Heya lovelies!!

Glad to be honoured with so much love. You've been the nicest people patiently waiting and sharing your views. Thank you for that! An author's note is at the end of the chapter. Kindly do not miss that!

Enjoy ;)

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For Neil, from the time he had started his company, he had never under-estimated himself on the basis of his character, creativity and skills. Cherry on the cake was that his family was his biggest support and he never had to feel disheartened even when he had gone through quite a few lows.

However, this validation was a boost. A boost to his self-esteem and self-confidence.

Last evening, he had a meet with Mr. Kairav Goenka, the son of Udaipur's best businessman, Mr. Kartik Goenka who had a tragic death. Mr. Goenka has a sister named Dr. Aarohi Goenka and her birthday was approaching and the brother wanted to celebrate it by renovating his sister's room according to her choices, however keeping it a secret. He was called to their home to sign the contract and have a look at the room.

And now at 2.50 p.m., he was in his car going to the said address of their house whose location was known to him. After all, who wouldn't know where the Goenkas lived? The distance left was a 5 minute drive and he was a nervous wreck already, to be in the company of such ruling businessmen.

"Calm down Neil! Itna kya ghabra raha hai? They are humans too, kha nahi jaayenge tujhe." Even when his consciene tried calming him down, his heart could only beat like a drum. He tried the breathing exercise his brother suggested and successfully got distracted by the image of his family that came to his mind with all their smiling faces. Instantly, he got reminded of the Goenkas' family.

Even if he had never seen the pictures of the ladies of the house except the matriarch, Mrs. Suhasini Goenka, he was excited to know what the ladies of the house are. The usual socialites who don't give a care to what happens in the family or someone unusual? Well, that would be possible in a minute because he was about to reach there.

Reminisicing yesterday's meet, Neil got a little confident to face the family because he knew, Kairav Goenka would be there and that will be a relief. He smiled remembering the love and pride that oozed out of him in the meeting. It was sure that Aarohi Goenka was surely someone very special to him.

However, the traits that Mr. Kairav showed were the same as that of Mr. Kartik- power, intimidation and authority. And the hint of humility and sweetness he carried, was an add-on to Neil's list of lessons from his idol.

He honked the car when he reached the house gate and a man in late 40's came to open the gate. On seeing him, Neil rushed out to help him. Going and grabbing his hand, he escorted the man to his chair and said, "Aap yahan baithiye baba. Main ye kar loonga." The man who was protesting the gesture, now turned quiet and looked at Neil with a bright twinkle and gleam of happiness in his smile.

Carresing Neil's face lovingly, he said, "Bahut saaf dil hai aapka beta, bilkul humari gudiya ji aur baby ji ki tarah. Wo dono bhi aise hi humein pyaar se baba bulati hain. Bhagwan kare aapko jo bhi chahiye wo jald hi mile." Neil nodded in acknowledgement.

Neil's smile widened and he thought, 'Bas ek cheez hi chahiye baba. Jald hi wo ladki kahin mil jaaye. Alas, that's not possible.' Shaking his head, Neil opened the door of his car and got inside and got out to close the gate and drove inside.

What Neil did not know was that what is bound to happen, happens some way or the other in the world.

'Jo hai tera lab jaayega,
Kar ke koi bahana'
◇◇

Life is full of deceits, be it for our good or bad. And Kairav Goenka had learnt it the hard way after his parents' death, his Naira Mumma and then his Papa and Sirat Mumma. He had learnt to judge someone's character from then because to keep his family and sisters away from the dirty eyes of people, was a task he had pledged to carry out religiously. And he was glad to succeed.

Standing in the balcony of his room that was covered with blinds, he smiled in victory at his judgement yet again. After meeting Neil Birla yesterday, he had an idea that this man was as humble as he was successful. Kairav oddly found the spark in him that he always found in his father. This man was very dedicated and passionate about his work, just like his Papa.

"Kairav, beta kise dekh kar itna muskura rahe ho? Who's out there downstairs?" Turning around, Kairav looked back at the person standing on the door and strode towards them and touched their feet to take their blessings.

"Good Morning Bade papa! Kuch nahi Bade Papa, bas ek insaan dikha jismein papa ki chhavi dikhi toh I just smiled in adoration. That's it." When Kairav smiled at Manish Goenka, his grandfather whom the four children fondly called Bade Papa, he witnessed the moist pair of eyes who were reminiscing his son. Kairav shook his head in negative, indicating Manish to wipe his tears and not shed them in his parents' memory.

"Humne promise kiya tha that we will never cry when we remember them and upset them, then you should stick to it Bade Papa." Kairav playfully reprimanded him in a fake stern voice making him to chuckle at his grandson's mischeviousness and attempt to change the seriousness of the air.

With a nod, he smiled and continued their talks while moving downstairs to go and meet the man they did not know of and in whom, Kairav found his father's chhavi.

And maybe, know him more.

◇◇

Aarohi smiled to witness the gratitude- filled teary eyes of her patient's mother, that moved out of her view as the door closed. Her son, who had been on a wheel-chair for quite a few months after a minor accident because his legs had lost strength due to bed rest, had managed to give his best and stand up to walk a few steps on his own today. Amd no one could be more overjoyed than her mother who peppered kisses on her son's face at his victory.

The scene had melted her heart at the mother's affection but the bittersweet memories of her Mumma, made her heart clench in pain. Her mother too, had always been so happy to witness her victories and achievements. That proud twinkle in her eyes was enough to light up Aarohi's day. But sadly, she was not there, physically, to witness her Princess being honoured with her doctorate in physiotherapy and it pained her heart.

How she wished her parents were there that day!

She sighed and looked at her desk to find that it was 7.00 p.m. already and she was waiting in her cabin for no patients to come. Her shift for the day was over and she was just needed to run a check on Nirvaan and leave. Picking up her pen and his doctor's chart from her drawer, she moved to his private room, only to witness the love-birds lost in each other, oblivious to her presence.

"Pata hai, it just feels so surreal to know ki tu meri life mein hai jaan. I don't know ki kya hota agar I would've not told you about my feelings on the reunion party after seeing that Vishal hitting on you." Pari only laughed in response, going back to those sweet memories, while Nirvan scrunched his nose in dislike.

Nodding her head, she answered, "Par mujhe pata hai ki kya hota. Hum phir bhi aaj aise hote because I was going to propose you just so that we don't get delayed but BAM-" she separated her fingers in a motion indicating a blast, "tu aaya aur I was officially yours."

Aarohi smiled fondly at the memories of their reunion party that was held three years back. She stifled a laugh at the soft looks that both of them were giving each other, looking so in...love. Even if she loved both these madheads, she could still not stand the idea of love and they knew it.

Straightening herself, she closed the door behind her and walking to them spoke, "And I was left all alone, without my friends-turned-lovers. Poor me." The two were so startled that Pari immediately tried to get up to fall back in Nirvaan's lap because of their entwined hands and get lost in each other's eyes.

Coming out of their trance at her cough, they cleared their throats with flushed faces and sat at a hand's distance from each other. "Arey, you don't need to be bothered by my presence. Pehle toh ek dusre se ek dam chipak kar baithe the toh why are you sitting like this now?" To add to the dramatic effect, Aarohi pasted her hands together and smiled teasingly to which they reddened in embarrasment.

"AARU!"

Aarohi only laughed in response to their embarrased shout. Sobering up, she looked at them when Nirvaan grumpily asked, "But tu aayi kyun hai yahan pe? Not that I do not not mind because tu nahi aati toh hum aage tak- shit, Aaru yaar!" He shouted mid-way when Aarohi hit him very bad and he clutched his chest in pain to only find Aarohi glaring at him.

"Pervert! I came here to complete my last patient's check-up. Nothing more." Checking his vitals and other things, Aarohi was done with the check-up in 5 minutes. Meething up the duo's curious eyes, she smiled. "Well, congratulations Mr. Nirvaan, you'll be perfectly fine once the last dose of medicine will be done with tomorrow morning. We can discharge you and you can leave. But yes, remember that your coach has been strictly warned to not start the running sessions for this week."

The pair hugged each other with wide smiles and Nirvaan pulled her in the hug. After some seconds, they broke apart and Aarohi sternly told Nirvaan to take care of himself. "Your health is important idiot. Be careful because aisi saza har baar sahi nahi hai. Also, these constant breaks will be a drawback to your practice and it will take a toll on your performances. Just take care, okay?" Nirvaan nodded.

"Okay, now you tell me what are your plans?" When Aarohi raised her brows, clueless at the question of Nirvaan, Pari chirped in excitedly and elaborated it to be a question regarding her dating life.

"Dekh Aaru, I know you don't believe in love and you think it doesn't work out but ek baar chance toh deke dekh? Even before I realised I was in love with this Mehra, I believed the same. But things change when you find the right one." When Aarohi did not retort, Pari knew she was listening and pondering over those words. "I know ki you feel that right one and all is just bullshit but you need to wait. You need to let your guard down in front of that one person who might be made for you in this whole universe. You getting me?"

Anticipating a dismissive response, Pari waited with baited breath but sighed in relief when Aarohi gave a hesitant nod following a noisy exhale. "Yeah, I get you. And, and it's not like how you guys feel it is." At the confused glances that Nirvaan and Pari shared, Aarohi elaborated and continued, "I-I do believe in love. I believe that love exists but the thing I have made peace with is the fact that I am not made for love. I am too fucked up to fall in love, give myself to some man and stuff like that. That's it."

Feeling offended, she scowled and said, "Love is not bullshit varna mere mumma-papa ka pyaar hota hi nahi, samjhi meri maa?" Aarohi raised her brow in addition and Pari nodded.

"Par Aaru, tu galat samajhti hai." Nirvaan spoke up after a minute's silence after Aarohi's revelation. Pari raised her brow looking at him, asking him to explain further and he nodded. "I can't say that I get what you have gone through because uska koi fayda nahi hai. But yes, one thing I surely know is ki that man who will be made for you will be ready to take the pain to clear out everything, every pain, sorrow and hurt from your 'fucked up life'." Nirvaan glared at her while air-quoting the words for using them, even when she had been strictly asked not to.

Aarohi only lowered her head in response and Pari rubbed Nirvaan's arm soothingly to calm him down and Aarohi smiled, 'These two can never get tired of being so sweet and caring for each other, so naturally.'

"Okay boss. Forgive this imbecile for her mistake. I will be careful next time but now I want to leave for home. Please?" Aarohi pleaded and the duo nodded. With the final good-nights, they departed.

Leaving the room to depart, Aarohi went to her cabin and picked up her belongings and moved to her car. Sitting in, she messaged Akshara to ask where she was and a message dropped in, the next moment.

Akshu
Coming home with my Methi Dana. He's dropping me off today and I'm relishing his company. ;)

Aarohi
Oh! But stay safe love-birds. Pata lage tera boyfriend aaj ghar jaane ki bajaye Kairav bhaiya se pitke, hospital pahunche. :*/

Akshu
Nothing such wil happen because main humare ped ke neeche hi utar jaaungi. And it reminds me that ghar pe koi guest bhi aaya hua hai, Kairav bhaiya had called me up a minute ago.

Aarohi
Okay then. I'll reach soon. Just starting from hospital. Love you meri jaaneman *flying kiss*

Akshu
Love you too Aaru! *kisses*

Aarohi smiled and keeping her mobile on the passenger seat, started the ignition and drove off.

Reaching her house after 20 minutes, she got out of the car after switiching off the engine and greeted Hari kaka with a smile. "Baba namaste!"

"Arey gudiya ji, aap aa gayi? Aap bhi aaiye." When Hari Kaka smiled with a fondness in his smile, she looked puzzled. Usually, his gaze held a knowing and loving look, but today it was added with something more.

"Aap bhi matlab? Baba, Akshu toh roz aa hi jaati hai na mujhse pehle toh aaj aisa kyun keh reh rahe hain aap?" Knotting her brows in confusion, Aarohi tilted her head sideways, thinking of what he might have meant by that.

"Nahi bitiya, main baby ji ki baat nahi kar raha. Aap dono toh roj aisa karte hain par aaj ghar pe koi aaya hua hai us ladke ne bhi aisa hi kiya. Mujhe meri marzi ke bina yahan bitha kar khud gaadi se nikal kar usne darwaaza khola. Bas uski baat kar raha hun main." Aarohi smiled in response and thanked the man in her mind, about whom her baba was talking.

Opening the gate, she walked back to her car in thoughts of that man who was probably sitting inside. Parking her car in the garden, she stepped out of the car and asked another helper to go and close the gate. She walked ahead, her head lowered onto her mobile and she stepped at the door-step and looked ahead to see the face of someone, whose face she could never forget in this life-time amd her eyes widened.

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And, a cliffhanger that might not be true to it's purpose. :(

So, share your views about what you liked or maybe, loved in the chapter. Anything you feel needs an improvement, do let me know here or in the pm. How's the progress of the story?

Also, there are a few readers who tried telling me what they find, lacks in the story and I'm really very happy. Thank You! Just to tell you, NeiRohi's meets are coming up and Aaru is someone who has sort of, loathed the idea of love. The convo with the trio was much needed for her to give a chance to even be-friend Neil in future because she finds that her circle is complete. Hope you guys understand what I mean and are willing to support otherwise, I'm going to...still carry on with my pace;)

The upcoming chapters are so exciting that my hands itch to write further but I can't because I'm engaged in my extra classes.

Thanks for all the love lovelies!! Love you all!!

Keep smiling, keep reading and stay safe! :)

Love,
~LoveKaur.