Published on 28th July 2024.
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Here we go with another chapter.

Don't forget to do your pyare pyare comments. (Inline comments kara karo, they're so much better 😭)

Happy reading!

♡ Ni kedi duniya to aai hai tu dasja

– S H L O K –

The meeting had just concluded, and I was gathering my notes when I noticed Rajiv hovering near the door. I looked up and waved him in.

"Rajiv, how's everything going at the hotel site?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"They're working on the ceiling in the lobby today." He replied. "Ms Goyal is there overseeing the work."

The mention of Akriti immediately piqued my interest. "Akriti is there?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yes, she wanted to ensure everything is going according to plan."

I didn't waste another second. "Alright, I'm heading over there. Keep things running smoothly here, Rajiv."

"Of course, sir." He said, a knowing smile on his face as I grabbed my keys and headed out.

❀✿❀

When I arrived at the hotel, I quickly spotted Akriti near the lobby, deeply engrossed in her work. She was speaking with a group of workers, pointing out details and making notes. Her entire focus and dedication was on the work, which was impressive.

"Hey, Akriti!" I called out as I approached, trying to catch her attention.

She looked up, surprised to see me. "Shlok! What are you doing here? Did we have a meeting today? I don't remember about one."

"I was passing nearby and thought I'd come by to check on the progress myself." I said with a smile. "And maybe see if you wanted to take a little break."

She glanced around at the bustling activity and then back at me, a hint of a smile forming on her lips. "A break sounds nice, actually."

"Great. How about we grab a coffee? There's a nice café nearby." I suggested, trying to keep my tone casual but feeling a bit nervous.

"Actually, I just had my lunch. So..."

"It's just a coffee. We'll be back really quickly, I promise." She hesitated for a moment before nodding.

We walked to the parking lot, chatting lightly about the ongoing work at the hotel. As we reached my car, I opened the door for her, feeling a small thrill as she smiled and thanked me.

"So, how are things going at the site?" I asked, genuinely curious, as I started the engine.

"Things are progressing well." She said, relaxing a bit. "The workers are efficient, and the designs are coming together as planned."

"That's great to hear," I said, glancing over at her as I drove. "It's nice to see you outside of the usual meeting room. You're always so focused and serious there. It’s refreshing to just talk."

She opened her mouth to say something, but shut it instantly. I observed as she took a deep breath and said, "Well, I take my work seriously. But yes, it's nice to have a change of pace."

Encouraged by her response, I leaned in slightly. "I have to say, your dedication is impressive. It's not every day you meet someone with so much passion."

She nodded and gave me a small smile before looking out of the window.

"You know, the hotel is really coming together beautifully. A lot of that is thanks to your vision." I said, trying to find another way to compliment her without sounding too forward.

She smiled, her eyes meeting mine briefly. "I'm just doing my job." The rest of the ride went in a blur as we reached the café in two minutes.

We arrived at the café and found a cozy corner. We ordered our drinks – a cappuccino for me and a latte for her. The smell of freshly baked goods filled the air.

As we settled in, I asked, "So, what do you do when you're not designing hotels?"

She shrugged. "I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, and exploring new places. What about you?"

"Well, I try to travel whenever I get the chance," I said, smiling. "And I love cooking. Maybe one day I can cook you a meal."

Smooth my boy, smooth!

Before the tension could increase further, I spoke, "Once the penthouse is completed, I'll surely treat you with a meal cooked by me."

"That's very kind of you, Shlok." She laughed, shaking her head. "So, what's your favorite dish to cook?" She asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

She would love Italian for sure.

I would love to make it for her!

"Probably a nice Italian pasta," I said, leaning back in my chair. "What's your favorite cuisine?"

"I love Indian food. Indian street food to be precise." She said, her eyes lighting up. "There's something about the flavors that I can't get enough of."

Dumb of me to make assumptions.

I do love Indian.

But how could I even say it now?

"I'll have to remember that," I said with a grin. "Maybe I'll surprise you with some homemade golgappe one day."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Sure."

"By the way, have you tried the pastries here? They're amazing."

As our conversation flowed, I noticed how much more relaxed Akriti seemed, her professional facade melting away in the casual setting. We talked about our favorite books and about the recent projects. It was a side of her I hadn’t seen before – open, warm, and genuinely engaging.

At this moment, I found myself increasingly drawn to her. I tried to keep things light, and decided to push my luck a bit more.

"You know," I said, tilting my head slightly, "If I were to give you a score for today, it’d be a perfect ten."

She raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For everything," I replied. "The way you handle the work, the coffee, and of course, your smile."

"My smile?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful smile?" Her mouth lost words to speak, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

Our pastries arrived, and we ate them in comfortable silence for a bit. I decided to try and lighten the mood further.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask." I said, taking a piece of pastry. "What got you into interior design?"

She thought for a moment before answering. "My dad was an architect, and I grew up watching him design homes. I always loved the idea of creating beautiful spaces."

"That's really cool." I said, genuinely interested. "It must have been inspiring to have that influence growing up."

"It was." She said, smiling. "What about you? How did you end up in the hotel business?"

"I don't know how I'm here. I just went with the flow and this happened." I explained.

We continued chatting, the conversation flowing more naturally. Even though I tried to flirt a bit, Akriti kept things professional, though she did smile and laugh more than usual. I couldn't help but notice how easy it was to talk to her, how her laughter made the atmosphere feel lighter.

Eventually, our coffee break was drawing to a close, but I didn’t want it to end. We both glanced outside and noticed dark clouds gathering. "Looks like it's going to rain."

"We should probably head back before it starts pouring." Akriti suggested.

We walked towards the car, and just as we stepped outside, the first drops of rain began to fall. Within moments, it turned into a downpour. We dashed for cover under a nearby awning, laughing as we got slightly drenched.

"Looks like we didn't beat the rain." I said, shaking off the water.

Akriti laughed, pushing back a strand of wet hair. "I guess not."

My car was parked at a short distance away but there was still a bit of space we needed to cross in the rain. I quickly unbuttoned my coat, and Akriti looked at me, confused.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her eyebrows raised.

"We don't have an umbrella." I explained, pulling the coat off and holding it above both of our heads. "And the rain isn't going to stop anytime soon. My car is nearby. We can cover our heads with this and run to the car."

She seemed surprised but nodded, stepping closer to me. "Alright, let's go."

We walked and just as we stepped outside, the drops of rain began to fall. Within moments, it turned into a downpour.

We huddled under the makeshift shelter of my coat and made a dash for the car. The rain pounded down around us, the scent of wet earth and fresh rain filling the air. Under the coat, we managed to stay relatively dry, though the occasional splash of water added to the excitement.

I couldn’t help but notice how close we were, her warmth mingling with mine as we rushed through the downpour.

As we reached the car, I quickly unlocked it and held the door open for her. She slipped inside, and I followed, shaking off the rain. We both laughed, our faces flushed from the excitement.

"Well, that was an adventure." She said, laughing as she brushed the water from her sleeves.

"It was." I agreed, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the weather. "Thanks for coming with me for coffee, Akriti. It was really nice." She nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a softness that made my heart skip a beat.

For a moment, we sat there in comfortable silence, the rain drumming softly on the roof of the car. I couldn’t help but steal glances at her, feeling like this small, shared moment had brought us a little closer together.

I started the car. As the rain began to lighten, I decided to take one last chance to express my feelings before we had to part ways. "I really hope we can do this again sometime, Akriti. Maybe next time, I'll let you choose the café."

"Sure." She said, smiling.

As I drove back to the hotel, I couldn't help but glance over at her, thinking about how much I enjoyed her company. Balancing my feelings for Akriti with our professional relationship was tricky, but she was worth the effort.

We arrived back at the hotel, and I parked the car. "See you at the next meeting." She bid me bye and I watched her walk into the hotel. I could feel a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.

The rain had stopped, but the warmth between us lingered.

❀✿❀

I pulled into the office parking lot, the rain having finally stopped, leaving the streets glistening under the city lights. My mind was still partly on the pleasant coffee date with Akriti. But the workday was far from over, and I needed to shift my focus back to the office.

When I arrived, the office was quiet, most of the staff having left for the day. I made my way to my office, surprised to see the door partially open. As I opened the door, I found my mother, sitting on my chair, her expression one of both sternness and concern.

"Maa." I greeted, trying to mask my surprise. "What brings you here?" Seeing maa and dad in the company now was bit of a rare thing. They spent most of their time at home, handling important things from there itself.

She looked up, her eyes sharp as ever. "Shlok, we have an important client landing in the country tomorrow. I want you to handle them personally."

I shrugged off my coat and hung it on the rack by the door, trying to shake off the lingering warmth from the coffee shop. "Of course," I replied without hesitation. "I’ll take care of it. What's the schedule?"

She filled me in on the client’s itinerary and the key details I needed to know. Just as we were wrapping up, she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "By the way, where have you been today? I didn’t expect you to be away from the office during such a crucial time."

Before I could formulate a reply, Rajiv walked in, clearly unaware of the tension in the room. "Actually, Mrs Shah, sir was at our new hotel. He was checking on the progress." He said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

My gaze shifted to Rajiv, a flash of irritation crossing my mind. I could tell from his smirk that he was enjoying this moment. I met my mother’s surprised look with a calm expression, though I could feel the tension rising.

I shot Rajiv a glare, but my mother’s attention was already piqued. "And why were you at the hotel? You have no work in the construction phase."

I took a deep breath, ready to defend my actions. "It’s not just about my official role, Mom. The hotel project is a significant venture for our company. I believe that being actively involved in all aspects of it is crucial. It’s not only about what’s in my job description — it's about ensuring that everything aligns with our company’s vision and standards."

Well, I wasn't lying.

She leaned back in the chair, considering my words. "I understand your dedication, but you need to balance your focus. We have a lot riding on tomorrow’s meeting, and I don’t want you spreading yourself too thin."

I could sense the concern in her voice and appreciated it, but I was committed to both the client meeting and the hotel project. "I understand, Maa. I’ll handle the client meeting efficiently. I just want to ensure everything is perfect for the project we’re working on."

She sighed, her stern demeanor softening. "Alright, just make sure you’re fully prepared for tomorrow. Focus on the client — everything else can wait."

"Got it." I replied, my tone firm.

I watched her leave, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. Once she was out of sight, I allowed myself a moment to relax and ran a hand through my hair.

My mother was a force to be reckoned with in the workplace, far different from her more nurturing demeanor at home. Here, she was all business, sharp and demanding.

As I turned my attention back to Rajiv, I saw the grin plastered on his face. He took a step back, ready to bolt, but I quickly blocked his path.

"Rajiv," I said, my voice low and serious. "What was that about?"

He kept his expression neutral. "Sir, I was just providing the information she asked for. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble."

I shook my head but couldn’t help smiling a little. "Thanks for that. Just next time, maybe warn me before you share too much?"

Rajiv nodded. "Understood. How did the hotel visit go?" I raised my brows in question and he raised his hands defensively. "I'll leave."

✿ ❀ ✿

AUROUS CHARMS ✨

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