*David Pov*

I sighed climbing the stairs after the car left, but couldn't take a step towards the room with everything that happened today. Sitting on the last step, I leaned onto the railing to not enter her home with this bad mood.

As there is still some time for her to return home, it is better to push away all my thoughts before that happens so as to not disturb her about my problems. Maybe I should have waited for a week before entering that company to not be in the mindset like now. I still can't believe the confrontation I had with him today.

"I don't think it is a good idea to get called into the CEO's cabin on the day I am just showing my face to the HR department." I mumbled walking into his cabin while he just stared at me.

"What? Should I start knocking from today itself?" I asked arrogantly before walking towards the chair and sat down.

"Are you done? I know you are angry, but you need to be careful from now on. You are still a new employee while I am a CEO." He finally uttered with a calm expression that I wish I can shatter somehow.

"If I am just a new employee then why did you call me here?" I asked frowning.

"I wanted to know why you decided to suddenly go along with my wishes when you were rebelling for all these months." He replied, staring straight at me while I looked away not wishing to show him my guilty expression.

"Why do you care about that?" I mumbled clearing my throat.

"Because it should be something to care about." How can I escape from his questioning right now.

"I just couldn't bear you pushing me towards it and it was a nuisance for me to just continue like usual. So, I will just try it out and see where it goes." I explained, looking at him straight ignoring the guilt completely.

"Then you did a great job during the interview for just trying it out. I don't know how you will be when you want it with your heart." He said leaning back still with a calm expression not showing what he is actually thinking.

"I always take up the tasks that I succeed and I never..." I couldn't finish the sentence no matter how much I tried knowing well I am nothing but lying right now.

"Are you hiding anything from me?" he suddenly asked and I know he is not someone who gets fooled easily, but this time I really want to hide everything from him.

"Yes! Do you want me to tell each and every detail of my life, even though I had to give up my dreams because of your wish?" I asked, looking straight at him and finally there is a change in his expression.

This is what I wanted, but now I don't feel good for making him look guilty by my words. I immediately stood up to leave, but his words paused my steps.

"I am doing everything for your good only. I hope you will understand this later." I closed my eyes, hearing those words, but just continued to walk out of the cabin.

Maybe I will understand later, but that is not the case at present. Anyway, he still doesn't know that the change in my decision is also because of someone else and not just because of him. What will be his reaction when he finds out about that?

Anyway, it is best to finish off everything now that I even entered the company. With that thought I left the place to reach my agency, but I didn't realize the agency would be this stubborn too.

"What are you doing here?" I got startled hearing her voice coming from behind me as I was waiting for her to climb the stairs and find me after reaching home.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, turning around to stare at her, but got even more startled looking at her attire.

"This is my home." She replied with a calm expression, not showing any other reaction like she used to in the beginning when I was at the hospital.

I am supposed to run far away from people who gives such expression most of the time and I did all this time being fed up seeing that through my whole childhood. But how did I end up with such person ignoring all those precautions?

"I was waiting for you. Were you early?" I asked giving her a smile but she just turned around before walking towards the door and I immediately followed her holding my bag.

Did I ever think I will behind someone like this? Wasn't I the one to make others run behind me? I shook my head not to think such an obvious question, realizing something is very different right now the moment I walked inside.

It feels like a welcome party for me looking at the food arranged on the table and there is her special attire to consider. I never saw her wearing a sari before, except for jeans or sometimes normal pants.

I smiled, walking towards her as she is sitting on the couch, but paused looking at her expression. Something is definitely mismatched in this setting and I should have thought of it before the moment I saw her.

"What happened?" I asked calmly sitting beside her with some distance between us knowing well she is not the type to say it's nothing and will give some explanation.

When she stayed quiet without saying anything, I know I thought right that something is definitely wrong. I slowly took hold of her hands she laid on her lap and found her sitting too rigid right now and not at all freely.

"I need to know to solve it, right?" I asked, tugging her hands and she finally glanced at me.

"I am jealous!" she simply uttered, and I coughed totally unexpecting those words.

"What? But why?" I asked her frowning.

"I was waiting out while looking for a cab to drop you, but you got down from that car and even hugged some woman and..." she stopped the moment I chuckled hearing her explanation.

"Why are you laughing? I even thought of hiding all this and change into normal clothes, but I didn't want to hide my real effort and stayed like this. I sat here waiting for you, but you haven't even come and just spent all this time with her downstairs." She added shaking her head.

"No! I was just sitting on the stairs all this time waiting for you. She immediately left after I gave her a hug... I mean a friendly hug and not some special one." I immediately explained, but she didn't look convinced and I slowly pulled her closer to me not liking the distance anymore with her thinking like this.

"Today I finished off the last commercial shoot and went to the agency to finish cancelling my contract with them. But instead of the director dealing with me, I found the agency's CEO waits for me. It is her and wished to discuss again regarding my retirement. But I wanted to come home today itself and it will be quite late and I would have missed the flight. So, she offered to give me a lift and at the same time hear to her options." I explained not giving her complete information but just some of what happened.

"Oh!" she mumbled with her eyes wide realizing she mistook the situation and her calm expression finally broke out.

"So, you were jealous." I mumbled smiling at her and she gave a nod sighing.

This time I couldn't stop myself and immediately placed my hand on her cheek, stopping her from looking away. She stared at me in shock, but I dipped my head, placing my lips over hers stopping her from saying anything.

I shifted my head to stare at her asking, "Uncomfortable?"

She stared at me for a few seconds before shaking her head and I leaned again towards her pressing another kiss, but this time I didn't move away not wishing to stop this moment.

*Palak Pov*

I gasped when he pressed me back on the couch still kissing while deepening it and shifted his hand after releasing my hands to my waist moving along with me.

I don't even know how to feel right this moment and what was more awkward is the way my hands staying idle on my lap between us. So, I shifted them and ended up pressing them on his chest, which paused both of us.

I immediately took them away from between us to let him know it was unintentional, but he just smiled before kissing me again and this time I felt more awkward with the way they are just hanging on either side.

Okay! It's not like I am this stupid or something not knowing what to do with my hands. Didn't I see those movies, even though a few and I need not be this shy when I am feeling comfortable with all this, right?

When he trailed my lips with his tongue, I immediately shifted my hands to encircle his neck and pulled his for a deeper kiss by myself, which paused him again, but I didn't let him stop and took an initiative to kiss his this time.

I don't know who was more surprised by my actions, but I guess he was as he stared at me in shock when we broke the kiss.

"You just can't stop surprising me, don't you?" caressing my cheek, he pressed his lips over my forehead and I immediately closed my eyes not knowing how to explain anything.

However, I had to open them in the next second when I felt his head pressed on my chest and I glanced at his hair but he is laying too comfortably.

"I was in a very bad mood today, you know. But now I don't think I will ever be in a bad mood again." He whispered sighing.

"What went wrong?" I asked slowly caressing his hair.

"Everything! That stupid company along with this CEO trying to drag me again into my profession. Do you know how hard it is to not get tempted by something which you really want but can't have?" he asked shaking his head.

"Is it still not time to tell me why do you want to leave the profession you are fond of and join that stupid company?" I asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Later!" he calmly whispered and I didn't probe more.

"What happened during these two weeks?" he asked, getting himself more comfortable over me and even I shifted to not get any cramps later.

"Nothing new except for my senior asking me again whether I want to shift to Mumbai at least this time. Tina is still teasing me about you and Veer is still angry about us, but it turned out to be worry rather than anger." I explained and he immediately lifted his head to stare at my face.

"Shift to Mumbai?" he asked frowning.

"Yeah! Last year onwards after I got the needed experience, whenever there were openings in Mumbai main hospital, he asked me, but I always rejected it." I replied frowning at his expression.

"Do you think I should accept this time?" I directly asked, not understanding what his feelings are regarding this matter.

"Do you want to shift?" he finally asked after a few seconds.

"I didn't want to before." I replied indirectly and I can't explain to him right now the reason behind such thinking.

I wanted to stay away from my family and chose this place and decided to never return, but somehow this person caused me to think some more. Now, I am not that sure to just live here. But this is just crazy thinking which is scaring me too much.

This is my first relationship and I am just jumping into all types of conclusions. Can I just blame this thinking on my naivety or it is just him?

"Hmm..." his reaction to my words pushed me down even more than before.

Maybe I am really thinking too much and getting attached in a way where I can't turn back. What if I am becoming obsessed with him? No! I will never bear to be that type of burden to anyone.

"Anyway, you need to have some food." I pushed him a little but he didn't budge.

"So, all this is just for my return?" he asked instead.

"Not just that... tomorrow is my birthday too." I replied and he immediately got up while I am just lying there awkwardly.

"I never asked you that question, right? But... why did you prepare all this today when it will be tomorrow?" he asked frowning after giving a guilty look.

"I don't do anything on that day. So, I prepared everything today itself. I like to be just lazy, completely in every way during that day." I explained to which he just chuckled.

"Then we both shall be lazy together." He promised pulling me up.

"You are lazy everyday." I pointed out smiling to which he just rolled his eyes before getting up from the couch and walked into the bedroom while I got up to get plates for both of us.

"By the way, I was supposed to meet my CEO today again to finally tell her I am not choosing any options she gave. She asked me to have dinner with her. Will you come with me?" my expression fell when he started talking but it ended up in shock with his question.

"I will be just intruding." I mumbled, shaking my head not accepting his invitation.

"It's okay! She needs to see you too." He commented but didn't explain it further and just started digging into the food.

"If you eat all this then what will you eat at the restaurant?" I asked him frowning.

"She doesn't let me eat much anyway, like she does for all the artists under her. And you need to come just like this." He replied, gesturing to my attire and I just sighed while staring at him enjoying the food with a smile.

****

"So, you are actually real and not a lie." That's the first statement his CEO said when we both walked into the private table she booked at the best restaurant in this place.

"See? I didn't lie that I finally have a girlfriend, but you didn't believe me." He shook his head, smiling before pushing out the chair to let me sit while I was just dumbfounded by the way the conversation started.

"Then I will just pursue her to make you not retire." Saying that the lady turned towards me with a smile.

She is definitely gorgeous and to top of that she has this grace that I will never be able to give away. And she is also older than I thought.

"I am rejecting all the options. I am not going to deal with any racing or modeling for any commercial. I will be completely a non-celebrity from today." He just threw the words before she can say anything to me.

"Once a celebrity, always a celebrity." I calmly stated, glancing at the mask and hat he removed after we sat down.

"Oh! I already like her. See? Even if you join some company and start working, everyone will still be looking at you as a celebrity. If you were just a racer then everything would have happened like you are thinking, but you are the face of the most popular brands." She started attacking while he is staring at me like I deceived him but I just shrugged.

I know he doesn't want to retire and I know he hates working at that company. More than anything I know how stressed he is every time he goes through the company's material.

"I have to work for this company no matter what and there will be no change in that." He stated looking at both of us.

"Why don't you do both?" I suddenly asked, realizing he really can't back out form company with the way he just uttered those words.

"What?" they both asked, looking at me.

"What I said is not some scientific theory and just a common sense. He can just do both at the same time. But just have one of the both in a lesser amount." I pointed out.

"Exactly! It will be fine with this too. Just participate in races specially and not in tournaments and we can choose the commercials in which you need not stress yourself too much. You will be an asset for your company too, which will make them give you some leisure to have this side too." She just couldn't stop and I sat there gazing at her in admiration.

CEO is after all a CEO who can go through lengths after catching a single word. I glanced at him and found him seriously considering her words.

"Why didn't I think of this before? The whole day I was behind you to forget about the company, but never thought of including it." She shook her head before glancing at me.

"What's your name, dear? This idiot didn't introduce both of us." She added and I realized even I don't know her name.

"My name is Palak Anand. Yours?" she stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything before clearing her throat.

"My name is Ruksana." She replied before glancing at him.

"Your manager will not change and he will be more like an assistant now." she added and I immediately smiled.

"You seem to be happy about that news more than I am." He commented looking at my expression.

"He is fun." I shrugged while he finally sighed before accepting this change.

"I still need time to rest more than before. I can't just ignore her because of this schedule and my main base will be here during weekends. I need to know ahead if there is any shooting at the places other than Mumbai and here...." She cut him off showing her hand.

"We will discuss everything when we sign he new contract. We can't make her feel like a third wheel right?" she asked, raising her eyebrow and after that they both stopped talking about all this.

She inquired about my work and we talked a little about general topics like how is it living here and the food details. After she left, we both returned to my place.

We both just got involved with our own works sitting on the bed. I had to assist my senior in a presentation, so I got busy with researching about that while he went through a few files.

"Are you happy that your manager will return? You guys need not break up anymore." I asked, glancing at him but he just snorted.

"He must be feeling tortured, though. I can't believe he is going to enter this hell again." I sighed with a complete sad look.

"You!" he suddenly, pulls me over him holding my waist.

"I am not lying." I laughed, trying to push him away, but he just held me tighter.

"Happy birthday, Palak." He whispered, smiling at me and I immediately glanced at the mobile to see it is already midnight.

"Thank you!" I whispered while shifting a little before pressing my lips on his cheek.

"We will go out to any place you want to go." He promised but I shook my head.

"Then you have to wear that mask. Let's just stay at home and I am not that keen on going out too." he frowned but gave a nod understanding me.

"Where is my present?" I asked smiling.

"Here!" saying that he pulled me closer before kissing me.

When he trailed his lips from my face to coller-bone, I shifted away asking, "I was asking for a gift and not about giving one."

"I was just joking." I added when he gave a guilty look.

"I will buy something tomorrow, but I will definitely give you a present next birthday without you reminding me." He promised and those words felt like a present itself.

"Thank you!" I whispered, smiling at me.

"For what?" he asked, caressing my cheek.

For promising one year for sure and I know I can't utter those words to him directly as he can't understand my fear. And he may feel sad thinking I am still not trusting him, but this is built in fear which I can't remove just like that.

****

I groaned opening my eyes when I heard my phone ringing continuously. I took it from the bedside table and found the number which I never saw before and it is an international number too.

"Hello?" I asked, lifting the call.

"I disturbed you from sleeping, right? I should have checked the time properly before giving you a call." I immediately heard the familiar voice.

"Di!" I called her and found all the sleep leave me after realizing who is it.

"Happy birthday, Palak." She wished and I felt tears hearing her wishes.

I still feel guilty by the way everything happened to her and I thought I would never be able to hear anything from her side, but here she is wishing me on my birthday whereas my family haven't even called me.

"Thank you so much, Di. One second!" I whispered when I felt David shifting and holding me tighter in his sleep.

I slowly slipped out of his embrace without disturbing him and tiptoed to the living room after closing the door behind me.

"I didn't think you would remember my birthday, Di." I mumbled and she just chuckled.

"I am kind of not in contact with my family too after that incident and at present you are more like family than anyone." She said making me feel happier but sad at the same time because of her distance with the family.

"I want to say the same too, but I actually have someone else right now." I told her not hiding this matter feeling excited to tell her.

"Really? Is he a good person?" she asked worriedly.

"Yes! He likes me more than I like him, Di." I replied confidently realizing that fact.

Here I still have doubts about our relation, but he is the one being completely involved in our relationship. I wish I can be like this soon.

"I am so happy to hear that, Palak. I wish you to have the most beautiful partner to share your life with." She wished and I smiled before continuing to talk about how she settled in the new place.

"Just ask your brother how is he if he calls you tomorrow." She suddenly said, making me frown.

"Why?" I asked her frowning.

"Don't hate him because of my incident, Palak. He... he actually wanted the baby at one point." She replied and my eyes widened.

"What?" I asked her in complete shock.

"Yes! But he wanted just the baby and not me. Even your Father was fine if they get the custody of my baby without any relation with me and my family." She explained, but I feel even more anger towards my family after knowing this.

"How can they think of separating a mother and child, Di? How can they be right?" I asked, still not accepting to think better of my family.

"That's what most people do, Palak. Bloodline will always be important, right? They will not care about anything other than that and I found that most in the type of our families. What's good in being a rich family when there is no bloodline to continue the generation?" she explained.

"So, you forgive him because of that?" I asked and she immediately rejected that.

"How can I? I was the mother." She replied without any hesitation.

"But you are his family. I don't want anymore differences with your family because of me. Last time I said too much and I am feeling bad about it all this time." She added.

"How can I, Di? I am a woman too." I simply uttered, and she finally dropped the topic.

"So, what does your boyfriend do?" she asked, clearing her throat after hearing my words.

"He was a celebrity, but now he will be starting normal job from this week onwards." I replied and she didn't ask more.

After she hang up, I sat there in silence thinking about her words and got startled when I felt two hands circling my waist.

"What are you doing?" he asked, placing his head on my shoulder.

"Just got a call... from my family." I replied, remembering her words and he didn't say anything after that.

"Let's go and sleep." I mumbled, standing up and walked along with me in silence.

"What shall we do tomorrow... I mean today." He asked after we lay down on the bed facing each other.

"You wake me up and cook breakfast. We will watch something on my laptop and you cook lunch for me. We will take a nap in the afternoon after which you will cook snacks for me. After that we will do whatever we can either work or watch something else and..." he cut me off saying, "I will cook dinner for you."

"Of course!" I nodded and he just groaned.

"All I know is that everything will be cooked by me tomorrow." He pointed out.

"Didn't I cook for your welcome party?" I asked, frowning and he sighed nodding.

"Fine! I will do everything like you planned out. But let me tell you, that plan of yours just sucks." Saying that he closed his eyes.

I leaned closer to him before whispering, "We can add us kissing too, whenever we want to."

He immediately opened his eyes, hearing that, but I closed my eyes saying, "Of course, my plan sucks and you hate that part too."

"I will deliver that plan of yours without missing a single point." He promised pulling me into his arms, making me smile and he actually delivered it without fail, of course by just ordering food from outside instead of preparing them and I really didn't care about that part with the way he wished to kiss me whenever he wished to saying it is my plan and he is just following it.

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i thought within two days i will be able to update but it is again late... anyway, all the drama unfolds soon within a few chapters... i just wanted the love story to be established more this time unlike the revious ones... and so it is taking time

How is the chap???

comment plz and vote...