Ekansh's POV

"Something's bothering you today, what is it? It's not about this breach murder is it?" She asked looking deeply into my eyes.

"Well... I kinda messed up on something..." I said debating if I should tell her now or not.

"Tsk, just tell me... Remember what I said? It doesn't matter what it is, it's the intentions that matter." She said my heart melted.

What punya did I do in my past life?

"You're too sweet..." I said as she tapped her feet in anticipation. I made a mental note to tell her to always wear her payal.

"Just tell me!" she whined making me chuckle at her cuteness. "Fine fine..."

I took a deep breath, "I am very sorry that this isn't as romantic as you wished but with all sincere intentions, Akshita Hegade-Rai" I went down on one knee as her smile widened.

"Will you accept this promise ring? And be my girlfriend- I mean you already are, I don't know how this works-" I stumbled on my words here and there but she just smiled broadly and lifted me, hugging me tightly.

She sure does love hugs, and I am not complaining at all.

"Thank you." She said with her face in the crock of my neck, she sounded like she was almost crying.

I closed the ring box, pulling her out of the hug. Her eyes were filled with tears and a smile on her lips. She avoided eye contact, trying to stop the tears from spilling.

"Akshita, Akshita hey, hey..." I panicked looking at the tears as she just smiled at me.

She nodded, "Yes, I do."

"Then why are you crying,"

"Happy tears..." She said hugging me again.

I pulled her out of the hug and put the ring on her ring-finger. She smiled broadly taking a closer look at the ring.

"My god that's so gorgeous..." She said in awe, "Gorgeous ring for my gorgeous girlfriend." I said, being cheesy. She shook her head chuckling.

Her phone rang again, Amarpal calling.

"Just a minute..." She said but stood right there taking the call.

"Hello?... Aree, where is that now?... Tsk, can't you do your own work? ... Haan haaan ... I don't know what you're talking about send me the location I'll check ... Ha okay okay ... Bye." She said her expression irritated.

I checked the time, 10:28. Where is she going in his hour? She opened her phone and looked up at me.

"Hey, My brother just asked me to buy battery cells, where do you think I'll find them?... He's sent me a location that's 20 mins in the opposite direction..." She asked.

"Battery cells? At this hour..." I asked confused, "There's IPL today, RCB vs MI and he's not missing it." She said with a done face.

"You could borrow some from the office." I say, "Really?" She asked as if she just won KBC.

"Yeah, wait..." I called one of the secretaries and instructed her to bring some double battery cells.

"Thanks for-" "HEY!" Ashwin barged. "I swear Ashwin! I'll tell Prajakta you're hitting up on other women!" I warn on the verge of killing him.

"We're just friends Ekansh, chill..." He said, putting a hand over Akshita's shoulder while she was looking at me with her eyebrows raised.

"Aren't we Akshita?" He asked her, "Sure Mr. Holmes." She replied humorously as he grinned like a child.

'Can't believe this guy solves murder.'

"Get your hands off my girl." I gritted trying to hold in my anger, "Ekansh!" Akshita laughed, walking forward to me "He's just a friend, calm down." She said chuckling between her words. He took his hand off.

Ashwin looked at me with a pout. "I swear this-" I steped towards him, but Akshita stopped me looking at me like I was some ghost.

"Dude stop, he could murder you and make it seem as if I did." She said looking at me surprised at my anger probably.

Ashwin smirked.

'This motherfucker.'

"I'm dropping you off," I state, taking Akshita out of his sight. "Dude, dude, dude." She stopped me in my tracks. "You know I'm not gonna leave you for him right? He's just an acquaintance. A great one really- " she said as my eyebrows raised.

'Really? And that's supposed to comfort me?'

"Aree re, I-" she probably understood my inner words as she chuckled trying to take that back.

'Good god, when did I become so jealous.'

"Just let me drop you off!" I say, trying to end the topic. "I brought my car here, I'll leave once I get the batteries, you don't need to drop me off." She said smiling.

"You're kidding, right? You're gonna ride home alone? At this hour? Through that creepy forest road?" I ask.

'This girl is on a suicide mission or what?'

As if she reread my mind, "I'm not gonna die or something..." She said shrugging. "I'll text you once I reach home." She said trying to convince me.

'And what if you don't reach home- Don't jinx it Ekansh!'

"I'll be safe don't worry." She said as the secretary came back with the cells.

I placed them in her hand, "Drive safely." I said trusting her even though my heart said otherwise.

"I will...Honey?" She asked, her eyebrows crippling with disgust. "Nope," I say scrunching my nose. "Umhm" she says narrowing her eyes and nodding in agreement.

"I'll be off then, Good Night." She greeted me as she sat in her car. She kept all her belongings in, checked all the mirrors, and wearing the seatbelt, she started the Audi and took off. She honked one last time, as a goodbye maybe.

"Where did you find her?" Ashwin asked, standing very close to me.

'How did he get here?'

"My mother's friend's daughter," I say truthfully.

"Seriously?" He asked with a done face. I shrugged in reply.

"You guys are a great couple. What does she do for work?" He asked and we started walking back to the building. "Clinical Psychologist, she takes sessions, you should visit someday." I tease as he rolls his eyes.

"But seriously, don't mess with my girl," I warn, passing him a glare. "I won't dude, why do you think of me like that? I'm just flirting." He said as if it was nothing.

"Flirting? With my girlfriend?"
"Flirting with my friend."

Just before I could punch his annoying face, Dad came in.

"Ekansh, let's head back, where is Akshita?" I sigh passing him a final warning look. "Oh, she left."

Dad raises his eyebrow in question, "She brought her own car here," I explain as his chin raises in the air, "Oh ok ok, well then, you head home, I'll come with Chote Papa and Abhi after a while."

I walk to my car and ride back home. The only thing on my mind were Akshita's skills, Ashwi had nothing to say after her.

I heard my phone ring, it was Akshita.

"Helloo?" She sang from her end, "Hello."

'How can just one word from a person brighten up someone's mood?'

"Where are you? I just reached home."

"I'm driving home..." "Oh okay, then I'll call you later. Call me when you reach home alright?"

"Alright." I chuckle, "Byeee! Drive safee!" She dragged, "Good Night," I greeted and she cut the call.

I smile to myself, Mom was right, this girl is just perfect.

I drive back home all the memories of the date flashing in. Reaching home I was greeted with more questions than the last, by the looks of it, Dad hadn't informed them yet.

"Where were you, Ekansh? Where are the others? How many times should I explain the effects of overworking-" "There was an emergency at work..." I trail off, "Dad'll explain, I'm heading out." I say, turning around and getting into my car.

I didn't want to tell them, I just have had enough today. I take a seat in my car and start the engine, heading to my penthouse.

I reach the building and head to my room, showering and changing into comfortable clothes. I fall on the bed like a lifeless body with a thud.

I closed my eyes as I felt my body rest, snuggling into the soft mattress.

*Harry Potter Theme intensifies.*

Tilting my head out of the mattress, I checked the clock to see it was almost midnight.

'Who the fuck is calling me at this hour?.'

"Hello?" I answer the phone without checking the caller ID. I probably sound drunk right now but I don't care.

"Were you asleep?" Akshita asked over the phone.

"Oh no, not at all. Congratulations, you're dating a vampire." I reply sarcastically.

"Sorry dude, just wanted to ask if you had any updates..." She said over the phone as I sat straighter, my back resting on the bed frame.

"Nope... Why are you awake at this hour?" I ask, concern clear in my voice.

"I'm out in an aquarium right now, eating a tiramisu scoop of ice cream-" She said casually.

"What?!" I ask, what is she doing at an aquarium at this hour, alone?

"Don't you know? Ever visited an aquarium? Might have noticed all the fishes look dead and don't move, know why? Because they are asleep. Fishes sleep with their eyes open and the aquarium owners feed them right before they close the aquarium which makes them change their circadian rhythm accordingly." She said in a tone that seemed like she read off a Wikipedia page.

"You're fucking kidding me, Akshita! Where are you? Send me your location asap." I said not paying attention to what she just said.

"Actually, I am, I just made that up," she snorted as if it was the joke of the year, "I was just screwing with you-" she continued but I cut her off. "Send me your location-" "I've sent you, dumbo check your phone." 

"See you soon." She said and cut the call.

'What the actual fuck?'

I open my phone, take my keys out, sprint out of the house, and get in my car riding to the location.

"Oceania" I read the glowing board of a two-story aquarium. I noticed there were no people, just the staff dusting and passing me mean looks as I walked over to the carpets they were cleaning.

I head in and notice Akshita talking to a staff lady in Kannada.

'How does this girl find Kannada people here?'

"Akshita?" I catch her attention, walking close to her.

"Hmm!" She hummed in acknowledgment as she had a large piece of ice cream in her mouth.

He held my forearm and dragged me beside her, in front of the staff.

She gulped and said something to the staff, probably introducing me as the lady passed me a sweet smile.

They talked for a while, which I could say from their tone, definitely about me. Some other staff members called her and she excused herself leaving me and Akshita alone.

"What is this Akshita?" I ask, trying to control my anger.

She looked at me for a solid minute, the corner of her mouth slowly dropping down, her check puffing up like a child denied to go to Disney land.

~ 1,904 Words.
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Hello, my lovelies <3

How's life?

This has to be one of the most random chapters 😭✋🏻

I mean, there is a dead guy, a proposal, an annoying brother, Ashwin, Akshita being weird and scaring the life out of Ekansh, and another random Kannadiga lady. 😂

Don't y'all think it's weird how Akshita had connections with random Kannadigas across town? 🤔

So far what are your thoughts on the plot and characters?

Do you guys enjoy Ekansh's POV / Author's POV following Ekansh or Akshita's POV/Author's POV following Ekansh? 

And for all those wanting to see Ekansh's Dry humor mentioned in the character's chapter, here you go, this chapter is for ya.

Idk what to ask y'all for this chapter tbh 😭😂 it's just too random.

Hope y'all enjoyed it anyway and as always don't forget to vote and add this book to your lists so you don't miss any updates! Next update on 26th June 2024!

Happy reading <3
Until next time!

~ 2,027 Words