"It's not here, where the hell did he hide?" She groaned before shuffling his room, upside down.
"Amy, what are you doing?" Aakash asked her, entering his chachu's room.
"No. Nothing." She stammered.
He moved ahead and handed her a big gift packet.
"Are you looking for this?"
Ambar immediately tore the wrapper and was stunned to find a beautiful lavender dress in it.
There was a note on top of it.
This is a gift from one friend to another. Wear it tonight.
P.S. This isn't the surprise you've being looking for. Stop wasting your precious time because it's waste of your time and it isn't in my room.
She smiled eventually holding the dress but scowled after she read the last line.
Indeed Mr. Grumpy was giving her a hard time.
"You'll look so pretty in this dress." Aakash commented.
"Why is that so?" Ambar was on her knees once again.
"Because it's my choice. Even Chachu liked it." He grinned.
"And may I ask, when did you choose it? You didn't go out. At least not anywhere without me." She queried, wondering.
"Amy! We ordered it, online." Aakash gave a shot reply while Ambar felt foolish of herself.
Of course, she should have guessed.
"Okay! I'll just make a quick call to your uncle to thank him." She informed him and he nodded.
"So! You got my present." She heard him say as soon as the call was answered.
"Yes sir." She sounded too sweet.
"So, did you like it?" He asked her.
"First let me ask you who gave you my measurements?" She enquired.
"No one, I just guessed it." He said.
"Stop kidding and tell me how did you get my measurements?" She was exasperated.
"Alright! I looked into your clothes." He said and she palmed her mouth instantly, turning pale.
"Oh my god! What?". She shrieked cutting him off.
"Hey! I just looked into your clothes which came back from laundry which had a size tag on it." He answered, clearing her doubt and she heaved a sigh.
"Oh! Thank god."
"Wait a second! What did you think?" He was about to say further when she quickly disconnected the call in fear.
"Are you okay?" Aakash asked her as she was sweating profusely.
"Yes, I am." She replied wiping her sweat from her face.
"Okay! So, now can we play?" Aakash looked up at her.
"Sure." She replied thinking how dumb she was acting today.
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"And here's the prince ready." She buttoned his coat.
"Thank you, Amy." He looked at his appearance in the mirror before smiling widely.
"Won't you get ready?" He asked.
"Yes! I'm going to change till then you can watch Shinchan on the television." She instructed.
"Okay!" He bounced on the bed and turned the television on.
Few minutes later, Ambar came out wearing the same dress which she was gifted earlier.
"Wow, you look gor... gorgeous." Aakash complimented making her laugh.
"Thank you but I'm not ready yet. Give me five minutes." She smiled flashing her dimples.
She started getting ready while he continued, watching his favourite cartoon.
At first, she neatly combed her curly hair but left them open.
She didn't over do her makeup as she believed elegance was in simplicity. Lastly she wore her pendant and hoop earrings to match with the dress, she was wearing.
"Small shot, are you in there?" She heard Nakul knocking at the door.
She hurried towards the bathroom, too embarrassed to face him.
Nakul stepped in her room.
"Look at you. My handsome bunch." He patted his back.
"Where is Ms. Hunky Dory?". He asked him.
"She was here only, I don't know where did she go?" Aakash mumbled looking everywhere around.
Nakul straightened his blazer and knocked on the bathroom door.
"Are you in there?" He enquired.
"Yeah." She replied, too nervous.
"Come out fast. We need to leave." He told her.
'It's not a big deal. Ambar... Stay calm." She inhaled a deep breath before stepping out.
His eyes widened when he eyed her appearance. She looked divine.
Her cheeks had a little tint of redness.
He was totally mesmerised.
"You look stunning." Words automatically slipped out from his mouth.
She lifted her gaze to look at him. He too didn't look anything less.
'He was perfect.
He is perfect.' She corrected herself.
"Are you okay?" He held her arm and she bobbed her head.
"Good, let's go." He said and she was glad that he didn't bring up the topic in between which she was so embarrassed about.
He opened the car door for her and she got inside. Just like the last time, Aakash sat behind happily.
Nakul too got inside and started the car, driving it.
"Why did you hang up on me earlier?" He whispered suddenly and she bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. My battery went dead." She lied.
"Okay!" He didn't say anything and kept his eyes on the road till they had reached finally.
He looked at both of them before speaking out.
"This is Mr. Riddhant Taneja's house. He's your dadda's friend, small shot and also one of our company's investor. So no mischief.
You remember what Mumma taught you, didn't you?" He eyed Aakash who opened his mouth.
"I should behave when I'm at someone else's house." Aakash replied, remembering the exact words.
"Good boy." He smiled before he and Aakash got out of the car.
"Ms. Hunky Dory!" He knocked on her side of the car window.
She looked up at his face.
He opened the door for her.
"Hey! Are you alright?" He asked her again.
She exited the car.
"I don't know... I have never been to parties before as important as this one. What if I screw up?" She muttered before looking down.
He gently lifted her face till her dark brown eyes found his amber orbs.
"Don't worry. I'm there for you." He offered his hand and she readily grabbed it as they made their way towards the mansion.
The mansion was as magnificent as the one she was currently living in.
"Hey! Nakul." She saw another perfect example of a handsome male species walking towards them with a woman by his side who was too extremely beautiful.
"Finally, you came!" The gentleman said whom she had supposed to be Mr. Riddhant Tuneja.
"She's my wife, Aaradhya." He introduced the pretty lady beside him who smiled warmly at them.
"Oh look! Exactly Mayank's replica. Oh, I miss him so much." He stated sadly.
"He'll be up soon." Nakul said.
"I hope too. So, how are you Aakash?" Riddhant asked the boy who looked amazed.
"You know my name?" He asked the man who just grinned.
"Yes. You might not remember me but I used to visit you when you were not even a year old. I'm your daddy's friend." Riddhant said.
"Yes. Chachu told me." Aakash nodded.
"Hello Aakash." Aaradhya forwarded her hand.
"Are you going to pull my cheeks?" Aakash frowned and they all burst out laughing.
"Why would I do that?" Aaradhya asked between her giggles.
"Because all those crazy aunties always pull my cheeks." He replied and she couldn't be more amused and fascinated.
"Do you think, I'm crazy?" She asked him softly and he shook his head in a no.
"So, I won't pull your cheeks." She told him and he chuckled.
"But I'd love to touch your nose because you're very cute." She added.
"Thank you." He replied in a very polite way.
"And who is this young lady?" Nakul turned his focus to Ambar on Aaradhya's question as he was still clutching her hand.
"She's my friend." Nakul couldn't complete as Aakash spoke in between.
"And my best friend, Amy." He said clutching Ambar's other hand making her smile.
"Hi." Aaradhya greeted her.
"Hi, I'm Ambar." She introduced herself.
"We are very pleased to meet you. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the jamboree." Riddhant said.
"Sure. We won't take your time as there are other guest too." Ambar smiled before they proceeded ahead.
"They're nice." She murmured in Nakul's ears.
"Yes they are." Nakul nodded in agreement.
"Chachu... I'm getting bored." Aakash got his attention.
"Why don't you go there? See, those kids are playing. You could join them." Nakul pointed out a group of children near the pillar.
"Amy! Come." He pulled her enthusiastically and she left Nakul's hand.
"Can I play with you?" Aakash asked the girl with pink hairband on her head.
"Why do you want to play with her?" The other boy questioned him who was playing with her.
"Shiv! Don't be mean. Be nice." The girl scolded her friend.
"Of course, you can play with us." She turned to Aakash, who smiled at her.
"By the way, I'm Rithanya."
"My name is Aakash and she's Amy." Aakash uttered.
"Hello..." She was very polite to her. Ambar shook her hand with a smile.
"Come. We'll play... I have toys... you can pick any of those." She told Aakash and they started playing together.
Ambar smiled at the kids who were busy in their own world despite of being in the middle of the gala.
Her eyes shifted to Nakul who was also busy interacting with the men wearing suits.
She suddenly felt left out.
After finding a seat vacant, she occupied the place near the pillar where all the kids were playing.
All of a sudden, everyone turned silent and she saw Riddhant and Aaradhya taking the stage and being the centre of attraction as all the eyes in the big hall were on them.
"I'm glad that you all came. My beautiful wife and I are very pleased to find you all here." Riddhant spoke holding her arm and he continued talking.
"It's a very special moment for us. For two most important reasons. One is our collaboration with Skyflames and secondly..." He paused to look at his wife who blushed slightly.
"We are soon going to welcome another baby in this world as we're expecting our second child." He announced and there was a huge round of applause while Ambar joined to clap for them.
"Thank you for all your wishes. I would request you all to join the dance floor and be a part of our celebration. Enjoy and have a good time." He lastly said and stepped down.
The music started playing and most of couples including Riddhant and Aaradhya were on the dance floor, moving slowly to the beat of music.
Ambar couldn't admire them any less.
They looked so much in love and perfect for each other. She was literally awestruck. This reminded her of her parents who were so much in love like the couple who were dancing in front of her eyes.
"Hey! I hope you're not getting bored." Her reverie was broken when she turned to look at him.
"No. I'm fine. Aakash is too enjoying himself." She stared at the boy who seemed busy playing with the little girl.
"I can see." Nakul smiled.
"Won't you be dancing?" She asked him.
"What?" He was caught off guard.
"I mean. Rest of them are on the dance floor.... Won't you be.." Her voice trailed off.
"I don't know to dance." He told her.
"Seriously. Mr. Perfect Grumpy can't dance!" She was shocked.
"Perfection is just an illusion." He scoffed.
"What if I ask you to join me?" She asked him and he was amazed by now.
"I just told you, I can't dance." He repeated.
"So... You could just follow my steps."
"But..."
"Now shut up and dance with me." She pulled him with her and he rubbed his forehead when the romantic song was replaced by a grooving peppy song which took both of them by surprise.
"Just be calm..." She started dancing and singing the lyrics of 'Walk The Moon' song.
"You dance well." He praised.
"Shut up... and dance with me..." She sang in his ears and he slowly joined her, following her steps.
Both of they swayed on the tunes of the song.
Everybody had their focus on both of them by now.
He didn't appear as a ruthless C.E.O anymore. Those people who knew him were equally flabbergasted seeing him dancing with an unknown girl.
"I can't dance now." He was out of breath after some time.
"Okay. You can take rest. I'll just come in few minutes. I need to use the washroom." She told him once they were off the dance floor.
"Okay!" She left him while he went to have a check on Aakash.
"Ambar! You both were great." She bumped into Aaradhya who complimented her.
"Thanks." She was flushed.
"It's okay. You both looked amazing together." She winked before leaving to attend her guest.
As she was about to enter the restroom, she eavesdropped on someone mentioning Nakul's name.
"Did you see him with that girl?" She heard a high pitched voice.
"Yeah. How can he be dancing with that fatso? He never looked at me ever." Ambar could feel disgust in the voice of another lady who talked.
"Yeah! I even saw him holding her hand." She again heard the lady with high pitched voice, speaking.
"Really! Surbhi. Are those two dating?" She heard a different voice this time.
"No.. I don't think... After all, who would be going after that ugly looking hippopotamus?" They all laughed after that comment was passed.
Ambar stumbled as she heard each and every word they spoke about her.
Her eyes started getting wet. She covered her mouth before running out.
She once again bumped into someone but she just mumbled an apology before scampering away.
Nakul and Aakash were waiting for her when suddenly they saw her, hurtling out of the mansion.
"Ambar!" He called but she didn't wait.
Panicking, he picked up Aakash and followed her.
"Ambar! Wait." She stopped, hearing him and wiped her face with back of her hand.
"I'm not feeling well..." She had her gaze lower.
"Ambar!" He knew something was wrong when he saw how her eyes had turned all puffy and red.
He stepped more closer and lifted her chin up, studying her face.
"Tell me!"
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So, how was the chapter?
I know how it feels to be judged by how one looks?
Some people only go for outer appearance.
It's human tendency to be judgemental.
Coming back to the chapter...
Will Ambar tell him or will Nakul discover on his own what actually happened?
Please write your views.
Some of you might know who Riddhant and Aaradhya are..
They are the characters from my book "Somebody to Love... till my last breath".
See the video... it's the song on which Ambar and Nakul danced together.
Hope you'd like it too.
You'll soon get to know about Nakul's surprise.
Please vote and comment.
If any mistake, please do forgive me.
Have a good time, reading.
♥♡♥