Third Person POV

Manvi parked the car in the basement and then took the lift to the office floor. After almost two months she was joining the office. She entered by pushing the door, she was surprised to find the office empty. She glanced at the watch on her wrist which showed 9 am and sighed.. "Mere peeche ye log punctuality bhool hi gaye"

Just then she gets a surprise when everyone steps out of her room shouting "welcome back.."

Manvi smiled, the staff came closer and gave her a bouquet. Some gave her the gifts and congratulated for the wedding.

"We miss you mam.. Aapke jaane ke baad realise hua aap humhe strict schedule se kitna active rakhti thi.. Hum sab kaam on time kar liya karte they.." Sneha said with so much enthusiasm.

Manvi never got such appreciation from her staff. "Yes mam, Aarav sahi kehta hai aap humhe salary deti hai aapki wajah se hamara ghar chalta hai. We are really sorry uss din humne aapke character pe ungli uthayi" another man said.

Manvi took a deep breath and smiled "I am glad, itne saalo baad you guys realised my worth. Thank you so much for your wishes.. Itne time baad aayi hun toh.. Kaam shuru kare"

Sneha smiled and said "mam, report already aapke table pe rakh di hai.."

"I am impressed.." Manvi said and headed towards her cabin. She kept the bouquet and other gifts.

A smile appeared on her face, and in the past 15 years the staff hated her but today they gave her a warm welcome. Some of them were jealous because she was a female boss and men don't like to take any orders from a woman.

She sat down on the chair and looked straight at the desk which was still empty. She imagined Aarav sitting there and working for a moment. She shrugged her shoulders and said "Manvi.. Wo yahan na hoke bhi tere paas hai.. Thank you Aarav tumne meri personal hi nahi professional life ko bhi rangeen bana diya"

She began to work and looked at the past one month record of accounts. There were some errors in the recent project work.

She called the Sales Manager and enquired him about the errors. He said "Mam, ye strategy Aarav ne set up ki thi.. Uske resign karne ke baad humne bahut koshish ki but uske jaise clients hum attract nahi kar sake"

Manvi sighed deeply "uske aane se pehle bhi toh yahan clients aate they na..?" she asked.

"Jee mam, but wo Pune waale clients ne specially Aarav sir se impress hoke ki investment ke liye agree kiya tha.. Aapke jaane ke baad wo yahan aaye bhi they and he was really disappointed. We lost about 5-10 new clients" he informed, which made Manvi lose her cool.

"Aur ye baat mujhe batani kisine zaroori nahi samjhi?" Manvi shouted at him.

"Sorry mam.. But aap leave pe thi aur sir ne bhi humhe mana kiya tha aapko disturb na kare'' he informed.

Manvi sighed and asked him to leave. She sat down on the chair with a thud "mere bina toh ye kuch kar hi nahi sakte.."

She made the new presentation similar to the way Aarav made it earlier. She sent it to the client and after an hour she received the rejection email which made her dull.

Khushi's POV

I was shocked to find Aarav standing in front of me. I sighed "Dadda yahan kaise? Khushi aaj toh tujhe koi nahi bacha sakta hai''

Aarav looked at me suspiciously and asked "Khushi.. Tumhara school time hai na? Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"

I gulped down my throat and smiled at him fakely "dadda.. Bas aise hi"

"Khushi.. Tumne school bunk kiya?" he questioned and I just looked at him.

"Dadda.. Please mumma ko mat batana" I said looking at him hopefully.

Aarav laughed and I was confused. He said "it's okay.. Maine bhi apne school time mein ek do baar school bunk kiya hai.. Tumne homework nahi kiya ya test mein fail hui?" he asked and I had a sigh of relief as he didn't ask the actual reason.

"Dadda homework nahi kiya.." I lied to him.

"Chalo tumhare paas bhi school stories hogi apne future mein bacho ko sunane ke liye.. I am sure tumhari khadoos maa ne toh bunk kiya hi nahi hoga kabhi" he said.

I smiled hearing him, I questioned him "Aap yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

"Interview tha na.. Maine job se resignation ek saal ke andar hi de diya tha jo unhe bahut unprofessional laga isliye mujhe job hi nahi di" he exclaimed.

"Aur aap ye baat mujhe muskurake bata rahe hai?" I asked as I didn't notice any kind of disappointment on his face.

"Haan thoda sa upset hua tha par kaunsa duniya khatam ho gayi meri.. Chill aur bhi interviews hai" he said and then asked me to walk with him.

I gave him a confused look, he said in a concern "Tumhe akele sadak pe baithne thodi dunga.. Like a friend hum masti karenge aur school time over hone pe tumhe ghar le jaunga"

I was just overwhelmed seeing the love for me. I was in guilt, he misunderstood that I bunked school but actually I have been suspended from school for a month.

He sat on the bike and I sat behind him. I kept my hand around his waist, he said "Tight pakadna kyunki main bullet speed pe chalane waala hun"

"Pakda hua hai dadda" I said, then he drove off towards the shopping centre. I was enjoying the cold wind, he passed me his glasses so that dirt didn't get into my eyes and cause any infection.

I wore them and he asked "movie ki shopping?"

I was thoughtful and answered him "Dono"

"Done.." he agreed and I was elated. He apologized "sorry dost.. Shaadi ke baad main tumhe jyada time nahi de paya pehle wo office ka kaam phir honeymoon pe chale gaye hum"

"It's okay dadda.. Aapko sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Wapas aakar aap mere saath they maasi ke ghar pe.. And I know you will always be there for me when I need" I said and he lightly tapped my hand which I had wrapped around his waist.

"Always.." he said.

He then parked the bike in the parking area of the shopping mall. I got down, he turned it off and hopped off the bike. Just then someone called out his name, he turned and found his friends.

He held my hand and walked towards them. They glanced at me and asked "Aarav.... Ye ladki toh bahut hi pyaari hai"

"Ab meri beti hai toh pyaari toh hogi hi" Aarav replied, eyeing at me.

"What??" his friend was in a state of shock.

"Rohan.. Don't you know Aarav married woman jo isse 18 saal badi hai umar hai" his other friend said.

"She is your step-daughter.." The friend said, eyeing at me from head to toe. Aarav pushed me behind him and I smiled at his protective behaviour.

"Listen.. Beti hai meri samjhi toh apni ye gandi nazrein isse door rakh" Aarav said in a warning tone.

Rohan smiled "relax.. Aarav chal na movie dekhte hai"

"No thanks.. Main apni beti ke saath movie dekh lunga tum log enjoy karo" he declined their offer politely and then held my hand tightly. He took me inside the mall ignoring his friend's call.

Aarav looked at me and said "sorry about whatever happened"

I kept my head on his shoulder and walked along with him "dadda.. This is what I missed from 15 years.."

He smeared my head and said "Ab kabhi miss nahi karogi.. Come on let's go to game area phir movie"

I nodded and we had a blast in the shopping mall.

Malhotra House

Manvi reached home, she seemed to be tense about losing the big project. She headed towards her room and scrolled her phone for the previous emails. She checked the mail which she missed while she was on her honeymoon period. She read the email and was left shocked seeing it.. "What the.."

She fumed in anger and shouted loudly which shaken Ahana. She was playing with Vihaan in Khushi's room which was next door.

"Ab kya naya siyappa hua hai" Ahana uttered

To be continued...

Till I write an act of love update.. Enjoy this. ❤️