16. Pre-Date Romance

"Where are you taking me on our first date your highness?" Aryaman asked curiously.

"You said that I remind you of who you truly were, so it is something related to that. Go home and change into some super comfortable clothes that doesn't include suits" She said with a mischievous smile.

"Okay" He said unsurely not liking the smile on her face.

"Arey I promise you, you'll love it" She said holding her hands together pleading him to agree.

"Can't I come in this?" He said pointing at his crumpled pants and shirt.

"Definitely not" She gave him a glare.

"What time are we meeting?" He asked knowing that she's stubborn when she wants to be.

"Not before 11. Are you going to be hungry? I can just throw in some veggies and prepare dinner for us then we can go out together" She said folding his blazer.

"You aren't taking me for dinner date?" He asked her shocked because he thought she might have made a similar plan.

"Remember we have to save money and not spend them away. How much will you eat? You just gobbled food in the cafe" She said placing her hands on her waist.

"Am a growing man and a growing man needs to eat. GOBBLED???? I got like what 4-5 fries because the other stuff you ate even from my plate" He crossed his arms and bent his down showing her his glare.

"Haww which growing man? How much more do you want to grow? You want to give inferiority complex to giraffe. Spare the animals atleast" She huffed loudly as if not believing he was so cruel to even torture animals now.

"You know what mind change, I don't want to go on a date" He started walking away from her in arrogance.

"Acha acha I won't tease you. But atleast answer what you'll have for dinner" She ran behind him.

"As if you have groceries at your place" He replied rolling his eyes at her as he continued walking.

"I'd go buy from the shops, they are open 24/7" She took big steps to reach him.

"You don't have to cook for me" He stopped and held her by her arms.

"I was saying it generally" She said looking down at the ground.

"Go home, I'll get the groceries and cook" He placed his index finger under her chin and said.

"But..."

"Not listening to anything. Go home. I'll come by 7- 7:30?" He asked checking with her if it was a good time.

"Thank you" She hugged him lightly as a friendly gesture before taking a step back and walking in the direction of her apartment.

"No worries" He said with a smile and slipped into his car.

Maitri rushed to her apartment trying to hide the blush that crept on her cheeks. She wasn't used to having anyone do anything for her and Aryaman being the first man in her life made her feel respected and loved and wanted.

Aryaman on the other hand called his house caretaker to ask if they could buy him groceries if they weren't busy. The caretakers immediately agreed to buy him whatever he wished for. He confirmed with them twice if they were free and willing to do it. Admit the heavy traffic he managed to reach his penthouse in 30 minutes.

Placing the car keys on the dining table he saw that all the groceries he had asked for were already bought and placed on the table. He quickly went through them and walked into the walking closet.

Picking a white bath robe, he hung it on the hangers and took a quick evening shower, erasing all the tension and tiredness of the day. He simply blow dried his wet hair with his fingers, ditching to wait until they were completely dry, he walked into the closet and wondered what to wear when Maitri's words rang in his ears.

He picked a black hoodie and paired it with black ripped jeans and sport shoes. Running his fingers in his slightly damp hair, he wore his cologne and Rolex watch which Rishav had gifted him when he became the CEO.

Picking the grocery bags from the table, he arranged them into the car and drove to Maitri's place.

Maitri... she was going crazy on having Aryaman at her place. She dusted her whole house, inspecting for the smallest speck of dust. She re-arranged her kitchen in a way that it would look organized and would be easy for him to look for things in the kitchen.

She lit up peppermint and jasmine candles around the sitting room, giving a relaxing atmosphere. Once the house looked presentable she noticed the time and realised there was still time for Aryaman to come. Sighing in relief she walked to the small temple she had in her apartment.

The temple was nothing extra-ordinary. A plank of wood was nailed into the wall on which a small white marble statue of Krishna with his flute.

"Hi Kanha, wassup, howz life?" Maitri talked to the statue as she prepared the diya.

"Mine...Mine went awesome. Do you know Aryaman ji is sweet and a true gentleman. Is it okay if I fall in love with him?" She looked up at the statue as if it would reply to her. It was a statue for the world but to her, her Kanha talked to her with his expressions. At times the smile would reduce and at times his eyes would have a mischievous glint telling her that he did something for which he'll get a scolding later.

"Can I trust him? He won't become like papa na?" She lit the diya and asked him. A smile formed on her face seeing the radiance emitted by the statue.

"Now don't distract me, I need to do hanuman chalisa okay. Who knows one day someone decides to suddenly possess me, I need Hanuman ji by my side to keep wandering ghosts away from me because have you seen me? I can easily be harmed, don't go on my size, my bones and muscles are very weak" She said smiling at him and then pointed to herself showing him her small size.

Just when she was about to start Hanuman chalisa, the doorbell rang and she felt guilty about not being able to do her pooja as Aryaman was there. She opened the door with a huge smile and welcomed him happily.

"Its feels relaxing here" He walked to the kitchen keeping the grocery items and taking in the scent.

"Yeah, must be the candles" She said pointing towards the living room. He smiled and was taking the groceries out of the bag when his eyes fell on the small temple and the lit diya.

"Were you praying when I came?" He asked feeling guilty at having interrupted her.

"Ahh no... I was just about to start when you came. Don't worry about it" She dismissed it, not liking he was worried.

"Go then complete your pooja. Once I remove everything I'll join you" He urged her to go.

"You sure?" She asked unsurely.

"Yeah, go go, don't worry about me, dinner can wait not god" He said quickly removing everything from the bags and arranging them in a way they won't fall.

She walked to the temple and started singing Hanuman Chalisa. She had just finished the doha when Aryaman stood beside her and sang with her the whole Hanuman Chalisa. Her heart warmed hearing him sing Hanuman Chalisa in tune with her. His deep voice suited his personality and for the first time in her life, she was more focused on Aryaman then hanuman chalisa which never happened before.

"You know Krishna aarti?" She asked him wishing he knew it. He nodded smiling.

"Give me 2 minutes" She rushed to the kitchen and got the small dish and placed the diya in it and got ready for the aarti. Maitri and Aryaman sung the Krishna aarti with love. She pushed one side of the plate towards his side so he too could do the aarti. He held it with his right hand when she pushed it completely to him while she touched his elbow following his movements.

"Kanha please don't break my heart now. He is the one I want as my partner. Please make him my destiny" She wished in her heart while looking at Aryaman constantly whose gaze was on Krishna murti the whole time.

"Hey Kanha ji, this woman standing beside me, please make her my partner. I'll try my  best to give her everything she deserves. She's a bit silly but she's the cute kind of silly. She has her own set of fears and insecurities and I have mine, but I think if we will be together, we will fear them less. I feel that she is the woman who is written in my destiny. Even if she's not, please make her my destiny" He wished to God with a pure heart and hoped that his wish would be granted.

Once finishing the aarti she stepped aside and sand Kapur Gauram while he placed the aarti down and sprinkled water around it and then stood up and gave aarti to god and then in all directions before turning to her. She took the aarti and held the dish so he could take aarti.

She kept the diya near the sink and stood beside him in the kitchen.

"Did you ask anything from Kanha?" She looked at him curiously. He handed her a big potato and asked her to peel and chop them in small sizez while he soaked the poha.

"Yeah, you did?" He asked washing the poha.

"Yupp" A blush formed on her face remembering what she asked.

"Can I ask you something? What do you want me to call you? Aryaman, Aryaman ji?" She asked chopping them speedily as if she was used to it.

He placed the poha on the side and walked towards her taking predatory steps towards her, slowing down her chopping speed.

"I'll call you the way you call me" He whispered in her ear from behind before taking the strainer beside her. He clicked his fingers in front of her face before walking to the sink with a smirk.

"I..I..I'll call you Aryaman ji?" She wasn't sure herself whether it was a statement or a question.

"Okay Maitri ji" He repeated her name in the same way. She scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Aryaman" She quickly removed the ji.

"Yes Maitri?" He turned around looked at her challengingly.

"Maan ji"

"Kahiye Rani Saheba ji" He replied with a smirk, now leaning onto the sink platform.

"Maan" She somehow managed to continue without stuttering or showing how much his nickname for her affected her.

"Rani Saheba" He said rolling the tawa in his hands, cutting off some slack to her and letting her blush. She stood there dumbfounded for a while before regaining her senses. She smiled widely and hit his shoulder lightly before washing the potatoes.

The two made dinner talking about work and everything else. Aryaman helped her clean the kitchen while she washed the plates and other utensils.