Aarvi silently watched Sean as she heard. Her neutral expression changed to slightly sad. Her brow heads raised slightly as her lips corner curved down and her gaze finally went to the table from Sean.

Sean felt his heartache seeing her depressed. He couldn’t understand which fool could leave and hurt such a doll.

She shook her head. “It will not work out. You are still a child and don’t know how the world is.” She deeply sighed and kept her hot chocolate cup down feeling sorry for it failing to enjoy it more time.

Sean shook his head vigorously thinking she was depressed just by the thought of dating. “Aarvi, listen to me. Probably I may not know the world as much as you, I can keep you happy. I’m not a child. I’m twenty-one.” He proudly said the last line stating himself as an adult.

Aarvi raised her brows slowly blinking her lashes looking at him, “Okay! Tell me, have you ever earned even a hundred dollars?”

Sean laughed hearing her, “I have millions of amount balance, why do I have to earn?”

Aarvi snickered in her mind and she had expected it from him. “That’s your brother’s money… Yeah, you might have met some girls who love to spend your money but I’m not one of them. My ex-fiance was like you and I don’t want you if you don’t know the value of money living off your parents or brother. If he abandons you, what will you do? Beg on the streets?”

Aarvi stood up and went to the counter to pay for the second hot chocolate.

Thinking about what she said, he realized she was right. He can’t live like an unruly man and he should be like Leon to keep Aarvi happy as Leon keeps Eliza happy. Deciding, he went to Aarvi, “I will start working at our company from today. Will you agree now?”

Aarvi frowned facing him, “So you still want to depend on your family and get things easily. Mr.Harmon, I don’t babysit grownup man.”

She moved to leave but Sean blocked her path. “Wait wait.” He mulled over and spoke, “If I become responsible and work depending on myself, will you accept me?… Please.”

Aarvi crossed her arms looking him in the eye.

She wants to make him independent – Work in progress.

She shook her head, “Sean Harmon, life isn’t so easy. Your family will never allow a girl like me to be a daughter-in-law.”

“What?” Sean blurted out before he knew.

Aarvi’s face turned dark and eyes sharpened on him. Her tone turned cold, “You wanted to enjoy a few days with me and dump. Sean Harmon, you are sick.”

She pulled the door open to leave but Sean shut it without touching her. They weren’t even dating, marriage wasn’t in his list at all. He was more like, ‘I’m just 21, why will I think to marry. I still have to enjoy life so much.’

He started lying, “No, I didn’t mean that. You spoke directly about marriage and I haven’t stood on my feet yet…”

A little boy who was leaving the shop tugged his pants to get the attention, “Uncle you are standing on your feet.”

Aarvi pursed her lips but chuckled seeing the ugly expression on Sean’s face. She kneeled to reach the little boy’s height, “Tell me, do you write your homework on your own?”

Little boy sweetly smiled at her, hearing her sweet gentle voice, “Yes! I’m a big boy.”

“Good! You don’t depend on Mommy for your homework but Uncle depends on his brother. Standing on our feet means doing our work on our own. Understood?”

“Ooo” He gave a side-eye to Sean and spoke what he had heard previously, “Sister, don’t marry this uncle. He doesn’t even know to do homework.”

Aarvi nodded her head and sent him with his mother who was laughing looking at Sean embarrassed.

“You-” Sean pointed at the little boy who stuck his tongue out at him and left the shop.

Aarvi composed and spoke, “Even kids understand if explained. Don’t waste your time and mine. Excuse me…”

Sean blocked her again, “You also like me, how can you do this?”

Aarvi pointed to the same little boy crossing the road with his mother, “I like that little boy too, should I date him? I can’t just be with you because of that. I need somebody who is hardworking and can protect me. With you, I have to save you and I have to give you financial support.”

Sean felt like his brain was twisted, battered, and hammered hearing her. Half of her words just flew away above his head.

“Ok, I will be real independent. And my brother will accept anybody I like.”

Aarvi knew he didn’t really hear her. She sniggered, “Unless you can achieve being independent, don’t even think about talking about me anywhere. If you think I am bluffing, go and ask your second brother. Call me after that. Move aside.”

Sean couldn’t stop her this time and sat on the table tousling and messing up his hair without understanding anything.

The shopkeeper who had heard Aarvi went to Sean seeing him distressed. “Young man, don’t lose the lady. You can never get somebody like her again. She wants you to be a better person unlike wasting your money.”

Sean raised his head to see the shopkeeper and smiled, “She is too good and I don’t even go near good. How am I going to change?”

The shopkeeper chuckled hearing it, “If you really love her, it will not be difficult.” He stood up and went to serve new customers who entered inside.

Sean decided to talk to Aeon and left the shop quickly.

—

Aarvi could only think Sean’s mind doesn’t go off track and ignore her failing to change himself. Her good mood damped seeing the water splattering without stopping.

The dark clouds started unsettling her with perilous thoughts. The strong winds and heavy rain was bringing unavoidable emergencies in the city blocking the roads. The lightning in the sky looked artistic but pierced the ears with its rumble.

She couldn’t understand why the rainy or cold season is called romantic. For her, it looks depressed and scary as hell.

To keep herself warm, she wrapped an extra layer of the shawl and sat with Tia in the flower shop. The business was dull due to rain so both watched outside pouring continuously.

“Sister Aarvi, you go inside. It’s cold here.” To maintain flower freshness, the temperature was low and rain lowered the temperature more.

Aarvi helped Tia wear the warm cozy poncho, “Don’t walk unnecessarily. Watch TV or play games. Keep yourself warm.”

Tia laughed, “Sister Aarvi, you worry too much.”

Aarvi caressed her head and went in to prepare coffee for both then she went out to give her the cup. Suddenly the dark surroundings brightened, blinding their vision.

‘Boom’

“Ahh….” Both girls shrieked.

‘Crack’

An ear-piercing rumble scared both the girls. While covering her ears Aarvi dropped the cup which fell on her feet before spilling the coffee on the floor. The duo sighed deeply patting their chest realizing it was thunder.

Tia spoke, “Why am I feeling something bad going to happen?… Sister Aarvi, your feet…” Tia jumped from her place.

Aarvi was wearing leather boots so it didn’t burn her, “I am fine.”

Tia took out the mop to clean and Aarvi went inside. They heard another loud rumble shaking them to the core then everything went to dark.

Aarvi’s breath twitched in the darkness. She never saw a power cut in the business center.

Calming herself she was going towards her desk but she started feeling like some were surrounding her hearing the footsteps. She looked around frantically but she couldn’t see anything in the darkness. She was careful all the time, she couldn’t understand how her location was disclosed.

‘Leon Harmon located me?’

She wanted to scream ‘Tia’ to call her in but was scared that somebody would hit her hearing the voice.