Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Niyati's p.o.v

I entered the Raichand mansion and reached the hall area where the party was organized.

Seeing the people here I am just so nervous. Everyone is looking so elegant. All of them were wearing expensive dresses and accessories. Specifically, the women. They were wearing expensive gowns, sarees and different types of dresses. My dress is nothing compared to them. I am feeling like I am an alien between all of them.

I didn't want to come here but Kabir requested a lot. That's why I came here. I couldn't deny him.

" Come on girl. Don't lie. You wanted to see Shivansh Raichand and apologise to him for your misbehaviour. That's why you came here," My subconscious mocked me and I bit my tongue.

My eyes are now searching for Kabir because I am feeling uncomfortable and lonely here but my heart is searching for someone else. It's becoming impatient to see Shivansh Raichand.

" Oh my God!! You are looking gorgeous, Niyati," I heard Kabir's excited voice and saw him standing a little distance away from me.

I smiled at him and replied," you are looking nice too."

Then, we started talking about random matters and Kabir was joking with me. I was laughing hard hearing his silly jokes. I have to admit that he is a funny guy.

" You came, Ms orangutan," I heard that addictive deep husky voice from behind and thousands of butterflies started flying inside my stomach. My heart started beating very fast like it will explode inside my chest anytime.

I looked behind and found that it's none other than Shivansh Raichand. I looked at him from head to toe and I was in awe.

He is looking so handsome in his black colour tux. His hairs are nicely combed in backwards. I noticed his new beard look and didn't like it that much. His previous beard look was suiting him more. But, still, he was looking sizzling and his maddening cologne was making my mind crazy.

" Are you going to bite him?" My subconscious asked and I again shut her down.

" You forgot so easily, Mr Raichand," I mocked rolling my eyes and heard him chuckling.

He replied looking at me from head to toe," Your charm didn't let me forget you, Ms Niyati Verma."

Hearing him, I blushed and my subconscious told me," Stop blushing like a fool otherwise he will think of yourself as a bimbo."

I stopped blushing and made my face straight when Kabir excused himself to attend a call. That's good. I will be able to talk with Mr Raichand alone.

" You are looking beautiful, Ms Verma," He complimented me and I said a small thank you.

He again said looking at my dress," You are looking like a flower. A lotus flower."

" Is he flirting with me?" I asked myself looking at his eyes which are starring back at me with curiosity.

He replied chuckling," I am not flirting. I am genuinely complimenting you."

" Did I just say aloud?" I asked myself widening my eyes and he replied," Not that loud. But, enough loud to reach my ear."

Ok. Now, it's weird. How the hell he is reading my mind? How can he understand what I am talking with my mind?

I asked him frowning my brows," How the hell you are reading my thoughts? Do you know telepathy?

" I don't know telepathy. It's your eyes which are talkative," He replied winking at me and I again blushed like a fool.

What's wrong with you Niyati!!! Stop blushing in his every word. Don't make yourself a stupid in front of him.

To divert this topic, I told him hesitating," Mr Raichand, I am apologizing again for my misbehaviour. I hope you didn't take it in your heart."

" I did take it in my heart," he replied making a hard face and I looked at him with my guilty eyes.

I asked him nervously," I am sorry again. How may I earn your forgiveness?"

" I will forgive you if you agree to worship Lord Shiva with me," He replied and I looked at him with my shocked eyes.

I asked with confusion," I didn't get you."

" Well, 3 days later is Shivratri(an Indian festival). As a big Shiv devotee, I am going to worship Him in the Shiv temple. I want you to join me there," He replied smiling and I kept looking at him with my wide eyes.

I thought he will ask something inappropriate. I wasn't expecting that he will tell me to give him company at Shivratri.

" Won't you join me?" He asked coming closer to me and I just nodded my head in the positive.

He chuckled seeing me and whispered in my ear," Thanks for agreeing flower. See you later."

Author's p.o.v

" Ankush, you can join our office. How many days you will keep searching for jobs?" Shivansh asked Ankush very seriously who is busy starring at Priyanka with his sad eyes.

Priyanka is standing beside her mother and talking with Shivansh's mother Lalita. She noticed Ankush's sad eyes but purposely ignored him. She is giggling and looking at Ankush with her side-eyes.

" Yes, Ankush. How many days you will remain unemployed? Your father's condition isn't very well to support your family. You should take a job as soon as possible and support your family," Kabir suggested Ankush who got irritated hearing them.

He almost yelled at both of them," I don't need someone's sympathy. I can establish myself on my own."

" It's not about sympathy. It's about friendship. Why you always take my words in a wrong way?" Shivansh replied annoyingly and left his friends alone ignoring that they are calling him from behind.

Shivansh was walking towards his father when he noticed Niyati who is talking with one of the guests.

A genuine smile formed on his lips seeing her beautiful and joyous smile. He noticed her from head to toe and couldn't stop admiring her beauty. She is wearing a purple colour evening gown and looking gorgeous. He is still looking at Niyati when she looked at him and blushed smiling a little.

Without thinking anything further, Shivansh thought to talk with Niyati and forwarded his legs to go toward her. Niyati also noticed him approaching and she started feeling nervous.

Shivansh is still walking towards Niyati when someone caught his hand and dragged him towards the stage. He looked at the person with his startled eyes and found that the person is none other than his mother.

" Ma, what happened?" Shivansh asked curiously but his mother ignored him.

Reaching the stage she took the mic in her hands and started saying," Thank you, everyone, for coming here. Today, with the announcement of my son being the new chairman of our company I want to announce something important as well."

Hearing her, everyone looked at the stage with curious eyes. Shivansh is also looking at his mother with questioning eyes. He is clueless about his mother's thinking.

" I have been friends with Pratima for a long time and her company ' Desai corporation' is one of the important shareholders with 'SR industries'. So, finally, I thought to convert this business relationship into a kin relationship. I am announcing my elder son Shivansh Raichand's marriage with Pratima Desai's elder daughter Priyanka Desai," Lalita announced looking at Priyanka who is now in the cloud nine hearing the announcement.

Priyanka hugged his mother beaming with happiness and looked at Shivansh who is still in his dumbfounded condition after hearing his mother's announcement.

Everyone clapped their hands and started saying congratulations to Priyanka, her mother and the members of the Raichand family.

On the other hand, Ankush was heartbroken hearing the announcement. He fisted his palm and clenched his jaw to suppress his emotions. He looked at Priyanka with sad eyes and then looked at Shivansh with rage-filled eyes. He couldn't tolerate all this anymore and left the party without saying anything.

It's not like Ankush was the only heartbroken person here. Niyati's heart shattered into tiny pieces after hearing the announcement. She felt like tears are forming in her eyes but somehow she controlled them.

" Why I am feeling bad? I don't know him properly nor I have anything with him. Then, why my heart is aching?" Niyati asked her mind and this time her mind didn't reply.

She looked at Shivansh with sad eyes and found him already looking at her with an unbearable expression. But, she can sense that Shivansh isn't happy with this announcement either.

Niyati is still looking at Shivansh when Priyanka walked towards him and held his one hand. She brushed her right side with Shivansh which wasn't unnoticed by Niyati.

She couldn't see all this anymore and started feeling uncomfortable and thirsty. Without wasting any time, she walked towards the nearby table and poured a glass of water. She gulped down the water to calm her down but nothing is working. Her heart is still aching and she doesn't know why.

" Ma, what's the meaning of all this? You should have asked me before announcing all this," Shivansh asked his mother with his annoyed voice and looked here and there to search for Niyati. But, she is nowhere to be found. It's like she has vanished in the air.

Lalita replied with her authoritative voice," Why should I ask you about it? I am your mother and I know what's best for my son."

" Urghh....you are impossible. I will talk with you later," Shivansh said irritatingly and left the party to search for Niyati.