Anika sat working out a few things in her office. Nothing about him ever left her. Pinky was managing everything at home. She had told her she'd be home by lunch to help her out. She did not want Pinky to stress out or work a lot. In excitement especially, Pinky never took care of her health. She could feel the excitement in the trio to shift back into the mansion. But they couldn't feel her heartbreak there percase.
Shakti and Shivaay had also left in a hurry for the court. It was likely that the insurance company would push the case yet again with their tactics but still the two were adamant on not giving up. Well, it had cost them their home and their older factory.
Anika finished skimming through the bills of the last event and satisfactorily kept it aside. Most employees were busy with the Mehra's event while she was personally putting a little focus on the wedding anniversary celebrations in the family. She had already bought them gifts. Now the venue was finalized. Only the cards had been delayed. She called to enquire about them. They would be here with prototypes in some time and then the finals one would be printed and sent out by the evening. She quickly took a printout of the list of guests. She wasn't just the event manager but also the host for this event. Nothing could go wrong here. She had personally taken care of seeing to it that all Pinky and Shakti's friends were invited. Viren uncle had helped her a lot at it.
"Come in!" She said when she heard a knock at the door, while she skimmed through the last few names on the second half of the paper. Seconds later she was surprised to find her husband standing and looking at her- in adoration.
Before she could even open her mouth he made his way to the chair and sat there. This was odd. Once upon a time this was his office and it used to be Anika sitting on the chair where he sat whenever she came over to meet him. Generally, for lunch.
"Hi. I am sorry... I was." She raised the paper in hand.
He sighed. "Doesn't matter. So how is day going so far, Mrs. Oberoi?"
She was slightly uncomfortable under his gaze and the kind of professional respect he gave her. He always used to say she would mange the work well and should work with him. But Anika knew better to keep herself out of his professional life. It was better that way. Only when he had to leave he had requested her to take over and although skeptic initially she had agreed. Anika had always been the topper at college and she fell into the category of "perfect nerd". She barely participated in events and competitions. She always preferred to work in background. An entire responsibility on her head was huge and she used to fret over their telephonic conversations. He would always guide her. The minute she would find herself in a fix she would immediately drop him a call or text and he would help her out. A month and she was nothing less than experienced. She had the reputation of being a quick learner always.
" So far fine. How come-?"
"You know that- I am proud of you Anika. I always said you'd do this better than me. See. It's evident!" He said looking right into her eyes. This woman was something else. His eyes drifted to the wall. Quite a lot of changes in his office. It was more lively than before. "Hey, those pictures." He said pointing to the picture grid.
"Those pictures, are each from an event over the past few months."
Impressed, he got up to have a closer look. "Is this the opening of Dad's new project?" He asked looking closely at a picture of his dad, mom and wife. This event had happened in the month following his trip.
"Yeah!"
"Damn, I missed out on a lot. Oh, before I forget what I came for-" he said walking towards her chair.
With his every step her heartbeat accelerated. She couldn't ignore that he looked irresistibly handsome in that grey suit. He sat on the large desk. Anika slightly turned her chair and pushed it slightly backward. She looked up at him.
He stared right down at her. God ! Mercy! She was nothing if not sexy in that simple deep royal blue kurti with slits starting at the shoulders all the way up to her wrist. Her taste in fashion had certainly improved. Those arms! He couldn't help but imagine them around him, those perfect fingers digging into his back. Could he just take his wife right away? Office had always been on his fantasy lists but she had never let it happen.
"You were saying something" she said aloud unable to refrain from guessing in her mind, what he was thinking while looking at her like that.
"Right!" He said pushing away his thoughts. "Mom-dad's anniversary."
"Oh that , venue done, guest list done, arrangements done just invitations left." She said proudly looking at the guest list.
"Woah that's Nice. But there is a small change."
She frowned looking up at him. "What?"
"The venue. It's happening at home, I mean Oberoi Mansion." He said proudly.
She looked up at him. That was actually a nice idea. The mansion was more than huge to accommodate the guests. But--well she had to admit it was best. She had no defense to put up.
"Alright. I will see to that. You could have called or texted about it. See you lost so much time coming all the way here." She said typing out a mail to notify Vishal about the change in venue.
"Yeah. But I had other plans as well!" He said getting off he table and leaning his back against the table. She raised her gaze from the keyboard and turned to look at him. Other plans?
"I hope you can have a quick lunch break with your husband?"
"Ahh, Shivaay." Think of something,quick.
He looked at her as she pronounced his name. Anika caught that . Seems like the air conditioner had stopped working. She felt warm, very warm. Oh dear! It was his burning gaze. He hadn't had to wait. He slowly pulled her chair by its arm. He was now hovering upon her sitting figure with his hands on the the armrests of the chair. She closed her eyes breathing deeply. His new scent, the scent of his bodywash hit her nostrils. His perfume blended well with the scent of body wash. There was another scent that was different. Coffee, of course.
She squeezed her already closed eyes as his finger moved from her face to the back of her head. Tilting her face upwards.
Damn! There was a knock on the door.
Anika's eyes shot open realizing she had gone with flow. She did not know she was gaping until his finger pushed up, her lower jaw. He pushed her chair back turning it so that her face was towards the computer.He then walked up to the wall with the picture grid.
"Come in!" They both said simultaneously. Their eyes met for a jiffy .
"Ma'am here are the prototypes." Said one of the employees, Tanuja.
"Oh- Good afternoon Sir!" She spoke as she realised who the man was. He smiled walking over the table. He saw the cards and moved his hand to pick one. At the precise moment, Anika's hand also landed on that one. Smiling, he let her take it. She blinked awkwardly and was looking at the design when she felt him standing close and looking over.
He had this strange feeling when he read the line -" Mr. And Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi cordially-"
He then looked at another card that had caught his eye. He picked it up and in a moment knew Anika would love this one better. He passed the card to her and she actually liked it.
"This one,it is then?" She asked his opinion.
"Perfect!" He remarked.
She handed Tanuja the card and gave the guest list to the girl. Mentioning about the change of venue to be made on card.
"Ma'am the new address?"
Anika looked unsure when Shivaay took a pen and scribbled it on a piece of paper handing it to Tanuja.
"Thank you Sir!" Shivaay nodded with a formal smile.
She smiled back, widely. Of course, she wasn't used to getting smile by the Handsome Boss.
Anika tried not to pay heed to it. "Shivaay I am going home for lunch." She continued where the topic had been left before their little distraction.
"What?" he expressed his surprise.
"Yeah."
"Guess my timing is going bad!" He shrugged making a cute face and then laughed.
Anika shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. She told herself she wasn't blushing. Well at least she was satisfied that way. They left together for home.
"Anika- We still have our talk pending." He said focusing on the road. He missed California only for its roads.
She sat up hesitantly. "What talk?"
He eyed her from the corner of his eyes. "You know it. There is something bothering you and I know it. But what is it?"
"There is nothing. " she said simply looking out.
He sighed audibly. "Fine. When you feel right, tell me."
She sat in silence. He couldn't help but notice the changes. She was so silent, at least around him. It killed him. Wasn't he the only person she couldn't stop talking to before? He remembered, how on so many occasions he had literally kissed her to stop her on going radio. The worse part of it, her world of stories and observations came to live at nights. But nevertheless he enjoyed listening to her observations, her vivid awkward talks and everything. But ever since he had come it wasn't the same. He had tried hard to convince himself it wasn't about that argument they had had almost six months back. But, he knew, deep down it was just that. He had never spoken to her that way ever before. Ever since that day their conversations had grown smaller. He knew she was upset over it. But he had thought once she would see him in person she would forget all her anger and bitterness of that day and hug him. Hell, she hadn't even hugged him like she used to. He knew sooner or later he had to talk and they had to sort it out. But she wasn't willing to talk. He decided to give her time, if that's what she wanted. This couldn't work one way. A little of his heart pained, he couldn't wait to finally get to her. He was so close and yet so far from her. Biting the inner of his lips in frustration he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
-Anami!