"Now I'm going to show you the best part of the lab. You can take off your mask, gloves and glasses."

She did so and he put them aside. He then opened the back door of the lab and ushered her forward. As soon as she stepped out her eyes widened in surprise and her mouth parted in awe.

It was so pretty.

"This-this is yours?"

In front of her was the most beautiful personal garden she had ever seen.

Sriansh smiled seeing her excitement.

"Yeah! All of the scientists here are given their own labs and personal space for gardening the plants and flowers they work upon. This one is mine."

"You can go near and touch them. Dangerous wale sabse peeche hai so you're safe. Out in front are the flowers."

She bent down and touched the flowers at his permission and a soft smile graced her lips as she took in the fragrance of the flowers.

"Here! Let me click a picture of you."

He said putting his hand forward for her phone.

"Sachi?"

He nodded and she gave him her phone after opening the camera. He clicked a few pictures of her in different poses.

"Ek aapke saath! Yaadgaar rehni chahiye na!"

She said and called him closer. He stood beside her and bent down to her height, which was a task because he was 6 feet and towered over her. He had to bend at an odd angle and brought his face besides hers.

They smiled at the camera and Shatakshi clicked the pictures.

"Thank you so much. Mai ye din kabhi nhi bhulungi."

"Me too."

He whispered looking at her.

"Forward me the pictures?"

He asked and she nodded. Perfect! He'll get her number now.

Shatakshi reached her PG and was smiling wide. The day was perfect. As soon as she saw her room empty indicating that Nisha was still not back, she texted Sriansh and sent him all the pictures.

When she was going through them after sending it to him, she saw one of their selfies where he was looking at her while she grinned at the camera.

A shy smile graced her lips and the very moment her phone pinged indicating his message.

A lotus in a field of flowers.

That was what he commented on one of her solo pictures in the garden. And oh boy! She was sure she was as red as a rose.

Since that day, Sriansh and Shatakshi have been chatting regularly. Soham still doesn't know that Sriansh has met her twice and was even in touch with her.

Shatakshi had an event where she and other artists were invited to display their paintings to potential buyers. She had invited Sriansh too.

Thankfully, Soham wasn't home when Sriansh was getting ready for the event or he would have to give reasons to him.

Shatakshi was wearing a black full length gown which had spaghetti straps. Her hair were left loose and were curled at the ends. She had light makeup on and she looked so pretty.

Sriansh too was wearing a black suit. When she'd told him she'd be wearing black, he decided that he was going to match her.

He reached the address she gave him and searched for her. She was talking to a woman and he smiled with his hands in his pocket. Professionalism suited her.

Her eyes met his and a spark shone in hers. She excused herself from the woman and walked towards him with a wide smile.

"Hi!"

She chirped as soon as she reached close to him. He breathed a greeting back. She looked so gorgeous that she took his breath away. His gaze made her feel shy and she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Come! Let me give you a tour of my paintings now."

She said and held his hand. Sriansh lost contact with the world there itself. She was holding him. He didn't want anything else at the moment.

She showed him her paintings and he kept looking at and listening to her.

Shatakshi reached the tapri (tea stall) near her PG. Sriansh was already there.

"Hi! Why did you call me here?"

She asked making him smile.

"Chai peeogi mere saath?"

Why did it feel like he was asking her out on a date? And why the hell did she blush? She nodded and he asked her to sit while sitting beside her.

"Bhaiya! Do kadak masala chai lagana."

Sriansh gave the order and she grinned. People usually asked for coffees. But she was never a fan of coffee. Tea was love.

"I've got something for you."

He said telling her the main purpose of him calling her here. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He pulled out a small packaged bottle from his pocket.

"Ye kya hai?"

She asked and Sriansh smiled.

"Lavender oil. Specially extracted for you."

Shatakshi gasped and looked at him wide eyed.

"B-but you said it costs thousands. Even a drop of it. I can't take such a costly gift Sriansh. And I definitely can't afford to buy this. I-"

"Shh! When did I ask you to buy? Aur gift mai de rha hu na. Let me decide if it's costly to me or not. And let me tell you, tumhari uss precious smile ke aage this costs nothing."

His words stirred something inside her and she looked into his eyes. Why did he say things that made her heart skip a beat.

She smiled wide and took the bottle from him.

"Thank you. You have no idea how special you've made this day for me."

"And this smile just made my whole week."

He said and she chuckled hitting his arm at his flirty lines.

"But you said ki isse direct skin pr nhi laga skte. Toh phir?"

"Take very small amount. Less than a drop and jo bhi kapda pehno uske shoulder ya collar pr laga lena. The fragrance will last all day even with heavy sweating."

She nodded and thanked him again safely keeping the bottle with her. Their tea was served which the two of them had with wide smiles on their faces, laughing and teasing each other.

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