Meant to be......together !!

Chapter 7:- not-so-probable future partner

Target :- 40 votes { response is pretty bad :( }

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Ram checked out his appearance for the last time in the mirror placed at the entrance before going inside the cafe for an 'interview with his not-so-probable future partner', the exact words he told Alekha before leaving his office.

As he walked towards the designated table, his steps halted. "Dr. Priya aap," he whispered, shocked, making Priya look up from her phone.

"Mr. Kapoor," baffled, she stood up from her seat.

"Sorry, I think there is some confusion with the seat number. Main yaha shaadi ki int.. mee..meeting ke lie aaya tha," he stammered, trying to find the correct word.

"Main bhi."

"Aap Priya Sood," "aap Ram Kapoor hai," both questioned at the same time.

"Sorry, main aapka naam bas Dr. Priya janta tha and yaha aane se pehle profile check nahi ki," he spoke awkwardly, scratching his left hand.

"Maine bhi nahi ki thi, and aapka first name mujhe yaad nahi tha."

"Baithiye," she spoke a little later on seeing him standing.

"Phle aap," he spoke like a gentleman, he is.

The waiter soon arrived, taking the order of her virgin mojito and Ram's chocolate shake.
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Minutes passed as both sat quietly sipping their beverages, waiting for the other to start the conversation.

"Awkward hai na," finally Priya decided to break the silence with the only thing going around in her mind.

"Bahot jyada," Ram replied almost immediately. Both smiled after a visibly loud exhale.

"It's my first meeting for marriage and to my fate, it's with my mother's doctor," he spoke without thinking much.

"Sorry, I just... no offense," he cleared almost immediately.

"No, it's okay. I too was very awkward in the first one. This is my fourth meeting, by the way," she answered before he could ask.

"At least one of us is experienced, so you ask."

"I don't have any such questions. In previous meetings, I was mostly replying in yes or no, so...."

He nodded, "means I have to step up."

"I think yes," she replied with a little curve of lips.

He bobbed his head in a manner that its indication was clear, Bali-ka-bakra;

'Sidha-sidha hi puch lu kya?'

'Ab bas ye faltu baate na ghumae.'

"Why do you want to get married?" he asked, scratching his forehead.

She was taken a little aback by the unexpected question. "Companionship ", she replied in one word. But seeing him listening intently, she continued, "When I went for studies in a different state, I got to know that I can't live alone. I have a family now, but my parents won't be there forever, the very first and the most dreadful fact I learned entering the medical field. And Ritika, my sister, someday will definitely have her own life."

'Interesting.'

He gave her a small acknowledging nod, processing her reason.

"What about you?" she questioned back.

He cleared his throat, "To be honest, minutes back I had no answer but now hearing yours, I know that my reason is the same as yours, companionship," he answered truthfully.