120.
It had been a week since Yug had arrived in London, and he was already mentally exhausted.
He had come here to meet the investors. Yug owned a luxury hotel company in India, and after successfully establishing it, he wanted to expand the business overseas.
But the investors had made one condition clear-they wanted Yug to stay in the UK and personally supervise the project. For months.
Months away from Ravi.
Yug hadn't signed the deal yet. He was caught in a dilemma, because this wasn't a decision he could make impulsively. It was a decision that could shape the future of his company. And also his future with Ravi. Since Ravi's mother brought up the marriage thing, Yug couldn't stop thinking about it.
His phone rang on the table, pulling him out of his thoughts.
A message from Roy.
Yug opened it.
There was a video.
He played it.
It was Ravi, working out at the gym. He was lifting weights, and Roy had very conveniently zoomed in on his arms. Ravi's veins stood out against his skin as he lifted, his muscles tense with every movement.
Yug stared at the screen.
When the video ended, he replayed it.
This time, he found himself paying more attention to Ravi's face-the beads of sweat slipping down his forehead, the way his jaw clenched with effort, the concentration in his eyes.
His biceps were huge.... Too huge....
Yug watched silently until the video ended again.
And then Ravi's name suddenly appeared on his screen.
Yug jumped slightly in his seat, as if he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.
He quickly composed himself and answered.
"Ravi."
"You called?" Ravi asked.
"Yeah, I did. Were you busy?"
"Yeah," Ravi replied. "Where are you?"
"I'm at the office building." Yug leaned back in his chair. "Getting quite bored here."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right here." Yug paused before adding, "Umm... can you do something for me?"
"Sure. What is it?"
Yug glanced at the window.
He already knew what he was about to ask was probably impossible. But he said it anyway.
"I want you to come here."
"Why?"
Yug frowned slightly at the question.
"I mean... we could be alone here for some time. I thought it'd be nice."
"I can't. I'm already busy."
"I know." Yug tried to sound casual. "I was just saying. Anyway, what are you doing now?"
"I'll talk to you later."
The call ended.
Yug stared at his phone for a few seconds.
Ravi was behaving strangely.
And Yug really didn't need that attitude when he was already stressed enough.
He pushed himself out of his chair and walked toward the window. Outside, London was buried beneath the cold of November. The sky was grey, and the streets looked even colder through the glass.
Yug took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag.
He stood there by the window, staring at the city without really seeing it.
His thoughts kept circling back to the same question.
The investors.
The project.
Months in London.
And Ravi.
For the first time since coming here, Yug wondered if expanding his business was really worth being away from him.
Suddenly, someone wrapped an arm around Yug from behind.
"What the-" Yug jerked in surprise and turned around.
His eyes widened.
"Ravi?"
"What's up, Mr. Businessman?" Ravi said casually.
For a moment, Yug simply stared at him, as though his mind was struggling to catch up with what he was seeing.
Ravi was actually here.
In person.
Before Yug could say anything, Ravi took the cigarette from his hand and crushed it beneath his shoe.
Then he looked back at him.
Yug couldn't help staring.
Ravi looked different. His freshly cut hair suited him surprisingly well, and his beard made his features look sharper. Yug noticed Ravi put some effort into dressing himself up.
"Huh." Yug shook his head, still trying to process it. "You asshole."
"Great way to greet someone," Ravi said, amused. "I don't know what I'm more intimidated by-you or your glasses."
Yug immediately pulled his glasses off.
"No, put them on," Ravi said. "You look pretty."
Yug obeyed at once and put them back on.
Then he looked at Ravi's head again.
"You-you forgot to bring your hair?"
Ravi smirked.
He rubbed the back of his head. His old haircut was back-the familiar military-style buzz cut he'd had for so long. He had recently tried growing his hair out, but apparently that experiment hadn't lasted very long.
"Is it bad?" Ravi asked.
Yug reached up and gently ran his fingers through the short hair.
"No. It's good." He smiled. "You're looking good."
And he meant it.
Ravi looked more masculine. He always was. But he looked hot.
Ravi's smile faded slightly when he noticed Yug's eyes.
They were red.
Tired.
He reached up and gently held Yug's face for a moment.
Yug closed his eyes briefly, letting himself relax at the familiar warmth. When he opened them again, he looked straight at Ravi.
"Fuck you," Yug muttered, his voice quieter now. "I-I thought you were mad at me."
"For what?"
"I really don't want us to be apart." Yug swallowed. "I'm sorry if I made you feel like I wanted that. And you weren't talking much either this past week."
Ravi was quiet for a moment.
Ravi pressed his thumb against Yug's lower lip, rubbing the soft flesh until it flushed a deep pink.
"And I shouldn't have talked to you like that."
He slid his hand beneath the heavy fabric of Yug's blazer. His palm found the warmth of Yug's stomach, skin sliding against cotton. His fingers then gripped the curve of Yug's waist.
"You lost some weight too, little rat."
Yug stepped a little closer, still looking at him with disbelief.
"Kab tak ho tum yaha?"
"Hum aapko apne saath le jaane aaye hain," Ravi replie.
Yug nodded slowly.
"Let's just stay here for a while, if you're not busy."
"As you wish."
Yug smiled, his dimples appearing immediately.
Ravi looked at him for a moment. He was dying to see them.
"Haiye, Mashallah," he whispered.
He leaned closer and pressed a brief kiss to Yug's forehead. Yug massaged Ravi's temples with his thumb. Ravi then put his face closer to Yug's neck and smelled it. Yug closed his eyes.
"Yeah, totally! Did you just see his face? Oh my goodness-"
A woman's voice suddenly came from behind them, followed by a burst of laughter.
Yug froze.
He slowly turned around.
Standing a few feet away were several of his employees, along with his manager and a couple of colleagues. Apparently, they had walked in at exactly the wrong moment. Yug wanted to fire them all. He gently pushed Ravi's chest.
Ravi, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered. He casually leaned against the glass window, his expression almost smug.
Yug cleared his throat.
Nobody said anything.
Then one of his colleagues exchanged a look with another.
Yug knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Hey, guys. This is Ravi..." Yug said, finally breaking the awkward silence.
The girls immediately looked at Ravi, their eyes moving over him.
"My boyfriend," Yug added, as his rubbed his ears.
Ravi's lips curved into a small, satisfied smirk.
"Oh, we saw him a lot in Udaipur," Yug's manager said, as though the introduction wasn't news at all.
"And we also know he's your boyfriend," another woman added.
Yug blinked.
He looked at her, then at his manager, and finally back at Ravi.
"How?"
"He told us himself," his manager answered casually.
Yug stared at Ravi.
Ravi simply shrugged, looking far too pleased with himself.
"Oh..." Yug nodded slowly. "Umm... wow."
The others exchanged amused looks.
"Anyway, we're heading to a restaurant," the manager said. "I guess you won't be joining us then?"
"Yeah, right." Yug shook his head. "You guys have fun."
They all nodded and began making their way toward the door.
"Have a great night, sir!" one of the women called, waving as she left.
Yug waved back awkwardly. But stopped when he realised what she meant.
The manager, however, stopped at the doorway and peeked back into the room.
"Oh, by the way..."
Yug looked at him.
"He threatened us."
He pointed at Ravi.
Before Yug could respond, the manager disappeared down the hallway.
Yug stared after him for a second before chuckling.
Yeah of course he did.
When he turned around, he found Ravi casually drinking his coffee.
Yug raised an eyebrow.
"That's mine."
Ravi took another sip.
"This coffee is as bland as the people here". He put the cup down. "Let's take you home."
"I'm driving you," he added.
Yug picked up his things. "You know the location?"
"Uh-huh."
The two of them walked out of the office building together.
The cold November air immediately hit Yug's face. He pulled his coat a little tighter around himself as they made their way toward the car.
"I like your hair, Ravi."
"Yeah?"
"Yep." Yug smiled. "See? I don't make fun of you."
Ravi glanced at him.
"I have hair, as you can clearly see. You were hairless. I couldn't help it."
Yug stared at him.
"Okay. What about my hair now?"
Ravi looked at Yug's longer hair.
Then a slow grin appeared on his face.
"Did I make fun of you so much that you decided not to get a haircut at all?"
Yug rolled his eyes.
"I thought I'd grow it out. Just for a change." He sighed. "But that's not the answer I wanted."
Ravi laughed.
"Well, you look good."
Yug smiled.
"And good for you," Ravi continued. "Enjoy it while you have it. You might end up like your dad."
Yug immediately hit him on the shoulder.
"Shut up!"
Ravi laughed.
Unfortunately, that was a very real possibility. Yug's father had never had the best hairline. His hair had started thinning when he was around twenty-five, and by forty, he was completely bald.
It was one of those things Yug had always been quietly terrified of.
"I like my hair," Yug complained. "I've been taking care of it since I was really young."
"You can't change genetics, you know."
"Okay, so you're going to make fun of me every day if I lose my hair?"
Ravi opened the passenger-side door for him.