HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!

ONE MORE NEW YEAR GIFT! 🎁

(First update BABY DADDY story and now this one! Hoping to update STALKING THE STALKER before mid-night)

HOPE YOU ENJOY READING THIS PART!

UNEDITED

Part - 47

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"We accept the love we think we deserve" 

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A week later,

"Naira, where are you? Have you reach the mall yet or still in court? He has been waiting for nearly an hour now! How long will you take..." 

"Mom, mom, calm down. I am at the basement of the mall, parking my car. I will see him in two minutes."

"Oh good! Oh and be nice and polite to him, okay?"

"I will see what I can do" Naira said, giggling. 

"Naira, first impression is the best impression so please be on your best of best behavior!" Madhu warned her daughter.

"Alright, mom! I won't let you down! Trust me!" 

"I trust you, baby. Good luck." 

After terminating the call with her mother, she scurried out of her car without bothering to check her appearance on the rear view mirror. She didn't want to make him, her prospective groom to wait anymore. 

"What, now, mom?" Naira asked little irately when her mom called her again. 

"He is waiting outside McDonald's" she forgot to tell that in her previous call. 

Naira scanned the area and found Mcdonald's outlet at first floor where the food court was located. She took the escalator and reached the specified spot. 

"Hi" a man, to be precise, a handsome man wearing white shirt, navy blue casual blazer and jeans, waved his hand at her. He was sitting on the McD bench beside the creepy clown. "Naira, right?" he asked as he stood up and flashed her a perfect smile. 

You are so tall! she thought

"And you look different, Yash" she wondered out loudly. 

Ah! You're smiling now! 

Why this beautiful was missing in the photo you sent me? 

Maybe you don't like to pose for photos just like my dad! she reasoned herself. 

"What did you say?" 

"Am sorry! I... I was thinking... Well, forget it... Hi, I'm Naira Rishab Kundra." she said formally as she held out her shaky hand.

"Hi, I'm Yash Arora as you would be knowing already" he smiled again making Naira go weak at the knees as he took her hand for a gentle shake. He held her hand for a beat longer, enjoying the feel of her soft small palm pressed against his rough big one, before letting it go. 

"Sorry, I made you wait." she apologized. 

"No, I just came like ten minutes ago."

Mom said he was waiting for me for an hour but he's saying just 10 minutes?

Is he being nice to me or Mom lied to me? 

MOM!!!

"Oh I see" 

"You coming directly from work?"

"Yeah, well, how can you say that?" 

Do I look sweaty and tired? 

"You forgot to remove your collar band" he pointed to her neck-wear as he smirked. 

Shit! She mentally face palmed. In her hurry, she only remembered to shove her robes in the rear seat of her car and forgot to remove her formal neck-wear. 

MOM! I blame you for the embarrassment I'm facing now!

"Oh! I was in a hurry... My mom kept calling... I forgot..." she blabbered as she undone her neck band. "Of all the days, only today my mom had to choose to fix our meeting." she muttered softly but still he heard it. 

"Sorry, I was free today so I only suggested your mom that we could meet..." 

Oh forgot to tell, Rishab had ran a background check on him and everything came out clear so they proceeded with the proposal. 

"Were you busy? Did I disturb you?"

"Well, I had two important cases to attend today..." 

"Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't know. If you want you can go and carry on with your work. We can catch up some other time." He suggested politely. 

"No, the work is done now. I'm coming from court only. That's why I got delayed. It's just that I didn't get time to make myself presentable."     

"You look good to me" he said casually but sincerely as he took a quick look at her from head to toe.  

She did look good in her black and white lenin saree though she looked kinda professional. 

"Thank you. So do you." she smiled shyly. 

"You had your lunch?" 

"No, um... I didn't find time to have my lunch" 

"Busy woman eh? I like busy woman rather than lazy one's but you need to eat on time" he dazzled her with another smile.

Why he has to smile so much? I am not able to concentrate.

"So what would you like to eat? Indian, Chinese, Mcd burgers?" 

"Domino's Veg Pizza"

"Cool" he said and gestured her to lead the way. 

"You didn't order anything?" Naira asked as they sat on opposite chairs as they waited for her pizza to get ready.

"I had a chicken burger, french fries and chocolate milkshake from McD just before you arrived." 

Chocolate milkshake? Is he a kid? 

And why is he listing the items he ate? He could simply say he had lunch just before I arrived right? 

Oh wait! He got the time to have his lunch before my arrival... So that means... Uh-huh, mom wasn't lying to me after all!

"So you were waiting for me for more than ten minutes!" she stated. 

He grinned sheepishly for getting caught but tried to manage somehow "No, actually I waited only 10 minutes for you. Remaining time I was busy eating." 

"I see" she giggled. 

"So?" She aksed.

"So what?"

"Talk! We are here to talk and get to know each other, right?"

"Right but do you have the energy to talk? You look beat... so shall we wait until you have eaten? Then we can stroll around the mall and talk leisurely."

"Why you chose to meet me here at the mall?" She asked proving a point there that she wasn't beat and she had enough energy to talk till her food arrives.

"I don't know why exactly... Maybe because its a neutral place. Maybe because I like shopping. Maybe because I want to spend more time with you but not to get bored. I easily get bored if sit at one place for long. See, here we can wander around and eat and shop and pass time..."

"I like shopping too" she said enthusiastically. 

"Cool"

Soon her pizza arrived and she started eating with gusto.

He watched her eat heartily for few seconds before awerting his gaze to check his phone as he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable by gawking at her.

She ate 3 pizza slices without stopping and took the fourth and final slice only to realize she was full.

She sighed and placed the pizza back on the box.

"What?" He looked up at her hearing her sigh.

"I don't want to waste this pizza...but I am really full."

"Oh" he took the pizza slice in his hand and started eating it as if solving her crisis. 

"That's my leftover" she stated.

"So what? I don't mind sharing food. And to be honest you ate this pizza neatly without sqeezing ketchup on top or sprinkling chilli flakes. You kept the ketchup on the side and just lightly touched it. This is exactly how I eat my pizza."

"Oh I see"

They were almost done and were about to leave when a man walked by their table carrying a kid in his arms and the kid accidentally dropped his coke tin and it hit Naira's hand before falling on her lap and rolling down to the floor, ruining her saree with coke stains.

"Ouch"

"Hey, did you get hurt?" Yash asked as he swiftly came to her side to check her elbow where the tin hit her.

"No, I am fine" she said as she rubbed her hand.

"Oh no! I am so sorry" the man, probably the little boy's dad apologized on behalf of his son.

"It's okay" Naira smiled at the kid who was looking terrified.

"It shipped (slipped) from my hand, aunty. I am shorry." He said fearfully.

"It's okay, baby. It was an accident and I am not going to scold you for that."

"Thankoo" he smiled. His dad once again said sorry and left the place with his son.

"I think you should change" Yash suggested.

"I think so too" she agreed looking down at her sticky saree.

"We could do dress shopping for you"

"Sure"

"Yash, you walk first" this time she let him lead her, why, because she wanted to hide behind him and hide the stain on her saree.

"Don't run! Give me cover." She hissed at him.

"Much obliged, my lady" he teased as he smirked at her.

"Which section? Saree or Salwar?"

"Jeans-top" she replied.

"Alright" they headed to the jeans sections first.

"Low-rise or Mid-rise?" He asked

"Um... Mid-rise"

"Good choice. Black or blue?"

"Blue"

He quickly scanned the rack and picked out a dark blue pencil fit jeans.

He didn't ask about her hip size, why, because she took him straightaway to size 32 jeans rack.

"You like it?" He asked.

"I do" she smiled.

"Now let's pick one shirt for you"

"Only one?" She asked faking sadness.

"You want more?"

"It's not like you are going to pay so I can buy more."

"No, actually, I am going to pay for your clothes but still you can buy more. I have no objection. It's all good here" he patted his pants' pocket where he had kept his wallet.

"No, no! You don't have to pay..."

"Please! I insist."

"But why?"

"Take it as a gift from me!" He understood she was a proud girl and she wouldn't take anything free especially from a man she just met so he used the word 'gift'.

No one refuses gift, right?

"Gift? But why?"

Maybe she does refuse gifts!

He sighed. "A remembrance. This gift will serve you as a remembrance of our first meeting."

"Oh okay! Then I will also gift you something."

"Buy me food. I will remember this day and you... forever." He said sincerely.

"I will buy you food but I also want to buy you something else. Something you can use... Maybe a shirt?"

"Only one?" He threw her words back at her.

She laughed. "As much as you want"

He picked her a white shirt to go with the blue jeans and then picked couple more tops, one - pale green bell sleeve top and two - deep pink short tunic kurti.

He quickly paid the bill for the purchases and asked her to go change into the new clothes.

"You have good taste!" she said as she stepped out of the trial room.

She was amazed with his brilliant selection. She loved the shirt, the jeans and the other two tops. He made her shopping easy and quick.

"Now we match!" He winked a sexy wink. He purposefully made her wear the white shirt with blue jeans instead of the pale green or deep pink tops.

"Yeah, right" she kinda blushed.

"Now let's go shop shirts for you"

"Lead the way, please."

She smiled and walked ahead to the men's section.

"Your size? Your favorite color? Which brand shirt you wear?" She asked

"Slim fit - size 40. My favorite colors are black, white and blue but since it's your gift you can buy me any color shirt... Even pink and violet." He joked. "Brand... I really don't bother.. Just make sure the material is soft and thick."

"Alright!" She knew what to buy for him. She had experience in this matter. After all there were three men in her house and she had shopped for them all on so many occasions.

She got him a black long sleeved slim T-shirt, a grey casual T-shirt, a denim shirt, and a red wine formal shirt... and he loved them all.

"I have your dad and mom's phone numbers." He stated and she could tell where this was going.

"Would you mind giving your number to me?"

"No, I wouldn't mind..." She said and quickly gave her number which he saved in his phone. "...and feel free to call me or text me." She added. He nodded and gave her a ring so that she could save his number.

"So what next?"

"Ice cream?" He asked.

"Sure" she agreed and they headed to Ibaco.

"Dark chocolate secrets, two scoops for me" Yash ordered first and looked at Naira.

"That's one of my favorite flavours too" she whispered to him with a surprised smile. "Make the order two, please" she said to the shop guy.

"So you're a foodie?" She asked though she had already guessed.

"You could say so" he shrugged as he dug his spoon in his ice cream and scooped it up and put it in his house. "This is... Divine!"

She moaned her acceptance as she enjoyed her ice cream.

"So what you do?" She asked casually. She knew he was an architect but she wanted to know more about him.

"I am an architect and I work for myself." He always wanted to be a boss so after doing internships in few companies and gaining enough knowledge, he started his own business.

"I see" hmm...impressive!

"Arora housing Pvt. Ltd. is my company."

Wow! It's a well known company!

"Currently, I am working on two big projects here in Mumbai and one in Dubai. It's my first oversea project."

"Oh that's lovely"

"Now your turn"

"You already know I am an advocate. And I run a legal firm with my friend Roe... Roshan."

Yash frowned.

Her dad had told me that she had called off her wedding with one named Roshan, didn't he? He thought.

"Don't get me wrong! Just asking... Um... He is the same guy with whom you were supposed to get married, right?" 

"Yes" how do you know that?

"Hmm"

"Is something wrong?" She asked when he suddenly went silent.

"Do you think its right to work with him after all the drama?"

Is he doubting me?

"What do you mean?"

"Naira, you might not know much about me but I obviously do... I know a lot about your personal life."

"Oh" How?

Did he run a background check on me just like dad did on him?

Did he hire a private detective and gathered information about me?

But at least I should appreciate, he is being honest with me.

"Your dad... We met yesterday... He is quite an interesting man."

"I know"

"And he was really open and honest. He told me everything about you."

Rishab had met Yash in his office yesterday and had a chat with him to a decent length.

He found Yash smart and decent and man enough to handle his temperamental daught and that was why he let his wife arrange their meeting, today.

"Everything?" She asked, feeling flummoxed.

Oh daddy, when did you become loquacious like mommy?

"Yeah. He told me that Roshan was your teenage crush but it faded away once you grew up. That Roshan inspired you to take up Law as your profession. That Roshan became your mentor and you respect him immensely. He thinks maybe that could be the reason why you couldn't see your mentor as your husband. He told me about this other guy too... The doctor guy who treated you when you were in a horrible accident few months ago... Have you clearly fallen out of love with him? Because it's not easy to fall in love with someone and quickly fall out it... It takes years to forget and recover... Sometimes you never..."

"I was never in love with him but it took me a short while to realize." She said cutting him off. "I was just attracted to him. My mom told me this first but I didn't believe her. I thought what would she know about my feelings... But I was wrong. Mothers know everything, don't they?"

"They sure do!" He agreed. He was sitting here only because of his mother.

"And they only want the best for us, kids, so that's why I let my mom to choose my life partner."

"I see" he smiled.

"So back to the main matter, why do you think its not wise of me to work with Roshan?"

"As far as I have heard about him from your dad, I can tell he has strong unbreakable feelings for you..."

"I know"

"But you have break it"

"How will I do that?"

"Help him move on"

"How again?"

"Your constant presence in his life will do no good to him so it's better you leave him..."

"Hmm but what's the use in quitting office, quitting working qith him when we will be meeting at court, daily?" She questioned. "You see, Lawyers world is really small. It revolves around the court."

"Point"

"Maybe, he will move on once he sees me happily married right?"

"That surely will prick his heart. Every moment he sees you, he will feel like - she should have been mine. She should be wearing all those symbols of marriage, sindoor and mangalsutra saying my name, feeling my love. And she should be carrying my baby..."

"You sound like as if you have been in Roshan's place?"

"Yes, I have" he agreed in a low tone. "5... 5 and half years ago... I was in love with a girl... She was my school friend, actually. So many years of love... reduced to ashes when she married someother fu..." He bit his tongue from saying 'fucker' as it wouldn't be nice to swear in front of a woman. "...when she married someother man"

"Why you two broke up?"

"Her family was against our relationship"

"Why?"

"They gave some bullshit reason that my mother is a divorcee..." He put that light to her.

Actually they said his mother was a characterless woman and that was why his father left her!

And that preposterous remark raged him and he punched his lover's father and brother. Well rest is history!

"...and I don't come from a proper family."

So they got his lover married to some prized dick.

"That's ridiculous!" Naira bursts.

"Exactly"

"Yash... I am sorry, I made you revisit your sad past."

He smiled ruefully.

"I think I should go home, now" Naira said though she wanted to stay longer and chat with him. She liked his company.

"Sure" he stood up and held his hand out of her. "I will walk you to the parking lot." He said. With a smile on her face, she took his hand and they walked along.

"I think... No, actually, I know I am going to say 'Yes' to my mother for this marriage proposal." He said once Naira got settled in her car. "What about you?" He asked, hopefully, as he gestured her to put her seat belt.

"What do you think my answer will be?"

"If you're a clever girl, you will surely say a very big 'YES' to marry me to your parents" he smirked.

"I am saying to you first. Yes, I will marry you." She smirked back and rolled up the tinted window and maneuvered her car.

... To be continued!

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