"The business that wins Vibrant Threads is Patel's Paridhan". Kriti stilled after hearing this. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness. On his impulse Aarav took her in a hug. Happy for her, without the care of the world. She smiled at him through her tears. He kissed her cheek then her forehead. He was the happiest man in the world at that point of time. He wouldn't have been this joyous if he'd won it.

Krunal cleared his throat besides her. Their arms reluctantly parted. Krunal took Kriti into a hug. After half an hour when the adrenaline dissipated, they went backstage. Kriti and Aarav followed Krunal as he'd said earlier that 'I want to talk to you Both.' Kriti and Aarav glanced at each other with perplexed expressions. At the back of their minds they had a faint idea what this was going to be about.

Krunal took a seat on a single chair in the lounge. Aarav and Kriti occupied the couch. Krunal started with an eyebrow raised suspiciously, " so are you both dating?"

"Yes", "No", were their replies. Yes from Aarav. No from Kriti.

"Answer clearly, are you dating each other or not?", Krunal asked, putting emphasis on the word not.

"Honestly speaking, I've liked Kriti from our childhood but never had the guts or the chance to confess. I asked her out that day back at the hotel before you arrived and she said yes", Aara said.

Looking at Kriti, Krunal said," How could you say yes to him? He is our rival. Don't you understand? Have you thought about what would happen if your dad got to know it first?"

Kriti very well knew what would happen. He would punch Aarav first. But a lovesick fool. He mattered to her more than the circumstances of loving him.

"I like him", Kriti said in a low pitched voice. Eyes screaming at Krunal to understand her.

Seeing his sister, he knew she was in love and he couldn't do anything. Even if he tried t onvince her, he knew she was in deep trouble.

"Okay but what will you guys tell your parents?", Krunal asked.

"My dad would be as happy as a lark", Aarav proudly said.

"I will make them understand ", Kriti said.

Krunal asked, "Are you people serious about this?"

"Right now, we would like to get to know each other more and yes I am serious about her", Aarav said.

"Me too and if it turns out as assumed we'll tell our parents", kriti added.

Krunal nodded.

The next day they went back to Surat, separately. Both of them got tied up in managing their business. Patels and Odedras, both were bagging brilliant opportunities. But at the end of the day Aarav and Kriti always found time for each other whether it be sharing their thoughts while sitting on a bench in the park or taking coffee breaks together. They were more involved in this than they'd ever been. Sundays were reserved for their dates. Steadily their love was growing.

One late night when Kriti was talking to Aarav on call, standing in her room's balcony, her Bhabhi entered the room without knocking. Her bhabhi, Siya noticed them. Kriti abruptly turned and was nervous about her telling everyone but she confronted Kriti. Siya was happy knowing about their relationship.

A beautiful relationship was built on the basis of trust and love towards each other. It consisted of stolen glances, intended teasing and fights too! But what won over at the end was their love, understanding and respect towards each other.

At the age of twenty five they got into their first relationship

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