Few days later Dev picked Ariya from the day care , he held her on his shoulderwith her hand over his head..
"what's that stickiness on you fingers? Is it jam?"
Ariya giggled "No ..it's the strawberries I ate "
Dev could feel the stickiness in his hair "Now because of you my head is all sticky"He said teasingly taking her of his shoulder and tickling her ..She laughed hanging over his shoulder ..
He entered the house and told her to wash her hands while he makes something for them to eat …Few minutes later the door bell rang and ariya answered the door thinking its Mrinani ..
"Ariya wait .."
She opened the door and Dev followed behind .."your not mama ?" she looked disappointed
"Vikram?" Dev was surprise to see him
"hey Dev ..my I come in .."
***
Dev was in the kitchen pouring some juice
"So what bring you here after so many years ?" He chuckled
"you know busy with girls and work ."He answered smugly
Dev shook his head seeing that he didn't change "Here"
"Thanks" He sipped on the juice "You have a beautiful daughter "
"She's my niece and I love her more then anything ..."HE said looking outside watching her play on the slide..
"So sweet ….I never knew you had such care for kids"His reply was sly mocking
Dev was getting annoyed
"what do you want Vikram ?after so many months or should I say years "dev asked curiously
Dev when he first came to America , Vikram was one of his first friends ..but then realised he wasn't such a good guy ..He remember Vikram in College days , he would always be with girls when they had to do projects together . He always ended up doing all the work and Vikram would do nothing and come drunk in class ...even when Dev first talked to a girl Vikram would date her the next day .He would always think he was the king and never care for anyone's feelings but his own….! The only nice thing he did for him is help to find a job other then that he just like's to stay with girls …
"Well I came to ask you for that favour you promised me ..remember I hocked you up with your job and you said you owe me one .."
Dev took a frustrate sigh "what do you want ?"
"I'm dating this girl and we can't married until her sister doesn't find someone..so she told me to search for a guy for her sister .."
Dev knew where this was going and no way will he go out with another girl then Radhika !
"I'm not doing it!"
"Oh Come on dev ..Its just one date .."
"Look Vikram I don't want to fall in your personal problems and why can't you both get married who's stopping you ?"
"Well Vishaka 's parents ..they said they wont accept the marriage until Radhika doesn't find someone .."
Dev heart skipped a beat hearing this! Did he just hear Radhika's name
Radhika took a deep breath wiping her tears "it was my engagement ! But ..he turned me down saying he loved someone else …" Radhika heart felt heavy yet felt good talking about it .
Dev was shocked "What a jerk! On the day of the engagement ?"
"yes.."
Dev saw her expression sinking , she looked like a little girl heart broken ..
Everything made sense , Vikram was the one that was suppose to engage Radhika but then he ..Dev clutched his jaws together how dare he do this to Radhika , he made her cry and won't forget it!
He kept his cool and forced a smile " So tell me about Radhika ?"
"now we're talking Dev!" Vikram beamed "Well ..I was suppose to get engaged with her but then turned it down .."
Dev darted his eyes on him "why ?" what was wrong with her ?"
"You know ..she got boring to be with and little reserved I mean when I tried getting close to her she would feel uneasy ..The only time I could touch her was with a hug ..I mean I go much further then that but she still cultural ..you know .."
As Dev heard all this he felt furious and wanted beating the crap out of Vikram ..Radhika was an amazing girl and she didn't deserved to be even hugged by Vikram!
"Your such a jerk !..How could you play with someone's feelings like that !"
" Woah Dev !..why are you being so defensive for Radhika … I'm sure she's over me .."
Hell Ya she was over him!! Dev thought in rage
"Vikram I don't understand you why would you go after Radhika's younger sister?."
"What can I say Dev her sister is way sexier and damn hot! If you know what I mean" Vikram winked
"I'm not interest in knowing these details. "
Dev felt disgusted and angry at Vikram .. Radhika was very simple but filled with life and color ..Its unfortunate that Vikram missed out on a awesome girl ..but in the same time was very glad that Radhika escaped Vikram before it was too late ..He just wanted to hug Radhika deeply and tell her how much he loved her , never again will she witness tears!
"but why did you agree to get engaged to Radhika ?"
"Dev you ask to much questions .."He said biting on a cookie "Ok ..I'll tell you everything ..I was in India for a business trip and when my aunt introduced me to
Radhika's parents and from there it all started ..I met Radhika and I must admit she is very beautiful and her slender body ..Man! Amazing .."
Dev felt his blood boil furiously and unknowingly held Vikram collar aggressively
"Watch your mouth Vikram! Don't you dare talk about her this way to me!" HE warned with much anger rising within him
"relax Dev …"He said moving the grip over his dollar"I dint know you would get so offended by this ..Shish!
Dev tried calming himself down …and continued making the sandwich for ariya
"anyway …to sum it up I came back here 1 week before the engagement and met Vishaka at a club and from there you know …"
Dev knew exactly what happened after and kept his grimness with Vikram
"Dev ? Will you do it ?"
Dev wasn't sure about this what would Radhika think?
"I don't know ..it just doesn't feel right .." HE cleared
"Oh come on dev! just spend few days with her until Vishaka can convince her parents ."
"Fine ..I'll do it ..now get the hell out my house !"
Vikram laughed "Oh I forgot about you being filled with jokes ! It was good seeing you man !"
Dev faked a smile and shut the door swearing under his tongue
**
"Vishaka babe ! I told Dev ..and he accepted "
"Good " Vishaka said reading the magazine "Don't' I look great in this shot " She said proudly
Vikram grinned "you look amazing .." HE said placing a kiss over her cheek..
Later Vishaka called Radhika , this was a surprise for her ..She didn't expect Vishaka to call her
"How are you Vishaka?"
"I'm fine.. Radhika lets not have hard feelings for each other .."
Radhika , being so giving with a soft heart couldn't stay upset at her sister forever..
"no Vishaka .Im happy you called ..I was beginning to worry about you .." Radhika did miss her and tried calling her
"Well don't ..Im happy .." Vishka said laughing but then making a annoyed face at her sisters sweetness
"Good to hear this .."
"listen Radhika ..I know you love to paint and stuff and this guy wanted you to paint something for him ..So I told him that you would meet him by the river near the deepika's cupcake store at 8pm .."
"sure Vishaka ….I will ..and thank you so much for calling ..it really means a lot to me.."
"Nice talking to Radhika ..Take care..bye .."
"bye .." Radhika beamed a smile but did find this a little odd Vishak calling her ..She shrugged brushing this thought away and felt happy that they were talking again ..
***
Radhika was sitting on the bench by the river looking around she wondered if she was too early .She looked at her watch and its been 15 minutes and still the guy wasn't here...She sat there enjoying the wind and the water riffling , she took out her draft book and started making a sketch of the scenery ..
"Erm erm "
she heard someone clear there throat and glanced up only to see dev
"what are you doing here ?"
"nothing I came out for a walk and saw you sitting .."
"what are you doing here ?"he asked
"Vishaka called me …"she said with a soft smile ..dev could see the beam in her eyes and smiled
"She told me this guy was interested in my painting and wanted to discuss with me .."
There was a brief silence between them ..Dev was in deep thoughts seeing that Vishaka lied to Radhika ….
" I hope Vishaka friend is not a model " She said teasingly wondering her gaze around
Dev chuckled "Do I look like a model to you ?"
Radhika smiled about to answer when she frowned her brows realizing ..."Are you …??."
"yup! Its with me who you have been set up with " He said taking a deep sigh knowing this was going to shock her
Radhika was baffled "Set up?"..I don't understand how ..you know Vishaka too ?"
"no ..I know Vikram .."
Radhika eyes widened up ..
Dev told everything to Radhika about his and Vikram conversation but left out some part which wasn't necessary for her to know ..
"I can't believe their planning my life for me ! Why can't they just leave me alone!" She had tears on the edge of her eyes she was so upset . "And you accepted to be part of their plan !"
"Radhika I was just returning a favour to Vikram …Your parents wont let them get married until ..you find someone"
Radhika felt betrayed, she couldn't believe she got so happy to talk to Vishaka but it was only for a selfish reason …Dev was worried seeing her lost in her own thoughts
"Radhika .."He called softly "Being with me won't change anything , we knew each other way before they arranged this ..it doesn't matter "
"It matters to me ..I don't want them to think that us knowing each other is because of their stupid planning !" she said gazing in his eyes with her hazel ones , filled with tears
"….How can I believe that from this moment on you want to be with me only because Vikram told you "Her eyes were filled with pain
Dev felt his heart sting hearing and this felt a lump in his throat
"Trust me Radhika ..when Vikram said that I had to go on a date with a girl ..I refused immediately , my heart wouldn't allow me to meet another girl but you ,When he said your name …I was shocked. I couldn't believe he …"Dev paused taking a deep breath " he was the guy you were suppose to engage …I was right that day ..he doesn't deserve you , I know how many girl he has been with and he would have deserted you once he got what he wanted..."Dev closed his eyes not wanting to imagine Vikram do such thing to his Radhika .
Radhika looked away controlling her tears …
"I don't think we should see each other anymore …They will think that I'm not capable of finding someone myself "
"What difference would it have made! We would have still known each other " He replied with much firmness fearing of loosing her..
"Your right! Its my fault .." Radhika looked at him and walked away …
"Radhika wait .."
She pasted her steps and dev couldn't catch up …He ran his fingers through his hair and clutched his jaws together fearing that this would happen
**
Radhika was in her studio painting taking out her agony and sadness why did they choose dev out of all the guy ..He was the only one she trusted and made her happy ...She then heard the door and wiped her tears ..…
"Radhika let me in .."he knocked
She hesitantly moved back .."Radhika ..please don't stop me from meeting you .."
"Dev ..I think its best for us to not see each other .."
"Just because of the meet up Vikram and Vishaka set for us?"
"You wont understand how it feels for me ! My own sister and my to be fianc arranging a meeting with you! I don't want them to feel so proud being successful.." She said angrily
"it's not fair Radhika ..your being selfish your only thinking about yourself .."
Radhika looked away in tears arranging her papers .."Please Dev just leave me ."
He was about to walk away feeling really hurt , he didn't want o leave her like this ..Suddenly n his eyes feel on a portrait behind the canvas..
He removed that cover and saw portrait of him !The sharp brown eyes , the brows , nose mouth and even the hair style was exactly like him!
It was unfinished but it was easy to figure out that the man was him ...He looked at Radhika whose cheeks went flushed , she quickly put the cover back on it with nervousness ..Slowly all his emotions vanished , all he could feel was the love she had for him..He had a smile lingering on his lips gazing at her , he felt so touched by this ..
"What is the meaning of this?" He said coming closer
Radhika was breathing heavily looking at him with her innocent eyes as he drew the distance closer. She didn't know what to answer all she felt was her knees going numb .
"Its..not you .."
"Then how comes your hiding it from me?" He asked sharply
Radhika gulped anxiously moving back as he neared…She then bumped on the wall and felt him closing the distance completely
"How could you draw a portrait of me without having my picture with you ?"he demanded with his darting eyes
She gazed on pursing her lips , unable to tell him the truth …She felt his lips over her ears and closed her eyes feeling shiver running down her spine ..
"Its because you can't stop thinking about me.." He affirmed
Radhika gasped feeling his lips brushing over her jaws softly ….
"I'm not ready to believe that you want to be away from me .."HE said against her lips yet still not touching ..She felt her heart pounding and swallowed the lump in her throat
.She slowly opened her eyes "dev ?..I need time to think about us.." She said still in a daze .. ..
Dev slowly moved back gazing in her hazel eyes pleading him to give her some time .
"What is there to think about ….Your feelings a clearly reflected over this portrait and …My feelings have been constant for you throughout ..I would have never play with your feelings ..ever …trust me ..I'm not doing this because Vikram told me ..I want to be with you with my own will ..."He said firmly
Radhika closed her eyes feeling the honesty and truthfulness in his voice .. "…I need time.."
He took his distance couldn't believe she still wasn't ready to accept the fact that they were both in love with each other but he wasn't going to go against her wishes..He walked out without saying anything and got a glance of her lowering her gaze
Precap
Her gaze then fell on a group of people playing Volleyball further down the beach ..She then noticed someone very familiar! It was Dev , he was wearing white short above his knee level and a white tee. She watched him play and realized he was really good in sports. A smile came up her lips seeing him score and giving high fives to his pals.. She also realized few girls mixed in the game wearing bathing suits …Dev scored another point and a girl hugged him cheering , she had nice blond hair with a tan color and bleu eyes ..Radhika looked away feeling very uncomfortable , she didn't like seeing him being so close like this to some other girl ..
Hey guys Thank you So much for the great response! 😃 Really mean alot to me ..I read the previous comments and I can see that the story is leaving you guys guess 😉..I hope you wont hate me for this part ...This update is pretty chunky , filled with different emotions ..