“Toh aap the wo! Kya kr rhe the waha? Wo meri jagah hai!”

(You were the one! What were you doing there? That is my place!)

Karan was shocked at the sudden turn of events. He had just wanted to greet her like the good human that he was.

“Ohh? Do you own that place or something?”

He asked genuinely confused and Monami blinked. He was right. She didn’t own that place. Anyone was free to use it as they wished.

“Nhi. But waha aur koi nhi jaata. So that’s my place.”

(No. But no one else goes there.)

Karan made a face understanding the issue now. She was sentimental about the place.

“I get it! But I like that spot a lot. It’s very peaceful. Would you mind sharing it with me?”

He asked cutely and Monami genuinely considered saying yes for a moment.

“Come on! I know you’re a good person. Please say yes. Mai pakka tumhe tang nhi krunga. I’ll sit in one corner. Please!”

(I will not disturb you.)

He whispered and she bit her lip in contemplation. She knew she couldn’t stop him if he wanted to go there. The man was at least a foot taller than her and definitely much stronger than her considering the size of his muscles. He wasn’t buff. He was lean but muscled.

“Ok. But only if you don’t bother me.”

“I won’t.”

He promised and she nodded. And with that the two proceeded towards their routines.

The very same night, Monami was at the rooftop again. Gazing at the city from the top of the building. Basking in the peace, away from all the chaos.

She heard footsteps and turned to see the same man from earlier climbing the rooftop. She suddenly realised what she was wearing. A tank top and her loose pajamas. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself when he waved at her.

Then, remembering his promise, he moved to the other corner of the rooftop with at least two meters of distance between them which was the maximum that was possible since she was in the middle.

Monami tried her best not to look at him but it was impossible because, well, human nature and second, he was no doubt, good looking. Monami was noticing him now that her anger was down and she was able to think with a calm and sane mind.

She heard the sound of a phone ringing and looked at him. A smile formed on his lips seeing the caller id.

“Hi baby!”

He rested his body on his hands and leaned back smiling into oblivion. Monami felt a pang of disappointment. He had a girlfriend.

“I miss you too meri jaan.”

Monami looked away trying not to listen to his conversation but the weird pang in her chest didn’t go away.

“Really? What did you do then?”

He asked with a soft chuckle. It was fascinating how men like him, so big and muscled, could use such soft voices for girls they love.

He laughed at something the girl on the other side said and listened to her with a soft hum.

“Yes baby, jaldi aaunga milne. I know meri jaan, I miss you too. Yeah..okay… good night. I love you.”

(Yes baby, I will come to meet you soon.)

She heard him sigh in happiness and looked at him. His aura and his face had a strange calm. She didn’t know why she couldn’t get her eyes away from his face. Sensing a gaze on him, Karan turned to look at her, making her look away quickly.

He smiled and looked away knowing very well that she had been looking at him and listening to his conversation. He found himself looking at her again. There was something in her that made it difficult for him to look away.

This morning when he approached her and she sternly asked him not to disturb her, he had found her really cute. Protective of her space and possessive about her things. He didn’t even realise he had been looking at her non-stop until she too turned to look at him.

But that too didn’t waver him. They shared prolonged eye contact. Monami felt his gaze send shivers down her spine. Something told her that he was a very bold lover. He would not shy away from loving his woman. And he would love fiercely.

He cracked a small, flirty smile and she felt her breath hitch. Maybe she was imagining the flirtatious smile because no way he would smile at her like that. He had a girlfriend for God’s sake.

She gave him a small smile back and got up. Without another glance towards him, she walked back to her apartment. Karan sighed and looked up at the sky. Why was his heart beating at an abnormal rate? With just an eye contact.

He sat there for some more time before walking back to his own apartment. That night, he dreamt about her. About them. Together. Which was weird because he didn’t even know her name yet.

Monami had started giving interviews for new companies. It was one such morning and she was extremely nervous because this one company was one of the top companies in the country and she had not expected a reply from them.

But now, she has an interview there and she was sweating due to nervousness. If she made this, her life could change forever. Just as she was mentally prepping herself, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned to see the man from the rooftop. The same man who made her feel shivers down her spine with just a single eye contact. The man whose name she didn’t know and the man who probably has a girlfriend.

“Hi! We met again. I hope I didn’t bother you last night.”

Karan said with a charming smile. He just couldn’t resist talking to her. The entire night, he’d thought about her and the eye contact that they shared. When she didn’t reply to his greeting, he waved a hand in front of her, making her snap out of her reverie.

She looked away embarrassed and cleared her throat.

“No, no you didn’t,”

She whispered and he nodded with a smile.