(Note: Falshbacks will be in bold italics! Enjoy the chapter 😉)

Manish's pov

I've been walking through the streets of Paris for almost two hours trying to find a perfect gift which I could give her on the top of the eiffel tower!

I just wanted to make this day perfect and unforgettable for both of us. I sighed because I was really tired after checking out almost all the shops for that one perfect gift and I decided that this was going to be the last shop so I entered it hoping to find something beautiful.

I went to the counter and asked for some personalized gifts and she asked my and her name!

"It's Manish and Arshita!" I told the girl behind the counter and she smiled, "I have the perfect gift for you sir!" she said and took out a small velvet box and opened it in front of me. I looked at the locket inside that box and a big smile appeared on my face as it had our initials "M and A" with a heart in between!

"I love this! I'll take this one!" I said and she packed that locket after taking which I instatlntly ran towards the eiffel tower where I had asked her to come and meet me and I was already late.

I finally reached my destination as I walked in I saw her standing there with her back facing me. I slowly walked forward her but she suddenly turned and gave me a look.

"Don't you have manners?" she asked and I gave her sheepish smile while scratching the back of my neck.

"Babyy I —" I said but she interrupted me, "Don't babyy me! You're always late on a date!" she said trying it be angry at which she was failing badly.

I took more steps towards her reducing the distance between us and she looked at me as I gave her smile, "You're looking amazingly beautiful" I said in her ear and she blushed while looking down but then instantly covered it up as she spoke up, "I'm letting this go just because you're looking hot and I'm not able to take my eyes off of you!" she said and I chuckled as I placed a kiss on her forehead.

She grinned and I took her hand in mine as we walked upto the table which was set for our special Paris dinner date! I pulled out a chair for her and she sat while saying 'thank you'.

I sat in front of her and she smiled, "So why were you late?" she asked me and I hitted my head slowly, "See I forgot it because of your manners' lecture!" I said and stucked out my tongue as I realized what I said and she was giving me a look.

"Really?" she asked folding her hands in front of her chest and I shooked my head, "No I.. I mean I forgot it because of my bad manners!" I said and she nodded, "That's better!" she said giggling and I got up from my chair.

She looked at me raising an eyebrow and I winked at her, "I'll show you why I was late" I said and she looked at me as I took out the velvet box from my pocket and opened it in front of her.

"Oh my god this is so beautiful!" she said keeping her hands on her mouth as she gasped while looking at the locket and I smiled, "Yeah exactly describing us as M loves A!" I said and she gave me a big smile as she hugged me tightly.

"And A loves M much more!" she said and I chuckled as she pulled back from the hug. I took the locket out from the box and went behind her as she stood there smiling. I placed it around her neck and then hugged her from behind as she touched the locket on her neck.

"This is perfect!" I said.

I just sighed as I recalled that day! It was a college trip to Paris. It was truly a perfect one which I obviously never wanted to forget and I didn't! But who knew that everything was going to fall off after that trip!

I looked at the locket in my hand still wondering why she had this with her when she hated me this much that she can't even tolerate to see my face!

"Maybe she still —" I was thinking but then hitted my head, "Shut up Manish what are you even thinking!" I said to myself as I can't even think of her being still same.

I layed on my bed staring at the ceiling! I don't even know why I was so affected by just looking at this locket when it's actually been almost five years since the day we stopped talking.

Well this really sucked because I can't even make out of what I was feeling right now!

Arshita's Pov

We reached home after spending our almost perfect sunday sisters day out! I was really tired so I went straight to my room.

I changed my clothes and I was combing my hair standing in front of the mirror in my room. My eyes went towards my neck and I saw my locket missing and just the thought of losing it panicked me!

I instantly started finding the locket in the room! Table, bed cupboard, it wasn't anywhere. I ran to my bathroom and looked around but it wasn't there also. I sighed in frustration and ran my hands through my hair.

I left my room and ran downstairs picking up the car keys to check if it was there! I ran out of the house and Shriya called me out as she was sitting in living room only but I just didn't had the time to explain right now!

I opened the car and looked inside everywhere but wasn't able to find it! I sighed and just sat on the seat annoyed when Shriya came upto me.

"What are you doing?" Shriya asked me with a confused look and I sighed, "Nothing.... I just lost my locket" I said looking down and she looked at me.

"Which locket? Why do you look so panicked over a locket?" she asked and I just shooked my head slowly and got up from the seat closing the car, "It's...ummm.... Nevermind. It's nothing!" I said and started walking back inside.

"Are you sure it's nothing?" Shriya asked coming in front of me as we entered back in the living room and I looked at her, "Yeah. It's okay, don't worry! Just a locket" I said and she nodded as I walked back towards my room trying to tell myself that it was really just a locket and nothing else.

I layed on my bed trying to control the flow of emotions which was going on inside me right now! I kept touching my neck missing that feeling of something I wanted to be close to me. I just closed my eyes while sighing and tried to sleep it off trying not to get bothered by it!
_____

Next day!

I was sitting in my office reading off some documents but my mind was still pretty disturbed after last night and I was annoyed because I didn't wanted to be affected by such things but the truth is that I was!

I was lost in my own thoughts when there was a knock on my office's door and I looked up to find dad standing there.

I smiled and he peeped in, "Dad you know you don't need to knock!" I said and he nodded while coming in and Shriya also came behind him while smiling.

"What are you so happy about?" I asked her and she just shooked her head, "Nothing" she said but was still smiling.

I just gave her a weird look and looked back at dad as he sat infront of me, "What happened dad?" I asked and he spoke up, "I want you to go to Singhania Associations! We just got a new deal in collaboration with their company!"

"What?.... I mean why?.... I uhhh... Why them?" I asked confused and dad looked at me, "Is there any problem?" he asked and I just sighed while shaking my head.

"No.... I mean.... I.. Its okay I'll go" I said and he smiled while nodding his head and said, "She's coming with you!" He said and and I nodded while looking down.

Dad left the office and Shriya sat in front of me while giving me looks and I looked up, "What?" I asked.

"What's going on with you?" she asked me and I gave her a confused look, "What do you mean?" I asked her and she sighed, "Do you think I'm blind? I can see something's bothering you but you're not ready to share it! Even with me?" she said and I ran my hands through my face.

"It's not like that... It's just something that I don't want to talk about.. Ever!" I said and she looked at me, "Fine I won't pressure you but you know you can tell me anything!" she said and I smiled while nodding.

"I know! Let's go now" I said and got up as we needed to go to 'The Singhania Associations'

Third Person's Pov

Manish was sitting in his office while going through some of his files when his secretary came in with a knock on the door and he looked up at her.

"Sir someone is here from Mehrotra Industries! They had an appointment with you" she said and he nodded as he said, "Send them in!"

Arshita and Shriya came upto his office and Manish was already standing at the door of his cabin desperate to know who came from the Mehrotra Industries to sign the deal!

As soon as he saw Arshita he he was settled with a relief which even he didn't know why effected him!

Arshita looked at him and he gave her a smile, "Hello Ms. Mehrotra! Nice to meet you" he said forwarding his hand for a shake and Arshita looked at his hand and then at him but then finally shooked her hand with his, "Same here Mr. Singhania!"

Shriya also forwarded her hand towards him while smiling as she spoke up, "Hello I'm Shriya Mehrotra! I'm the managing director of the Mehrotra Industries and her younger sister too"

Manish smiled at her and shooked hands with her also and they finally entered in his office. He sat on his usual chair behind his desk while Arshita and Shriya took seats in front of him.

Manish's secratery once again entered in and smiled at them as she asked, "Would you like to have something?"

Manish nodded his head as he spoke up, "Yeah bring me my usual coffee and a black coffee for her!" Manish said pointing at Arshita and she was looking at him in shock as he ordered her favourite black coffee which she always used to have.

"What would you like?" He asked Shriya and she smiled, "A cup of green tea!" she said and the secratery went out nodding her head.

Manish looked at Arshita who was giving him a weird look and realized what he did as she asked, "How are you so sure that I'll have black coffee?"

"Yeah how do you know she always take that!" Shriya also asked and he looked here and there, "That... I... umm... She ordered it once when we had a meeting together so!" He said trying to let the topic slide.

"Anyways can we just get over with this soon? I'm really busy!" Arshita said and Manish looked up, "No!" He said and she gave him a look.

"What do you mean no?" Arshita asked and he shooked his head, "I mean I forgot that file at home so Rahul is bringing it up so we'll have to wait" Manish said and she sighed.

"Rahul?" Shriya asked with a big smile and Arshita and Manish gave her weird look, "Do you know him?" Manish asked and she shooked her head, "No.. I.. I mean... Who's Rahul?" Shriya asked blabbering and Manish nodded.

"He's my brother!" he said and they nodded as the next moment his cabin's door got opened and Rahul entered in with a file in his hand.

"Why do you always forget someth—" Rahul was saying but suddenly stopped as he looked who was sitting there in front of Manish.

"Hiii" he said happily reacting as he knew both of them since childhood but then composed himself when he got a weird look from Manish and Arshita.

"I mean hello! I'm Rahul Singhania. Nice to meet you both!" He said smiling and both the girls smiled back at him.

"I'm Arshita Mehrotra!" Arshita said and he nodded as he turned to Shriya who also spoke up smiling, "And I'm Shriya Mehrotra!"

Next moment the secrarery came in with their drinks and placed it on the table and received a look from Rahul.

"Where's my drink Misha?" He asked and she looked at him, "Sorry sir you just came in! I'll bring it right away!" she said and Rahul nodded, "Fine good girl!" He said as he took a seat on the one of the stool kept in the corner.

Manish looked at him with a look and asked, "Aren't you leaving?"

"No" Rahul said almost on the queue, "Can't I stay?"

"Do whatever you want! Just don't disturb me" Manish said and turned back to the girls while Rahul was smiling.

"Shall we?" Arshita asked Manish while pointing at the files and he nodded as they quickly exchanged the files and started reading it.

They signed the files and again exchanged them as their work was done!

"It'll be a pleasure to work with you" Manish said as they stood up from their seat and Arshita looked at him.

"Yeah we'll be glad too" she said trying to give out a small smile.

Arshita and Shriya turned to leave when Rahul came in front of them, "Hello well I was thinking that as you both are here! I can give you a quick tour of our company!" He said raising an eyebrow and as Arshita was going to say something but Shriya spoke up.

"That's a great idea! We would love too!" Shriya said smiling widely and Arshita sighed, "Aren't we getting late?" she asked Shriya she gave her a look, "No we're not! We don't have any meetings today" she said and Arshita just shooked her head.

"Okay so let's go!" Rahul said happily and then turned to Manish, "Do you want to come along?" he asked him and Manish looked at Arshita who was already looking at him.

"No I'm very busy!" Manish said though he really wanted to join them but the look on her face stopped him, "Okay good for you" Rahul said and the three of them left his cabin.

The three of them walked all  around company as Rahul kept telling them about everything and they kept talking in between!

"Oh shitt! I forgot my phone back there" Shriya suddenly spoke as she was going through her bag, "Wait here I'll bring it" Rahul offered but she shooked her head.

"No it's okay! I'll be right back" Shriya said and walked back leaving Arshita and Rahul alone as they waited for her.

"You know! You're much better than your brother" Arshita said to him and Rahul smiled, "Well thank you everyone says that" Rahul said and they laughed.

"But do you know him? Like personally?" Rahul asked curiously and she just shooked her head, "No I.. I just met him in one or two meetings! Just found him a bit rude" she said covering up and he nodded.

"He can be sometimes! But he's really a softy at heart" Rahul said and Arshita just nodded.

"Okay! Maybe" Arshita said and they were talking and laughing at another of Rahul's joke when Mr. Singhania saw them together as they were laughing off at something.

He kept looking at both of them as a thought came upto his mind and the next moment he called Arshita's dad!

"Heyy Jai! Actually I want to talk to you about something" He said to her dad and he instantly agreed, "Yeah sure whenever you say" Mr. Mehrotra said and they agreed to meet up soon.

************
"We're just strangers with some memories"
  *********
_______________________________

Heyaa friends!

Updated! I hope you all liked the chapter and so keep voting and commenting.

💕💕💕