♔ Aarav ♔

          My eyes blink in Jhanvi's direction sometime in the middle of the meeting and she looks disturbed. Almost scared. I wonder if it's because of me. I scold myself mentally for not having a better hold on my tongue. I shouldn't have called her out like that in front of everyone.

I blink away to Aman when he concludes everyone ideas and tells him they're all good ideas and he'll think about which one to go with. The HR head picks up on the progress of narrowing down the list of interns to interview and I block them out as I find my focus returning to Jhanvi.

The more I focus on her, the more I wonder that there's something unsettling her and it can't be what I said. My eyes travel to her hands on the table where she is twirling her engagement ring around nervously.

It doesn't take me long after that to figure out who could have been calling her. She's only had this local number for a day. I doubt she'd have given it out to too many people.

My jaw clenches on understanding she is scared of him. Of his anger.

I need to find out more about this guy she is engaged to.

The meeting ends and I give them concluding remarks before leaving, telling Pia to send Jhanvi to my cabin. I remember I have another meeting in half hour, but that time is enough to get some information out of her.

I walk out of the conference room first and take out my phone to text dad.

What do we know about the fiancé?

He doesn't answer right away and I'm sure he's still sleeping. I'm going to have to wait.

Reaching my cabin, I push the door open and walk up to my desk, unbuttoning my coat suit button and firing up the laptop to send an email to Mr. Sheikh.

There is a knock on the door and I answer. "Come in," without looking up assuming it'd be Jhanvi.

Instead, it's Pia. "Sir, I tried to tell her but she's on a phone call."

"It's fine," I mutter and she takes it as her cue to leave. Through the window, I catch Jhanvi walking into her office and close the door. I watch across the hall as she sits on the chair saying something but stops talking midway. I try to read her lips but the blinds are a nuisance in between. All I can make out is her flushed face.

Eva enters my cabin without a knock and follows my gaze before walking up to the other side of the desk and taking a seat. "I'm seriously starting to not like this guy. Look at him, she should be the one mad at him for calling repeatedly, but he's the one mad that she didn't answer. Isn't it common sense that if a person isn't answering, they'll call back when they get a chance?"

"E, breathe." I advise her to calm her anger as I glance away from Jhanvi and divert my attention to her.

She breathes out and questions, "Are you not mad yourself?"

"It could be anything, E. Let's not judge him too quickly."

She huffs out, rolling her eyes. "I don't understand how you can be so calm after learning she's engaged."

"There's no law saying she can't be engaged, Eva."

She counters, "You're supposed to be marrying her, Aarav! That is what her father wanted. We've all known this your whole life."

"Drop it, Eva." I warn her. I know very well what is written in the will. I may have always envisioned my life growing up that one day I'd be marrying Jhanvi, but heck – she doesn't remember anything. She's already made her choice and now, I have to come to terms with it.

It's why I've been trying so hard to try and be overly professional. It's why I cribbed yesterday wanting dad to train her instead. Until I can accept that she's already chosen someone else and pull myself together, it's a dangerous bet to be around her.

I have loved her my entire life.

It's going to take time to reel back to reality.

Honestly, it should be ridiculous. Other than our childhood memories, there are no memories of us growing up. I shouldn't be this deeply affected, but matters of the heart. It does what it does. It wants what it wants.

"Fine, but don't expect me to not fish for information from her." Eva lets it be known that she'll stop nagging me, but not her mission. "I don't trust him and I'm not just saying that because I love you and I'd rather want both of you to be together."

"Then why? You haven't even met him."

"Doesn't mean there isn't something fishy. I may have left the army, Aarav, but it hasn't left me. The guy I love is an army intelligence officer. We've been trained for years to see what's hidden between the lines and I'm telling you, there is more to this guy than what meets the eye and somewhere, even she knows that."

I purposely ask to distract her, "How is Jigar?"

She smiles at once, her foul mood long forgotten as she starts talking about her fiancé, "Great, we talked last week. He's hoping to get a leave soon so he can come home for a visit."

"Good, it's been too long since we've all seen him."

She nods sadly, "Yeah." She really does miss him. She then looks back through the window and comments, "Well, I guess I'll go check on her."

I nod and she stands up to leave. I get busy with the next video conference I have that lasts till lunch time where I have a lunch conference with a client.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          Pia informs me as we are walking to it that lunch is ready to be served in the conference room. I get there and greet the financial investors. Because this conference room has a round table and is used for smaller meetings, I sit at one of the three empty chairs. Seconds later, Eva and Jhanvi enter. Since Eva is first, she takes the empty seat farther from me, leaving Jhanvi to sit next to me.

I introduce them unlike in the first meeting, "Gentleman, this is Ms. Jhanvi Raichand. She's just moved here from Australia and going to be working with us for the next year. And you already know Eva."

Mr. Chaturvedi, an older guy in his 50s greets them both with a hand shake, "Nice to meet you Ms. Raichand, and Eva, always a pleasure."

"Likewise, Mr. Chaturvedi." Eva replies.

I offer their names for Jhanvi, "This is Mr. Chaturvedi, Mr. Patel and Mr. Khan. They're all interested in investing in our winter collection."

Jhanvi nods in acknowledgement.

"Let's get started then."

As we start discussing the financial possibilities and I give them a breakdown of the average amount spent in the collection and where it is invested – production, textile, marketing, models, the fashion show, etc. Meanwhile, Pia places plates in front of us so we can eat while discussing their interest and how much they'd be willing to invest.

I stop talking when there is a strong grip on my wrist that on the arm of the chair. I follow it to Jhanvi as she pushes her chair back and stands up. "Sorry," She quickly says pulling her hand back as the other covers her mouth. "Excuse me." She runs out of there and I watch in concern.

Eva stands up as well, "Poor girl seems to not be used to Indian food. I'll go check on her."

My concern eases just a little when Eva follows her, but I'd rather be the one making sure she was okay.

The whole ten minutes until Eva returns leaves me unfocused. I don't get to ask her anything as Mr. Patel is speaking but I am glad when the meeting ends in another fifteen minutes. After we bid them and the gentlemen promise to get back to me by the end of the week, I turn to Eva.

I do not need to ask. She informs right away, "I gave her some medicine and asked her to rest in the office. She doesn't seem to have a fever so I don't know if its stomach bug. It happened yesterday too, around the same time actually."

"Yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?"

She raises a brow in amusement over my anxiousness, "Should I report back to you every time she so much as sneezes?"

I fist my palms together and unclench to not go off at her for making sassy remarks and leave the conference room to check on Jhanvi.

As I walk to the door, I can see from the window that she has her head rested back on the chair and her eyes are closed. I don't knock so as to not disturb her and quietly enter the room. Even though Eva said she didn't have a fever running, I decide to check for myself. I stand beside the desk and forward the back of my hand to her forehead.

Her eyes flutter open at the contact and lock with mine. I pull back seconds later with the confirmation that she indeed doesn't have fever. "How do you feel?" I ask her while leaning back against the desk.

She sits up in the chair, "I'm okay. Sorry about that."

"Don't be." I dismiss it at once. She shouldn't be feeling bad about it when it wasn't her fault. "How about you take the rest of the day off?" I suggest feeling guilty myself. I should have realized that the move from Australia to Mumbai could have been a big one and given her few days to adjust to it first.

She tries to politely decline, "No, it's okay. I don't feel sick."

I counter, "When was the last time you had a proper meal?"

She frowns and at first doesn't seem to want to answer. When I continue to look at her without a blink, she gives in. "Three days ago, maybe."

I let out before I can control my tongue, "Fuck, Jhanvi. What's the matter with you?!"

Her eyes widen at my foul language. It's what I'm noticing about her. Every time she thinks anyone does something unexpected, her eyes widen just a little. Then, she defends herself, "I am trying! It's not my fault if I'm not used to the food here."

I say in a tone leaving no room for arguments, "You are going home right now."

Still, she argues. "Look Mr. Raizada, the only thing that'll work right now is homemade food and I don't have the energy or means to make that happen. Besides, I'm here to work, not take a day off on my second day itself."

"You very well can't work on an empty stomach."

"I'm sure I can manage five hours without dropping dead."

I flinch at her later words and her brows knit together, not understanding my flinch. Drop dead. How can she be so casual and nonchalant right now? Does she not care about her own health at all?

She then crosses her arms over her chest as if daring me to make her leave.

Fine, then. If she is Jhanvi Raichand, then even I am Aarav Raizada.

I pull my phone out of my coat pocket and speed-dial a number. "Hey mom, are you home right now?"

She pulls her brows together and her forehead crinkles.

Lavanya answers, "You know I am, kiddo. What's up?"

"Perfect, could you send me whatever's made for lunch? I feel like having home-made food today."

Jhanvi's eyes widen again and I give her a smug response. Take that. She may not have the means but I do.

"Really now?"

"Yeah, I missed it." I reply indicating to how I had been away for the last five months.

"Mhmm, sure. I'll send it, but just know that I know better than to think you suddenly miss my cooking."

I smile to myself. Ofcourse she'd figure out I was partially lying. Now, it's not to say I don't miss her cooking. I do. She just knows my food habit better to believe that I'd ask her to send food to the office. If I wanted homemade food, I'd just go home and eat it or make it myself.

"Thanks, mom." I say and end the call.

She narrows her eyes at me to question, "Who do you think you are?"

I lean forward towards her with my hands resting on either of the arms of the chair. She sinks her head back into the chair as far away as possible. "If you won't go home, then I know how to bring home to you."

She meekly responds trying to sound confident, "I won't eat it."

I can't help but find amusement in this. She really thinks she has a convincing chance here. Someone tell her she can do anything she wants, but when it comes to her health, her safety, there isn't a thing I wouldn't do. "You will, Shona. Even if I have to force feed you."

Suddenly, she is done cowering back into the chair. She straightens up and pushes me back with a finger to the center of my chest. As I let her move me back, she stands up and the chair rolls back. "Mr. Raizada, I don't know who you think are you calling me names and such, but this better be the first and last time that happens. And respect the personal space, please."

That's when I realize the word I let slip by... the word I used to call her by when we were children. Her mother was from the South and she used to call her Shona. For some reason, I liked the endearment and had picked up on it.

I stand on my weight, now towering a good inch over her height, and compose myself. "Just make sure to eat. I'll have Pia bring it when its here." Having informed her, I turn and leave for my office.

Once again, I am attempting to fit it in my head. Professional. That's what I need to be around her. It's second nature to me when it concerns anyone else. Why is this so difficult to do around her? My mind seems to know the answer and mocks back.

Because, its your Jhanvi.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

  ∞ authors note  ∞  

Firstly, happy holi y'all! :* 

Try as he might, he can't not care. Haha. Hope you enjoyed this update!

QOTC: Aarav's curiosity for Hiten... justified or jealousy? 

As I said in last update, I have the update schedule for this book! I'm wrapping up one or two of my other ongoing books so I can update this twice a week now instead of just once: Tuesdays & Fridays. Look out for new chapters on those two days! They may be few hours here and there but I'm going to be doing my absolute best to keep to it for consistency :D

Like always, please do show some love through voting, commenting & sharing! My Dare lovers, if you haven't already, check out the new book where I'll be rewriting the series :D It's up on my profile.

Happy weekend!