ARYAN HAD BEEN EXPLAINING TO ANUBHAV FOR A WHILE NOW ON HOW TO BEHAVE AND ACT...

AR : ( IRRITATED BY HIS QUESTIONS ) BHAI KISI MISSION PAR NAHI JAA RAHA HAIN JO ITNE SAWAL AUR DETAILS COLLECT KAR RAHA HAIN...BAS JAISA BOL RAHA HU WESA HI KAR...WARNA HIMMAT HAIN TOH JAKAR DIRECT PROPOSE KARDE...

AS : ( SLOWLY ) HAMARE LIYE MISSION SE KAM NAHI HAIN...( TO AR ) ACCHA THIK HAIN...HUM SAMAJH GAYE...AB CHALE NICHE?

EVERYONE GATHERED IN THE MEETING HALL...AS WAS THE LAST PERSON TO REACH...FOLLOWED BY ARYAN...HM GAVE A SWEET AND WIDE SMILE TO AS WHEN HE CAME...HE REPLIED BACK WITH A SHORT AND PROFESSIONAL SMILE...SHE FROWNED...

THE MEETING STARTED WITH SOME PEOPLE SHOWCASING A PRESENTATION...HM WAS SURE OF WHAT VIVEK TOLD HER ABOUT AS DUE TO HIS BEHAVIOUR...SHE WOULD SLIGHTLY LOOK AT HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF PPTs ONLY TO FIND HIM LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENTS...ON ANY OTHER DAY SHE COULD FEEL HIM STEALING GLANCES OR REPLY BACK THE SAME APTITUDE OF SMILE...

ARYAN COULD READ HER VISIBLE AS WELL AS LOUD EXPRESSIONS...HE SMILED AT HIS VICTORY...HE SLIGHTLY STUMPED ANUBHAV'S FOOT...AS LOOKED AT THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYES AND SMILED BACK...

AFTER THE MEETING WAS OVER AND EVERYONE HAD DEPARTED...HM SLOWLY WALKED TOWARDS AS...

HM: SIR? NICHE LUNCH KE LIYE HALL ROOM SET HAIN...AAPLOG BHI AAIYE...( SMILED )

AS : ( WITHOUT LOOKING AT HER ) MISS MALLIK AAP JA SAKTI HAIN...HUM THODE SE VYAST HAIN...DOCUMENTS MEIN...KUCH DER MEIN PRASTHAN KAR LENGE...

HM : ( NERVOUS ) AA..KOI PROBLEM NAHI HAIN...HUME PUCHNA THA KI SAB KUCH THIK HAIN NA SIR ? MTLB KISI CHIZ SE RELATED KOI PROBLEM AND ISSUES TOH NAHI HAIN NA ? AAP HUME BATA SAKTE HAIN...HUM SORT OUT KAR DENGE...

AS : HUMNE KAHA NA MISS MALLIK...AISA KOI VISHAY NAHI HAIN...AAP JAIYE LUNCH KE LIYE...LATE HO RAHA HAIN...

AR : HAAN HASEENA MALLIK AAP AAIYE...ANUBHAV KO THODA KAAM HAIN...USSE TIME LAGEGA...( AS GLARED AT ARYAN )

AR AND HM WALKED AWAY...AS WAITED FOR SOME TIME...

AS : YEH TOH NIKAL GAYA...HUME YAHA BINA KUCH BATAYE CHOD KAR...ITNA SAMAY BHI HO GAYA HAIN...( CLOSED HIS FILES ) PHELE LUNCH KARNE CHALE JAATE HAIN PHIR DEKHENGE...

HERE ARYAN AND HM WERE HAVING LUNCH...ARYAN NOTICED HM'S EYES SEARCHING FOR AS...HE SMILED...

HM : AAPKE DOST NAHI AAYE ABHI TAK ?

AR : KYUN AAP WAIT KAR RAHI HAIN ? ( HM NARROWED HER EYES ) MERA MTLB HAIN AATA HI HOGA...DEKHIYE AA GAYA...

AS SERVED HIMSELF LUNCH AND STOOD BESIDE ARYAN...THEY ALL WERE SILENTLY HAVING FOOD UNTIL HM FINALLY SPOKE...

HM : AA...SIR HUM KEH RAHE THE KI SAB THIK HAIN NA ? AAP ACHANAK SE THODA DIFFERENT BEHAVE KAR RAHE HAIN...MTLB...( SHE FUMBLED )

AR : KYUN AAPKO INKA AISA BEHAVE KARNA ACCHA NAHI LAG RAHA ? ( AS GLARED AT HIM ) MERA MTLB HAIN...KI...WOH...( SUDDENLY MAHI POPPED UP )

MH : MERI HASEENA KAHA THI ? KABSE DHUND RAHI HU TUJHE...( SHE NOTICED AR THERE )

HM : YEH HAMARI BESTFRIEND HAIN...MAHI JAIN...( SMILED )

SHE LOOKED AT AS AND KEPT LOOKING AT HIM...SHE COULD NOT REMOVE HER EYES FROM HIM...A SHY SMILE LINGERED ON HER LIPS...SHE WAS GAZING AT HIM UNTIL SHE REALIZED THE REALITY AND QUICKLY COMPOSED HERSELF...

HM NOTICED THIS AND SUPPRESSED A LAUGH...SHE WHISPERED IN HER EARS...

HM : KYA HUA MAHI ? REALITY STRIKE KAR GAYI KI TERI SHAADI HONE WALI HAIN ?

MH : HAAN YRR...PAR MERI CHOD...APNI SOCH...KYA LADKA HAIN YRR...MATLAB AUR KYA CHAIYE TUJHE ? PERFECT " JIJAJI " ...LAMBA CHAUDA HANDSOME AUR HOT BHI HAIN...ISSE PATA LE NA...PURI GHAR WALI NAHI TOH AADHI GHAR WALI TOH BAN HI JAUNGI...( WINKED )

FOR A MOMENT HM LOOKED AT AS WITH MAHI'S DESCRIPTION...HE WAS SURELY HANDSOME...HIS FACE AND HIS HAIR ADDED TO IT...HIS ADDICTIVE MOUSTACHE...AND MAYBE HOT AS WELL...HER EYES TRAVELLED TO HIS TONED ARMS AND BULGED CHEST...SHE FROWNED AND QUICKLY CLOSED HER EYES TO SHOO AWAY THE THOUGHTS...

HM : ( ROLLED HER EYES ) KAISE SAAS BAHU WALE DRAMA SHOWS KI BEHNO KI TARAH BAAT KAR RAHI HO TUM ? " AADHI GHAR WALI "...AUR WESE BHI...SENIOR HAIN HAMARE...INDIAN POLICE DEPARTEMENT KI TARAF SE...KYA TUM BHI HAR JAGAH BAS KISI KO BHI PATA LO ?

AS TRIED LISTENING TO THEIR WHISPERING BUT IN VAIN...HE NUDGED ARYAN...HE DIDN'T RESPONDED...AS NOTICED HIM ADORING MAHI AND BLUSHING...HE LOOKED UP IN ANNOYANCE...

HM : ANUBHAV SIR...HUME AAP KUCH BAAT KARNI HAIN...

AS : JI KIJIYE NA...

HM : SIR WOH...AKELE...PERSONAL BAAT KARNI THI...( SHYLY )

AR : AISI KYA BAAT KARNI HAIN JO SABKE SAMNE NAHI HO SAKTI ? ( RAISED HIS EYEBROW )

AS PINCHED HIM AND WALKED AWAY WITH HM...HE SMILED AND CONTINUED LOOKING AT MAHI...SHE GAVE HIM AN IRRITATED LOOK...

MH : ( FAKE SWEETNESS ) SHAADI HONE WALI HAIN HAMARI...1 HAFTE BAAD...( SHE WALKED AWAY )

ARYAN PROCESSED WHAT SHE SAID...HIS EXPRESSIONS CHANGED FROM BLUSHED TO DEJECTED...HE TOOK OUT HIS PHONE...

AR : OK GOOGLE, PLAY CHAIN SE TUTA JO SAPNA...( PLUGGED HIS EARPHONES )

AS HAD BEEN MAINTAINING EVERYTHING ARYAN HAD TAUGHT HIM...THEY BOTH REACHED THE GARDEN...HM GATHERED THE COURAGE TO FINALLY ASK HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT HIS CHANGED BEHAVIOUR AND WHAT VIVEK TOLD HER...

HM : DEKHIYE SIR HUM AAPSE...

SHE WAS ABOUT TO SPEAK WHEN A VOICE FROM BEHIND CALLED HER...SHE TURNED AT THE FAMILIAR VOICE...SHE SMILED AND EXCUSED HERSELF...AS NOTICED THE SUDDEN HAPPINESS IN HER EYES WHEN SHE SAW THE MAN...HE FROWNED...BUT HE DECIDED TO STAY AT THE DISTANCE...

MN: SWEETHEART! KITNI BADAL GAYI HO TUM ?

HM : ( SWEETLY ROLLED HER EYES ) KYA BADAL GAYE HUM ? AUR TUM YAHA ? TUMHE KISNE BATAYA KI HUM YAHA PR AAYE HUYE HAIN...

MN : JAHA JAHA TUM WAHA WAHA MAIN...WESE SACCH KAHU KO JAB BHI TUMHE MILTA HU BAS EK CHIZ BADALI HUI DIKHTI HAIN...KI TUM AUR KHOOBSURAT HO GAYI HO...( WINKED )

AS : ( FEELING JEALOUS ) YEH KAUN MAHASHAY HAIN AB...MAAN MARYADA KA KOI DHYAAN HI NAHI HAIN...BHEED MEIN " SWEETHEART " CHILANYENGE TOH SAB INKO INKA PREMI SAMJHENGE...( PAUSED ) KAHI YEH SACCH MEIN TOH INKA PREMI NAHI HAIN?

AR : ( KEEPING HIS HAND ON HIS SHOULDER ) HO BHI SAKTA HAIN...AB JINKA NAAM HASEENA HAIN UNKE PICHE DEEWANE TOH PADE HI HONGE...ISILIYE TU DEKH LE AB KYA KARNA HAIN TUJHE...

AS : ( GULPED ) HUM...HUM UNHE WAHA SE BULA LETE HAIN...

AR : HAAN BHAI JAISE TU TOH ZULMI PATI HO RAKHA HAIN UNKA KI EK BAAR BULAYA NAHI AUR WOH CHUP CHAP AA GAYI TERE PAAS...

AS : AA...HUM UNSE KEH DETE HAIN KI HUME PYAAS LAGI HAIN...PAANI PEENA HAIN...

AR : ( GRITTED HIS TEETH ) IB KI REPRESENTATIVE HAIN WOH...TERI PERSONAL SECRETARY NAHI HAIN...WAHA JA AUR KUCH BHI BAHANA BANA DE...WORK YA MEETING RELATED...SIMPLE...

AS NODDED AND WALKED TOWARDS HM...SHE WAS TALKING AND LAUGHING WITH HER FRIEND...

AS : HASEENA JI...WOH HUME AAPSE MEETING KE STANDPOINTS CHAIYE THE...( LOOKED AT THE MAN WITH NARROW EYES ) SORRY HUMNE DISTURB TOH NAHI KIYA ?

MN : DISTURB KARNE KE BAAD PUCHNE KA KYA MTLB HUA SIRJI ? ( LAUGHED )

HM : ( SMILED ) AREE NAHI SIR...WOH AAP ISKI BAATEIN SERIOUSLY MAT LIJIYE...YEH AISE HI MAJAK MASTI KARTA RHTA HAIN...ROHAN NAAM HAIN ISKA...HUM AAPKO ABHI DETE HAIN...

ROHAN HELD HM'S HAND TO STOP HER FROM WALKING AWAY...MUCH TO AS'S ANNOYANCE...

RO : KAHA JA RAHI HU ? ITNE SAMAY BAAD TUMSE MILNE KA MAUKA MILA HAIN...KITNE SAMUDR PAAR KAR TUMHARI GHATI PAR AAYA HU...

AS : ( SARCASTIC ) INKE LIYE ITNE SAMUDR KYU PAAR KIYE AAPNE SHRIMAN ?

RO : WOH MAIN ISKA BESTFRIEND CUM ADMIRER HU...COLLEGE SE JAANTE HAIN HUM EK DUSRE KO...AB MERE JAISA SMART LADKA KISI KE BHI PICHE TOH BHAAGEGA NAHI...JO BHAV NAHI DETI USKE PCHE AA GAYA...

HM : ( PATTED HIM ) ROHAN...SIR YEH KUCH BHI BOL RAHA HAIN...HUM COLLEGE FRIENDS HAIN...YEH AISE HI FLIRTY TYPE KA HAIN..NO FILTER...

AS : ( SLOWLY ) HMM...DEKH RAHE HAIN...BILKUL FILTER HAIN HI NAHI...SAB UDEL DE RAHE HAIN...

RO : KUCH KAHA AAPNE ? ( AS GESTURED A NO ) KAAFI SAMAY SE JAANTA HU MAIN ISKO...PHELE INDIA MEIN THE...WAHI SE COLLEGE KIYA USKE BAAD WOH YAHA GAYI...PHIR MAIN BHI AA GAYA...

AS : INKA PICHA KARTE KARTE ? ( IN FLOW FLOW )

RO : ( LAUGHED ) GOOD JOKE BRO...( AS GAVE A FAKE SMILE )

HM : THIK HAIN PHIR MILTE HAIN THODI DER MEIN...ABHI THODA OFFICIAL WORK HAIN...( ROHAN NODDED AND WALKED AWAY )

AS : AAP KISI SE PYAAR KARTI HAIN HASEENA JI ?

HM : ( SURPRISED AT HIS SUDDEN QUESTION ) NA..NAHI SIR...KYU ? ( SHE PAUSED ) OHH ACCHA ROHAN KI BAATEIN SUNKAR AAP AISA KEH RAHE HAIN ? AREE WOH TOH BAS AISE HI...

HM SCURRIED OFF WHILE AS KEPT LOOKING AT HER...A SUDDEN EMOTION OF WANTING HER AND HER LOVE AROSE IN HIM...HE SMILED AND KEPT HIS FEELINGS AT BAY...HE WALKED TOWARDS HIS ROOM...

So the next chapter is Confession and Proposal...Hope you all liked the chapter...Do vote and comment down your honest reviews...I love reading them...Thank you...

**Also aaj ka Gulks ka interview dekh ki badi khushi hui...Hope everything's back on track soon...Aur haan ab toh " Platonic pyaar " ko apni about mein daalna padega...That line has all my heart...( Rulki Obessesd me 😄😜💗 )