Ramit tried to sleep for a while during the journey. It was more to quell the thoughts that bothered him than for rest. He failed anyway. When the flight landed, he went home and slept until morning.

The next few days went by quickly with his work. They looked at the data over and over again. They planned a date for the release soon, which was after 2 days. In the meanwhile, the intelligence agency found out and probed them. How did they find out, he thought. He really underestimated the power and control an entire state held, perhaps.

He was sceptical at first but decided to meet their representative. Since the other founders were far across the globe, they held the meeting with the officer 2 days later.

"We are not here to restrict you from your work. But your reports might include instances of terror funding, so we have to be prepared. We can't have you release it without any preparation. This is a threat to all of you as well."

The ten of them, the founders of Hidden, were a little stumped. This was new information. They did not know any of these companies under their investigative probe had links to terrorism. 

However, there was good news too. They thought they wouldn't be able to publish their data at all when they were contacted by the government. They planned to have the anonymous journalists release it if the situation turns worse for them.

They looked at each other for a moment and Ramit asked, "So, do you want the information we have on them?"

"Exactly. But since we are not sure, we need to look at everything."

"How much earlier would you want it before we publish?" Emma, the senior most of the founders, asked. If the news was sold before they published on Hidden's website, everything would go to waste.

"We have to tighten the security and mobilise the forces. We need to understand whatever information you have and decide which locations to focus on. If need be, we might also alert the Interpol. So we'd ask for as much time as possible." The officer spoke straightforwardly.

"We plan to release them the day after tomorrow," she said.

"Then, lend us the information now and postpone the release to 10 days from now."

"Our risks increase the more we delay it."

"If you are based here, respect the rules of this land. 10 days from now," the officer insisted.

"How did you know we have that information? We know it's pointless to deny, but at least tell us. I'm so curious," a younger founder, Vyan, asked, almost jumping in his seat.

The officer smiled. "Rest assured, you're all safe. 10 days then."

Emma looked at Ramit, who shrugged and nodded, before she agreed.

When the time came, the intelligence officer gave them a green signal and said that any terror funding route in their data was recorded and that it will be dealt with. He did not even tell them if they did uncover something so profound.

Luckily, no major incidents happened, although the internet became a little chaotic and their company made quite a name for itself. When it was time to leave, he treated his small bunch of employees to dinner. It was a major milestone for their company, after all. Moreover, they took great care of his wife's potted plant, which he had left in the office. Last time he had not taken it since his luggage was quite enough. This time he flew back with the plant and the notarized agreement.

Everything was delayed and his trip extended up to 2 weeks when he finally returned. For that whole time, he did not call or message her. They had no communication at all.

When he was at her door, it was night. She may have locked away his door, or dismantled their little table. He took in a breath and unlocked the apartment with his spare key. When he turned on the light, he found their table right where it was.

With a small smile on he looked at the bedroom. The door was closed, but not bolted. He silently pushed in. In the dark, he found her sleeping cosily. His smile became broad. It seemed she did not treat him like a mere guy to whom she rented out some of her space. He was hungry but tired and so decided to hold her to sleep.

∼•∽

In the morning when he opened his eyes, she was already looking at him from his shoulder. He pressed his cheek onto her head and caught another wink. When he woke up again, she wasn't there, but on their small table in the kitchen there was a box of food. She must have felt cooking was too time consuming again.

He was about to call her when he caught the time. It was past 10. He messaged her instead. 'Busy?'

She replied in an instant. 'Yes.'

He put the phone down when he received another text. 'Did you eat?'

'I should.'

His phone rang. "Is it cold?"

He checked the container and said, "No. What is this called?"

"Not sure. It looked good."

"Don't you know French?"

"I didn't know that dish. Should I check and tell you?"

"Not busy now?"

After quite a pause she spoke again, "Last time I didn't expect you to stay so I didn't order for you."

When he heard her voice go so low, and her careful words, he was stumped. It was the first time she spoke to him so solemnly. Moreover, she rarely explained anything.

He too took a while to get his reply out. "It's nothing much," he said in the end. He felt everything happened a long time ago, although it wasn't the case. It didn't bother him much and it definitely didn't bother him once he had ruined her ticket. That action was what got them to somewhere at least. But now that she brought up that day, he also remembered how he spoke all nonsense about her bringing men over. Back then he had pushed his apology to the back of his head given the situation. Now seemed to be the right time.

"Come home soon. I'll cook something new." During the past weeks, he had stayed with his parents. His sister had gone with her husband and his parents were the only ones living in their big home. He learnt quite some new dishes and tips for perfection from his mother. He levelled up nicely.

"Okay."

∼•∽

At night when she was home, he had one final dish to be ready. She came into the kitchen and opened the window completely and stood by it, watching him.

"What does it smell like?" He nodded at the dish on the counter.

"Half the ingredients are missing," she said, looking into the one on the stove.

"That one has almost all." He had tried his best throughout the afternoon to gather everything required. After all, there was no kirana store in this place whose owner would see his face and give what he was supposed to buy, without even taking a look at the list his mom gave. Then, there was the problem of language. Locals barely spoke English. The accent made it all the more difficult for him. He used Google Translate like he did all this time. Whatever the translator said and the shopkeeper showed didn't look familiar to him. For the flavour to be right though, the right ingredients were needed. In the end, he had to make do.

"You made these too?" she asked, looking at the parathas.

"Yeah!"

She nodded slowly. "First time?" She knew he was good at all the easy-to-cook Xgen recipes but when did he start with the traditional cuisine?

"Fifth I guess. I was at my parents' home for a little while and mom missed Ria so she taught me instead."

"They're really round."

He walked to her and slid his arms along her sides. In the loose embrace, as they gazed into each other's eyes, he said, "Like this? They are the same size, aren't they?"

She looked at where he stared. It was her small baby bump. Her lips curved slowly and fully before she started laughing for a minute. He smiled and kissed her nose. It had been quite a while since he saw her laugh like that. Things really turned out well. She was finally accepting him.

He released her, turned off the stove and arranged the table. The dinner was to both of their tastes, carrying the feeling of their distant home. Soon the dinner was done with no leftovers.

It was time. He led her into the bedroom, made her sit before he knelt before her, holding her hands.

"What are you doing?"

He looked into her eyes. He did not feel alienated anymore. He wasn't afraid things would go wrong anymore.

"That time... I also said things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Don't worry, anyone would think just like that." Her eyes were devoid of any emotion. He had seen her for enough years to know that she held grudges.

"I'm not just anyone. I'm really sorry." He squeezed the soft hands he held.

"Fine. Get up," she said slowly and took back her hands.

He stood up and sat by her. "I'm sorry. I won't ever say that again."

"Fine, don't."

"I really should not have said that. I'm unbelievable... You must have been very hurt..."

"I was not! Didn't you say it won't happen again? Why do you beat yourself up?" she said with a frown. Then she smiled. "Don't be like that. Mistakes don't need so much attention once you decide not to make them again."

She stood up to walk away.

"Wait!" He pulled out the notarized document from his briefcase.

"Here. Did you check the website? Everything went well and we published all the data."

She took the document. "I saw, but I didn't understand much. But the news still speaks of it." She could have understood if she tried a little, but she switched to NatGeo, which showed bees and butterflies.

"Yeah. So... what will you do now?" He asked, seeing her turn away again.

"Nothing."

He walked behind her. He had nothing to do. When they were at the door of her study, he paused. The whole house was dimly lit, except this room. It was dark. He stepped in when she didn't say anything.

"This... you brought it?"

"Huh?"

"Plant," she said, pointing to the window sill. It was right at the place where she would like it to be.

"Yeah. It's been with me since you came here."

She nodded. Then she felt a need to stop the conversation. "Then go to your room. I have something to do." She walked out into the hallway, to get some water and also, leading him out of her room.

Once she gulped down her water, she saw the moon hovering high above from the window beside. She wanted to get a better view and enjoy it for a bit. "Turn the light off," she said to him, who was standing closer to the switchboard.

When it was dark, she turned away from him and before she could walk any closer to the window, he caught her from behind and gently bit her ear before he kissed the back of her neck. Her breathing changed and she made a quiet noise. She was always weak to his seduction.

Ramit liked it especially when it was subtle like this. Instead of being brazen, this time she asked him to turn the lights off. So ambiguous but it was, kind of, the right button for him.

"It should be safe now, right?"

She was a little surprised but soon realised the situation. Remembering the last time, she slapped his arm and said, "It has been safe since a month ago!" Right the day he arrived, she went on to kiss him. She had many hopes, poor her.

He chuckled. "Then, we'll be careful." He kissed her slowly before the two were lost in the moment.

However, something pulled them back into reality.

"Ouch!" He cried out.

"What happened?" she asked, still disoriented.

He bent down and saw a little syringe. He quickly shut the window, when he saw a silhouette on top of a distant building. He looked suspicious but from the distance nothing was clear. He pulled her into the bedroom. He ran out of the room and shut all the doors and windows in the house.

"What happened?"

"Someone shot a syringe." He said, rubbing his neck and showed her the syringe placed in a tissue. He picked it up after he drew the curtains. It was more than half full. It hit his collar at a great speed. It hit him when he angled his head to deepen their kiss.

She looked at it and said frantically, "Where?"

"He missed. I'm alright." He thought about who would want to disrupt his peaceful life. He did not have any grudges with anyone.

"I'll call the police!" It was a threat to life, either his or hers. It could not be taken lightly at all. But before she could, his phone rang. It was an unknown local number. He picked up.

∼•∽

A/N:
Alright! We are close to the huge turn. What do you think is going to happen next?

Bye-bye & take care. See you next chapter!