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Hello, my lovelies! <3
How's life?

I hope you are doing great! This chapter is going to be a bit long and as you can probably tell by the chapter name a bit more on the soft romance side.

Hope you enjoy it <3

Happy Reading! 💖

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Author's POV

Akshita was sitting in her car, scrolling through her phone for a nice quiet place. She found a small cafe with a nice rating and decided to make it final. She called Ekansh one last time to know his status. 

Trr Trr... Trr Trr

"Hello?" Ekansh replied somewhat gloomily. "Hey! Are you free now?" she asked, looking at her wristwatch. It was well over an hour.

"Yep, on my way." 

"Wait, no. I'll come over to your office-" 

"No. I am picking you up." 

"But-" "And that's final," he said sternly. 

"Okay." I chuckle at his tone. "Could you send me the location of your clinic please?" he asked over the line. "Sure," she said, sending him the location.

"Well then... I guess I'll see you in ten minutes," he said and they bid each other goodbye.

Akshita sighed heavily resting her head against the window. Even through his voice, she could feel the melancholy. It was going to be a tough conversation and she knew it.

Ekansh's POV

I asked Vikas to drive as my mind was too cluttered. Everything was coming back in pieces, in flashes. I do not hold any attachment to her anymore but the feeling is eating me alive. I rest my head against the window of the passenger's seat. 

"Is there anything-" "No. Just drive." I abruptly stop him and he nods and continues following the map.

How I am even supposed to talk to Akshita about this? Is it too soon? The thought started cluttering again. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Everything is gonna be fine. 

I said to myself over and over again till we reached. "Sir, we're here," Vikas informed and I nodded. He quickly unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door for me. I put on a pair of sunglasses and get up, buttoning my suit piece. 

Both of us walk in to find a young lady at the reception. "Hello miss, is Akshita here?" I asked politely. She stood up quickly, "You must be Mr. Malhotra." she said, giving me a wide smile. "Yes sir, she's in her office, just down this corridor on the left," she said pointing to her office.

Her hurried tone reminded me of Akshita and a small smile made its way to my face. 

"Sir, please sit down! I'll go and call her, please take a seat," she said gesturing to the sofa. I nodded at her, returning her a smile, and sat down on the sofa. Vikas on the other hand sat down beside me, but his eyes didn't leave her fading figure.

I understood what was going on and cleared my throat, smiling. He snapped out of his daze and fixed his eyes on the floor. The tip of his ears turned red. I couldn't help but chuckle. I elbowed him teasing, "Looks like someone's got a crush." 

His eyes go wide, "What? No!" he said, his cheeks turning slightly red. He cleared his throat. "No sir, you've misunderstood. I was... just..." He tried to explain. "Just...?" I teased. He opened his mouth to answer but his eyes diverted behind me. 

I turned around to see Akshita come out of her room. She wore a beautiful light blue kurta which added to her beauty. Her hair was tied in a low bun, some strands falling on the sides of her face. Her ears were adorned with dark blue jhumkas and a beautiful smile on her face. 

She looked at me and her smile grew wider. She diverted her attention to the receptionist. Snapping out of my daze, I turned to see Vikas staring at her from the corner of his eyes. He noticed me and cleared his throat looking the other side.

"Hello, guys!" Akshita greeted me coming out to the reception. 

"Akshita, meet Vikas . Vikas Mehta, my Personal Assistant." I introduced Vikas to Akshita. "Pleasure meeting you," she said, shaking his hand. "The pleasure is all mine Miss Rai," he said. 

Akshita turned around to bring the receptionist in front of her, "This is Tejaswini. Tejaswini Khanna, the receptionist aka my personal assistant." She bowed her head in front of us. 

She shook her hand with me and I passed her a smile however Vikas hesitated and smiled putting his head down after shaking her hand. What surprised me, however, was that Miss Khanna also had a similar reaction. A slight red hue spread across her cheek and she lowered her gaze to the floor. 

Akshita's eyebrows scrunch together and she turns to look at me. We both share a knowing look and a small teasing smile takes over our faces. I cleared my throat. 

"Well then... I guess we should get going." I ask Akshita, "Oh yes yes... By the way Tejaswini, there are no more clients to be taken care of. I sent them all an email and they agreed to reschedule it for tomorrow." I inform her.

"Tomorrow? But you said you-" "No. It's not that important, you can just schedule the sessions tomorrow and update the schedule. After that, you are a free bird, my friend." She said the last sentence dramatically, keeping her hand on her shoulder. 

A smile similar to Akshita's came up on her face as she hurried off to her desk. 

"Here are the keys sir. I'll... catch a bus." Vikas said, handing me the care keys. "Oh no no no mister. You are not going anywhere," said Akshita and I smiled understanding what she was planning to do. Vikas looked at me but I just shrugged. 

"Tejaswini! You wouldn't mind if Mr Mehta would stay here till we come back right?" Akshita asked, dragging him by his forearm back to the reception. He looked at me wide-eyed, his eyes praying for help. I just chuckled and gave him a thumbs up mouthing 'Good Luck.' 

"Of course not!- I mean... Yeah, sure." Tejaswini said, a small silly smile on her face.

I chuckle hearing Akshita and Vikas's banter. "But-" "Vikas. You are staying here. Boss's orders." I said in a cold tone as Akshita passed a teasing glare to Miss Khanna. "Come on, let's go," I said, holding Akshita's hand and taking her out of the office.

I opened the door for her and smiled as my heart melted. "Did you select a place?" I ask. "Yes, I know the directions, just take a left from the upcoming circle," she informed me as I buckled my seatbelt. 

We soon reached the cafe after a silent drive. I parked the car, unbuckled my seatbelt quickly, and ran to the other side to open her door.

Akshita's POV

He ran around the car's bonnet just to open my door, making me chuckle.

"What?" he asked, taking my hand. "Nothing," I replied, entangling our fingers. Closing the door, he looked at our hands, then at me. "You're my boyfriend, aren't you Mister?" I ask him and tap his nose with my index finger.

His face moves back and he blinks like a baby at my action. I couldn't help but chuckle at his cuteness. "Come on, let's head in or they'll find us with PDA," I said, pointing to a CCTV I noticed when we arrived. 

We walked into the cafe and sat in the AC room on the entire 2nd floor of the building. It was a pretty cafe with light and dark brown walls and small plant pots here and there. It was not crowded, just a few couples talking lowly over the calm music.

We sat in a corner and Ekansh excused himself to the washroom while I sat in my chair - which was quite comfortable I have to say- thinking about how the conversation would go.

Ekansh's POV

I walked to reception on the second floor. A young waiter stood behind the table. I took out my phone, scanned the QR code, and transferred Rs 20,000. "Don't serve any customers who come till me and girlfriend leave," I say in a cold tone. He scrunched his eyebrows ready to argue.

"Please?" I ask, wavering my eyebrows, "Who are already here, let them finish their meal in peace just don't let any more people come up here." I ask more politely.

"Okay sir..." he said and I walked back to our table.

Akshita was sitting with a tablet and a smart pen in her hands. I pulled my chair out and she looked up at me. "You're back." she said, "Oh no, you're just hallucinating," I replied sarcastically.

"I like your sarcasm." She chuckles. "At least you get it, that's enough," I state and stretch over to her chair to look at her screen. "What are you writing?" 

Akshita's POV

I turn my tablet screen to him. "Just writing down information..." I said handing him the tablet. His eyebrows scrunch. He lifts his hand, asking for the pen. I hand the pen as he keeps the tablet in the center of the circular table.

"Kusuma Thakur and she has two daughters Sonia and Nishta..." he said, erasing my incorrect scribbling. "Ashwin in connecting these initials..." he said underlining the K and N of the names, "To these initials..." he said underlining the K of Komal and N of Nidhima.

He changed the color of the writing and drew an arrow from 'Komal's murderer' and 'Prashant' and made a bubble, headed 'Common factors' He made a bullet and wrote, 'Initials' with another bullet below it, 'good lawyers to get themselves free' 

"This is all the evidence we have," he said, keeping the pen down. "Well, it kinda makes sense. She saw her mother's murderer in him..." I said and he leaned back in his chair.

"If you don't mind... could you tell me a little more about Nidhima..." I asked closing the tablet screen and leaning back in my chair. He sighed. "She... she was a person I loved years ago..." he said, not looking at me but rather at the table.

"Last year, she established an organization called 'Chitrakala' where she provides disabled children with art supplies and coaching on painting, drawing, and various art forms," he says as a smile forms on my face.

"She seems nice..." The words slip off my tongue and his head snaps, his eyes fierce and full of anger.

"No. She's just a self-centered, money-hungry bitch who doesn't care about people's feelings. All she wants is just money, fame, and..." he stopped. He took a deep breath, "Sorry..." he apologized.

"Why?" I asked and he looked up at me. "You know you can vent out to me right? It's not wrong to call your ex a bitch. I mean if she is your ex then she is or at least must have been a bitch, that's why you left her..." she said, holding my hand. 

"I know it's hard to bring back things we've let go from our lives and I want you to take it slow... I don't need to know every single thing about your past. But if you want to let it out, you can. To me." I said giving him a small smile. He bent his head down, a gorgeous smile on his face. 

"What?" I asked, "Nothing." he replied. I narrowed my eyes playfully at his reply.

"Good Morning, What would you like to order?" the waiter popped up out of nowhere. "I would like... a scoop of cookies and cream drizzled with dark chocolate, thank you," Ekansh replied instantly taking me by surprise. "I would... like the same please," I said not knowing what to order. "Sure." the waiter replied and walked away.

"Do you even know what I've ordered?" he asked, "Nope, I didn't even know what was on the menu," I replied honestly. "Come here..." he said, raising his arm and bending his neck back.

"Come where?" I asked, packing the tablet back into my purse. "Just take my hand." 

I kept my hand in his. He gripped my hand gently and pulled me towards him. "What are you doing?" I ask between laughter. "Bringing my girlfriend closer to me..." he said and jerked my hand in a way I ended up sitting in his lap.

My eyes go wide and I felt blood rush up to my ears and cheeks. "What are you doing?!" I whisper fearing his eardrums will be damaged if I scream. 

He slid his arms around my waist. My back touching his front with his chin on my shoulder. "I already told you..." he whispered in my ear.

"Come on Ekansh, we're in a public cafe!" I whisper-yell at him. "So what? No one is here," he said and I couldn't disagree. 

"Can we just stay like this for a while..." he asked in a low voice. "Sure..." I said, letting my back rest. His arms tightened around my waist as I moved my neck so he could rest his head comfortably.

~ 2,200 words.

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Phew! That was one long chapter alright!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I've thought of making this book about 70 chapters long and I was thinking of making it a duology with another sequel. I am not sure though. Just wanted to let that thought out.

Anyway, do comment your thought on the storyline so far. I'd love to know what you think is gonna happen. 

Also! I joined Insta! the username is the same as on Wattpad: @mycrazyscribbles and the name is 'thequenchiestcactuss' After I've reached about chapter 40 I'll start posting spoilers in reel format there so if you're THAT interested you can leave a follow.

Thank you so much for 1.5k views!

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Until next time
Lots of love <33333

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~ 2,303 words