My heart was thumping in my rib cage. I've fallen for the man whom I hated with every single cell of my body a few days back. Oh, my stars! But the surprising element is I can see the love in his eyes too. And all these days it was this love which was shining in his eyes. How can I be so darn oblivious?

'Because you're an idiot.'

"Miss Mehta... uh..", Mr Khanna snapped me out of my trance. The way he was looking at me was making me conscious, damn it! if he loved me all this while, why didn't he tell? But it's me who thinks he loves me, I agree he has shown it by his actions many times but still he didn't say the L-word to me yet.

"Miss Mehta... Avni..", The way my name sounded by him was surreal. For the first time he took my name and blast him, he managed to make me feel euphoric." I'm very sorry for the impulsive actions I took in blind fury.", he paused and brought his hands to either side of my face."I know I can't change what I did but I promise I'll rectify them.", his words tugged my heart. Mr Apologize-to-me-Khanna apologized to me. Sweet little me!

"Mr Khanna..", I was about to say that I had forgiven him that day itself when he promised me to ensure my mother's safety but his next action made me silent. He nuzzled his nose with mine, his thumbs were caressing my cheeks."I'm very proud of you.", his words screamed sincerity.

He looked into my eyes and softly kissed my forehead. The feeling was something that can't be described in words. If a few days back someone would have told me that I'll fall for this Block of Ice, I'd have smacked them right across their head.

"Miss Mehta...Avni I... I", I can never get used to how my name sounds so beautiful by his mouth. He was going to tell me something important when a knock interrupted him. It was DD.

'Don't strangle him. Don't strangle him.'

"Sir. You need to see this.", DD said and Mr Khanna's face which was surprisingly not cold and emotionless till now turned hard again. It looked he was talking to DD by some damn telepathy.

"Come on Miss Mehta.", he took my hand in his and we moved out of the study. Mr Khanna was looking ahead but my eyes were stuck to his face. A genuine smile was plastered on my face, I was feeling so good after telling him everything.

'Lier. You are feeling good because you can see the love in his eyes for you.'

'I- ah maybe.'

"This is my house.", Mr Khanna snapped at Mr Senior Khanna bringing me out of the conversation I was having with my conscience." This party will not happen and that's final.", he declared, his voice was void of any emotions.

"Don't be ridiculous son.", Mr Senior Khanna challenged him." This event is important for our reputation. What will the media say? The only heir of the Khanna empire is getting married and they didn't even throw a party."

"I'm not your heir.", Mr Khanna's voice sent chills down my spine." I've never asked for anything from your property father and I don't wish to either, so I advise you to stop making preparations for this function, I won't attend it and neither will my fiancée."

"Neil please." Mrs Khanna came forward." I kept this small party so that everyone gets to know who is going to be the next Queen of Khanna Empire..." before she could say more Mr Khanna interrupted her.

"First things first mother. Miss Mehta is never going to be a part of the Khanna Empire, she'll be the empress of the NK Empire. I have made myself clear many times I have nothing to do with the Khanna Empire. It doesn't belong to me.", his words were sharp and harsh and I genuinely felt bad seeing the saddened look on Mrs Khanna's face. 

"You haven't forgiven us yet, have you?", Mrs Khanna said, a tear sliding down her cheek which I desperately wanted to wipe. I was about to walk to her to ensure her everything would be fine but Mr Khanna held my hand tightly not letting it go. And Hold on Forgiveness?

"I have forgiven you, mother but that doesn't mean I'd repeat the same mistake again. We are not joining the party and that's final.", he spoke and ordered James to clear this space and do a thorough check of the whole house.

Mr Khanna was about to go back to his study when a small voice stopped us."Uncle."

Mr Khanna's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, he averted his eyes to the main gate and there was Aarav. Oh! How I missed this kid. Beside him was Naina di, she gave me a heartwarming smile. Aarav ran to Mr Khanna and Mr Khanna engulfed him in a giant bear hug. Mr-I-Don't-do-such-activities's cold persona melted seeing a small kid. He looked relaxed which was a rare sight.

"How are you champ?", Mr Khanna asked him, he didn't have a smile on his face. Who am I kidding? He only smiled once that too was by mistake, I'm sure. Aarav kissed Mr Khanna's cheek and answered him how he enjoyed London and all. Someone whirled me and the next moment I was in a warm hug. I knew who was it.

It was my beautiful Naina di. Her hugs were legit the most wonderful embraces anyone could experience.

"Few days I was gone and so much happened Avu.", she smirked at me giving a side glance to Mr Khanna who was on his knees listening to Aarav's rants." You have a lot to tell, darling.", the knowing look in her eyes made me nervous. She may be the sweetest woman I knew but she was one hell of an investigator, till the time she doesn't know every single point of a matter, no matter what happens she won't let the subject go.

"Naina di.", Liza yelled and pulled her in a hug." It's been so long. Reece and Ivan are also here.", she gushed with excitement.

"So Avu tell me what are you wearing for the party?", she asked me and everyone went silent. The woman and her obsession with shopping.

"The party has been cancelled Naina.", Mr Khanna said breaking the ice." It's not going to happen."

"Why so Neil?", Naina di asked, a look of utter disbelief on her face."What happened all of a sudden?"

"Due to safety reasons.", Mr Khanna's crisp short answer came." You should take some rest now Naina.", Mr Khanna patted Aarav's head and told him the same." I'll see you all in the evening."

He called James and Charles and all three of them went out of the house. Mrs Khanna sighed and Mr Senior Khanna gave me a cold look and went away.

"Forget it.", Liza clapped her hands." Naina do you want to rest?", she asked to which Naina di just shrugged."Ladies let's catch up then."

Naina di and Liza smirked and clasped my wrist pulling me with them. What's up with these ladies and clasping my hand.

'Rip Avni, these ladies are going to kill you with their questions I'm telling you.'

'Indeed.'

~~~

"How did Neil know it's you in that disguise? What did he do then? How did you two fall in love? Who proposed whom? Where did he take you on your first date? Did you two kiss when he proposed to you?"

My cheeks heated listening to their questions. Stars! I know they are family, where Liza has grown very close in such a short time Naina di has always been more than a sister to me but 'did you two kiss?' Does she really expect me to answer such questions?

"I'm going.", I got up to leave, no way in the world am I going to answer such shameless questions to them. God these girls will make me die with embarrassment.

'Avni you and I, we both know besides that you don't have anything to say. What will you say that Mr Khanna practically ordered you to marry him.'

'That's true.'

"You Miss girl, you aren't leaving anywhere. Sit down and answer us.", Naina di told me sternly.

"Ah I..", my face was burning. I turned away in order to hide my tomato inspired face. Bloody hell! Mr Khanna why did you leave me alone.

"Aww look Naina, our little bride is blushing.", Liza said making me flush more. 

"Fine, we'll stop.", she said and I breathed a sigh of relief." But don't think we'll let you escape our questions."

She got up and opened her luggage and my eyes widened. Stars! Did she buy an entire mall or what? She has always been a shopaholic but this much. My holy stars!

"This is for you Liza.", she gave a present to Liza who happily snatched it." And this is for you.", she gave a packet to me smiling wholeheartedly.

"Di how can I?", I couldn't accept it. She had already done a lot for me but her next words nearly brought tears to my eyes.

"O hush! You have always been my family but now our bond will be stronger. So dare you to refuse me."

I laughed at her failed attempt of threatening."Open it.", she told me and I did. It was a beautiful black sequined saree. 

"Lovely.", I commented and Naina di smiled.

"Neil is gonna faint seeing you in it.", My traitorous cheeks again flushed listening to his name." I am so excited to see his icy persona melting."

"Wear it Avni, please.", Liza requested me but I was nervous, if I wore it she'll force me to go in front of Mr Khanna and I won't be able to handle his heated gaze.

"I don't think right now it's needed, I'll wear this beautiful saree on some occasion.", I gave the best excuse that came to my mind but Naina di didn't seem to agree with me she said that every day is an occasion. Waah! Way to go.

"I don't know to wear a saree.", I said and got up to leave but once again I was pulled back.

"Don't worry about that.", Liza grinned with Naina di, not a sweet smile, a full-blown evil smile.

Save me my stars!

~~~

"My God! Look at you.", Naina di commented as soon as she finished with my eye makeup, which was a smokey eye look. 

"I don't understand why you're doing so much. You guys wanted to see this saree on me, you've seen, you wanted to see what kind of makeup goes with this look, you saw that too. Now what?"

"Now we wait.", Liza smirked.

'Wait for what?'

'I don't know, dear conscience.'

'That I know. That was a rhetorical question.'

"Yes, I'm here... She... Yeah...She's here too... Her? No... You come here... Okay." Naina di was talking to someone on her mobile but who?

"Come on Liza, I need to get a drink, we worked so hard today.", she gave a knowing look to Liza and they both moved out. How inconsiderate? Didn't even ask me if I needed anything. I was about to wear my kurta again when I heard Di." Don't remove the saree till the moment I come back."

I sighed. Way to Go! I looked into the mirror and I had to say I looked fine.

'And I must say Liza and Naina di did a good job, making an idiot look beautiful is a hard task.'

'Did you just call me beautiful?'

'I called you an idiot too.'

'But you once told me to only look for positive things.'

'I did not.'

'Don't lie to yourself conscience.'

"Miss Mehta, I wanted to know if y...", the door flung open and Mr Khanna's voice came. I turned and his gaze locked with mine. Within two long strides, he was near me, again invading my personal space.

'As if it bothers you.'

'Of course, it does.'

'Sure.'

"I uh Mr Khanna... Naina di and Liza, they practically shoved me in this saree.", I paused mentally facepalming myself for giving such a lame excuse."I'll just change and then we can talk."

I turned to leave but Mr Khanna held my hand and my breath hitched. He jerked me towards him and I swear goosebumps formed on my skin. My hair which was done in loose curls fell on my face. The air around me suddenly felt thick and the temperature high.

'Someone on the airconditioner'

Mr Khanna brought his slender long fingers to my face and tucked all pieces of hair behind my ear. I shivered, seeing the intense look in his eyes. 

"lo giuro tu sarai la fine di me.", Mr Khanna mumbled in my ear.

Translation: I swear you'll be the end of me.

"Mr Khanna I didn't understand what you just spoke.", I said, my heart was thudding so loudly I could hear it.

He tugged me closer and traced my face with his index finger softly. I sucked a sharp breath, the proximity was too much for me. I trembled but thanks to Mr Khanna's firm grip around my waist that I didn't fall.

He wrapped his palm around the back of my neck bringing my face closer to his. The expression in his eyes was tender, warm, far from his normal icy look. He brushed his nose with mine and heat surged to my neck, ears and cheeks.

'For heaven's sake someone on the airconditioner.'

"Do you know how ravishing you're looking right now.", Mr Khanna whispered and turned me over such that my back was touching his chest.

He nuzzled his nose in the crook of my neck and placed a feather kiss making my knees quiver.

'Where the hell is the air conditioner, my holy stars.'

"Mr Khanna.", I breathed and Mr Khanna twirled me towards him. 

"Can I kiss you?", Mr Khanna whispered and I felt someone blew out my brains. What should I say? Yes? No? One kiss won't hurt, will it?

'They all say that.'

A look of hurt flashed in Mr Khanna's eyes. Hurt and Mr Khanna? And then realization dawned upon me, I took a lot of time to answer. So now what?

Yes?

No?

Yes?

NO?

"Yes."

And in no time his lips came crashing down on mine.

*Someone on the damn air conditioner My God.*

Okay, I tried my best, it's the first time I'm writing something romantic, I don't know how it turned out. I genuinely don't, so please kindly write a comment if you liked it, I'd definitely appreciate your honesty. I won't mind the negative comments too, promise.

Am I going fast?

How was the chapter?

By the way, these banners are temporarily made by your idiot writer because I wanted to see if banners will look good in the story or not. The Editing of the book has been started and I've successfully edited the first chapter and the prologue.

News number 2: My exams are finished, in the last update I was crying over physics but guess what it was the easiest exam and I guess I'll score an A. God bless you all for wishing me.

Target=90 come on... after a long time.

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar