Ian sat down with his laptop and Pari got the glasses. They actually didn’t drink much but focused on work. After a long discussion and detailing, finally they were done with their reports and he mailed it to the partners. He took off his blazer making the room a bit hotter than usual for her. “ So how was LA? " She asked to break the silence. “Just fine. You know my schedules.. All those meetings and discussions kept me busy. I didn’t get time for anything else. Let's not talk about those boring things. Tell me about you. How’s life? Got a new place, partying with friends.. " He asked as he sat comfortably in his seat. “My life…iIt's quite good in some ways. I wouldn’t say no. I'm enjoying it..” “So…. Did you think about us..? " His sudden question startled her. There was a pause in the conversation and she resumed talking after some time. “I still have some things to ask you” “Go ahead. I’m all yours " He was all in for the conversation. His entire focus was on her

Pari... a girl entirely different from the ones Ian had met till date in his life. She was independent, strong and intelligent and beautiful. Though Ian wasn't certain about the amount of liking he had for her, something in her was drawing him closer to her from the very moment he saw her. Maybe those brown orbs of hers that twinkles with confidence when she speaks about her thoughts, maybe the attentive brain of hers that comes up with the perfect solution for any issues, maybe her entire being was tempting him to get close to her. He didn't know the exact reason, but he surely wanted her to be a permanent part of his life. Being away from her in LA made him realise her importance in his life. Though she had sorted out everything for him, something felt empty without her.He had never seen someone so graceful in his life, especially her ethnic outfit was a treat for his eyes. When he came back home from LA, he really wanted to meet her. But he couldn't as he was caught up with some

Pari was about to turn 27 in a week and people around her were more than excited to see her getting old. Irony was that Pari didn't feel so special about it. Sonu decided to host a party to celebrate Pari's birthday and Pari didn't have an option to say no to her best friend. But on the previous day of her birthday Ian dragged her home with him. Her boss definitely had his ways to convince her and he usually didn't appreciate no for an answer. Bundled up in blankets they both watched a movie in his cinema room after the delicious dinner prepared by Ian. One of the things Pari really admired about Ian was his cooking skills. He's just a magician in the kitchen and everything he cooks could be on a 5 star restaurant menu. She really felt blessed to be able to enjoy it every now and then. Pari was too lazy to walk up to his room after the movie, so Ian offered the service of picking her up and tucking her in bed. Then he slid next to her and hugged her but neither of them were sleepi

Pari's phone started ringing and she excused to pick it up. It was her father's call."Happy Birthday Pari beta. We are missing you. " His words alone brought tears to her eyes. "Thank you Papa. I miss you both too" Pari held back her tears and replied ."How's my daughter doing? Celebrating your birthday well? " Ajay asked her. "Yeah Papa. This is the best birthday in my life but I wish you both were with me too.. " Back in India, the only time Pari couldn't celebrate her birthday with her family was when she was in IIMS, other than that it's always been with her parents. Her mother would drag her to the temple and perform all kinds of rituals to bribe god to bless her daughter. They would go on a family outing and buy whatever Pari wanted. Later in the evening, her mother would literally prepare a feast with all her favourite dishes.Pari missed them a lot on her special day, but recently because of the arguments she couldn't even talk to them normally. Every phone call would end

The Deshmukh family left for their ancestral house in Amboli, a day prior to the celebration and started preparing for it. The age old house was decorated for the celebration. While men got busy with political discussions, ladies got busy with kitchen work and kids were busy with games.Though the thought of festivity was a happy one for Pari, being around the people who constantly taunted her was dreadful. So she decided to avoid them at any cost. She somehow managed one day by keeping herself busy with one or other work. She roamed around the neighbourhood and talked to her playmates during her summer vacation. Amboli village was always her favourite place when her grandparents were still alive. Though all her cousins ignored her when they came to their grandparents place, Pari was always her Aaji's favourite kid. Her Aaji would buy her toys, sweet treats or accessories whenever Pari was upset. Even Pari loved accompanying her Aaji to the temple or their wheat field. But after her