Happily Ever After

In an Instant, Forever: Chapter 2

~Her POV~

After indulging in a delicious meal the previous night, I was knocked out on my soft mattress. Waking up as usual, I got ready for the office. I wore a white floral kurti, matching jhumkas, and a small bindi. "Hmmm... I do look beautiful. Wish someone would fall for me like in my fictional world," I thought. Clicking a photo to update my Instagram, I rushed toward the car.

Reaching my cabin, I noticed the HR manager already seated, waiting for me. She greeted me with a gentle smile and congratulated me. I stood there clueless. Seeing my confusion, she explained, "Our project has been approved by the Rainas."

I froze for a moment. Yes! Now, no one can stop my salary raise! I should tell Kriti about this. But what caught me off guard was the next piece of news—I had to visit their house and work from there. "Can't we just ask for her preferences and work from here?" I asked hesitantly. Hearing a firm no, my shoulders drooped.

Why? Of all things, why a new place? What a curse to be born an introvert in this world! Somehow, I consoled myself. *I'll just work professionally and come back. They might be rich, but that's none of my concern.* I resolved to avoid that Ankur guy at all costs. He's undeniably handsome but weirdly intimidating. *Lord, give me strength,* I thought as I walked toward the car to head to the Rainas' mansion.

When I reached the address, all my pep talks went out the window. It was a huge mansion. For a moment, I thought of running away, but before I could act, a hand grabbed mine and pulled me gently yet firmly. The touch felt surreal—gentle but strong enough to hold me in place. It made my heart flutter.

As I looked up, my jaw dropped. The very person I wanted to avoid stood before me, looking effortlessly handsome in casual clothes. Ankur. He smiled gently, and something about it stirred my heart. Shaking my head, I reminded myself, "Weirdo, you're here for work. Focus, or your salary raise will disappear."

Noticing our intertwined hands, I quickly pulled mine back. No! This man is not good for my heart. I need to keep my distance. Stuttering, I asked, "Uh... where's Riddhima? I came to discuss her preferences."

He replied, "Well, before meeting my sister, how about we talk for a bit?"

What? What was this man saying? I avoided his gaze and took a few steps back, but he motioned toward the garden. Reluctantly, I followed him. He looked strangely appealing, but why would a man like him be interested in me? *No, no, this is all Kriti's fault. She's filled my head with these silly ideas.*

He sat down on one of the chairs in the garden and patted the seat next to him. Ignoring his gesture, I chose the farthest chair. The silence was awkward, and I could feel his eyes on me, but I avoided eye contact at all costs.

Suddenly, he asked, "Why did you choose to become a designer?"

I frowned. Why was he asking this? Still, I answered politely. After some light conversation, he asked me about my favorite color. Feeling a bit more comfortable, I replied, "White."

Just as he was about to ask something else, a loud scream interrupted us. I turned to see Riddhima running toward us.

"I'm so sorry to keep you waiting!" she said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "It's okay. Shall we proceed now?" I asked. Nodding, she led the way, and soon, we both got immersed in work.  

~His POV~

Returning home, I completely drowned myself in work. A lot of tasks were pending, so I skipped dinner to finish everything. By 12:00 a.m., I felt utterly exhausted. Reclining in my chair, I closed my eyes, but suddenly my heart started pounding as a particular face appeared in my mind. *Ugh! What has this girl done to me?*

Somehow, I made my way to my room and lay on the bed. Tossing and turning, I couldn't catch even a glimpse of sleep. Frustrated, I switched on my phone and searched for that particular name. Scrolling through her Instagram, I found myself smiling widely. I groaned at my teenager-like behavior.

Her posts stood out—she often shared moments with her friend and pictures of baby pink roses. *They might be her favorite.* Visualizing her face, I didn't even realize when sleep finally claimed me.

The next morning, I got up and made arrangements for the dresses to be designed. I had to work particularly hard to convince the company's head to allow Miss Arora to work from here. Knowing she would arrive soon, I took a thorough shower and dressed in a light pink T-shirt. Even though I hated the color, I'd wear anything for her. Grooming myself carefully, I decided to arrange our meeting in the open garden to avoid making her feel nervous. But first, I had one more task to handle.

I walked to Riddhima's room and knocked.

"Bhai, what is it? Did Sanjana already arrive?" she inquired.

"No, she said it will take some more time. Why don't you go ahead with Aunty to the mall?" I replied nonchalantly, though deep down, I hoped she wouldn't question it further. I needed some time alone with Miss Arora to sort out my feelings.

Thankfully, she agreed, and I heaved a sigh of relief. *Wow! How much I need to work for you, Miss Arora,* I thought, chuckling to myself.

Once everyone left for their respective work, I positioned myself near the entrance, waiting. As soon as I saw her car entering the premises, I jogged toward it. Approaching her, I noticed how nervous she looked. She was mumbling something under her breath. But the moment I got a complete look at her, I felt the ground slip beneath my feet.

Wearing a white floral kurti, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and accessorized with delicate jhumkas, she unknowingly took my breath away. She was more beautiful than any flower I had ever seen. My flower. Mine. The thought felt foreign yet soothed my soul entirely.

As I stood there, admiring her, she seemed to decide to run away. Chuckling softly, I stepped closer and gently held her hand. My touch was firm yet conveyed what I felt at that moment—I didn't want to let her go.

She was startled. Did she feel a spark too, or was it just me? When she turned to face me, her sweet, innocent brown eyes shimmering in the sunlight entrapped me in their magical spell. Her glasses couldn't hide those sparks, and the few strands of hair softly blowing in the breeze made her look ethereal.

The spell broke when she noticed our intertwined hands and quickly pulled away. I felt the loss of warmth and peace immediately. She nervously asked about Riddhima. I replied with whatever came to mind, suggesting we talk a little before meeting my sister. Hearing this, she took a few steps back, clearly uncomfortable. I quickly motioned toward the garden, not wanting to upset her further. Realizing what I had said, I turned away, blushing. Thankfully, she didn't notice as she followed me.

After taking my seat in the garden, I patted the chair next to mine, but she sat as far away as possible. I wished for the distance between us to disappear. Noticing how stiff she seemed, I asked about her work, hoping it would help her relax.

It worked. As she spoke passionately about her job, I saw her tension ease. I asked about her favorite color, and she smiled slightly before replying, "White." Her smile captivated me once again, and I was lost in it.

Before I could say anything more, we were interrupted by a loud scream. Riddhima had returned sooner than expected. I felt a pang of disappointment.

I watched as Miss Arora got completely immersed in her work, her focus unwavering. Quietly, I retreated to my room but ended up sitting on the swing on my balcony. From there, I admired the woman who had mercilessly barged into my life and stolen my heart.

Maybe one day, I'll hold her in my arms and admire her up close. Until then, I'll watch from a distance, ensuring she feels comfortable.