Madhav pulls away from Shree as they hear a knock on the door. "Don't cry, Shree" he whispers as he tucks a stray fringe of hair behind her ear, looking at her eyes. Shree looks at Madhav and nods. He smiles as he runs a finger over her soft supple lips; slowly and gently; and then looks back at her eyes. Shree looks at the fresh wound on his chest.

"Does it hurt?"

"It did hurt throughout the night," Madhav says as he holds her hand. Shree looks up at him, she quickly presses a kiss on the wound and hugs him to his sweet surprise.

"I'll be alright." Madhav says as he caresses her messy black hair. "That crook sure is a good football player. I'm glad those kicks didn't break any-"

Another loud knock interrupts them.

"You should answer that door, sir." Shree says as she pulls away from him. He nods and walks towards the door. "I'd recommend you wear some clothes, sir."

Madhav nods and walks into the room to retrieve a tee-shirt and a pair of shorts. He returns in a flash dressed in a black tee-shirt with white stripes and a pair of khaki shorts. He opens the door to see a fair man of his height holding many bags in his hand. He looked annoyed.

"What took you so long?" he exclaims as he closes the door shut and walks into the house. "I've been standing out in your doorstep for almost five minutes, ringing the bell and knocking at this door. While I hold all these things you asked your best friend of a minion to fetch!"

"Chill, Ashok!" Madhav exclaimed rolling his eyes. "I swear I'll return the favor when your girlfriend Ahaana gets drunk."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Ashok grunted as he kept the big bags on the dining table. "And you won't go through the mental trauma I went through, that's for sure. I had to drive your car, half way through the city to that carwash which uses the premium car wash detergents. I got caught in traffic for half an hour! Also, you seriously need to get some quality air fresheners in your car, for fuck's sake it smells of cat vomit inside!"

"That was vomit." Madhav said as he looked into a bag and took out a pack of potato chips. Ashok's left eye twitched in disgust. "But it wasn't a cat's. It was a human's."

"You mean someone vomited in your car?" Ashok asks in disgust.

"Who vomited in your car?" Shree asks as she walks in.

Madhav choked on the potato chips and looked at her with wide eyes in disbelief. "You don't know?" Shree shrugged and Madhav let out a mocking chuckle "I like how you take your chances when it comes to running away from the bad, with that innocent face of yours. You dented my car first, and now you vomit all over my car seat!"

"I did not!" Shree asked in distrust.

"Yes, you fucking vomited all over my seat and my shirt!" Madhav exclaimed.

"She needs to know the other stuff she did, Maddy." Ashok chipped in. "I thought women were as light as a feather but last night I got to know that some can be as heavy as an elephant."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Shree asked partly offended.

"We work for the same company. I'm Ashok, from the Marketing division." He says as he extends a hand to her.

"Shree Prasad from-from the-"

"My secretary." Madhav finishes as he walks near her and rests his arm on her shoulder.

"Yes, yes. I'm his secretary." Shree confirms smiling.

Ashok smiles and walks into the kitchen.

"Did I thank you for saving me last night?" she asks as she looks at him without blinking.

"No, you didn't," he says huskily as he caresses her cheek. "You owe me an apology for vomiting in my car."

"I'm sorry." Shree says pouting her lips.

"I won't accept that apology until you drink that hangover cure I made for you." Madhav said pointing to the glass on the coffee table. "Drink it and I may consider that as an apology."

Shree batted his arm off her shoulder and walked to fetch the glass.

"Empty it in one gulp and I'll forgive you for denting my car in the first place." He says as he walks to stand beside her.

Shree feigns a smile as she looks at the glass of beaten egg yolks. She looked at Madhav and he hid a smug smile.

Shree smirks and as she closes her eyes she empties the drink in a single gulp. She keeps the glass on the coffee table, clutching onto her stomach. "That didn't taste anything like eggs. Are you sure it's a hangover cure?"

Madhav nodded.

Shree's eyes inflated as she looked at him. "I think I might vomit again. Which way to the washroom?"

"End of the corridor and to your right." he directed and Shree made a quick dash.

"What did you put inside that?" Ashok asks as he emerges from the kitchen.

"Just eggs" he shrugged and Ashok cleared his throat, a gesture he often uses when he demands to know the truth. "A few eggs, goat milk, mustard, ketchup, cod-liver oil, oyster sauce and lots of turmeric to mask that ugly brown colour."

Ashok chuckled "Classic! What are you going to do with Shiv, by the way? I surrendered him to the police last night with the proof as you said. The Police said he will be produced to the courts and will be sentenced to prison. Is that all?"

"I fired him last night. I told Mr. RK and he has done the needful. He can never work at this company or any other company."

* * * * *

"What do I wear to work today?" Shree asked as she sat on the bed. "I can't go to work in this little frock that smells of tequila and brandy."

"I really wish if there were clothes your size." Madhav said as he looked into his sister's old cupboard. "Everything here is too small for you and too pink. I should check Ma's cupboard. You okay with sarees?"

Shree nodded.

Madhav's face lit up with a smile. "Give me a minute. I know the perfect saree for you to wear."

After a few minutes he comes back holding a lime green saree in his hands. "This is Ma's. It was her favorite saree."

Shree stood up and took it. "Thank you. I'll wash this and return it tomorrow in the morning."

"No." Madhav said "I want you to keep it."

"But you said this is-"

"That this is her favorite." He completed her sentence "Something tells me that she would be happy knowing her favorite sari is with someone special."

Shree looked at him quizzically. Madhav's face turned crimson.

"I-I-I mean she would be happy knowing her favorite sari is being given special treatment. She'd go nuts if she knew this sari was locked up in a dark cupboard."

"Thank you sir." Shree smiled looking into his eyes. Madhav's face lit up automatically.

"The blouse is sleeveless. Is that fine with you?"

"That's not a problem I guess."

-M A D H A V   R A M A K R I S H N A-  

Today, of all days I notice Ms. Prasad glowing brighter than ever. A golden aura shone brightly with her. Ma's sari made her look ethereal and divine.

Her mere presence was enough for me to lose my concentration. In my mind I imagine us sharing a beautiful kiss; slow, passionate and uninterrupted. I spent half the day in my office room, thinking about her. About her beautifully exquisite smile, her soft and glossy black hair, her soft supple lips. Her smile made it difficult for me to stop imagining about my beautiful Ms. Prasad. Every time she walked into my office to update me about my schedule, I realized I've been staring at her neat and slender waist like a predator eyeing its prey.

I have mixed emotions for her. I want to give her every bit of happiness I can. I want to hold her to my chest forever. I want to share the most passionate kisses with her. I want to marry her and grow old with her. I want to make love to her.

I love her so much.

* * * * *  

Madhav drops Shree at her apartment.

Shree hisses. "I totally forgot about Ma and Devi! They would have been wondering where-"

"Relax!" Madhav said holding her hand. "I told your mother that you had to stay back for some urgent work. She said anything is fine as long as your safe."

"I'll be safe when you're beside me, sir." Shree said smiling.

Madhav tried to smile back.

"Shree, I want to ask you something, as a friend and not as your employer. The thing that happened this morning." Madhav says and feels uneasy. "When you kissed me- "

"It-It was impulsive, I didn't want to- but it felt right." She says. "I am embarrassed that happened. I don't know what I was thinking. Screw that I wasn't even thinking. Somehow, I found the solace I needed in that moment, in you."

They sat in silence for some time.

"I should be going now." Shree says unbuckling her seat belt. "Thank you for everything you did yesterday. I really don't know how to repay you for this."

"You don't have to." Madhav said as he saw Shree get off the car. "Just promise me that you'll be safe and vigilant. That's the least you can do. I can't lose such a- such a- such a wonderful secretary."

"I promise." Shree smiled as she closed the door behind her. "Take care, sir."

"You too, Ms. Prasad."

Shree waved a final goodbye and walked towards the apartment.

* * * * *  

Madhav sat inside his parked car for so many minutes after Shree disappeared into her apartment. His mind debating over the best course of action. How would she react to his proposal? Would she be delighted or shocked? Should he confess his love to Shree, or not? If yes, should he do it tonight itself or on another day?

"I'm telling her tonight itself" he whispered under his breath. He opened the car and made a quick dash into the apartment.

His heart pounded violently in his chest as he climbed up the stairs, huffing and puffing. He straightened his shirt and combed his hair with his fingers as he rang the bell. A few seconds later Shree opened the door.

Shree was still in the sari she wore to work, her face glow with happiness amidst how her body yearned for some rest.

"Ah! Sir!" she exclaims surprised, stepping outside, holding the door behind her back. "What brings you here at this moment?"

"I-I-I came to tell you that-" Madhav panted and mumbled, both at the same time as he looked into her "I-I want to tell you how-how-how much I-"

"Who is it Shree?" Mrs. Prasad yelled from inside.

"No one, Ma." Shree said as she put her head inside. Shree turned back to Madhav. "You were saying something, sir?"

"I-I-I..." Madhav mumbled.

"Shree come in quick!" Devi yelled.

"I'll be back. Give me a minute, will you!" Shree looked away and exclaimed loudly. "You continue sir!" she said turning back to him

"I just want you to know, how much-how much-"

"Shree!" a man shouted from inside "What are you doing outside?"

Shree rolled her eyes, and as she was about to turn away from Madhav, he grabbed her hand. Shree looked at Madhav taken aback as he pulled her body close to his. Shree's hand let go of the door as Madhav pressed his lips against hers. Shree shrieked in his mouth and as his hand went to feel her smooth waist, Shree purred in contentment and sank into the kiss as his hands started to fondle her waist.

Madhav pulled away after a few seconds, confident than ever. "I love you, Shree. So much!"

"Who is this Shree?" Rishabh yelled as he walked to the doorstep, shocked to see his girlfriend, in another man's arms. Shree tore herself from Madhav and turned to face Rishabh.

To be continued....

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