Chapter three

In Mumbai,

"Morning Sir!" Said the watchmen together as they stood up and saluted their boss who walked into the office with a curt nod.

He looked at his wristwatch and sighed, "Always on time! Even Sunrise is delayed by a few seconds or minutes everyday, but The Prithvi Singh singhania is always punctual."

"No one can challenge him in being so punctual." said the other watchman with a chuckle.

Where on one side, One by one all the staff members started to occupy their places and start their works, on the other side stood Miss Teena Kapoor, PSS's PA busy in her touch Up. Of course, for her mission ‘Woo the PSS’. But poor she, PSS never took interest in her.

Doing her last-minute touch up, she knocked on the door with an anticipating smile. "Excuse me, Sir? May I come in?" She asked, her voice laced with sweetness.

"Come in!" Came a voice.

With a wide smile, she walked into the cabin only to go out within the next five minutes with files in her hand and a sad pout.

"Failed again?" Asked Amritha, her colleague with a soft chuckle.

Teena sighed and shook her head negatively, "he didn't even let me speak and handed me these files to complete..." She whined with a sad pout.

"Oho... It happens. Don't be sad."

"Anyways, how was your wedding? Enjoyed fully?" asked Teena, nudging her in a teasing tone.

"Wedding was awesome! But PSS granted me leaves only for a week. And here I am back..." Amritha complained.

"Don't you know what a week means in PSS's Dictionary?" She asked cheekily.

"Year!" They said together and chuckled.

Airport, Mumbai

The cold wind blew past Nithya, sending shivers under her spine. She felt unknown emotions rising in her heart as she took long intakes of breath.

"Nithya..."

"Nithya..."

"Nithya...." Lavanya shouted against her ear.

"Woah! What's wrong? I am not deaf." She said in amusement.

"Oh hello... Where are you lost? I have been calling you for ages now." said Lavanya, being usually dramatic.

"Relax, will you?"

"I am tired... I just want to go and sleep. Let's go na..." Lavanya yawned.

"La..." She rolled her eyes at her, "Someone's coming to pick us. I had told you right?"

"Yeah ok ok! But where's that someone?"

"Wait a sec.. I'll ask him." She said, taking hold of her phone.

"Um... Excuse me?" A man called them out as he walked towards them.

"Is he that someone?" Lavanya asked and Nithya shrugged her shoulders.

".. Miss Gupta?" he asked, unsurely and she nodded her head affirmatively.

"Hi! I am Akash, Akash Singh singhania." he said, extending his palm for a handshake. "Company's CEO?" He added to her hesitancy.

"oh yeah!" She smiled, shaking hands with him. “I am extremely sorry for the trouble it caused to you.”

“Hey, don’t be so formal. Anyways, I think we should go. It’s getting cold.” He said.

The journey to the outhouse was usually silent. Lavanya, being the biggest chatter queen was quieter than never before and it was amusing.

"This is my outhouse. You both are living here for the next 2-3 days till we find a good place for you both to live in. I hope you will feel comfortable here. It was the least I could at such short notice." He said handing over the keys to Nithya.

"What was the need sir? We could have checked-in to a good hotel till then." Nithya said hesitantly.

"No issues, Miss Gupta. Just think of it as some hotel till then." He said with a wink making Nithya smile.

“Thank you Sir.”

“Pleasure all mine. So. I’ll take your leave. Be Comfortable.” He said and left.

"Why is he like this?" Lavanya asked.

"Like what?" Nithya chuckled, slumping down over a sofa.

"He's so nice, so gentlemen types." She sighed.

"Eeks, La... He's my boss. Stop it now." She groaned, throwing a cushion on her.

"Oh really. So I can't even admire him now, just because he's your boss huh?" she asked with raised brows.

Nithya rolled her eyes with a sigh not knowing what to say.

"I have a question."

"I knew it. You were quieter than usual in the car. Must have stuffed your head with millions of questions isn't it?" She mocked at her.

Lavanya looked at her with narrowed eyes and huffed, " Listen to me, will you?"

"Listening!"

"He is your Boss Then too he came all the way to pick you from the Airport. Not just that, he also offered you to stay in his personal outhouse time you get a better place to live. Isn't this getting too weird?"

"You're right. I felt it quite weird but couldn't voice it out. But when I enquired from his other staff members, they were positive about him."

"Hmm... Mysterious. I like it." She giggled.

'Hey Devi maiyya. Save me from this mental girl!' Nithya sighed.

In PS Designs,

On the other side, Prithvi was feeling strange. He was unable to concentrate on his works because of a certain anklet's sound. He was feeling as if someone was calling him out, someone very dear to him.

'Why am I feeling so strange? And whose anklets are they?' he wondered feeling a throbbing pain rising in his head.

Finally, after trying everything I could do to focus and shoo off those strange feelings, he stood up and walked out of his cabin feeling suffocated.

"PSS, I was just coming to your cabin. I need your signatures on them." Said Teena when she came across Prithvi.

"Not now Teena. I'll sign on them later. I am going home, just postpone all my lined up meetings." he said leaving behind a bewildered Teena who stood agape.

All the staff members stood wide-eyed when they witnessed the unusual sight before them. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Prithvi leaving the office before his usual time.

"Here, Lavanya's special Hot Chocolate." She squealed, forwarding her a cup of steaming Hot Chocolate.

"Umm... How can something be so delicious yaar? What's the secret ingredient?" Nithya asked, savoring the taste.

"That's all because of my magical hands." She lifted her imaginary collars, "By the way, what were you thinking so deeply?"

"Nothing serious. Was just reminiscing all the moments, I once spent in this city... with him."

"Hey!" Lavanya whispered.

"I am okay!" Blinking her tears back, "Anyways, I was thinking that I should inform Hrithik ji about this. But I wonder how he's gonna react."

"You are his little princess. he'll understand it." said Lavanya, assuring her.

With a long sigh, she dialed his number.

"Hello..."

".............."

"I am fine, What about you?"

"............"

"No no... I called to inform you that I shifted back to Mumbai today itself. I am really sorry for not informing you earlier."

"............"

"I am sorry. It was so sudden that I couldn't deny the offer and shifted back as soon as I could."

"............"

"Transferred again?” She sighed and continued, ”Anyways, be safe and have your food on time. Take care." saying so she dropped the call.

"What did he say?"

"He got transferred again. At first, he was upset that I didn't think about informing him once before leaving." She pouted sadly.

"Okay okay... I am off to sleep. Tata!" Lavanya sang and rushed to her room.

‘Back to Mumbai again!’ she sighed and started unpacking her luggage.

In singhania Mansion,

"Hrithik Ji didn't call even for once since morning. Let me give him a call..." Samaira mumbled to herself.

"Hari Prakash!" She heard a loud voice halting her moves.

"Chote?" She whispered in shock.

She turned around to see Prithvi walking into the house in an extremely foul mood.

"Ji Bhaiyya?" came an almost panting Hari Prakash.

"Go to the Office and collect the files from Teena."

"J... Ji." he nodded and left.

"Chote..." She called him out walking towards him with a concerned look, "How come you are home so early today? Are you alright? Are you not feeling well?" she asked, touching his forehead with the back of her palm.

"Di... Di, Relax! I am alright. Just had a mild headache." he said softly.

"Of course. This is what happens when you work like a robot all day long. Shall I give you a head massage? The pain will shoo away in seconds." She asked, caressing his cheek lovingly.

"I am fine Di. I'll take some rest."

"Sure?" she asked unsure, frown lines appearing on her forehead.

"Yes. Anyways, Where's Jeeja Ji?" he asked.

"Your Jeeja Ji got transferred again. God Knows when he’ll spend some time with me. Always busy." she pouted.

"Don't worry Di. He'll come back soon and if not, he'll definitely take you along with him. You know that he loves you, right?" he smiled, consoling the upset Anjli.

"Hmm.."She hummed with a pout.

"Ok... I'll just go and freshen up. We'll have dinner together."

"Ok.” She smiled, “ Om Prakash, set the table!” she shouted.

After sometime,

"Here take this, I have asked Hari Prakash to make it especially for you." she smiled serving him his favorite almond Kheer.

"Any special occasion?" he asked, taking a spoonful of kheer.

"Nothing so special. I was just in a good mood. Just got rid of something after a long time." She smiled

"That’s great! Anyway, Where'sVirat?"

"I had sent Jai Prakash Ji to call him for dinner... he must be coming in a while." She frowned, "There he is." She said looking atVirat who was descending down the stairs.

"You are home early today?" He asked occupying his seat opposite Prithvi.

"Headache." he whispered, staring at him intently.

"Take rest."

"You too buddy. You are looking so worn out." he commented, looking at his overgrown beard and sunken eyes.

"I am tired of repeating the same thing to him. But when will he ever listen to me?" She sighed in disbelief, "Why don't you just forget everything and move on,Virat? She will never come back." said Samaira raising her hands up in frustration.

"Don't raise that topic again, Di. I am fed up with listening to the same thing on repeat."Virat said coldly.

"Virat, She was not the only one girl alive on this planet. I'll get you better alliances than that."

"You know what actually, I am done." He said standing up in rage, the chair toppled down behind him, "I don't give a damn to other girls on this planet. I just need her because I bloody love her." said he, banging his fists hard on the table, making her flinch back.

"Virat, What kind of a behavior is this?" Prithvi shouted angrily.

"Stop bugging me with all these suggestions every time. And about forgetting everything and moving on, I will make her mine either by hook or crook." He said and walked away.

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