"You should tell my father" Nidhi held the dessert in her hand as she joined Yash on the lounge where her father kept his vintage souvenirs and oldest collections.

They had dinner in silence and he could feel her confusing eyes on him but he pretended to be oblivious to all that. He acted like a pleasant guest and casually answered all of her father's questions put to him.

"Nidhi is a great jewelry designer" her father beamed with pride "she recently started her first store and now planning to venture into another one".

"That's great" Yash forced a smile, knowing already; they had met before but he didn't want to act obvious "that's quite a unique profession". Nidhi didn't reply to any of the conversations but handled only with a feeble smile.

After the dinner was served, her father insisted she show his guest, the lounge which he kept boasting about. Nidhi knew it was only a distraction for them to be alone with each other so that they can get close but she didn't deny. She had a very strong bond with her father and didn't want to disappoint him by rejecting his request.

"What should I tell him?" Yash asked as he took the pudding and took a seat next to her. She made a surprised face "you know what my father's trying to do...I don't want to be the one to break the news..so it's better you tell him before he starts dreaming about the impossible".

"What are you talking about? He wants to do business with me" Yash stated coolly, taking small bites "did you prepare this? It's delicious".

"I'm a bad cook...unlike your girlfriend" Nidhi stressed the last word a little more "speaking of which, she's extremely upset that you ditched her dinner".

"She's a big mouth" he grinned "she needs to stop being such a ninny". Nidhi rolled her eyes "really? Any girl would throw a fit but she handled it calmly...she loves you a lot and literally worships you".

Yash didn't deny that; he knew Meera's undying love for him and looked pleased with himself "she understands me and mature enough to cope up with my condition...she didn't need to fight like other immature girls".

Nidhi toyed with her own bowl "she's a nice girl...but very naive and sensitive..". He nodded "I know what you're trying to say...even I don't want to hurt her either..but I love my mother more".

She locked her gaze with him questioningly and he sighed deeply "mom liked her instantly but she sort of..got to know about her past and she's unwilling for our proposal..says she doesn't want to tarnish our reputation".

Nidhi raised her eyes "you should convince her...tell her Meera and her family have moved on..she shouldn't judge her based on whatever happened in the past".

Yash nodded in agreement "I know it's not but you don't know my mother... since I was a boy she has always been protective of me and wants the best for me...I can understand her situation".

"So you're obeying her wishes and ready to break up with Meera?" Nidhi asked in disbelief. Yash leaned back "I have to find a way..I don't want to hurt Meera but at the same time I don't want to go against my mother".
His eyes were downcast and Nidhi felt partially sad for him; it wasn't his fault that he was in a tricky position.

She absently held his hand in a friendly gesture "I'm sorry Yash..I wish there was a way for you to sort out these things...by pleasing both of them".

"Actually there isn't" he half smiled "but thanks for understanding..it really means a lot to me" his eyes burned into hers and she couldn't look away. Their eyes met for a long moment and she wished he wasn't Meera's boyfriend.

Nidhi had known him through one of her cousin's friend circle and had developed a crush on him ever since. But never had the courage to tell him so. Yash was everything she had dreamed of; smart, funny, handsome as hell with an enigmatic personality which suited his extremely good looks. Any girl would fall for him in an instant and Nidhi wasn't any different.

He was friendly towards her and she returned the same courtesy but there was no attraction from his side. It was one of those parties she hosted that he first met Meera and he had eyes only for her. He was charmed by Meera's innocence, simple demeanour and her childish yet mature behaviour.

She knew Meera had fallen for him too and decided not to let her feelings out in the open. She was fighting a lost battle since they were half in love already. Since then, she had suppressed her feelings for the sake of her friend. And they remained friends.

"But you have to clear the air" she said slowly "about us..before it could lead to any more complications". He nodded in understanding "I'll find a way...but tell me something" he leaned closer to her "am I that terrible that you want to get rid of me badly?"

His proximity was disturbing that she moved a little farther "you're Meera's boyfriend..and she's my best friend..I don't want to hurt her" she said, suddenly finding her throat dry.

"So if I wasn't dating her, you wouldn't mind?"he chuckled. She bit her lip in anxiety; what was wrong with him? Why was he flirting with her all of a sudden? Their conversations usually were casual and friendly but this time she detected a hint of flirtatious tone in it.

She got up before things could take a bizarre turn "I think we're done here". He caught her hand immediately "I want a favour from you" he whispered in her ear and she felt goosebumps erupt in her arms which had nothing to do with the chilly weather outside.

"Wh..what favour?"she stammered, as they were very close and she didn't like it. "Don't tell Meera about any of this...you know how she is...she would freak out..I'll explain her later but not right now" he said in a serious tone.

She realized he was still holding her hand and slowly removed it "I won't tell her" she said and walked out of the room.

Yash watched her go with a wistful sigh. He didn't like flirting with her one bit. She was a nice girl and smart too but he never saw her in that light. It was Meera he loved but like his mother said, he would have to make sacrifices if his company had to survive and he couldn't take the risk. He had to make a choice and he decided what it was going to be.

He wouldn't let his bastard brother win at any cost; he would do anything in his power to remain stronger and mightier than him.

◇◇◇◇◇

Meera looked at the last finishing of her rainbow cake with pride. This has by far been the best of her creation and she inwardly beamed with pride.
The client who ordered it on her elder son's birthday was so impressed by her three tier cake that she had asked for her again for her youngest daughter's birthday but this time it was a rainbow cake.

Her boss Neetha couldn't help but compliment on her baking skills "she has asked you specially for one of her friend's bridal shower". And the list had been unstoppable since then.

She packed the cake when the kitchen door opened and Sandhya burst into the counter and beamed at her "you have a courier". Meera raised her head in confusion; she never got posts on her workplace as she gave her house address.

"It's not exactly a courier" Sandhya had a gleeful look in her eyes "something special from someone special I guess".

Meera removed her apron and came out near the reception where a young boy was holding what looked like a huge package and the moment she looked at it, she realised what it was.
"Miss Meera Anand" the boy said handing over the huge bouquet of flowers.

"Wow! Your boyfriend has gone all the way to impress you!" Sandhya squealed with delight "and you were grumbling that he doesn't have time for you".

Meera felt her heart do a somersault at seeing the exotic fresh flowers. Indeed, Yash hadn't neglected her, she thought with a bright smile "I never expected this! He never sends me flowers, but then I love this surprise!"

Soon, Nishi joined in and they checked out the simple but beautiful gift "I think there's a card attached to it" Sandhya said, taking out a small note attached at the foot of the bouquet.

"Must be a love filled note with kinky words" Nishi winked. Meera glared at her but took the note.

Thanks for the help last night...don't worry..I won't sue you...yet. The words were loud enough to understand where it had come from. She read it again and again with gritted teeth "I saved him! I bloody helped him get to a hospital and he dares insult me!"

Nishi and Sandhya looked at each other, puzzled and Meera stomped her hand on the counter "it's that guy with the flu last night...he gave me a thank you gift with an insult!"

Nishi saw the note and to Meera's surprise, laughed loudly "now that's a way to get a girl's attention!"

"My foot!" Meera stormed "who does he think he is? A simple thank you could have been enough but no! He had to flaunt his deranged ego at me".

"Oh come on! Not every men are sweet and charming like your Yash" Nishi said in a matter of fact tone "and by the looks of it, this guy must have hots for you".

Meera rolled her eyes "I couldn't care less...but how did he know my name? The address had my full name on it" she said, suddenly realizing the fact which scared her a little bit..was he really stalking her?

"He must have asked someone. People around here know you well so it wouldn't have been difficult for him" Nishi explained "just leave it...he was only trying to show off by trying to get your attention and it worked".

"Well it didn't" Meera scowled and took the flowers away when Nishi stopped her "what are you doing? Such exotic flowers don't deserve to be trashed".

Meera grinned "fine...you can have it". The stranger had to be much more thicker than that, she thought with an inward smirk.

◇◇◇◇◇

"You sent the flowers?" Daksh asked as they were driving. Shlok looked up from his phone "yeah..like you said... but the note was a bit too harsh".

Daksh gave a light grin "I thought it would be too polite to end with just thanks". Shlok snorted "is this how you chase girls away?"

"Not all of them" Daksh retorted, his eyes on the iPad "we have a meeting with the PR of Access and Co exactly in an hour".

"I haven't forgotten" Shlok nodded "but don't you think you should have been a little dignified with her? And for your information, she's not a waitress...she works there as an assistant baker and she's quite famous".

"Really?" Daksh looked at him "I wouldn't have guessed...she looked quite simple". Shlok rolled his eyes "and you didn't notice that either".

"I think we were done with that!" Daksh snapped but Shlok ignored him "her name's Meera Anand and there's something you should know as well" his words made Daksh all the more curious as he raised his eyes "what?"

"She's the one your brother's seeing" Shlok said slowly and Daksh remembered him saying the girl was a baker among many other things. So this was that girl. Daksh pretended to be oblivious "are you sure? She doesn't look his type".

"I'm damn sure" Shlok said firmly "but he's upto something and she doesn't know it yet" Daksh looked at him questioningly.

"He has Rajeev Ahuja in his stead..and he's signed a project with him...they'll be starting the new plant soon" Shlok explained "he's planning to woo his partner's daughter..."

"He has always been a leech" Daksh said, getting the hint "poor girl's going to get her heart broken".

"Feeling for her now?" Shlok teased. Daksh cast him a skeptical look "as a matter of fact, I do have something on my mind".

If everything went well, he could have just what he wanted.. vengeance and retribution.

◇◇◇◇◇

"It's been quite a while since we hung out like this" Meera said, taking a slurp of shrimp soup "I really missed hanging out with you guys".

"That's because you're too busy being ma Baker" Tanya, her another best friend teased. It was her birthday and they were being relished in one of the posh sea food restaurants in the city, the Seagull.

"Seriously guys, I miss the good old days when we had time for each other..now we're so caught up with work we don't even catch up on phone" Meera groaned.

"I know...it's been a heck of a year" Tanya, who was a beauty blogger and a vlogger as well, agreed "but lucky you" she winked "for having Yash as company".

At the mention of his name, Nidhi who was silent and was oblivious to the conversation between her two friends looked up. Ever since the meeting with Yash, something had changed inside her. She felt a mixture of guilt for having to hide from her friend but at the same time she felt a new sense of longing..for him.

It's wrong Nidhi, her mind kept saying but her heart was another matter altogether. "Don't take his name!" Meera said a little angrily, interrupting her wavering thoughts "he's too busy to even have a conversation with me".

"He never spoke to you at all?" Nidhi asked, trying to act cool. Meera shook her head "I understand when he said we need space since he's struggling to keep his company in one piece, but that doesn't mean we can't even acknowledge each other...I miss him terribly but he never realizes that..I feel as if...he's changed these past few days".

"That's a big lie and you know that" Tanya smiled "we know he's crazy about you...I feel he's really in a bad shape and doesn't want to get you entangled in his mess".

Meera bit her lip "the least he can do is text me anything at all...even if I text him, he replies saying that he's busy and he'll text me later..and he never does".

"I know what you should do" Tanya said with a bright voice "you should show up at his work place and surprise him...maybe after seeing you, he might get those old feelings back".

Meera blushed lightly "sounds like an idea...what do you think Nidhi?"she asked her best friend who was extremely quiet the entire conversation.

"Well...I feel it'll make him uncomfortable" Nidhi said, avoiding her gaze "maybe you should be patient and wait for the right time". Just then, her phone rang and her heartbeat rose with a jolt; it was Yash.

"I'll be back guys" she said and walked away from them to the corner.

"Hi...were you busy?"he asked with a deep drawl. "I'm with the girls, we're celebrating Tanya's birthday" she answered, wondering why he was calling her "is everything okay?"

"Yeah of course" he said but she felt his voice was dull "I wanted to thank you for keeping your promise by not telling Meera...she never asked anything".

"I felt guilty to even look at her in the eye" Nidhi admitted wryly "you should call and talk to her..she's very depressed".

"I can't right now" he stated, much to her surprise "mom has forbidden me to even contact her and honestly I don't want to..I'm in a huge dilemma and could use a friend right now.." his voice lowered to a whisper "will you have dinner with me tomorrow evening if you don't mind? I've cancelled all my appointments since I want to be free for a while".

She felt her heartbeat rise rapidly...it's just a friendly dinner Nidhi, nothing more..she inhaled deeply. She could see Meera chatting animatedly with Tanya and laughing at something she said and felt a stab of guilt. "I can't Yash..I'm busy" she said with a sigh.

"Why? Are you afraid to have dinner with me?"he whispered "you only have to trust me..I won't do anything that'll hurt you".

It's not you, it's me, she wanted to say but stopped herself "maybe a few minutes won't hurt I guess" she said finally.

"I'll text you the time and place" he said, suddenly sounding bright "I'm really looking forward to it".

When she came back to her seat, Meera looked at her "who was it? You took really long". Nidhi forced a smile "one of my clients..she had placed an order but it was delayed due to some technical issues...I was tired of convincing her".

"That's annoying" Meera groaned "I had a customer who had this huge birthday bash.." and she went on with her story while Nidhi listened half heartedly.

Please let me not do something which will jeopardise my relationship with her, she prayed mentally.

But things were about to go downhill for her friend...and she had no clue...

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