Ashutosh took Nalina to the famous Almond Grove Cafe, which is very famous in the city with a cosy and peaceful atmosphere perfect for working.
They entered choosing a place sit in a corner, Nalina set down placing her bag and files on table she removed her blazer, placing it on chair she took out a hair clip from the bag picking it up with her mouth she tied her her hair up and then fixed it with the clip saying, "you work in Mumbai but knows everything about jodhpur, intresting."she looked at him.
Ashutosh sit looking at her, lost in her beauty but when she looked at him, he stopped his thoughts and replied,
" I like to travel a lot and this is my favourite city ,so.."
"Hmm, That explains everything, so what's the plan next?" she lifted one eyebrow, resting her face on hands.
He looked at her face smiling, "First let's grab something to eat and then we will go to the haveli so that you can see the location and start planning how to proceed."
"Sounds good, then we'll observe the site and then I'll plan and you can add the changes you want, okay."
"Hmm, What would you like to eat ?"
"Order something you like, so that I can understand your taste."
"I would also like to know your taste, so let's do it this way , you order one dish of your liking for me and I'll order one of my choice for you."
"Okay ,then I'll order Homemade ravioli with fresh lime water."
Ashutosh looked at her, "you didn't even look at the menu."
"Because Mr.Ashutosh you work in Mumbai, I work in Jodhpur, even though you know the city upside down , your knowledge about jodhpur is nothing compared to me. Beside this is my favourite cafe. "she smiled with a smirk on her face.
"Alright, honestly I didn't know that it's a place you frequently visit." Saying this he too ordered a Lebanese platter with watermelon cooler and they sat there waiting for their order.
When their food arrived Nalina insisted on sharing because she can't part with her favourite dish and Ashutosh had to give in to her request.
Together they enjoyed their time in a serene atmosphere with talking and laughing from time to time.
—--
After having their meal , they arrived at haveli and after measuring the whole place they sat down, Nalina noted everything and started planning, sharing her thoughts with Ashutosh and he shared his idea about some points.
"I think if we blend marble and gold together it will give the house a more appealing look , modern and aesthetic."
Together they choose Light neutrals colours for walls like white, cream, or light gray to create a bright and spacious feel.
" Let's Consider using a dominant color (60%) like a light gray or cream for larger pieces like sofas and armchairs. A secondary color (30%), like a muted blue or green, can be used for accent chairs or a rug. A bold accent color (10%), such as navy, emerald green, or a deep jewel tone, can be introduced through cushions, throws, artwork, or decorative objects."Nalina suggested sitting beside, their closeness growing without even realising.
Ashutosh nodded in approval of her suggestion, "what about furniture?"
"Umm, I think for Sofas we should opt for classic shapes like a Chesterfield or a Lawson sofa with clean lines and comfortable upholstery and we can choose armchairs with classic silhouettes like wingback chairs or club chairs. Consider using a modern fabric like velvet or a textured linen."
She paused a bit before continuing,
"A coffee table with a wooden top and metal legs can add a touch of modern industrial style." She met his eyes saying,"Side tables with a classic design and a modern finish, like a mirrored top or a brass base, that will add a touch of glamour."
"Do you have any plans for the kitchen?" Ashutosh turned to look at her, his head brushing with her, almost knocking in her head. Nalina too turned towards him to answer his questions, shocked by how close their face was, for a minute they froze in place but suddenly notification tone from Nalina's phone broke the silence, coming back to his senses Ashutosh moved a little, Nalina too quickly turn towards her laptop focusing in the topic she continues showing him some pictures as reference.
"For the kitchen, we can focus on a minimalist design with clean lines, sleek surfaces, and a neutral color palette, also we can Prioritize functionality with smart appliances, ample storage, and efficient layouts like L-shaped or open concepts. We can select durable materials like quartz or granite for countertops and consider backsplashes with minimal grout lines for a seamless look."
They continued like nothing happened but the faint blush on Nalina's cheeks suggested otherwise, Ashutosh noticed it happy to himself that she didn't show him away or showed any dislike for their closeness.
"...and to create a modern and aesthetic bathroom, we should focus on sleek lines, minimalist design, and a neutral color palette, incorporating elements like floating vanities, frameless glass showers, and smart technology. Prioritize maximizing space with built-in storage, open shelving for toiletries, and a clutter-free environment ."
After a long time their discussion ended, Nalina packed her bag and looked him,
" I'll visualise the plan in 2D and 3D version tonight and tomorrow I will show you guys the plan."
"Sounds good to me."
"Ahh, one more thing as the time is short, my team alone won't be enough for this, I'll have to hire another batch of workers."
"Sure, hire as much as you need, budget is not an issue here, just don't tire yourself." Ashutosh looked at her with pure concern.
Nalina, too understanding him nodded, "Don't worry I'll be fine and you will help me right?" she met his eyes, realising what she had spoken she corrected her sentence, "Ofcourse whenever you are free."
Ashutosh smilingly looked at her and placed a hand around her shoulder saying, " I'm always free for you." Nalina, shocked by his gesture, got lost in his smile, kept looking at him and then smiled in return. Both walked out like that, both were getting close to each other without knowing it.
—-
At Riya's house:
In her room Riya happily looked at her new phone, which Avinash had brought for her. She satisfied with the new iPhone happily twirl around the room thinking,
So what if Nalina got a new phone and all, Avinash also brought me a new phone and I'm sure mine must be better than hers.
Caressing her new phone she thinks of Avinash, he cares for me unlike Ashutosh who is just trying to impress her and must be afraid that she too will know his real boring and rude personality and will leave him.
Yes ,that must be the reason why he care so much for her and Nalina huh, she too deserves him, a low class girl trying to compete with me for attention, hmm this time I'll design our house more beautiful than their house and with their house being right up to ours everyone will realise how talented I am compared to her.
It's just that I have never practiced because my father is rich and I don't need to work and because of her family background Nalina has to work.