Rishabh was disturbed.

His mind is reeling with continuous thoughts of Aadhya.

At first he thought he was only intrigued by her attitude but after seeing her smile, he wants to do anything to make her smile that like that always.

He was scared thinking that he might catch feelings for her as Rishabh Malhotra is allergic to love and relationships. But this girl is changing that and he is not liking it.

He looked through the glass window and saw her doing work calmly but she was looking so tired. Today morning also he had observed that her eyes were red and puffy.

Did she cry?

Whatever it is he shouldn't be bothered.

She didn't even go to lunch!

Whatever it is he shouldn't be bothered.

Yesterday evening she smiled at him after taking those flowers but now she looks like a whole different woman.

Is she sick or something?

Whatever it is he shouldn't be bothered.

His intercom buzzed.

" Hello?" He answered.

" Someone has come to meet you Sir, she is saying that she is your client." He heard the receptionist say.

" Name?" He asked

" Neeta Singh." She said.

" Send her in." He said hanging up.

Neeta Singh is his client and also a family friend. She is a gorgeous and hot woman who is very much interested in him. Though she flirts with him and teases him, she is actually a very good friend of his. She was the first girl that he thought he could be in a relationship with but he didn't as he doesn't have any feelings for her.

" Excuse me sir?" Aadhya asked and came in when he nodded.

" The files you asked for." She said handing over him some files.

" Okay, have you scheduled the meeting with that Australian company?" He asked and before she could reply the door of his cabin opened.

" Hey Rishabh!" A girl came in.

" Hi Neeta." Rishabh smiled standing up.

" Long time no see." She said hugging him and he hugged her back.

" I missed you." She said battling her eyelashes at him.

" Oh! Really?" He asked raising his brows.

" Yes." She whispered and leaned towards him.

He just smirked at her and she kissed him on his cheek.

He suddenly remembered Aadhya was also in the same room and looked at her to see that she has gone. He looked through glass window into her cabin and didn't see her in her place.

Where did she go?

He thought of forgetting about her for sometime and spend some time with Neeta which will be a distraction from Aadhya. They both talked about business, friends, family and parties.

She always let's him know that she is interested in him but he ignores it like always. Although he flirts back with her, he doesn't feel anything for her.

And on the other side Aadhya was staring at herself in the mirror of the rest room. She doesn't know why but she felt like someone had stabbed her in the heart. A tear escaped from her eyes and she looked shocked at herself in the mirror.

It was the first time she is crying for someone other than her family and she got scared.

What is she doing?

He shouldn't effect her and she shouldn't let him in.

Composing herself she went outside but her stomach grumbled in hunger. She looked at the time, it's 4 pm and thought to eat something. She went to canteen and bought a sandwich. Though she is hungry, she is unable to eat but she should eat as she should take medicines too.

She went back to her seat at 4:30 pm and sat looking through the schedules.

" Where were you?" She heard his voice after sometime.

She looked at him frowning.

" I went to eat something as I didn't had lunch." She said looking into her system.

" Are you okay?" He asked.

" Yeah and Sir Australian delegates meeting is scheduled for next week." She informed him looking down into her schedule.

" Where it is?" He asked.

" In the office only, they wanted to see our work and office." She said writing something in her schedule.

" Okay." He shrugged.

" My work is finished Sir, I am going home." She said standing up from her place.

" Okay." He said and went inside his cabin.

******

" Is the meeting room ready?" Rishabh asked Aadhya.

" Yes Sir." She said.

Rishabh saw something was wrong with her and he was about to ask her but swiftly walked towards her holding her from falling down.

" Hey! What happened?" He asked making her stand straight.

" Nothing sir, just felt a little dizzy." She said getting out of his hold.

" Take leave for today and rest at home." He said.

" No Sir, I am alright." She said.

" No you are not and you are taking rest." He said sternly.

" But sir meeting?" She asked.

" I will handle it." He said going to his cabin.

She sighed and sat on her chair. She doesn't know why she is feeling dizzy and went to washroom. She washed her face and relaxed a little. She went to canteen and ordered juice. She drank it and felt good after that.

She thought meeting must have started and resumed her work. She got a call from HR asking for some files and she went to give them. On her way, she saw people coming out of the conference room. Meeting with Sharma's must have been over.

Rishabh saw her and sighed at her stubbornness as she didn't go home. He was about to ask her but stopped hearing a voice.

" Shaanu?"

Aadhya snapped her head towards the voice and he also looked to see Mr. Ajay Sharma whom he had meeting with just a while back was coming towards them.

" Shaanu!" Ajay exclaimed going near her who just looked at him shocked.

" Where were you?" He asked hugging her and she hugged him back.

To say Rishabh's blood was boiling would be an understatement. It was not only because some man was hugging Aadhya but also he called her with some nickname.

" I was so worried for you." He said pulling away.

" I am fine." She said.

" What are you doing here?" He asked frowning at her.

" I work here." She said.

" What?" He asked shocked.

And before he could ask another question, she dragged him away holding his hand.

Rishabh didn't like it.

He followed them and watched them from afar. She was crying saying something to Ajay and it stabbed his heart looking at her like that. Ajay was consoling her and was listening to her intently. Rishabh saw Ajay nodding his head at her and said something to her which made her smile. They both hugged again and Ajay bid his bye to her.

He didn't like someone making her smile.

He didn't like what he saw.

He didn't like their closeness.

Rishabh went back to his cabin and Aadhya came back to her seat but what irked him most was that she was smiling and he was not the reason for it.

Who is he to her?

But whatever he shouldn't be bothered right!

Aadhya knocked on the door and came inside.

" The meeting tomorrow is scheduled at 3pm. Is it alright or shall we shift it in the morning?" She asked him.

" Do you know him?" He asked ignoring what he said.

" Who Sir?" She asked.

" Ajay Sharma." He stated and she stiffened.

" Yes." She simply said.

" How?" He asked.

" Just an old acquaintance." She said blankly.

" Just an old acquaintance wouldn't hug and behave so close." He said gritting his teeth and she glared at him.

" Sir, what are you saying?" She asked him.

" Now you don't understand what I am saying. I know how girls behave around a rich person.....all girls are the same." He gritted out standing up from his place and she stood shocked.

" What? You are shocked that your truth came out ah?" He asked bitterly standing in front of her.

" Say what you want to say clearly?" She snapped at him angrily.

" I am saying that you are also like all those girls.....a gold digger. That day at the hotel also you gave your number to some stranger who flirted with you. You see a rich person and you go after them." He said angrily.

She looked at him in disbelief and tears fell from her eyes. That's when he snapped out of his anger and looked at her with guilt in his eyes as he made her cry.

" Thank you." She said smiling with tears.

" Thank you Sir for reminding me not to let anyone in." She chuckled bitterly and stormed away from his cabin leaving him with more guilt.

She was just starting to talk to him and to smile at him and he just had to ruined it.

He doesn't know what took over him and he spit out the words he doesn't even mean. Seeing her with some one else so close made him blind with anger and didn't had control over his tongue.

Now he regrets what he had done but couldn't do anything about it as she was not only hurt by his behaviour but also will not trust him from now onwards.

He looked through the glass window  and saw her doing her work with a stone face. He had snatched away the rare thing on her face which was her smile and tears formed in his eyes looking at her like that.

******

Rishabh's guilt increased when Aadhya behaved normal with him. She neither glared at him nor was angry with him. She talked to him only about the work and nothing else. She is maintaining an utter professional relationship with him.

This bothered him more than anything because it would be better if she had shouted at him and let out her anger but she is calm and silent. She was already in some pain which he doesn't know and he added one more pain to it making her more cold and distant.

Few days passed like this and he also tried to talk to her normally but she would just nod or remain silent. He even tried to say sorry but she didn't give him that chance as she doesn't  talk to him unless it is about the work.

He didn't see her smile once also from that day and it only added more to his guilt. So he was determined to apologise her at any cost and thought of ideas as she wouldn't talk to him. If he said sorry also, knowing her she would just nod and go away. So it's not the option and thought of other ways.

Aadhya smiled at Aman who is talking about his new friend. She was started to get worried as Aman don't have any  friends and his teachers also complained to her saying that he doesn't talk or play with anyone. But now she is relieved knowing that he made a friend.

They reached school and got down of their car. Aadhya stopped Aman near the school gate and kissed him.

" Here, take this chocolates and give some of them to your new friend too. Talk to him, play with him, eat with him and also study with him." She said putting some chocolates in his pocket.

Aman grinned at her and hugged her tightly saying thank you. He ran into the school happily and she sighed in relief that Aman is moving on from his past slowly and wishes that he would atleast stop getting those nightmares.

But what about her?

She froze at the thought. Tears formed in her eyes and she looked up at the sky.

" I miss you all." She said closing her eyes and tears flowed freely from her eyes.

She sat in the car and started to go to her office. She sighed sadly at the thought of Rishabh. It was clear that he was sorry for what he had said and she was not angry on him at all because he talked like that as he doesn't know her and she is not ready for him to let him know her.

She decided she would stay away and only concentrate on Aman.

She walked into the office looking down because if she looks up she had to greet everyone and indulge in talks with them. She is not interested to know people and get close to them. She just wanted to be alone and do her work..... that's it.

Whom she is kidding? This man wouldn't leave her alone.

She saw a bouquet of white Lilly flowers on her desk and as soon as she saw lillys a big smile took over her face.

It's not because they are her favourite, it's because they are her mother's favourite flowers. Lilly's smell reminded her of her mother so much as she used to use lilly perfume and it's smell made her feel close to her.

She took them and smelled. A sense of nostalgia hit her with so many memories and placed them back on her desk. She also saw a note on the desk and knows it immediately from who it is.

'I am Sorry......Please smile.'  Was written on the note with a smiley face.

She smiled immediately reading it shaking her head at his ways.

And all this was secretly watched by Rishabh through his CC camera.

Seeing her smile made him smile too.

A sense of proudness washed over him just looking at her smile as he was the reason for her smile this time.

He was happy for successfully making her smile and promised himself for not hurting her again.

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

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