Aishwarya Poddar, or Ash, as she was called by most of the people, was a rich, sophisticated and strong-headed woman who valued her time and efforts. A principle that was being compromised as of now.
She had entered the restaurant at dot 8 and made herself comfortable on the reserved table. Now, five minutes later, she was still waiting for the man her grandmother had set her up for a date with!
When two more minutes ticked by, she stood up and walked towards the restroom in a bid to contain her irritation. She looked into the mirror and a smirk formed on her face. Her make up looked perfect and she looked flawless. Even a blind man would fall for her.
But the real question wasn't whether Yash Jindal would like her; it was whether she would like him. From what she had gleaned from his social media profiles, he seemed like someone who fit her type perfectly, a man who kept to himself, not overly engaged with others, and certainly not the kind to meddle in every aspect of his partner's life. After all, he was a busy man.
Just as she finished adjusting her lipstick, Aishwarya caught a glimpse of the time again. Ten minutes past eight. She turned on her heel and headed back to her table, annoyance written all over face.
Finally, the door swung open, and she spotted him entering the restaurant. Her irritation softened slightly as she took in his tall frame and muscular body. He didn't have his outer coat on, unlike the pictures she had seen on the social media. His black shirt coupled with only a black waistcoat accentuated his muscles, making him a sight to behold.
She realized with a start that he looked even better than his photos with the sharp features and air of authority that he carried around himself. But then she noticed something that made her smile falter.
A little girl holding his hand.
Kids? Oh kids! She hated them with a passion. Those little humans who needed to be taught everything from scratch. Their infuriating whine, high-pitched voice and ever-sticky fingers... ahhh! she felt disgusted.
Yash would have walked to a different table if Kuhu didn't give his hand a tug and pointed at Ash. He guessed that she was the girl, mentally berating himself over forgetting to look at the girl's picture.
"Sorry for the delay. Certain prior commitments held me back." he said in a not so warm voice.
She nodded crisply, the faded smile slowly turning into a scowl. Neither of them offered to shake hands, one too proud and the other too indifferent.
Yash pulled out a chair for Kuhu before sitting down himself. She settled down with a nervous smile, her fingers drumming the table top.
Ash looked at her fingers which were uselessly touching the table, sending her germs all over the place. She quickly picked up her handbag and opened it to make sure that she had some wet wipes and sanitizer with her. She internally sighed in relief when she spotted them.
Neither of them said anything for a while. Usually that was enough for Ash to storm out of a date. If the man wasn't sure about how to start the conversation then he was of no use to her. But this one didn't seem unsure or nervous. He was indifferent and that interested her.
"I am Aishwarya. Aishwarya Poddar." she said. For the first time, she introduced herself.
Yash nodded at her. "Yash Jindal."
"And I am Kuhu!" she said when silence once again prevailed.
Ash looked closely at her, not returning the smile. "And who exactly are you?" Her voice was cautiously soft but had an edge to it.
"She is my sister." Yash answered for her. "Due to certain unforeseen reasons, I decided to bring her along." That was it! No more explanations.
No courtesy at all, Ash thought to herself before speaking up. "That's not a problem unless she sits separately."
"Excuse me?" Yash immediately took offense while Kuhu looked between the two, confused.
"I mean." she quickly corrected herself, "We are supposed to discuss things which aren't meant for young ears in the next hour or so. I doubt her presence is appropriate."
"In that case, Miss Poddar, we'll cut those parts of our conversation which aren't mean for young ears." he said curtly. "There will be other opportunities for those 'inappropriate' talks."
Ash bit back a retort and wisely kept quiet. If it were someone else, she would have surely walked away by now. But this was Yash Jindal, not only an extremely important acquaintance for her father's company but also her ticket to freedom.
From her research, she knew that his company was planning to build an office building in New York. If somehow, her independent firm bagged the contract for the interiors of the building, she could prove to her father that her dream company was much more than a mere 'time pass', something she didn't need to give up after marriage.
"I am hungry." Kuhu said, too bored by their heavy talks.
Yash picked up the menu that was kept on Ash's side of the table and offered it to her. "Choose something for yourself."
Kuhu's face lit up as she scanned the options excitedly before pointing at the dessert section. "Ice cream! Can I have ice cream first?"
Ash raised an eyebrow and looked at Yash, expecting him to reprimand her over such an absurd request but instead he gently shook his head. "Dinner first, Kuhu."
She pouted but turned the page to look at some other options.
Ash took that as an opportunity to finally start talking. "So, tell me something about yourself and your work."
"There's not much to tell. I am the owner and CEO of my company. I assume you know the rest given that you yourself come from a business background."
"I do." she said, smiling for the first time in his presence. "And in all honesty, I hate it. My father has always been a very passionate businessman. He's found more in the office and less at home. So business has always snatched away my father's attention from me. I sincerely hope that my life partner would be different."
Yash raised an eyebrow at her candidness, knowing well what she was implying. "I see," he replied curtly, his tone neutral. "But you know running a business requires dedication. It's not always easy to balance work and personal life."
"I work in the corporate sector, Yash. I know 'how difficult' it is. But if you decide to focus on the right person, it makes your life easier." her eyes momentarily trailed to Kuhu before she looked at him again. "Work ethics are what define a person, anyways."
Yash did not respond to that and instead turned his attention to Kuhu. "Did you decide your order?"
"Spaghetti and French Fries?" she asked almost angelically.
He smiled ever so slightly. "With a side of salad. Definitely."
Kuhu rolled her eyes but nodded.
Ash cleared her throat softly, drawing Yash's attention back to her. He looked at her with a polite but distant expression. "I'm sorry for hogging the menu," he said smoothly. "It's just that Kuhu prefers to think carefully before ordering."
"No problem." she acknowledged him. "I know what I wish to order, already."
He gestured the waiter to come over. Before Ash could speak her order, Kuhu beat her to it.
"French Fries and spaghetti with a side of salad." she said quickly in one breath and leaned back in her chair.
The waiter nodded.
"No spices at all." Yash added, "And a plate of spaghetti with meat balls for me."
[SIYA- Yash knows that he's not a vegetarian.]
The waiter wrote the orders and turned his attention to Ash.
"A quinoa salad with roasted vegetables, please." she said in a sophisticated tone.
"What's that?" Kuhu whispered to Yash.
"A type of salad." he told her. "Pretty healthy."
She made a face at that. "Who orders just salad at a restaurant?"
Yash did not respond to that, keeping his opinions to himself. Silence yet again prevailed when the waiter left to get their orders. Kuhu looked between the two and huffed. Time to put her own social skills to test!
"I love your nails. They are so long and glittery." she said with a small smile.
Ash looked down at her hands which were holding the glass of water tightly. She had gotten her manicure and nails done just an hour prior to the date. Her face fell slightly on realizing just how much her efforts had gone in vain. She doubted that the man even noticed her except for the brief glances he gave her while talking.
"Thanks." she said after a short pause, trying to smile but failing miserably. At this point, she had already realized that this meeting wasn't going anywhere in the child's presence. Yash was too distracted by her.
"I love long nails." she said and looked at her well-trimmed ones with a small pout. "But Avni di won't let me."
Ash frowned. "How old are you again?"
"I am 9." she told her.
"Hmm, you might want to wait for three or four more years." she said with a shrug. The girl wasn't even a teenager yet.
"And a few more years after that." Yash supplied, not wanting her to get wrong ideas.
Kuhu ignored that part of the conversation and continued, "You know, you're really beautiful. And that black dress really suits you."
This time, she had a genuine smile on her face. At least, someone noticed her efforts.
"Thank you, Kuhu." she said. Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind. She had just gotten the perfect key to Yash's good books. He was hard to engage in a conversation but the little girl looked like she was starved on words.
Smiling to herself, she continued. "So, aapke ghar me kaun-kaun hai?" she asked her.
"Mai, bhaiya, bhaiyu, big b, dadi sa and Avni di!" she told her with a smile.
"Oh so you have two more brothers?" Ash asked Yash and he nodded. "Younger than you, I suppose." He nodded again. "Who's Avni di?" she asked Kuhu this time.
"Oh she's...she's..." she thought for a while, "family. She's my best friend...at home."
Yash's heart warmed at the explanation. It amazed him how Avni had so effortlessly made a place for herself in the family.
"Interesting. Tell me more about her." Ash said.
"Well, she helps me with everything. Getting ready, doing homework and projects, studying and she plays with me too! She even reads me a bedtime sto-oops!" she said and looked at Yash who frowned.
Yash frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I know you said I am too old for a bedtime story but I really like it! Please don't ask her to stop reading it. Pretty please?" she pouted for an added effect.
Yash immediately felt guilty. Nearly a year back, Avni had been on a leave and Kuhu was pestering him to read her a bedtime story. He had scolded her over it, saying that she was too old for bedtime stories. He did not know that she had taken that to her heart.
"You're...not too old for bedtime stories." he said with a small smile, trying his best to hide his guilt. If the surrounding was slightly more exclusive, he would have went on to tap her cheek affectionately or even kiss her forehead but that was all the reassurance he could give her at this moment.
Ash noticed the dynamics between the two. Strange yet affectionate in it's own way. The girl was definitely her answer to all the questions regarding the man.
Once their orders arrived, Kuhu dug in happily, getting too busy with her struggles with the food to engage herself in a conversation with Ash any longer.
Midway through the meal, Yash excused himself to make a phone call. He walked over to the other side and took out his phone, quickly dialing up a number.
"Did you call the driver?" he asked on the phone.
"Can't I stay a little longer?" Kian nearly whined from the other end.
"You have already stayed long enough. Don't fool me by saying that you were practicing all this time. There's no game after the dark." Yash said sternly.
"Uhm well...there are good lights here..."
"Kian."
"Fine but Ritwik bhai wants me to stay for dinner. How can I say no to such a great host?"
"Really, Kian?"
"Yeah! You know, hum unke ehsaano tale dabe huye hai and all..."
Yash rolled his eyes when he heard a faint laughter from the background. "Pass the phone to him."
He heard some shuffling before Ritwik's voice came through. "Date pe bhi chain nahi hai hai na? Let the boy live."
"Did he force you to let him stay for dinner?" he cut straight to the point.
"Shut up! I offered him first, okay? Woh mera bhai nahi hai kya?" he played the emotional card.
"You don't have to be a moron, vik. Just make sure he finishes his vegetables."
"Promise! Accha now let it be and tell me how's the chic?"
"Language Vik! There must be kids around you."
"Nah they are too busy running around the lawn. I swear they are out of earshot. Ab bata na."
"She's..." he glanced over at the table and frowned when he only found Kuhu sitting there. "Invisible?"
"What?" Ritwik's voice startled him.
"No nothing, she must be off to somewhere. I'll call you later."
"Fine. Enjoy, Juliet! I hope you find your Romeo soon." he said and hung up before Yash gave him a piece of his mind.
Yash's face twisted in a scowl. It's been nearly a decade and his friend still doesn't let him live that one down.
He returned to the table and looked at Kuhu, who was fiddling with her french fries while Ash's food looked abandoned. A small part of him anticipated the possibility of Kuhu casting her off but then his sanity kicked in. She can't even cast away a fly from her own room, this was a full grown human, more importantly, a woman they were talking about.
"Where is sh-"
"I swear I didn't do it internally!" she said even before he could complete.
He frowned before it hit him. "Intentionally."
"Yeah same difference." she said hastily. "I didn't."
"What did you not do intentionally?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I spilled water on her dress. But that was an accident!" she pinched the skin of her neck.
His eyes softened. "It's okay, Kuhu. Accidents do happen." then a thought crossed his mind. "Did she say something to you?"
She thought back to what happened. She did throw her a nasty look but that was deserved given that her beautiful dress was spoiled. So, Kuhu shook her head.
"It's alright," he repeated softly. "When she returns, you'll apologize to her, clear."
She nodded.
Aishwarya Poddar hadn't felt so pissed in her entire life. That man was late for the date, brought a child tagging along and lacked basic courtesy. Yet, yet she had swallowed her pride and made attempts to talk to him. But he remained unresponsive! He even left her all alone on the table and went to make a phone call.
If that wasn't enough, her expensive Dior dress was soaked, all thanks to the little devil. This was the exact reason she didn't like kids. They did not know how to keep their movements in check, much less their actions!
"I am sorry." Kuhu said sincerely when she sat back down on her chair.
She forced a smile, her teeth clenched. "It's... quite alright, darling." The sweetness in her voice felt foreign, even to her own ears.
"It's not coming off," Kuhu observed, her eyes wide with guilt.
"No, it isn't," Ash agreed, the words sharper than intended. She quickly softened her tone, when she felt Yash's gaze on herself. "But don't worry about it. It's just a dress."
Just a dress. A five-figure dress that she had specifically chosen to impress a man who clearly didn't value her time, her effort, or her impeccable sense of style.
"I think we're done with the food." and the date. "So let's not stretch it further." Embarrass ourselves anymore. "I am sure you must be busy for the rest of the evening."
Yash nodded, nearly sure that they were never seeing each-other again with the clear distress in her eyes despite the smile on her face and gestured the waiter to get the bill.
While he paid the bill, Ash took out two crisp bank notes, tipping the waiter so generously that even he hesitated in taking the bills from her hand.
Driving back to the house, he held nothing against the woman he met. She was undeniably strong and independent, qualities he respected. However, the nagging feeling persisted that she simply wouldn't fit into his life or family.
"What about my ice cream?" Kuhu asked in a small voice.
That brought him out of his thoughts. "Let's eat ice cream." He hated to admit it but he felt relieved by that fact.
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First of all, apologies for the long ass title, lmao. I initially planned to title it as "The Date" but then came up with this. I swear, titles are a constant struggle and I know why most of the authors don't use titles and just write the chapter number. Though I personally feel that titles make a story more engaging.
Okay enough of my senseless rants! I hope y'all liked this update. I know you must have felt bored with Ash's extended pov but it was important for y'all to know what to expect from the character. From now on, she'll just be yet another character in the story and won't have so much presence.
With that said, I would like your honest opinion on Ash.
Also, this is a siblings' story and we'll keep it limited to that. I promise there won't be excessive romance but I can't say the same about drama 😉 Don't forget to vote and comment.