Neha took Priya to the dance floor to cheer her up. Ram and Vikram were watching them. They were 2 beautiful women attracting too many men Vikram thought.........

Ram's POV
Ye baar baar uski saanse aur uski khushboo kyu yaad aa rahi hai. Main bhi na pagal, ekdum se kiss Kar diya uske Maathe pe, kya soch rahi hogi.  Am I attracted to her?
Kya soch raha hai ram, wo aise waise ladki nahi hai, band kar de ye sab sochna.

Soon , there were 2 dudes who came up to Neha and Priya. 
Ram saw the two dudes. He felt sudden anger rise inside him, should they misbehave with priya or neha he will bash them up.

It looked like Priya said something that they turned back and left immediately. 

Neha and Priya came back.

Vikram - priya, aapne kya kaha un do ladkon se jo wo aise palat kat Bhaag gaye?

Neha - arey ye sach me too good hai vikram. She said that we are lesbians and we only go out with gays. Hahahhahaa . Wo dono aise bhaage ki pucho mat.

Priya was smiling - maine kaha tha na aaj subah, I have had my back all these years and I will continue to do so in future. Mujhe zarurat nahi hai ki koi meri responsibility le, she glanced at Ram. Chalo, let's go!
Ram thinking - ouch that hurt, but dosti karne me seriously koi harz nahi hai

Vikram - arey priya, aaj to tumhara birthday hai, ek drink to banti hai.

Priya - wo to ho gayi na, remember we were awake till midnight last night.
Waise tum logon ko drink karna hai to Karo, I am really good today.

Neha - arey ek drink aaj Please, mere liye! dekho tum humse naraaz to reh nahi sakti ho aise - bache bhi nahi, aisa time wapas nahi aayega. 
Priya obviously was in no mood but she said - ok, just one though. 

She wasn't looking at ram. She felt quite awkward, one minute he is yelling at her, the other he kisses her to wish her birthday. As in, was hi bipolar or something? And moreover, what was he trying to prove with that kiss - does he respect me or he was sorry for his behavior? Or was it just heat of the moment? He did say last night she was good looking, was he attracted to her physical beauty? or was he just trying to be a friend again? 

Neha was high in just one drink. They drove back to the villa. Priya said thanks to neha and vikram and she turned in to her bedroom with ram.

She went to change in the restroom but her dress zip located in the back wouldn't come off. It was jammed. Damn she thought, ab ye kya nayi musibat hai. 

She called - Mr. Kapoor , aap ek baar Neha ko bula denge please ? 

Ram - ummm, all ok with you ? 

Priya - haan, its just that I need some help with this dress. 

Ram - ok ok , I will go and get her. 

Ram cames back to the room after about 5 minutes and knocked on the door - Priya suno, wo Neha to nashe me so gayi hai, is there something I can do or you can manage?

Priya was thinking - ab Neha ko bhi na aise hi so jaana tha or wait, is he lying to me, what am I supposed to do, it will be way too awkward if I allow Mr. Kapoor. I haven't forgiven him but I can't sleep in this dress. Kal bhi thik se soyi nahi because he slept like a child in my lap and I allowed him , aaj to I want to sleep peacefully. It's been a long day ! 

After about 2 minutes silence she unlocked the door to face him. 

Priya - Wo, umm actually mere dress ki zip kahin atak gayi hai and I can't take it off without taking undoing the zip completely. ek baar dekh lo shayad kuch I mean may be my hands are just not reaching there.

She was not only embarrassed but there was a hint of anger in her eyes and Ram was still guilty from the day's happenings 

Ram - ok , turn !

She turned unwillingly. He was scared of offending her if he accidentally touched her. He carefully touched the zip, he could see it was jammed at the upper back. He tried to unjam it and then decided on clarifying his actions with her first.

Ram - Priya, ek minute, I need to hold this a little more tightly. 

Priya - ok, she caught the restroom sink for support. His cold hands were sending different signals to her body.

Ram managed to unjam the little piece of cloth that was bothering the zipper and lowered the zip all the way until he saw the little fabric of her bra and stopped. He didn't intend to lower it all the way so he stopped thinking she might get angry. 

Ram - ho gaya ! main chalta hun 

Priya - thanks ! 

He left with the sudden thought that her waist was literally the size of his palm or may be a few inches more to it but thats it. He chuckled at the thought. She came out wearing a 2 piece night gown. 

Ram changed and when he came out he saw Priya had placed couple of small pillows in the middle of the bed creating a partition. He thought she was definitely not ok with him kissing her and was embarrassed at the situation earlier with her dress. 

Priya saw him checking out the arrangement- wo actually I will be a little more comfortable and waise bhi I need extra pillow. I have a habit of clutching one and sleeping. 

Ram - yeah, whatever makes us both comfortable. Sorry wo yahan dusra bed to hai nahi and Neha and Vikram koi mauka to chodenge nahi taunt maarne ka if I get the living room couch here. 

Priya - hmm. jaise unhe kuch pata nahi hai. She said this very slowly to herself but he heard. 

Ram - dekho Priya, I am really sorry jo kuch aaj hua, mujhe bahot gussa aa gaya tha shayad isliye ki I was embarrassed that you had to support me last night but please , main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahta tha. Wo I know I am a little impulsive aur main kuch bhi bol deta hun, aage se dhyaan rakhunga I promise. tum sahi ho, We should be friends. I will try to be a better friend, please trust me.And I am soo sorry mujhe tumhara birthday pata hi nahi tha. I really respect you Priya. Please you have to believe in me. 

Priya - dekhiye, maine dosti ka haath aage badhaya to main ab wo wapas piche nahi lungi. jo kal raat hua wo sirf doston ke bich ki baat thi and I told you it will remain between us and rahi baat aaj ke jhagde ki to I am hurt that aap Vikram ke saamne chillaye. The contract is between the two of us then why involve a third person in it. main jaanti hun Vikram aapka bahot acha dost hai lekin that really upset me. And please don't be sorry about my birthday, its not a big deal besides I know you didn't even know to remember, so I forgive you. Main kuch bhi expect nahi kar rahi thi, na wish na gift, Its really ok. 

Ram - thanks Priya and I am really sorry, main aage se dhyaan rakhunga. I really want to be friends with you. matlab next time maine jyada pi li to tum to rahogi na help karne.

Saying this he extends his hand for a handshake. She smiles meekly, nods her head and shakes hands with him.

Both of them didn't mention the kiss, instead she turned and slept. Ram was still awake thinking of his actions and her responses. I should give this marriage a chance as Neha said. Friendship to waha bhi first step hi hoti hai na. She is quite mature otherwise, usne sach me Neha ya Vikram se to kuch kaha nahi , she didnt even mention the kiss but I need to be careful when I am that close to her next time. He got up to use the restroom and saw her curled up like a soft ball. She indeed clutched the pillow like the pillow was her baby while sleeping. 

Come morning, they packed and checked out of the resort to drive back to Mumbai. Priya wore a magenta colored salwar suite since they were going back to Kapoor mansion. She was still not wearing the mangalsutra , Ram noticed and didnt know what to say. He was not going to ruin their new friendship but at the same time he knew his family would be upset with Priya if she went back like that 

Neha - Priya tum aage hi baith jao, tumhe takleef na ho piche. Vikram aur me piche hi baith jaate hain which means Fatty - tum drive karoge, vikram aur mujhe aise time milta hi kaha hain.  

Priya - ok thanks. 

Ram excitedly - haan , kal aadhi raat ko tum log hide and seek to khel nahi rahe the. 

Vikram and Neha both blushed , Priya was surprised at the sudden reaction from Ram and said - kya?

Ram - haan aadhi raat ko pura furniture hilaya hai inhone itni awaaz ki hai . tum to ghode bech kar so rahi thi.

Neha - chup raho Fatty, college k dino se aadat hai tumhe dusron k life me interfere karne ki. Priya - jaanti ho, ye isko obvious cheezen kabhi nahi samaj aati thi, matlab door pe hum likhte bhi the dont disturb phir bhi ye mota direct aa room ke andar jaata tha. Romance karne hi nahi diya hai isne ache se shaadi se pehle. 

Ram - chal chal ab, main hamesha concerned hota tha tum dono k liye, baat baat par lad liya karte the

Neha lovingly hit Ram on his stomach and finally went to sit with Vikram. Priya had never seen Vikram blushing. 

They started to drive when Neha started - Priya , classes kab se join kar rahi ho ? 

Priya - bas next week se. Kal wo pagpheron k liye ghar ja rahi hun, jaane ka mauka mila hi nahi tha. Aaj subah Krishna Ma ne bataya ki Ma ne kal ke liye kaha hai, 

Neha - oh nice ! phir Ram tumhe tumhare ghar se lene aayega right? aur tumhe le jaane kaun aa raha hai?

Priya - wo mere Jiju, Ayeha Di k husband Rohan, he will come with Ronit and Rishi my 2 nephews .She smiled and rahi baat Kapoor mansion wapas jaane ki to its ok if you dont come glancing at Ram. I'll explain Ma , Papa that you are busy.

Ram - nahi, kal shaam ko mere meetings nahi hai, I'll come. 

Vikram - good ! and Priya , he will cancel if there does arise a meeting 

the drive went pretty smoothly . 

Priya was lost in her thoughts , she was in no mood for chit chat so she closed her eyes - kya weekend raha hai ye, pehle wo pura dinner and drinks which I had thought went nicely, then that night when he was so upset and then morning with all the jhagda and then my birthday and wo kiss and phir wo club jaana and not to mention the dress ka embarrassing scene. ab back to normal life. He will go early in the morning and return late in the night and I will be busy with home and classes. Acha hai, kuch aur to hone se raha hai iss rishte main, atleast jhadge nahi honge. Jab bhi saamne aate hain to jhagda to hota hi hai. 

First conversation hi itna ajeeb raha tha. 

Ram - Hi I am Ram kapoor , let me order coffee first so that aur koi disturb na kare later. 

Priya - ok, I am Priya Sharma by the way.

He had ordered coffee for both of them without asking her what she wanted.

When the waiter got them coffee in the next minute,

Ram - I have read your profile and bio, everything seems good, Neha has complimented you... just that I need to share my side of the story. My mother really wants me married , I am least interested , so I have a few conditions to the marriage. This document explains everything. Why dont you take a look at it while I send this  work email on my iPad. 

Priya - ye kya matlab aapko shaadi karni hi nahi hai to phir sidhe sidhe bol dijiye na apne family ko. Ye sharton pe shaadi kyu kar rahe hain aap. 

Ram - padhlo ek baar nahi to main chalta hun. 

Priya - ajeeb insaan hain aap. ok,I'll read. 

She couldn't just let him go , she had to answer Papa later. She began reading and was astonished at his 3 conditions . 

She was usually good at reading people. Hence she thought he was laying these conditions to protect his family business financially . He clearly didn't know or didnt believe in love or maybe he was betrayed in love. but looking at his antics, who would fall in love with him , besides iss insaan ko 2 min uss ladki se baat karna ka time nahi hai jiske saamne room sharing ki condition rakh rahe hain. Her precise words to him were 

Priya - I am kind of Ok with these conditions but let me give it another thought, aapko shaam ke 6 baje tak message karti hun. 

Ram - ok good ! main chalta hun, mujhe thoda urgent kaam aa gaya hai office me. 

He just left, no bye, no "main message ka intezaar karunga". She sat in the same place for 2 more hours to finally fit the pieces together, if she married Ram, she was to expect no love but she also had to give no love. Ideal ! since love was never her strong part. She made friends!  Besides, Papa really wants me to marry soon ,like ASAP due to his health reasons. Ma ne mauke chode hi nahi hai taunt maarne ke, she thinks atleast for sake of society I need to marry. Us par se ye Indian matrimony - 30+ ladkiyon ko milna bhi nahi chahte hain even though they are 45+. So literally speaking this wasn't a bad deal. Moreover, this came with a termination date, agar sab acha nahi bhi hua to 1 year ke baad sab back to normal. She will explain her parents and they were pretty broadminded too , they would understand ki nahi jam rahi hai grahasthi. 

She was never interested in making money too. She was happy with all she was given in life in terms of friends and family.

She messaged him at precisely 6 pm - I am ready for the marriage ! when and where should my parents meet yours for the ceremonies and when shuld we meet to seal the deal on this contract? 

He had called her - are you sure you are ready? koi doubt nahi hai na ? I will ask my mother to call your parents and decide the formalities per them. My lawyer will contact you when we get a date to legalize the contract ! Nobody will know about the contract as per its terms and conditions.

FB Ends........

Neha - Priyaa ! hum pahunchne wale hain, utho ! 

Priya - oh ! thank you mujhe jagane k liye . She wasnt sleeping but pretended to all the while.She was tired with all the emotions throughout the weekend.

She rummaged through her purse , Ram had his eyes on the road but he saw she was looking for something. She found her mangalsutra, quickly put it around her neck, used a little mirror to make sure her sindoor was fine.  Ram's heart leaped with joy.

Neha Vikram dropped them and they drove off to pick up their Kids. Both entered their house when Priya took Dadis and Krishna's blessing... All in all they were home, Priya stayed with Krishna and Dadi at home while Ram went to office after lunch, he came back late when she had already slept . the next day he was in office when she left for her Maayka for the pagphere........

to be contd.......

Note --------------------------------------------------------- 

I stole the hook scene since I loved it so much but I always thought trying to put the hook on after wearing sari was ridiculous so I used a dress zip to put the scene back in. Hope its still as subtle and as sensuous in the same way the series aired it.