My slumber was gently interrupted by the warm, golden sunlight peeking through the window and onto my face. The breathtaking sight before me took my breath away. My baby was peacefully sleeping on me, her head nestled deeper into my chest, filling my heart with love and contentment.
She has a special fondness for sleeping on my chest, and I, in turn, cherish the sight of her serene face resting there. It's a sense of belonging, for she owns that sacred space. In truth, she owns every single cell of my body, and beyond that, she possesses my soul.
There are moments when I catch myself wondering if I'm falling for her, and then, without knowing why, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy at the prospect of falling deeply in love with her, with my Ruhani.
But then, memories of yesterday came flooding back, hitting me with an unsettling force. After Ronit left the office, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, compelling me to leave as well. But what left me stunned and reeling was the conversation I overheard - words that still lingered in my mind, refusing to be believed.
But my Ruhi has grown so remarkably mature. While I'm filled with pride, I'm also consumed by a sense of inadequacy. I've always yearned to protect her, to shield her from life's challenges, but this time, she instinctively protected me without me even realizing it.
I've always strived to preserve her innocent and carefree nature, a luxury I was denied in my own childhood. And though my past still lingers, I don't harbor regrets. Instead, I'm in awe of how remarkably Ruhi navigated the challenges, displaying a resilience that's truly inspiring.
Ab meri bachi sachh mein badi ho gyi hai.
(Now My little girl has really grown up.)
Thinking all of this, I gently kissed Ruhani's forehead and got up from the bed. As I have to meet with Mr.Singhania for something important. And also what's his behaviour with Ruhi. I have to find that also.
After doing my workout and completing my morning chores, I took a shower and headed downstairs for breakfast. And their sitting my family. Wait, except one guest. That Mr. Krishav Singhania.
What the fuck !! How dare he touch my Ruhani's hand. First he sat beside my sister and now he was touching my wife's hand. Now I am damn sure this bastard has a death wish.
Without wasting a second in a swift motion, I went towards Ruhani and pulled her towards me by grabbing her waist. She gasped suddenly but as soon she recognised me, her tension melted away.
"Exactly, baby, this is where you belong," I whispered dangerously in her ear, disregarding the presence of others. My gaze then shifted to Mr. Singhania, who was now smirking, and I shot him a piercing glare. Meanwhile, my baby was melting into my touch, her neck hair standing on end, sending a thrill of satisfaction through me at the undeniable spark between us.
After that, we sat on the table and ate our breakfast. But, this Singhania couldn't resist himself to open his gutter mouth. "I am quite impressed with your cooking, Ani. I must say, you have improved a lot." He said while looking at Ruhani. But when I looked at her, she was also surprised but masked her expression with her fake smile. "Thank you, Krishav." She said while gritting her teeth with a tight smile.
"I'm glad you approve, Mr. Singhania," I said, my tone laced with a mix of pride and possessiveness. "After all, she's my wife - Mrs. Ruhani Ritvik Agnihotri. Not some Ani or Annabelle." As I spoke, I discreetly placed my hand on her thigh under the table, staking my claim.
My hand on her thigh caught Ruhani off guard, and she jerked her head towards me, a flash of soft anger in her eyes. I gave her a gentle squeeze, and she subtly coughed, a delicate rebuke that only I could understand. I just smiled internally.
Ruhi's voice took on a slightly possessive tone as she addressed the table. "Bhai, you can't call my Ani...any Annabelle. And you, Krishav, Ani is just for me. Not for all of you." She shot us a playful glare, before turning to Ruhani with big, puppy-dog eyes. However, Ruhani refused to meet her gaze, clearly upset. But who am I to tell them. At the end they will patch up and kick me out of this mansion. So I have to stay in my limit in their relationship.
As I recalled that past incident, a warm smile spread across my face. I remembered Ruhi, then just 8 years old, standing before me with tears streaming down her face. "Ruhi beta, don't be angry with her. She's your best friend, isn't she? If she's telling you not to go with another girl, just listen to her," I had advised, trying to reason with her.
"But bhai, I was planning a surprise teddy bear for her birthday, and now she's upset because I did it with another girl," Ruhi had explained, her voice trembling.
I reassured her, "Okay, I'll talk to her. Don't cry, bete. Please? Otherwise, I'll have to take Ani's class, okay?" I had joked, feigning anger towards Ruhani.
Ruhi's response still echoed in my mind: "How dare you talk like that about my Ani! I won't talk to you!" But just then, Ruhani had appeared, her nose running, and hugging Ruhi tightly. "Ruhi, I'm sorry! I didn't know. Please forgive me, chuhi."
As they made amends, Ruhi had turned to me and said, "How could you even joke about taking Ani's class? I warned you!" And with that, the two of them had chased me around the house, determined to teach me a lesson.
I chuckled to myself, remembering how my mother had intervened, saving me from their wrath. That was the first time I had really talked to Ruhani, and I still recalled the way her tears mingled with her runny nose - so innocent, so perfect.
Lost in the nostalgia of that fond memory, a warm smile still lingered on my face. But as I snapped back to the present, my gaze swept across the dining, only to find everyone staring at me with wide-eyed astonishment, as if they had just seen a ghost. The sudden, unsettling silence was palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder what had caused their collective shock. But then I composed myself and started to focus on my eating.
Ruhi, still playfully sparring with Ronit, turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Kya baat hai, bhai? Aaj toh bada chehek rahe ho."
(You're looking quite pleased with yourself today)
I chose to ignore her teasing, instead announcing, "I'm heading to the office." As I stood up, I gave Ruhani a tight squeeze, then turned to Mr. Singhania. "Meet me in my office." With that, I swiftly exited the dining area, eager to escape becoming the target of their playful jabs.
After escaping from the teasing session, I slipped into my BMW and pulled out of the garage, heading towards the office. As I cruised through the streets, memories of my childhood with baby Ruhani came flooding back, hitting me with a wave of nostalgia.
Flashback
"Maa said, "Ritu, I've put Ruhi to sleep. Take Ruhani with you and walk her to her father. Mr. Sharma will meet you at the park and take Ruhani with him." She handed me Ruhani's hand, and I looked down at the little girl, who was still savoring her chocolate, with smudges of it on her face. She looked adorable, like a tiny chocolate queen.
I gently wiped away some of the chocolate smudges from Ruhani's face, and then took her hand, leading her out to meet her father. As we walked away, she turned back to wave at Maa, who handed her two more chocolates. Ruhani's eyes lit up, and she blew Maa a kiss on the cheek before skipping happily alongside me.
As we strolled along the road, Ruhani was engrossed in playing with her dollhouse, a thoughtful gift from Ruhi. But what she didn't know was that it was actually I who had painstakingly crafted the dollhouse, sacrificing a full night's sleep to get it just right. Ruhi had struggled to make it perfect, and I knew how much she wanted to give her beloved Ani the best gift possible, so I had taken it upon myself to bring the dollhouse to life.
As we approached the park, navigating through the dense underbrush, Ruhani and I were abruptly startled by the faint murmuring sounds of an animal. She trembled, poised to dart away, but I swiftly grasped her hand, holding her close. Suddenly, two small wolves emerged from the thicket, their coats smeared with blood. It appeared as though someone had attempted to confine them, but they had managed to break free, escaping their captor.
I took a step forward, intending to approach the wolves, but my heart skipped a beat as I realized Ruhani was no longer by my side. Fear gripped me, but my anxiety was short-lived. To my astonishment, I found Ruhani sitting calmly in front of the wolves, gently cradling one of them in her arms. With tender care, she began to caress their wounds, as if trying to soothe their pain.
I stood there, frozen in a mix of shock and pride, as I watched Ruhani tenderly care for the wounded wolves. Suddenly, she turned her gaze towards me, her eyes sparkling with a sense of calm authority. With a gentle nod, she beckoned me to come closer, her small hand gesturing for me to join her.
"Is there any first-aid centre for these puppies !! They are in pain." She said in her babyish voice and I melted their.
I carefully picked up one of the wolves, while Ruhani cradled the other in her arms. However, in the process, she struggled to hold onto her beloved dollhouse. Without hesitation, I gently took the dollhouse in my free hand, making sure everything was secure. With the wolves and the dollhouse in tow, Ruhani and I made our way to the druggist's house.
They treated them and gave them an injection. When they asked about our parents, we had no answers. She was just 8 and I was just 12. How could they give us the small wolves.
But as I gazed into Ruhani's tear-stained face, my resolve crumbled. Unable to bear the sight of her distress, I swiftly turned around and ran towards the park, leaving Ruhani waiting at the druggist's house. My destination was clear: I had to find Harsh Uncle.
"Uncle, uncle. Please come with me as soon as possible." I said to uncle and dragged him with me. Without asking any questions he started to run with me.
But when he saw two baby wolves playing with Ruhani, first he got scared and tried his best to make her understand that they are not some puppies. But Ruhani is Ruhani.
"Papa, he gave me the gift. This is a ge.gg-store. mana nahin karte isse papa." She tried to say 'gesture' but couldn't say it. As it was so difficult for her to say.
But when she couldn't convince through her conversation, she showed her biggest weapon. Her biggest puppy doe eyes with eyes full of tears. Even I couldn't resist those eyes, how could uncle resist.
"Uncle, please let them go with her. I will take responsibility for them. I will take them in medical every week. Please don't make her sad." I said to uncle and he was also convinced with my words.
After that uncle took Ruhani with but suddenly she came and gave a peck to my left cheek and ran away with her father.
Flashback ends.....
I still remembered the way she pecked me and ran from there. After that I took the wolves in the medical for 6-7 times, but when Ruhani was not there. As she couldn't make her distance with them.
But after that, I lost track of what happened next, and a lot of things unfolded in the meantime. I could only hope that Ruhani didn't remember any of those events, especially the part about her birthday gift. The thought of her being upset because I couldn't protect it was unbearable.
(But at that time, it was hard to protect myself...).
My brain started to give reason to me but I ignored them as I have already reached my office.
I stepped into my cabin and settled into my chair. After a brief moment, Mr. Singhania arrived, accompanied by my assistant, Kunal. Following a quick exchange, Kunal excused himself, leaving Mr. Singhania and me in the cabin.
"So how did you know, Priyanka Agnihotri?" I asked without wasting any time as I don't have to sugarcoat anything.
"Nothing. Just setting some old scores." He said while giving me a riddle answer so I don't want to further ask him anything.
"I wanted you to do something for me." I said while coming to the point.
"Not bad. But what will I get in return ?" He asked with the same intensity while setting himself on the sofa and crossing his leg.
"What do you want in return ?" I asked.
"Let's see your deal. After that I will decide what I want .." He said while smirking.
"I want you to pair our company with the HSR company." I said.
After listening to me, his smirk got wiped out for some time but again he masked himself. But I have already noticed that.
"And why will you think that I will do it." He asked in confusion.
"Because I am damn sure, you will want some help in the future. So think carefully,
Mr. Singhania." I said while tossing the paper stopage.
Looking at my face expression, he again asked, "you know right. After that you have to compete with them."
"That's what I want, so you better not alert the CEO of HSR Company. " I said with a teasing smile and about to get up from the chair.
"If I am going to do this deal, I have every rights to know the reason for this pair up." He asked while getting up from the sofa and his expression changed into a shocked one. He was trying his best to hide them, but this can't be hidden from me. I had done enough like this.
"Nothing. I just wanted to spend some time with my wife." I said while looking at him. And nothing comes from his mouth.
So I further added, "Actually my wife is working in that company. So I wanted to spend more time with my wife. Even we didn't have enough time to go on honeymoon, I wanted to spend some time with her in the UK."
"Does Ruhani know about this ?" He asked with an emotionless face yet with an astonishing face.
"Mr. Singhania, please come to the point of our deal. And about my wife, don't worry. This is our personal matter and I can make her understand everything." I said and went out from the room.
"Then keep this deal as a reminder. Because I am going to use it in future. So never forget about this." He said while coming from my cabin and left the company.
I know he's going to Ruhani now. Don't worry, Krishav Singhania. I just wanted to inform you, so you can break the news to my baby gently. I don't want her to be caught off guard by this sudden revelation.
I have enough members to complete my task. The letter and email has already been sent to my baby. The moment you reach there, she will get her letter.
Suddenly a notification pinged on my phone.
"Dear Mr. Ritvik Agnihotri,
We are thrilled to inform you that RS Group has been nominated for the prestigious 'International Business Awards'! Please accept our heartfelt congratulations on this outstanding achievement.
As part of this nomination, RS Group has been paired with HSR Company. We kindly request your cooperation with our team to facilitate a successful partnership.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Team Business World"
After looking at the email, I was happy..
"Your work is done." Arjun's message popped on my phone.
He agreed within a second as soon he realised that I wanted to spend my time with Ruhani.
And also he left for his company. So we can meet there also. Placing my phone in my pocket, I went towards the board room.
As I have to make an appointment with the CEO and for that our secretaries have to fix a meeting for us. I have to do everything perfect for my baby. I can't take risks, you know.
(Mann mein ladoo foote...)
.
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RUHANI'S POV
WHAT THE HELL... How could...
I was speechless, my eyes fixed on the email as if the words might change if I stared hard enough. How could they possibly pair our company with RS Group? We had no history of collaboration, no prior deals or partnerships. It didn't make any sense.
I sat at my desk, stunned, repeatedly banging my head against the file in front of me. The email and invitation had left me reeling. Just then, Krishav burst into my office, his words snapping me back to reality. "Your husband told me to pair our companies together."
I gazed at her with a bored expression, then turned to Anika, who handed the email to Krishav. "Sir, it's already done," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.
"But how could he...?!" Krishav muttered to himself, his words tumbling out in a bewildered stream. "He told me, and I came straight here to inform you... and in that time, he's already finalized everything. How did he even...?!"
I couldn't help but laugh at Krishav's incredulous questions. "You really think he needed you to get things done?" I teased, a hint of pride creeping into my voice. "Please, he has an entire team at his disposal. He only told you to keep you informed... or perhaps to keep you occupied." I smiled, confident in my husband's capabilities.
"Ayeee, pagal aurat. Zyaada udne ki zarurat nahin hai. Jab usse pata chalega na aap hii woh mahan debi hai jisne unke do deals chinhi thi, tab baith ke dono pati patni honeymoon bana na UK mein." Krishav said with a sly grin while looking at my proud expression for my husband. And then Anika left my cabin, as she didn't want to be part of this silly conversation.
(Excuse me. You mental woman. No need to fly high. When he finds out that you are the mahadevi who stole his two deals, you'll be the one planning a honeymoon trip to the UK with your husband)
My cheeks flushed instantly at the mention of 'honeymoon' and I felt a surge of embarrassment.
"Don't you have any work?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. I kept my eyes down, deliberately avoiding his gaze, trying to compose myself after the embarrassing outburst.
Krishav's voice dripped with sarcasm as he mimicked Ritvik's tone, "Your husband told me he wants to spend quality time with his beloved wife... since you both never got a chance to go on a proper honeymoon." He paused for dramatic effect. "So, he's planning a romantic getaway to the UK... just for the two of you."
I was taken aback by Krishav's cheeky impersonation, and before I knew it, I'd grabbed the file and flung it straight at his face. But he dodged it with a swift motion and I looked at him with a boring expression.
"Woah, you guys are playing without me .." Ruhi burst into my cabin.
But I remained unfazed, my expression a mask of calmness. Inside, however, I was seething. My anger had dissipated, replaced by a deep-seated concern. How could Ruhi keep secrets from me? What if something had gone terribly wrong? What if that woman had discovered Ruhi's whereabouts? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. How could Ruhi be so reckless?
As I gazed out the window, Ruhi snuck up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, giving me a tight squeeze. "Sorry, yaar Ani! Please yaar, maaf kar de. (Please forgive me)" she pleaded, her voice trembling with fake sobs. "I didn't mean to keep secrets from you. I knew you'd never agree to marry my brother if you found out. Kabhi shaadi hii nahin karti mere bhai se. Bechara kuanra reh jaata poori zindegi. Aur mein kabhi bua nahin ban paati. (The poor guy would've remained a bachelor forever! And I would've never become a bua!)" Ruhi exclaimed, her fake tears and quivering voice making me struggle to maintain a stern expression.
I attempted to maintain my composure, not wanting Ruhi to see me blush. But she was relentless, her fingers dancing across my sides, giving me tickling feelings . I tried to hold it in, but it was no use. Her tickling was too much, and I finally surrendered, bursting into a fit of laughter alongside her as I couldn't hold my laugh longer and burst together.
I turned to Ruhi, embracing her tightly, and she reciprocated, holding me close. We both got emotional, the tension and laughter melting away. "Aage se agar kuch chupaya na toh kheech ke thapad marungi, sidha jaake mangal graha mein padegi tu."
"If you ever hide anything from me again," I whispered, my voice trembling, "I'll slap you silly and you'll land straight on the planet of Mars.)
I playfully demonstrated a slap, but instead of flinching, Ruhi gently kissed my palm.
Krishav gazed at us, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "You can become a bua, Ruhi, if your bhabi ji agrees to accompany your dear brother on a romantic honeymoon getaway to the UK," he teased, breaking into a playful song. "After all, your beloved brother is eager to spend quality time with his beloved wife..." Krishav's voice trailed off, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched us.
Ruhi's eyes locked onto mine, filled with curiosity. I filled her in on the entire conversation, while Krishav chimed in with details of his meeting with Ritvik. As the story unfolded, Ruhi's expression transformed, and she suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter. She doubled over, holding her stomach, her giggles echoing through the room like a stand-up comedy show. I stared at her, bewildered, my eyes wide with disbelief. What was so funny?!
Just as I was about to explain things to Ruhi, a knock at the door interrupted us. "Come in," I called out. The door swung open, and Anika stepped inside, her face etched with worry and tension. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in Ruhi's amused expression and Krishav's smirk, before finally settling on me.
"Ma'am, I have Mr. Agnihotri's secretary on the line," Anika said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "He's scheduled a meeting with you to discuss the collaboration, and Mr. Agnihotri is on the call, waiting to speak with you." She held out her phone, her eyes locked on mine, awaiting my response.
I was in shock and looked at her with dumbfounded. But Ruhi grabbed her phone and put the phone on speaker.
"Hello," a low, husky voice purred from the other end of the line, sending a familiar shiver down my spine. It was a voice I'd often found myself getting lost in, but not today. Today, I steeled myself against its allure, focusing on the task at hand. I had to convince him that this deal was doomed from the start, and persuade him to cancel our collaboration once and for all.
I was still in my position. But I got my senses back when Ruhi slapped my cheek.
"Hello" I said in a low voice, I don't want him to know my voice.
"Mr. Agnihotri speaking," he announced, his deep, smooth voice transformed into a cold, formal tone. "We need to schedule a meeting to discuss the details of our collaboration. As partners, it's essential we work together seamlessly." But despite his professional demeanor, his voice still had an unsettling effect on me. I felt my resolve weakening, my icy composure melting away like an ice cube exposed to warm sunlight.
I was so drowned in his voice that I forgot to say something. But this time, Ruhi put the phone in mute and said, "Pata hai tu latto hai mere bhai ke piche. But you are the CEO bro. Kuch bol. Aise putle ki tarah khadi ho jaati hai. Kya sochega mera bhai humare CEO ke baare mein. Deal cancel karna hai kar, rakhna hai rakh per kuch bol behen. Warna Mera Bhai sochega tu line maar rahi hai uss pe." Ruhi said to me while making me try to understand everything.
I looked at the phone and about to undone the mute, but the call was already unmuted. So I thought Ruhi had done this.
"But, Mr. Agnihotri. We never did any collaboration together. So how can you want us to work together. I mean we never dealt with each other. " I said to him while giving him the reasons to cancel the collaboration.
"Actually, Mrs.... I mean, Miss..." He paused, his voice trailing off as he awaited my response, completely unruffled by my earlier attempt to sidetrack him. "Sorry, but how should I address you?" His tone remained polite, yet detached, as if the question was merely a formality.
I didn't say anything as I am also confused about what to say to him. So he again said, "Actually Miss. I love challenges. And the way you stole our deals was commendable. So I wanted to work with my opponent, so that after our success I can compete with you again." He said with a hint of teasing and amusement lacing in his voice.
"How did you know that, you will get the success after this collaboration." I asked him with no expression yet so many expressions.
Here Ruhi and Krishav were giggling like a child who got enough reason to tease their other friend in the name of her crush.
He spoke in a slow, deliberate tone, "Because I trust my wife." His words hung in the air, and my heart skipped a beat. I instinctively turned to Ruhi and Krishav, expecting to see some reaction, but they were oblivious to the conversation. Lost in their own la-la world, they continued to tease and joke around, completely unaware of the bombshell Mr. Agnihotri had just dropped.
As he couldn't get any response from me, he said ,"Actually my wife also worked in that company. So I believed in my wife's capability." He said.
"Okay...I'll see. Thank you," I stuttered, struggling to form coherent words. Hearing my husband praise me, even if unintentionally, left me elated. I felt like I was walking on air, my heart soaring with joy. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, and I was still reeling from the pleasant surprise.
I was about to hang up the phone, but again Ritvik asked, "Miss, may I ask you a question?"
"Hmm. Go ahead." I said.
"Actually in which department my wife is working??" He asked and this time, Krishav and Ruhi's heads snapped to the call to look at me.
"Uhh... Umm. I guess in the financial department. Yes the financial department." I said while giving a fake laugh.
"Oh. But once she told me that she was the secretary. I guess you changed your employee's position quite." He said with a teasing line.
And here I caught in red handed, "No. I mean. You didn't even tell your wife's name. What is her name ?? I will see. " I said in my fake confident tone.
"Oh. Mrs. Ruhani Ritvik Agnihotri." He said with a price laced in his voice.
"Oh yes, yes. Ruhani. Yes, Mr. Agnihotri. She is my secretary. And she is going to fix our meeting." I said while laughing.
"Oh that's nice. But I'm happy to see that my wife had already changed her surname into mine. I am truly the luckiest one." He said and I have no words to say anything to him.
I hastily wrapped up the conversation, instructing him to coordinate with my secretary, which is going to be me. . He agreed, and we ended the call. As soon as the line went dead, I let out a deep breath, feeling like I'd been holding it in for eternity. "God, this man!" I exclaimed, my mind reeling. I couldn't believe how effortlessly he'd left me speechless, my usual composure shattered by his unexpected words.
The gauntlet had been thrown, and I was ready to face off against my own husband. But one thing was certain: this year, Ritvik would take home the Business award, no matter what it took. A spark of determination ignited within me, and I steeled myself for the challenge ahead. Bring it on, Dear Husband jii !!
As soon as I ended the call, Ruhi and Krishav pounced on me, teasing me mercilessly like a pair of mischievous teenagers. But I quickly regained my composure, reminding myself that I had a lot at stake. I couldn't afford to let my emotions get the better of me, not when the well-being of my dear Mr. Agnihotri was on the line. I had to be cautious, not for my own sake, but for his.
With renewed determination, I headed to the conference room, ready to put my plan into action. He had entrusted me with his everything, and now it was time to show him the true extent of his wife's capabilities. The Business award was as good as mine, and I couldn't wait to reveal my true identity to him on the day of the ceremony. For now, I would play the role of his mysterious business rival, and savor the thrill of the challenge. With a confident smile, I took my seat at the conference table, ready to finalize the schedule with my dear, unsuspecting husband.
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