After lunch we both sat in his cabin. Whatsoever I couldn't pay attention on the books. Not after reading that conversation between him and Omkara. 

------

Om- Shivaay, be a man and say it. 

Shivaay- Shut up Om, I don't want to make her uncomfortable.

Om- you are married. She might be expecting you to acknowledge the fact. You just have to tell her you like her.

Shivaay- Bye Om.

Om- what's happened to you man!

--------------

Now his stolen glances and awkwardness became more clear. He liked me too! I wanted to just walk up to him and kiss him now. But, this gentleman thought I would be uncomfortable. Ahh! 

Wild thoughts ran in my head. How about dropping hints? Maybe he would know then. But what if he formed an opinion about me? What if I seemed desperate to him. Scary that sounds.

Maybe subtle things? Not a bad idea.

I quickly slipped my sandals off my feet. After a few minutes' delay I started swinging my feet causally. We were sitting on opposite ends of the table. There! I touched his leg a little above his feet. He immediately looked up. Rather intimidated. Oh could I just pull his cheeks. 

"Sorry." I apologized as per plan. He smiled cordially.

An hour later I did it again and apologized. This time minutes later I got up and settled on the couch. Enough for today!

Something was strange about his expression after that. Did my blind arrow hit the bull's eye? Or did he think I was a human with a defective limb? Why did I not think of the possibility of the latter before?

* * *

We were at the dinning table. We were having a general conversation when I felt something on my feet. I froze. I looked at him who sat adjacent to me. He looked at me apologetically. I turned away. The food. Yeah lovely yummy food. No thoughts about what just happened.

This was getting interesting.  Very interesting.

* * *

The next day when we driving, both of us were randomly smiling. The excitement grew at signal. Luckily enough for me, the woman came at my window. I pulled down the glass but before I could pay for the rose, she handed me the entire bunch and said it was already paid for. Laughing shyly she ran away. 

I looked at him and he smiled changing the gears. Added to the "My Hubby" list.

"Thank you, Shivaay." I said clearly and slowly as we stood in the lift, running my fingers on the flowers. 

He flashed his charming smile.Luckily,  I was alive when the lift opened.

As much as I wanted to continue what had begun between us. The little awkward, unnamed game sort. I had to focus on the test. One more day. I was already scared. I was never a nervous student. But this seemed like the biggest of all exams I had given. That afternoon I asked him if I could leave. He was more than okay. After lunch I went back home. I really liked the fact that my mother in law was very much like my own mother. I told her about taking the test and interview. She had smiled and asked me to let her know if she needed anything. 

* * *

I was so buried into the last minute revision, that I did not notice when we had arrived. The test was at the company campus. I quickly uttered a good bye when his voice made me stop.

"Anika!"

"Hmm"

"All the best." He smiled and I returned one. "Thanks!"

It was an entire day process. Test in the morning, and then after a two hour gap the interviews began. There were supposed to be two rounds of intensive interviews. I sat nervously after the first round of interview. I had made a few friends while we waited. After an early lunch we made back to the waiting lounge. The second interview was grilling but my work experience helped me through. Now three hours to the result and announcement. It was already five. I received a call from him. 

"Yeah. The interviews are over the committee is having a discussion and the results will follow shortly." 

"I know. " he chuckled. I grinned. Of course he did. We decided to meet in the park. 

"So, you done with your meetings for the day." Yeah he said as we walked around entering the well maintained park.

"How was your day?"

Oh I was waiting to tell someone about it. I did take his help at certain concepts in the past few days and I couldn't disregard the fact that he was too good at it. I went on and on. An hour had passed an I was still talking about the interview rounds and everything. 

'Oh it's already an hour gone. " said I shocked.

He chuckled, "Yeah!"

"Don't you have work?"

"I do."

"I m sorry..I went on and on. "

"No. I was talking too. And why do you have to be sorry? In fact, why are you always sorry for everything and anything?" He asked with amusement evident. I shrugged. Knowing not what to say.

* * *

I accompanied him back to his cabin. The results would still take time. But I appreciated the process their company had. An online test, followed by two interviews and announcement all in one day. 

After an hour, I decided to go back and check. He decided to accompany me and there began my disappointment and nervousness. Guess it was too evident. He asked me about it and offered to stay back. I appreciated that. The last thing I would want would be him to see me fail. Crossing my fingers I hurriedly walked away.

*  *  *

I saw him waving at me. He was by the car. He seemed anxious too. I decided to play along. "What?"he asked.

"I failed the last interview."

"Oh!" His face hung. "It's okay. It's kind of very very hard." 

I was tempted to take a picture of his face. What an expression. So cute.

"I ..."

"It's okay. Don't think about it too much. " he continued.

I pressed my lips, controlling my laugh ." Shivaay! I was...joking. I got through!'

He looked at me dumbfounded and excited I threw my arms around him. Closing my eyes, I let the feeling grow over me, I was so happy. Minute later I realised what I was doing. I looked at his blazer and was about to pull back when I felt his hands rest on my shoulder. Slightly clutching his blazer, I inhaled a sharp breath. This was so beautiful.

Guess he went awkward, for he quickly pulled back his hands and stepping back he smiled. We were still very close. Our eye lock was broken by the sound of a throat clearing. We stepped away as a smiling Mr. Gill looked at us. Embarrassed by the way he looked at us I stared at the car's bonnet.

"Sorry." Mr. Gill broke the silence and handed him a file.

"Oh no...Mr Gill." He said quickly taking the file.

"Senior. I made it!" I broke the news to Mr.Gill and a happy smile made up to his wrinkled face. I gave him a side hug and he looked at us amused. 

"I told you, Junior!" He winked with a cascading laughter.

He smiled at us.

"I will just be back, there is a friend I need to check on." I hurried away. Leaving the two men to finish the business talk. Sneha, a friend I had made the same day had also made it. She had got into the Administration Section. I fretted a little. She would be working in the same building as his, and I would be three buildings away! 

I called my parents to break the news to them as we drove back. He occasionally smiled at me. Things got awls when my parents wanted to talk to him. Covering the microphone of the smartphone I asked him if he was willing to talk. He nodded wholeheartedly pulling the car to a halt on one side and taking the phone from my hand.

I smiled as he spoke to my parents sweetly  laughing. Was I falling for this man? Jeez.I already had!

What! I love him! I love him! Oh this feeling is beautiful.

Holla Friends!Thanks for your love and concern, Had a lovely trip! Tiring though..! Will get back to writing in a day or two.Was overwhelmed to find 500+ notifications, going through all of them.The other thing, is I m back to normal schedule from tomorrow. I had a wonderful writing spree in the past month . I can't promise the same from now, but I will try to be as regular as possible.Gratitude to all of you wonderful readers for helping me nurture my writing skills and being a wonderful audience.Hope you'd continue to be!-Anami!