RAGHVANSH'S POV :

I continue to walk in the direction of my room as I hear Rizwan question, "so are you really not coming for practice tomorrow?"

Shaking my head in a no, I tell him, "of course not, Piha's here to meet me. Why would I leave her and go for mat practices which aren't even compulsory?"

He zones out for a minute or is probably shocked, "the fuck Raghvan. You never miss mat practices. I'm curious now, I need to know who this Piha is? Even Quadir was saying that she's cool and very intelligent you know."

Okay.

Quadir was complimenting Piha. That was good, at least they didn't hate each other or Haider did not ask Quadir to not talk to Piha.

That would have sounded very childish and immature and I'm sure Haider is not that kind of a person. Yet, I cannot bring myself to believe how he could comment on someone's relationship that way—especially when Roman was dead. I don't care if this is controlling her, but I am surely going to warn Piha to stay away from that guy. He's too rude and straight forward.

Anyway, getting back.

"I'm barely going to get 12 hours with her, so the next time you go to Chandigarh, meet her then."

He narrows his eyes at me, turning to his right only to swipe the card and get inside his room, "K—whatever. See you tomorrow then. Don't be too excited, we all know how much you enjoy photo shoots and interviews."

I roll my eyes at his words and I cannot even prepare myself for tomorrow or the entire season as its all going to be filled with shoot and interviews.

"Enjoy your night, Raghvan." The 29-year-old winks at me only to receive a glare.

I return to my walk towards my room.

But.

Fuck it.

Piha still has another 10 minutes to reach at Leela and anyway, it doesn't feel like I have that much patience within me to wait in my room. So, should I like wait at the hotel entrance-

That would be very dumb of you, Raghvansh. If someone spots you, you're going to get her into trouble too.

That does sound risky, so I have noting to do except go to my room and wait patiently.

I spot my room—causing me to sigh.

Why couldn't her flight land on time? Dammit.

I place the card against the scanner and push the door sighing. Taking my shoes off, letting my feet finally breathe. A familiar fragrance fills up my nostrils.

Piha??????

I instantly lift my gaze to see a pair of sneakers which do not belong to me.

She's here.

Passing behind the little pathway to the bedroom, my eyes light up as they catch the sight of the prettiest girl on this planet. She smiles nervously as she gets up, then walking forward as she hugs me.

No.

She did not just do that. The woman was already here, she pranked me and I shall get back at her for this.

I feel a face slightly move in my chest and hear a giggle. Well, she seems to have fun watching me all frozen this way.

Finally, I snap out of my daze as I realise what has been going on. Her body around mine shivers slightly, as of asking me to embrace her-which I do.

I let my arms go around Piha as I bring my chin down to place it over her head. My hands gently caress her mercury red hair as a sigh leaves my lips.

"You could've told me, Venus."

"No," she states then burying her head further. We stay in the state for a few seconds before she pulls back and passes me an innocent smile.

"Are you surprised?" She asks pretending to not know the obvious answer.

"Are you having fun seeing me making a fool out of myself this way?" The woman has the audacity to nod, then catching hold of my hand and taking my outfit into notice.

Her cheeks appear a little red before she says, "you look nice today."

"I look nice everyday."

A whine is heard before she sits back on the bed-pulling me to sit beside her, "how was the party?"

A giggle escapes my mouth as I turn sideways to maintain eye contact with her, "it wasn't a party, Pihu, but a simple dinner. And, yeah, it was fine. How was flight, how was day?"

"We can talk about all that later, Raghvansh sir. But, I'll just fill you up with it quickly. I was asleep the entire time-so yes, I didn't know what was going on."

That makes a smile appear on my face as I flick her forehead gently, "were you tired? Did you not sleep last night?"

"I slept no! It's just that I didn't want to be tired when I arrived in Delhi." I receive an explanation.

My hand reaches her waist, as I pull the girl and place her on my lap only to hear a surprised gasp.

A pair of arms are thrown around my neck as I hear her giggle.

"Good, not like I'll be letting you get any precious sleep tonight," I say only for the woman to widen her eyes. "I mean, we should go somewhere you know, I want to show you something."

Piha finally catches her breathe and passes me a curious glance, "where?"

A mischievous smile embraces my lips, "and why should I tell you that?"

"Ansh!" She hits my chest gently. Laughing it off I get reminded I need to give her that.

What? You may ask.

Hmm.

My eyes roll to her bare wrists and internally smirk. Well, guess she hasn't bought a new watch yet and she doesn't have to,

Because,

I BOUGHT ONE FOR HER.

But wait.

I'm afraid she might not accept it since she was resistive when I got her the hairpin from Malaysia and this being a wholeass watch.

Drifting my sight to the hairpin placed neatly among her hair, my heart warms up. She wears it everyday. Love of my life, literally.

Venus is never going to realise what she does to me.

"Ansh?" She says causing me to stare into her brown orbs as I hum inaudibly.

"Give me a second, Pihu," saying I wrap my arms around her and place her beside me. The girl widens her eyes as usual as I get up and move towards my trolley bag and wink at her.

Unzipping the bag, my hand travels to the corner and I pull the box out.

Walking towards her I see curious + surprised eyes thrown towards me.

"Close your eyes, Venus." I take a seat beside her.

"But-" placing my hand to cover her eyes I let out a chuckle.

Feeling her close it herself, I remove my hand and open the box only for the watch to fill my sight.

Beautiful.

Just like her.

Pulling her hand closer to me, I place the thing around her wrist and hear a gasp.

Shifting my gaze to her pretty as always face, a smile breaks out on mine.

Eyebrows furring in confusion, she cutely pouts saying eagerly, "what is it, can I open my eyes now??"

A 'no' slips off my tongue accidentally.

Raghvan you can stare at Piha all you want but this is not the right time, don't mess with the innocent girl.

Not my mind siding her too?? What have you done to me Piha?

I tug her hair behind the ear and caress her cheek. "You can now, Piha."

She stares at me as we don't move an inch. Her bright orbs twinkle shiner than anything I've seen, cheeks turning pink in embarrassment, she bites the corner of her lips.

Releasing them from the torture of her teeth, I see her blink nervously.

She looks away making me grin childishly. Does me being close affect her?

"What is this Ansh???" She finally looks at her wrist.

"It's a...watch, Venus? I tell her nervously. What if she doesn't like it or doesn't want to wear it.

You know she's not going to say that, Raghvan. Nothing like her. You're right...

"Who is this for?" She asks as if the most unobvious thing.

"For you obviously, Venus." I let her know.

Shaking her head in denial, she panics, "no..."

I watch her as she fiddles with the watch trying to remove it and I feel myself frown at the view.

"I told you not to-" my finger reaches her lips trying to silence the lady.

"Do you not like it, Venus?"

I get passed on a look of disbelief, "I do but..."

"That's all that should matter then, and it looks so pretty on you as if designed specially. Doesn't it?" I question her softly hoping she accepts it.

The female passes me a pointed look, "don't try to distract me Raghvansh Sir, why would you spend so much on me? I could've bought myself a watch right?"

I sigh.

"Why wouldn't I spent on you, Piha? You know how much you mean to me right, I just thought it would look great on you, heart."

Tracing her fingernails, she looks at everything but me.

"But it's not right Raghvansh..."

Running my fingers through her mercury red hair, I study face. I don't understand whether it's too much for her.

A sense of guilt passes through me, "do you feel uncomfortable, Venus? I'm sorry Piha I didn't mean to you know right, it's fine if you-"

I begin only for her to cut off my words, "you talk too much Ansh."

"Huh?" Is all that I'm able to say.

"You know I feel the most comfortable when I'm with you right? Nothing about you or related to you can make me uncomfortable. Don't ever doubt otherwise, okay?"

She makes me feel good every single time?

Piha trusts me so much, it's crazy. I don't even know whether I deserve it.

"Now that you've bought it specially for me, I'll take it okay, don't ever think of yourself like that." She smiles only for me to pull her to my chest as she stays still.

I feel a pair of arms go round me slowly as she giggles.

She really does mean the world to me, maybe my everything.

Can I love her more? Beyond this?

~

Author's note :

I know it's been a while, by a while literally 6 months.

I really don't know when it'll be possible for me to update next but hope it'll be soon.

Really sorry for all the delay, almost even unpublished for once, but guess it'll be better now.

Do let me know what you thought about this chapter, one after so long.

Please vote and take care!