3.

Parking her car, Aaruhi steps out of her car. Carrying her handbag and black coat, she was about to go inside when her eyes fell on a familiar car behind her car.

Her heart skips a bear realizing whose car is this. A small smile formed on her face before she walked inside the mansion.

“Baa..baaa!!” she heard Abheer calling her, making her chuckle. She smiles brightly and picks up 8-month-old Abheer and smooches his face.

“How is my baby?” she asked in a baby voice while walking toward the living area.

Abheer grin showing his two teeth and squeal hugging her neck tightly. She laughs at his excitement and hugs him close to her chest.

Everyone turns toward her, hearing her and Abheer laughing. Ryan who was sitting with Arjun also looked at her and smiled.

She sat beside her mother and placed Abheer on her lap.

“I was waiting for you, Aaru,” Arjun said, making her frown.

“Why Papa?” she asked.

“Ryan is facing some problems and needs legal help. But I am already busy with some ongoing cases…” she nodded in understanding.

“Sure…Let me know when you are free, we can then discuss the case,” she said to Ryan with her heart beating wildly inside her chest.

Ryan nodded, giving his charming smile.

“Mammaama!!!…” Suddenly Abheer screams happily clapping his hands making Ryan chuckle.

Aaruhi stares at Ryan then looks down at Abheer.

“Can I hold him?” Aaruhi nodded and gave Abheer to Ryan. She stares at him as he plays with Abheer making him squeal.

Ashika notices her daughter’s gaze on Ryan.

“Bhai, leave after dinner,” Aaravi said after a while.

“Some other time, doll…” Ryan said while caressing Abheer's head gently as he was sleepy.

“I am not listening to anything, Ryan. You are not going anywhere without having dinner,” Ashika said in a fake stern tone making Aaravi grin and nodded while Aaruhi smiled.

Ryan give her puppy eyes but Ashika ignore and turn to Aaruhi,

“Aaru bachcha, come help me in preparing dinner,” Aaruhi nodded.

“I will help you, Mumma. Let Didu rest for sometime, she just come from work,”

“It's fine, Aaravi. Don't worry, I will help, Mumma. You just rest and talk with him. Mumma, I am coming after changing my clothes,” Ashika nodded.

Aaruhi went to her room while Ashika walked inside the kitchen leaving both sister and brother to spend some time together.

“Bhai, give him to me. I will put him in his bed,” Aaravi said as Abheer fall asleep in Ryan’s lap while playing.

“Let him be. I rarely get time with my baby. Let me spend some time with him,” Ryan said as he lovingly gazed at his cute nephew and smiled, finding a slight reflection of his sister in him.

“Ma told me you agreed to marry and settle down, ” Ryan rolled his eyes and looked at her to see his sister’s eyes shining with a teasing look.

“She is my mother for a reason, doll.. ” this made Aaravi giggle and she nodded totally, agreeing with her brother.

“So…you have someone in your mind…” She asked, looking at him excitedly.

“No,” he said while lightly stroking Abheer’s arm.

Her smile dropped and pout formed on her.

“You are so stupid, I never knew..” she murmured. Ryan looks at her pouting like kids and give her a confused look.

“What’s with this face?” She huffs and leans against the sofa.

“Nothing. But don't worry, I will find you a very nice and beautiful bride,” she said smiling brightly, making Ryan shake his head at her sudden change of expression.

Aaruhi who was coming down from the stairs heard them. It pained her knowing Ryan never looks at her or feels for her like she feels. But she knows he is not at fault if she has feelings for him. It's her choice to love him. She can't expect him to like her back. She doesn't want to force her feelings or love on him.

She sighs and walks toward the kitchen to help her Mumma.

“Ryan beta, have some more chapati..you aren't eating well,” Ashika said, placing two more chapatis on his plate while he tried to deny her.

Aaruhi smiles lightly while secretly looking at him and her mother's cute little banter.

Aaravi looks at her expression and mentally grins.

Suddenly Jaiveer cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. Everyone turned to him.

“I have something to tell you all..” he began and seeing everyone waiting for him to tell them.

“My one of the friend asked Aaruhi’s hand for his grandson. His family is really good. And the boy is also really nice. I like him but I wanted to discuss with Aaru about the alliance before taking any decision,”

Aaruhi’s face lost its color hearing her grandfather. She tightens her hold on the spoon.

She slightly glances at Ryan who is sitting in front of her with a normal expression. And seeing him unaffected really makes her inside clench in pain.

She looks at her plate and sighs softly.

“Aaru, bachcha what do you think?” Arjun asks her lovingly.

She looks up at him seeing him looking at her with a soft smile which is giving her silent assurance that he will be with her whatever she decides.

“Papa, I…I a-” she fumbled, not knowing what to say anymore.

She can't keep denying them every time but she doesn't want to get married to someone when she already has someone in her heart. No, she can't do that.

“It's okay, Aaru. Think about it then tell me. Don't force yourself. Your decision will be the last decision,” Now she felt her eyes getting teary.

She has the best family in the world.

She stood up and went to Jaiveer and hugged him from the side and kissed his cheek.

“I love you Dadu,” she murmured softly, making everyone chuckle.

“I love you too, meri Jaan,” Jaiveer lovingly said, patting her head.

Ryan, who is silently watching the scene, smiles softly. His eyes for a moment stuck on the round glowing face of Aaruhi. He felt himself getting lost in her beautiful bright smile but little Abheet’s cry caught everyone's attention.

“What happened to my baby bear?” Abhimanyu lovingly asked his son who is whining for more spicy food.

Now everyone gets busy with little Abheer.

“I should leave now…” Ryan said and gave Abheer to Aaravi.

Aaravi nodded. Ryan touches the elders feet before he hugs Abhi and kisses his sister on her head.

“Take care, doll,”

“You too bhai. I will visit some day…” she said to which he nodded.

“Okay then bye…” with that, he left.

Aaruhi stared at him through her room window and felt her eyes tearing up.

“Why are you crying, stupid?” she said to herself and wiped her tears.

She is feeling sad and scared. She watches his car going out of the iron gate. Taking a deep breath, she closes the curtains and walks to her bed.

Laying on her back, she stared at the ceiling while lost in her thoughts.

“What should I do now? I need to talk out my feelings before they start suffocating me. Should I confess my love to Ryan??...No!! I can't. What if he doesn't accept my love? Everything will turn awkward between us and I don't want this,” she thought and sighs before turning on her side.

“Mumma?? She will help me. I think I need to tell her about my feelings for Ryan. She will understand and give me the right advice. Yes!...” nodding to herself, she finally closed her eyes and soon dozed off.

At Roy house

Ryan steps inside the house. He smiles seeing his family sitting in the living room and talking.

“What is going on everyone?” he said, taking his seat beside Pallavi.

“Bhai, we are selecting bride for you,” Kabir told him giving him teasing smile.

Ryan mentally sigh but looking at everyone’s happy faces, he feels content.

If this makes his family happy, then he won't protest.

“Ryan, how is she, beta? She is looking nice, right Ruhaan ji?” Siya said showing a photo to him then turn to her husband.

“No..di, I like her. She seems innocent and look perfect for our Ryan,” Suddenly Kritika show her another picture. Siya look at photograph and nodded with smile.

“What say, Ryan?” Kritika asked.

“I don't know. You guys see and then let me know,” he said and lean to Pallavi who began caress his head lovingly.

“Bhai, you know na you are the one who will be marrying then why mumma and badi ma choose your wife,” this time Kris said indirectly taunting his brother.

“Yes, my Kris is right. He is more intelligent than you,” Siya said ruffling Kris’s hair to which he grin proudly and hugged her.

Ryan glare at him but Kris grin and said,

“Aww, my sweet lovely badi ma…” Siya chuckle softly and hug him from side.

“I think someone is burning in jealousy, badi ma,”

Ryan playfully rolls his eyes and hugs Pallavi and closes his eyes. Everyone chuckles at their little banter before again getting busy in selecting the bride of Ryan.

“Finally, I found you,” A voice said and smiled widely tracing the image of a small boy and a little girl.

“I can't believe that I finally saw you in front of my eyes,” a teardrop fell on the picture.

“May I come in?”

A voice said, making Aaruhi look up from a file. For a second her breath stopped and she felt her heart skip a beat.

Ryan waits for her reply but he frowns when she keeps staring at him.

He clears his throat, making her startle and blink her eyes as she comes out of her dreamland.

She felt her face burning in embarrassment.

“Please come na…” she said, giving him a gentle smile but from inside she was feeling nervous. It always happen with her in his presence.

He walked inside her office and sat on the chair in front of her desk.

“Sorry, I get a little late,” she shake her head and said,

“No worry…”

After that they talk about the problem Ryan is facing regarding his company.

“I see…I will look into the matter. Don't worry, ..” she said, reading the legal papers.

“Give me a few days…” she said looking at him.

“Sure, take your time…” he said.

“Okay then I will let you know after investigating the case then we will see what we have to do,,” Ryan nodded in understanding as she said this.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door.

“Come in,” after Aaruhi’s permission, the door opens and her secretary comes.

“Sorry for the disturbance but ma'am, you ask me to remind you about Neema’s case. You have to leave for her village today,” Aaruhi hissed as she totally forget about it.

“Thank you so much for reminding me, Yukti. I will be leaving in a while,” her secretary smiled and nodded before she went away.

“I think I got you late,” Aaruhi turned to Ryan, hearing him.

“No, It's not your fault. I am being forgetful nowadays,” she said.

“I think I should take my leave,” Ryan said and stood. Aaruhi also stood up.

“I should also leave. I am coming till parking,” She said and took her bag and coat.

Ryan waits for her near the door and opens it as she comes near. She smiles and thanks him.

They walk together and get on the lift.

There is silence in the lift. Aaruhi looks at him secretly as he is doing something on his phone.

She admires his side profile and smiles before turning her gaze in the front.

“Stop being a creep, stupid Aaru,” she mentally scolded herself.

They reached the parking lot. Ryan turn to her as they stop near her car,

“Okay then…bye,” he said.

Aaruhi smile and nodded,

“See you…” saying she opened the car door and sat inside.

Ryan also walks to his car.

Aaruhi started her car but suddenly it stopped with a jerk. She frowned and again started it but it didn't start. She tried a few times before letting out a huff when it didn't start.

Suddenly she saw a car stop beside her and she turn to find Ryan looking at her and asked her,

“What happened?”

“My car has got some issue, I guess,” she said with a sigh.

“Let me drop you…”

“No, it's okay. Don't worry, I will take public transport…” Ryan gave her a hard look.

Aaruhi felt her heart stop looking at his face. He is looking so hot while giving her a stern look.

“Come fast, Aaruhi,” he said to which Aaruhi finally came out of her car and sat inside his car after locking her car.

“You are unnecessarily taking trouble..”

“We are family, Aaruhi. And it is not troubling me at all,” he said looking at her face, making her inside filled with warmth.

“Thanks..” she whispered softly, making Ryan sigh at her.

“There is no need to thank me,” he said as he started the car.

Aaruhi smiles and turns to look outside the window. She is feeling butterflies in her tummy for some reason. She can feel his cologne all around her and sigh softly taking his soothing fragrance.

___________________________________

Thank you so much for reading.

Hope you all like it.

Sorry for updating late, guys.

Actually there is wedding in my family at the end of this month so I am quite busy in shopping and other stuff. As it is first wedding in my family in my generation so I am being too excited. And due to so much excitement I unable to think and write the next chapter. But I am trying, guys.

Also I don't think I will be able to update soon. Hope you guys understand and have some patience.

And if possible I will try to give another update if I able to write next chapter.

And Dont forget to VOTE n COMMENT in this chapter.

Till then

Take care

Bye bye

Lots of love💜💜