A/N

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This chapter has some steamy content. Readers please read at your own discretion. Recommended age is 18 and above.

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"I wish you often come here," Ajay's mother uttered in hope, after what seemed like an hour into Anya's surprise visit.

"I'm pretty bored of just having Ajay and Anu here, all the time. These two hardly entertain anyone. Not even their friends. Had I been back home, I would've had at least three of my friends over every day for tea and indulge in juiciest gossip."

"Not to mention their roving eye whenever I'm around. Despite being fully clothed, I've always felt naked in their presence," Ajay quipped in amusement.

"Shhh, Ajay. Nobody talks about nakedness in front of their mothers. They can't help it when such a handsome creature appears in their midst. Poor things have lost their husbands pretty early into their marriages."

"And talking about incredible man-buns and giggling like school girls is completely ok? That's harassment." Ajay smirked.

While Mrs Mullapudi rolled her eyes since she was used to this kind of teasing from Ajay, Anya choked on her coffee. Anya and her parents only discussed plants, some interesting piece of news, or how to improve their surroundings.

Their house was a live botanical experiment. By installing various kinds of plants, their home undoubtedly had the best water management and waste management system in the entire world.

Some plants like Colocasia Esculenta known as Taro could remove phosphate and nitrate content in the wastewater.

The domestic wastewater was recycled after it went through such plant-based water filtration techniques. Sadly, these plants did not work against powerful detergents and eventually died. Therefore, they did not use any detergents or caustic floor disinfectants in their place.

All biodegradable waste was treated at her home with simple techniques mostly using plants, and that was in turn used for alternative sources of power and to support a bio-farm. Their family was a staunch supporter of anything green and highly hated plastics. They never used single-use plastics at all. It was the most ecologically-balanced homes.

But the kind of camaraderie that Ajay shared with his mother was new to her. It felt so normal, and she was thrilled to discover another facet of him.

"Look what you've done. Didn't know you could be so crass. Now don't keep standing there, get her a tissue or a towel. Do you need any water, Anya dear?" she asked and commanded her son at the same time. The biggest gossip slash giggling school was gone out of the window, replaced by the strict mother that she was.

Ajay mildly shook his head but went on to pour some water for Anya. She had a sip and smiled at him gratefully. He brushed his fingers with hers' while he took her glass away on purpose that brought an involuntary smile to her.

She was, at first, surprised to find Ajay's mother with him but chided herself for her imprudence. She was pleased to munch on some homemade food, his mother's enthusiastic company, and Ajay's amusing smiles. They often locked gazes that soon heated every fibre of her being. Overall, she was happy with her decision to come there that evening.

After about half-hour more, though Mrs Mullapudi insisted, Anya kindly denied the invitation to stay back for dinner and got up to leave the place.

She heard definitive footsteps behind her, as she walked across the parking lot, and found a familiar pair of arms snake around her torso, but she jumped in shock.

"Oh my God! You scared the shit out of me, Ajay," she uttered, and he chuckled at her panic but held her closely.

She leaned into him and took a deep breath to calm down her racing heart.

"Let's catch some dinner, and I'll take you home," he insisted.

"What about Mrs Mullapudi?"

"She knows that I'm with you."

"Wow, such a broad-minded mother."

"Yeah, who is secretly planning to hold her grandchildren. I think she feels it's going to be realised much sooner than she thought."

It was for the first time, Ajay ever mentioned about marriage and kids, basically about commitment. Hope surged through Anya, but she quickly repressed it. She was not sure if he meant about them. She was equally unsure if this was the moment to broach the subject. She wanted to define the stuff going on between them.

"So is it about us then?" she whispered tentatively.

"Nah... It is about all the females I bring home and introduce her," he said, carefully taking note of her reaction.

Anya blinked in disbelief. She was dismayed. She never expected him to just club her with other countless females he had hooked up with. She at least thought, she was different. She was angry. She subtly tried to be free of his arms only to find him tightening his grip.

"Of course, it was about us, you goose. What else did you think? I don't usually kiss some random woman and bring her home when my mother is around or even when she is not around. I'm not irresponsible. I've never been but respectful of every woman's choice and clear with my intentions. Anya, it's no secret that I've been with a few women before you, and a much lesser number than what the rumours claim, but that's all in the past. Ever since you visited the hospital to check on my mother and me, it has always been you.

"I don't know what this is, that we have between us. It's something profound. I've never felt like this before. I'm very much attracted to you, not just to your person but your positive outlook on life and your intrinsic ethos. At the same time, I do not want to rush into it," he finished emphatically.

They were now seated in her car and were heading towards a restaurant for their dinner. She only understood the part that he was attracted to her and was not seeing anyone else. The rest all seemed to blur at the outset of these revelations.

"Does this mean, you'll acknowledge me in public in front of all your friends? Can stare at you longer than necessary? Can I hold your hands for the warmth to seep through my veins? Or touch you once in a while just to be sure you're with me? Or hug you till my heart's content? Or kiss you out of the blue? Because I like you, Ajay. I've never felt like this even when I was with Karthik. He meant only familiarity, but with you, it's everything. I'm out of my depth here, and I don't prefer uncertainty. I..." she trailed, and her vulnerability shook him to the core.

He parked the car to the side and took her into his arms over the console.

"I like you too, Anya," he uttered, feeling a glimmer of true affection, and he wondered why he had waited so long to bask in it.

After a short car ride, Ajay parked the vehicle at the MTR Hotel at Lalbagh, Bangalore for a dose of authentic South Indian food. Once they partook a hearty meal, they went to Anya's apartment.

It was the first time Ajay had ever visited her place. Though the apartment complex entrance looked dingy and old, her flat was clean and tidy. The living space had a cane three-seater sofa and a cane tea table along with a tiny book rack. The book rack acted as a divider between the living area and dining space.

There was a foldable bench fitted to the wall which could be pulled down for a makeshift dining table for two people. There were a couple of foldable chairs that stood against the wall to be used when dining and a small fridge next to the foldable chairs completed the dining area. Right across this space was an open kitchen that had a small balcony which gave the much-needed ventilation for the whole living, dining and kitchen spaces.

A narrow vestibule, next to the kitchen, led to the bedroom that had a cane rack filled with clothes, neatly stacked and thick foam mattresses all over the floor. It had an attached washroom as well. This room boasted of a window with a passable view.

Ajay stood there, taking it all in. From the place where he stood, he could skim the entire space without turning much. He was never in such a cramped place before. Even at a very low point in life —when his father passed away, and his mother had to somehow maintain the family—they had a decent place to live in a respectable neighbourhood.

He and his sister went to reputed schools. Though they had to work hard for scholarships and other opportunities for free education at the school, they never lacked money for basic amenities.

"It's a very small place. Most likely the whole thing fits into your living area," Anya's voice broke his reverie as she handed him his favourite beverage, Vodka Tonic, in a tall glass as she took a sip of the Breezer in her hand.

He absentmindedly thanked her and returned to his earlier thoughts as he sipped his drink with abnormal calmness. He needed it. He was not exactly taken aback with her living situation, and at the same time, was not very excited either. He was clueless as to how to accept this. And based on what he learnt of Anya so far, her family were well-off in Mangalore. He didn't know what she was trying to prove, living in such a place and working on a job completely different from her true passion.

Anya did not miss his absentminded 'Thank you', and the way he seemed to cling to his drink, like a lifeline. What did she expect from the famous banker? That as soon as he declared his feelings for her, he would accept everything about her? She was not that delusional, but his neutral expression and lack of any comments so far were making her anxious to an extent.

"I guess, I'm in a kind of a cultural shock. Just give me a moment I'll be fine," Ajay said, after a long moment.

His tone and statement put Anya on the defensive. She was a little upset when she should accept his honest words.

She looked everywhere but at him and silently added, "Maybe you should leave. It's already late, and it is a working day tomorrow. Your mother will be anxious too. Thank you for dropping me here."

Ajay looked at her and could decipher her hurt. He cursed himself for being so blunt. He pulled her towards him and engulfed her in a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry. This is not the way I wanted it to come out. I was pondering on why you are living here and working on an incompatible job? I'm only trying to understand from your perspective."

Anya went rigid in his arms, "It is not something I haven't explained you before. I don't want to go back as a failure."

He took a deep breath and wondered what was it like to live with her parents who had pushed her to such an extent that she was risking everything, just to prove her worth.

He stroked her hair as a means of comfort, "You are not a failure. I promise you that you are not. You are perfectly and exquisitely made. You are one determined, proud and ambitious young woman I've ever met and trust me, any other person in your place would've given up long back. I just wish you would be more forgiving of yourself."

He ran a forefinger over her lovely cheek, "Anya, I adore you. This is something I've never felt for anyone before. Sometimes I may be clueless, and sometimes I may overanalyse things, and sometimes I may be reluctant. This doesn't mean I care any less about you. All I ask is for a chance, for this relationship to run its natural course. Please?"

He saw her hesitate, and then slightly tilt her face up to look at him. He took a chance, leaned over and began to kiss her. He kissed her long and without haste, with all the tenderness in his heart. After a few moments of languor, she held his face and began to kiss him back with equal vigour, that he knew she felt for him.

Suddenly, he hoisted her holding her thighs as she wound them around his waist. With some effort, he carried her to her mattress. Breaking the kiss, he slowly lowered her and joined her there.

She did not leave any time to waste as she brought him back to smash her lips against his. It was a different kiss, much more sensual and wet. Her soft lips parted with only the faintest urging from his crafty tongue. He teased her, tortured her and offered himself to her by plunging deep into her mouth, then slowly retreating and repeating it, until she gave him hers. Their tongues clashed for dominance, and slowly she bit his lower lip, causing him to groan against her mouth, surrendering to the erotic kiss.

His hand slipped underneath and gripped her thighs to hook it around his waist. Through their clothes, she could feel his erection rub against her mound as she let a soft moan of appreciation. She gradually opened her glazed eyes and stared at Ajay with desire. He looked back, like a man possessed, determined to show her a great time. His movements were feral and intoxicating as he glided his hand under her top to softly touch her warm skin and proceed to explore further.

She broke the kiss this time and hoarsely whispered into his mouth, "I want you."

He grinned at her rakishly and added, "My pleasure!"

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Next chapter is going to have explicit sexual content. Please be warned and read it under your own descretion.