Sargam opens the door to let Naira in, “hey Naira”

“hi am I late?.. I couldn’t believe sir actually insist I come later when  I spoke to you on the phone earlier. “yes it’s true you only look after Siya for maximum 2hrs then you can take early leave, she is in the garden with dadi they are waiting for you. Sargam smiled and left her to it. “he calls me later to only babysit for 2hrs and that too maximum.. and then leave early?.. oh god am I being fired.. her mind went through all bad thoughts.. she took the stairs with her thoughts. I thought I was doing a good job..and oh Naira concentrate garden she said not upstairs.. she sighs and comes down the stairs again. She goes into the garden and greets Siya and dadi..

“hi beta..” as soon as Siya saw Naira she stretched her arms out for Naira, Naira with a smile took the little one. “awh how is Siya”

“she is so use to you” smiled dadi.

“beta you both play I have some work in the house..”

“dadi?”

“hmm?”

“Kartik sir asked me to take leave early today..

“yes he did say something like that..

“oh…”

“any reason.. Siya starts to play up so Naira still looking in dadi’s direction steady’s her properly in her arms.

“beta only he can tell you that, I don’t get involved”

“oh ok..” she smiled at Naira and left her to it.

“Mr Patil yes cancel my meeting today I won’t be available we can reschedule  it for tomorrow?  Great.. thanks sir” he says with a wide grin. Dadi enters.

“all set and meeting cancelled?” she said closing the door.

“all set but  I want it to be a surprise.. she works hard for Siya and she didn’t even mention her birthday to us. ”

“well beta now you can do something for her”

“yeah” he looks at his watch.. “ok Its time” Naira is cradling Siya to sleep” she gently places her on the sofa. From the opposite direction dadi comes

“it’s nearly 6pm Kartik said you can have the rest of the day off..”  ‘rest of the day off or for good’   Her mind reflected. She felt nervous this job was her bread and butter not to mention her family’s support.. She nervously walks to the direction of the exit door. “Naira?”

'oh no he’s here and ready to give me my dismissal'. She turned nervously.

“ya sir?”  he locked his office door and walked towards her, today was the first time she saw him since last night, he was in jeans and a black t-shirt which clung to him outlining his gorgeous body.

“I need help with something” he scratched the side of his head.

“Help”? she echoed.

“ya.. um it won’t take long come” ‘

“ok?” she replied..

“great come” he walked and she followed behind him,

‘oh so he wants to fire me by being sweet first and then it’s bye bye babysitter'

They reached outside and he clicked the remote to his car to unlock it. He was the perfect gentlemen he opened the door for her once she was comfortable seated he  closed it, then he got into the drivers seat himself. Naira was confused…

“Actually first I need to go to this place so seatbelt on?” she nodded.

“great let’s roll on” he put the car in drive. The whole drive she was thinking what other job she can she get, panic was eating her up. She looked at Kartik he looked carefree and genuine how can he think about getting her replaced..

‘maybe it’s not true but then why this ominous feeling?. He parked up the car and turned to her.

"Ok now I want you to close your eyes.”

‘huh’ her mind was in complete confusion.. she looked out of the car  window

“Sir where are we?”

“it’s a surprise” he replies.. close your eyes and bring your hands forward”.

 “sir you want to fire me na?”

“huh.. what no way why would you think that?”

“um.. you gave the afternoon off and ..

“oh.. no nothing like that..

“but dadi..”  he shook his head “all will be clear first close your eyes”..  she was hesitant.

“I’m not firing you trust me you’re the best and Siya adores you and i… his phone went off..

“excuse me..”hello..no not today it’s been cancelled.. yeah I told him.. when? Just a few minutes back.. Kartik spoke on the phone and Naira's  mind felt relieved all the tension just floated away, he angled his hand and there it was the wrist watch she gifted him.. she smiled to herself ‘he is wearing my gift’

She watched him talk and admired the way his manly jaw twitched. “That’s sorted” he said looking down placing his mobile back in his pocket. ‘stop staring Naira!’

“oh that’s good and um your wearing” she pointed faintly.. he was confused.. “oh yes of course its my favourite gift after all. He smiled and that made her smile. 

“Now where was  I.. oh yeah close your eyes”   without a word she he did as he instructed. She could hearing ruffling of plastic.. “ hey no peeping”

“I’m not” she almost giggled.. “ good girl” he replied “ok..bring your hands forward. this is for you..” she felt the plastic..

“now you can open them” she opened them to a lovely sari.. “it’s the same sari I bought for you but Preeti hijacked but a little birdie tells me it’s purple that you like so I had it arranged especially for you.

I don’t know what to say its it’s beautiful” she said looking at it with a wide smile.

“I’m glad you like it and here there are a few other little gifts in here from me and dadi” he handed her the gift carry bag.

“there is a matching jewellery set to go with it.

“thanks sir but why?..

“Happy birthday to you” he said in a singing tone..  ‘Gauri ki bachi’ she reflected

“It was your birthday too yesterday why didn’t you say anything.. this is not fair..we could’ve did a joint birthday party.. we share a birthday!” he exclaimed proudly.

“i.. don’t really celebrated my birthday it’s really not a big deal..” she looked down and all this it’s too much sir i…”

“I don’t want to hear all this you deserve it, it’s a birthday gift and dadi would be sad if you refused it.. ‘only dadi not you?’  

“I wore your gift see, don’t refuse my gift dadi helped but it’s my choice.. is it not good?”

“no sir it's it's really good and  i..

“and I especially took the evening off to shout you for dinner at my favourite 5 star hotel I cancelled appointments’ just for you."

“Kartik sir, thanks it means a lot”

“that’s the spirit ab chalo I’m feeding you 5 star food today” he smiled, the smile made her melt.. ‘calm down Naira take a deep breath’  before she could reflect.. thud the door opened on her side.. Kartik held her hand and helped her out of the car, closing the door behind her. Then he lead her to the hotel, hands in pockets and her arms folded shyly across her chest, shortly they were inside the place. Naira had never seen anything like it. Nice na?” she nods.. “oh shit I forgot something wait here I will just be back.”

“oh ok?” she replies. She was fascinated by the interior and all the beauty of this hotel she walked awestruck of it. “oh sorry”

“uh who is this..” said the lady.. “manager come here”!

“I’m sorry it’s my mistake” said Naira but the lady rolled her eyes. Naira saw the middle age man with a pot belly come to them.

“yes madam what seems the issue?”

“what sort of people you are letting into your hotel?” He looks at Naira

“I don’t know where she came from.. who are you?”

“i.. “ Naira didn’t get a sentence far, her voice croaky what has she got herself tangled in.

“I don’t want to hear.. sorry Durga devi these middle class people.. he went on and the woman gave her a dirty look and left.

“who are you.. what status is of yours to enter such a hotel like this.. do you know how hard it is to come here.. you can’t unless you have decent contact.. looking at you and what you are wearing so simple salvar at this place you shouldn’t be here..

“and why is that?”  Kartik came from behind and stood next to Naira.

“Mr Goenka your reservation awaits.. where is your guest?” he smirked and turns his head to her.

“she is my guest! then he turned back to face him. “and you just insulted her!  you know what I can do to your hotel”

“sir leave it.. I don’t want the trouble I shouldn’t have come here and.. He turned to her.

'Why is she apologising he didn’t like it one bit, this was not her fault'

“why not you have every right to come here”  he whistled “hey boy” a staff  member came to them.

“escort this young lady to our table..

“but sir.. she protested but it fell on deaf ears.

“Naira.. just go!” he said in a soft assertive tone.. she nodded and went with him. The manager face lost colour this had never happened before..  “sorry Kartik I didn’t know she was with you but seriously look at her benji types and..

“eh! Tumhare okad mein ro.. you know how far my reach is I can make a sale on this place all your hotel chain just to prove a point don’t test me!"

“sorry sir it won’t happen again..

“and don’t ever speak to her in that manner understood.  He nodded “never sir” “good” Kartik walked away leaving the man shivering in his boots.

*

What’s wrong don’t you like the taste?”

“hmm? No its fine I just..  people were giving them weird looks during the whole dinner  and now he saw she wasn’t eating her dessert properly.

“I want you to feel comfortable and clearly you’re not..  she looked down again..

‘when Kartik is away from his business duties the man can speak none stop. It’s a nice to see he has another side' her lips broke into a smile “waiter.. pack this up

”“sure sir”

“no Kartik it’s fine please you..”   the man came back rather fast. “ok come..?”

“where are we going?” she asked. “to eat this ice cream without you feeling self-conscious. She got up from the seat following him to the exit. He parked up and they came out to a secluded area..

“see now are you feeling better?” he said seeing her eating the last spoonful of her ice cream.

“hmm?" she smiled.

“you um.. he pointed to his own chin to show her..

“oh.. she tried to wipe the stain but kept getting the wrong spot..

“its.. here..” he went close to her face and wiped just below her lower lip.

“uh hmm thanks”

“no problem” he resumed his hands in his pocket.

“hey you wanna go to a disc?”

“um.. right now?” she saw her watch it was coming to 9pm.

“it’s kinda late na”

“oh.. come on don’t be boring it will be fun..”  Naira thought what to say..

'come on just say yes, you might actually get somewhere besides business minded sir, when will this kind of opportunity come again!'

“ok sure I’d love to”

“great I know this really cool place” 

 Tbc

Precap:  Their eyes were in a magnetic eye lock 🤫

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