The Hidden Heart

Chapter 3 - Linking Hearts and Wi-Fi

As Dia welcomed Neel and his friend Kabir into her home, her father, who happened to be in the living room, looked up and recognized Neel's friend. He was somewhat surprised to see the owner of the city's popular Wi-Fi business in his home.

Dia's Father: (surprised) "Wait a minute! You're the owner of 'BuddyLink', aren't you?"

Kabir: (smiling) "Yes, that's me. It's nice to meet you, sir."

Dia's Father: (puzzled) "But why are you here personally to set up our Wi-Fi? Don't you have a team of workers for that?"

Kabir: "Well, we do have a team, but sometimes I like to get hands-on with special cases. Plus, Neel wanted to make sure everything goes smoothly for Dia."

Dia's Father: (impressed) "That's quite a commitment to your customers. I appreciate it."

Neel: (trying to shift the focus) "We're just here to help Dia get a stable connection for her job. It's no trouble at all."

Dia's Father: (nods) "I understand. Well, thank you for your assistance. It's kind of you both to come here."

Neel glances up at Dia and then gestures toward Kabir standing beside him, "Hey Dia, this is Kabir. He's my buddy and also the owner of BuddyLink."Dia smiles warmly, extending her hand, "Nice to meet you, Kabir!"Kabir returns the handshake with a friendly grin, "Likewise, Dia. Neel's been telling me a lot about you."Neel interjects with a shy chuckle, "Just good things, I promise."Dia giggles, feeling instantly at ease with Kabir's friendly demeanor.Dia leans forward, her curiosity piqued by the name, "BuddyLink? I love that name! It's so catchy. How did you come up with it?"Kabir chuckles, a twinkle in his eye, "Actually, that credit goes to Neel."Dia looks at Neel, surprised, "Really? That's amazing, Neel! It's such a cool name."Neel, slightly taken aback by the attention, manages a shy smile, "Oh, thank you. Well, the idea was to represent the strong link between buddies, just like we aim to provide a strong link for Wi-Fi connections."Dia's eyes light up with understanding, "Oh, that's clever! It totally makes sense now. BuddyLink - the bond between buddies are strong and you are providing same strong Wi-Fi connections. It's perfect!"Kabir nods, pleased by Dia's enthusiasm, "Exactly! Neel has a knack for coming up with these brilliant ideas."Dia turns to Neel, impressed, "You're full of surprises, Neel! That's really creative."Neel blushes at the unexpected praise, mumbling a modest, "Thanks."Meanwhile, Mr. Sharma, overhearing their conversation, joins in with a smile, "That's quite a name, indeed. Represents the bond between friends and reliable connections."Kabir nods in agreement, "Absolutely, sir. It's all about strong connections and trust."Dia's father, pleased by the explanation, adds, "Well, it seems you guys are not just good with tech but also with creativity."

As they started setting up the Wi-Fi, Dia's father continued to observe them. However, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to this visit than met the eye.Dia's Father: (whispering to Dia) "Do you know these guys from somewhere? Why are they here personally?"Dia: (whispering back) "They're friends from the animal care center. They offered to help with the Wi-Fi setup as a favor."Dia's Father: (smiles) "Well, that's very kind of them. You have some good friends."Dia: "Yes, they're great people."

In Dia's living room, a web of wires sprawls across the coffee table as Neel and Kabir work on setting up the Wi-Fi.Dia, eager to help, leans in with a warm smile, "Do you need any assistance?"Neel, fiddling nervously with the cables, glances up, "Um, no, Dia, it's okay. We've got it covered."Kabir grins, "Yeah, Dia, let us handle this. It can get a bit technical."Dia pouts slightly, "I want to pitch in, though!"Dia sighs but relents, sitting on the couch, watching them work. Meanwhile, Dia's father, observes from the kitchen, noticing Neel's quiet demeanor and his occasional fumbling with the setup. He watches as Neel attempts to focus on the task, stealing shy glances at Dia, their eyes meeting briefly before he looks away.Dia's father, Mr. Sharma, notices the camaraderie between Neel and Dia, raising an eyebrow at their easy interaction.Mr. Sharma approaches Neel, curiosity evident in his tone, "Neel, what exactly do you do in this business?"Neel, slightly taken aback by the direct question, hesitates before Kabir steps in smoothly, "Sir, Neel's like a partner to me. He handles a lot of the business stuff, but he's also got his own things he's working on."Dia's father nods thoughtfully, "That's impressive, Neel. Keep it up."As Dia's father steps back, he observes the trio once more. Neel's quiet demeanor stands out, and the closeness between him and Dia doesn't escape his notice. However, he's reassured by Dia's radiant smile and decides to let it slide, appreciating the joy on his daughter's face.He muses to himself, "Interesting... Neel seems reserved, but he's quite accomplished."Dia catches her father's glance and quickly diverts attention, "Dad, isn't it great how smoothly everything's going?"Mr. Sharma smiles warmly at his daughter's happiness, "Yes, Dia, it is. You all seem to be getting along well."Neel manages a shy smile, grateful for Kabir's cover-up and Dia's father's encouragement. Dia beams at both Neel and her father, the room filled with a sense of contentment and ease. As they continue setting up the Wi-Fi, their laughter and shared jokes fill the space, masking any suspicion that might linger in Mr. Sharma's mind, all while Dia remains blissfully unaware of her father's momentary skepticism.

As the Wi-Fi setup progressed, Dia's father couldn't help but be impressed by Kabir's professionalism and dedication to ensuring a stable connection. He also noticed how well Neel and Dia seemed to get along.Dia's Father: (thinking to himself) "Hmm, perhaps there's more to this visit than just setting up Wi-Fi. But whatever it is, it seems to be making Dia happy."Unbeknownst to Dia's father, Kabir had his own ulterior motive in suggesting this visit to give Neel more time to bond with Dia and see where their growing connection might lead.

As Neel and Kabir finished setting up the Wi-Fi at Dia's home and prepared to leave, Dia couldn't help but be curious about how Neel knew her address. She decided to ask him directly.Dia: (curious) "Neel, I just realized something. You've never been to my place before, and I never told you where I live. How did you know where to come for the Wi-Fi setup?"Neel hesitates, caught off guard by the question. Before he can respond, Kabir smoothly steps in, "Oh, that's on me, Dia. Neel completely forgot to take your number. Neel here was so keen on helping out that I had to find your address for him. You know, I have a few connections in the area, and when Neel mentioned your name, I figured out your address from a mutual contact. Sorry for not mentioning it earlier."Dia's brows furrow slightly, but she nods, buying into Kabir's explanation, "Oh, right! That makes sense. Sorry, I should have given you my number earlier. Here, let me give it to you now."She quickly asks for Neel's phone, typing in her number and passing it to Neel. He accepts it with a grateful smile, feeling a touch bashful about the situation."Thank you, Dia. It's no problem at all," Neel replies, tucking the phone into his pocket.Kabir jumps in, lightening the mood, "Now we won't have to track you down next time, Dia. We'll have a direct line!"Dia chuckles, feeling at ease with their friendly banter, "Definitely! I promise next time I won't leave you guys hanging."Neel relaxes, grateful for Kabir's quick cover-up. He manages a shy smile, "Yeah, sorry for the surprise visit. We just wanted to make sure you have a smooth connection."Dia smiles warmly, "No problem at all! I really appreciate it."

As Neel and Kabir leave, Dia closes the door behind them, musing over Kabir's explanation. She finds it a bit odd but decides not to dwell on it, grateful for their help with the Wi-Fi setup.Neel breathes a sigh of relief, glad that the situation was handled smoothly. He turns to Kabir, expressing his gratitude, "Thanks for covering for me back there."Kabir grins, patting Neel on the back, "No worries, buddy. We're a team, right?"As they walk down the street, Neel checks his pocket, feeling a buzz of excitement at having Dia's number now, a small souvenir from their wonderful visit.