Chapter-5

Shraddha Kumar 

I was going home and thinking about what happened today in my life.  

Flashback  

In the morning, I was late due to Divya. I had dropped her near the entrance of the café and went to the parking lot to park my Scooty. After parking it in its place, I entered the café. Suddenly I bumped into some wall and it caught me before I fell. But then from when the entrance started having the wall. I was . Then I looked properly that it was someone's hard body which collided with me. I looked up in the eyes of the owner of that hard rock chest. He was my crush, Aaron Malhotra. I was just mesmerized seeing his chocolate orbs so closely. The one whom I have seen from far, today I’m seeing him from so close that I’m feeling his hot breath on my face. I can smell his musky honeydew cologne. I was staring at him while he helped me to stand properly. 

Suddenly he hissed in pain. I was confused so I looked down to see that he was inspecting his hand and his coffee cup was on the floor. Oh my god!!! Because of me, his coffee spilt on his hand as well on his shirt also.  

“I’m sorry sir,” I said to him while taking his hand in my hand and brought him to near an empty table. I made him sit on it.  

“It’s ok. No problem” he said. 

“No, sir. Please let me do first aid on it.” I said to him. 

“Pooja, bring the first aid immediately,” I told my employee. She brought the first aid. I told her to bring his coffee whichever he ordered when he came. She nodded in yes and went to Kitchen. 

I started cleaning his hand with tissue papers. I also cleaned his shirt. Being so close to him was making me nervous. I started to rub ice on his hand slowly and smoothly. being is so close to him my heartbeats were racing.  His presence was only making me feel like this. I don’t know why I can’t look into his eyes. His eyes give Goosebumps all over my body.  

“Sir, I’m very much sorry for my behaviour. Please forgive me.” I apologized to him. 

“It was my fault. I was looking at my cell phone and walking out. I should have looked out. I’m sorry” He said while looking at me. I applied the anti burning cream on his hand. All the time I was feeling a gaze on me so I looked up. And there those chocolate brown orbs were intently gazing at me. Blood rose in my cheeks. I blushed looking downwards.

  “It’s done Sir,” I said to him while standing up.  

“Ma’am, here it is,” Pooja said to me while giving me a freshly brewed coffee cup she brought.  

“Sir, it’s your coffee, my apologies for the mishap,” I said to him, giving the coffee cup to him. 

“There was no need for it but then if you are saying that it is your apology I accept it. You are forgiven.” He said accepting the coffee and smiled. His smile is so beautiful. His pink lips look soft and kissable. 

Whenever he smiles, those two dimples form on his cheeks are so attractive. It makes him look cute.  He bade a bye and went towards the entrance of the café.  Before getting into his car he glanced at me. I don't know why my heart started beating fast when our eyes met for a second.  

“Shraddha… Shraddha…” I came out of my dreamland by Divya’s voice. She folded her hands and looked at me, raising her one eyebrow. This looks means she wants to know something. Oh god, what should I do now?  I will avoid her. Yes, this will be good.  

“I have some work over there so I’ll just go there,” I said to her, showing the library And started going in that direction. But she is smart like me. She stopped me before moving towards the library area.  

“Let’s go to our cabin” she ordered me and made me turn and pushed me slightly. I started walking toward our cabin. Once we reached there, she looked at me from top to bottom.  Her deep eyes were quizzing me like a scanner.  

“Spill the beans,” She said firmly. 

“About what?” I asked her. 

“So you don’t know what I’m asking?” she asked me, still looking intently. 

“N... no” I said, stammering a little.  

“So you don’t know any Aaron Malhotra?” She asked me. She is interrogating me like a CID officer. I sighed and explained to her the situation about what happened. She is listening quietly. After explaining I sat on the couch and started drinking water. 

“So you don’t have a crush on Aaron? You don’t like him?” She asked me. I choked on the water and started coughing. She came to me and rubbed my back. 

“We never hide anything from each other. We are the secret keepers of each other but you hide such an important detail related to your life from me. I’m so hurt 

Shraddha.” Divya said. She is hurt. I hurt my best friend. Tears formed in my eyes. 

“Divi, it’s not like that. I never had any intentions of hurting you. And it was a crush only. I thought with time it will pass away but…” I said to her. 

“But it increased and became like.” She continued. I hummed in response.  

“You are not angry at me?” I asked her. She smiled. She gave a mischievous smile and started walking backwards.  

“I was never angry at you. I knew it from the time you started collecting his pictures and watching his videos, attending his Dance shows etc. I knew that you have a crush on him but didn’t know that you like him.” She said. I was shocked by listening to her.  I started to run behind her. In-office we were running from here to there. Finally, she said sorry to me and we both had a truce.   

Today was very eventful. I met my Celebrity crush. It was one hell of the day which I’ll never forget. In the afternoon we went to the music studio and after that karate classes. 

Flashback Ends 

Night-time, Dining room 

We all were having our dinner. Papa cleared his throat. We looked at him. We knew he wanted to tell us something. Mom was looking nervous. She knows what Papa wants to announce. I and Kartik looked at each other and asked through eyes whether we knew or not. We both nodded our head in no.  

“Shraddha, there is a proposal for you,” Papa said. I almost choked on the food in my mouth. Kartik patted my back and passed me the glass of water. After drinking water and relaxing for a minute I said my view. 

“I don’t want to get married now Papa,” I told him. 

“Listen to me, they are a good family. He is the son of your Mumma’s childhood best friend. He is a good person. He is an MBA graduate. He is handling his family business. He is the CEO of the Industries.” Papa said. 

“You can tell us about your decision tomorrow. Take your time. Think and choose. We just want you to be happy. We are not forcing you to marry. The proposal is very good and we both liked the boy and his family. Tell us about your decision tomorrow morning.” Mom said to me. 

I was on the balcony of my bedroom. I looked at the stars and moon in the sky. They always shine for others. I was thinking about what Mumma said to me. I know whatever my parents will decide will be the best for my life. I never loved anyone in my life. I always wanted to give my all love to my husband. The family is good and also it is Mumma’s childhood friend’s son. I trust my parents' choice. One day or another day I have to marry. But will he understand me? Will, he let me continue my passion? I have to tell him about my passion. I’m ready to marry him. But before that, I have something to tell Papa.  

I went towards Papa’s study. It’s 10 in the night and at this time Papa will be in the study room only.  I silently opened the door and looked for Papa. He was on a recliner chair and lost in thoughts. He is looking sad also. Should I talk to him now or later? I slowly closed the door. He is very much tensed about something. I don’t want to give him stress. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Yeah, that is the best idea. So I went to my bedroom and slept. 

Girish Kumar 

I'm Girish Kumar. I’m the Founder of Kumar Technology. I'm a loving husband and a strict father to my children. I love my children the most. I behave very strictly to them but I'm not like that. I love my princess, my daughter Shraddha the most. She is the apple of my eyes. I may not show them but they know that I love them. Shraddha, she was papa’s princess. But then 2 years back we both drifted apart. Being her father didn’t support her passion, her dream of becoming Singer. When I told her No. the expressions on her face broke me completely. She had a belief that her Papa will support her to complete her dream but he was the one who broke her dreams. Heartbreaking expressions on her face I can never forget in my life. After that day we became strangers. I was her best friend. But my one decision destroyed everything between us both father-daughter. I decided on her best future. I never wanted my children to face what I have faced in my life. 

Flashback 

I always wanted to become a singer. I told my parents about my passion, about my singing.  They permitted me to pursue my dream. But at that time, we were not wealthy. I tried my level best to become successful in my profession. But they were not given the chance to prove myself. I was shattered with the taunts of the people of this society. I being the only son of my parents I also have to think about their life so I left my dream. I went to my parents and told them about my decision. Except singing, I was passionate towards Technology, Gadgets etc. I did my Graduation in Technology and started my own tech company. In the beginning, the business was progressing very slowly but I never lost my hope. After that, I got married to Gauri. She is a very humble person. She was always there in my good and bad situations. I’m happy that I 

got the right person in my life. After that, I got the most precious gift that is my princess Shraddha. Happiness entered in our life in the form of Shraddha. With time, Business started increasing. After 1 year Kartik was born. With the birth of him, our family got completed. 

Flashback ends 

I’m sitting on my recliner chair in my study and thinking about my princess. My daughter Shraddha-My Princess. She is just like me. I know she wanted to become a singer. I appreciate it but I don't want her to face the problems that I faced. I want to be happy. She wanted to create her own identity. She without my help started her café with Divya. She is the princess of my empire. But she won't take any single penny of my property. I know everything about her. But I pretend that I don't know anything about her and my naughty son. He is the heir to my company. He has a passion for gadgets and technology like me. He is also a good businessman. I love my family.  

My little girl is going to get married and I am going to miss her. I don’t want to send her away from here. But I can’t do anything. She has to go to her new home. I’ll miss my princess.............. 

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