Unexpected Encounters

From Campus to Forever ~ 9

Raghav enters his cabin after a meeting with his employees only to find Nandini seriously engrossed in her work. Her laptop was open along with files. She was busy discussing something with someone on the screen who responded to her questions.

Raghav's eyebrows raise as he hears a male voice ask, "Nandini neenga ippo yenga irrukinga?"

[Nandini where are you right now?]

Nandini sighs in annoyance, "I'm outside on some personal business Gowtham, can we focus on our current issue?"

"Yes, of course. I was just wondering why you weren't in your office. Can we meet for coffee? It will be better to discuss this in person.", Gowtham asks, making Nandini's eyes widen.

She looks up to see Raghav who looked slightly miffed before mouthing, "Yaaru?"

[Who?]

Before Nandini could respond, Raghav walked to her before settling next to her on the couch. He says nothing before adjusting the laptop slightly so that both of them are shown on the camera. Nandini glanced at him, startled but not entirely surprised.

Gowtham's eyes widen as he bites out, "Nandini, who's he?"

Nandini's eyes narrow at Gowtham's tone before saying, "Gowtham meet Raghav, ivaru dhan nan kalyanam pannika poren."

[Gowtham this is Raghav. He's the one I'm going to marry.]

Raghav smirks slightly, while Gowtham's jaw drops open, "Ungaluku marriage fix ayirucha?"

[You're marriage is fixed?]

Nandini nods linking her arms with Raghav before responding, "Yes."

"Oh arranged marriage ah? That's...interesting.", Gowtham snorts in derision causing Raghav to look at him unfazed.

Raghav raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but his smile razor sharp, "Hmm. You say it's interesting Gowtham. But what's interesting here is your courage to ask such personal questions in a professional meeting."

Gowtham's smirk faltered, and he quickly tried to cover it up, "No, no I didn't mean it like that."

"Oh apdi? Nanum oru interesting ana question kekuren. Ungaluku unga vela mukkiyama ila indha madri commentator vela paka poringala?", Raghav smirked.

[Oh is it? Let me ask you an interesting question then. Is your job more important to you or do want to keep commenting on unnecessary things?]

Nandini bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to laugh as Gowtham squirmed in his chair. Raghav leaned back, stretching out his arm along the back of the couch, his fingertips grazing the cushion just shy of Lakshmi's shoulder.

Lakshmi stiffened for a moment, glancing sideways at him. He wasn't even looking at her—his gaze was fixed on the laptop screen, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Nandini tried to ignore the warmth radiating from his proximity, her focus wavering slightly.

"Relax, I'm also a part of the meeting.", he murmured the corner of his mouth lifting into a knowing smile.

Nandini's cheeks warmed as she shot him a quick glare, but the hint of a smile betrayed her amusement. He didn't move his arm, though—just left it there, a silent declaration of his presence, daring her to pretend she wasn't keenly aware of him.

"Bye Nandini, aprom pakalam.", Gowtham says cutting the call immediately not giving her a chance to respond.

[Bye Nandini, I'll see you later.]

"Yaaru di avan?", Raghav huffs in annoyance.

[Who the hell is he?]

"Di ah?", Nandini asks with raised eyebrows, as a flush raises against her neck.