For two straight weeks, Pari avoided Varun and kept herself fully immersed in business. Every time he called, her response was the same—she was either in a meeting or too exhausted after a long day and already asleep.
Meanwhile, Ishaan visited Rey’s arcade almost every day. He would bring her favorite cake and chocolates, quietly walking into her room. They didn’t talk much—just sat together in silence, as if reliving the simple days of childhood. Sometimes they had brief, general conversations about business. Often, they joined Ayaan for lunch, their exchanges subtle but meaningful.
Two days later, Pari was in her office when her phone lit up with Varun’s name. She ignored the call and continued working. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Pari said.
Her PA, Swathi, stepped inside. “Madam, your fiancé is here to meet you. You had said strictly no disturbances, so I thought I should check first. Shall I send him in?”
Pari smiled at her assistant’s thoughtfulness. Reyansh and Mithun had indeed chosen the perfect PA—talented, sharp, and reliable. Glancing at her phone, Pari noticed 25 missed calls and 15 unread messages from Varun.
“Seems like his full-time job is coaxing me into his trap,” she thought dryly. Aloud, she instructed Swathi to let him in after fifteen minutes.
Varun waited in the lounge, his eyes sweeping over the classy, royal interiors of the floor. From the live feed on her screen, Pari watched him and calmly sipped a juice from her mini-fridge.
Exactly fifteen minutes later, Varun knocked and entered. Pari pretended to be busy, stretching her arms as if she had just wrapped up a long call.
“I’m so sorry, Varun. I was on a call. Now, what’s up with this surprise visit?”
Varun chuckled at her words. “Just getting used to it. I might have to start visiting you at the office after marriage, right? Also its been more than two weeks I heard you properly and I was missing you a lot. Today I was passing by and thought of meeting you. I even brought your favorite—honey cake.”
He placed the box on the table. Pari immediately picked it up with a smile, opening it to see the cake inside.
“Wow, thank you, Mr. Varun. I love the cake—and the surprise.”
Varun fiddled idly with the paperweight on her desk, his eyes wandering around the room, pretending to be casual.
“I informed Meghna that she’ll have to try on her own for the job. It’s not our business anymore. She’ll meet Ishaan with his appointment,” Varun said. Pari smirked inwardly, rolling her eyes. As if he would meet her, she thought.
“You seem tired, Pari. and is everything ok ? I really miss you “
She nodded and propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin against her fingers.
“Business needed my time and I’ve also been thinking, Varun. How about we meet for dinner tonight? I’ll let you know my decision then. Tonight—it’s my treat,” Pari said.
Varun’s face lit up instantly, excitement gleaming in his eyes. “Of course, Pari! I’d be happy to spend time with you. Just text me the time and I’ll come pick you up.”
Pari shook her head gently. “Tonight is my treat, so I’ll come pick you up. I know you’ll be busy, so I’ll meet you at your office.”
Varun pumped his fist in the air in sheer delight. Pari smiled faintly, watching his excitement.
Once Varun left the room, Pari picked up the box of cake and dropped it straight into the trash can.
“I will see the real you today,” she muttered under her breath.
That evening, she arrived home and slipped into a simple salwar. Her eyes fell on the ring on the vanity table and slid it into her finger.
“I’ll get rid of you forever once I’m back,” she whispered before heading out.
She drove to Varun’s office and gave him a call. He came rushing down and slid into the passenger seat, his face lit with excitement.
“I’m so excited for tonight, Pari. I think we should go on more dinner dates. I see a difference in you—I mean, a good and better change,” Varun said eagerly.
Pari smirked. He’ll take back his words after tonight, she thought.
Varun kept wondering where she would be taking him for dinner, but his curiosity turned into shock when she pulled up at the entrance of his own hotel. He stared at her in disbelief, while Pari arched her brows playfully.
“You had our first date at Ishaan’s hotel, but back then I was naïve. Now I know you had your own intentions behind that move. So tonight, I’ve brought you to yours,” Pari thought silently as she stepped out of the car.
“Just pretend you’re only a customer today. Let me make it special for you,” she said aloud.
Before the staff could greet him formally, Pari walked ahead and informed the receptionist that her PA, Swathi, had reserved the ballroom for the night.
Varun froze in surprise. She reserved the entire ballroom for a dinner date? He followed her inside, and when the doors opened, he was left gobsmacked. The ballroom glittered with elegant decorations, warm lighting, and a long dining table laid out in perfection.
Pari took her seat opposite him. The waiter, looking slightly nervous, served water, wine, and juice.
Varun picked wine, while Pari lifted her glass of juice.
“So, what is it you wanted to discuss?” Varun asked, his curiosity piqued, as the waiters began serving starters.
Pari set her glass down. ” Wow, here I thought you would be happy to spend time with me. But its ok, lets have the discussion over. I’ve been thinking… I can’t seem to focus on my personal life with the weight of this huge empire on my shoulders. And I realized something when you spoke to me at the airport—you’re right. Our personal life will suffer if I continue as Rey’s business partner. So, I’ve decided to step back. I don’t want the partnership anymore. Ayaan can manage on his own, and if needed, Adhvika or even Ishaan can support him. I want to focus on us, on our life together.”
Varun felt as if a storm had struck him. His face betrayed emotions he could no longer conceal. Pari lifted her glass of water, hiding her smirk behind its rim.
“Pari???” he stammered.
She raised her brows in feigned confusion. “Did I say something wrong, Varun? I just think it’s time we focused on our relationship rather than Rey’s business.”
Her mobile pinged with a notification and she saw it was from Ishaan. She read the message and then turned her attention back to Varun who was still in shock.
” You shouldn’t do this Pari. Your father is a part of the business and you are his only daughter. You have complete rights over the business empire and both your father and Rey uncle wouldn’t like the idea ” Varun gulped some water and leaned back in his seat and Pari could see the way he was biting his cheek to hide his frustration.
” My papa and uncle would never force me to do anything that I don’t wish for. So lets not worry about them. I will meet Rey uncle tomorrow and inform him about my decision “
Varun looked panicked and screamed ” No “
” No Pari, you don’t have to give up just because of me. I can understand you and I want to be the reason behind your success. You take over as the partner and may be after marriage if you still don’t feel to continue, I can help you or you can give me your rights to work with Ayaan in your place ” Varun suggested and Pari smiled finally knowing his real intentions. Rey’s business.
” I think you are right Varun. You always help me and guide me in the right path. What would I do without you. I will do as you say, now lets have dinner but I need to use the washroom. I will be back real quick “
Varun smiled at her informed her the way to the washroom. Pari entered the washroom and stood before the mirror until her mobile pinged with another notification. She walked out and she was pulled to a nearby corner and before she could scream, a strong palm shut her mouth. Pari saw the person wearing mask and she could identify those magnetic orbs.
Ishaan looked into her eyes. They were standing close, extremely close. He lowered his mask and his warm breathe fanned her cheek.
” You came ? ” Pari whispered and Ishaan nodded his head.
” Promised you, I wouldn’t leave you alone “
Pari’s heart skipped a beat and they stood lost in each other. Ishaan looked into her eyes. Her eyes were calm but trying to look into him and he was more than ready to show his real self, his love but that could wait so he cleared his throat breaking her trance.
He looked at his mobile and smiled at Pari.
” Fifth floor, Room no. 555 is Varun’s room. Meghna has just entered the room to meet him tonight. Probably he would not return with you since he has plans with her. He rarely go to home, they spend their time in the room here every night “
Ishaan showed the footage of Meghna entered the room and a old footage of Varun and Meghna entering the room together. Pari bobbed her head and Ishaan curved her lips with his thumb and forefinger.
” You look beautiful Pari but you look the best when you smile. Go back now and I will wait for you 300 meters away this hotel “
Pari walked past him and Ishaan wore the mask and stood leaning on the wall watching her. Pari looked over her shoulder and saw him still looking at her. With each step her heart ached as if she was leaving him forever and wanted to run back to him but she stopped herself. She couldn’t do that after what she had done in his life, he didn’t deserve anything that she put him through and now she was paying the price.
Pari entered the ball room and saw Varun on call. She clearly heard him say Meghna and silently sat in her seat. On seeing her Varun immediately cut the call.
” Sorry, it was my PA, something urgent came up at office ” Varun smiled placing his mobile screen down.
” Its ok, I can understand business and the pressure so let me drop you back at office. I can drive home later ” Pari offered but Varun denied her shaking his head.
” You must be tired so I don’t want to trouble you. I have called him here to meet me and he will drive my car from office so no worries ” Varun lied smoothly and Pari rose to her feet ignoring the dinner which they haven’t started yet. Varun held her hand from leaving.
” Pari, its ok, we have time until he would be here so lets have dinner. You have arranged everything specially for me so I don’t want to ruin it. Lets have dinner ” Varun insisted but just then Pari’s mobile started ringing and she saw it was from Swathi. She answered it and cut the call in few seconds.
” I m sorry but now its my turn and I have to leave. Swathi is waiting for me but we shall meet some other day. Good night, don’t exhaust yourself ” Pari mocked him with a smile but Varun couldn’t decipher the meaning and walked her out. He opened the door for her and Pari drove away gritting her teeth.
Ishaan was waiting for her leaning on his car. Once she parked he opened the door and she got down.
” My driver will drive your car home. Come with me “
Pari trusted him and followed him to his car. He opened the door for her before he got in the driver seat.
” Lets have dinner first. I m sure you must be hungry after a long day ” he said and Pari looked at him shocked.
” You knew, I wouldn’t have dinner with him ? “
Ishaan hummed in response with a smile.
” You would never hate people just like that Pari, and if you do, you hate them with every bone in your body. Having food with them is far, You wouldn’t even stay around them ” Ishaan said and got in the car behind the wheels.
Pari simply nodded her head and looked ahead on the road while Ishaan focused on driving but he was waiting for her to make the first move to start any more conversation.
” Aren’t you surprised that I m following your words without questioning and even I m being with you.. I mean we have never mean alone in each other’s company in a very long time. ” Pari questioned him and Ishaan stopped the car and turned his attention to her.
” If you think something has changed in you or me, then probably you are wrong Pari. We have always been like this, trusting each other but you got carried away somewhere in the middle. Ofcourse I won’t blame you completely. I played a part in it and may be someone played in our life ” Ishaan replied and Pari looked at him with a frown.
” What do you mean by someone played us ? ” Pari questioned him with a serious look.
” Tell me Pari, Do you trust me now ? Would you believe anything I say ? Would you look at me like the way you used to when I was Ishu to you ? “
Pari thought for a while and Ishaan’s heart thudded against his rib cage anticipating her answer. Deep down he knew the answer but he prayed she would finally agree that she trusted him.
The few seconds of silence killed the air like a knife.
” Pari “
Ishaan whispered her name and looked into her eyes.
************************
A/N:
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