His Grumpy Wife

ANIKET

The click-clack of Alisha's heels echoed down the hallway, a steady rhythm that seemed to pulse with suppressed annoyance. Aniket hesitated for a beat, watching the fiery set of her ponytail before pushing himself off the wall. He lengthened his strides to catch up, his footsteps a softer counterpoint to hers.

"Alisha ji, wait up a sec." His voice cut through the tense silence, and he saw her stiffen slightly before offering a tight smile over her shoulder.

"Can I help you with something, Aniket?" she asked, her voice clipped.

Aniket softly pushes her from the entrance of the door grabbing her upper arm and makes her sit in the chair "I am so proud of you," he declared, his voice warm. "You did a great job out there. It was remarkable seeing you own the room, your confidence was radiating. Honestly, Alisha, for a moment there, I felt like I was looking at Maa Shakti herself. "

Aniket knew her well enough to understand the weight of her unspoken anxieties. Aniket praised Alisha trying to make her feel less guilty about the situation somewhere in the whole journey of theirs's he had come to terms that Alisha was someone who would overthink every single step she took after completing it was a weird quirk but it was their . 

"you are not angry ?? " Alisha inquired

 " Angry ? why would i be angry ?? " Aniket replied being confused , 

 "But... what the man said about you," she stammered, worry creeping into her voice. "I'm so sorry, Aniket. I don't tell the employees anything! They're making up stories. I know you see me as a close friend, and I truly appreciate that. I don't know where they got these... these theories. I swear I had nothing to do with it!" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying a vulnerability Aniket had never seen before.

It was the first time Aniket had seen fear in Alisha's eyes it was not her who was talking to him right now it was someone else a small child probably who had gone through many years of trauma maybe even self harm or anything that had remotely caused this inside this brave woman standing in font of him.. 

Before Alisha could continue her monologue Aniket grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes and said " Alisha ji .. Alisha ji I know very well what these kinds of people are capable of I  know they web  their own stories up .. they spin different narratives and monologue's when things don't go their way .. you need to calm down their is no reason to panic  , see i am standing here right in front of you and  see i am not mad at you" he whispered softly as if he was talking to a child who was very upset. 

His words seemed to have a calming effect. The tension slowly drained from her body, replaced by a quiet sigh. Alisha met his gaze, searching for any hint of anger or betrayal. Instead, she saw a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within his eyes – concern, protectiveness, and maybe even... something more? maybe love?

A warmth bloomed in her chest, a feeling she couldn't quite define. Was it gratitude? Relief? She shook her head ever so slightly, trying to clear her emotions She knew that she couldn't afford to make up something like this when it wasn't nearly any close to the reality . Aniket, sensing her hesitation, gently tilted her chin upwards with his fingers. Their eyes locked once more, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like he was asking permission for something. Without fully understanding why, Alisha found herself blinking, a silent assent.

Aniket's touch was feather-light as he cupped her face in his palms. He tilted her head down ever so slightly, and then, with a tenderness that sent shivers down her spine, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. The touch was electric, igniting a spark within her that threatened to melt away all her worries. Alisha closed her eyes, a wave of emotion washing over her, leaving her breathless and wanting more.