Chapter 46

Manjari cut Vimal’s call and rose to her feet giving her attention to the tall and handsome who was standing before her.

Man: Manjari ?

Manjari gulped at the confidence in his voice and hummed and bobed her head at the same time. The man out-stretched his hands for her Manjari who hesitated a little but put out and shook hand with him.

Man: I m Harish, Hema’s brother and finally I m so pleased to meet the lady whom my sister wanted me to almost babysit.

Manjari: Ouch, I m so sorry and I hope she didn’t mean that exactly. I mean…

Harish: Relax Manjari, I was just kidding though she did mention on taking special care of you so I m here to say that you could come to me anytime if something bothers you here.

Manjari: Thats so nice of you, thank you sir.

Harish: Just Harish would be fine and you will work in my team of assistants. I will have them informed on training you. Feel good around here.

Manjari thanked him and watched Harish enter his room that was direct to the cabins of the assistants. She returned to her seat and called Vimal and informed him that she had to meet the MD.

At the penthouse Aadhi was painting her side of wall and paints and brushes were scattered on the floor. She had a brush stuck behind her ear while she stood watching the masterpiece of bunny and bambie. Rishi picked a tissue and wiped the paint of her face and watched the art with his arm around her shoulder.

They heard door bell and Aadhi rushed to check. She opened the door and squealed on seeing Latha. They engulfed each other in a hug and exchanged greetings before Aadhi passed the gifts to her which she bought from Maldives. Aadhi followed Latha to the kitchen and listened to everything Latha said about Rishi in those 6 months especially his interest in cooking.

Aadhi: I was really surprised that he learnt cooking for me. Thank you aunty for teaching him and I m sorry if he troubled you.

Latha: He actually made a video of everything he cooked.

Aadhi: What ???????

Aadhi immediately jumped of the counter and rushed to the bedroom and saw Rishi on a call with Sudhir. She stood before him waiting eagerly for him to cut the call. Rishi threw his mobile over the bed and Aadhi immediately asked him about the videos. Rishi pulled her to the bed and placed his laptop before her.He opened the first cooking video and Aadhi shed tears on watching him to serving a plate for her too and talking as if she was present before her. Aadhi wiped her tears and without a word she simply moved to his lap with her arms around his neck, her cheek pressed against his chest.

Rishi: Are you emotional baby ?

Aadhi: Nope, I m so much in love and I m thinking of a way to express it. So how do I do ?

Rishi chuckled at her words and raised her head to look at him. He pointed his lips to her with a smile, a way to express her love.

Aadhi: But I haven’t watched the rest of the videos yet so you need to hold on honestly.

Rishi: How about you express your love at the end of every video ? You know its a win – win for us.

Aadhi shook her head and pointed to the folder on the screen. Rishi played the videos one by one holding her to his chest. Three hours later they were on the terrace. Rishi was swimming and Aadhi was seated on the edge with her legs dipped in the water. She was holding a bubble gun and shooting bubbles and poking them with her finger.

Rishi: Aadhu, how about we watch a movie in theatre ?

Aadhi: I would love that but we shall wait until the weekend cause we are getting back to our routine from tomorrow. I mean you with your business and I will get back with my studies. No objections on this.

Rishi: You are cruel Aadhu.

Aadhi: That I m Rishu, so we got to enjoy this day.

Before she could speak a word further Rishi pulled her into the pool and Aadhi gasped in shock and clinged on to him for support.

Aadhi: You scared me Rishu, how could you do this ? Let me out of here.

Rishi: You thought I got you in here to let you out just like that. Lets bargain to get you out. How about we recreate the night from Goa ?

Aadhi: One kiss.

Rishi: May be a little more than what happened that night then.

Aadhi: Its a wrong way of bargaining Rishu. You are supposed to go low on your demands.

Rishi: Everything is fair in love and war baby so your turn.

Aadhi: I go with your first demand.

Rishi smiled and started kissing her. Aadhi felt her heart thudding due to the feeling of his bare skin. The shirt she wore stuck like a second skin and they could feel each other alomost skin to skin. Rishi grazed her back with his palm and Aadhi’s legs moved on it own accord and wrapped around his waist. Rishi got out of the pool and laid her on the sunlounger. Slowly he broke the kiss and his lips moved to her jawline and then on to her neck. Aadhi immediately tilt her head giving him more access. She had her eyes closed and moaned when he sucked on her pulse. He sneaked his hand beneath her shirt and started caressing her bare back for a while.

Rishi grunted in appreciation on feeling her fingers trace his bare back. His hands moved to her front and caressed her waist and abdomen while he continued to kiss her neck. He undid the first button of her shirt and started sucking on her chest and cleavage. Aadhi started moaning and her body trembled to his touch on her bare skin. She hissed and pulled his hair when he gave a bite on her chest. He then kissed her to soothe the pain and resumed peppering kisses.

Aadhi who had her face buried in the crook of his neck bit him when his hands rested on her bare thigh since she was wearing a shorts. He sqeezed her thighs gently and with a groan crushed her in his embrace feeling the rush in his hormones.

Rishi: Its my cue to stop right here baby.

He pecked her cheek and laid next to her on the sunlounger. Aadhi slowly turned to him and placed her head over his chest and her hand over his waist. Rishi smiled and caressed her arm with a smile and kissed her crown. All of a sudden he heard her chuckle and watched her get down from the sunlounger. He proped on his elbows and watched her gather her hair to front.

Rishi: Why do you laugh now ?

Aadhi: At the speed we are progressing, I doubt if we would wait until I will be done with my studies.

Rishi Mv: Sure, I will die of blue balls.

Rishi: Arghhh, please don’t remind of those long 16 months.

With a grunt he followed her back to the room and they spent the rest of the day watching movie and playing ludo.

Manjari walked out of her office building and saw surprised to see Vimal waiting for her in his car. On seeing her, he rushed to her and gave a hug which surprised her. As soon as they were in the car Vimal kissed her cheek.

Manjari: Weren’t you suppose to be busy in your projects ?

Vimal: Yes ofcourse but I thought I would pick you up on your first day and have dinner together to celebrate your first day at work. And another surprise to you, I have booked a cottage for this weekend. We shall leave Friday evening and be back on Monday morning to get back to our works.

Manjari smiled and leaned over his shoulder on hearing his words. Vimal parked the car at a restaurant and together they entered hand in hand to the table he bookedfor them. He pulled a chair for her before he got seated opposite to her. They talked about her first day and Manjari was excited about their weekend trip. Vimal ordered all her favourite foods and dessert. On way back to home he bought her favourite flowers. They were so happy and cuddled to sleep.

The next morning Aadhi woke up at 4 and tried to get out of the bed but Rishi pulled her back.

Rishi: Where are you going at this hours Aadhu ?

Aadhi: Rishu its already 4, I need to get ready and finish the pooja before I start preparing breakfast.

Rishi: Don’t bother with all these pooja things in the morning. Lets wake up at 6 to get ready. Pooja can be done on special occassions alone.

Aadhi: But Rishu..

Rishi: Either you agree or I will remove the pooja room completely. The root cause of the problem would be solved forever then.

He threw his leg over her leg and pulled her to his embrace and they continued to sleep. At 8, Aadhi came running out of her closet buttoning her shirt and brushed her hair in a hurry standing before the mirror. Rishi entered the room with a tray and quickly picked a toast , a glass of juice and started feeding her.

Aadhi: You are not ready yet Rishu ? You should have listened to me when I was ready to wake up at 4 but you dragged me to sleep and look what happened. We are late on the first day after the break.

Rishi: Its ok love, I just need to pull on my formal shirt and pant.

He fed her the toast and placed the rim of the glass on her lips to sip the juice. Once she was done he left the tray on the teapoy and rushed to the closet to get dressed. He tossed his T shirt and shorts and saw Aadhi had selected his outfit. He screamed ” I love you Aadhu ” and quickly got dressed in it. He walked out setting his hair with his fingers and saw Aadhi waiting for her. He pecked her lips and held her wrist to rush out but Aadhi stopped him.

Aadhi: Rishu, you haven’t had your breakfast yet.

Rishi: I had while I made it for you so lets get going.

Together they rushed to the parking and Rishi opened the passenger door for her before he rushed to the driver seat.

Aadhi smiled reminiscing the condition of their room just before they walked out.

Aadhi: Rishu, Latha aunty would freak out on the way we left our room.

Rishu: Don’t worry, she won’t enter our room. I don’t want anyone entering our private place so we shall do the cleaning on our own. You just remove the clothes from the floor when you are back from college and I will take care of the rest.

Aadhi smiled at his words and Rishi parked the car before the gate of her college at the right time. Aadhi pecked his cheek and was about to open the door but Rishi pulled her back and kissed her lips before letting her go.

Rishi: I will miss you Aadhu, I will be back on time to see you home. I love you baby.

Aadhi mumbled I love you before she got down from the car. She was engulfed in a hug by Malini and together they entered their classroom.

Malini: So how was your honeymoon ?

Aadhi: Awesome, Rishu made sure everything was special and we enjoyed every minute together. He is such a lover boy now.

Malini gasped at her words and Aadhi realized the miscommunication.

Aadhi: Stop that brain from thinking anything on its own. Nothing happened as in what would happen in honeymoon but we had lot of fun together. We have decided to wait until my studies are over.

Malini facepalmed on hearing her words while Aadhi smiled on seeing her reactions.

Rishi arrived at office with a bright smile and all his staffs were surprised to see him so energetic. Sudhir greeted Rishi who pat his shoulder in return. Sudhir thanked Aadhi mentally and followed Rishi to his room.

Rishi: Sudhir, do I have any meetings scheduled today ?

Sudhir: Ocourse sir, You have 3 meetings one at 11 in the morning, the second meeting at 3 and last one at 7.

Rishi: 7 ? Are you serious ? Cancel it and I won’t be attending any meetings after office hours.

Sudhir: Office hours ? Sir, we don’t have any specific office hours.

Rishi: What nonsense ? Its 9 to 6 and I don’t want any schedules after 5.30.

Sudhir slowly bobed his head on hearing his words and watched him look at the picture frame on his table.

Rishi: Thank you for this picture Sudhir, you may carry on with your work.

With a smile Sudhir left the room and Rishi kissed Aadhi in the photo before he carried on with his work. He couldn’t wait to leave and reach home so he was checking time every now and then.

Aadhi called him during lunch hours and Rishi answered her call in the first ring despite he was in the middle of a meeting. He checked if she had lunch and so did Aadhi. With a smile Rishi cut her call and proceeded with his meeting.

Aadhi returned home and got changed into a shorts and one of Rishi’s shirt which was her long time wish. She groaned on seeing the mess of their room and started cleaning it. She settled in the living with her books to catch up with all the missed portions.

At 6.30 she heard the door bell ring and……..