Better Together | ✓

8 | conversation

Chapter 8 : conversation

Ruhaani looked around amazed. Frankly, she hadn't seen such a big house before, other than on a screen. The exteriors had bowled her over. To have a lavish lawn between the main gate and the actual building in one of the most premium areas in Delhi screamed luxury. The Sehgals had a rectangular lawn around the main structure and two gates. The spacious interiors multiplied her amazement. 

There were three rooms on the lower floor. Shelly Bua took one of the rooms on the lower floor, one was the guest room, and the third room was shared by Dai Jaan and her son. There were four bedrooms on the first floor. The siblings took one each, the twins sharing one. Other than that they had a multipurpose room with glass walls.

Aadarsh led her into that room after briefly telling her about the rooms. He closed the glass door as they stepped in. There was a long desk on one side with two office chairs. The room was spacious. It had a few closets. On the other end of the room was a treadmill with a few dumbells placed on a rack beside it.

"This is like a multi purpose room. Sometimes Nirvan and Mukti use it when their tutor visits. Sometimes Ashvi captures it for days together when she has projects to work on. On days, when we are lazy to go to the gym this serves as a makeshift gym."

Ruhaani nodded looking at the tainted French windows that were opened into a balcony. 

"That's the front facing balcony. It faces the main gate." He spoke as he saw her gaze drift to the windows.

"This house is huge." She voiced her thoughts.

"We designed it to be spacious."

"You built it?" She asked, glancing at him over her shoulder

"Yes, it was one of my early projects." Aadarsh answered. He followed her gaze to the ceilings. He had particularly participated in the choosing of the interiors as well. Maybe that would be too much information to share.

"What about the second floor?" She had noticed the stairs that led up but was surprised to see nothing but a wooden wall. The elevator also had the '2nd'floor button. 

"It's actually an open hall. Whenever there's a house party we have it there. We did have access from inside the house but then for security and privacy reasons we've blocked the entrances. One can only go to that floor from the steps and the lift outside." Aadarsh answered.

Ruhaani nodded. Perhaps it was the twins. They were still young. She couldn't imagine leaving Pari on her own in such a big house. She was used to knowing exactly where her daughter was and what she was doing.

"Third floor?" She asked curiously.

"That's the terrace." He answered precisely.

She nodded.

"You wanted to talk about something," he prompted when she began observing  the room. It seemed like they had run out of small talk.

"Hmm," she said looking around, wondering if she should move to the bean bags or take the chair. He noticed her gaze and quickly pulled the two office chairs to the center. 

She took the cue and sat on one chair. While he settled on the other.

"About Wednesday, I really appreciate that you called me to fill me on the happenings."

He nodded, watching her keenly.

"Umm, " she didn't know how to bring it up. "Actually I didn't know they were visiting you and your family."

He was staring at her face. Her eyes looked at him. She blinked, fidgeting with her fingers, then lowered her gaze. Aadarsh watched as her gaze darted to the floor then to her hands and then back at his face.