***Sahana's P. O. V***

My breathing had long gone slow, and my heart too was drumming rather slower than usual, but my mind was going haywire with questions - did Arush like literally propose to me with a ring?! Did he actually sing for me?! Did he pull up all this drama to propose me in such a sweet way?!

I looked up at his deep yet warm eyes as they looked expectantly down at me, my hand still clutched in his. 

I didn't know what to say so I just moved forward and hugged him tightly - putting all my words and emotions in that one hug. Though Arush stood stunned for a second, he soon caught-on as he returned my hug, putting his warm hands around me and holding me tightly, with his chin placed on top of my head.

"So that's a yes then?" he asked after a while, my ears pressed to his chest and listening to his quickened heart-beats.

"You're already my boyfriend!! And now our parents are running around making arrangements for our marriage... " I giggled, breathing in his musky cologne.

"But you haven't said a yes" he said and I moved away from him, with my arms still loosely around his waist.

"You want me to say a yes?!" I asked, cocking my eyebrow and looking incredulously up at him, to which he pouted and nodded his head.

"Dude I literally proposed to you yesterday evening!" I rolled my eyes at him. But Arush huffed and tugged me closer to himself, glaring down at me.

"I am not a dude" he pursed his lips.

"Achcha?! Toh kya dudette bolu?" I giggled, knowing too well that I was literally poking an angry dragon here!

{translation - really?! So what shall I call you.. dudette?!

BTW - dudette is an actual word and something I LOVE to call my female friends hehe }

"I don't care what anyone calls me, but you're to call me as your love... or your dear husband... or any such good endearments, and not dude" he shrugged, nuzzling his nose against mine.

My breath hitched in my throat and my heartbeat quickened as his breath fanned my face, but getting myself together, I managed to give him my best smirk before saying "Dude is a good endearment!"

"Hmm.... but I don't want you to call me as dude! The next time you say that, you sure will be facing the consequences of it!" he said in a hoarse voice, his hand moving along the exposed part of my waist, trailing a hot burning path all along.

I looked up at his intense pitch-black gaze and knew he meant every word he said and gulped - I should keep in mind never to refer to him as dude!!

"So my dear preemika... tell me a yes and then.." he winked suggestively, and on cue, blood rushed to my cheeks.

"Don't call me preemika" I pouted, to which he raised his eyebrow.

"Achcha?! Toh what else should I call you?! Wifey?!" he asked, his eyes moving from my eyes, to my lips and down below my chin, resting on top of my chest.

"I still haven't accepted your proposal" I crossed my arms across my chest.

"I'm the love of your life... of course you're gonna marry me!! This proposal is a namesake we both know" he winked, his hand now moving onto my blouse, my heart hammering even more loudly now.

"Besharam bangaye ho!! In the initial days of our relationship you were so decent!! Pata nahi ab ya hua hai?!" I huffed, pushing his hand away from my blouse.

{translation - you've become very naughty now.... Don't know what's happened to you now?!}

"Pati banne waala hu... toh sab chalta hai" he winked, putting his arms around me once more.

{translation - I'm gonna be your lawfully wedded husband, so everything's fair!}

"But I haven't accepted your proposal yet!" I grinned, putting my tongue out in a teasing way.

Even before I'd known what's happening, he swooped down on me, his tongue brushing against mine.

I gasped and pulled my tongue back into my mouth - his act was so.... childish and yet so erotic...

"Tell me a yes and then we can continue" he nuzzled his nose against my cheek.

"I won't tell a yes dudeeeee" I giggled, stressing on the word dude.

Arush's eyes sparkled red and he pursed his lips to a line so thin, I could hardly see his lips!! I bit my lip, trying hard not to giggle at how comical he looked inspite of his fury!

"Dude... am I?" he breathed, and before I could respond, his hands had reached my blouse, making me gasp and choke.

"Okay okay I'm sorry Arush..." I pleaded, pushing his hands away, though my whole body was craving for him to continue.

"Arush?! I thought I told you to call me using a sweet endearment?!" he smirked, having successfully put his hands over my blouse and starting to unhook it with utmost care and devotion, his eyes glued on mine.

"Ok....OK.... mere pyaare poojya patiji" I stuttered, putting my hands over his to stop him from pealing the blouse off of me.

{translation - ok ok... my dear husband}

Arush smirked and cocked his eyebrow at me as he said "But you haven't accepted my proposal yet, have you?"

"Alright!! Alright!!! I love you Arush and I want to marry you.... it's a yes from me... happy?!" I sighed.

"For me to be happy, I need one thing" he said, his eyes traveling back to my chest again.

"W....wha...wh...what?" I stuttered, knowing too well what he had in mind!

"You're gonna agree for a two week honeymoon after our marriage" he said seriously, winking at me.

This is definitely not what I'd expected him to demand!!

"Oh that's in store too baby but for now, this is all I ask of you" he smirked as though he'd read my mind, brushing his lips to my temple.

I bit my lip and looked away from him to which he chuckled.

"Ah what am I to do with you?!" he sighed, buttoning the hooks of my blouse back in place!

He then bent down, to kiss my lips, but giggling, I pulled away.

"What?" he pouted, eyeing my lips.

"The lipstick... it'll smear..." I trailed off, giggling at the disappointed look on his face.

"Ugh fine then.... I can't control myself if we stay here for any longer so let's go" he cleared his throat, brushing his lips to my cheeks.

"Oh Arush I love you!!" I couldn't help but grin and stand on tip-toes to kiss all over his face, giggling whenever his beard tickled my cheeks.

One I was done kissing all over his face, I moved back, only to roar with laughter - my lipstick was smeared all over his face, so he looked rather comical!!

"What's so funny?" he frowned, pursing his lips as he looked suspiciously at me.

I was giggling so much that I couldn't even tell him what the issue was, but leaving me, he moved to the mirror, only to choke and glare at his reflection, or rather, his red-smeared face!

"So now the lipstick didn't smear is it?! Let's see if the lipstick smears when I kiss you or not!" he smirked, walking slowly towards me.

I squealed, trying hard to move away from him, but he caught me on time, tugging at my hand before caging me in his arms.

"You won't kiss me is it?!" he whispered in a hoarse voice, before nuzzling his cheeks against mine. I giggled at how his beard tickled my skin.

"Okay okay I'll kiss you... Mr. clown" I giggled, moving my face away from him.

"Laugh all you want... but I am ready to go out like this... to show everyone how wild my fiance is" Arush kissed my cheek before letting go off of me.

"Hey woah we aren't going like this!!" I said in horror, trying not to laugh at the lipstick smeared all over his face.

"The world has to know how wild my fiance is!!" he winked, making me blush.

"Arush c'mon... Go wash your face" I pursed my lips.

"Why? These stains show how much my fiance loves me and how much she kisses me" he winked, running his thumb along my lower lip. He then held his lipstick-stained thumb upto my eye-level, before kissing his thumb, all the while keeping his gaze on me.

My throat went dry and I let out a soft moan as he kissed his thumb again, flickering his gaze between my eyes and my lips now.

"Fine" he said abruptly, before going into the washroom - what the fuck was he doing now?!

***

The journey to our office was rather silent, and since we were rather late than usual, hence even the elevator was empty. By the time we reached office, it was a very somber looking Arush who bid me bye before turning to his cabin.

I quickly made my way to my desk, to find that Riya was already there, blushing and beaming at me.

"Kabir.." she mouthed, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears, and I knew shew as talking of how Kabir had taken his parents to her place, to ask her family for her hand in marriage.

"Congratulations!!" I beamed, and was almost halfway to her desk, when my phone rang - my dragon was calling me.

"What?" I sighed as soon as I picked up the call.

"Your boss wants to see you in the meeting room... you have a meeting with your boss, and his boss now.... and then, your boyfriend wants a special gift" Arush said, the last part rather huskily, making my blood flow to all the wrong places.

"Okay I'll be there for the meeting" I said, trying hard not to blush.

"Hmm.... and don't forget about my gift" he said, and not trusting my voice, I quickly cut the call.

"I have a meeting now... I'll talk to you after that" I sighed to Riya who nodded in understanding.

Sighing, I rushed to the meeting room, giving myself a little prep-talk as to not blush now.

But when has my mind ever obeyed me?!

I'd barely opened the door of the meeting room, when my eyes landed on my handsome fiance  sitting on a chair right in front of the door and facing me, looking as though he was awaiting my arrival.

I felt all the wind getting knocked out of me as my eyes landed straight on his piercing yet warm eyes, a smile slowly making it's way onto his handsome face.

"...kaunsa ladki ka chakkar hai jiske wajah se tum itne badal gaye ho Arush?!" Arush's law-abiding and stern-looking boss was teasing him, and to my utter horror and amazement, Arush flushed!!

{translation - who's the girl for whom you've changed so much?!}

"This look does suit you though!"  Arush's boss winked at him, to which Arush blushed even more!!

"Ah yes... Sahana... do come in!" Arush's boss said, the moment I closed the door behind me and had taken a step into the room.

I smiled at him, and carefully avoiding looking at Arush, made my way into the room, before taking the seat right opposite to him.

The meeting room was small, and had only one small table with 5 chairs... so even though I was away from Arush, I wasn't very far away, and his piercing gaze on me didn't help me at all!!

"Just one moment Sahana... let me finish my discussion with Arush?!" Arush's boss asked politely, to which I nodded - can I tell him I'm uncomfortable with this discussion?! He is, afterall, asking Arush about me, aka, the girl for whom Arush has changed his style!!

"So this girl... do tell me who she is Arush?!" his boss chuckled at how red Arush's face had gone!

"Um... I... actually.... that's what I had been meaning to talk to you... the girl...she's... um... from this office..." Arush trailed off, tiny beads of sweat pooling on his forehead.

He shot me a glance, before turning to look at his boss, who's stern face was split into a wide smile!!

"And does Sahana here like you back?" he asked, beaming at Arush, and then at me.

"How.." Arush choked, gaping at his boss in shock.

"I've known you from the day you've joined this company Arush... you really think that all this lukkha chupi will go unnoticed by me?! Have I ever seen you even acknowledge the presence of a girl, let alone shoot furtive glances towards her?!" his boss chuckled.

Fuck!!

How come everyone got to know so easily about Arush and me, when we've tried everything possible to keep the matter all hushed up?!

"We're... um... actually... engaged... sir..." Arush trailed off, his face resembling a ripe tomato as he determinedly looked away from me.

"And you didn't invite me for the engagement ceremony Arush?!" his boss gasped dramatically, making both me and Arush look at one another in shock, but then, he started chuckling. Okay that's new too!!

"Ah well, I do hope I'll be invited to the wedding?" he said, smiling at me, and then at Arush.

"Yes sir... of course..." Arush said quickly, to which I nodded.

"Well good then... congratulations to the two of you... and good luck" he smiled at the two of us.

Unsure, but feeling quite relieved, I returned the smile.

"And now, back to work.... Well Sahana, I have been looking at your work at your previous company, and now here too... Arush of course has been all praise about you... but even your old manager was all praise about you.... you were even deemed to be promoted to the position of a manager at your old office..." he trailed off as I cut him in.

"What?! Really?! I was gonna get promoted?!" I squealed, half in excitement, half in shock - I never knew that!! Imagine my increased paycheck, and the macbook I can buy with it?!

"You are getting promoted Sahana.... here, in this company....  that is, of course, if you accept it" he chuckled at the look of incredulity on my face.

As happy as I felt, I couldn't help feel dejected at the thought that I was getting promoted because of Arush's influence, and not because of my hardwork! I shot Arush an angry look, but the look of confusion and happiness in his face told me that he indeed had nothing to do with this promotion of mine!

"No... Arush has nothing to do with it... With the number of people having added to our company after the merger, we were indeed looking at previous work records to pass off people for promotion, or removal.... You, and a few more people from your old company are getting promoted as team leads, and you will be leading a team.... " he smiled warmly at me.

"You will be joining the team from next week... if you accept it, of course" Arush's boss said.

"Yes of course!!" I squealed - today literally is the best day of my life!! I got engaged, and I freaking got promoted!!!

"Well then, you'll have a lot of formalities to complete... you'll have to vacate your cubicle and fill in a lot of forms and sign a lot of papers.... but you're officially promoted" he beamed, pushing his hand forward to congratulate me.

"Thank you sir!!" I beamed at him, returning the handshake.

"Where will she be working?!" Arush asked, looking rather gloomy.

"She'll be working at the same office, but not in this department.... she'll be working in the same department as Mr. Malhotra, and Ms. Sinha.." Arush's boss trailed off.

Although the idea of having to work in the same department as that bitch Dia Sinha did make me a little gloomy, but oh Raj will be there.... and in any case, it's the same office so I don't have to go away from Arush!!

"Well that's all... the remaining details will be emailed to you" Arush's boss said, getting to his feet.

Smiling at him and bidding him bye, Arush and I made our way out of the meeting room, Arush now looking very somber.

"Arush..." I began but he shook his head and stormed off to his cabin.

Uh-oh!!

"Oh my God!!!!!" Kinjal's squeal made me jump, and I looked around to find her staring at me, or rather, at my hand.

Her squeal was heard by everyone in the vicinity, all of whom got up from their cubicles to look up at what was going on.

"Sahana you got engaged!!!" Kinjal squealed, taking hold of my hand and examining the ring in my hand. This squeal of her's however grabbed the attention of many more people, including people from my team, all of whom moved forward to gape at me, and then at my hand.

Everyone started congratulating me, and the girls specially took it to taking my hand and examining the ring. Riya just stood at one side, glaring at me -uh oh I didn't tell her about this, did I?!

"Who's the guy who gave you such a wonderful ring?! My my he must love you Sahana!! Oh this must have cost him a fortune!!" Namratha exclaimed, gazing at the ring in my hand with awe.

"Oh he does love me" I blushed - Arush did love me a lot!!

But a sudden silence descended upon the place and everyone gaped at someone who stood behind me, making me feel quite sure that it was none other than Arush.

And sure enough, when I turned to look around, Arush was standing there, looking around with his lips pursed in displeasure.

"What's all this noise?!" he asked rather coolly, looking from one person to the other.

"Uh...Sahana... she got engaged... we were congratulating her" Sagar whispered, looking rather scared.

"Oh.. I see.." Arush trailed off, with his lips still pursed.

And to my horror, he started moving forward, before standing right in front of me, still keeping his lips tightly pursed.

Everyone around us gasped in unison {including me}  as Arush smiled and twined his fingers with mine, before turning to look around everyone.

"If you're congratulating her, might as well congratulate the person who gave the ring to her" Arush said, looking around everyone.

I bit my lip to control my laughter whilst everyone around us choked and gaped at one another - of course they didn't understand what they heard, or what they were seeing!!

"Uh sir?!" Sagar piped in, looking from Arush, to me, and then to our intertwined fingers.

"Yes I am her fiance" Arush said, before moving forward and brushing his lips to my cheek!!!

I stood there, still as a statue, blood rushing to my cheeks, whilst the people around me looked like as though they'd just seen Annabelle's doll walking around!

"Her fiance... as in... the guy who gave her the ring?!" Amruth asked, as though trying to confirm what he'd just heard and seen.

"Yes... fiance as in the guy who proposed to her with that ring... the guy who has been in love with her from a long time now... the guy who sent her so many roses on rose day... and..." Arush trailed off, turning to look at me.

"...the guy who is lucky enough to marry her" he said, looking intently at me.

To be continued...

A/n - the next chapter is here. Do tell me your views on it.

I know I've told this before but I'm so in love with this Arush xoxo

Next update will be sometime next week - I'm a little stuck with the next chapter so please do forgive me for that.

Well, waiting for your response,

Love,

M <3