suddenly everything feels right.

***

Ruhana and Samrat walk along the streets after their meeting with Ash. Samrat looks at Ruhana. He felt that Ash was a good man but for some reason, Ruhana doesn't want to accept the man. He thought her resentment was just towards him but it has turned to men in general it seems.

She looks genuinely upset now. He wants to share her up.

He suggests going to the cafe.

"Let's go to another cafe, Ruhana and drink something warm and calm down."

Ruhana looks at Samrat. She didn't think that he would suggest something like that but she is still glad.

She is mad with Sam, but for some reason, they are united now as this concerns Naina.

Despite all the misgivings and her confused feelings, she does have the intention to mend things with Samrat and maybe, this is a good way to do that.

Samrat brightens up hearing her consent. He smiles wide and nods at Ruhana. This Sunday might not be too bad if he is getting to have coffee with the girl he loves. There still doesn't seem to be hope but this is a light ray in the darkness.

***

Back at the Zohra HQ, Arshad arrives at the mansion and heads to Ash's room to find it empty. He goes to find Zain and that's when he hears the hushed conversation between the guy and Eijaz.

"The church exploded and there was nothing left but rubble. They were lucky they made an escape." Eijaz grimaces as he says this. "I've tried asking around but nothing, Zain bhai. We don't have CC cams in the jungle. But do you really think they were targeting Bhaijaan?"

Arshad freezes for a second. What happened? Was Ash targeted? Who's acting up? The D'Cristos or the Sayeds? He thinks, and in the next, he barges into the conversation of the younger men.

"What's this I'm hearing about an explosion? Everyone was only saying Ash got engaged."

Arshad feels sick in his stomach. Just earlier he'd felt happy for Ash and Naina. Zain grimaces but when faced with Arshad's pressing glare, he admits the truth.

Arshad pales hearing the story. And it's his turn to grimace.

"I knew it. The shadows won't stop chasing us or Ash! Now, what do we do?"

***

Fin!!!

Up next

Ash meets a man older than him in his office. He calls Naina's help. He meets Ruhana again and she has a new set of terms.

Who is the man who's come to meet Ash?

What are Ruhana's terms?

Please stay tuned.

RuVineet Hope you liked this chapter dear. Thank you so much for always supporting me and my stories! Love you! 

Also, everyone who's always supported me, thank you, too! Lots of love!

Anyone who read, Thank you for reading. please vote and comment.