6 months later__

"How is he doing?"

"He is doing well, uncle."

Mahesh Luthra nodded at Kabir who was always reporting him about Karan's current state of mind.

"But, we all know there's little part of him still upset with you for not helping him."

"I know."

Mahesh Luthra grimaced and told Kabir that he can leave the room. He had been noticing Karan's performance from last two months seeing that he was doing really well in his department.

But seeing his cold behaviour towards his female colleagues, Karan's father was still upset. He had organised two-three office parties to introduce him to his friends' daughters but Karan showed no interest. It all was happening again. But he was somewhat relieved that Karan had not contacted Preeta in any way.

Suddenly, Mahesh Luthra's phone started ringing, distracting his mind. Seeing the photo of his lovely niece whom he loves like her father.

"Hello?"

"Tau ji (Uncle), I am waiting here with two big suitcases at the bus stand and no one is picking my call. Even Karan bhaiya is not picking. Please send someone, to receive me. The weather is not clear. It might rain anytime."

Suddenly, Mahesh Luthra  felt the need to go himself instead of sending his driver. His driver must be eating his lunch as it was lunch time.

"Okay. Wait for me, Kritika. I am coming."

"Yay!"

Chuckling at her childish voice, he hanged the call and got up to leave.

_____________

Preeta was waiting under the shed of an open restaurant outside the bus stand, waving her hand at the roads to stop taxis or auto-rickshaws. But they all were already hired by people.

On one shoulder, her hand bag was hanging while other hand was holding the handle of her big suitcase on the floor. It was raining heavily.

Between walking out of the bus stand and reaching this restaurant to buy her fathers' favourite samosas (an Indian food), her clothes had got wet a bit. She was wearing a denim jeans and blue coloured top which had already got wet, making it clinging to her skin so she covered herself with a scarf.

"TAXI!!! AUTO!!!"

She yelled again but the taxi didn't stop.

"God!"

She muttered angrily. Her father was in hospital and she had to reach as soon as possible. Her mother had called her last night saying that her father was having pain in his spine but nothing serious. The sweet daughter couldn't stop herself from coming here next day. Preeta's brother Naveen had too planned to come with her. But Preeta insisted that he should not worry. She would go alone and check on her father's health herself.

"Ahh..."

Preeta looked at the owner of the voice that caught her attention. The slim girl was drenched in water, and was about to fall on the floor with her two big suitcases as her foot had slipped because of her wet slippers and slippery floor.

"Hey, hey. Easy there."

Preeta left her suitcase and jogged towards the girl, holding her to stable them. She made her stand properly and took her suitcases under the shed. The girl followed her.

"Thank you."

Preeta smiled at the girl.

"You're welcome."

She stood near her suitcase and again started waving for a taxi.

"They're not going to stop."

Preeta looked at the girl who was wearing branded clothes. She got worried hearing her words as she had to reach the hospital soon.

"Why?"

"Because we need them urgently and life is tough, you know."

The girl spoke sarcastically. Preeta looked at the girl with a blank face and suddenly both the girls cracked in a laughter.

"So... returning from college."

The girl asked Preeta while looking at her bags.

"Yeah, from Delhi University to here and now actually going home. What about you?"

The girl smiled and cheerfully replied.

"I was spending my vacations at my maternal uncle's home, so now I have returned."

Preeta made an 'O' face, nodding at her. But suddenly, realising that she needed to go to hospital soon, Preeta started calling for taxis, again ignoring the girl's sarcastic comments while this girl observed Preeta's clothes and her beauty.

Simple yet beautiful.

A car horn made both of them jump. The girl smiled broadly when she realised her Tau ji had finally came to receive her while Preeta was looking at the car curiously. The window glass rolled down as the driver called for the girl.

"Kritika, get in. C'mon hurry up."

Kritika was about to move forward when she realized that she can at least help the girl who was standing alone, struggling to hire a taxi.

"Hey, you can come with me. We can drop you to your home."

Preeta was shocked as she looked between the car and the girl.

"No-No. That's so sweet of you but I can manage. Thanks for asking." Kritika stood bored shifting her weight to one leg. Preeta looked back at the man in the driver seat.

"You are standing here for half an hour. Now, come on I am requesting you. We can drop you at your home."

Mahesh Luthra was confused when he didn't recognise the pretty girl standing there beside Kritika but he had somewhat got the idea that she was either someone he already knew or he had met before. Preeta was about to deny again but Kritika interrupted.

"Please."

Preeta sighed and Kritika smiled cheerfully.

"C'mon, new friend."

A genuine smile made its way on Preeta's face. She started carrying her bags to walk towards the back seat door that Kritika had already opened.

"Get in. Fast."

Kritika spoke while settling herself beside her Tau ji as he offered her the mini towel seeing Kritika's drenched condition. Preeta looked at the driver seat and saw the back of a man in early fifties, she had concluded that by his black and grey hair.

Just as Preeta settled herself at the back seat, Kritika turned her head at her.

"Hey, I never asked your name."

Preeta looked at Kritika and replied politely.

"Preeta Arora."

Mahesh Luthra sitting in the driver seat stiffened. He immediately looked back at the girl for whom his only son was head over heels.

Preeta didn't notice the man yet as she was busy in looking at Kritika's hand that she had taken for a shake.

"Beautiful name just like you. Well, Preeta. I am Kritika and this is my Tau ji."

Mahesh Luthra looked back reluctantly and smiled at Preeta. She smiled back at him and joined her hands.

"Namaste uncle."

Mahesh Luthra was feeling awkward as Preeta didn't recognise him.

May be she doesn't really know who I am.

Nevertheless, he smiled back and replied gracefully impressed by her manners.

"Namaste beta."

Mahesh Luthra had started the car and drove away from bus stand. He had always thought that whenever he was going to meet Preeta. He would already hate her for breaking his son's heart. Instead he felt really positive about her. The girl was more beautiful in real. He had now a new interest formed in knowing her qualities that made his son crazy for her.

"So, Preeta where do you live?"

Preeta looked at the side face of Mahesh Luthra and suddenly felt that if she had seen him somewhere or someone like him.

He looks familiar.

"I live in Sector-4. But actually I really need to go to The City Hospital instead of home."

Kritika was listening to the conversation normally but listening to the word hospital, she immediately looked back. Before Mahesh Luthra ask her why, Kritika already beat him to it.

"Why? What happened?"

Preeta felt a bit uncomfortable by sudden attention but nonetheless answered her.

"My father was suffering from high pain in his backbone last night. When maa informed me, I immediately planned to check on him."

Kritika awed at her. She immediately starting remembering her own father. But ignoring the little memories, she focused on Preeta realizing that she had said, she was from Delhi University.

"Aww... You love your dad so much. Otherwise, who can have the courage to skip college and leave Delhi to reach all way to Chandigarh and even alone."

Mahesh Luthra, who was engaged in listening the conversation, was amazed at Preeta as he found it very courageous and caring to travel alone for six hours to see her father.

"Undoubtedly. He is the most sweetest person, you will ever meet. My mother is really strict while my father, he is a sweet heart. I know for sure, when I will meet him. He is going to be angry at me for skipping my college. But when I will show him the samosas I bought, he will immediately forget about the topic and jump on the samosas."

Kritika laughed along with Mahesh Luthra.

"So, what does your father do,  beta?"

Preeta reluctantly looked at Mahesh Luthra but confidently replied.

"He is a government employee, Uncle."

Mahesh Luthra nodded and continued driving.

"What about your brother?"

At first, Preeta felt uneasy that how this man knew she had a brother and also why he was asking so many questions. Mahesh Luthra must have felt her uneasiness as he quickly replied by looking in the rear view mirror.

"I mean, you must be having a brother or sister."

Preeta finally understood that he was genuinely asking, so she replied politely, with a smile on her face.

"Well, he is settled in Delhi with his wife and a son. After my father's retirement, may be we all will shift to my brother's home. But my father refuses every time, he says, he will only leave this place when he will be fully off duties which includes my..."

"....marriage."

Mahesh Luthra completed making Preeta blushed.

"Yes."

Suddenly, Kritika commented with enthusiasm.

"Well, that's not a problem. A girl like you can't stay unmarried for so long. I am sure your parents must have been rained by so many proposals."

Preeta blushed whilst Kritika wiggled her eyebrows. Mahesh Luthra didn't react but he was really focusing now, as the subject of marriage has finally came.

"You are exaggerating. They haven't talked to me about that. And even I am not ready, actually. I want to graduate first."

Kritika smiled at understanding while Mahesh Luthra made a blank face satisfied by her obvious answer.

"Okay. Which year?"

Kritika asked Preeta totally interested to know more.

"Second year."

"That's great. One year left and you can decide what you want, getting married or employed. Look at me, I have just completed my school. Lets hope, I get admission in a good college."

To Kritika words, Mahesh Luthra replied encouragingly.

"Of course, dear. I know you will score good marks for your admission in a good college."

Preeta smiled at the two persons in the car. She was too missing her dad. She was just waiting for the car to reach the hospital. After passing through two main roads, the car suddenly came to a halt. Mahesh Luthra looked back at Preeta.

"Beta, we have reached the hospital."

Preeta looked out of the window and smiled back at the man.

"Thank you so much, uncle."

Preeta slowly got out of the car with her luggage. The rain had stopped fortunately. Before moving ahead, she leaned down towards Kritika's window.

"Thank you so much, Kritika. If you and Uncle haven't helped me, I would have still standing there yelling for taxis."

Kritika chuckled at Preeta and shook her head laughingly.

"Its totally fine. Besides, I have made a new friend. And moreover, you owe me."

Preeta's eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Umm... What can I do to pay you back?"

Kritika smirked at Preeta naughtily as she said.

"Well, you have to be my good friend and should stay in contact with me."

Preeta laughed and instantly replied.

"Aww, that's fine. You can have my number."

Kritika's eyes lit up. She on the spot started thinking of doing shopping and spending time with her.

"Great."

She chirped as Preeta gave her the phone number. Mahesh Luthra was observing both of them and was slightly intrigued that Kritika too was loving this girl. He also noticed how Preeta was still worried about reaching hospital even while smiling perfectly at Kritika with heart.

"So, I should go now."

Kritika nodded and finally leaned back.

"Bye."

"Bye."

"Bye, uncle."

Mahesh Luthra smiled at Preeta and gave a wave. She finally turned and walked towards the entrance of the hospital.

"You seems so fond of her."

Mahesh Luthra asked Kritika while looking at Preeta who was struggling with her suitcase and bag to enter in the hospital.

"Yes, she is so simple but still so confident and sweet. How can be someone so genuine? I mean if there would be any other friend of mine. She would have started talking about shopping, malls, hang out, you know. I like her."

Mahesh Luthra was surprised by Kritika's observation. Preeta was really a magical girl.

"She is really a well-mannered and sweet girl. Every family dreams of a girl like her. I just hope, her father is very well. The girl was really worried."

_____________

A/n:- Hey! Need 30+ votes for every single chapter of this book for the next update. Till then, this book will be on hold.