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Hello, my lovelies! <3

How's life?

As promised, here's the update on 1st June.
I hope you enjoy this chapter and just a quick note, the author's note at the end is important please read it!

This chapter is dedicated to @1Suyash1 hence the Konknai dailouge in the chapter 😝 Hope you enjoy dude!

Happy Reading! ✨♥️

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Ekansh's POV

"Are you sure Abhimaan?" I asked.

He nodded, "Pakka?" (Promise?/Sure?) I asked again, my eyebrows rising to my hairline. "Aree bhaiya! Mai hu na!" (Chill brother, you can count on me.) He said reassuringly but I wasn't assured.

"I don't want to see you slip up this time Abhimaan, this could cost us the whole of our company," I said gravely as he nodded somewhat seriously this time.

"Lo, dekh lo sabh kuch thik se, if you find anything suspicious inform me then and there." (Take these, and have a look at everything carefully,) I ordered, passing him the files related to the breach at the HQ.

"Ji bhaiya." He said and went out of my office. I sighed heavily.

I couldn't find anything about the breach and that's why Papa asked me to pass the files over to Abhimaan and see if his fresh mind could dig something up. I called Kushagra, my assistant.

"Kushagra, cancel all my meetings for the day, will you? I need a breather." I informed him as I lay back in my chair.

"Are you sure sir? You have 2 meetings scheduled for today, one with the Oberios and another; with the group meeting with the Chauhans." He informed me, as my ears pecked up.

"With the Chauhan's?" I questioned, sitting straight. "Yes sir, Mr Aadhirath has requested you to join the meeting. He said he'd inform you..." He trailed off. "Oh okay, it's alright, never mind."

"Should I inform Mr Malhotra of your absence, sir?" He asked. I sighed heavily, spinning the pen between my fingers.

"I'll attend the meeting when it is scheduled for?" I asked making up my mind. "In an hour and a half, sir."

"Okay, get the files ready and inform my father I'll be there," I order as he leaves with a nod.

I sigh my eyes closed.

'Who could it possibly be?'

Akshita's POV

"Green Embassy," I answer bending over to some pink roses in the garden.

"Hmm, do you think he'll propose?" Anuraag asks, walking with me.

It's our tradition, we walk every day in the garden in the afternoon, talk about life and deep things.

"Idk, but I kinda hope he does," I say flashing a mischievous smile at the end.

"You are such a romantic..." He states, shaking his head.

"What about Mridhula?" I ask, out of nowhere. "What about her?" He asked, a slight sense of panic clear in his eyes. "Nothing..." I say, smiling, turning my tracks and walking into the house, leaving him to his thoughts.

After all, I have a surprise to prepare.

Ekansh's POV

"That was one hell of a meeting alright." I exaggerate, buttoning my navy blue three-piece suit.

Walking down the hallway to my office, Kushagra beside me informed me, "Well, sir it is finally time for your 'breather'. I'll handle the paperwork and the-" He started explaining as my head throbbed.

"Thank you for everything, I can't imagine a day without you," I said as he took his queue to leave. I walk into my office and fall on the sofa like a piece of dead meat.

The phone in my pocket vibrated as I heard my phone ring.

'This better be fucking important.'

I tried to take the phone out with great difficulty, I had to stand up to get it out of my pocket which made me more frustrated. But the name on the screen made me smile like a fool.

"Hello?" I questioned my heart beating fast. Our first phone call!

"Hey... Yeah, so I might have gotten stuck in an elevator of yours..." She replied in a voice filled with panic and guilt.

'Oh shit shit shit!'

The last incident of the elevator crash appeared in my head as I rushed to the door.

I opened the door, my mind a haze and suddenly I felt a pair of familiar arms wrap around my torso.

Akshita.

This little chipmunk.

She laughed as I let out a heavy sigh. I hugged her tighter, dragging her into my office. Her arms were covered in full-length black velvet sleeves, making the hug comfy.

She closed the door with her leg. I noticed he didn't wear her payal.

"You scared the life out of me you know that?" I asked as I let my grip on her loosen.

"I know." She squeaked.

She took a few steps back, leaving my embrace, and revealing her dress. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

"You look really gorgeous but what about your payal?" I ask, missing the jingling sound.

"Payal? I thought they didn't match with the whole- you know- western thing..." She said, gesturing to her dress.

I noticed her style of dressing, even wearing something western, she didn't wear anything revealing...

'But hey, who am I to speak? I don't go around wearing bermudas everywhere.'

"You look gorgeous too, Navy blue suits you." She said, looking at me from top to bottom.

"Not to be rude, but what are you doing here at this hour?" I asked, genuinely.

"Surprise remember?" She asked.

"Wednesday, 8 pm was my answer..." I ask, looking at the clock.

"Tsk, what's the surprise in that? Tuesday. 7 pm. Totally unexpected." She waved her open palm.

The small chandelier on the ceiling caught her attention.

She walked farther from the door to the heart of the office, looking around. She leaned on the table looking over at me.

"Your office looks fabulous." She complimented the black and grey colour scheme.

"You know what else is fabulous?" I asked walking towards her. "What?" She asked, her eyes still set on the books on my bookshelf to her left.

"You," I replied pecking her forehead. She looked up at me silly pout on her lips, her eyes narrowed teasingly.

"How about we proceed with my surprise?" She asked, looking down at my hand.

She lifted my hand and turned the ring to where her name was engraved. She smiles brightly.

"Your wish is my command, love," I replied, leaning into her ears, my lips brushing against the tip of her ears.

I see a blush creep up her cheeks. "The blush suits you." I teased, "Only when it's by your words." She replied, clutching my hand and dragging me out of my office.

"Wait, I have something to do," I replied, remembering the ring. "Oh okay, I'll be outside." She replied with a smile and left the room.

I quickly take out the ring from the drawer and pocket it.

I walk out the door and see Akshita leaning her back against the wall, her eyes glued on the phone held in her hands. She looked tense.

"What's the matter?" I ask. "Oh, you're out? Come on, I don't want to be late." She replied ignoring my question.

She kept her phone inside her purse and gestured for me to walk with her.

We make our way to the parking lot, not a single word uttered by both of us. She takes her car keys out. She unlocked an Audi A4 as it honked in the distance.

"You own an Audi?" I ask, "I only use it for very special occasions, My Baleno works just fine." She replied.

"Are you seriously gonna drive me there?" I ask, surprised. "I wasn't joking when I said the next date is on me." She said walking to her Audi.

"Guess you're the passenger princess today." She remarked, opening the passenger door, a mischievous smile on her face.

I couldn't help but shake my head. I took the seat nonetheless.

She took her seat, checked all the rearview cameras, and buckled her seatbelt. "What type of music do you listen to?" She asked, opening up Spotify on her phone. "Anything really," I replied truthfully.

"Okay then..." She mumbled to herself as she played a playlist and started the engine.

She looked into the rearview at the back, pulling the gear into reverse, she pressed the accelerator slowly.

The distance sensors beeped, but she kept going. She stopped when the beeps heightened. She turned the steering wheel fully, changed the gear and took the car out of the parking spot.

I almost thought it would scratch the bonnet but it didn't.

'Damn, that was precise.'

She drove out of the building, onto the highway and headed to the outskirts of town.

We were talking about our family reactions to our date. The conversation was interrupted as a car behind us honked.

"Kitya marta re melya? Vach." (Why are you in such a hurry *insert curse word idk how to translate*?)
[This is the Konkani language, not Kannada. Yes, Akshita is Kannadiga but you can check the character's page her ethnicity is Konkan as she was born there. I love details]

She talked to herself, turning the left indicator and giving some space for the swift desire behind us to overtake her.

"Yeah, anyways continue..." She prompted. "How long have you been driving for?" I asked, changing the topic entirely.

"Um... About 7 years now... Why do you ask?"

"Just asking, anyways it's better you focus on the road than talk to me."

"Oh okay." She replied. Silence prevailed for about a few minutes before the chorus of the song, "Oops!... I did it again" started playing and Akshita sang copying Britney Spears's voice perfectly.

"Oh baby baby,
Oops, I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops, you think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent"

"Your voice is great!" I complimented as she chuckled. "I guess I am just good at mimicking voices." She replied modestly.

"I guess the universe is on my side." She grinned as the song changed. "What do you mean-"

https://youtu.be/smkbWP79fus

"Don't do love, don't do friends." She started signing in a thick accent.

I look at her, my jaw hanging from my mouth. It just sounded too real. My mind went back to the pink lady's conversations.

She chuckled at my reaction, her eyes back on the road.

"Don't want cash, don't want card
Want it fast, want it hard
Don't need money, don't need fame
I just want to make a change."

She sang copying the artist's thick accent perfectly. I just looked at her in awe, her eyes on the road, her hand on the wheel, her shoulders moving up and down to the beat.

"I know exactly what I want and who I want to be
I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine
I'm now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy
Oh! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no, oh!"

"One track mind, one track heart
If I fail, I'll fall apart
Maybe it is all a test
'Cause, I feel like I'm the worst
So I always act like I'm the best."

She stopped, "I don't know the lyrics after that." She stated, chuckling at me.

"You just- How?" I asked, flabbergasted. "I have just heard it an unholy amount of times." She replied.

"You're so unexpectedly talented sometimes," I comment truthfully. "I am just a good actress... Impressions included." She chuckled as she took a sharp right.

"Where are we?" I ask as I had no clue whatsoever as to where she was taking me.

"At our destination." She said, as a beautiful emerald building named "Green Embassy" appeared on my side of the window.

"Green Embassy?" She parked in the parking lot. "Umhm... Why? What's wrong?" She asked, somewhat scared.

"I haven't heard of it..." I replied truthfully. "Oh, thank god, I thought you've been there a thousand times." She chuckled at herself trashing her keys into her purse.

"Ready to go?" She asked me and I nodded in reply.

She comes out of her seat and runs over to mine, her heels clicking. Coming out of the car, I look at her with furrowed eyebrows. She gives me an annoyed expression and shakes her head in disapproval leaving me confused.

'Maine kya kiya?'

She walked ahead and I followed. She walked to the counter as I took my time to notice the place. It sure did stick to its name as the whole building looked like a Slytherin lair.

Beautiful emerald green marble tiles and the gold specs just made it perfect.

"Reservation on the name, Miss Rai?" She asked the receptionist which made my ears peck up, Rai?
Wasn't her surname Hegade?

"The open balcony candlelight dinner reservation ma'am?" She asked as Akshita nodded in positive. "Sure, madam-" "Is the table served by your staff member Arpita?" Akshita asked as more questions popped up in my head.

"Yes madam, Miss Arpita Shetty?" She confirmed, Akshita nodded a little more enthusiastically. "Sure madam, our staff will lead you to your reservation." She said as a young lady in the light green uniform led us into the elevator and to our table.

"So? Miss Rai?" I asked the question as soon as she kept her purse on the table. It made me look desperate, but I am so I don't see a point in hiding it.

~ 2168 Words

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Hello, my lovelies! <3

How's life?

Was the chapter too lengthy? This chapter wasn't much related to DrAmA but will lead to some shocking twists.

Who do you think is responsible for the breach in Ekansh's company? Do you Abhimaan will be able to crack it? Or will it be too late?

Thoughts on Kushagra? 😁 Who's shipping Tejasra/Kushagwini?

What do you think the last elevator crash was about? Does it connect to future plot points? 🤔

Who was Akshita talking to on the phone? How about her mimicking skills? 😂 What about Akshita being Miss Rai?

Do you guys think Emerald is a gorgeous colour? Cause I personally absolutely love it. 😍💚

Let me know your thoughts and as always, don't forget to vote and add the book to your library so you don't miss any updates! <3

And talking about updates. I've thought about keeping some particular dates for updates. For example, for June the dates are:

01.06.2024 {Updated}
07.06.2024
13.06.2024
21.06.2024
26.06.2024

So you have an update every week! <3

I'll try to follow these dates for all the months, but ofc I'll make sure that a chapter is uploaded every week :)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Until Next Time! 07.06.2024
Lots of love 💖

~ 2,405 Words