Chapter 1

Mahima's POV

Oh god!! I was already very late. He was coming today and I was very excited. I brought his favourite cake from his favourite bakery, hoping he still liked it.

I wanted to reach home before time as he was coming after a long time. He had gone to do his MBA after completing his Engineering.

My heart was pounding, when I entered the home.

Home??

Yes, it has been my home since my parents died and since then, I have been living in this huge Mansion with his family. I didn't even realise when this house became my home.

I went in and saw the man I have been dying to see. He looked even more handsome now. His features were sharp enough to cut any fruit in half. His eyes were very dark brown just like molten chocolate.

I had developed some feelings for him since I heard uncle mentioning to aunty that he intended to get their elder son married to me. Even aunty liked me, so she nodded.

" Dad, my decision is final... I am in love with her and have already committed that I would marry her." He was saying. I heard him say that and my whole world crashed.

" But I want you to get married to..." Uncle was saying.

" I know what you want, but it's my life, I want to get married to Maysha. She is smart, sexy, elegant, stylish, modern and much more. I can't live my whole life with someone whom I don't even like. " He said. Tears were flowing from my eyes, I didn't want to hear all this but my feet were rooted to the floor.

" All that will not be enough to be a good life partner, son. " Uncle tried to make him understand.

" I know, what I want in my life partner. I want her to be compatible with me. Maysha has everything, I want in my would-be wife. We know each other for the last six months and I will not marry anyone else. " He was saying with his eyes sparkling with love.

" But what about my promise? " Uncle asked.

" Sorry dad, I can't sacrifice my life for your promise, you didn't ask me before giving that promise. So don't expect anything from me. I can't even tolerate her for more than five minutes. " He said.

" What is wrong with her?? " Uncle asked him. I wanted to know that too.

" Wrong question, dad!! Everything is wrong with her. I can make a long list of the things which are wrong with her. You tell me five good qualities in her. " He said and I felt like crying.

" She is a sweet-natured girl. Everyone loves her. " Uncle said.

" Tell one of those everyone to even date her for a month, I am sure every one of them will refuse. Have you ever seen her?? Do you think, she is good enough for me? " He was saying as if he was disgusted with me.

" Yes! I think she is best for you. " Uncle replied.

" Sorry, dad!! I don't share the same views. I would not even go on a single date with her. "

" Tell me what is wrong with her. " Uncle asked again.

" Ok... I want to get married to Maysha, she is such a beautiful girl... While the girl of your choice doesn't even look like a girl. She is not even presentable. " He said bluntly.

" Dhruv !! Enough! That was rude. " Uncle warned him.

" What happened, dad? You wanted to know, what is wrong with her... I have barely started and you have had enough? She would be the last girl in this universe, whom I can ever think of even dating. " He said.

" Outer beauty is not everything, it will fade one day and only the beauty of the soul matters the most. " Uncle tried to make him understand.

" Dad, I don't believe in all this... I want my partner to be very beautiful. Someone I look forward to meet after a day's work... Someone I desire and who would be able to take care of my every need. " He said.

" But you haven't even met her for the last few years. " Uncle was saying.

" And I would not like to meet her for many decades or even better if I don't have to meet her at all. " I could not take it anymore and ran away leaving the cake on the dining table.

I came to my room, shut the door and threw myself on the bed and cried out burying my face in the soft pillow.

He hated me so much, while I was having a crush on him?

There was a knock on the door, I didn't want to talk to anyone, especially Dheer.

He was Dhruv's younger brother and my friend. He has always been a good friend to me. He even guessed that I had a crush on his elder brother.

" Mahima!! Open the door. " He called me from outside.

" Go away! " I yelled back.

" Open the door! "

" No!! "

" I will break the door. " He said.

" What is your problem?? " I opened the door and asked him.

" My problem is that I can't see you sad. It doesn't suit you. " He said.

" I am fine! "

" I can see, you were crying. " He said.

" No!

"Don't lie! Your nose is red. " He said pointing towards my nose.

" I have a cold. "

" Then come, we will go and have ginger tea and hot pakoras." He said and dragged me out. Then he told the cook to make them for us.

******

We went out to the backyard. It had a beautiful sitting arrangement. The cook asked if we would have them in the living room as the uncle was having tea there, we both nodded.

Shall I also serve the cake you got ma'am? " Cook asked.

" You got his favourite cake for him?" Dheer asked and I just nodded. He told the cook to serve it too.

On our way to the living room, we came to know that Dhruv had brought his special guest to meet his family.

I halted and turned to go back to my room but Dheer pulled me to the living room.

There she was... The girl of his dreams. She was beautiful, elegant and sophisticated. I didn't even dare to look at Dhruv as I was still hurt because of what he said.

He introduced Dheer to her. Dheer just said a polite hello to her and he didn't even bother to introduce me to her.

It was not that I was dying to meet her, on the contrary, I didn't even want to be here right now. But I felt hurt that I wasted so many years thinking about him and he doesn't even want to look at me. I thought of going away but Dheer caught my hand again.

The cook served cake, pakoras, sandwiches, tea and coffee.

" Cut the cake, Bhai. It's your favourite... Isn't it? " Dheer said.

" Yes, thanks !" He said and cut the cake and tasted it.

His face lit up as soon as the cake hit his tastebuds.

" Mayesha, meet Mahima... She is my friend... In fact, she is family. " Dheer said. She smiled at me but it was absolutely fake.

" Hey Mayesha, try some pakoras? " Dheer said to her.

" No thanks! "

" Cake ?? It's my favourite. " Dhruv asked.

" No, thanks! You know, I don't eat all that. " She said looking at him.

" Don't tell me, you are on a strict diet," Dheer asked.

" Well, as a matter of fact, I am." She said.

" C'mon, a few pakoras or a piece of cake won't harm you," Dheer said.

" She doesn't want to try... You better give them to... your friend. She would not mind eating even a plateful of those. Mayesha doesn't even touch them because she is very conscious about her looks and health. But it seems that it doesn't matter to your friend, how she looks. " He said.

" Yes, it doesn't matter to her as she lives her life to the fullest. She knows how to enjoy her life and everyone around her loves her for that. She is a real woman not fake like some Barbie dolls." Dheer said and Dhruv glared at him and changed the topic.

" Anyway, thanks for the cake. It was a sweet gesture. " He said to Dheer with a smile.

" You should thank Mahima, she got it for you. " Dheer told him.

" Well, tell her not to waste her time and energy on me. I would never be impressed with her cheap tactics. I don't want anything to do with her... don't even want this cake now." He said and left the plate immediately.

" Dhruv !! Behave yourself!! " Uncle shouted at him.

" I need to call someone. Please excuse me. " I said and came out before Dheer or uncle could stop me.

******

It has been more than twenty days since Dhruv came back and got engaged last week with his lady love.

The preparation for their wedding was going on and I kept myself busy with my project. I didn't want to participate in anything as he didn't even want to see me.

Dheer tried to involve me but I told him that I don't want to be a part of all that.

I was not feeling bad now. In fact, my crush for him had jumped out of the window and vanished in thin air when I heard what he thought about me.

I was in a mall with my friends getting a few new dresses for the wedding functions. Uncle had provided me with a credit card of my own but I rarely used it. He gave me strict orders to get some nice dresses for myself, so I was here. Dheer had recommended me to come here.

I selected a few dresses and was going to the trial room when I saw a familiar face.

The lady love of my Ex crush.

I was in no mood to even go meet that fake woman, so I was going to avert my eyes when I was shocked to see something.

I closed my eyes and looked again and was stunned to see her in the arms of another man. He was holding her very possessively and kissed her. Who was he to her?

Though it was none of my business but I was curious to know about this beautiful, elegant and sophisticated woman who was getting married to the man, I have been dreaming about for years.

I went near her and tried to know and capture what she was doing and saying to that man.

It would be an understatement if I say that I was shocked when I heard what they were talking about.

What the hell??