***Piya's POV.***

"I am sorry." Veer says as I decorate the tart and chuckle again.

"Seriously, Veer. You bruised my employee." Rihaan says.

"I think I just apologized to him and he forgave me, right?" Veer asks, and I look up to see Bittu cower away as he nods.

"Bittu, go." I say.

"Okay. But what about..." He stops when I glare and walks out.

"Veer, why would you even think that Piya was getting-" Rihaan asks.

"Don't ask me again." Veer says.

"Come with me to my cabin. And Piya, your clients are here." Rihaan says, and I nod.

"Veer." I called him just as he was about to leave.

"What?" He asks.

"Do you want some French tarts?" I ask as I try to hold back my laugh and he glares at me, but his smile spoils it.

"Shut up, Piya." He says and goes out.

I chuckled a few times as I arranged everything and almost lost myself in thoughts of how he looked when he held my arms with concern and how he then caught me in his arms and laughed with me on the silly misunderstanding. But a knock on the door brings me back and I follow my manager to where our client is.

Obviously, I kept two pieces away. One for Bittu and one for... someone. The lemon tart was a success and a perfect choice for a wedding breakfast held at home for only close family members. As soon as I was finished with my work, I checked on Bittu who was doing well as he took a painkiller which Rihaan gave him and then by the tart.

I was about to relax for a little while when Rihaan called me into his cabin.

"How did the clients respond?" Rihaan asks as soon as I enter the cabin.

"As always pleased with my work." I say with a smile and sit on the chair beside Veer, which he pulled out for me.

"Now, Veer, it is your duty to force her to accept my offer." Rihaan says, and I almost groan out.

"Come on, Rihu." I say.

"No." Veer says.

"What do you mean by that?" Rihaan asks in confusion while I am focused on the floor.

"What I meant is that Piya should decide for herself whether or not she wants to be your partner. Please don't force her. If she is interested, I know she would approach you herself. Actually, she would rather take it from you without even asking. But she doesn't seem ready to me." He says.

"And how are you sure she isn't ready?" Rihaan asks, and I look at Veer to see him looking into my eyes.

"Because she has yet to fulfill other dreams which are her priority right now." Veer says and I am surprised.

"Then what should I do?" Rihaan asks.

"I can help you." Veer says.

"Really?!" Rihaan asks.

"Yes. I mean, I would like to help any way I can." He says and Rihaan looks a little relieved.

"Any help would do as I want to get a week free to enjoy my time with Subu. When is she coming back, anyway?" Rihaan asks me.

"Not telling." I say, and he groans while Veer and I share a smile at his misery.

We talk for a while then I go to finish my work. I was alone in the kitchen as everyone else left as it is half-day and was about to finish up cleaning when Veer entered.

"Done with work?" He asks.

"Almost." I say and look anywhere but at him.

Why am I getting shy now?

He leans against the open window and my breath stops and so do my hands, doing their work as I see his hair waving in the air and his eyes closed, giving his face a calm look. My breath gets shallow just by looking at him. Why does he always have these effects on me? Why?

"I remembered." I say and take out a covered box from the counter next to me while Veer walks up to my counter. "Here."

He looks at me below the shadows of his lashes and only I know how I am still standing and says, "Thanks."

I nod and get back to cleaning while he moans in delight, giving me shivers. It is not that good. But then the bride moaned too when she tasted it. But then again, she doesn't have moans as husky as Veer. Damn me. Get your mind out of the gutter, Piya.

"I am done." I say.

"Come, I will drop you." He says but stops.

"What happened?" I ask.

"I forgot I walked here." He says.

"Why?" I ask with a frown.

He chuckles and says a single word which gives me all the explanation I need, "Overeating."

"How can I forget? You are here and your Dadi and Bua do not feed you properly as per their satisfaction. Impossible." I say as I grin widely.

"I am not eating anything anymore." He says.

"Really?!" I say with a pout.

"Why?" He asks.

"I was thinking maybe we could have some chaat at our favorite place. It is on our way only." I say.

We walk for a few seconds, then he takes my hand when that street comes and says, "Only one plate."

I smile and follow him. We always used to come here after Veer was done with his boxing coaching classes and I was over with my tuitions. He would pick me up and we would have chaat at our favorite place every week. And as we walk down these streets again, my heart races again because just like before, he is holding my hand so I don't get lost.

"Bhaiya, two chaat." Veer says and gives me the paper bowl.

"How would you like it?" Bhaiya asks.

"Medium spicy for me and sweet for her." He says.

How is he not in love with me already when he knows every little detail about me? Maybe that is why he isn't, because he knows bad stuff, too.

"I wanna try yours." I say to Veer, and instead of giving me the chaat, he holds it against my lips.

I blink my eyes and open my mouth. As my lips unconsciously brushes against his fingers, I back away quickly. I look up after a few seconds to see Veer's cheeks are red.

"Did the spice hit you the wrong way?" I ask.

"Maybe." He says, not meeting my eyes. I get confused.

"Here. Eat mine. It is sweet." I say and feed him.

He looks at me oddly but still eats it, and the lingering touch of his lips on my fingers gives me a weird thrill. Am I a pervert at heart for him or what? We finish the chaat and walk towards the main road to catch a taxi. The walk was in silence as if something had changed the mood, or maybe someone, like me.

I clear my throat and ask, "So, you are coming to pick me up, right?"

"Yeah." He says.

"At what time should I be ready?" I ask.

"Around nine." He says.

"Okay. Then I will be waiting." I say, and he nods.

"By the way, I wanted to ask you something." Veer says.

"What?" I ask.

"Are you really not interested in Rihaan's offer?" He asks.

"I don't know." I say, and he tilts his head and gives me a smile.

"Really? Then why do I get the feeling that you want it?" He asks.

"How did you get that feeling?" I ask.

"Because you do not deny him outright, Piya. And don't give me an excuse because he is our friend. You and I both know that Rihaan will not get upset over stuff like this. So what is the real reason? Is it really because you have another dream which you aren't able to achieve yet? If so, then do it, Piya, and be done with it. Dreams are not something to wait around for the right time. You just have to dive into it. If you do not, nothing would go your way. Think about what you want hard and take the decision which you worked hard for. Because I know you have been working hard for your dreams but now you are getting scared." He says, and I nod.

"You are right. I need to think hard and make decisions without getting scared." I say, and he nods.

Because everything lies in my decision. I can either choose Veer and forget about my dream or I can choose my dream and risk losing him again. Tough decision, but I have to make it someday. And this someday is looking closer than I want and like.

Veer drops me home, then leaves for his home. I fall back on my bed as soon as I enter my room. I hate myself. The person who couldn't make a single decision for herself. The person who has no courage to confess, who uses promises as an excuse to avoid it. If I had guts, I would have everything by now.

But then, how can I just abandon everything and leave? My parents have done so much for me to become the person I am today. They sacrificed many things for me and I know they wouldn't have minded their daughter to roam around in Europe and even had given their funds for her dreams.

But I don't want that. So I waited and gathered my own funds. I did every job I could find from the day I graduated from high school. Stopped myself from spending money on the things I didn't need so that my parents could save up for their future too.

My Papa takes pride in his self-reliant attitude and I don't want to hurt it at all by taking help from others. But I know he would have not thought twice before giving up his self-respect for my dreams that much he loves me and I know somewhere he is proud of me because I have inherited this virtue of his.

What Veer said isn't false, either. A person has to take a leap. It was difficult for Veer, too. He didn't use his parents' money to reach where he is today. He spent money which he won. Veer's struggle is not hidden from me because even though I had not seen them, I know him.

I sit up and say to myself, "But I have enough now. I can really fulfill my dream. Yet my heart yearns for Veer so much. But I can't approach him. Because what would our relationship be like if I will not even be around him? God, give me a hint, any hint. Help me what path I should take because I feel so lost right now."

As God will not help me right away and take time, I decide to enjoy today and then think about tomorrow. So I get up and take out the dress which Subu gifted me. It has been ages since I have gone to the pub. The last time was when Subu, Rihaan and I celebrated their relationship and also her birthday.

I take a quick shower, then curl my hair a little. Then I wear the black bodycon dress. The pattern on the dress is ruched with a sweetheart neck and full sleeves. I wear matching black boots and simple small earrings. As I look in the mirror, I am getting doubts, but I get no time to change when Maa yells out that Veer is here.

I take a deep breath and open my door. I don't know when these old habits of mine to get nervous to see Veer when I have already met him today would die. Because this is not good, especially when I am dressed like this. Not that he would call me anything, but pretty today. Again.

But little did I know I won't get compliments tonight from him and that this night would be the catalyst to the biggest decision of my life.