Shikha walked toward the boarding area, her hand gently resting on her cheek where Mohit had kissed her. The warmth of his lips still lingered, making her blush and smile. Meanwhile, Mohit was equally astonished by his own actions. He couldn't quite believe what he had just done and tried to shake off the thoughts, but they lingered stubbornly. Eventually, he returned home and fell asleep.

At 9:00 am, Mohit's phone rang, displaying Shikha's name. A curious smile appeared on his face as he answered the call with quick enthusiasm.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Good morning, Mohit," Shikha said, her voice still tinged with the blush of the previous night.

"Good morning! Did you reach safely?" Mohit inquired.

"Hmm, were you still asleep?" she teased.

"Hmm, it's Sunday, Shikha," he replied groggily.

"Mohit, check the calendar. It's Saturday, not Sunday," she giggled.

Mohit sprang out of bed. "Oh no! Thanks, Shikha. Sahil would have killed me today."

"No need to thank me, Mohit..."

But he cut her off, "Listen, I have to go. I'm already very late. Bye, bye, bye!" And he hung up.

Shikha smiled at her phone, muttering under her breath, "Stupid..."

Twenty minutes later, Mohit called her back.

"Hello... What's up?" Shikha asked.

"Did you move my office files while cleaning yesterday? I can't find them," Mohit said, sounding anxious.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I put them in the cupboard next to the bed. Check there, I'm on hold," she instructed.

Mohit rushed to the cupboard, opened it, and found all the files neatly placed inside.

"Hello... Hello... Mohit, did you find them?" Shikha asked.

"Yes, yes, I got them," he confirmed.

"Okay then," she said.

"Hmmm, okay... Bye," Mohit replied.

"Bye," Shikha echoed.

They both went about their day, absorbed in their respective tasks. Shikha headed to her office, and Mohit did the same. Though they thought about calling each other, they hesitated and held back.

Mohit returned home at 8:00 pm, his heart heavy with longing for Shikha. The memory of the previous night's surprise brought a smile to his face. As he looked around the house, her fragrance still seemed to fill the air. Entering his bedroom, he noticed her scarf lying forgotten under the stool near the dressing table. He picked it up and inhaled deeply, the familiar scent transporting him back to the airport, to their embrace and kiss. He couldn't help but smile.

After changing his clothes, Mohit walked to the living area, still clutching her scarf. He went to the kitchen and found leftover dal and rice in the fridge. Her presence seemed to linger in the room. He heated the food in the microwave and, after two minutes, sat on the couch where she had sat, the scarf still in his hand. Turning on the TV, he flipped through the channels until he stumbled upon "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge." He remembered how much Shikha adored Shah Rukh Khan, the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke of him, and their night walk. He ate his meal while watching the movie, lost in thoughts of her.

Later, in his bedroom, Mohit gazed at the scarf, inhaling its scent again. He longed to see her, to feel her presence once more.

Meanwhile, Shikha missed Mohit terribly. She replayed every moment they had shared—the way he cared for her, his protective nature, his scent, his touch, and that kiss. Her cheeks flushed red at the memories.

It was 11:00 pm...

As the night deepened, both Mohit and Shikha found themselves restless, twisting and turning in their beds. Sleep seemed a distant dream. Mohit, unable to endure the silence any longer, muttered to himself, "No way, this won't do."

Determined, he reached for his phone and dialed Shikha's number. The sound of her phone ringing brought a smile to Shikha's face. Though she was a bit shy, she was thrilled to see Mohit's name on the screen. She answered the call, her voice soft and sweet.

"Hello," she said.

Mohit felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sound of her voice. He was momentarily lost in it, forgetting to respond.

"Hello? Hello? Mohit, are you there?" Shikha's voice brought him back to reality.

"Yes, hello... Hi, Shikha," he stammered, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Shikha turned to the other side of her bed, her voice gentle, "Hi, Mohit. How are you? Did I disturb you? Were you sleeping?"

"No, you didn't disturb me. I wasn't sleeping. I'm perfectly alright," she reassured him.

Mohit, still concerned, asked, "I was just wondering if I disturbed you."

"Mohit, you are my husband. You can call me anytime," Shikha replied, her words making Mohit's heart swell with happiness.

"Really?" he asked, almost disbelieving.

Shikha blushed, "Yes... Anyway, did you have dinner? What did you eat?"

"I had dinner," Mohit replied.

"What did you eat?" she inquired.

"The same dal and rice you made yesterday," he admitted.

Shikha's heart sank a little. "Mohit, why did you eat that? It was stale. What if you fall sick? You know how to cook. Why didn't you make something fresh?"

"I'm fine, Shikha," he assured her.

"We'll see about that in the morning," she teased, and they both laughed.

"Come on the webcam, I want to see you," Mohit requested.

"Really? Okay, wait," Shikha quickly switched on her tablet and connected to the webcam. Mohit did the same. She waved at him, and he smiled back.

"Now that's better. It's so good to see you," Mohit said, his eyes twinkling.

"Same here," Shikha replied, her cheeks flushed.

"You know what, Shikha? I was thinking about you all day," Mohit confessed.

"Really?" Shikha blushed even more.

"Hmmm," he nodded.

Suddenly, Shikha noticed something on the screen. "Hey, is that my scarf?" she asked, surprised.

Mohit, caught off guard, fumbled, "Oh, yes, it was lying near the dressing table. I just picked it up."

Shikha sighed, "Oh no, I forgot it there. It's my favorite scarf. Keep it safe, please."

Mohit chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm not going to wear it." They both laughed, easing the tension.

"By the way, what do you think your chances are of getting selected?" Mohit asked with curiosity in his voice.

Shikha replied, "I don't know. The interview went really well, but let's see... Fingers crossed."

"Hmmm... I miss you," Mohit confessed.

"Me too," Shikha echoed.

They continued chatting through the night, a ritual that had become their daily routine. They worked all day and talked to each other all night.

Five days after the interview, Shikha received a call from Mohit's company. She was informed that she had been appointed as the HR Manager. Her joy knew no bounds. She quickly called Mohit, but his phone was switched off. She tried again and again, but to no avail. Disappointed, she waited. After a few hours, Mohit returned her call.

Excitedly, Shikha answered, "Hello, Mohit! I have news to tell you!"

Mohit, already aware of the news but eager to hear it from her, asked, "What happened?"

"I'm the new HR Manager at your company!" she exclaimed with joy.

"Oh my God! Finally, you're coming to me," Mohit exclaimed.

"Yes, but not immediately. I'll join after one month," Shikha explained.

"What? But why?" Mohit asked, puzzled.

"It's a policy that I have to give a month's notice before resignation. I'll give them the notice tomorrow," Shikha replied.

Mohit pretended to sob, "Sob-sob-sob!"

"Mohit, please don't do that. It's just one month—just one month," Shikha reassured him.

"Yeah, just one month. We've waited this long; one more month won't hurt," Mohit agreed.

"Yes," Shikha said, feeling relieved.

____