Author's POV

As the girl drove along, soft music filled the car's interior, creating a peaceful ambiance. Suddenly, her vehicle came to an unexpected stop right in front of a bustling mall. Frustration flashed across her face as she tried in vain to restart the engine, eventually slamming her hand against the steering wheel in exasperation.

With irritation evident, she reached for her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

"Hello..."

"Hello, Papa..."

"Sorry, ma'am, but the boss is currently in a meeting. If there's something urgent, let me know, and I'll inform him."

"Send the car repairman immediately," she replied sharply. Her urgency caught the person on the line off guard, nearly causing him to drop his phone.

Gathering himself, he carefully held onto his phone and asked, "Madam, have you gone out somewhere?"

"If Sir finds out..."

Cutting him off with a steely tone, she said, "Just do as you're told. There's no need to inform Papa. I'm sending you the address. Remember, you're Papa's secretary, not mine. Focus on him and let me know when the repairman will arrive."

Before he could respond, the call ended abruptly. He quickly contacted a mechanic and dispatched them to the provided address.

He muttered anxiously to himself, "If the boss discovers madam left without a bodyguard, he'll chew me out for sure. And if I dare inform her, she'll sear me alive on a hot pan before devouring me."

The poor man was visibly distressed, beads of sweat forming despite the cool comfort of the air-conditioned cabin.

At that moment, the cabin door creaked open, revealing a figure in his fifties. He was dressed in a well-fitted brown coat over a crisp white shirt, exuding a distinguished air. He settled into his chair opposite a spacious desk, his gaze naturally drawn to a photograph placed there. In the picture, his stunning wife stood gracefully beside their beloved daughter, the cherished pride of his life.

He turned his gaze towards Mihir, who gulped nervously but managed to maintain his posture. "What happened? Why are you sweating so much?" the boss asked.

Mihir hesitated for a moment, torn between the intimidating presence of his boss and the looming threat of his daughter.

"Nothing, sir," Mihir replied quickly, forcing a smile. "The meeting went well."

The boss hummed thoughtfully, his expression unreadable.

"I'll bring coffee for you, sir," Mihir added hurriedly, eager to break the tension.

With that, Mihir swiftly exited the room. After a while, he returned with a cup of coffee, remembering that his boss preferred it without sugar due to his diabetes. He carefully placed the coffee on the table and quietly withdrew to attend to his other tasks.

As soon as her car was repaired, she headed out for shopping. She combed through every shop in the sprawling mall but couldn't find what she was looking for. Spending the entire day there in her quest, she eventually moved on to another mall.

At exactly five o'clock in the evening, Anuj closed his file, checked his watch, and called out to Mihir.

"Mihir!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Take these things, let's go!" Anuj said, grabbing his coat from the chair.

"Why..." Mihir started, but was interrupted.

"Why? What do you mean 'why'? Didn't I tell you this morning that I would be leaving early?" Anuj replied.

"Oh, sorry, sir, it slipped my mind."

"Let's hurry up then, I also need to buy some gifts," Anuj said, already moving towards the door.

Mihir muttered to himself as he gathered the items, "I don't know if madam has reached home yet."

Quickly taking out his mobile, Mihir dialed...

"You..."

"Before you say anything, sir, I'm on the way home. Please try to come home early," Mihir said urgently.

"O-okay, thanks."

"Sure, brother, please pack this quickly, I'm running late," she told the shopkeeper after the call.

She swiftly paid and headed towards her car.

Meanwhile, Mihir glanced at his watch and then looked out the window, watching as his boss had a bouquet prepared for his wife. Moments later, Anuj returned to the car.

"Let's go," Anuj said as he settled into the seat.

After a short drive, the car stopped outside a luxurious mansion. The house stood grand and imposing, with tall columns framing the entrance and a beautifully manicured garden in front. Anuj stepped out, followed by Mihir, who carried his boss's bag.

As soon as the bell rang, a woman in her mid-forties opened the door.

"Welcome, sir," she greeted warmly.

Anuj smiled and both he and Mihir entered the house. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with marble floors gleaming under the soft lighting. Elegant chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the spacious living area. Expensive artwork adorned the walls, and plush furniture invited comfort.

"Reema, here are some sweets. Please put them away," Anuj said, handing her a bag.

"What is that lovely fragrance?" Anuj asked, inhaling deeply. "It smells wonderful."

Reema smiled. "We're preparing a special dinner tonight, sir. It's going to be something extraordinary."

"Great, I'll go change and be back shortly. In the meantime, please get something for Mihir," Anuj said, heading towards his room.

Reema nodded and turned to Mihir. "Come with me, I'll get you something to drink." She led him through the spacious living area, past a grand piano and towards the kitchen, where the scent of the special dinner was even more enticing.

Swati was continuously calling someone in the room, but the person wasn't picking up. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice her husband had opened the door and entered.

She muttered under her breath, "This girl will definitely make me old before my time with all this tension."

Just then, someone placed a hand on her shoulder, making her flinch. She turned around quickly. "Anuj, you scared me."

"Why? What's wrong, and who are you calling so much?" he asked, glancing at the phone in her hand.

"Nothing," she replied, trying to dismiss it.

"And how come you're home so early today?" she asked, trying to divert the conversation.

"How do you mean? Today is our wedding anniversary. If I were late, you would have scolded me. Now that I'm early, you're questioning me."

Swati muttered to herself, "When I call him urgently, he doesn't come. And today, when I didn't expect him early, he shows up."

Anuj looked at her carefully. "What are you saying?"

Snapped out of her thoughts by his voice, she responded, "Nothing. You're not taking me out."

"Hey, why are you angry? You had a fever just yesterday, and I don't want to take any risks. As for going out, I'll take you next Sunday."

"Come on, don't spoil your mood. I brought you this beautiful bouquet for my beautiful wife," Anuj said with a smile, presenting her with a fresh bouquet of her favorite flowers.

Seeing the bouquet, a loving smile appeared on Swati's face as she took it from him.

"Happy anniversary, my love!"

For a few moments, they gazed at each other, love evident in their eyes. All the tension and worries faded away, leaving only the warmth of their affection.

---

After some time, Anuj came downstairs and called out to his daughter.

Hearing this, Mihir, who was drinking juice, started coughing.

"Sir, she's not here!" Reema said, coming out of the kitchen.

"Okay, I'll check her room," Anuj replied, turning to head towards her room.

Just then, he stopped in his tracks as he saw Trisha coming down the stairs.

Mihir's heartbeat quickened, but hearing Trisha's voice, he looked up.

To his surprise, Trisha was descending the stairs with a soft smile on her face, accompanied by her father.

                         ******

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