Evening had fallen softly over the city as Rishi stood in his cabin, facing the giant screen, attending the board meeting.

One hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other holding his iPad, he stood tall and focused as employees presented one after the other. His eyes followed the speaker-he gave a silent nod of approval.

The cabin door creaked open.

He didn't pay attention at first. But when a familiar fragrance reached him and a petite head rested gently against his chest, his arms instinctively wrapped around her. Without needing to look, he knew it was Janvi.

The employees on the screen stared wide-eyed.

Lowering his voice, he asked softly, "Are you okay?"

She nodded adorably, looking up at him with tired eyes.

"Bukhar nahi hai par abhi bhi thaka hua lag raha hai."

("No fever, but I still feel a bit tired.")

"Okay! So you're going to rest the entire day, and I'm informing Ashwath you're not coming tomorrow," he said with authority.

Janvi sighed, resting her head again on his chest.

"Par aap mere saath kyun nahi rukey? Main akele nahi reh sakti."

("But why didn't you stay with me? I can't be alone.")

"Haan jaan, bas yeh meeting ho jaaye. Thoda kaam aur hai, phir sirf tumhare paas rahunga," he reassured.

("Yes love, just let me finish this meeting and a little more work-then I'll be only with you.")

She peeked up, frowning. "Abhi kaunsi meeting chal rahi hai? Mujhe toh koi nazar nahi aa raha."

("What meeting is even going on? I don't see anything happening.")

Smiling, he lifted her chin and kissed her forehead, then pointed to the screen.

"Waha dekho." ("Look over there.")

She followed his finger-and froze. Her eyes widened in horror.

The employees were watching. Watching them.

She gasped and hid her face in his chest. "Aapne bataya kyun nahi? Mujhe laga hum akele hain!"

("Why didn't you tell me? I thought it was just us!") Her cheeks flamed crimson.

"Koi dekh bhi le toh kya farq padta hai?" he whispered smoothly.

("Even if someone sees, what difference does it make?")

"Main ja rahi hoon," she tried to turn, but he caught her wrist gently.

"Kahin nahi ja rahi aap. Mere saath raho."

("You're not going anywhere. Stay with me.")

"Par aap meeting ke beech-"

("But you're in the middle of a meeting-")

"Aap meri chair pe baitho. Meeting khatam ho jayegi. Tab bhi aap mere paas hi rahogi."

("Sit on my chair. The meeting will be over soon-and you'll still be with me.")

She hesitated, glancing at the screen again. The employees were now exchanging teasing glances.

"We didn't know boss has this side too," a girl giggled.

Rishi shot her a warning glare. "Continue," he said coldly.

The meeting resumed and Janvi obediently settled into his chair, watching silently. Oddly enough, she found herself enjoying the view of him at work.

An hour later, the meeting concluded.

Rishi walked over to her and she immediately stood.

"Khadi kyun ho gayi aap?" he asked.

("Why did you get up?")

"Woh... aap baithenge na," she said shyly.

("You'll want to sit, right?")

He smiled, sat down... and then said mischievously, "You can sit on my lap."

Her eyes widened. "Hum aapke cabin mein hai!"

("We're in your cabin!")

"Mujhe farq nahi padta. Mujhe toh bas aapke paas rehna hai," he smiled.

("I don't care. I just want to be near you.")

She blushed and carefully settled into his lap, hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

♡

An hour passed. Rishi finished his work and looked down to find Janvi asleep, snuggled in his lap like a tired kitten.

Smiling softly, he pulled out his phone and clicked a picture.

He kissed her cheek. She stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open.

"Good evening," he whispered, brushing another kiss on her temple.

Her cheeks turned adorably pink.

Pulling her cheeks gently, he grinned, "How can you be so cute?"

She giggled, hiding her face. "Agar aapka kaam ho gaya ho toh room mein chalein?"

("If you're done with work, can we go to the room?")

"Room mein jaakar aisa kya karna hai jo yaha nahi ho sakta?" he teased.

("What do you want to do there that you can't do here?")

"Chup karo," she blushed and slapped his chest lightly.

Laughing, he effortlessly lifted her into his arms and carried her to the room.

He gently laid her on the bed and tucked the duvet around her with care.

"Main tab se soyi hoon, Rishi. Mujhe neend nahi aayegi ab," she complained.

("I've been sleeping already, Rishi. I won't fall asleep again.")

"Thik hai, so mat. Par at least rest toh karo," he said.

("Fine, don't sleep. But at least rest.")

She nodded and asked sweetly, "Mujhe voh book pass kar do please."

("Please pass me that book.")

He handed it to her and she quietly read for over an hour.

Eventually, she got up.

"Kahan ja rahi ho aap?" he asked.

("Where are you going?")

"Washroom," she said.

She returned, slid under the blanket, and checked her phone. A notification pinged.

Shashi: Are you fine now or should I come there?

Janvi smiled.

Janvi: I'm fine now, nothing to worry about.

Shashi: And did you vomit or what?

Janvi: Felt like it... but didn't.

Shashi: Bro are you pregnant.

Janvi: Shut up. It's nothing like that. We didn't even do it-how is that possible?

Shashi: Bro, it's been a month since your wedding.

Janvi: So what? Shut the fuck up.

Shashi: Fine 🙄

Janvi: How was your day?

Shashi: Just checking on patients. It's my second day here in Pune. I'm working at Oberoi Hospital but no one knows I'm the owner's sister, so I'm getting the usual treatment.

Janvi: Oh... any friends there?

Shashi: Saksham's gonna arrive in a few days. For now, I have a nice workmate-his name is Kushagra. He's sweet.

Janvi: Just don't make boyfriends without informing me.

Shashi: Bro, no one's gonna date me anyway.

Janvi: Yeah, who would date an alien.

Shashi: Thanks for the compliment 🙄 BTW, where's your husband?

Janvi: Sitting beside me. Bro, I think mere Solah Somwar ke vrat ka phal mila hai mujhe.

(Bro, I think he's the reward for all my Monday fasts.)

Shashi: Congrats brother.

Janvi: Thanks bro.

Shashi: Okay bye. Need to make dinner.

Janvi: But you're in the Pune mansion-don't you have servants?

Shashi: I've got a habit, baby.

Janvi: Stop calling me baby, I have a husband now.

Shashi: Bhai, tereko 'darling' bhi bolungi, tera pati kuch nahi kar payega 🥱

(Bro, I'll call you 'darling' too-your husband won't be able to stop me.)

Janvi: Chup reh ja, ab khana bana.

(Shut up now and go cook.)

Shashi: Okay TC.

Janvi: Hmm 👋

♡

After her chat with Shashi, a soft knock echoed at the door.

Rishi glanced toward it and got up. Opening the door, he found Manish standing there with a gentle smile on his face.

"Meri bacchi kaisi hai ab?" he asked warmly, stepping inside and affectionately patting Janvi's head.

("How's my daughter now?")

"Thik hoon, papa," she replied softly.

("I'm fine, Papa.")

But Rishi immediately cut in, "Jhooth bol rahi hai papa, aankhein dekho unki."

("She's lying, Papa. Just look at her eyes.")

Janvi let out an annoyed sigh. "Rishi, aap faltu mein tension le rahe ho. Main sach mein thik hoon ab."

("You're overreacting, Rishi. I really am okay now.")

Manish chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Tu meri bacchi ko tang mat kar, Rishu."

("Don't trouble my daughter, Rishu.")

Rishi raised both his hands innocently. "Main kaha kuch keh raha hoon!"

("I'm not even saying anything!")

"Beta, tujhe kuch khane ka mann hai?" Manish asked sweetly.

("Dear, do you feel like eating anything?")

Janvi shook her head. "Nahi, Papa. Mera toh kuch khane ka mann nahi kar raha."

("No, Papa. I don't feel like eating anything.")

"Toh fruits kha le," he suggested gently.

("Then at least have some fruits.")

She shook her head again, stubborn as ever.

Manish laughed softly. "Thik hai, jab mann ho tab kha lena."

("Alright then, eat whenever you feel like.")

"By the way Papa, aaj woh meeting thi... toh maine cancel karwa di," Rishi informed, glancing at Janvi.

("By the way Papa, that meeting today... I had it cancelled.")

"Haan, pata hai mujhe. Accha kiya tune. Nahi toh meri beti ka khayal kaun rakhta?"

("Yes, I know. You did the right thing-otherwise who would take care of my daughter?")

All three of them chuckled softly.

"Achha, thik hai. Main Poornima ko bol deta hoon-khichdi bana degi tere liye," Manish said, already pulling out his phone.

("Alright, I'll tell Poornima to make khichdi for you.")

Both Janvi and Rishi nodded, grateful.

After Manish left, dinner was served in the room. Janvi nibbled at the warm, comforting khichdi, coaxed lovingly by Rishi. And when the night finally wrapped itself around them, they curled into each other beneath the soft duvet-her head on his chest, his arm wrapped around her securely.

Sleep came slowly, but peacefully.

Wrapped in the warmth of love and a

home that felt safe, they drifted off in each other's embrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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