Unexpected Encounters

From Campus to Forever ~ 5

"Where are you now di?", Mahi asks over the call, making Nandini roll her eyes.

"Where else? I'm driving to the office.", Nandini replies, in a duh turn.

"I can hear you rolling your eyes Nandu stop. Also didn't they make you the president? I'm sure you can chill. You deserve it after all the work you put into the company.", Mahi scolds her friend.

"Po di, I don't have a rich husband like you who can spoil me with anything I want.", Nandini teases her friend, making Mahi huff.

"Didn't I tell you to talk to Raghav on the first day of college? When do you ever listen to me?", Mahi snarks back.

"How many times do I tell you di? It's not that easy for me.", Nandini grumbles knowing that Mahi will never stop bringing this topic up.

"Seri okay, leave that. Now that you guys are going to get married, how do you feel?", Mahi squeals in happiness.

Nandini holds the phone away from her ears so that her eardrums don't get damaged before replying, "How does Aaryan anna manage all your screeching?"

"He's my husband and he has known me for 6 years. If he still does not know how to handle me, I doubt he loves me.", Mahi responds, her tone dry, "But don't change the topic. Answer my question."

"I am happy di. Very happy. But I have a lot of feelings to sort through and I'm scared too. Also...", Nandini's voice peters out as she wonders if she should tell her friend this or not.

"Nandini shut up and complete your sentence. Do not leave me hanging.", Mahi orders her friend.

"He was wearing that watch.", Nandini utters finally, her voice taking on a bitter edge.

"That b-", Mahi starts only to be immediately shushed by Nandini.

"I meant to say buffoon.", Mahi argues hotly making Nandini snort and respond, "Yeah right!"

"Anyways, did you ask him if he was over her?", Mahi asks.

"Of course I did. He said he didn't know but he hoped so.", Nandini answers.

"Talk to him. Ask him for time and tell him you will not move forward with anything unless he is 100 % sure about you.", Mahi says making Nandini hesitate.

"Nandu shut up and contact him. And don't tell me you don't have his number. It hasn't changed all this years and I know you never deleted his contact.", Mahi states not letting her friend speak.

"Fine. I've got to go.", Nandini replies after a pause, making Mahi sigh in exasperation.

"Bye di, Love you.", Mahi says and Nandini reciprocates before cutting the call and parking her car in her office garage.

Nandini nodded her head in greeting at the staff who wished her a good morning before she reached her cabin.

She settled down on her chair, her mind still contemplating whether to make the call or not. She startles with a gasp when her phone rings loudly. Her eyes widen at the caller id and she grabs her phone from the table hesitating to attend the call.

She sighs before clearing her throat and attending the call.

"Hello? Nandini?", she hears Raghav's deep voice from the other side making her speechless for a moment.

"A-ahn yeah Raghav. It's me. How are you doing?", Nandini asks snapping out of her reverie.

"I'm good. I see you still haven't changed your number.", he replies.

"Oh yeah, I didn't. I could say the same for you though.", Nandini states.

"Touche.", he chuckles his laugh deep and husky and directed at her. It surprised her and filled her with warmth at the same time.

"I-I want to meet you today. Is that possible or are you busy?", Raghav utters hurriedly, almost sounding nervous as he waited for her to answer.

Nandini smiles at his nervousness before responding, "Yeah sure. I don't have any issue."

"Cool. The coffee shop below your office at 6?", Raghav asks.

"H-how do you know?", Nandini asks confused.

Raghav laughs before responding, "You do remember I came to your house a few days ago right? It was there on your matrimony profile."

"Yeah yeah, makes sense.", Nandini utters feeling embarrassed.

Raghav smiles at her sheepish tone but says nothing except bidding her a bye.

Nandini cuts the call and stares at her phone for a few seconds. She frowns at the way his name was saved on her phone.

Raghav M. CMC College

Back then she had all the reason in the world to save his name formally. But now, she wondered. Before she could change her mind she clicked on the edit option and resaved his name as Raghav.

She contemplated the addition of an emoji, when suddenly the door to her cabin burst open making her hurriedly save his name and shut her phone. Except, she did not notice the mistaken addition of a heart next to his name.

"Saru oh my god. You're my assistant, please knock on the damn door before bursting into the room unannounced.", Nandini exclaims placing a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.

"Nandu, how can you not tell me you agreed to the guy who came to see you?", Saru whines.

Nandini rolls her eyes cursing Mahi for her bigmouth.

"You know now", Nandini replies simply, picking up the file on her desk.

Saru grins at how Nandini tries to act all unbothered however she could see the smile threatening to break free on her face.

"You're happy di, atleast smile and express it.", Saru states shaking her head as she settles on the couch placed in one corner of the room.

Nandini sighs before giving her friend a smile, "Happy?"

Saru grins nodding her head, "Very."

Nandini says nothing as she continues flipping through the file. Saru observes her for a minute before finally speaking, "Do not think too much. I can literally see your brain cells working overtime. How many times have I told you-"

"That I overthink? More than a hundred.", Nandini replies rolling her eyes but relaxes slightly at her friend's words.

"Then listen to me.", Saru huffs shaking her head.

"Okay okay. Now stop slacking off and go get me this months sales reports.", Nandini orders making Saru groan but follow her friend's words. Nandini sighs her mind wandering for a bit before she forces herself to concentrate on her work.

***