Shivaay had been working tirelessly. It was already lunch time and he didn't have an appetite. Time and again his thoughts kept going back to her letter. He now knew how vulnerable she was in his absence. She depended on him. Very much. That scared him. It shouldn't be that way. She shouldn't dependent on him. What if something happened to him? Nothing was happening to him, but life was unpredictable. She'd never be able to live. No! That thought was worrying. 

He wondered if talking about this would irk her. It perhaps would. Would she understand? She'd percase feel he was saying so to cover up for his fault or planning to go away again. No. Maybe she wouldn't think that way. But what if she did take it that way? So what? As long as his point was conveyed. But no point conveying his point in away that upset her.

* * *

She settled in the car, asking the driver to turn the radio on. She had the perfect plan. Her idiot was a big idiot. She couldn't see him like she saw him yesterday. So under confident, so unsure, so hopeless. Stupid did not know how crazily he loved her. She wasn't far, she'd make him realise that the way he loved her no one could ever.

Her thoughts were broken by the commentary of the radio jockey. 

If anyone has ever lived away from their loved ones, they would know that the saddest part of the day is when you get back to your rented place after a day's work and there's no one there waiting for you. You don't feel like eating anything alone. You don't want to trouble your loved ones with the unnecessary and unexciting details of your life. You don't want them to know you are not happy. So you start to burden yourself with work so that you can get done with everything at the earliest and there remains no time and energy to think about anything else.

But there is more,

The family complains that you don't talk much over phone. Truth is there's nothing to talk. Life is reduced to a schedule and we are always running from one thing to another. 

The next song is dedicated to such people in our lives who work hard to establish a beautiful life for us. Before that a small piece of advice to such people, "Remember life is short, so if you've got to say something, got to apologize, got to tell someone you love them, do it NOW! And to those who have such selflessly loving people in life give them that time and tell them their efforts are appreciated. 

Anika couldn't move after she heard that. Their was just one name in her head. Shivaay. She was so stupid to not think of how he lived. How he felt. How he survived. He was saying that and had stopped before even starting. God what a selfish demanding woman had she been. She had been craving for attention despite having the family's abundant, her cousins her friends. What about him? All alone in an alien country!

How did he spend his free time ? How did he spend his Sundays? What did he eat? Did he cook every meal of the day? He managed everything on his own, how? 

Anika closed her eyes in despair. She was one useless wife. She was so busy in her own little misery she forgot that he had been through the same situation like her. But he didn't fuss over it like her. In fact all that mattered to him was now they were together. Every time she was at the top of his list, before him.

She quickly walked into his office. The staff greeted her and she was told where he was. The staff didn't seem to know who she was. She never really came down often to the hotel or this office. 

The receptionist gave a wide smile when she gave her name. She told him he was in room and not expecting anyone. Anika nodded and entered his cabin. 

He heard the door open. Who the hell was that? In discipline was something he did not like. One must knock before entering. The office knew how mad he got when this was violated.

"Manners, have heard of them? You must knock before. .." He stopped when his chair turned completely towards the door and his eyes fell on her.

She smiled. "Its my right to not knock you know!" She shut the door and walked over to the table. 

He blinked.

She smirked at his reaction. "Surprise!" She announced to aid him to understand that she was really there.

"I am sorry!" 

"Don't be . That was quite some attitude. I love it Mr. Oberoi. Just that it doesn't work on me!"

He laughed, folding his hands on the table, bending forward to peep in to the covers his wife placed on the table. He could smell something Chinese.

"Hmmm..yummy food." He said eyeing the packets.

She shook her head and walked over to his chair. He studied her eyes and slightly pushed back his chair, creating a gap between the chair and table.

"Yummy wife, not noticeable?" She asked standing in that gap, leaning back at the table, her hands on the table.

He ate up his smirk and kept a small smile on his face. God! Save him from this woman. She was freaking walking fire. He craved to be burnt.

"Ummmn...jealous of the food huh?" He leaned back on his chair checking her out. He saw her hand clutching the table tighter. God she gave away so easily, though her expression seemed unaffected.

"Very!" She smiled.

"Aww.." He said moving his chair towards the table trapping her between himself and the table. She stood still, her gulping throat giving away her nervousness while her face continued to put up a pretence of confidence.

That faded all too quickly when his hands landed on her abdomen. 

"Shivaay what are you doing?" She asked nervously.

He smirked, "I need a hug!"

Immediately, a smile formed on her face and she placed her arm on his shoulders while he pressed his face against her stomach. His arms on her back holding her tightly. She had sparks in the pit of her stomach. She moved her hand lovingly over his shoulder to his back. She felt his need. Need of emotional assurance. 

She bent over kissing his head. They stayed like that and then he broke apart not moving much away. He looked up. The view was sexy. 

"Hungry?" She asked him lovingly rubbing his arms.  He hadn't eaten breakfast properly. She had noted but hadn't said anything then. 

"For you!" He said moving a little away to have a good look at her face. Her eyes to be specific. They gave him peace. Assurance. They made him feel home. 

She stared at him. No matter how much he tried to make it look sexy she knew the need was emotional. She felt so bad that he had to read that stupid letter. But she was glad there was absolutely nothing about her hidden from him.

She pushed his chair away. He looked at her baffled. Then she sat on his lap and hugged him, his arms were quick to hold her. The chair moved behind and was against the wall. She was almost slipping off his lap. Irritated she stood up. What she did next had him shocked. She put her leg on either side of the chair and straddled him. This time she could hug him comfortably.

"Wifey. You mustn't do things like this !" He said hugging her immediately. She was cute. 

"I wanted to hug. I don't care for the rest."

"Darling. That I understand. Do you realise, that this is having an effect on me?"

She parted looking at him.  "What doesn't have an effect?"

He looked at her. "Why do I think one of my fantasies is going to come true today?" He said admiring her face, playing with her hair.

She held his hand. "Wrong thinking." Steadily she was moving behind when he held her pulling her back. 

"Shivaay!" She whispered looking into his bluish orbs. Those held her world. "Help me get off!" 

"I can only help you get 'on'. " He said inching his lips closer to her neck.

"Shivaay. We are-- in your-- office. "

"Makes things more exiting!" He spoke and kissed her neck. She shuddered. This was such a wrong idea. 

"Shivaay please, the food is getting cold. "

"And you're getting hotter!"

God! This man could switch on at anytime anywhere. "Please..."

He seemed to have heard nothing. He pressed his lips against hers. She protested and he knew how to change her mind. His hands caressed her lower back all the way to her backside. No sooner her soft lips between his teeth than she groaned. His tongue swirled into her mouth. The kiss wasn't demanding anymore it was gentle, loving and lazy. She was slowly kissing him back, her finger tips grazing the back of his neck. 

Both slowly cherishing each other. Loving each other. Feeling each other. 

Breathless both broke apart. She smiled kissing his forehead immediately.

"Anika you are crying!" He managed to say despite being breathless.

"Tears of happiness, idiot !" She said smiling amidst her tears. 

"You crying out of happiness because we kissed?" He remarked with an intention to make her laugh.

She slapped his shoulder wiping her tears. Stupid traitors, they should stick inside at moments like these. 

" Anika we kiss like we breathe. If you keep crying every time we kiss then, you'll run out of water content of your body! " he grinned.

"Shut up. I am hungry if you are not."

"Who said I am not?"

"Then get tour hands off me."

"No."

"Yes."

"No. No."

"Please..." She made a cute face and he couldn't deny. He slowly let his hands move off her back and placed them on her thighs.

She gaped at him. He shook his head. "Not what you are thinking!" With that he helped her get off him and the chair. She stood upright straightening her kurti. He looked at her grinning. She blushed and let her fingers reach his hair. 

"What are you doing?" He asked flabbergasted. Why was she spoiling his perfectly set hair ? 

"I am settling it. You look..."

"Fucked!" He smirked.

"Seal that mouth of yours, Shivaay. I wish I had a tape right now!"

"You have other options to seal my lips!" He winked at her.

"God, you are one person with a single..."

"Enough haan. If you understand me Mrs., then well your mind is no different than mine. " he said caging her between the table and himself as he leaned over her. He was tempted. Very much. Tempted. He moved his hand on the table with an intention to clear it for her to sit. But alas, moments aren't always perfect. His hand landed on the hot food covers and he squealed. 

Anika looked up dumbstruck at what made her husband scream. He was frantically moving his hand. She looked at the table and then at him and burst out laughing. 

He looked at her embarrassed slightly. Such a sexy moment was possible with him putting her on that table. But yikes this became a laughter one for her. 

"Okay enough. Happens let's eat now I am hungry." He said pulling back his hands and folding them. 

"This is what you get for your almost non existent self-control, Mr.Husband."

He stared at her. "My dear if it was non existent you'd be screaming my name in pleasure right now!" That did it. She simply walked away to the couch carrying the lunch. Placing the lunch in the table she walked to the washroom. He smiled. Then wondered what could be the reason for the sudden surprise.

Credit for the speech by the Rj in italics and bold... @CrazyMosaics 💙

She did a wonderful write up and I had to include it in the book!❤

🎆💟Happy Diwali to you all! 💟🎆

-Anami!