Arranged to love

#22: You need to shave.

Chapter Twenty-Two: "You need to shave."

approximately two years  later...

Meera sighed as she closed her laptop. She was in her cabin. She looked at the clock that said nine. This was one of the earlier timings that she came home. Most of the time, she would only leave at around midnight.

She had taken over the company two years ago as planned by her father. As the new leader and as a woman, she had to work really hard to prove herself. Though Meera hated it, age and gender played a big part in business.

The society may have become more outspoken in terms of gender equality but there were still many who viewed female leaders to be inferior and many were not confident in her as she was 'young' and inexperienced so Meera made sure to do her work perfectly so that no one can hold anything against her.

It was hard. She had expected it, but it was still hard. Being the successor of such an influential businessman and the responsibilities that came with it were tough. She could barely set aside time for her friends and family.

It had been almost two months since Ajay and Meera had met. They talked once in a while but the frequent business trips she took and the long hours in office made it almost impossible for them to spend time together.

Even though Ajay was a little sad that he couldn't see his fiancé much, he never showed it to her. She was doing her best to become successful.

She was strong and never told him even if she was struggling as she did not want him to worry but he knew.

He may not know much about business but he knew it was tougher than he could imagine. The pressure and discouragement from others is not easy to overcome.

Hence, he just made sure to call or text her often, remind her that she was doing well.

For Meera, his calls were what always cheered her up. It could be simple 5-minute call or a single text that wished her to have a safe flight, a reminder to sleep early or a simple 'I miss you'. It always brightened her day.

He was busy as well, being a professor. He recently had gone to London to attend a seminar when she was in Los Angeles for a conference.

In short, life had turned hectic for the couple in the past couple of years.

Meera trudged in her house tiredly. Not only was she exhausted from work but she also missed the two of the most important men in her life.

Varun was in France for inspiration for his upcoming project. Ajay was also really busy as the year end exams were close and he was the professor for the graduating class which made it more stressful.

"Meera di?" Vijay called out as he heard footsteps in the house.

He was the only one in the house. Her father had taken her mother to Las Vegas on a vacation.

After years of being a workaholic, he had slowly started to become a romanticist after the stress of the responsibilities left him as Meera had taken over.

"Yea it's me" she called out and walked into the quiet lounge where he liked to study. Though all of them had a study connected to their rooms and had a common library in the house, Vijay for some reason found the lounge to be more conducive.

Meera sat down on the couch, Vijay immediately resting his head on her lap as he held a book up in his hands. Meera smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

Though he was out of university, his studying never stopped as his aspiration was to become a neurosurgeon. He was now a Resident at a hospital.

"It's really hard huh?" she asked.

"Yea Di, it's all really tough" he replied, putting the book down as he sat up and rested his head against her chest as he hugged her.

"Don't worry sweetheart. You can do this, even if you trip, I'll be there to hold you and encourage you to keep going because I only want you to be happy. If this is what will make you happy, then do it" she comforted him.

"Thanks Di, you always know what to say. I love you"

"I love you too" she replied, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

She smiled as she noticed his black hair which was dyed in burgundy highlights. He, like his sister, loved to dye his hair.

"Oh I completely forgot, Ajay bhai is in you room. You better go up, I'll get Mary to give you your dinner upstairs" he said. Meera's face brightened up as she sprang up from the couch.

"I know the walls are soundproof but please place a sock on the door in case I walk in on you guys" Vijay teased, dodging the pillow that Meera threw at him.

Meera practically rushed up the stairs and walked over to her room. She pressed the button next to the door which slid open immediately and closed after she entered the room.

There he was, sitting on her bed, his legs outstretched, glasses on as he seemed to be reading a report. He was just in a pair of ripped jeans and a plain green T-shirt but he managed to look hot just like that.

He looked up to see Meera walking in, the business suit on her body making her look professional and charismatic.

He didn't say anything and stood up instead. It took him three strides to reach her as his face leveled up with hers.

He didn't say anything and neither did Meera. They just gazed at each other, words unable to form after not seeing each other for so long.

Meera was about to break the silence when Ajay's lips crashed onto hers.

Meera dropped her bag as she kissed him back, her arms around his neck. Ajay deepened the kiss as he angled her head to his, biting down on her lip. The frustration of not seeing her was so expressive in the way he kissed her.

"I missed you so much" Meera whispered as they broke apart. Ajay rested his forehead against hers as he replied.

"I missed you more,"

"Have you eaten?" Ajay asked. Before Meera could reply his question was answered as Mary, their head housekeeper, brought in a plate of naan with butter chicken curry and a glass of warm water, all placed on a tray.

"Come on let's get some food in you," Ajay said dragging her to the sofa in front of her television and placed the tray of food on the coffee table.

He dipped a small piece of naan and dipped it into the curry and brought it to her mouth. She smiled as she ate with Ajay feeding her.

The couple had gotten very domestic and comfortable with each other. On the occasions where he would come see her, he loved to baby her. She only allowed him to take care of her and he gladly did it for her.

"When are the exams ending?" Meera asked as she came out of her walk-in closet.

After her dinner, she had taken a shower while Ajay waited for her on her bed. She settled close to him, resting her head against his shoulder.

Her hair was still damp but he didn't seem to mind as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Two more weeks, then I'm all yours for the next two months," he said, making her smile.

"Any business trips?" he asked as he hugged her close to him.

"Yea, I need to go to Los Angeles soon" she said, her smile switching to a frown.

"I don't want to go..." she whined like a kid as she pouted. Ajay chuckled. He cherished those moments when Meera acted like that. It was a side of her she only showed him and he treasured that.

"I'll go with you," he said, kissing her pout, making her instantly smile again.

"You will?"

"Why not?"

"But what are going to do when I'm busy?" she asked.

"I'll wait for you to be back," he replied simply.

"You're the best, Ajay" she said honestly, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"You need to shave," she said disapprovingly as his stubble poked her, making him laugh.

"Yes milady"