The rising sun's golden petals spreading over her body passed over her face. Manal squinted her eyes and blinked. She shifted against the trunk of the tree and winced, massaging the back of her head. Realizing, Manal scuffed to her feet. Clenching the loose shirt and pulling down the helm, she searched for her secretary.

"Boss."

She gasped, twirling around. Raza beamed at her. Still shirtless. Manal closed her eyes and sighed.

"Your clothes are dried, boss. Can I get my shirt back?"

This charming grin didn't distract from his red and tired eyes. "You didn't sleep the whole night?"

Raza clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"Then what did you do?"

He unfocused her by talking about the coolness of the night, leading her to the cabin. After they got dressed; separately. Both decided to take rest for the day. Raza's phone wasn't working anymore.

"Damn! I will need to put this in a rice bag."

"Or buy a new one." Manal suggested, booking a cab with her own phone. On their way, she realized Mappila had called a few times. She called him back, and throughout their journey kept reprimanding him.

Mappila shivered, welcoming them. Manal glared at him, but Raza interfered to lighten the mood and suggested she should have breakfast to rejuvenate. Before that, Manal decided to jump in for a hot bath. She poured some red wine into her wide-rimmed glass. Stretching her neck, she gently massaged her shoulders. Remembering Raza's athletic upper body and muscled back distracted her. The way he took her in his strong arms or effortlessly carried her on his broad shoulders. Manal shivered in the hot bath, shook her head, and gulped the remaining drink. Taking a deep breath, she dipped completely into the tub. Then, pulled herself up recollecting about how they fell into the water-filled tub.

Manal sighed, massaging her forehead. There was a door ring, and a woman announced, - "Room service."

Manal nodded, placing her wet hair to one side, and stepped out of the tub. 

Waking up, the first thing Raza did was check his phone. After talking on the phone, he got on his feet and rushed to freshen up.

Raza called the Mappila to enquire about his boss. Astounded to know that she was chilling at a beach. Raza smiled knowing she was prioritizing her mental health. After the tough last night, he needed a break as well.

Raza wore a deep neck tropical pattern Tee and yellow shorts. He flipped his pendant back, tugged back the collar, and wore his sunglasses, hat, and flip-flops.

Reaching the beach, he scanned the fully packed beach for Manal. Under the hot sun, he wiped the sweat off his forehead with his arm and lounged in a beach café.

"Yeah, one ginger mint lemonade." He grinned at the young woman behind the counter. She blushed, nodding. Fortunately, because of his charm, he was served fast.

Raza removed his glasses, relaxed at the table, and brought the rim of iced glass to his mouth. It was then he saw her.

Manal emerged from the waters, flipping her wet hair back. Raza's jaw dropped. 

In a metallic gold flimsy bikini, her skin radiated complementing her skin tone. Her perfect hour-shaped glass in this made her look extremely sexy.

Raza fished out his new phone from the back pocket and hurriedly focused on her; zooming.

"That Asim is one lucky bas—man." He smiled, clicking a few pictures.

Manal wiped her neck, arms, and legs with her towel. Just as she tugged on the strings of her golden bikini, a manly voice jump-scared her.

"Boss."

She rolled her eyes at Raza's grinning face.

"What do you want?" She dried her hair with the towel. When she shook her head, her wet hair whipped against his face.

Wow- He murmured caressing the water droplets on his jawline.

Manal raised her eyebrows when he explained how no office talk now, as they were taking a break.

"You can swim?"

"Yes, Boss. Want to swim with me—eh, I mean a race--"

Manal raised her chin, - "You can't out win me."

He nodded, - "Of course." He tipped his head. She smirked. Turning around, Manal walked back into the waters. Raza followed her. She dipped inside. Raza unbuttoned his shirt. Manal eyed his muscles flexing as he peeled it off him. He stretched his arms before dipping into the cool waters. When he quivered, with his lips trembling, Manal snickered.

"I didn't know you were so toned." She complimented. Raza blushed and monotonously talked about his morning jogs and gym routine. He didn't seem like such a person, but apparently he was. Manal mentally decided to send Asim to learn from him.

With her competitive spirit, Manal mindlessly swam. Her one aim was to beat Raza. He called, reminding her that she was going into deep waters. But she shunned his voice. Until he was out of earshot.

Manal stopped with the taste of salt water in her mouth; her eyes burned. She blinked, moving her arms and legs only to get a mini-heart attack realizing she felt too light.

Like she was above nothing. But the water came heavy on her. Waves hitting her, pushing her back, brought dread to her heart.

Panic rising, she stroked her arms fast, moving her legs, but it seemed futile. Gush of waves overpowered her. The water blurred her vision and hindered her. The few seconds of being under-water made her lungs heavy.

She could make out a hazy figure of a man swimming towards her. No one else was in sight. With pain seeping into her chest, she continued to struggle to be afloat. Even more desperately.

As he neared, Manal had gulped more water. The saltiness made her pukish. Her head spun and darkness engulfed her as a pair of brawny arms wrapped around her waist.

Raza was in panic mode overdrive. Struggling, he got her to the shore. Before help arrived, he attempted to revive her with CPR; without hesitation, he started chest compressions. The emergency help arrived and took over. He prayed profusely, blaming himself for this mess.

Water gurgled out from her mouth, and Manal gasped. Raza blinked at her as she began to cough.
"Boss, Boss." He kneeled next to her, pushing behind her hair. His fingers brushed over a tiny scar at the side of her head, near her hairline. Manal pulled herself up. Raza hurried and got a towel, comfortably wrapping around her shaking figure. She looked up, meeting his worried, kind eyes checking on her.

"I am sorry, I am sorry, boss; this is all my fault. I am sorry--"

"Shut—shut—up," she stammered. Just as she stood up, her legs wobbled, and she fell to her right. Raza swiftly grabbed her shoulders.

"Raza." She gasped as he scooped her in his arms.

"No, Boss. I am going to do anything to make up for this," He said adamantly. Manal didn't have the strength to argue with him. Loosely, she wrapped her arms around his shoulder.

She gazed at his clean shaven, chiselled jawline of his heart-shaped face. With her eyes passing over his slightly parted lips. From this close, Manal smelt the intense and zesty scent of his after-shave. She gulped lightly as her palm grazed tiny hairs over his sculpted chest. Flinching, she pulled her hands back to his broad shoulders. He titled his head and smiled at her. Manal blinked away.

Raza helped her sit on the beach chair and looked intently at her.

"I will get you hot coffee. Boss. Please don't tell about the race to--"

"Raza, it is not your fault."

"This resort is cursed for us."

Manal smirked, getting a wild idea. She needed to get out of here, away from Raza else her growing lust would take her to the forbidden side. Manal glanced at his back and wondered how she could feel intensely for someone she considered a chomu. Raza got her coffee in the takeaway cup and passed it to her. Manal pushed aside her wet hair and gracefully took it from him.

Later in the hotel room, Manal called her father and with Mirch-masala she narrated everything wrong that happened to her. Making sure Raza wasn't in the bad light. Sohail hyperventilated and announced; he will be sending them tickets and should return to Delhi the next day. Manal smirked at her achievement.

Raza gaped at her in shock as she informed him about their return. She liked it when Rosa expressed her disappointment. Manal took her number and demanded they coordinate more than with Raza.

Asim was at the airport. Eagerly, he crushed his fiancé in a tight embrace, kissed the top of her head, and expressed his happiness. Manal smiled at him, caressing his shadow-bearded cheeks. Raza and Asim shook hands and immediately began talking. Manal had taught him the events of everything that "supposedly" happened in Kerala.

Sohail decided to go to the resort and take over.

"Good luck with that." Manal scoffed.

Later at night, Manal settled after a hot bath and with a heater on high she came out of the washroom in a stain nightie. Dropping onto the bed, she flipped through the pages of a fashion magazine when Asim called. She relaxed in her plush bed, talking romantic confessions with him. Asim praised her, expressing his immense love for her. Manal giggled, feeling pride in all his comments.

After the call, Manallay down on the bed. Asim had always been a strong pillar in her life. Especially inher low times. They were getting married soon, so why should she hold herself?Perhaps consummating with him will shut down every other unwanted lustful feeling.She grinned, plotting her ways to take her relationship to the other level.And Asim's reaction.

The freezing weather was barely a problem for him. In just a lounge pant, he stood tall, shirtless, on the balcony. Casually vaping, he stared ahead at the city's night view. There was stillness, with a cold wave forcing everyone to be indoors.

His phone vibrated. Taking a puff, he smirked, picking up the call.

"Hi, Zayan sir."

"How is everything, Ashok?"

"They are fine, sir. But--"

Zayan arched his left eyebrow and breathed deeply, - "But?"

"Raesha Ma'am is getting married in one week."

"Ah!" He paused and chuckled hoarsely, - "Women. Can they wait for the man they are madly in love with?"

Ashok gulped on the other side, - "Sir, it has been almost three years. Except Suleiman sir, no one cares."

"And you?"

"Of course, sir. I am your most loyal employee."

Zayan exhaled smoke through his nose and slightly parted lips.

"Anything else?"

"No, sir. The business is going excellent, especially after you have done the corrections. I have sent you more details; you can work on that."

Zayan nodded, this time letting out a round puff from his mouth.

"Interesting."

Zayan is here, guys!!!

What are your thoughts, my lovelies? Kaisa laga chapter? If you guys comment lots and lots (silent readers, I am looking at you guys) then I will post another update, on Sat or Sun.