Happy Birthday Babe!!!! Kalgi22 Hemakeerti's OS UPTD on PG 1 - Page 14

Originally posted by: al_pal

Happy birthday kally my pally . You are the sweetest of the lot 🥳 Bleesed be , many more to come my dear.

Originally posted by: hemakeerti

To the darling-est of darlings...
Its confession season in PBD and hence little confession from my side 😉

All my friends are equal to me but you're a little MORE equal!!
>>>Aye MY DARLING!(😉)
Hope you had a great KICK START 😉 to the day dear. Wish and pray the celebration keeps on going.. today, tomorrow and forever!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..🥳
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..🥳🥳

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY , HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU..🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
>>>Thank you so much dear!😳

A small, big attempt to brighten the already illuminating smiles 😉
>>>Yes It did. My cheeks are still hurting.. thanks to my silly smile added with shyness 😆
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview with the Vampire!!

>>>Vampire?? 😲😲 Ghost story? 😲

"What rubbish? Anything for sensation?" the peeved man threw the magazine aside. "A hand, a pen and a brainless paper to print whatever nonsense the pen writes. Not a tinge of responsibility or commonsense. If they can't do any good, why do worse by spreading negativity."

>>>Is it pointing my latest venture on Jahnu's birthday?😲

He took the magazine to hands, casted a fleeting glance at the title - Protectors or Destructors -

>>>I'm sure it's me who did that brainless piece... but my Jalal all sad.. Hmm🥱

and flipped it aside in sheer disgust. Discerning he's getting unusually incensed, he shut his eyes for a quick meditation -

>>>That much pressure I gave him. Not so appealing🤔

a practice he had been exercising over years to maintain his cool in the not-so-cool profession he chose. Once his beats calmed down, he took the State's leading magazine to hands, yet again. He went through the article once more and he knew he's not appreciating it in his usual self.

>>> 🥺

Why this discrimination? He was evidently displeased with his own demeanor. When the same magazine published an article on doctors two months ago, he very much regarded the press's effort on uncovering the ugly facts of health department and for gutsily publishing the real facets of corporate hospitals. If he could then, why not now? He rubbed his forehead. Is it because it's his fraternity that's been vandalized this time? Am I so biased?

>>Oh?😲 So I did something good too. Miracle!!😲

"Over graded," he opined glancing at the figures on crime rates in state, "and under graded," he sighed at the resolved crime rate numbers. Sipping his coffee, he tried to move on with other columns but somehow the article kept rewinding underneath. He flipped pages back and checked the name at end of article only to realize that it was the same journalist that composed the article on doctors. Hmm!! Pen name!! It didn't take even a second for him to deduce. He dropped it aside and left for other chores with a resolution shaping up in his mind.

>>>What? Seriously? 😲 Did I analysis about crime?😆

The leading Daily's Reception, 10:00 am

"Oh.. but how do you manage to focus? Too many distractions around na? Most importantly groping and gawking men..." As he walked into the reception, he was welcomed with two gossiping girls - one behind the reception desk, and one before.

>>>Gossiping girls??😲 am I also there?😆

"Focusing is not a problem and as for men, I take the man free zone," the other winked, "a.k.a la.."

>>>Man free zone? la?

"Excuse me!!" his subjugating baritone quelled their talks and the duty bound receptionist had to force her attention to him. One glance at the visitor's face and her smile involuntarily brightened.

>>>Oh

"Yes sir, how can I help you?" She sweetly asked and the other girl pursed lips at the amplified sweetness in her colleague's voice.

>>>😆

He produced his identity and noticed the receptionist stiffening in amazement and alarm. "I'm here to meet your journalist with pen name Kalki."

>>>I'm sure now! 😳 But what will be the reaction of real Kalki that there's one duplicate lingering around IF? 🤣 Do you know? His pen name derived from the suffixes of his wife name Kalyani and his name Kirshnamurthy😳

He mentioned the reason for his visit and the receptionist obviously turned more skeptical. She looked at him and then scanned around. "Sorry sir, Kalki isn't in office."

>>Oh meeting missed!

"When'd he be back?"

>>He?😲 Then is it not me?😲

The receptionist momentarily squinted her eyes and smiled. "I don't know. Would you like to talk to our chief editor?"

"Fine," he pocketed his id card and nodded. "I'll have a word with him."

"Sure sir... one moment!!"

While the receptionist handled the call, he darted a casual side-glance and studied the title of the book lying on the desk beside his hand. Interview with the Vampire -

>>>Then is it me standing there?😲 then I'm not Kalki then🥱

it read and before his eyes trailed down to the cover picture, the other girl tucked it in her bag and left.

>>>Huh?😲

In that fleeting moment of tucking the book in, he noticed a white stone studded ring on her manicured fingers and also something else that aggravated the man's scorn for snazzy girls. "Who told these girls - fashion means being weird and bold means being lewd?!"

>>>I used to wear white stone studded ring.. but what I did that looked weird/lewd?

"Sir.. chief is in a meeting. Would you like to see our sub editor?" the receptionist asked and seeing him nod, she called an attendant to accompany him to the sub-editor's chamber.

"Okay, okay... you sure?" noticing the sub editor talking on phone, he momentarily halted at the opened door. "Come in sir, receptionist has just informed of your arrival," the sub editor got up with forwarded hand. "Please be seated. It's always a pleasure meeting you. How may I help you?"

~~~

"When I heard the new commissioner is allergic to paparazzi," the receptionist resumed gossiping to the other girl. "I thought it to be typical police arrogance. But nah," she winked, "he was just being merciful to our star heroes yaar. One pic of this beauty out and I bet our stars are gonna lose half their fandom."

"Beauty?" the other girl laughed.

>>>Is it another girl? Didn't I leave already?🤔 😆 Wait he's police!! 😲

"Haa.. handsome is too inept a word for a man like him.."

>>>Oh😛

"Mm... And if you were to bet," the latter winked. "Count me in. We're sure to win lump sum."

>>>Oh am I going to release his pic? But I'm too scared to play with policeman. I swear!🤢

~~~

"This article," he spread the magazine across sub editor's desk. "I'd like to meet the journalist who wrote this article."

"Sure, but may I know why?" the sub editor hid his alarming scruples behind a congenial smile. In fact, he half expected this to come. After every sensational article, they usually have VISITORS and for two reasons - some for cordial appreciation, and many for far-from-cordial confrontations. How could it be any different this time when they dropped not an article, a bomb on the Home department's head?

The editor and the team were flooded with calls since morning; half of them from public appreciating their guts and the other half from home department doing the opposite. The editor had reportedly been in talks with the Director General of Police for last thirty minutes and under such circumstances, the Asst. commissioner's visit came as an intriguing surprise to the sub editor. For, the man before him is a no non-sense guy and never before poked nose into media's business. Since his posting in city as the asst. commissioner, he has been called the PUZZLING sensation - for, he unraveled the most puzzling cases, yet he remained a puzzle by himself.

>>>PUZZLING sensation!! and ACP😲 Deadly combo!!😛

"To congratulate," he flatly said, "and also to correct him."

"Him?" the sub editor glanced amused. "Were we talking about this article?" he pointed at the title and the officer furrowed brows. "Yes, what's wrong?"

"Nothing.." the old man got thoughtful. Should I say it not? He looked up pensive and arrived at a decision. The man before him is capable enough to have complete history of anyone within minutes and when he could do that without flicking an inch from his desk, why'd he be here? May be he's true in saying that he's here only to congratulate? There's no use giving him false information.

"SHE isn't in office sir.." the sub editor said and smiled at the evident surprise on officer's face.

"She?" He repeated unconvinced, as he wasn't prepared for it. Kalki?! He recalled the pen name that was similar to a veteran Tamil male journalist's pen name.

>>>Then It's me! but what I did to aggravate this PUZZLING sensation? that too ACP?? Not even in my wild dreams!! 🤓

"Yes please.. she.." the former nodded in assertion. "She's out on an assignment. I'm not sure when she'd be back. May I tell her to meet you?"

A gallant female journalist with ingenious analyzing skills?! His curiosity boosted up. Let me see into this.

>>>Oh☺️ Am I silly here! ☺️

"Give me her address," he proposed. "I'll meet her when I could."

Knowing its no use denying, as the officer had handful ways of earning the address even if he resisted, the sub editor calmly scribbled it for him.

"Thanks..." he got up. "I read your previous article on flaws of health department," his lips formed a twisted smile. "And appreciated it too, unbeknown we'd be the next prey. Not quite pleasing sir," he put his coolers on and forwarded hand for a parting shake, "yet commendable. Congratulations!!" He shook hands and left. With a dazed smile, the sub editor continued staring at the retreating profile of the young, charismatic and the most enigmatic officer.

>>No I didn't do. It's Jahnu and her evil plans! 🤓

Next day...

Pulling his vehicle to the apartment's outdoor visitor parking, the officer glimpsed at his watch - 8:35am. Kids awaiting school buses, cars and two-wheelers darting out of iron gates, street vendors marketing at peak pitches - the medieval apartment complex appeared as lively as it could be at the busiest hour of the morning.

"Flat number 405," he told the security, signed in the register and moved his way to the building. Playing ignorant to the enthusiastic gazes of youngsters, oldies, kids, men and a woman, he sprinted up to forth floor.

>>>Did I also?☺️

He buzzed the doorbell and heard a voice from inside. "Coming.." and a minute later the door opened to a jeans clad, bobbed hair, petite woman of late twenties.

"Kalki?" he asked and she nodded excited. "Please come in ACP sir.." she turned back welcoming him in and his brows knitted seeing her not-quite-surprised welcome.

>>>Bobbed hair?😲 you cut my hair? 😡but petite?😆

"Chief told me you came for me yesterday and also took my address," she showed him the couch. "I didn't expect you'd really care to meet. Its such an honor meeting the city's latest sensation," shifting phone to the left, she forwarded her right hand.

"Pleasure is mine.." he shook the ring decked hand, smirked for reasons known to him and showed her the opposite seat.

>>😲

"Coffee or tea?"

"No formalities" he waved off and did a quick scan of the living, "Anyways you just had yours, so let's not get into it." She glimpsed fascinated and he pointed to the coffee mug on dining.

"No wonder people call him CC camera," She stifled the tinge of unease behind a plastered smile and sat opposite.

>>>Understandable ☺️

"So Ms. Kalki..." he strewed a charming smile. "Why journalism?" As he asked his eyes hovered over her entwined fingers.

>>>Scanning thoroughly?? ☺️

"My father was a journalist.." she explained how the passion for journalism developed since childhood and the discussion continued with risks, challenges and complications in the profession. After three minutes of conversation, he silenced as if he hadn't had anything else to ask, thence she took the discussion forward with the real question. "How do you find our latest article sir?" she asked and he saw the eagerness to hear his feedback.

"Eighty percent true.." he gave his frank opinion. "And twenty percent fake."

>>>Just 20% na? Please spare me Sir??😕

"Excuse me for disagreeing with you sir," she refuted with a smile. "The facts you're seeing might not be exact but would be close to accuracy as a lot of research goes into every article. Calling it fake offends our sensibilities."

"Not more offensive that it actually is.." he shrugged. "So what do you do in free time Ms. Kalki?" He suddenly changed the topic and even before she answered, he added. "I don't think it's a tough guess. Journalists spend half their time writing and the other half reading, isn't it?"

"Usually," she nodded and softly denied. "But I'm not an avid reader. I spend my free time watching documentaries."

"Mm," he nodded, checked the time and got up. "That was nice talking to you. 99xxx is my number" he fished his card from wallet. "You may reach me for any help or questions," he pointedly held her gaze "if not you... I bet your F.R.I.E.N.D should be having some questions."

Huh!! Her jaw dropped much before she remembered to exercise control on it. A moment of blankness, a stare of pure stun and then she broke into clumsy chuckles. "How sir?" she asked shaking head in defeat.

>>>What It's not me then.. Phew my hair!!😵😆

"I've my ways.." he lifted her left hand up, pressed speaker and her face blanched. "You SHOULDN'T have done this ladies." His rich baritone sounded very calm but the menacing gaze first intimidated the lady right before him and then the one on the other end of the phone; since SHE couldn't see his eyes, she could only anticipate the fury quotient based on his voice.

>>>😲😲No.. It's Jahnu not me!😡

"Not pre-planned ACP sir." Her serene voice rose against the commotion of sirens and banter. "You'll have your explanations and apologies if you care to meet me... in..." She waited for the raucous announcement to finish.

"In seven minutes as the announcement just said," she calmly spoke. "It might be my audacity to challenge the puzzling sensation, yet I'm daring to do..." she smiled and continued. "Get hold of me before my first step into the train to have your answers sir," she challenged and teasingly added. "See you soon."

>>>What?😲😲 Seriously?😲

More than the challenge, it was her confidence that got him thinking.

>>>Oh☺️

Pursing lips, the imposter watched him react in someway to the brazen challenge but she could make nothing of his speechless, motionless posture. Without another word, he turned to leave and she couldn't help but ask... "Are you going to station to meet her sir?" His only answer was unfaltering strides towards the door and very soon... he vanished.

"Phew," the relieved girl crouched in sofa soon after he left. "You and your silly ideas," she chided her friend. "But glad I'm at home and got to meet him.. he's just..." She made loud kissing sound and the other giggled.

"I told you... he's a rare piece," SHE winked. "How was it facing him?"

>>>☺️Rare piece!!😆

"Like sitting on a knife edge," she rolled eyes, "At first I was little nervous but then so smoothly he diverted me into discussion that I forgot the edginess. I was almost confident we tricked him till he swept the feet out of my ground with his masterstroke. I wonder how exactly would he have deduced it?"

>>>Your tricks won't work on him

"Wait another ten minutes.." SHE smirked. "I'll ask it for you.."

"What?" she mocked. "Do you still believe he'd come looking for you? After all this?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"For the same reason he took my address instead of phone number," came HER confident reply. "And for the same reason he showed up at our flat instead of calling me to meet."

>>>How confident?? 😲😲

"Whatever!! Why this hide and seek then?"

"What's fun in meeting the puzzling sensation without any puzzle?" The girls broke into merry grins.

>>>I'm trembling here and she's laughing!! 😡

8:59am

"Train number xxx... is ready to leave from platform number one..." his first step onto platform one was welcomed with that announcement but it didn't stop him from striding. Spotting an unknown lady on Chennai's busiest platform at peak of rush hours would have been next to impossible for any man but not for this man who finished his thought process the moment the challenge was posed and who knew his destination for sure. Not just his destination, he also is sure of few more facts - One, She didn't get into the train yet. Two, he's being secretly observed by her.

>>>OMG! Did I? ☺️

Three, if his calculations go right, her hand will be in his in...exactly one minute.

>>Ahem ahem ☺️

He stopped at a certain compartment and held his vigilance on the crowd rushing to get in. Behind the coolers, his agile eyes were pinpointed at the right hand side bar the passengers usually hold before getting in to the train. He's cocksure she'd be getting into the compartment through that door, not the other one as this is more crowded. And to ensure she holds the right side bar and not the left one, he stood very close to the left one so that, in an attempt to hide from him, she would chose the farther end.

One.. two.. three.. seconds silently ticked and at the end of twenty he spotted the desired hand on the right side bar. His reflexes were so fast that by the time SHE trekked the second step up, her hand was firmly gripped and she was pulled off footboard... and...

And just then the old railway clock struck Nine!!

"Oyy.." HER scream muffled in the series of screams that followed as she lost balance and stuttered thus causing two more ladies behind her to crouch. She too expected to fall back, but was saved at nick of time by a quick pull... towards HIM. Her forehead hit his shoulder and before she managed to open eyes and look up, the gates of blasphemy unleashed.

>>>☺️

"Muttal (Idiot), rascal.. Have you gone nuts? Are you here to kill us? Who're you? You've no mind?"

>>>😲 No I won't!!

"Run..." his husky instruction echoed in her ears.

>>>OMG!☺️ but why run?Me and running?🤣

"And if you manage to escape in one minute, meet me at woman-free zone," he smirked. "You'll have YOUR answers and I'm pretty sure you've many questions for me." He finished and disappeared leaving her to manage her own escape. Wasting no time, she turned her back on the aggravated crowd - two steps on her way to escape and she abruptly turned back, apologized the fallen old lady by touching her feet, mouthed a sorry to other lady and then... swiftly fled.

>>>😲 Oh did I apologize too? Good girl😆

"Why is she running?" The crowed murmured. "Thirudi (female thief).." Someone shouted. "Yes.. Thirudi Thirudi. Catch her." The fleeing lady heard the allegation and stopped stunned. "Huh? Thief?"

>>>What?😲😲

She fumed in anger, not at the foolish crowd but at the conniving officer. "Is this why he asked me to run?!" She raged but the bubble of laughter simmering within annulled the rage. Sweet vengeance officer!! She couldn't help admiring his retaliation skills. Blending with group ahead, she hauled the scarf out of her bag, draped it around her shoulder, added extra dab of lipstick, clipped her hair up, put goggles on and dashed to the venue he proposed.

>>>lipstick??

The moment she stepped inside the venue, she slammed her body against the wall. The smothering laughter and her feminine sensibilities didn't let her go further in. She clamped hands to her mouth and nose and then her shoulders began to convulsively shake.

>>>I know you've already seen what you've visualized! 🤓

"That was quite an adventure officer," she spoke, as she knew he's in her nearest vicinity. A few men inside the room attentively ceased their work hearing a woman's voice and a momentary silence later they resumed, presuming it was their hunch. "And I must say you're a very good avenger." Though the eyes behind goggles were shut, she felt his presence near her.

>>>ahemm ☺️

"Thirudi for Muttal (Thief for idiot) and..." she incoherently spoke between fits of laughter.

>>>😆

If they weren't before, the men inside were now damn sure of a woman's presence. Horrified, half of them ceased their work while the other half hastened, "... and making me meet you at woman-free zone a.k.a men's toilet for making you stalk me at man-free zone a.k.a ladies compartment."

>>>What?😲😲 Am i inside men's toilet?? 😲😲 and now going back to ceased work and hastened work... OMG!! 🤣🤣🤣

"I don't keep debts for longer." Scanning her curvy body draped in garden vareli Sari, her long cascading tresses,

>>>How can I read with straight face... ***Sigh*** ☺️ and Phew my hair!! 😆

he slowly removed her goggles,

>>>and I felt the Butterflies inside my stomach!☺️

for, he got to see her face earlier, but the exact one he's come for- her eyes - were still hidden from him. The deft officer is of the types who believe more in the language of eyes than of the tongue and till date he holds the record of never failing in assimilating a person based on his or her eyes.

>>> I'm not dirty like chellam! 😆

Hence when he's done removing the glasses, he was positively pleased - the perfect doe shaped pair that was laughing at him were, of course, brimming with intelligence but what captivated him is the alacrity in them. This pair of orbs is undoubtedly the most vivacious one he had ever come across and that fact left him gratified. He isn't wrong.. she is definitely ingenious!!

>>>Sigh...My heated cheeks are hurting with continues silly grin!😃☺️

The laughing girl saw the evident please in his intense orbs, remembered the rumor about him that he analyzes a person based on eyes and teasingly raised brows. "What do they say ACP sir? Were they worth your search mission?"

>>How bold?😲

Her hands that covered two thirds of face dropped down and he got a complete view of her vibrant face.

YES!! His heart confirmed but his lips didn't utter a word.

I know it's a YES!! Her shining orbs and pursed lips conveyed him.

>>>☺️ No words!

"Yaaru da? (who's that?). Romance in bathroom?"

>>>Shit!!🤣

The silent communication was rattled by an over enthusiast fellow. "How shameless girls have become?" Another brainless joined but the third one, who had better presence of mind, checked the man's trimmed hair and moustache, stern biceps and most importantly the rocky glare at them and discerned who he is.

>>>☺️

"Police" he murmured and the other two immediately silenced. "Sorry sir.." they impulsively apologized but his glare continued to penetrate them. "Sorry madam.." they lowly added and moved out and only then his gaze shifted back to the girl. Biting lips, she appeared like an angelic witch enjoying the gaucheness.

>>>☺️

"Brazen..." he openly regarded, put on his goggles and darted out. "and beautiful!!" his mind finished for him and she... however closely she followed she couldn't hear his mind's compliment.

>>>Sigh! No words again!😆

~~~

"Shoot it!!" tracing the contours of the mug, he encouraged. "I believe there are quite a few bogging your mind."

"Quite many indeed," reveling in the aroma of well renowned Madras filter coffee, she smiled. "But all of them start with only one word," she put the mug down. "How?"

"Any guesses?" he prodded and she laughingly shot her hands up in air. "I quit sir."

>>>Sherlock holmes failed again 😆

Bringing an amused smile to his lips, for the first time, he pointed to her right hand. "Where is your ring?" he asked and she knowingly nodded.

"I half expected this.." she fished the white stone studded ring out from her purse, " and removed it on seeing you approaching the ladies compartment," she put it back on her finger. "But how did you identify when this ring isn't on me? What made you deduce I'm Kalki, not my friend?"

>>>Oh then I was in that reception too.. Now I got it why receptionist looked around before answering him.😆

Smiling, he tossed a gauging glance at the curiosity written all over her face.

>>Sigh!☺️

He typed something on his phone, plopped the screen before her and took her right hand thumb to hands.

>>>Ahem ☺️

Puzzled, she peeked the poster on phone - Interview with the Vampire starring Tom Cruise and Brand Pitt- it read and she looked down to her thumbnail. It was painted in black with the arched Vampire in red and a sexy miniature of Tom Cruise in the center.

>>>OMG!😲 🤣No I don't even paint my nails.

Discerning how he identified her, she opened mouth wide in raw awe. "You noticed this yesterday?" she couldn't believe. "In that shortest span of withdrawing a book?"

He simply nodded.

>>Huh?? that's the thing weird and lewd. 😡

"No wonder people call you camera eyed officer," shaking head, she admitted. "They might not know that you also have extra sharp ears and extraordinary memory. Else you wouldn't come straight to man-free zone looking for me. By the way, my friend too has similar paint on her thumb... then why didn't you believe her to be me?" she asked inquisitive.

"Who your photojournalist friend?" he smirked seeing her eyes widen more, at his right deduction of the profession of her friend. "Yeah.. she had similar one but not SAME. Its Brad Pitt on her finger and her ring is ruby studded."

>>>How clever observer??!! 😲

She stared numb, as she didn't know what to talk and how else to show her amazement. Freeing her from all bogging, he went on explaining.

>>Yes same here! 😕

"You both have successfully tricked me till I noticed the coffee mugs.." he smiled to her eyes stressing on S, "Yes there were two mugs, not one and that conveyed there're two in that home. If the second one is missing and the first took one whole minute to open a door after answering the doorbell, it only means she's busy clearing something. And if that something isn't defiled mugs, it should be the portrait on the wall behind the couch. The rustic frame marks confirmed it, the subsequent discussion confirmed your friend's profession and above all, her periodical check of the phone screen asserted someone is on line and that someone is directing this play."

>>>Awe😲😲 btw who's that friend?😆

He paused and the awed listener sighed admitting their lame attempt. "I saw you crossing past me and thought of calling you but then - what's fun in a bland meeting?" she cheekily sipped her coffee.

>>>Huh?😲 So then I also drooled him earlier. ☺️

"So I made a superfast plan, called my friend, informed of your arrival, instructed to remove the portrait from hall. It's a combined picture of she and me along with our pen names. She used to write once but realizing photography is her passion she shifted to it. For all our articles, she handles the camera and I handle the research. I was confident she'd handle any journalism or article related questions and thus thought it'd be easy to trick you.I guess your doubts on her type of work got confirmed when she said watching documentaries is her favorite hobby, not reading."

"Mm."

"Agreed you decoded she isn't me," she eagerly propped cheek onto palm. "Tell me how you knew it had to be the girl at reception?"

"The first glimpse at nail paint on your friend's thumb and I wrongly concluded she was the girl at reception. Then I got to see her ring but it wasn't white studded. So either she had to be the same girl with a new ring, or there are two girls with similar painted nails. I went by the second assumption, considered the other girl at reception as the real one and reframed the happenings - I walk into your office while you're chatting with the receptionist. I ask for you and the receptionist looks around, perhaps for your sign, and says you're not in office, again as per YOUR sign. You wait to know what I'd do next and when you know I'm going to meet your subeditor... you leave; probably to instruct him on what to say... which also explains your sub chief's conversation on phone when I was in. With this theory in mind, I questioned your friend on her work and hobbies only to get my guesswork affirmed. In all this, I had one.. no two questions. One, what did you instruct your subeditor?"

>>Cleared now!😃

"To know your real intentions behind your visit and take your number, so that I call you later. When he said you asked for address instead of number, I was surprised. Why did you want to see me ACP sir?"

"To assert myself that I'm not quite wrong in assuming the journalist to be male, because such analytic nuances, I seldom see in a woman."

"You mean YOU believe women are harebrained?" More than the latent appreciation of her talent, it was his this perception of women that got her baffled.

>>>Oh really?😲😆

"No," he smirked sarcastic. "In fact, they're elephant-brained. Else how do they remember every petty mistake of men and use it for an argument?"

>>>🤣

Leveling him with an undaunted stare, she quipped. "May be because men are harebrained enough to be pulled into any petty argument?" she shrugged.

>>😆

"I don't think the wise ones, be it a man or a woman, would have time for these. Anyways let's not get into that and back to our topic," she smiled. "Aren't you forgetting something sir?"

>>>What?😲

"That nail paint?" he showed her thumb indirectly saying that he remembered asking the second question. "It somehow doesn't go with your image."

>>>Yes!!😡

"Oh.. this" she chuckled loud. "We have team activities every month. And yesterday it was sexiest tattoo/nail art day. I don't like Tattoos so went with this.. and to me SEXY means Tom Cruise and SEXIEST is Tom Cruise in... ahem" she cleared throat realizing she's getting too personal.

>>>Ahem ahem😲😲😆

"And for your friend its Brad Pitt?" he grinned, obviously liking this girlish side of her. "By the way.. who won?"

"Huh.." she sighed dejected. "The one who got kamasutra tattooed on her wrist. I think our duck old HR went by the literal meaning of the contest," she twitched lips in contempt and he laughed out loud.

>>What?😲😲🤣 This Kalki is too brazen!!

Patting her abilities to make him audibly laugh, she cheekily inclined forward. "Aren't you forgetting something else too sir?"

>>>

This time he raised an inquisitive brow, as he knew he had no more questions.

"To congratulate," She winked. "Wasn't that what you came for yesterday?"

>>>Silly girl!! 😆

"I'd have whole heartedly done that.." he looked away from her pulling charms. "if twenty percent of it wasn't fake.

>>>oh ☺️

"TRPs sir.." she graciously sat back taking the mug to hands. "Media runs only on TRPs. So 80%truth, 20% masala."

>>>😲😲

"Why not portray only the positive side?" he turned to her. "Why spread negativity when it isn't going to achieve anything? Do you think this system changes overnight? With one article?"

"No..." she frankly admitted. "In fact, what we wrote is nothing new to the citizens of this state. They all know our systems are corrupted but how much is something they don't know. Articles like these would give everyone an idea how damaged, how shallow, how fragile the pillars of this state have become. If we open eyes and plunge into repair work, well and good. Else we'd at least be prepared to collapse along with the foundation and wouldn't blame any one at the end. It's only a poor attempt from us to spread facts and to wake people from lethargy sir. We know this is not going to fetch us anything than a life threat, yet we continue to do it. Our next targets are education and agriculture departments and am I sure I'd accomplish bringing the facts of those two too into limelight. and that is..." she paused thoughtfully drawing pattern on the mug. "If I'm spared with my life."

>>>Risky life!!😲😲

Drawing a long breath, he remained mutinous, as he didn't quite know how to react. Minutes rolled in sheer silence and when she glimpsed at him to break the ongoing awkwardness, she saw a pocket diary and pen before her. Squinting eyes she asked what it is and he gave her the best of his smiles.

>>Oh☺️

"Autograph please... miss gallant ingenious and humane journalist." He only knew the reason for adding humane is her dutiful apology to the fallen ladies even when she knew she had to escape soon.

>>>Oh he noted? ☺️ But autograph?? seriously? 😃😃

The instant his words registered, her quivering fingers clamped her mouth.

>>🤓 You know that!!😆

A layer of mist clogged her vision as she stared at him in utter disbelief and wild happiness.

"You got to be kidding sir," she grinned like a teenager before her secret crush.

>>>What? seriously? 😲😲

"What if I say I'm damn serious!!" he captured her priceless expressions and secured them forever in lockers of memory.

>>>☺️

"I'll say... no scream Whoo Hooo..." she excitedly took the book and pen to hands but refrained in last moment. She looked up, her eyes speaking for the altered plan shaping in her mind.

>>>ANOTHER PLAN??😲😲

"Come with me sir.. just a minute", she packed her bag and got up. He glanced at her with questioning eyes but seeing her sweetly implore, he caved in.

>>>

Once they're in seclusion of the parking, she turned to him offering his pocket book. "Autographs are meant to be memoirs of meetings." she tucked the book into his hand. "If that is the case, I would like to etch a permanent one and I'm sure you'd excuse this audacity of mine too, just like you did others." And before he deciphered her words, she rose on toes, wrapped arms around his neck and made a staunch imprint of her lips on his cheek.

>>>What?

A wave of intoxication, a breeze of sweet fragrance and a gale of passion so inundated him that he knew he's losing himself to her and yet couldn't stop it from happening. His arms, of their true volition, shot up to complete the deal but she flinched back, only after ensuring her lipstick thoroughly signed his cheek.

>>>

"Thank you ACP sir.." she shouted as she ran away. "Sorry too... and.." she pursed lips and turned back. "and I'll say you something more when you.." she curbed shyness and resumed. "WHEN YOU RETURN MY SIGNATURE!! Till then.." she bowed in his style. "AADAB!!"

She fled and the enthralled man made no attempt to stop her... for he knew it was just THE BEGINNING!!

>>>

Epilogue:

11 months, 29 days later...

"What rubbish? Anything for sensation?" the peeved man threw the magazine aside. "A hand, a pen and a brainless paper to print whatever nonsense the pen writes. Not a tinge of responsibility or commonsense. If they can't do any good, why do worse by spreading rumors." He took the magazine to hands, casted a fleeting glance at the title - Interview with the vampire - and flipped it aside in disgust. Discerning he's getting unusually incensed and he has every reason to do so, he didn't shut his eyes for a quick meditation. Instead, he directed his intense infuriated gaze to the one who's seated next to him, coolly shaking legs and ravishing his fury - the troublemaker in first place.

>>>🤣

"80% fake and 20% true.." he gritted under breath. "Did I tadap to meet you? Did I kiss you first? Did I go on knees to propose you? And this title... Hell..." he swore loud. "Am I a Vampire?"

>>>🤣

"Aree.. I asked you what title should we give to your interview, didn't we? After all its THE ACP's first and full interview," she demanded. "And it's your mistake to leave it to my wicked friend's choice. The rest was all her addition, revenge for getting fooled on the very first meeting.

>>>Oh😲

Do you know how I was barbarously shunned from even sneak peeking into this article, else why'd I let this publish?" Pouting, she moved closer to him.

>>>And we're believing you!!😆

Tossing her I-know-you glare, he flipped to last page of interview where there was a photo - a photo of black painted nail, with tiny font of Vampire in red and in center was ---- HIS miniature.

>>>What? 🤣

"You think I'd believe this got published without your approval?" He pulled her wrist. "You want me to believe someone clicked a picture of your nail so closely that each stroke is so remarkably visible and yet all this without your notice? Speak up idiot.." he crushed her in his arms and she more than willingly got crushed.

>>>Shh!!!☺️ and then

>>>You're wicked brazen idiot. I swear! 😡😆