Chapter 43

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

~43~

Two weeks later, Anu sat in their office cabin going through the files missing him. He had to go out of town for some important meeting and he couldn't take her with him as she had some other work to attend here. Seeing him the first thing in the morning had become a kind of habit that she couldn't do without and without that she had felt lost. She often found her self in his room at odds hours trying to comfort herself with his cologne. The hours of video calls didn't help. It only added to the longing. Somehow ever since the Christmas party, she had found herself often wanting to be cocooned in his arms and he had satisfied her wants every single time without her asking for it. She looked at the clock, it was only 3. She sighed and threw herself in work hoping the clock to tick faster.

The past two days had been hectic, he mused. He had missed her so badly that he had driven 4 hours straight post the meeting just to see her. He wondered if she missed him as much as he missed her. They had talked over video call but she had been very silent that he really couldn't understand what she felt. Rushing to their cabin, he softly opened the door hoping to get a peek of her before revealing himself. What he saw made him go over the moon. There she was bent over some random files, few stray hairs caressing her forehead as she chewed her pen in deep concentration looking as beautiful as ever. What really caught his attention was her attire. She was wearing her saree as usual but on top of that she had chosen his favorite coat to wear. Oblivious to his presence, she suddenly grabbed the collar of his coat and brought it to her nose sniffing in the scent. He puffed his cheek and slowly let out a breath as her deed made him realize she had missed him so much. Placing his hand on his chest, he tapped it twice as it sunk into his brain once again that the woman in front of him was truly his. He entered in and shut the door, latching it for some much needed privacy. She turned around at the click of the latch,

"You..."

"Mmm..."

"You were supposed to come tomorrow morning..."

"Couldn't stay away any longer..."

"Mm hmm..."

He moved closer to her as she let her eyes roam over his frame greedily taking him in. Bending close to her, his face inches away from her, he let his fingers trail a slow path from her temples to her chin. She shivered at his touch, her lips partly open in anticipation.

"So... you missed me too..."

"Mmm hmmm..."

"I love it..."

"What?"

"I love it when you miss me..."

"Aren't you going to do anything about it?"

He smiled at her.

"Should I do something about it, Mohatarma?"

She pushed him away.

"Bholuram..."

He resumed his earlier position and reached for her hand. Pulling her up from the chair, he hugged her tight.

"I missed you..."

Her hands around him, she rubbed her cheek against his chest.

"Missed you too..."

"Mmmmm... Anu..."

"Mmm?"

"Let's go out..."

"Out?"

"Hmmm... remember... I promised you a date long ago..."

"Mmmmm..."

"So we will go now..."

She nodded. She really needed some time alone with him.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, Mohatarma.... but before that..."

He quickly went out and brought back a bag in his hand.

"I got you something to wear..."

"What is it?"

"Open it and see...."

She opened the bag and saw a pale pink salwar kameez. The material was soft and had small silver stones stuck here and there. The dupatta had a thin silver border. She smiled and said

"This is beautiful.... You know I had something similar to this when I was young."

"I know..."

"You do?"

"Of course... you wore that the day I first saw you..."

She looked at him and sighed softly.

"You still remember?"

"How can I forget anything about you? Now... will you change into this for our date?"

She nodded and started walking towards the door to go to the changing room when he stopped her.

"Uh Anu... you might need to remove that coat and keep it here if you don't want unnecessary attention."

She looked at the coat and blushed suddenly conscious of the fact that he had seen her like that. Avoiding his gaze on her, she quickly removed the coat and bolted out the door.

***

"Hi"

"What is it?"

"What?"

"Aarav, you really want me to believe that you are here at this time of the day just to say 'hi'"

"Why shouldn't I come just to say 'hi'"

"Oh you can... but I am sure you are not here now for it..."

He sighed.

"Yes... Coach called me... they found my mother's family with the help of GK. It seems her parents are no more, only her younger brother is alive. He is married and has kids all grown up. He doesn't have any picture of the man but thankfully he has his memory intact and could recall his face to the sketch artist. They have used it to create a picture of how he would look like now. Coach has sent it over. I... uh... couldn't..."

She got up from her chair and walked to him. Settling down beside him in the couch, she took his hand in hers squeezed it and looked at him comforting him with a slight nod.

"Let's open it together...."

He opened the email and downloaded the attachment his heart thumping against his ribs. The image popped up of a well built man a lot like Aarav himself except for the eyes, chin and nose and a bit more older. 

"He looks like you..."

"He does... Mukku... I can't push away this nagging fear that he is a wicked man."

"But he is NOT you.... will never be you... You are you... Sweetheart Aditi's son.... and my best friend."

"Thank You...."

She nodded and got up to leave when a knock at the door stopped her. In entered the man she was trying hard to get rid off.

"Hey Mukku... I heard GK left early, shall I drop you home?"

"I will drop her home..."

"Mr. Malik... I uh didn't see you..."

"No issues, Mr. Shah... by the way, now that I am here... you don't have to worry about Mukku at all... I am very much capable of taking care of her personal needs, just as her brother is. I would highly appreciate if you would stick to work alone. Thank you."

Clamping down his rising temper, he turned around and left deciding that the new guy did need a lesson.

As soon as the door closed shut, Mukku turned to him.

"What was that?"

He simply shrugged his shoulders.

"You know me... I don't like sharing you with anyone... come, I will drop you home."

***

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