Naitik's POV.

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They both stepped outside in the suburbs of Mumbai. "Can we go by bus?" Navya being a miser asked Naveen and he nodded. They both got in a bus and as Navya headed to sit in the seat reserved for woman, Naveen smirked and stopped her, "Navya... I think we both should sit together. So... You know, we can talk." he said and she hesitated. Sitting beside a tall man in our Indian buses.... Her hesitation was not invalid but he was right, after all the main reason, they were here was to talk. She feared her hesitation would give him the wrong impression so she nodded with a forced smile. But what she didn't knew was it deeply pleased him. Her hesitation was a sort of validation that she has not done it before. But what he also failed to know that, why on Earth, did it please him that much. Maybe, he was staring to believe that they are going to get married......Maybe.

As soon as they settled their seats,  the ticket collector came by, "Ticket, Ticket." Navya reached for her purse, handing him money but Naveen pulled her hand back, she felt as if she has been given shock, when he touched her, it was light, just to say that you don't I will but she felt electrified. And she couldn't say anything. "I will pay." he said giving his cute smile.

After her recovery from shock and obtaining the tickets, being fully aware of his close presence, she spoke, "You're a guest. I must be paying. You're too kind." she said meekly. He smirked, but felt slightly mad,  he was not any guest, "I didn't do that out of kindness and I am not just a guest. I will always be the one paying." he said not believing himself. He wondered, am I already convinced to marry her. Yes! That was the moment he decided. She was his dream wife! Beautiful, homely, could cook like a goddess, so well behaved, well educated, shy and listens to him. He didn't wanted to marry at 25, he wanted to at between 30-35 but he knew, if not him, she would marry someone else, she would not wait. So better than to lose, her he can sacrifice his bachelorhood and of course his dream heiress.. This woman at his side had won his heart in moments.... He really wanted her to be with him. Someone who would care for him.... His mother was not exactly the best type of wife and seeing her and other woman with and around him, he lost hope of someone like her being existent. So he decided for a heiress... But now that he knew, she existed... He wanted her!

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I laughed, "You were whipped. But I must say, if I had not seen Grandma, I also wouldn't believe a woman like her existed." I told Grandpa. He fell so bad for Grandma. "Till date, I am. Your Grandma is the best." he said and I nodded. A woman like her was rare, and I have started doubting, if even I would get someone like her. No!  I feel. "Sorry Grandma, Grandpa cut your talk... Now you say, how was it?" She smirked. I don't know who feels, woman don't smirk or chuckle.. Grandma does it, as much as Grandpa and me. "My version is not that flattering." she told and once again Grandpa took her in his arms and I could see, she was so shy. She got shy only when, Grandpa touches her, otherwise she is so bold. She is a puzzle sometimes, "Go on, it's okay." he said and she nodded, clearing her throat, and I knew, it was going to be bad.

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Navya was mad, not only was he assuming that he was not a normal guest, being a jerk and telling that he only will pay, it angered her as she was a sort of feminist but the thing that was mainly making her mad was at how near he was sitting to her. Their thighs brushing. She wanted to shout at him, to move and not sit so relaxed, coming in her seat also, but she felt paralyzed by his closeness. They had to travel for about 20 minutes and 5 minutes had already passed and he spoke nothing. Was this the kind of talk he wanted to have. But her anger burst out when he put his hand in the window for support, thereby feeling like he had put an arm around her. And coincidentally, she saw a woman sitting in woman's seat and a man beside her, sitting too close for her comfort. She walked up to him and snapped at him, "There is place in the backside, why are you sitting here?" she spat. "I want to get down in a few minutes." he said back not caring for her attitude staring at her. "Get up, that's a reserved seat." she was putting up a show as all other men including Naveen and the conductor and the lady beside the man,  watched. "Why, you're the only other woman and you were sitting beside your husband.. " before he could continue, her voice rose, "Stand up." seeing the fury in her voice, he stood up and went away to sit beside Naveen. "Thank you." the girl said to Navya, fat tear drops rolling down her eyes. Only then she noticed that, she was a little girl. "You must be brave. Learn to stand up for yourself." she said and gave her a toffee she had in bag, "And eat chocolates." she said and giggled, the girl giggled back. Sitting there for the next 10 minutes, she could hear, Naveen and the man talking, "Your wife is ruthless. Poor you." the man said. "Poor you, man. To be insulted like this. That wonderful woman is not always like that. She is the sweetest and most caring person ever." Naveen had said. It was out of his character but he had. But Navya was still mad at him, he had been doing the same with her a few moments ago. But she didn't realise that Naveen had noble intentions.. He wished to marry her. She didn't understand that and it was okay.

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I stared at Grandma, that was not the Grandma I knew. She was always submissive. I couldn't even believe, she could ever be mad with Grandpa. She always, let him have his way. This was non flattering version but also, a version where I saw a different version of Grandma. Maybe she was more than the gardening crazy, homely, docile, simple yet smart person. I thought she was anything but strong, but she looked so. I was speechless. She smiled at me before her eyes fell on her watch. She was crazy for them and she had many watvhes, "Oh no!" she exclaimed and stood up, "I left something at oven." she said and rushed and only then I recollected, I asked her for chocolate puff pastry. I looked at Grandpa and he was smiling. For the first time, in my entire living, I noticed, actually Grandpa's smile was cute but when I mentioned it, he just chuckled.

"I never knew Grandma was so strong.." I said.

"That's because, you're with her when I am also there."

I raised my eyebrow but quickly realised. Maybe due to his dominating nature, her strong side never comes out. She is not to blame. I and Dad feel the same. Mom, is worse, she can't talk only properly with him. I chuckled at this man. Who on Earth, wouldn't want to be like him?

"So, how did you feel in this incident?"

"I was whipped Naitik as you said. So, I didn't realise she would come out to be a such a strong woman. Don't take me wrong, but... The thing was I like calm people better... Since I wasn't one..but at that moment... She was already my wife in my mind... " I understood there was something... Something that was yet to be known by me. Something tragedic, I guess. We sat in silence for a moment.

Grandma came back, serving me a big piece, I smiled at her and dug in. It was superb. "For me?" Grandpa asked raising an brow. And Grandma's expression was unreadable. I wonder why....

A. N:-
Namaste! Wonderful people... These flash back scenes are not actually what, Naitik knows.. He is given only a little info.. That's all I wanted to say... And thank you all for your support...

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