FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 3

Vimala looks at me surprised, the next day when I asked her for Economics Times. I am more of fashion, page3 reader and Adnan is more of the business and politics type. She just pointed me to the corner of the kitchen where old newspapers are stacked up. Since it was yesterday's paper, I get it in a jiffy.

I looked through the boring paper and finally found the article I was looking for; good I did, one more minute reading this and I would have slept.

I see a huge article about him launching rage of affordable housing, and how people are going gaga. Sadly, there is a picture of his company but no photo of him, it seems he avoids media as much as he can and there is hardly any photo of him. I frown, why I am thinking about how he looks?

I still remember him from the last I had seen him, 17year old champu. Oily hair stuck to his scalp like second skin, huge round black glasses, a football figure and slight facial hair. Eeee...he gives me creeps till today, only I know how many times I had to wash my mouth after kissing that loser. Cha! For a silly dare, I had to give up my first kiss. Yuck!

I am sure he must not have changed. That is why to avoid embarrassment he hides from the media.

I simply shrugged and went up-stairs to take a bath. Surprisely, I am thinking about him in the shower. What is wrong with me?

Riad has always been in the picture. Riad and his family had shifted from our locality but not from the state. Adnan and he were in the same college and were rivals. I kept hearing about him then, but never saw him ever since that disaster. Then Adnan shifted here and we lost all connections to Riad and his family. I too didn't bother. When I came to Pune I got to know that Riad and Adnan were still at loggerheads and hardcore rivals, competing to be India's top real estate agencies. From the article, I read, now he has launched his housings here in Pune and will be shifting here soon. I roll my eyes as I wash the soap off my body.

He is to come here for a wedding and will be then finalizing everything about his project. As I dried myself with the towel I wondered if we could meet, for some reason I am curious, no matter what I say to myself. Pushing aside all the unnecessary thoughts and dressed myself in black and white trouser suit and head for office.

At office, I am going through the photos the wedding photographer has clicked. Anil Singh, the photographer has forwarded some of his best clicks. He works as our associate, that is, he comes free when someone hires me. Of course, I have to give him the salary. I am planning to take the best out of the photos to use for promotion purposes. Ruchi enters the cabin, I shake my head. She never knocks. She sighs and flops on the chair opposite my table. She fans herself with her palm, she closes her eyes and leans back against the chair. I am least bothered about her whining over the heat and the that I should get another place for my agency. All my focus is on the photos.

Ruchi sighs and soon leaves, I smirk.

I hear a knock at the door, I asked them to enter. I turn my head and find Mr. Kumar, Kiran's father, walk in. I smile at him politely. I gesture him to take a seat, I look at the envelope he held. It has my cash, my eyes twinkled looking at it. He forwards me the envelope and compliments my work. I felt proud. He says he will recommend me in his friend circle, I am happier because his friend circle consists of rich people and that means more cash for me. I nod politely. He then leaves, as soon as the door closed behind him I tear open the envelope and take out the check

20Lakhs! Wow!

Ruchi's eyes widens to size of dinner plates as she looks at the check I flaunt before her eyes. She looks at it greedily, I smirk and fan myself with the check. She comes around my table and hugs me tightly, I hugged her back and we sequel. Ruchi suggests we should celebrate and I agreed, we decided to meet at a pub, the costliest one, enjoy our drinks with "ishytle".