Shravan's POV

Bothered.

Frustrated.

Distracted.

And absolutely, undeniably desperate.

This is what I have been feeling since I saw Advika in that short dress at the side of the pool. She looked hell-sexy in that. I couldn't shake off her image from my mind at the board meeting as well.

Her figure? Unforgettable. The company figures? Completely out of my brain.

I would have definitely embarrassed myself if she wasn't on my side that day. I was grateful for her help but couldn't say it aloud. So, I did what any self-respecting man would do: I bought her a hot water bag, chocolates, and street food when she was on her period. A gentleman’s gesture, right?

Wrong. Biggest mistake of my life.

Now, instead of her usual death glares, she’s been giving me these soft, appreciative looks. It’s unnerving. Earlier, she just wanted to kill me; now, she’s got this... this affectionate gleam in her eyes out of nowhere. And it’s making me lose my mind.

She is still fighting with me, making me pull my hair at times, but also, at the same time, I am getting pulled towards her like a moth to flames. And God help me, I see pure red whenever another man so much as looks at her. It’s like I’ve declared some kind of silent monopoly over her.

But I know better than to entertain such feelings. Our relationship is contractual, nothing more. I reminded myself of that for the millionth time as I sat at the dining table, pretending to focus on my laptop while stealing glances at her. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't stop myself from staring at her.

She was sitting across from me, looking bored out of her mind.

"What?" I asked when she didn't look away.

“I’m bored,” she announced, pouting like a child.

My breath hitched. That pout. And then, to make it worse, she licked her lips. How am I supposed to survive this?

“So?” I raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like your personal entertainer?”

She blinked her expression deadpan. “Cartoon.”

I froze. Cartoon? Did she just call me a cartoon?

“Excuse me?” I asked, incredulous.

“Shravan,” she sighed, ignoring my outrage, “we’ve been here for three days. We haven’t gone anywhere. I’m going stir-crazy. Give me something to do, or I swear I’ll lose my mind.”

She deserves this boredom for turning my brain into a circus every damn time she’s around.

"Bhabhiji, I have the solution to your boredom"

Lucky, the ever-cheerful 'pain' in my life entered the room with our tea and coffee

“There’s a big fair happening just 8 km away. It’s famous around here. You’ll love it.”

Her eyes lit up like a child seeing candy, and a radiant smile spread across her face, making my heart flip.

“Shall we?” she asked, looking at me expectantly.

I forced my eyes back to my laptop, pretending to be unbothered. Going to the fair means being together all the time, which will make things worse for me. I don't want to lose the little bit of control I am having over myself.

“I’m busy,” I said coldly, not daring to look at her.

Even though my eyes were glued to the laptop I could sense the way her face fell and my heart tugged.

The moment I heard her soft sigh and the thud of her head hitting the table, I glanced up to see her lying there dramatically, one cheek resting on her folded arm, looking like a defeated child.

Ms. Nautanki!

“Bhabhiji,” Lucky chimed in, his grin widening, “if you don’t mind, I can take you there.”

I snapped my head toward him, my jaw tightening.

Ye behen ka pakoda, jab dekho tab mendak ki tarah fudakta rehta hai Advika k aas pass.
(This guy. Always hopping around Advika like some overeager frog.)

My eyes snapped to Advika, who looked happy hearing his offer. I knew she was going to accept it, but before she could say anything, I interrupted.

"I said, I am busy. I didn't say I can't go!" I stated firmly

Both of them turned to look at me, surprise evident on their faces.

“I’ll be free in half an hour,” I added, trying to sound casual while internally panicking. There’s no way I’m letting her go to a fair alone with Lucky. Over my dead body.

"Ok!" Advika stood up and clapped her hands twice like a kid "I will go, get ready by that time"

And just like that, she disappeared into her room, and I shook my head at her childishness.

"Bhabhiji, chai to pee lo (tea)" Lucky called her.

"Aap pee lo," she said
(You can have it)

With a smug grin, Lucky plopped down on the chair beside me and started sipping her tea, making obnoxiously loud slurping noises.

The audacity.

I glared at him, but he was unfazed, folding his legs and making himself comfortable as he noisily enjoyed the tea and that too near my ear.

"Bhaiyaji, coffee," he said, pointing to my cup of coffee with a wide grin on his lips.

"Ye bhi tu hi pee le," I said coldly.
(Drink this as well)

Shaking my head I tried to focus on my work while he stayed beside me all the time.

Twenty-five minutes later, Advika walked out of her room, and I swear, my brain short-circuited.

Weird things are happening to my body, and I can't exactly tell a few of them.

She was wearing a baby pink midi dress, fitted perfectly at the waist and flaring just above her knees. The thin straps sat delicately on her shoulders, and her wavy hair cascaded down, making her look… ethereal.

Lucky and I both stood up instinctively, probably looking like two buffoons who’d forgotten how to function.

“Bhaiya ji, bhabhi to bilkul doll lag rahi hain,” Lucky said, his voice filled with awe, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

(Bhaiyaji, bhabhi ji is looking just like a doll)

I shot him a death glare, jaw tightening. How dare he stare at her for more than a second. And he isn't scared of even one percent that he appreciates my wife and me. Woah!

“Bhaag jaa yahan se,” I said, my voice low and threatening. “Nahi toh main asli ka bear ban jaunga.”

(Run for your life, or I will become a real bear)

Lucky’s eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. Without another word, he bolted out, nearly tripping over the carpet in his haste. But the grin on his face before he left want me to punch something.

Advika, however, looked unfazed. In fact, I caught the hint of a smirk on her lips as she stepped closer. Sometimes, I think that she knows the effect she has on my body, and she does everything knowingly.

My eyes caught the sight of her slightly pink cheek and I remember when I kissed her there. I don't know what took over me and I just reacted at the moment. It was hard for me to sleep that night. I spent an hour staring at her face when she fell into deep sleep. My hands were aching to touch her but I didn't want to take advantage of her sleeping form.

Since then the moment is replaying in my head on loop. I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to lean in and do it again.

"Shall we?" Advika's soft words brought me out of my world.

The world was completely unknown to me before she came into my life.

"Yeah," I cleared my throat, trying to sound normal. "Give me five minutes to change my T-shirt."

She nodded softly and fiddled with her fingers. Even her simplest movements attract me.

I ran my hand through my hair and let out a huff, reminding myself not to melt like this.

This is not Shravan Singhania.

Wearing a simple oversized t-shirt and cargo pants, I came out within five minutes and found her waiting for me while sitting on the chair.

She looked a bit different than I left her and then something in her hair caught my attention. A claw clip.

That claw clip.

It had no business being there. She was looking so beautiful with her hair open. It completely ruined her look, like a cheap sticker on an expensive painting.

Without any warning, I reached out and plucked it from her hair.

"Ah, Shravan!" She complained, reaching out for her head. "What are you doing? Give that back to me!" She said irritated.

Her irritation lit a smirk on my face. There was a different kind of satisfaction in teasing her. Watching her nose scrunch up and her eyes narrow into fiery little daggers was becoming my favorite pastime.

"You are going out with me, Shravan Singhania, so you should look at least presentable," I said.

"Wasn't it you who asked me to keep my hair tied?" She asked raising one of her eyebrows.

Ah, touche. I had said

I gulped, and cleared my throat.

"From when did you start following my orders?" I countered smoothly.

It seems to catch her off guard. Her eyes widened a bit as if she was questioning the same thing to herself.

"I.. it is not for you," she came back. "I usually keep my front hair tied. It irritates me when they fall on my face"

"I irritate you too," I said, reaching out to a loose strand. "Don't I?"

She gulped visibly, and all the heat rushed to her cheeks as I tucked that loose hair strand behind her ear.

"Bear it too," I murmured, my voice dropping an octave which visibly had an effect on her.

A faint pink blush spread across her cheeks, making my chest tighten. I was reveling in the effect I had on her when she bit her lip nervously, and a low groan vibrated through my chest. My thoughts began to stray to places and I started feeling tingles where I shouldn’t, not at least for her.

She turned on her heel and started walking toward the door, her dress hugging her figure in a way that made it impossible not to stare and get tempted.

But before my thoughts could run wild and free she looked over her shoulder and said,

"If you're done gawking, Mr. Singhania, we’re getting late. Follow me"

Typical her. Always get the last word.

I groaned internally, ran my hand through my hair, and followed her like a lost puppy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uhm.. uhm... and here we have Shravan, the same man who told Advika not to fall in love 🤭

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