Aryan

The past week has been nothing but an absolute bliss. I was so in love with Mia, though I have yet to actually say those words to her. I really wanted to, but I was afraid it might be too early and I might scare her off.

The last thing I need is for her to change her mind about me, thinking I'm taking things too fast with her. One thing about Mia is that she is a reserved person and she prefers to take things slow. I still remember how she reacted when I first moved into her house. The screaming and the crying. She hated me for invading her private space and she despised how she felt powerless and couldn't disobey her dad.

Everything happened too fast around her, giving her no time to process any of it. I felt her anxious behaviour kicking in as well as her depression. I barely saw her back then as she would always leave for work really early and come back right before me. It must have tormented her to the next level to have me living and breathing in her home like that, without her permission.

As much as I hated putting her in such a situation, I believe it was for the best because now so much has changed between us and I wouldn't have it any other way although a part of me did wish that we met under much better circumstances.

I was halfway through my morning rounds today, checking in on the patients and one of them was Annie, she once again reminded me about her will and that I needed to sign it soon. I was going to talk about it to Mia today as I made dinner plans with her. Tomorrow was her birthday, so I made dinner plans with her tonight because Nina told me that Mia always spent her birthdays at her parent's place, so I thought it would be a good idea to celebrate it with her today and let her be with her family tomorrow.

"I'm not getting any younger Aryan, you have to sign the will quickly."

"Are you sure Mrs. Shen, you look like a model today." I briefly checked her charts and everything looked normal.

"Hush now Aryan, don't tease me like that, though I do pray I become a very pretty model in my next life." She laughed a little too hard and then started coughing.

"Annie please don't exert yourself like that." I quickly went to her side and gave her a glass of water.

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

She lay back down on her bed and I walked out of the room and gently closed the door. I mentally debated on how I was going to talk about this to Mia and wondered what her advice would be. Mia was a bright and intelligent person who knew the ropes around the business world, her input regarding this matter would be much needed.

After my first round ended, I made my way to the echocardiography lab where I would be performing several echocardiograms on some of the patients. Before I started, I explained the procedure carefully to each patient, so that they had an idea on what I am about to do so that they felt comfortable. I also asked if they had any questions in regards to this procedure so that there won't be any confusion after I have started.

Once I started on the procedure, I meticulously analysed the images, looking for signs of heart disease, valve issues, or other abnormalities. I consulted with the senior cardiologist to confirm my finds and discuss the next steps for the patients.

Next I headed off to the outpatient clinic, where I saw patients who have been referred for various cardiac issues. I reviewed their histories, conducted physical exams, and ordered any necessary tests. I also discussed treatment plans, lifestyle changes and follow ups from their previous visits.

The variety of cases always kept me on my toes. I did thrive in chaos after all and I loved it and perhaps that is why I was also drawn to Mia, she was chaotic in her own way. She was the challenge I craved for in my life. I always felt like something was missing in my life until she came barging in. I still remember when I first met her in the emergency ward. Her tiny unconscious body lying down on the bed with her wild hair splayed across the bed and the nurses were rapidly giving me information about her. I may have saved her that day but sometimes I feel like it is the other way around. The moment those dark brown eyes landed on me I knew I was done for it. She was the missing piece to my puzzle.

It was already 5 by the time I was done for the day. I traded shifts with Doctor Cassie this one time and promised I would replace it as soon as possible. I was so glad she was super understanding about it.

I dashed out of the hospital once I clocked out and Ragnar was already waiting for me. He drove home fast like a mad bat upon my insistence. I had to get home quickly and start cooking and baking.  I planned to make something special for her, so I decided to prepare a healthy and delicious meal for her. It took me two days to figure out what I can do and finally decided on quesadillas because I still remember how she said she loved the ones Nina always made for her.

I also decided to make her a butter cake with vanilla frosting. I googled and watched so many videos about how I could decorate her cake and decided on a simple white frosting with pink flowers.

When I reached home, I ran to the kitchen and I saw Nina had already prepared the ingredients for me, now all I had to do was just start cooking them. I turned on the stove first and placed the pan on top, poured some oil and waited for it to warm up. Then I slowly started adding in the ingredients together. The chicken, bell peppers and onions. I sauté them for a while in the oil until they turn soft and slightly caramelised .

I further proceeded to add some salt, pepper, chilli powder, onion powder and dried oregano to bring out the flavours and it started to smell really good.

After 10 more minutes I was done with my filling. I took out another skillet and placed it on the stove and left it on medium heat. Once it was hot enough, I added some butter and swirled it around, making sure the entire pan was coated.

Next I placed a tortilla on the heated pan, sprinkled a generous amount of shredded cheese over the tortilla and allowed it to melt a little. When the cheese started to melt, I placed the filling on it gently and folded the tortilla over and pressed it down on the spatula. I cooked it for another 5 minutes, until both sides of the tortilla turned golden brown and the cheese had already melted. When the quesadilla was thoroughly cooked, I removed it from the pan and placed it on the plate, allowing it to cool down for a minute before I cut them into wedges. While I was busy making the quesadillas, Nina made the salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

I cleaned up the kitchen and then started on the cake batter. I mixed the butter, flour, eggs, sugar and the other ingredients together. When I was done with the batter, I poured it into the tray and placed it into the oven and baked it on high heat. I then proceeded to prepare the vanilla frosting and it only took me about 10 minutes to get it done.

"Okay that looks good." I was satisfied with how the frosting turned out.

"Nina, I'm done with the frosting, the cake is in the oven. I'm going to take a shower and change. Please make sure Mia doesn't come into the kitchen, distract her as much as you can."

"Don't worry, Aryan. Albert has got that part covered." Nina assured me.

I went back up to my room, showered and got ready. I checked the time on my watch and it showed 6.30.p.m. Mia should be here anytime. I messaged Raymond to take the longest route home, so that should have stalled her for a bit.

I came running down and headed back into the kitchen to start decorating the cake. I saw Nina just taking the baked cake out from the oven and placed it on a mat. The cake looked amazing, I just hoped it would taste as good as it looks. I waited for the cake to cool down a bit before I started applying the frosting on the cake. I tried to make it look as beautiful as possible and I think I did a pretty good job. I was a pretty decent baker but a terrible decorator. I just hoped Mia wouldn't be too upset about how I decorated it.

After I was done decorating the cake, Nina helped me to hide in the refrigerator. All I had to do was keep Mia distracted the whole time, so that she doesn't accidentally open the refrigerator and see the cake.

It was already 7, and Mia should be back any minute. Right on cue, I heard her voice when I walked towards the front door. I saw Mia's standing at the doorstep talking with Albert and Shvan and Toffee were demanding pets from her. I'm so grateful for these 3. They always knew what to do at the right place and time. I walked up to her and she instantly hugged me.

"Hi,fiore. Glad you made it in time." I kissed her lips.

'Hmm.... you smell so good." She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me again.

"How was your day, fiore?"

"It was okay. Though traffic was horrible. Raymond had to take so many detours."She sounded displeased.

"Hahaha, traffic these days right."I chuckled nervously. Hoping she never finds out that it was my plan to delay her ride back home today.

"You must be really hungry, come on now I made one of your favourites."

Her face instantly lit up when I said that.

"What did you make?" She asked me and followed me to the dining table.

I brought her to the dining table that was already set up and decorated beautifully with candles and flowers. I helped her to sit down and the maids brought out the quesadillas and placed them in front of her.

'Did you make these?" She stared up at me with her big beautiful brown eyes. A sense of excitement was evident in her voice.

"Yes."I was blushing when I said that.

'Wow, they look amazing..... and smell really good. Aryan, I can't believe you made these for me."

I sat down next to her and served her the quesadillas . I watched her eat while I anticipated a response from her. I swear if the quesadillas aren't good, I would just jump into a lake and never cook again for the rest of my life.

"Omg.....hmmmm they are soooo good." She moaned while she ate and I sighed in relief. Thank god.

"Here Aryan have some." She placed one on my plate and we ate together happily.

"Aryan I didn't know you knew how to cook."

"I'm no pro but you know I lived alone all my life so I had to learn how to cook and over the years I mastered a few recipes. I'm not as good as you or Nina though." I admitted.

"Please, this is amazing. Don't discourage yourself like that."She patted me on my head.

"I'm just glad you like it or I swear.... I would have jumped into a lake or something."

She laughed out loud at my words and it was so infectious I joined her.

"I would like to see you jump into the lake.... Oh that would truly be a sight to behold." She continued laughing.

"Yeah I'm very sure you would enjoy it." I'm sure it would bring her the utmost joy to see my jump into the lake, hell she might even push me into it.

"I enjoy every silly thing you do. It brings me the greatest joy Aryan." She pinched my cheeks and I held her hand and kissed it.

"Mia, there is something I need to talk to you about?" I braced myself to discuss about the will with her.

"It better not be about my health. I swear I am taking care of myself, just as you expect me to."

"No no for the first time it isn't about your health, I mean I am happy you are taking care of yourself. This is.... something else. It's about me."

"Here read this." I took out my phone and showed the email Avinash sent me about the will. Mia scanned the contents of the will thoroughly. She raised her eyebrows and looked at me and then and back at the email again. After a few minutes she placed my phone down, took a sip of the wine and contemplated on what to say.

"She wants you to sign this?"Mia questioned with a sceptical look plastered on her face.

"Yes."

"By when?"

"Before she dies."

"Hmm, I see."

"Is something wrong?" I started feeling uncomfortable all over again.

"A lot of things can go wrong for you if you do sign the will." She sipped on her wine while scanning the contents of the will again.

"Yeah I had a feeling..... That is why I hesitated in the first place."

"There are many risks you could face from tax liabilities to potential threats from other parties who have an eye on her wealth. They could put you in danger." Mia sounded concerned. "I know Annie Shen, my grandparents are quite acquainted with her. She is the late wife of Hong Min Shen, the founder of the company. The largest exporters in Asia and if there is one thing I know about that family is that, they are all party freaks who had a knack for spending money like water and some of the family members were also involved in some scandals."

"Don't sign it yet, let me have a word with my lawyers."She pursed her lips and cursed under her breath.

Her attention to details and the way she explained and understood things is what makes her a good leader. I am so proud and lucky to have her as my soon to be girlfriend. I smiled at the thought of Mia becoming my girlfriend. I would brag about it forever. I must have done some good in my life to end up with her.

"You are right. I was hoping you would help me out because this whole situation was just so bizarre and frustrating for me to deal with. It is a huge unnecessary responsibility for me. You made a valid point there."

"Good now is there any way I can meet Annie Shen, there are a few things I would like to discuss with her in regards to this matter."

"You can come by around 1 in the afternoon next Monday."

"1 sounds good."Mia downed her wine.

"Woah slow down there, I don't want to get you drunk." I tried to take the glass away from her but she moved her hand away from me.

"Why not it's Friday night and I wanna get drunk with you and have some fun." She poured another glass and I had to stop her and she pouted.

"We can have fun after.... 12. Yes we can have fun after 12." I checked my IWC Shaffhausen watch and saw the time it was only 9p.m.

'Why do we have to wait till 12?" She whined.

"Because I said so." I told her strictly.

"And you think I am going to listen to you." She crossed her arms and stared back at me with her usual icy glare which I am used to by now.

"Your glares don't work with me, now go and take a shower, you stink." I scrunched up my face and she was offended.

"Excuse me, I dont stink okay. I smell like a beautiful flower."

She was right, she actually did but I wasn't going to admit that to her. I just had to keep her distracted till 12 and then she can get drunk as much as she wants. I mean not as much as she wants because she has a heart condition, maybe just a little tipsy.

I forced her up from her chair and dragged her ass to her room where I pestered her to take a long shower and I stood in front of the door so that she didn't try to escape past me.

After she took a shower, we both went downstairs to watch a Christmas movie. She put on the Polar Express and we watched it silently while Shvan and Toffee slept on the couch next to us.

Every now and then I kept checking my watch and I cursed if the time could move any faster. It was 11.50p.m by the time we were finally done. She was busy using her phone and I quietly slid away into the kitchen and took the cake out from the fridge. Nina and Albert brought out the candles, knife and lighter. She placed the 2 and 8 candles on her cake and lit it up, and we slowly walked towards the hall and waited outside. The moment the clock strikes 12 and we all walked in together singing 'Happy Birthday'. She was startled at first and then beamed with joy when she realised what was happening.

"Happy Birthday fiore, make a wish baby."I placed the cake in front of her and she closed her eyes and made a wish and blew out the candles and we all clapped.

She cut out a piece of cake and fed it to all of us.

"Guys thank you so much, who planned all of this?" She grinned.

"It was all Aryan over here. He made dinner, baked the cake and even decorated it." Nina excitedly revealed to her.

'You did all of this?" She started tearing up a little.

"Aryan.... I thank you. " She hugged me and cried.

"Fiore, are you okay why are you crying my love?" I cupped her cheeks and wiped off her tears

"I.... no one has ever done anything like this for me. Planning a whole dinner and surprising me with cake on my birthday. Oh baby.... I love it."

"This is the first time I am celebrating with you and I wanted it to be a memorable one, fiore." I kissed her tear stained cheeks.

"Best birthday ever... I will definitely remember it for life." She chuckled and hugged me again

"I decorated the cake by the way."

"No wonder it looks messy." She laughed and I was offended.

"Hey, I tried my best, okay." I tried defending my skills.

"Kidding, it looks lovely." She looked up at me with her beautiful dark brown eyes. Gosh I could stare at them all day.

"I'm having dinner at my parents' place tomorrow, please join me. I don't want to go there alone." She pouted and I couldn't say no to that adorable face.

'I finish around 8pm. tomorrow. I will be there but a little late, will that be okay fiore?"

"Perfect."

"Now where is my gift? It's not exactly a birthday without a gift."

"It's upstairs in my room, follow me."

We went upstairs together back to my room and I made her sit on the bed with her eyes closed.

"Hurry up Aryan, are you going to make me wait all night?"

"Patience is the virtue, my love."

I walked to my cupboard and took out a dark blue leather box from under the pile of clothes. I bought this gift for her many weeks ago after she came back from Bali. I was feeling nervous to actually give it to her. 'What if she didn't like it? Not up to her standards? You are dumb Aryan' My mind was saying a million different negative things and I had to flush those words down. I closed my eyes, manned up and sat down next to her. Her hands were still on her eyes.

"Can I open them now?"

"Y-yes."I gulped hard and she opened her eyes. She looked down at the tiny box in my hand and back at me with shock plastered all over her face. She took the box from me with shaky hands. Why did she look nervous though?

" Go on open it." I was practically holding my breath while she unboxed it.

She took the box from my hand and opened it revealing a beautiful platinum ring from Graff nestled inside with the initials MA engraved onto it. She took out the ring and examined the details before sliding in onto her finger.

"Aryan I love it."She jumped on me and we both fell back on the bed.

"How did you know my size and the engraving? It's so cute."

"I might have rummaged through your closet and pulled out a ring from one of your drawers and boy do you have really tiny fingers and the engraving well I wanted you to always remember me. So I placed my initials next to yours. I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I mind? This is the most thoughtful gift I have ever gotten."She looked back at the ring on her finger in awe, her eyes were twinkling with joy and I couldn't help but just stare at her with so much of love in my heart for her.

"I'm very happy you like it."

"Best birthday ever." She straddled me and bent down and kissed me.

I spun us around and now I was on top of her.

"You're the best damn thing that ever happened to me." I kissed her back.

The night ended in us draped in each other's arms. All sweaty and out of breath after we made love to each other. She was sleeping next to me, her head on my chest and my arm around her bare waist. I looked down at her, her lips were slightly parted and she mumbled something in her sleep. It was adorable. I placed a gentle kiss on her head and closed my eyes and my heartbeat matched hers in slow rhythm and I fell asleep. I want all my nights to end like this.