“Who is this friend of yours who drives such an awesome car?” She laughed as she drove his car through the traffic, enjoying herself.
“I can see you are having a lot of fun.” He smirked, enjoying the look on her face.
“I love sports cars. Papa used to drive one before his accident.” Her voice held a hint of sadness.
“What happened?” Abhimanyu knew her father had an accident at the factory, but he wanted to hear her talk, have her share everything about her.
“My father used to work with Mr. Pranav as his advisor. On a routine factory inspection… I mean I don’t even know how it can happen, a freak accident occurred. Mr.
Pranav and Papa were on a newly built staircase, one of those circular ones, and the entire thing came off the main support pole and collapsed, and they both fell. Papa hit the ground first and then Mr. Pranav.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, and Mr. Pranav, still to this day, says Papa saved him from the fall. Although my father stopped working for the company almost ten years ago, he is still an employee with a salary and benefits. If it were another employer, it would have stopped after the insurance money, but Mr.
Pranav, he knows how to take care of his employees.”
“Yes, he does.”
“And after getting the financial grant for Papa’s surgery, I would work for him forever. I had this dream of studying in another country and experience a new lifestyle, but after that accident and how well our family was taken care of, I decided to work for The Saxena Group. I don’t know if I can ever pay back for what Mr. Pranav did for us.”
“Where were you headed for your education?” he asked.
“I was going to Stanford for my MBA but decided to stay back, so I could start working and did my MBA part-time here in the city.”
“Interesting.”
She rolled her eyes. “And my college boyfriend called me stupid for doing that, but I knew that’s what I wanted. I could not allow myself to be away from my family, and guess what, Mr. Pranav would have again helped me pay for my expenses. I decided it was time to pay back, and that’s when I interviewed at The Saxena Group.”
Abhimanyu felt an unease pass over him at the mention of another person who was probably close to her. Why the heck was he feeling jealous of a guy he didn’t know or care about?
“Any regrets?”
“Not at all. The best part was getting out of that relationship, which really wasn’t a good one. The guy I was with had everything planned in his life like the kind of girlfriend he would have, someone who would have a certain profile, good schooling, a strong career to aid the financial status that he, in his mind, wanted to maintain. When he started talking to me about the amount of money I would be missing out on if I didn’t leave the country, I knew I was with the wrong guy all along.”
Abhimanyu sat silently processing what she was saying and had an undying need to tell her everything, to tell her who he was and why he was there, but he held back.
The contract required him not to blow his cover or do something that would reveal his identity.
“Do you think I should have gone to Stanford?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
He smiled, looking at her as she continued to drive. “I believe in doing what I want to do no matter what my options are as long as I am willing to take responsibility for my actions and decisions.”
She turned to look at him for a brief moment. “I like you. This is what my dad told me when I told him I was not going to Stanford. My mother and brother thought I was nuts.”
She fell silent after that like she was thinking of her brother, and he let her get lost in her thoughts.
“Abhimanyu, thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
“For all the help with the financial aid.” She kept her eyes on the road, and he took the opportunity to drink in her delicate features.
“You thanked me already, a million times if I counted right.”
“I can never thank you enough for how thoughtful you were in presenting my case to the committee and getting approvals for such a large amount of money. Thank you for everything. If the surgery goes as planned, you will be giving us our father back.”
His heart started to thunder in his chest. The way she looked at him as they waited at the traffic signal made him feel like he hiked the tallest mountain in the world.
He smiled, his need to protect her beautiful smile, surmounting.
“I’d do anything for that smile on your face.”
She blushed, and he could not believe the words he said to her. Never has he crossed the line, not with someone he worked so closely with.
He was behaving and feeling like a teenager again as if he wanted her to like him.
He was thinking about what would make those beautiful eyes of hers sparkle at him like the stars in the midnight sky.
He took in a deep, hissy breath gritting his teeth, fighting his need to pull her into his arms and promise her the world, the Milky Way, and beyond. Something he had not felt for anyone.
Ever.
She smiled when he fell silent. “You are such a sweet man, and I feel good when I am around you. I… I somehow feel connected with you, and it’s something I’ve never felt or let myself feel with anyone I work with. Never.”
He cleared his throat. “I’d be lying if that’s not how I feel about you as well.”
She nodded like she found it hard to speak as she took in his confession.
“Where are you taking me? Am I kidnapped?” he asked, trying to cut through the thickening tension between them.
She laughed, the beautiful sound sending a thrill through him.
“Yes, glad you realized you are being kidnapped.”
“Yeah? What are you going to do now?”
She let out a giggle. “I will chain you to your desk at the factory, so you don’t go back to Singapore.”
Her words caused a strange shudder pass through him and an erotic visual of her flashing in front of him that included chains.
He let out a low growl fighting the hardness that was painfully growing.
“Right,” he managed to say.
“So, what did you think about the offer from the union leader? Would you consider staying?” she asked tentatively.
“I thought we were going to talk about non-work stuff,” he teased.
“You showed up at the club saying you wanted to discuss something with me,” she retorted.
He chuckled. “Fair enough.”
“So, would you consider staying back?”
He thought for a moment. “What do you think I should do, Akshara?”
She fell silent for a long moment, and when she spoke, her voice was low. “Stay, Abhimanyu.”
He smiled when their eyes met for a brief moment before she looked away to the road. “Are you saying this as an HR representative or—”
“I cannot influence your decision as the HR person.” Her words made him smile.
“So, who is this other person who is telling me I should stay?” he asked.
She hesitated for a brief moment. “Akshara, who is not your co-worker, is asking you to stay.”
“If you are not a co-worker, who are you now?” She out a laugh.
“Your kidnapper.”
“Right. I guess that leaves me no choice but to stay.” He smirked.
She let out a low squeal of joy. “So, you’ll stay?”
He nodded. “I’m considering it but maybe in a different role.”
“We will work with you and identify the best growth plan for you.” She was excited.
“That’s the HR rep talking to me now.”
She laughed.
“Sorry, I got carried away. Back to being your kidnapper, then.”
“Why is my kidnapper so happy that I would consider staying back?”
“So we can hang out more.” She bit her tongue once the words left her mouth.
His first instinct was to say I’d like that too, but he rolled back his words.
“I’d like to know what it is like to really hang out with you for me to decide that.”
She laughed. “Hey, I’m not that boring.” “I didn’t say that.”
“Fine. We are almost there, and then you can tell me what you thought about hanging out with me.” She took an exit off of the main street and drove through a narrow and busy road.
“We need to find parking, and then we walk to the place that has by far the best food that I’ve had. Better than my mom’s, who is, by the way, the most amazing cook.”
“Wow. Is this some kind of a hidden treasure?”
“You can call it that. This is a restaurant operated in someone’s backyard. Everything is made to order, cooked after you get there, and is in a house setting. A grandma watches over the food preparation, and one of my good friends runs the place for her parents.”
“You are a well-connected person.” He laughed as she found a good parking spot.
“To find the best food in town, yes.” She laughed as she got out of the driver’s seat.
“Ready to hang out with me under a banyan tree?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Almost two hours later, they both walked back to the car on the narrow road. Abhimanyu was lost in playing back the conversation they had while they ate in the beautiful backyard.
Apart from the discomfort when he had to make up fake details about his family, he had a wonderful time with her.
“That was very good,” he said as they walked back to the car.
“I’m glad you liked it, and I had fun except for the part where you didn’t let me pay for my dinner.”
“It’s my pleasure. You brought me all the way here.” He smiled.
“No. I still owe you dinner. And I’m such a terrible cook, I can’t make a meal.”
He let out a laugh and spoke without realizing he was speaking about his real family.
“My sister shares that talent with you.”
Akshara laughed. “I should take you to my parents’ house to get you food that is close to what we just ate.”
“I’d like that.” He smiled.
“Deal,” she said and added, “I would like a ride back, please.”
“Sure. Are you headed back to the club?” he asked.
“No, I need a ride home. And I don’t know if that’s on your way home.” She scrunched her nose.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll take you home.” He slid into the driver’s seat.
“Okay. Thank you,” she said coyly.
“My pleasure.” He started the engine and asked, “Where do you live? I will need turn-by-turn directions.”
“Sure, I’m not only a good driver but a good navigator.” She winked.
About an hour later, and Abhimanyu missing the turns a few times, he pulled up in front of an apartment building.
“Abhimanyu, I’m such a bad navigator. I can’t believe all the extra driving you had to do to get here.” Akshara shook her head.
Abhimanyu smiled at his own irrational behavior of missing the turns on purpose just so she would be with him for a bit longer, so his car could memorize her scent and would retain it for him to feel her even after she was home. “I was distracted.”
“Thank you very much for the ride. I had a lot of fun tonight, and I am looking forward to the break. You were right about me needing that time off.” She blushed.
“Good luck with your father’s surgery, and I will see you when you are back.” The tightness in his chest was growing as she reached for the door handle.
“Good night,” she said, turning away from him, but her fingers paused on the handle.
He could see her fingers tremble. “Akshara?”
Akshara heard him say her name through the loud drumming in her ears as her heart thudded in her chest.
There was no denying that it was getting hard for her not to be with him. She wanted the time with him, the conversations that made her laugh until moisture gathered in her eyes, the look in his eyes that promised to be her pillar of strength, her protector.
She slowly turned to look at him. “I… Since I’m out next week, and if something comes up in the office, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
He shook his head. “Akshara, it’s your vacation. Are you sure you want to talk to me?”
“I do… I want to—”
Her words were lost when she moved, closing the gap between the two of them in the car to crash her lips to his.
He was caught by surprise and responded just as she was pulling away from him. His need to hold her kicked in, and he ran his fingers into her hair, pulling her into a kiss.
She moaned, opening up to the devouring kiss, and he let their tongues tangle. He took in the softness of her lips while enjoying her sweetness.
His need to have more was undying. When they both surfaced for air, she pulled back slightly, her eyes downcast, and her chest heaving heavily.
“I’m sorry, Abhimanyu. Not sure what got into me.” With those words, she turned and was out of the car in a flash.
Abhimanyu looked at her run away from the car through the haze around him and smiled. He knew it was going to be complicated, but he was up for the challenge. He would take on anything for her.
Akshara ran up the stairs to her apartment and unlocked her door in a hurry, still feeling his eyes on her. She shut the door and stood with her back to it, looking up at the ceiling.
What did she do? Why did she have to kiss him? Did he kiss her back?
It was all a blur, but she could feel the tremble in her lips, her heart beating rapidly.
She placed her palm on her chest as if to calm her down and wipe out the moment like it never happened.
Would he be doing the same?