"Zuri, you are still awake?" Advay asked her, more like scolded her when he entered their bedroom at midnight.

"I was waiting for you. You told me that you will return before the evening, but it's past midnight now."

At that time he didn't knew that he'll get to meet Amyra. Oh, just her thought brought a smile to his lips.

"Why are you smiling like this? Don't tell me you went to meet any mistress of yours."

Seems like Ziya has again started poisoning her mind against him. Okay, he understands that Ziya never wanted Zuri to marry him. He also understands that it's because of his long history of flings and stands. But can't she just see how much he loves her sister. It was a wrong decision to invite his brother to live in his house. His so-called sister-in-law will ruin everything for him.

"Why do you think I'll have a mistress?" He was dead serious while asking this question.

"I read few articles about you on the internet. It seems like you had a fair share of girlfriends and mistresses."

Okay, he exaggerated about Ziya being a troublemaker. This time it wasn't her.

"I agree but that was before I met you. I swear I stopped it after our marriage."

"If you say so." But he could see in her eyes that she wasn't satisfied with his answer.

A question popped in his head.

"How did you read the articles?"

"With my eyes." Obviously 🙄

"That's impossible! You have trouble reading without specs."

"Oh, I had seen specs in a drawer of dressing table. And when I couldn't make out the words on the tablet, then I understood those specs are mine. Simple." Like she just solved a murder mystery like Sherlock Holmes do.

"Memory loss has made you smart." He pinched her cheek.

"Should I take it as a compliment?"

"No." He teased her.

"I wonder why I married you." She taunted him grumpily.

"Because I love you." His tone was ever so sweet.

"Honestly, I doubt that."

"Stop doubting." His expression turned grim but he hid it perfectly and ambled to the closet.

•••••••••••••••••••••••

When he came out Zuri was still wide awake.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" He asked casually while laying on the other side of the bed.

"I was just wondering how we got married."

"Why?" They got married just like other couples get married. 😌

"You had a one night stand with my sister. And I am sane enough to know that I would have tried my best to keep my distance from you."

"You are absolutely right."

"Then what happened?"

"You happened to be my secretary and I happened to be your boss. That's how things changed."

"And I was willing to work for you?"

"Not really. As much as I could guess at that time you were planning to work for a year, earn good salary and then find another suitable job for yourself."

"What stopped me from resigning?"

"My charms." He smirked.

"I won't believe that."

"Financial problems."

"That makes more sense."

Advay was somehow relieved that she was still the same innocent Zuri. Curious, confused and cutest.

He pulled her closer to himself, startling her. Hid her into his chest and closed his eyes.

"Advay, what are you doing?"

"Don't be so nervous, Zuri. I get good sleep when you are in my arms." His hands traced their paths on her back.

"But I want to know about us."

"Okay, what do you want to know about us?"

"Love? How love happened between us?"

"A fine evening we were supposed to attend a business party......"

•••••••••••••••••••••

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O

A fine evening they were supposed to attend a business party. Usually Advay attended such parties with Diva. She was a shareholder in his company, as well as his stepsister in the eyes of the world. His favourite part was when they would end up making out in the ride back home. But that evening Diva refused stating she had some urgent work. He had a doubt that this urgent work was related to his rival and ex-best friend Abeer Khanna. But he kept quiet.

Advay always had this one rule to keep his personal and professional lives separate. There was no chance that he would accompany any mistress of his, that was a ridiculous idea. He couldn't go alone, because the party had a couple theme. It would have seemed rude if he went alone. And the last and the best option was Zuri.

Firstly, Zuri had etiquettes. She never spoke more than needed and that somehow made her even better option that Diva. Because Diva will always end up having an argument with any spoilt rich woman.

Secondly, Zuri knows what she is talking about. And if she doesn't know she will opt to keep quiet instead of making a fool of herself, unlike many others.

Lastly, he knew most of the guests will simply ask her the meaning of her name. Well, he didn't ask her, but he searched it on Google.

And that's how Zuri accompanied him to the party. She was wearing a shimmery floor-length off-shoulder black dress. Her hair was straightened and lips were painted red. She truly described her name. Beautiful.

The party was boring to be honest. Zuri felt like a fish of the pond. But she managed to keep smiling at the silliest jokes of rich women. The one with purple lipstick said, "I am reading Picasso nowadays." Someone tell her Picasso was an artist, not author. And the one with lots of foundation pasted on her face said, "Last year I travelled to Europe, America was my favourite spot." I bet she was terrible in geography.

But suddenly her eyes collided with a pair of familiar black orbs.

Ziya.

And from the look on Zuri's face, Advay had a clear idea that the night won't end peacefully. But it didn't effect him, he had nothing to do with Mehra sisters and their problems.

Later that night when he was busy talking with his newest clients, he saw Zuri running to the restroom. And she was crying.

Just a glance on her crying face and he was following her. She looked so helpless.

He didn't mind barging into ladies washroom, because it's not the first time he did so.

"What are you doing here, sir?"

"Why are you crying?" He totally ignored her question.

"I need to fix my makeup." She lied.

"Zuri, do you really think I'll believe your words after looking at your teary face? Tell me, what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Did anyone misbehave with you?"

"No."

"Okay, anyone tried to insult you?"

"No."

"Wait, is it about your sister?"

She kept quiet and he took it as an agreement.

"What is it, Zuri?"

It was evident from the tears helplessly falling from her eyes that she was on the verge of her breaking point.

"She was kissing an old man." And she broke into tears.

Advay held her gently in his arms. He could understand what she could feel.

"It's her choice, Zuri. She has choosen this life for herself."

"No, she isn't doing it willingly. She wants riches so that I have a good life. She doesn't understand that I don't want it neither she wants. She says if she won't do this then both of us will have a life like our parents. Miserable."

"Someday she will understand."

"When? It's happening for years. When this is going to end?"

"Very soon." He cupped her face.

Something happened in that moment. Something magical.

Their eyes collided, so did their hearts.

But at the very moment the door collided with the wall and a woman entered the restroom.

"Oh, lovebirds, it's too cliche to romance in the ladies washroom." She smiled slyly.

Advay immediately took few steps away from Zuri and said, "It's not like that."

It was out of his character to defend himself for romancing. Okay, he didn't romance with Zuri, but he had done it with countless other women. Then why so nervous, Advay?

Maybe because Zuri isn't like those girls. She is very innocent.

"We should leave, Zuri." He whispered and got a nod as a reply.

Both of them left the restroom leaving the smirking woman alone.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

P R E S E N T   T I M E

"Zee kissed an old man?" Of all the things Zuri asked this mood-wrecking question.

Advay huffed annoyedly.

"Yes."

"You barged into a ladies washroom?" Like he didn't knew.

He groaned internally.

"Yes."

"You cupped my cheeks?"

He fisted the bedsheets to stop himself from shouting at her stupid questions.

"Yes."

"You didn't kiss me?"

"Ye- why?" He asked in s puzzled tone.

"You should have kissed me, at least at my forehead. It would have speeded the process."

"What process?"

"Our love process. I would have fallen for you at the moment you would have kissed me."

"Zuri, you would have beaten me with your heels if I had kissed you."

"No, at that time I wouldn't have minded it at all. I needed some sort of comfort. And a kiss wouldn't have hurt."

"You should have said it at that time, not now."

"That's right. I am sleeping now. Your storytelling ruined my mood. A playboy billionaire couldn't kiss his secretary. How pathetic!" She hit him with a pillow and laid down on his chest again.

"If not then, let me do it now." Saying so he flipped their bodies such that now he was hovering over Zuri.

"Hey, I just lost my memory!"

"But you haven't lost your lips, babe."

And he began kissing her and only stopped when it was dawn.

"I wonder why I love you." Zuri whined for hundredth time.

"At least you admitted that you still love me." He kissed her cheek.

And both of them finally slept peacefully in each other's warm embrace.

•••••••••••••••••••••
I hope you liked it.
🙂🙂🙂

And I have learnt to make story trailers. Not the kind of trailers professionals make, more like a PowerPoint. But I just found out that I can't share them on Wattpad.

So should I post them on my yet to be used Instagram account? Or Pinterest as well?

Do tell me so that interested ones could watch them.

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