ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

19. SMITTEN

ISHAAN'S POV

I try to focus back on the document in front of me rather than the bullcrap the person is spouting. Two of my friends are sitting in my cabin, and one of them is spitting utter nonsense, repeating the same thing from a few days ago over and over again, using different sets of words and forming the sentences differently each time.

I called him here to check his photos, not to hear about how I saved my secretary and how much I supposedly like her. The second part might be true, but I don't want them to talk about it. I glance up from the document, my patience wearing thin.

"...and then he jumped directly into the water without even taking off his clothes or shoes."

"Will you stop repeating the same sentence over and over?" I looked up at Raaj with an annoyed expression.

"What? I'm just telling Shivyansh about your heroic act," he said with a teasing smile.

"Shut up, will you? Or do you want me to throw you out of my office?"

"Is The Ishaan Shekhawat annoyed?"

The voice came from my left side. I turned to see Shivyansh arching his left eyebrow, a knowing smirk plastered on his lips. Shit, I fucked up. Acting this way means I care, and I don't want them to think I do.

"I just don't want anyone disturbing me," I said, trying to mitigate the damage caused by my overreaction.

"You seem awfully defensive, my friend," Shivyansh remarked, his smirk widening.

"Our boy is smitten with his secretary, Shivyansh," Raaj said, chuckling.

"Will you stop bullshitting?" I turned toward Raaj, furious.

"So, he's bullshitting?" Shivyansh asked.

I noticed Raaj lifting his shoulders and then dropping them with an expression that clearly said, 'I know, right'

"Of course he is" 

I turned towards Shivyansh, his smug expression still plastered on his face. It was irritating, and I felt an overwhelming urge to wipe it off.

"So you giving her a half-day for some reason, dropping her off, and then coming back to the company to work overtime must also be bullshit, right?"

Shit.

"What!?" Raaj's voice echoed in the cabin

I clench my jaw and glanced at Shivyansh, who was watching me with that knowing look.  Shivyansh must have seen me leaving with Inaaya and then coming back. He put two and two together, and now here we are. How am I supposed to defend myself against this?

"He did what!?" Raaj questioned again, his face showing genuine surprise

"You heard it." Shivyansh leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a knowing smile.

"So you're telling me Ishaan Shekhawat, who is apparently so strict about schedules, gave his secretary, whom he claims not to like, a half day?"

Raaj, as expected, reframed the sentence and made it more dramatic. She was on her periods and in pain, so I gave her a half day. But why do you care about her so much? Just accept it, you like her, my inner voice mocked, but I shut it off as soon as it came.

"When are you going back" I asked Shivyansh in an attempt to change the topic

He says his jaw now rigid because of how he is grinding his teeth The smirk from earlier disappears

"Whenever my wife wants"

"Correction, ex wife" 

I smirked, and Raaj pretended to cough, clearly aware of how sensitive he was to this topic.

A ringing sound echoed in my ears, drowning out Raaj's laughter. My vision blurred, and the surroundings slowly faded into the background. Shivyansh's face became indistinct, a mere haze in my peripheral vision

"Do you want to join me plum?"

"Just sit and enjoy the view. No pressure"

"Are you out of your fucking mind?"

What just happened? Who was I swearing on? Why did I swear? And who was I with in the lake? I've never been to a lake with anyone, though. Was I daydreaming again? This has been happening to me often. Do I have some kind of problem? I think I should visit a doctor.

"Are you lost in thoughts about your secretary?"

Raaj's voice made me come out of my confusing thoughts

"Seems like it", Shivyansh answered.

I've had enough of them talking about me instead of focusing on their own work or letting me work. I'll discuss the photos with Raaj later.

"You both. Get out of--"

The landline in my desk rang and the surrounding fell silent allowing me to pick up the call.

"Hello" the room echoed with a female voice, to be more precises my secretary's voice.

I glanced at Shivyansh, whose smirk only seemed to widen. He turned to Raaj, making a call sign with his pinky and thumb before pointing directly at me, signaling that the caller was none other than Inaaya.

"Yess Miss Inaaya"

Raaj, ever the drama enthusiast, tried to come closer despite being able to hear her voice perfectly from where he was sitting.

"Sir, someone is here for the renovation. Shall we let them in?"

Shit.

I am trapped.

INAAYA'S POV

"Sure, send them in, Miss Inaaya", he said and cut the call.

I looked at Tanvi and gave a nod. She approached the workers at the reception desk, directing them to the CEO's cabin.

Tanvi and I were going to have lunch together but encountered the workers at the reception desk.

"Let's go" she said upon reaching me

We exited the company and, after a 5-10 minute walk, arrived at our usual lunch spot. While the office cafeteria serves good food, we prefer this restaurant for our lunches together. However, if we're short on time, we stick to the cafeteria.

We entered the restaurant, took our seats, and placed our orders.

"I forgot to ask you: Are you okay?" she asked, referring to the day I almost drowned.

"I'm okay now," I reassured her with a smile.

"I should have held on to you more tightly."

"Tanvi, you did hold me. Look at your hand—there are marks from my nails. Besides, you did get me out of the water after all."

There was confusion in her eyes when the last line reached her ears.

"Inaaya, I didn't. I was about to jump, but Ishaan...sir jumped into the water."

"Oh," was all I managed to say as the realization sank in.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Here is the 19th chapter. I hope you guys liked it. 

I know this chapter was probably boring and slow but it was necessary for the flow. And remember I said Raaj is a really important character? Did I say that? I forgot. Anyways You will see why I said so.

Show some love by voting and commenting. It motivates me a lot.

Chapter 20 will be released soon <3

Also follow my Instagram for spoilers. ID is : _fantasyflight_