Rishabh grits his teeth looking at the scene in front of him and he was close to explode in anger.

They all were in the meeting room discussing the project and everything was fine until Vineeth chose to sit beside Aadhya. After the meeting had finished everyone were working on the project while Rishabh saw Vineeth talking to Aadhya in between the work.

Aadhya on the other side was feeling uncomfortable as Vineeth always talks about the past making her anxious and she didn't know how to stop him.

Though they weren't close, he was her friend who belong to the same group and she doesn't want to be rude with him. It's good talking about the college days and all but in her case it only reminds her of the things which she can never experience again in her life.

Now and then she nods and keeps looking down but Vineeth wouldn't get the clue.

" Aadhya...." She heard Rishabh and she walked to him.

" Sit here." He said pointing the chair beside him glaring at Vineeth.

Rishabh talked to her showing some files to her while Vineeth shrugged and talked to his manager.

Aadhya observed Rishabh who was constantly glaring at Vineeth for no reason and shook her head at his childishness. Soon everyone were dispersed and Rishabh asked her to follow him while walking to the door.

" You have changed a lot." Rishabh heard and stopped in his tracks.

" You are not that girl anymore who talks non stop and laughs loudly.....you have changed a lot." Vineeth said making Rishabh clench his fist.

" I have to go." She said.

" What happened Aadhya? Is everything okay?" He asked.

" No one can be same all the time Vineeth. At that time I was childish but now I am grown up and life had taught many lessons so it will never be the same all the time. Bye and take care Vineeth." Aadhya said and walked towards the door.

Rishabh walked to his cabin silently and Aadhya walked out of the room. She leaned onto the wall and blinked back her tears.

She went inside his cabin and stood silently while he also sat silently.

" You will not be coming to the next meeting with Vineeth's company and stay away from this project." He said gritting his teeth.

She looked surprised at him.

" But I need to note down and make a draft of the meetings." She said.

" No, not necessary.... someone else will do it." He said looking pointedly at his screen.

" Okay." She agreed and he looked at her surprised as he thought she would oppose.

" I know he is a close friend of yours and all but...." He trailed off.

" He was just my friend someone from my college.....not close." She corrected him.

" But he seems to know you very well." He said sulking.

" Everyone used to know me as I was popular in college but that doesn't mean that everyone are close to me." She said amused at his behaviour.

" I don't like that he got to see that side of yours.....not me." He said softly and she looked at him stunned.

After a moment of silence, he heard the most melodious sound that he ever heard and looked at her to see that she was laughing. He was shocked to see her laugh for the first time and it was a sight to see.

The sound of her laugh, the crinkling of her eyes when closed and the dimples formed on her both cheeks.....he stared at her in awe.

" Oh my God! Mr. Rishabh Malhotra is jealous!!!!" She exclaimed looking at him who came out of his trance.

" No! I am not!" He argued.

" But it clearly looked like you were." She said smiling at his awkward face.

" I said No!" He said.

" Okay, don't complain when someone talks to me again." She said shrugging and turned to leave.

" What do you mean by someone talks to you again? Does that mean there are more like that Vineeth?" He scowled going near her.

" Ofcourse I said I was popular right?" She said.

" Then this staying away from Vineeth rule applies to everyone." He stated.

" Excuse me? You can't dictate my life!" She said angrily.

" I am not dictating, I am just saying facts." He shrugged and sat back in his chair.

" And you say you are not jealous?" She asked raising her brows at his attitude.

" Yes." He smiled making her frown.

" You know right you cannot stop me if I want to talk to him?" She asked seriously.

" Do you?" He asked looking straight at her making her speechless.

" I am leaving." She sighed and walked towards the door.

" You are not talking to him again." She heard and turned to see him looking at her seriously.

She didn't say anything and left his cabin. She was working but her thoughts were consumed by Rishabh and his jealousy has surely stirred her heart.

How much ever bad mood she is in, Rishabh always makes her smile unknowingly and her heart fluttered at the thought that he was the only one who could do that to her.

She shook her head thinking that it was just his childishness and concentrated on her work.

Inside in his cabin, Rishabh was thinking about the ways to keep that Vineeth away from her and thought that he cannot stop him if she is willing to talk to him.

He sighed and went outside to see her desk empty. He frowned and walked through the empty hallway. He heard some voices and he walked towards a room where he heard Aadhya's voice.

" So what's the problem now?" She asked.

" I am the only daughter of my parents and I don't know much about money matters. So I am thinking to mortgage our land papers for money but I don't even know how much they will give." He heard Anjali's strained  voice.

He went to the balcony and stood there for sometime taking in some fresh air. He started walking back towards bis cabin when he saw Aadhya taking Anjali to a secluded place out of everyone's sight and he follows them.

" Here take this." Aadhya said giving some paper to Anjali.

Anjali looked at it and her eyes widened with shock.

" A cheque of 10 lakhs!" She exclaimed in shock making Rishabh also shock.

" No! I cannot take this." Saying this Anjali gave the cheque back.

" I insist please.....for now use it for your father's surgery." Aadhya said giving her cheque.

" But I can't accept it." Anjali said with tears.

" I know how it feels when something happens to our family and I want you to save your family because I couldn't save mine." Aadhya whispered the last part with tears.

" But....."

" Please take it and you can repay me afterwards." Aadhya pleaded and Anjali agreed.

" Thank you so much Aadhya.....I owe my life to you." Anjali sobbed hugging her.

Aadhya could just pat her back awkwardly as she doesn't know how to console her and Rishabh walked back to his cabin deep in thoughts.

She had given 10 lakhs just like that without even thinking and he was stunned by her action. Though he felt proud that she helped Anjali but the thought that she is no naive and gullible bothered him more. Anyone can take advantage of her by crying in front of her saying some stories.

In the evening while leaving, Aadhya came into his cabin.

" Sir......" She called and he looked up at her.

" Oh, you are leaving? Ok please send me the client details for tomorrow's meeting before going." He said and she nodded her head in yes.

He looked at her who stood there fidgetting with her hands and pondering on her thoughts.

" What?" He asked and she looked at him startled.

" Huh?" She breathed out.

" Do you want anything?" He asked her and she nodded her head in no.

" Then?" He asked leaning back on his chair.

" I...I...want to....I....umm....." She stuttered and he looked at her amused.

" Aadhya relax.....tell me clearly." He said standing before her.

She looked at him who is smiling amused at her and sighed loudly.

" Nothing." She said and stepped towards the door.

He pulled her and she fell onto his chest with a loud gasp. He stared at her who is looking at him wide eyed and wrapped his arms around her waist.

" Sir.....what are you doing?" She asked squirming in his arms.

" Tell me what do you want to tell me." He said looking into her eyes which always amazes him.

" I....actually wanted to ask you to come home......" He raised his brows at her.

" I mean.....Aman was asking for you....he wants to see you, so I thought to ask if you wanted to meet him....." She asked looking down awkwardly.

" Sorry Sir, I know you are busy....I will manage Aman." She said when she didn't get any answer from him.

She tried to get out of his grip but he held her tight against him.

" Sir.....leave me." She said her voice shaking.

" I don't want to." He said and she looked at him bewildered.

" What?" She asked him stupidly.

" Do you know how naive and innocent you are?" He asked her and she looked confused at him making him sigh loudly.

" Leave it....tell Aman that I want to meet him too." He said and she looked at him puzzled.

" Will you leave me now?" She asked him softly and he thought about it.

He loosened his grip and she stepped back immediately.

" Next time I won't leave you so easily." He said winking at her and she looked at him baffled.

She scurried out of his cabin quickly which made him chuckle but he felt happy that she didn't push him away.

******

Next day was Sunday and both Aadhya and Aman were still sleeping. They played games until midnight and by the time they slept it was already past One.

Aadhya fluttered her eyes open when she heard something ringing and ignored it. She continued to sleep when once again she heard the ringing sound and she sat up on the bed lazily.

She looked around and realised that it was the door bell. She walked to the door grumbling under her breath and opened the door. Her sleep vanished when she who was standing on her doorstep and blinked her eyes to see if she wasn't dreaming.

She touched his arm with her finger to find out if it's real and she gasped loudly when she realised it's not dream.

" You are not dreaming." She heard him and stared at his breathtaking smile.

Rishabh walked past her and entered the living room. She followed him and looked at him frowning.

" Sir, what are you doing here?" She asked him.

" I told you right I would come to meet Aman, so I came." He said shrugging.

" This early?" She exclaimed.

" What? It's 11:30 am Aadhya!" He exclaimed and she looked at him in shock.

She checked the time and stood dumb founded in front of him.

He looked at her from top to bottom and her cheeks flamed when she realised that she was standing in front of him with bed head wearing sleepwear.

He smirked at her blushing face and walked close to her. He pushed her hair behind her ear and bent his face towards her ear.

" You look hot like this." He whispered in her ear which made shiver run through her spine.

She stared at him wide eyed and stood  speechless which made him chuckle.

" Where is Aman?" He asked.

" He is sleeping." She said.

" You both planned to sleep whole day or what?" He asked raising his brows.

" Yesterday we played games till midnight and fell asleep late, so....." She trailed off embarrassed.

" Oh.....Did I disturbed you both then?" He asked scratching his neck.

" No, it's okay.....I will wake him up." She said going inside and Rishabh followed her.

" Amu....get up beta." She said going near him making him groan in sleep.

" It's already noon beta....come on wake up." She cooed in his ears ruffling his hair while Rishabh watched them with smile.

" I want to sleep more mumma....please." Aman whined.

" Okay, your buddy will go and come some other time then." She said sighing loudly.

" Buddy?" Aman sat up on his bed immediately.

" Yes, he came to meet you." She said smiling.

" Really? Where is he?" Aman asked excited.

" Here." They both heard Rishabh and turned to see him standing there with a smile leaning on the door.

" Buddy!" Aman exclaimed and ran towards him.

" Hey Champ!" He ruffled his hair.

" I thought you wouldn't come." Saying this Aman hugged his legs.

" Why?" He asked.

" Because since few days I was asking for you, mumma said that you will be busy and we shouldn't bother you." Aman said and Aadhya slapped her forehead.

Rishabh glared at Aadhya who scurried away from the room running into the bathroom.

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To be Continued.........

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