Past

Aditya's POV

"Adi..!" Pooja squealed as I picked her up and twirled her around.

Arjun who was sitting on my study desk rolled his eyes. I was brainstorming ideas about birthday surprises and Arjun wasn't helping at all. She has just arrived here.

"Many many returns of the day Pooja..!" I wished her as I placed her back on the ground.

"Thank you so much!" She pecked my cheek.

It was her birthday and as much as I wanted to surprise her I couldn't. I had no idea on my mind.

"My birthday present?" She asked sweetly.

"There she goes..." Arjun muttered. I glared at him.

"Adi... It's okay..." She said.

Look, how sweet she is. I don't understand why mumma and Arjun don't like her. Okay, I can understand Arjun. Things didn't turn out between Arjun and Pooja as they should have been. Misunderstandings and misunderstandings. Well, but what about Mumma? I don't understand her views about Pooja.

"Whatever you ask? Ask me anything!" Her eyes twinkled.

"Sure?" She asked. I nodded.

"You are not going to ask for his life. Right?" Arjun spoke. I closed my eyes in exaggeration.

"Arjun, didn't I ask you to take out the money from the bank?" I reminded him.

I know I am being rude, but he too is being rude. He made a face, understanding that I am asking him to leave. Sorry bro!

He left without another word and I turned to Pooja.

"Hmm... Now tell me what were you saying?" I asked her.

"My birthday present?" She asked circling her arms around my neck.

"Whatever you want..."

"You know what I will ask you..." I closed my eyes tiredly and removed her arms from my neck.

I just don't understand what problem she have with me starting up my own business.

"Pooja... Ask me anything other than that... I am not giving up on my plans..." I stated.

"Why are you so hell bent on starting a fresh? You have a built-in empire with you. Then why?"

"Pooja, I explained it to you before also. It will boost my confidence, give me experience and then I will merge my and dad's company. So it will be easy to expand our business." She shook her head.

"Adi... You aren't understanding..." I cupped her face making her look at me.

"Pooja... I promised you that I will marry you after a year. I won't back out. Just give me a year sweetheart."

She closed her eyes in defeat. I know she is still not convinced. But I am not gonna ditch her.

"Acha... Leave all this. What do you want for your birthday gift?"

"Nothing Adi... I will talk to you later." She spoke and picking up her hand bag, she left.

Damn! I made her angry on her birthday. I should plan something.

I dialled Arjun's number.

"She left?" He asked as soon as he picked the call.

"Ha. Woh-" He hung up the call without listening to me.

I am having very very bad day. God!

I rubbed my face with my hands tiredly.

"Adi... Arjun has come. He is calling you downstairs." Mumma informed me and left.

I know, she is again behaving like this because of Pooja. She don't like her. But why is Arjun calling me down. He should have came up na. That drama queen!

"Arjun!" I called him while climbing down the stairs hurriedly.

"There you go," He gestured towards the bag, which probably had the money of loan I took from bank.

"I am leaving..."

"Aree... Arjun, why don't you have lunch here?" Mumma asked, understanding that he is angry with me.

"No aunty. Some people don't want me here." He spoke and turned to leave.

Mumma glared at me. I moved forward to stop him.

"Bhai! Ruk.." I held his shoulder. He glared at me.

"I am sorry. Seriously sorry."

"This is not done Aditya. So not done." I made a puppy face and he shook his head.

"Why am I even your friend?" He spoke and I knew he gave up on being angry on me.

Mumma smiled seeing our bond and I dragged him up.

"Mein nhi...."

"Arjun sorry yaar!"

"You always do that!!"

"Because you are always rude with her."

"I don't like her!! I helped her from getting failed and she couldn't even lie for me. I would have got rusticated! She is selfish!" Arjun let out all his anger and sat on my bed.

"Yet you tolerate her?"

"Because of you! You idiot!" I nodded.

"I am again telling you Adi, she is not good for you. Even aunty doesn't like her. Give a second thought about this marriage thing." He said.

"I know you guys have got misunderstandings but I am sure they will get resolved with time."

He shook his head with a look that nothing can happen to me.

"Accha! All formalities are completed?" I asked him. He nodded.

"I am going to drop Dad and Mumma to airport."

"Fine... Till then I will speak to the investors."
He spoke and I agreed.

I don't know how the day passed away. I dropped my parents at airport. I am sending them on a vacation. They deserve it. Then I went to do some work related to my start up. But all the time, my mind was thinking how to celebrate her birthday.

I reached home tired. It was half past five. I went to my room and before I could lie down on bed for a nap, Arjun called me. We were in Dad's study working when door bell rang.
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Present

Aditya's POV

"What happened Aditya? Who was on door?" Zoya asked curiously, when I stopped myself from going further.

It's late. I should drop her home on time. I was the one who asked her to come with me at this time.

I looked at her and smiled at her innocent face.

"It's late Zoya..." She made a face.

"Okay, long story short," She gave an unconvinced look but nodded.

"So, the police came saying that the flat I have submitted as collateral isn't mine. It's real owner did a case on me. I was arrested." She gasped.

"What?" I nodded.

"I would have got a bail but it was Saturday. I still have got the bail but my parents would have got to know then. I didn't want to inform them about all this fiasco. Hence, I waited."

"But Arjun was with me all the time. It was him who bought me out of the lock up, the first thing in Monday morning."

"Is the case still going on?" I nodded.

"The real owner of the property dropped it, but government didn't."

"And Pooja?"

How can I tell that it all happened because of her only!

"She left me..." I whispered, looking up in the sky.

I didn't look at her because I didn't want to see the sympathetic expressions on her face.

She didn't say anything. Silence took the best of me and I glanced at her. She was fuming in anger. Wow! She looks like she would eat someone alive.

"Leave it Aditya! She is not worth it!" I nodded.

Yeah! She isn't. Cheater!

"Was it all?" She asked. I nodded.

"Now it will be easy to treat you..." She mumbled to herself gleefully.

"You are treating me Dr. Psycho?" I asked, amused.

"Haww... What did you call me?"

"Dr. Psycho..." I replied and shrugged.

"You can't call me that!"

"Why? Aren't you a psychiatrist?"

"I am, but-"

"Then it is the best nickname I could give." She whined.

"I don't like it!" She spoke like a angry child and crossed her arms at her chest. I stifled my laughter.

"All the more reason to call you that. Now sit in. We are so late." I spoke moving towards the driver seat.

She held my wrist, stopping me and looked at my wrist watch.

"Haww! It is half past twelve. Come on! Let's go..." She jumped and immediately sat at the passenger seat.

I looked at her amused.

"Come on Mr. Late!"

"That is the lamest nickname you could come up with!" I spoke and sat on the driver seat.

She scoffed.

Later I dropped her at her home and left for my home. I had a really peaceful sleep. Definitely, opening about the things which trouble you isn't that bad. Especially when you open up to the right person.
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