Two Weeks Prior To The Wedding:

Nishaant walked into her room using the doorway to find her engrossed typing something on her laptop. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun with loose strands grazing the side of her face. It was an effortlessly beautiful sight.

"What's up?" He asked leaning against the wall that her desk was against.

"You used the door?" She spoke looking up, evidently surprised.

"Yeah." He shrugged.

Gauravi smiled, off late he was very boldly using the door instead of the balcony to enter her room. Of course, exceptions being post dinner time.

"Just sending in a few applications!" She answered his question, putting her attention back on her screen.

"What applications?"

Gauravi decided to have some fun. "Ahh, Masters. I shortlisted a few foreign Universities."

Colour drained from Nishaant's face. She was planning to pursue Masters? She didn't even tell him about it, not until now!

"Seriously! You didn't think it was necessary to tell me about it?" He voiced his irritation.

"Nishaant, I am just applying now. So chill." Gauravi spoke, carefully observing his reaction.

"What if you make it? You'll... we are getting married in two weeks. You will just leave?" He asked hurt. Wasn't he important in her life?

Gauravi looked into his eyes. He was irritated, troubled and hurt.

"I was kidding, Nishaant!" Gauravi got up from her chair standing before him. She held his hand in hers and raised it to her lips kissing it. "I am not going anywhere. I know we are getting married in two weeks. I just thought of annoying you a but... I didn't want to hurt you.. " she spoke softly.

Nishaant stood back, leaning against the wall sighing. "Right." He said looking away.

"Nishaant, you really matter to me. And of course, I am going to discuss things with you before taking such a huge decision."

He turned his head to look at her, "that sounds nice." He spoke softly.

Gauravi smiled, "as for leaving you, I am not a dimwit like your ex. Although, I am glad she did leave you. She left the best man alive on earth, all for me." Gauravi grinned stepping closer to him, tilting her head back to look at him.

Nishaant smiled, looking at her while her hands gently rested on his t-shirt.

His smile wavered as a thought crossed his mind. He slowly wrapped his arms around her wrist. "Do you think... that I am too much of everything?"

Gauravi saw the doubts in his eyes. She gently caressed his chest.

"The dimwit was right about that. You are too much of everything. But I like that about you. Love it, in fact. You're just unapologetically yourself. If you take up something, you take it up fully. If you love, you leave no room for doubt. You're intense in everything you do. I think that's wonderful."

Nishaant's lips slowly curved up, and he gently placed his hand on her cheek. "You make me sound like some wonderful prince charming."

"You are definitely one in my eyes." Gauravi flirted smoothly, grinning ear to ear.

"You know, after the break up... I was pissed. I mean I did everything I could for her, to be the best boyfriend. She was a really nice girl. I admired her a lot. But it was just so frustrating when she didn't mirror the feelings. It was actually quite a set back. I thought maybe something was wrong with me. Until... I met you. I loved how your eyes mirrored what I felt. There is this connection between us. I like that... love that. "He spoke gently caressing her cheek.

"I am just jealous of all the time and effort you spent on her." Gauravi said, looking right into his eyes.

Nishaant stared silently for a few seconds before his chuckles filled the silence  between them. "Trust me, I am going to spend a lot more on you."

"You already are, aren't you, Mr.Lambu?"

"Am I?" He asked, flirting. His hands moving to her waist.

Gauravi grinned tilting her face upward as he inched his down.

"Dhruv, you wait till I tell Nishaant Bhaiya about this." Came Priya's loud voice from the passageway. Gauravi quickly backed off moving towards her chair standing at a good three feet distance from Nishaant. He sighed looking at her. She passed him an adorable smile.

"Bhaiya?" Priya asked peeping inside form the open door. "What are you doing in Gauravi Di, I mean Bhabhi's room?"

Trying to kiss her. "Just came to discuss about invitations. What brings you here?" Nishaant spoke in composed manner.

"Di, I mean Bhabhi, don't you think Bhaiya is finding ways to talk to you alone?" Priya teased, putting her arm around Gauravi's shoulders.

"Priya, shut up. And, Gauravi... I needed to know how many invitation cards do you need for your friends." Nishaant spoke looking at Gauravi, as she blushed.

"Tell him quickly, let's not waste his precious time." Priya whispered loud enough for Nishaant to hear. He gave her a warning look with narrowed eyes.

"Umm, four, should be enough."

"Cool, I will set aside five." Saying that he walked out of her room.

Priya giggled turning to Gauravi, "I am super happy that you're a part of the family now." She kissed her cheek.

Gauravi smiled, "Me too!" She kissed Priya on the cheek.

"We are so going to have a blast!" Priya remarked. "Oh, shoot, I had to talk to Bhaiya!" She pressed her palm against her forehead. "See you later Bhabhs!" She spoke walking out.

Gauravi smiled getting back to what she had been doing when Nishaant interrupted. Half an hour later, Nishaant walked in again. "God, she's so annoying at times!"

"Priya?" Gauravi asked grinning.

"Yeah. That's the third time she spoilt our moment. And why the fuck was she kissing you on the cheek? And you kissing her back?"

Gauravi rolled her eyes.  "She's sweet and kind. Not annoying at all."

Nishaant smiled, "shut up!"

"I was just wondering... how am I going to tell my friends that I am marrying you."

"Just give them the card and let them read the name." He suggested shrugging.

"It's weird, you're my boss."

"Well, technically Natasha is your manager."

"Are you going to tell, I mean invite her too."

"Duh. She's my friend."

"Yeah, very good friend." Gauravi muttered with distaste.

"She's married, Gauravi. Not a person you should be jealous of."

"So, what? You two still seem pretty close."

"I never complain about Tushaar." He argued.

Gauravi narrowed her eyes at him standing up. "Tushaar is just a good friend. I love you, you know that!" Gauravi spoke irritated.

"Exactly. Natasha is just a good friend whose married to the person she loves unlike Tushaar who is single and never leaves a chance to flirt with you. And...I love you, you know." He folded his hands smirking.

"Fine!" Gauravi breathed out. "Let's mutually respect each other's friends. Just don't eat from Natasha's plate. I don't like it." Gauravi spoke looking aside.

"How do you know I eat from Natasha's plate?" He asked surprised.

"I have eyes. That see pretty well."

"Wow, so you keep a watch on me?"

"Like you don't" Gauravi muttered meeting his eyes with challenge.

He smiled, "you're so cute. And FYI, I hate tomatoes, Natasha loves them. She hates onions, I love them. So we usually trade."

Gauravi made a face. "Fine. Go eat from her plate."

"I won't if you don't like it. Provided, you stop letting Tushaar touch you. Even if that's just a hand on the shoulder."

"Ugh, it's a friendly touch. Very platonic." Gauravi argued.

"I don't like any man touching you.." Nishaant shrugged.

"Nishaant.."

"Gudi.."

"You know what... I am not going to ever bring this up again."

"Suit yourself darling!"

"Let me work.." she spoke sitting on her chair.

"What applications are you ..." he asked peeking at her screen, placing one hand on her chair and the other on the table. "You're applying for jobs?" He asked looking at her.

"Yeah, a few job roles are open.so.." Gauravi muttered. Nishaant noticed the list of firms lying beside he laptop.

"What's that list? Looks like Shiv's handwriting!"

"Yeah, umm, Bhaiya suggested me to apply for them."

"But you... what about VK's design team offer?" Nishaant asked observing her face.

Her eyes looked up at him. "I rejected it." She passed him a small smile.

"You rejected your dream job." He repeated. She nodded in affirmation. "Because of me?"

Gauravi licked her lips that had gone dry before saying, "I wouldn't want anything in my life at the cost of making you unhappy. Besides, I know you care for me. And I trust you."

Nishaant couldn't look away. Her words were simple but they held so much meaning and emotion. He knew Gauravi had her own battles and insecurities. But, the fact that she was putting his happiness at priority melted hsi heart. He blinked feeling tears in his eyes.

"Nishaant, you're crying?" Gauravi exclaimed surprised.

"No.. idiot. What would I cry? I am just happy that you considered my opinion." He spoke hugging her blinking furiously to do away with his tears.

Gauravi smiled rubbing his back. "You're such a baby!"

Nishaant smiled not pulling away. "I am not." He finally pulled away when that heavy emotion had evaporated.

Gauravi smiled at him. "Is my baby okay?"

"Shut up, Gudi. Anyways I am hungry, bye. See you at the dining table."

"Okay baby!" She spoke aloud before he left her room. "Such a sweetheart!" She muttered to herself.

* * *

"Okay let me rephrase it.. " Tushaar spoke still astounded. "You are arranged to marry Nishaant Oberoi like our manager's supervisor! So, the mystery man we teased you was him..!"

"And... you've been staying with the Oberois all the while!" Viddhi added.

Gauravi nodded trying to keep the thin lipped smile on her face. These people couldn't stop exaggerating the facts she had revealed to them.

"And you didn't tell us all this while!" Viddhi added annoyed.

"I could not. It was weird. I didn't expect that Oberois would acquire Archs and Style and that Nishaant would be my manager's boss. And..that..eventually our grandmothers would fix our marriage."

"Oh boy! You're happy but..?" Tushaar spoke.

Gauravi smiled and shrugged.

Tushaar blinked. "I still can't picture you and him together!"

Gauravi gulped, as she had pictures of them doing almost everything together.

"Thank God, that you at least are inviting us to your wedding!" Viddhi exclaimed still very upset that her best friend had hidden so much from them.

"Viddhi, I am sorry. It's just that I didn't want to complicate stuff." Gauravi spoke placing her hand on Viddhi's.

"You're forgiven, only because I have always wanted to see a proper royal wedding. Jeez Gauravi...you're going to get married! I have to start shopping. Thank, God, that I have a few new dresses that I got stitched for my cousin's wedding."

Gauravi grinned.

"And...you need to get us leaves to attend your wedding!" Tushaar muttered sipping his juice. Gauravi grinned, and turned to Viddhi. "Should I invite Pranav?"

Viddhi almost choked at that. "Why would you tell him?"

"I thought you might anyway." Gauravi spoke staring into her best friends eyes. 

"Why would I?" Viddhi argued.

"Cause, your in love with him!" Tushaar exclaimed.

"Hey, nonsense, I am not. I just spend time with him because of work."

"Okay so she's in the denial phase!" Gauravi teased.

"Gauravi, have you really lost it? There is nothing!"

"So do I stand a chance?" Tushaar asked leaning forward on the table towards Viddhi.

"Shut.Up." Viddhi exclaimed with distaste.

"Oh my God, do you like me so much?" Tushaar teased.

"Tushaar, stop, otherwise this strawberry shake is going to be all over you!"

"Damn, strawberries!"

"Gauravi, ask this man to shut up." Viddhi exclaimed.

"Tushaar shut up!" Gauravi giggled.

"You girls always team up against me. Not fair."

"Hang out with Chirag! Bye!" Viddhi muttered.

"Are you telling him, by the way?" Tushaar spoke sobering up.

"I think it's better to. Although, I don't think he will attend. But I will give him an invitation. Don't want him to feel left out.

"What about Natasha?" Tushaar pouted.

Gauravi giggled, "Nishaant is inviting her and her husband."

"Another closed door." Tushaar muttered pretending to stab his heart. "Do you have any cousins Gauravi?"

"None that would be interested in you!" Viddhi replied for Gauravi, while Gauravi was busy checking her phone.

"Is it a text from Nishaant?" Tushaar asked trying to peep but Gauravi turned the screen away.

"Oh, that blush says it all!" Viddhi teased while Gauravi glared at her.

"I need to rush, you, my dear, " she pointed at Viddhi, "have fun with him!" She pointed to Tushaar and quickly took her leave. While a grinning Tushaar winked at Viddhi.

* * * ♡ * * *

Epilogue next.

-Anami!♡