Aditya sat in his usual chair, but today, his posture wasn't as relaxed as it normally was. Every few minutes, he would adjust his watch or tap his fingers on the desk.

He was waiting.

It was a strange feeling, impatience. Usually, people waited for him. But today, his ears were tuned to the sound of the driveway. He realized with a jolt of annoyance that he didn't even know her name. 

"Sir, flowers aa gaye hain."

(Sir, flowers are here.)

His head of security's voice crackled through the intercom.

"Andar aane do."

(Let them come inside.)

Aditya replied, his voice deep and controlled. He quickly wiped the expectant look off his face, replacing it with his signature don't-mess-with-me poker face. He leaned back, crossing his legs, looking every bit the dangerous man the world feared.

Then, he heard it. Even before the doors opened, he heard a high-pitched, bubbly voice arguing with the guards in the hallway.

"Arrey bhaiya, thoda smile toh karo! Tension mat lo, main bomb nahi leke ja rahi!"

(Arre brother, smile a little! Don’t worry, I am not taking a bomb!)

Aditya's lips curled into a tiny, involuntary smile. He quickly bit his lip to flatten it back into a straight line.

The doors swung open, and the scent of fresh orange and sweet vanilla flooded the room.

Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.

Her sneakers were as loud as her personality. She walked in with a heavy thud of her crate hitting the floor.

"Hellooooo! Good morning, Mr. Grumpy! Kya haal chaal?"

(How are you?)

Aditya didn't move.

"Tum phir aa gayi."

(You are here again.)

"Haan toh? Aap hi ne toh bulaya tha! Admit it, aapko meri baatein miss ho rahi thi na?"

(Yes so? You only called me! Admit it, you missed my talks?)

Mehak chirped, already busy pulling out the old lilies and replacing them with vibrant tulips.

"Maine sirf phoolon ke liye kaha tha."

(I just asked for the flowers.)

Aditya said coldly, though his heart was starting to drum a rhythmic beat against his ribs.

"Jhoothe!"

(Liar!)

Mehak laughed. She moved closer to his desk to place a small vase. Aditya could feel her warmth as she leaned over. He could hear the rustle of her denim jacket.

"Waise, sir, maine kal ghar jaake aapke baare mein bohot socha."

(By the way, sir, I thought about you a lot at home.)

She said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. Aditya raised an eyebrow behind his glasses.

"Sach mein? Tumhe kisi ne bataya nahi ki main kitna khatarnak hoon?"

(Really? Did no one tell you I am dangerous?)

"Oh, maasi ne toh poora lecture diya! She said you are like a shark, you eat people for breakfast, you have a dark soul, blah blah...but honestly?"

(Oh, maasi gave an entire lecture!)

Mehak paused, and Aditya found himself leaning in just an inch.

"I think you're just a big teddy bear hiding inside a thorny bush. Aapne abhi tak mujhpe chillaya nahi hai, jabki main itna bak-bak kar rahi hoon. It means you like it!"

(You did not yell at me, even though I am been blabbering.)

Aditya scoffed, though he felt a strange warmth spreading in his chest.

"Teddy bear? Agar mere dushman ye sunenge toh wo has has ke mar jayenge."

(If my enemies listen to this, they would die laughing.)

"Toh hasne do na! Hasna sehat ke liye achha hota hai."

(Let them laugh! It’s good to laugh.)

Mehak said. She finished the flowers and sat on the edge of his desk, a move so bold that even his highest-ranking generals wouldn't dare to try. Aditya froze. He could feel the vibration of her sitting there.

"Desk se utro."

(Get off the desk.)

"Nahi! Pehle mera naam pucho. Kal se aapne mera naam nahi pucha. It's so rude, you know?"

(No! First ask me my name. You did not ask my name since yesterday. It’s so rude, you know?)

Aditya sighed.

"Thik hai. Kya naam hai tumhara?"

(Fine. What is your name?)

"Mehak! Like the fragrance. Fit baithta hai na mujhpe?"

(Doesn’t it fit me?)

"Mehak."

Aditya repeated slowly. The way the name rolled off his tongue felt...right. It suited the citrus and vanilla scent that had taken over his room.

"Thik hai, Mehak. Ab phool rakh diye hain toh ja sakti ho."

(Fine, Mehak. You can leave now that you’ve kept the flowers.)

But Mehak didn't move. She was looking at him, her eyes tracing his features. Aditya felt the intensity of her gaze. Even though he couldn't see, he felt exposed.

"Sir, ek baat bolu? Bura mat manna please."

(Sir, can I say something? Don’t be offended.)

She said, her tone becoming a bit more playful, a bit more daring.

"Ab tak itni baatein bol chuki ho, tab toh nhi puchha. Ab puchhke kya faayda?"

(You have spoken so much today, you did not ask then. What is the use of asking now?)

Mehak chuckled. She leaned forward, her face just a few inches away from his. Aditya could hear her soft breathing.

"Actually...I think I'm developing a tiny, cute, little crush on you."

The silence that followed was heavy. Aditya felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. His brain, usually three steps ahead of everyone, completely stalled.

"Crush?"

He managed to choke out.

"Haan! I mean, look at you! Aapki presence itni strong hai. Aur aapka wo blush...oh my God, it was so cute yesterday! Plus, you have this mysterious dark hero thing going on. Meri filmy soul ko bohot pasand aa raha hai."

(Yes! I mean, look at you! Your presence is so strong. And your blush…oh my God, it was so cute yesterday! Plus, you have this mysterious dark hero thing going on. My filmy soul is liking it a lot.)

Aditya tried to say something but his throat was dry. He could feel the heat rising. It started at his collar and rushed up to his face. Mehak giggled, clapping her hands.

"Oye hoye! Phir se! Look at that! Sir, aap toh ek dum tamatar ban gaye ho! Look at your ears! They are glowing red!"

(Again! Look at that! Sir, you have become a tomato!)

"Shut up, Mehak!"

Aditya snapped, but there was no bite in his voice. He turned his head away, trying to hide his face, but he knew it was futile. 

"Don't be shy, Hot Sir! Crush hi toh hai, koi kidney thodi maang li!"

(It’s just a crush, I did not ask for a kidney!)

She hopped off the desk, her laughter echoing.

"Main ja rahi hoon, warna aap sharam ke maare pighal jaoge."

(I am going, otherwise you will melt due to shyness.)

She grabbed her empty crate and headed for the door, skipping.

"Kal milte hain! Same time, same place!"

(We will meet tomorrow!)

The doors slammed shut behind her. Aditya sat there for a long time, his hands covering his face. He could still hear her laughter. He could still feel the warmth of her presence.

He was supposed to be a man of steel, a man of darkness. But Mehak had walked in and turned him into a tomato within ten minutes.

He leaned back, a hand over his rapidly beating heart. He should be angry. He should ban her from the estate.

"Crush."

He whispered, a small smile breaking through his poker face.

"Pagal ladki."

(Crazy girl.)