When the soul is ready, its mate will appear.

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"Tired?" Harsh said, keeping the newspaper away as he looked at his daughter who was massaging her head gently.

"Hmm. It was tiring today." She said stifling a yawn to which he nodded.

"Go and freshen up. You will feel good. Till then I will prepare a coffee for you." He said gently raking his left hand through her hair making her give him a cheeky smile.

She got up on her feet and looked around.

"Where is everyone?" As her eyes rolled, capturing the whole house, her mouth effortlessly said.

"Your mumma had an emergency while your brother and sister-in-law are in hospital. Aarush is sleeping." Moving towards the kitchen, he said.

Nodding, she went upstairs towards her room. After changing into a comfortable pair of shorts and crop top, she went downstairs and smiled wholeheartedly when she saw her father making pasta.

"You must be hungry, that is why." He reasoned, making her bite her lips to stop them from tugging into an upward curve.

Her father had always been a strict parent. He was never open with affection for his children but had always been a careful and disciplined parent while her mother was more of a spoiling and caring parent.

"Thankyou." She said as she picked up a saucepan pouring milk into it.

"It's ready." He said as he picked up two plates and divided the pasta in them. Taking the cups of coffee, she went towards the balcony rather than the dining table, taking her father by surprise.

"Just for today dad." She whispered. He understood she was confused by her low confused voice.

"Is everything fine Sona?" He asked in a curious yet small voice with the nickname he used for her years ago.

"I am confused dad. I don't know if I can handle this big of a responsibility Or not." She said taking the spoon filled with pasta to her mouth.

"Well, everyone is. When your grandmother told me about your mumma, I strictly denied saying I need to concentrate on my MS." He said, chuckling a bit as he took a bite.

"Isn't it scary? Like marrying someone whom you never knew and suddenly your world starts revolving around that particular one." Words rolled off her lips as she bit her lips lightly.

"It is. I was so scared with this whole idea of marriage and everything. I panicked at the moment. What if I won't be able to handle anything? But keeping the leap of faith, I tied the knot with your mother and trust me it was the best decision I ever made." He said, a small genuine smile playing on his remembering the good old days.

"It all comes naturally. You won't even realise but your whole world will start revolving around him. You know after 3 months of my marriage, I suffered a small accident and your mother cried her heart out. I know I shouldn't say this but that made me feel good. A different kind of feeling tugged my heart realising she was crying for me. I felt happy being her only priority and gradually we fell in love. It was destined for us and something must be destined for you too. You just need to take a chance." He said caressing her head as she was in her own thoughts, chiding with her own self.

She gave him a small assuring smile and took both the empty plates and cups to the kitchen sink and washed them.

"Trust us Sona. We will search for the best for you because that's what you deserve and we won't survive for something less." He said pecking her forehead gently, making her close her eyes feeling protected. It was once in a blue moon that her father showed affection and she wanted to make the most of the moment.

"I will prepare dinner. I guess everyone will arrive late." She said to which he nodded going towards his room.

"Dad, but what should I make?" She screamed from the kitchen making the old man chuckle.

"Pakori kadi and roti." He too screamed back making her chuckle. Her father was obsessed with desi Indian food.

She pulled out the beans for making vegetables and got busy with her work. In her mind, the conversation with her father revolved.

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Aanvi arrived at the restaurant her sister-in-law had messaged her but was 20 minutes late. She looked around frantically searching for the seat number and once her eyes fell on it, she saw a man back facing her wearing a black shirt. She looked at the clock and made a face going towards him.

"I am really sorry for arriving this late. I was stuck up at work." She apologised as she sat to the man who was immersed in his mobile and kept her bag and phone aside.

As he looked up, he was surprised to see the same woman he met two days before on his best friend's engagement. His eyes unconsciously raked over her figure who was slaying in a pink slit kurti and blue denims. Her hairs were falling freely over her one shoulder while her face was bare of any makeup. Her face was a reflection of how tired she is.

"You?" She asked as she raised her eyes.

"Ishaan, Ishaan Raichand. It was surprising to see you here." He said, forwarding his right hand towards her, who nodded with the same surprising look, taking his hand for a shake.

"Lets order something first. I am actually hungry." She said, giving him a sheepish smile who nodded at her chuckling.

Placing the order for two grilled sandwiches and coffee, an award silence took place between them.

"I.." both started at the same time and chuckled together, breaking the awkwardness somehow.

"Let me tell you about myself first. I am Ishaan Raichand and I own an architect firm. I belong to a big fat joint family. And what more I need to say?" He said and at last raised his eyebrow making her chuckle.

"Aanvi Goenka. I am an event planner. I don't have many people in my life except for my family and parents." She said with a small smile.

"What is your take on the relationship Aanvi?" He asked and thanked the waiter who came up with their order.

"I will be honest, Ishaan. I had been in a relationship in my college days and it ended on a bitter note. For me, more than anything, what matters is emotional connection. If I am unable to connect with you then how am I going to spend my whole life with you? I don't know about love Or anything else but I expect support,care,trust and respect in a relationship." She kept her point of view before him sipping on her coffee and then took a bite of a sandwich.

"If you don't mind, Can I ask why your college relationship ended?" He asked her  to which she gave him a small smile but he was fast to observe that it didn't reach her eyes.

"He wanted to have a physical relationship but I didn't want it. That was the main reason it ended. There was no love Or something. It was for timepass you can say. What's your view on this whole scenario of marriage?" She said, making him nod and then asked him.

"It is beautiful. These things are gradual and you can't develop a connection with someone in just a minute Or two. It's not a movie Or fiction that the environment will change, indicating you to be my soulmate." He said with a chuckle making her chuckle as well.

"It will take time and effort from both sides. I had never been in a relationship before maybe due to this connection only. I never felt it with anyone. But I will take a leap of faith and see where I will land." He completed while she was smiling all throughout.

An hour passed with them talking with each other as they got comfortable.

"I will pay the bill." Ishaan said only to receive a glare in return.

"We will split the bill. I don't like someone paying for me." She said, making him chuckle as he nodded at her.

Paying the bill, they exited the restaurant bidding bye to each other walking in opposite directions.

Aanvi had just reached her car when her eyes fell on him who was sitting on his knees in front of a child who was selling roses. She saw how he animatedly talked with the child and took all the roses, handing him some money. She observed how the child happily went away and he kept looking at him with a smile and then went to his car.

She had thoroughly observed his behavior at the restaurant. How he behaved with the waiter and how his eyes never wandered anywhere except her eyes. He was a thoroughly gentleman. He had a warmth in his eyes and his voice. He held a calm and composed aura and not even for a single second, his any action made her uncomfortable. He had no arrogance and she loved how down to earth he was.

She had made her decision trusting her destiny and somewhere she had positive feelings for it. She doesn't want to regret something so beautiful in the near future. She sent a silent prayer to the lord above and sat in her car driving off.

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|•AANVI'S LOOK•|

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