“Tu khush hai waha?”

(You’re happy there?)

“Bhut jyada.”

(A lot.)

Aanya said honestly and beamed at Abhimanyu who kissed her knuckles. Her mother couldn’t see what happened but she saw the blush on her daughter’s face and smiled.

“Mai baad mai krti hu. Dekh lo movie aaram se.”

(I will talk later. Watch your movie.)

“Nhi ruko! Mai aapko house tour deti hu. Papa ko bhi bulao.”

(No wait! I will give you a house tour. Call papa.)

She then turned to Abhimanyu and whispered that she’d be back soon. Abhimanyu smiled and nodded. Her soon turned into 45 minutes. But he knew she missed her parents and needed the time with them too.

She came back bouncing happily and threw herself besides him, beaming up at him and suddenly all the waiting felt like nothing.

“Ho gyi baat?”

(Done talking?)

She hummed and asked him to resume the movie. He dimmed the lights again and resumed it. Aanya had her head rested against his shoulder while wrapping both her arms around his bicep. 

He sat with his legs straight in front of him and one ankle crossed over the other. One of his hands held the popcorn bucket for her.

Abhimanyu smirked when he felt her freeze. The couple on the screen have started kissing. He heard her gasp and slowly retrieve herself from his embrace. She sat straight and tried not to let their proximity affect her.

Abhimanyu looked at her to see her reactions. The faint glow from the screen illuminated her face. She was biting her lip and he was sure that if he increased the lighting he could see the faint red on her cheeks.

He saw her eyes widen before she closed them for a moment. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the couple on screen start to make love. 

Abhimanyu saw Aanya’s head turn towards him to see if he was paying attention. He didn’t bother looking away from her. Their eyes met. An unsaid moment passed and they moved closer. Just a beat.

His warm, calloused palm covered her dainty one. A shiver passed down her body and she leaned closer.

One of his palms cupped her face. His fingers going behind her ear and thumb softly caressing her cheeks as he pulled her closer.

His gaze travelled down to her lips and then back to her eyes, asking for silent permission. She closed her eyes and moved closer, keeping her palm on his thigh, giving him the permission he sought.

He inched closer and she felt a soft brush of his lips against hers. Her entire body tingled with awareness. It was happening. She was kissing him. 

Abhimanyu pressed his lips against hers more firmly, sucking her lower lip and giving soft pecks. Aanya returned his kisses and her grip on his thigh tightened. Her body felt like it was on fire and the kiss had just begun.

She gasped when he pulled her over his lap. She straddled him and looked at him wide eyed for a few seconds. He smirked naughtily and held her nape, pulling her down and kissing her hungrily. 

Their kiss was broken by a loud sound. Aanya turned and focused on the screen to see that some action scenes were going on. She looked back at Abhimanyu, her hands still cupping his face and lowered her lashes.

A soft giggle escaped her lips and she hid her face in his shoulder, giggling. Abhimanyu chuckled and kissed her shoulder, rounding his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

Aanya kept her laptop aside after completing her work and stretched her body. She got off the bed and looked for Abhimanyu.

Assuming that he must be in his study where he attended meetings from home, she went in that direction only to come to a halt. He was yelling at someone. And furiously yelling.

“DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THIS SITUATION? WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 1000s OF CRORES OF DOLLARS HERE! I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU DO OR HOW YOU DO IT. I WANT THE NAME TOMORROW! AM I CLEAR?”

Aanya bit her lip in contemplation. Should she leave and let him calm down on his own or go inside and be there with him. After debating with herself for some time, she entered in without knocking.

He was still shouting instructions at people. Hearing the door creak open, he turned around and their eyes met. His eyes softened a bit as he took her form in and she gave him a small smile.

She took slow steps towards him and stood directly before him. His eyes followed each of her movements.

“I want all the details by tomorrow. No excuses or be ready with your resignation.”

With the final word, he disconnected the call and sighed. He massaged his temple and mumbled.

“Go from here, love. I don’t want to say something I’ll regret later. My mind is not at the right place right now.”

Aanya didn’t leave. Instead, she round her arms around his waist. She gave him time. Stayed silent and let him calm down. He relaxed and sighed.

“What happened?”

She asked after some time and he groaned in annoyance and anger.

“Someone has leaked very confidential information about our latest project. We’ve lost 1000s of crores of dollars and everything is a mess.”

She could see how tense he was. She held his wrist and pulled him towards the couch. She made him sit and sat herself on his lap. He smiled despite the worry and kissed her shoulder.

“I don’t know how these things work. But I know that you’re a damn good businessman, Abhimanyu. I’m sure everything will be fine soon.”

Abhimanyu shook his head and said.

“We might get to know who did this but that would not overturn the losses we’ve already faced.”

“I know this is something you’ve worked for all your life. The business, the company, the projects. But life sirf ek project tak nhi hai na. Ek gaya hai. Aage hazaro aayenge. Aur unke aage ye loss chhota lagne lagega.”

(But life is not just till one project. Thousands more will come. This will seem small in front of this.)

He smiled slightly and shook his head. He started to say something but she interrupted.

“Aur waise bhi…aap thode se kam ameer ho jaayenge mai tab bhi saath rahungi.”

(And moreover…I will still be with you even if you get a little less rich.)

She teased and he chuckled. She giggled and continued.