Chapter 12
Reyansh
“What on earth?” I groan as the doorbell and my mobile phone ring at the same time. Lying on my stomach with my hand under my face, I squint at the clock on my nightstand only to see it’s six in the morning. I usually don’t get up until seven, and I definitely don’t expect visitors at this ungodly hour. I let out a sigh, already knowing who it is —the one person who knows all too well that I can’t refuse her, no matter the time or what she wants. Without bothering to answer the call or check the caller ID, I drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom for a quick morning routine. Once I am done, I make my way through the house and down the stairs to the front door.
Forcing a smile, I open the door to find my mom standing there, beaming at me as if I’ve been living on the other side of the world and she’s travelled across continents just to see me. My dad chuckles as she pulls me into a hug, greeting me in her trademark melodramatic mom voice.
“Morning, son. I’ve missed you so much,” she squeals, her eyes twinkling.
I look down at my mom and raise my eyebrows. “Seriously, Mom? We spent the whole weekend together, and I see you almost every day. Not to mention, we had dinner together last night. And now you miss me?”
“Hush, you won’t understand until you have kids of your own,” she quips, echoing the world-famous dialogue of every mom as she pushes past me and waltzes into the house. Dad and I exchange amused eye rolls before following her inside.
“Dad, how do you even let Mom play all these emotional wild cards of hers?” I ask as Dad goes to sit next to Mom on the couch, with me sitting across from them.
“Son, you should know by now that the key to a happily married life for every man is to always say your wife is right and agree with whatever she says without arguing,” he shrugs.
“Aren’t you two being a bit dramatic ?” Mom chides, her gaze shifting between us. “Can’t a mom miss her son and come to see him?”
I run a hand over my face. “Mom, I am sure you miss me, and I won’t argue about that. But I also know there must be a reason for your surprise visit. So, could you please cut the chase and tell me what it is? It’s way too early for mind reading.”
“You hit the nail on the head, son. Your mom definitely has something up her sleeve,” Dad adds, earning a glare from Mom before she turns her attention back to me.
“Son, I’ve got something planned, and I am sure you’ll love it ,” Mom says eagerly. I let out a resigned sigh, knowing it will be anything but pleasant.
“I don’t know, Mom. Last time you planned a surprise and asked me to come home, you had your dear sister waiting for me. And what was supposed to be a brief meeting turned into a seemingly endless ordeal of nodding, smiling, and pretending to be interested in Sobha Aunty’s stream of anecdotes and opinions on everything under the sun. I even had to miss an important client meeting, which led to a significant loss , not to mention the headache I suffered for the rest of the day.”
“This surprise is a good one. I am sure you’ll love it,” she counters back.
Knowing I can never escape my stubborn mom’s persistence, I ask, “What is it, Mom?”
“I’ve scheduled a meeting with the renowned interior designer in town,” Mom beams at me, glancing at her watch and then back at me. “ She’ll be here any minute to help us renovate your house.”
I look around my home, which has always been showcased in magazines with its tasteful done interiors—luxurious chandeliers, valuable paintings, elegant showpieces, all blending beautifully with the soft, light brown walls.
“What’s wrong with my house?” I ask, gazing back at her, confused.
“Men will be men,” she says with a shake of her head. “Son, you’ll be getting married soon, and we need to add a touch of femininity to your house to ensure Kavya loves it and feels at home here. In fact, we can include her in this discussion if you want.”
“Mom, you don’t quite understand the meaning of taking things slow and giving it time, do you? You need to hold your horses. Kavya hasn’t even accepted her feelings for me yet, and you’re already planning the wedding,” I state.
“Of course, I understand, and I am certainly being patient,” she argues, causing both Dad and me to raise our eyebrows. “Oh, don’t you two give me that look. Sometimes, a gentle push in the right direction and a bit of planning can work wonders,” Mom counters.
“Alright, Mom, have it your way and redesign the house, but I won’t be able to sit through the discussion as I have an important meeting I can’t miss. And please, leave Kavya out of this. Involving her will only push her away,” I say firmly.
“Got it, son,” Mom replies, not arguing this time.
I rise to my feet and go over to her, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. I need to get dressed for work now.”
She pats my cheeks affectionately . “Go get dressed while I fix your breakfast,”
“I love you, Mom,” I say to her as Dad pats my back and then squeezes my shoulder .
“Your mom can be pushy at times, son, but her heart is in the right place,” he says with a reassuring smile.
“I know, Dad,” I smile back at him. I am incredibly fortunate and blessed to have such amazing parents who always support me and prioritise my happiness above everything else.
“I’ll be right back,” I say before heading up the steps to my room to get dressed for the day, hoping that at some point of day I’ll get to meet Kavya. She is another vital part of my life that has now become an obsession.
???
As I wait outside her office , a smile spreads across my face when I see Kavya walking out. It’s six in the evening, and she’s finally done for the day. I made it a point to finish all my work just to have a few minutes with her before going home. Leaning casually against my car with my arms crossed over my chest, I can’t help but admire her beauty. Every time I see her, my heart seems to beat a little faster, captivated by her irresistible charm. Even now, dressed in a black formal suit, she still manages to make my pulse race. As her eyes meet mine, she shakes her head and smiles. Sure, some might say I’m acting like a stalker, but I couldn’t care less.
“Hi, stalker,” she greets me playfully as she comes to stand beside me.
“Guilty as charged,” I admit with a grin , enjoying the way her smile brightens.
“Do you even work at all? Or are you one of those bosses who just sit back and bark orders at employees?” she teases, leaning against the door of my car. Fuck! After yesterday, I was sure she’d put me back on her ignore list. But this playful side of hers sends my heart into overdrive. I don’t dare ask what’s behind the sudden shift in her mood. Instead, I’m overwhelmed by the urge to pull her into my arms, but somehow, I manage to keep myself in check.
“Nope, I’m not the bossy type,” I reply with a laugh. “And yes, believe it or not, I managed to get some work done in between my ‘stalking’.”
She nods, her cheeks turning pink as she glances around before returning her gaze to mine . “So, how was your day?” she asks, smoothly changing the topic.
“It was a bit dragged with back-to-back meetings. How about you?” I reply, attempting to keep the conversation light.
“I had a pretty hectic day, too, but it’s nice to finally be done and head back home.”
“ Have you always been passionate about marketing ?” I ask curiously.
“Yup, it’s been my dream for as long as I can remember, and I am lucky to have a job I love . Also, the money it pays is definitely a bonus,” her face lights up as she speaks. “What about you? Do you like handling your dad’s business, or did you step into it because it was expected of you?” she asks.
“I won’t lie to you. I took over my dad’s business to carry on his legacy and ease his responsibilities, but at the same time, I also followed my own passion by starting an IT firm, which I co-own with my best friend, Aditya.”
“You run two businesses?” she exclaims, her eyes widening in surprise.
“I do,” I confirm with a nod.
Her head tilts to the side, her smile growing wider. “Wow, that’s really impressive.”
With my gaze locked on hers, I can see the admiration shine in her eyes. Despite all the awards and recognition I’ve received in my career , her appreciative words add a whole new meaning to my success, making my chest swell with pride.
“Thank you,” I reply with a charming smile. “Maybe I can impress you enough to convince you to go on a date with me ?” I add playfully. She narrows her eyes and swats my chest, but I quickly wrap my hands around her wrists before she can pull away.
“You’re such a handful,” she says with a playful glare, trying to hide her smile.
I gently tug her closer, and she steps towards me, her sweet strawberry scent flooding my nostrils. Ignoring the havoc her closeness is creating within me, I say, “It’s something you’ll just have to put up with because, like I said, I’m here to stay, and I’ll never back off.”
She lifts her head and swallows hard, a hint of unease in her eyes. “I should go home. Aunty must be waiting for me,” she says quietly, stepping back and averting her gaze. My heart sinks. I don’t want her to leave, but I also don’t want to push her away.
“Okay, we’ll catch up later,” I say with a soft smile, hoping to ease her tension.
She nods and walks over to her car, just a few feet away. I continue to stand there, watching as she pulls out of the parking lot and drives off, contemplating how to break down the walls she’s built around herself . I ponder my next move, debating if I need to be more persistent or if I should give her the space she needs.