"Kitni soni kudi hai, Shravya. [Shravya's such a nice girl.]" I hear Dadi say.

"Haina mummy ji, mujhe bhi bahut pasand aayi. [Isn't that so mother in law, I liked her a lot too.] Chaachi says in response.

"I wish she was Arjun's girlfriend." Bua adds.

"I know right, that would be so amazing. They'd look perfect together." Aarohi says.

"We never know, she might be Bhai's girlfriend after all and he's just hiding that from us." Abhi says and everyone else immediately looks in my direction with suspicious eyes.

"Kuch bhi? Woh meri koi girlfriend nahi hai. [Anything? She isn't my girlfriend]" I say in response.

"Wahi toh puttar, issi baat ka toh dukh hai [That's what son, that's the reason behind my sadness." Dadi says.

"Bilkul sahi. [Absolutely right.] Chaachi adds.

"Bhai, abhi bhi time hai batado agar Shravya aapko pasand hai toh, rishta lekar chale jayenge hum uske ghar. [Bhai, there's still time, if you like Shravya then let us know, we'll go to her house with a proposal.] Abhi says.

"Haan bhai, nahi toh usko kisi aur ne utha le jaana hai apni dulhan banakar. [Yes bhai or else someone else will take her away by making her his bride]." Aarohi adds.

The thought irritates me and I choose to remain silent.

"Aarohi sahi keh rahi hai Arjun, hame toh ladki pasand hai. [Aarohi is saying the right thing Arjun, we like the girl]." Bua says.

"Enough all of you guys. Bande nu jeene do. Nahi karni mujhe Shravya se shaadi, she has her own life too and I'm sure she doesn't want to marry me either. [Enough all of you guys. Let a guy live. I don't wanna marry Sharvya and I'm sure she doesn't wanna marry me either]." I say to silence everyone and end this conversation because I don't want to think about Shravya in that way nor can I stand these people talking about someone else marrying her.

But that's bound to happen if you don't make a move, Arjun. A voice inside me says.

How do I make a move? She isn't even interested in me.

"Silence everyone." Chachu who was busy on his laptop all this while speaks for the first time.

Good I think to myself as I see everyone finally stop talking however what he says next causes me to get all the more irritated.

"Agar Arjun keh raha hai ki usse Shravya nahi pasand toh mat force karo usse. [If Arjun is saying that he doesn't like her then don't force him].

I'm sure the girl will find a nice guy for herself."

First sentence was perfect Chachu but why did you add the second one? I think to myself.

"You're right Dad, we shouldn't force him any longer . On my way to drop Shravya to her house yesterday I asked her if she's single and she said she is. Then I asked her if she's ready to mingle, she said yes to that too." Abhi says.

Wait, what?

Shravya did not tell me anything about this conversation.

She's single alright, but ready to mingle? That's not quite alright. Not with me atleast.

Ugh, this is so frustrating. Man up, Arjun and go tell her whatever mixed feelings you have for her. My inner voice says.

I decide it best to leave the living room and go back to my bedroom. I need to figure things out.

"Bhai, you remember Rishi? Our business partner for the new project? I'm thinking of setting Sharvya and him up. They'll be a good match right?" Abhi asks me as he follows me to my room.

"What? What did you just say?" I ask him as I turn around to face him.

"Rishi and Shravya, I'm thinking of introducing them to each other." Abhi says.

"Really? And why do you want to do that?" I ask him.

"Well she said she's ready to mingle so..." He trails off.

"Tujhe koi zaroorat nahi uske liye matchmaking karne ki. Mingle karna hai usse toh khud dhundegi woh kisi ko. Tujhe kya hai. [You don't need to do matchmaking for her. If she wants to mingle she will find someone herself. Why are you concerned?] I tell him feeling angry at the thought of Rishi Mehra and Shravya being together.

"Acchi ladki hai Bhai, Rishi bhi accha ladka hai. [She's a good girl, Bhai, Rishi is also a good guy]." He says in response.

"I'm warning you Abhi, you will do no such thing." I told him.

"I will do it if Shravya is okay with it." He answers.

"Abhiii." I say in a warning tone.

"How does it even matter to you Bhai, it's not like you like her or wait, do you?" He asks me, narrowing his eyes on me.

"That is none of your business, now go I have a lot of work to do." I tell him and push him out of my room after which I lock the door and walk to my bed.

I decided on confirming the guest list which my assistant Ayush has prepared. I switch my laptop which was kept on my bed on and sit in front of it.

I go through the list.

When I am done a frown forms on my face as I do not see Shravya's name on it.

Wait, how's it going to be there, Ayush doesn't even know she had to be invited.

Should I really invite her though? I don't want anyone to start talking about us again.

But she has to be invited. Of course I have to invite her.

My phone suddenly starts ringing and I pick it up to see a call from Ayush.

"Hello, yes Ayush."

"Sir, it's about to be seven. Should I send in all the invites? Is the guest list okay?" He asked me.

"Yes, go ahead with it." I say.

"Okay sir." He says and hangs up the call.

It seems like I have to invite Shravya personally.

Let everyone think whatever they want to. I want to invite her and I will.

With this thought in mind I called her up.

However the call goes unanswered.

This is strange.

I am about to call her for the second time but then decide against it. It will seem like I am too desperate.

My eyes land on the clock. 7.02 p.m.

I should leave for inspecting the work going on in the restaurant now. I think to myself and quickly get ready to do so.

After I am done I leave my room and make my way downstairs.

Thankfully everyone has gone back to their rooms now and the living room is empty.

I make my way outside and get inside my car.

Soon I began driving. I'm about to reach the new restaurant when Shravya calls me back.

I put my airpods on and received her call.

"Hey, you called?" She asked me.

"Yeah I did." I answer.

"Oh." She says and the two of us go silent for a few seconds.

"Uh, can you meet me over lunch tomorrow?" I finally break the silence and ask her.

"Of course." She says in a cheerful voice and a smile forms on my face.

She's excited to meet me too it seems.

"Uh I mean sure, we can meet, but why do you want to meet me?" She asks.

"Well you'll find out." I told her.

"Be more specific." She says.

"You'll find out when we meet tomorrow." I say.

"Ugh, Arjun, tell me why do you wanna meet me tomorrow? Is it something urgent, something serious?" She asks.

"Shravya for the love of God don't overthink about this okay? It's nothing serious. I'll pick you up from your office at 1 p.m. That's when your lunch break begins right?" I ask her.

"Yes. Okay then, if you won't tell me the reason I'm hanging up. Bye." She says and I chuckle.

"Bye." I say and she hangs up.

•

"I'm here." I told Shravya the next afternoon as soon as she picked up my call.

"Oh okay, I'm coming out, give me a minute." She tells me.

"Sure." I say and hang-up.

A minute later she walks out of the office building. I roll the window of my car down to have a clear look at her.

This girl. She's just so..I don't know how to put it. Beautiful? Attractive? A ball of positive energy for me? A person that makes me smile for no reason?

You sound like a lovesick puppy Arjun. A voice inside me says.

Okay then let me shut up.

I watch as she stands on the footpath and runs her eyes all over, a frown forms on her face, which I assume is because of not spotting me.

She begins tapping on her phone and a few seconds later my phone starts ringing.

"Where are you?" She asks me.

"I'm inside my car just opposite to where you are." I told her.

"I can't spot your Audi or your new car. There's a white SUV that I can see, though." She answers.

"Yeah, I'm inside that." I told her.

"Okay." She says and hangs up after which she crosses the road.

"Another new car?" She asks me as soon as she makes her way inside.

"No, it's Chachu's." I told her.

"Oh. Now tell me where are we going?" She asks me.

"There's this new place that is opening nearby and I am going to try it out so I thought I should take you along too." I told her.

"Out of so many people you could have taken with yourself, you chose me?" She asks, sounding surprised.

"Well I wanted to take you." I say.

"Right. But I have to remind you that you have only an hour. Less than an hour to be honest." She tells me.

"It's okay, we'll manage." I say and begin driving.

Sharvya fidgets with her fingers all the way to the drive to my new restaurant.

That's where I am taking her. Yes.

I have had the staff prepare a special lunch for us there because once the restaurant opens I doubt I'll be able to take her there without attracting attention from people and let alone take her there all alone so this is the time.

"Hey, why are we here?" She asks me as soon as I stop the car in front of my new restaurant.

"I told you there's a new place I wanted to try, so yes this is the place." I told her.

"I can't believe this." She murmurs to herself as she unfastens her seatbelt.

I secretly wished she'd require my help for it.

You've gone crazy Arjun Mehrotra. I tell myself and immediately make my way out of the car.

•

"This is amazing." Shravya says and moans as she chews her food.

I simply look back at her in awe.

"Arjun, stop staring at me, okay?" She says a second later when she catches me looking at her.

"I'm glad you're enjoying the food. The positive feedback makes me happy." I told her.

"I'll be a regular customer here it seems." She adds.

"I'll be more than happy to welcome you." I tell her happily.

She passes me a beautiful smile in response.

When we're done with lunch we make our way back to her office.

"Oh no, it's time. It's ten minutes past 2. Mrs. Mittal will kill me." She continues to mumble as soon as we reach the road her office is located in.

"Shravya, relax. I'll speak to Mrs. Mittal and ask her to excuse you." I told her.

"No, you'll do no such thing." She tells me immediately.

"Why not?" I ask her.

"Well, it'll be awkward. Mrs. Mittal won't say anything to your face but she'll think. Everyone at the office will think." She says.

"What will they think?" I ask her.

"They will think something is wrong. And this is wrong. Just because I know you and you know Mrs. Mittal you cannot ask her for favours for me. No." She says.

"Okay fine, I won't. Now, take this." I tell her and hand her the invite.

She hurriedly opens it with furrowed eyebrows and then begins reading it.

"Oh." She mumbles after she's done.

"Oh?" I ask her, raising my eyebrow.

"Nothing." She says.

"You have to come okay and bring your parents along, I would have loved to invite them personally but I'm busy for the rest of the week." I told her.

"They can't come, they have to attend Ma's friend's daughter's wedding the same day I think." She says.

"Oh, well then I hope you'll come?" I ask her in a hopeful voice.

"Sure, I'll come." She tells me.

"One more thing." I say.

"Yes?" She asks.

"It's written you have to bring a date with you but you don't have to okay? Ignore that part." I tell her and a frown forms on her face listening to my words.

"Why not?" She asks me.

"Well, I don't think you have a date and I don't want you to worry about bringing one." I say.

I'll be very happy if you don't bring anyone. I add in my mind.

"Oh about that, you don't worry." She says and gets out of the car.

I take a minute to register her words.

I don't worry? What does that mean?

How can I not worry?

"Shravya, wait, what do you mean?" I call out from inside the car but it's of no use.

She's already making her way to her office building, her ponytail bouncing up and down as she goes.