Ekansh's POV

"I'm sorry." She dropped her head and looked back up at me, "I just... wanted to let you know that I ... I- I heard your mom talking to my mom saying that she is fortunate to have found a girl like me for you... Saying that I'll be the best bahu she could ask for and... And I- I don't know." She looked at me for some seconds and then groaned rubbing her palm on her face.

She moved her fingers aside, her palm pressing her chubby cheek. I chuckled looking at her. "So you're trying to prove that you're not the best bahu she could ask for by... doing this?" I ask, chuckling.

"Don't laugh at my crisis!" She whined, holding the ice cream in one hand and fake-punching my chest with the other. I grip her wrist with ease, "Looks like the therapist needs a therapist." I say, mimicking her pout, bending down to her eye level.

"I guess so..." She said, her frown deepening as she looked at the now-melted ice cream in her hand. I couldn't resist pulling her cheeks.

She swatted my hand, glaring, "I'm not a kid, cut it." She protested.

"But you're right. The therapist needs a therapist." She stated and took a large bite out of her ice cream which was coffee-flavoured cream coated on a cone.

"How did you even come here? Your family allows this?" I ask, surprised by her antics.

"Mom and Dad don't know and Amarpal knows I can handle ghosts. He's the one who taught me after all." She said and my mind went back to the epic memory.

"Hmm..." I hummed as she ate her cone. Turning around to head out of the building she devoured her cone and twisted my hands with her by the elbow.

She smiled broadly, ear to ear, and walked out of the aquarium, to the parking lot, with a bright smile.

'Nothing can compare to this.'

"You're so unpredictable..." I say chuckling at her silliness, "Sure am..." She said, sighing and leaning her head onto my arm once we reached the lot. "You came here by your car?" I ask, looking for the Audi.

"Umhm," she hummed, taking out a different pair of car keys. 

A dusty blue Baleno honked in the parking lot, "My Beloved Baleno, she's been through hell and high waters."

"When was the last time she was washed?" I ask, looking at its condition, "Last monsoon?" She questioned I looked at her with a 'Are you serious?' look. 

She chuckled "Nope, last month, there's no point in washing it, it gets dusty the very next morning anyways." She said shrugging.

"When are you free next week?" She asked, locking her car and taking her phone out, "Probably...Tuesday." I answer, remembering my schedule.

"Tsk, I'm busy the whole week..." She said, taking a look at her schedule. "It's alright, we can talk over phone calls or video calls," I suggest.

"Hmm..." She sighed heavily, pocketing her phone and leaning her head on my arm again. Our arms intertwined. 

Lifting her head to meet my eyes, "I'll ask my assistant to make some changes... on Tuesday right?" she asked confirming. "It's alright, don't ditch work." I try to convince her.

"You won't miss me..." she said, giving me a fake glare and a pout. "I will, but I don't want to cancel on appointments, you don't know how annoying it gets sometimes," I say, without giving much thought to it.

"You've been to therapy?" she asked, her eyebrows knitting together. 

'Why is she so smart with words?'

I nod hesitantly, "It's alright if you don't want to tell me... We'll get there one day..." she sighed, placing her head on my arm, looking forward. 

"I should probably get going..." she whispered, "Umhm..." I hummed in reply. We stood like that for a few minutes until she left my arm. "See you in 9 days..." she said sadly, the corner of her lips hanging down to a deep frown.

"I'll miss you..." she said before hugging me, but this time it was a different hug. She placed her hands around my torso, her head lying between my bicep and chest. She closed her eyes, sighing heavily. 

"I'll miss you more," I reply before she leaves my embrace to look up at me, "That's not possible, I'll miss you more," she said narrowing her eyes, "Well, technically speaking, I am taller than you so as a matter of fact, yes, I can miss you more," I say continuing the silly banter.

She shook her head chuckling, "There, That looks better," I said, pushing the corner of her lips up with my index fingers to widen her smile. She swatted my arm again, chuckling, putting her gorgeous dimples on display. 

"Drive safe..."I say, patting her left cheek, and leave to my car as she leaves for hers. 

I reach back to my penthouse and fall on the bed, hoping the 9 days will pass by quickly.

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Akshita's POV

"Thanks, Amma!" I greet, packing the tupperware which had my favourite dish, chittranna.

"Finish all of it, okay!" she said, over the hustling chaos. That's how every weekday went at 9 am at the Rai's as everyone rushed to the office at this hour.

"I've kept some potato fries on the top dabba, (container) don't tell Amar," she whispered coming closer to me. I nod mischievously and greet my goodbyes to her and Rasika who were working in the kitchen.

"Everyone Ready?" I ask, over the hustling, "Yes!" "Yeah!" I heard both Amarpal and Anuraag reply in positive. 

That's how we were, always together. Of course, Rasika would join us too, but then it wouldn't be insanity anymore, she held us together somehow. After all, we were the A+ Idiots, only Rasika could tame us. 

I take my Baleno out of the garage. Anuraag hops in the passenger seat, his eyes glued to his phone. Amarpal sat on the back seat, his laptop connected to his phone, furiously typing, placing it beside him. 

"Drive slow, I'm working..." he said, his eyes focused on the screen, "Sure..." I reply, connecting my phone to the speakers. 

My office was the farthest, 20 mins and on the way were Anuraag's college and Amarpal's office. 

Anuraag was studying Bachelor of Fine Arts and Amarpal worked as a high-profile employee in Pyramid Cyber Security & Forensic. 

Rasika worked in Dad's company, The Rai Enterprise, interviewing employees and staff workers. 

She had her shifts in the evening after lunch so it was no problem, she and Dad worked in the same building so he could take her with him.

After about 10 minutes came Anuraag's college, "Study and practise well, I shouldn't hear another complaint from your professors." I warn as he stuffs his phone and earphones into his shoulder bag. 

"They're just salty 'cause I can draw better than them," he said, looking at me with his brows raised with sass.

Amarpal let out a snicker, "Oh please," I rolled my eyes as he left, "Bye!" he greeted waving his hand. "Bye!" Amarpal bid his goodbyes. [I know the last 3 words seem off, plej give me some other replacements #ExamsAreComingUpBrainIsFriedUp]

Back on the road to my office, we reached Amarpal's office, I turned into the parking lot and parked the car.

"What are you working on?" I ask, as he hastily packs all his belongings into his bag, "A new body was found yesterday night, all the way from Indore. Female, 5'6, 32, Brunett, Brown Eyes, and an ear cut off as a trophy." he says, zipping up his bag.

I roll down my window, "Uff, I still don't know why you work here..." I commented as he opened his door. 

"It feels nice you know, feels like I contributed in giving justice to those bodies..." he said, swinging his backpack on his shoulder and placing his elbows on my opened window door. 

"I've still got 5 minutes left..." he said, checking his watch, "I don't, so make it quick," I say, urging him to speak out.

"Well... How are things going with Malhotra?" he asked bitterly, looking above the roof of the car, here and there to seem as if he didn't care. 

"Great actually, I think I might have found my guy," I say truthfully. He nods, acting like that doesn't affect him.

One notion that I and Amarpal shared was to always tell the truth, even if it's bitter rather than sweet lies.

"I'm happy for you..." he said in a tone I wasn't quite sure I understood as he hung his head low, avoiding eye contact and turned around, walking towards his office building.

"Hey! Wait! What do you mean by that?" I bellow for my voice to reach him.

His footsteps stop. His bag hanging off one shoulder, he turned around, facing me walking backwards, "You were running late, weren't you?" he bellowed, and turned around again, walking merrily. 

I spot some girls in the distance watching him with eyes full of admiration. He quickly raised his hands, flashing his wedding ring probably.

I take my phone and capture the girl's reaction, sending it to Rasika, "Look at your husband making girls at work jealous with his ring 😏" 

I chuckle at my own words and hit send, "I'm happy for you..." his words echo as I look at his fading figure.

'He's afraid of losing me to Ekansh. He doesn't want me to get married.' 

I was aware of his dilemma, but I also knew he was strong enough to live without my presence every day. 

Turning my car around and head to my office. As soon as I reached the office I asked Tejaswini to check if she could make some changes to my schedule, "Sorry but I can't... See, there's nothing I can do..." she said showing me all the appointments on the desktop screen. 

I sigh, "It's alright nevermind, where's Yash?" I was late today and Yash, one of my clients should have been here by now.

"I don't know, he's probably late..." she said, checking email and messages to see any unexpected cancellations.

"He probably missed his bus," Tejaswini suggested, trying the positive approach. 

Yash was always a compulsive patient. "Worst case scenario, he's sitting in the corner of his room, crying about how much his mother loved him," I say, thinking about his files. 

Tejaswini chuckled, "You did not just make fun of the poor guy's trauma." she said, laughing lowly. 

I shrug, with a sly smile and head to the consultation room. I open my phone and check Rasika's messages, "😂😂Got a loyal man, what can I do? 🙃" I chuckle reading her message. 

I see Ekansh online, "Heyy! Rise and shine! 🌞 What are you doing?" I text.

"Good Morning... Nothing just forcing my eyelids to stay open..." he texted back, "???" I send not understanding his words. 

"Well, guess someone forgot their midnight adventure?🧐" I chuckle. 

'This guy has bone-dry humour.'

"When did you sleep?" I ask, "One-Fucking-Am. 😑 My face isn't so handsome for you anymore 😞..." he texted back sending me a photo of his face with his eyes squinted. 

He was sitting in his office, dressed in a gorgeous brown suit, his eyes had developed eye bags and his eyes were a little red due to lack of sleep. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be such a bother..." I reply as his text comes in, "When did you sleep btw?"

"1:30? I don't remember, I sleep in late usually..." I text back, spinning my chair left and right.

"So my girlfriend's a night owl, eh?" 

"Not really, I woke up at 5, more of a 'Sleep-Deprived-Yet-Functional-Girlfried' 😂😂" I text back.

"😦 5 am? Are you kidding me?" 

I laugh lowly, just as I was about to reply Tejaswini knocks on my door, "Yash is here..." I nod, "Let him in..." I say, and quickly text Ekansh, "Hey, will ttyl I've got a patient at my door, Byee! 💖" I send the text turn off my phone and keep it down.

~1,932 Words

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Hello, my lovelies! <3 

How's life? I hope you're doing great! 

Soo... How was the chapter? Well, I must warn you all to now pay attention to the minute details and haal-chaals 👀

Anyways, what do you think of Akshita's dilemma? Does she feel insecure about being the best bahu or is it weird that she feels like this all of a sudden? 

Or did I just put that thought in your mind to trip you? Or is that how I want you to think- Okay fine, sorry 😂😂[I am really or did I just use humour to deflect your thought? XD]

You tell me.

How will the couples pass the week (9 days) without meeting each other?

Thoughts on Amarpal's job? Anuraag's field of education?

What about the short [but deep] conversation between Amarpal and Akshita?

Ok, I am excited to read the comments on this one 😂😂 
What do you think Anuraag got in trouble for at his degree college? 

Side Note about the updates! My exams are going on so I won't be able to update on the 1st, maybe I'll update on the 4th or directly on the 7th acc to my updating Schedule. 

Hope you're doing great as always! Don't forget to vote and add this book to your reading lists so you won't miss any updates! <3 Stay blessed, and Happy Reading! 

Until Next Time, 
Lots of love. 💕💕

~2,222 Words