“Good morning, Mr. Sehgal!”

She took her seat in front of him and grinned. His lips curled into a smile but then he remembered the picture.

“You’re back. How was the wedding?”

He tried to keep his tone as casual as possible. Priya’s eyes sparkled, remembering the event.

“It was beautiful. Tisha itni pyaari lag rhi thi na…uff! Uska aur jiju ka couple kaafi cute hai. Maine pictures daali hai. Dekhi aapne?”

(Tisha was looking so pretty….uff! Her and jiju’s couple is really cute. I uploaded the pictures. Did you see?)

He hummed, his mood turning sour at the mention of the ‘pictures’.

“Pyaare hai na dono?”

(They are cute right?)

He hummed again and Priya started narrating the details of the event.

“...aur phir hum sabne mauka dekhte hi jiju ke joote-”

(…and then we saw the opportunity and took jiju’s shoes-)

“Wo ladka kaun tha?”

(Who was that boy?)

Priya stopped. Blinked. Raised her eyebrow and asked.

“Huh?”

“Photo mai. Tumhare saath. Wo ladka kaun tha?”

(In the photo. With you. Who was that boy?)

Priya blinked as if trying to recall what he was talking about. Then it clicked.

“Arre wo! Sanchit tha.”

(Oh that! He was Sanchit.)

Atharva nodded solemnly. 

“Sanchit. Kaafi close lag rhe the dono.”

(You looked quite close.)

His face and voice were neutral but inside he was burning with jealousy. Priya, unknown to the entire thing, rambled. Her words, working as offerings into fire.

“Haan matlab school se friends hai. Aapko pata hai…usko na school time se crush tha mere par. Maine kabhi dhyan nhi dia. Uss waqt mera focus kuch aur tha and honestly I did not feel anything for him that way. But I think he still feels something. Itna sharmate huye aaya tha mere paas. ‘Ummm…Priya…ek photo….tumhare saath.’ So cute!”

(Yes I mean we are friends from school. You know…he had a crush on me during school times. I never paid attention. My focus was something else that time and honestly, I did not feel anything for him that way….He was blushing so much when he came to me. ‘Ummm…Priya…one photo…with you.’ So cute!”

She giggled and Atharva clenched his jaw, mentally planning Sanchit’s murder in his head. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table and kept his fist against his lips. His eyes, sharp and following each movement of hers.

“Cute? Kuch time pehle tak toh tumhe mai cute lag raha tha.”

(You found me cute some time back.)

Priya was surprised at the sharpness of his words. Then, it struck her. He was jealous. She bit her lip and decided to tease just a little more.

“Haan toh? Baaki koi cute nhi ho skta kya? Waise ab handsome bhi ho jaya hai Sanchit. Achha lag raha tha shaadi mai.”

(So? Nobody else can be cute? Sanchit has gotten handsome. He looked good in the wedding.)

She then smiled mischievously and started to get up.

“Waise aap busy lag rhe the. Continue. Mai jaati hu.”

(You look busy. Continue. I will leave.)

She turned around but stopped hearing his voice.

“Wait!”

Atharva got up and walked towards her. Slow, predatory steps that had her moving backwards in nervousness.

“Ath-Mr. Sehgal?”

He shook his head and said.

“Atharva!”

“Huh?”

She blinked, unable to process anything with him walking towards her like that. She didn’t realise when she reached the wall and was trapped against it.

He kept a hand beside her head, caging her in. Her breath hitched and she looked into his eyes. He leaned in and lined his lips against her ear.

“I loved how my name sounded on your lips. Call me by my name, Priya.”

“A-atharva?”

She whispered, unable to understand the sudden change in him. He hummed in satisfaction and pulled away just a little to come face to face with her.

Their faces, just inches apart. So close that she could see every minute detail on his face. 

“You love me. Remember that.”

He said as if reminding her that Sanchit meant nothing to her. He was the one she loved. Priya smiled and bit the inside of her lip.

“Mujhe yaad hai. It’s you who need to remember…”

(I remember.)

She leaned in, lining her lips against his ear before whispering the confession.

“...I love you, Atharva.”

She placed a soft, brief peck on his cheeks, making his hand that was beside her head fall in shock. She giggled and took her escape, leaving him reeling in shock. 

A soft, shy smile formed on his lips. The tips of his ears turned pink and chuckled, touching his cheek where she kissed.

Priya barged into his office once again with a wide grin on her face.

“Athar…va? Ye kaha chale gye?”

(Where did he go?)

She frowned seeing the office empty. She went down and searched for him. She knocked on his room’s door but found it empty too.

“Ye kaha chale gye Sunday subha subha?”

(Where did he go on Sunday morning?)

Priya found the lady caretaker and asked her.

“Aunty! Atharva kaha gye hai?”

(Where did Atharva go?)

“Sahab ki meeting thi koi zaruri. Bolke gye hai ki din tak aa jaayenge.”

(He had an important meeting. He said he would be back by noon.)

Priya nodded and asked.

“Breakfast kia tha unhone?”

(Did he have his breakfast?)

“Jee. Kr lia tha. Aapke liye kuch laau?”

(Yes. He did. Should I get something for you?)

“Arre nhi nhi. Mai thik hu. Wo aaye aur puchhe toh mai terrace pr hu.”

(No no. I am fine. If he asks for me, I am on the terrace.)

The lady nodded and Priya went to the terrace. It was very tastefully made and looked like a mini home in itself.

Priya made herself comfortable and took out her book. She didn’t even realise when time passed. She looked up only when she heard hurried footsteps and saw Atharva rush towards her with a wide, excited grin.

Priya got up to greet him but before she could even utter a word, he picked her up by wrapping his arms around her thighs and twirled her around.

“Athrava! Kya kr rhe hai?”

(What are you doing?)

She asked while giggling. His happiness was so infectious that she felt her entire being hum with happiness. He put her down after a few circles and looked at her with shining eyes.

“I just got the biggest project of my life. The biggest one till now, Priya. Can you believe it? They are ready to partner!”

Priya grinned with pride and cupped his cheeks.

“I’m so happy for you, Atharva. You deserve it. All the success. Bhagwaan aapko issi tarah dher saari success dete rahe.”

(May God give you a lot of success like this.)

She prayed and kissed his forehead. He held his hand behind his back and leaned in mischievously.

“Waise mujhe kuch reward ya gift toh milna chahiye na itni badi success ke liye?”

(Should I not get a gift or reward for such a big success?)

“Haan. Lekin mere paas filhaal kuch nhi hai. Aap pehle bata dete toh mai kuch le aati.”

(Yes. But I don’t have anything for now. I would have brought something if you’d told me beforehand.)

Priya said, not getting his hint. Atharva poked his tongue against the inside of his cheek and spoke innocently.

“Socho…aur kya de skti ho.”

(Think…what else can you give.)

He said subtly, forwarding his cheek. Priya bit her lip, understanding his actions.

“Aur kuch toh nhi hai mere paas. Kissie chalegi?”

(I don’t have anything else. Will a kiss work?)

She asked, playing along and he shrugged as if accepting because there was no other option.

“Jo tum dil se dedo.”

(Whatever you give wholeheartedly.)

Priya giggled and went on her tip toes to place a soft, brief peck on his cheek. Atharva closed his eyes and smiled. He then turned his face, bringing the other cheek forward.