Chapter 3.

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Lilies

Narrator's POV:

Vihaan and Aadvik drove from the city to the Malhotra mansion in Udaipur, Rajasthan. They were tired, so they planned to sleep, but with all the hustle and bustle in the mansion, they woke up as soon as the sun rose.

Aadvik got up and followed his usual routine of bathing and praying at the temple. He also touched the feet of Vihaan's parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles while offering them prasad.

During breakfast, everyone in the family gathered around the table to eat. Mrs. Malhotra spoke up and asked Vihaan to arrange invitations for the guests quickly, to which he agreed. Then she turned to Aadvik and asked, "Could you please take me to the sweets shop so I can order some sweets before the bhajan program? The drivers here are busy with other tasks." Aadvik smiled and said he would be happy to accompany her.

Aadvik's POV:

I drove Vihaan's Mercedes Benz to take Mrs. Malhotra to the sweets shop. I wanted to make sure she didn't stress about the program, so I played her favorite 90s music album to help her relax during the ride. It was only a 15-minute drive from the mansion, and as soon as we arrived, Mrs. Malhotra hurried into the shop, with me following close behind.

She asked for my opinion, saying, "What do you think would be best? Besan ladoo or motichoor ladoo?" It was a tough choice! Personally, I preferred besan ladoo, but Vihaan couldn't stand its smell, so I suggested Mrs. Malhotra get both. She smiled and said, "You are so different from Vihaan! Just like the son I always wanted." Her compliment made me chuckle and feel happy.

While Mrs. Malhotra talked to the sweet shop owner, I noticed a girl she was wearing a delicate pink kurti, who exudes an air of elegance and grace, her long hair cascading down to her hips like a shimmering waterfall. she was holding a bouquet of lilies,that described her purity and beauty, a vision that haunted me and ignited a longing within my heart. Then, she spoke, "You always know what I want," to the staff at the sweet shop which made him smile. Suddenly, I felt an intense desire to see her and hear her voice every day. I'd never felt this addicted to anything before.

 I'd never felt this addicted to anything before

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(Outfit worn by the mysterious girl)

(Outfit worn by the mysterious girl)

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(Lilies in her hand)

"Where are you lost, Aadvik beta?" Mrs. Malhotra's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Uh, yes aunty! Nothing, just admiring the beautiful shop," I replied, coming up with a lame excuse. She laughed and said, "I called out for you five times, lost man!" With that, she headed towards the exit.

I turned to look for the girl again, but she was gone. My heart sank. I searched everywhere, feeling panicked at the thought of never seeing her again. Then, I found a jhumka (an earring) on the floor. Yes, she was wearing this! I carefully took the jhumka and stormed it in my pocket and, asked the staff where she went, but they didn't know. Finally, one of them pointed to a rickshaw where she had sat and left. I thanked him and rushed back to the car.

Mrs. Malhotra was already there, but I didn't care for now. I have to follow the rickshaw. "Aadvik, that's not the way! Where are you lost?" she asked. "There's a friend of mine I want to meet before going," I lied, feeling frustrated with my excuses. "A friend? Wow. I never knew you had friends here," she remarked, surprised.

The rickshaw took a turn to a narrow street, but my car couldn't follow, and I felt the heat rising inside me. I questioned Maa Durga!! Whyyy?? Whyy did this have to happen? I made a U-turn and headed straight back to the mansion, unable to stop thinking about my Lily. Oh my god, I was obsessed. I'd given her a nickname, and I couldn't get her out of my head. I'd never even seen her face, but in my mind, she must be as beautiful as sunshine and flowers in a morning yard. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I lost my heart when I lost her in the street. Despite knowing that our paths will never cross again, the allure of that girl, I never even saw captivated me .

Mayra's POV :

I couldn't believe my eyes when i saw my company ranked in the top 5 architectural firms. It was a remarkable achievement considering I had only started the company two years ago. Ranking 3rd in all of India and 1st in Bengaluru filled me with joy and pride. I couldn't contain my excitement; and was over the moon.
Glancing at my competitors, Mr. Khurana and Mr. Malhotra, I couldn't help but feel a mix of determination and strategy. I knew Mr. Khurana's reputation for manipulating the rankings, but I would outsmart him. As for Mr. Malhotra, I respected his dedication and work ethic but also feared his aversion to betrayal.
To take my company to the next level, I decided it was time to roll the dice in Delhi. I instructed my assistant to send collaboration requests to both companies and eagerly awaited their responses.
Just as I was contemplating my next move, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. One of staff arrived bearing a bouquet of lilies and a box of besan ladoo, my favorite treat. I suspected it was a surprise gift from Aashika, all the way from Rajasthan. But how did Aashika find out before I even told her the news?

Without wasting a moment, I dialed Aashika's number. As soon as she answered, she erupted into excited screams, "CONGRATULATIONS MY GIRL!!!!" Her enthusiasm was infectious; it felt like my ears might burst with her joy.

After thanking her, I couldn't help but ask, "How did you find out?" Aashika chuckled and explained, "I read about it on my phone yesterday. Duh! I've got notifications set up for these kinds of things. I knew before you did and planned this surprise, just like every year when you achieve something, I make sure you get your favorite sweets."

Her thoughtfulness nearly brought tears to my eyes, and I couldn't help but blush with gratitude. But Aashika, being her classy self, had to leave. Before saying goodbye, I wished her luck, and she flashed a warm smile before hanging up.

Aashika always had a knack for making my special days even more special. As the year drew to a close, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence in my life. With her by my side, I felt ready to face whatever the new year had in store for us. Her presence was as wonderful as her thoughts and as soothing as her voice.

_________________________________________
As promised! Interesting part is finally here
But wait. We still don't know who the mysterious girl is!! There are many plot twists-
Never trust the writer.
Chapter 4 when now?

xoxo
Lily and tulip

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