More than all the stars in the sky - An Addicted Prequel

Big plans, small beginning

Like a small boat in the ocean...
Setting big waves into motion...

She looks at her painting easel searching for something. She felt like it was missing something - something small but the whole piece seemed lifeless somehow - like it was missing some kind of an essence - it's soul maybe - she thought.

She looks at the time - it was past midnight. She rubs her hands with the paint remover and goes to wash herself. It always left that lingering smell of paint on her hands. But, she was experimenting with oil paint these days and she loved the way the brush felt so flex and bold at the same time.

She walks outside to see Virat lounged out on the floor in the middle of the living room. He was leaning back onto a wall, legs thrown out relaxed, his laptop on the floor and a morose expression on his face. She just didn't know how to cheer him up these last few days. He had fought with his father and they weren't talking.

"Are you still studying for the interview ?" She asks. She didn't want to disturb him if he was working on something.

He looks up at her extends his hand with a smile. She readily goes to him. He kisses her cheek and drags her into his lap with his hands around her waist. "Um...I am liking the smell of paint on you."

"..Whatchu working on?" She asks looking at the screen in front of him leaning into his chest. "God, that's depressing." She closes her eyes refusing to look at their bank account. He had opened a joint account when they moved into together so that they could use it for their monthly bills and stuff. They both put their money from their day jobs into it.

He laughs and closes it off.

She opens her eyes and looks at him leaning back on the wall with his eyes closed. "Virat?" She cups her face.

"Hmmm?"

"Talk to me."

"What about baby?" He opens his eyes.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing...just that it's been a month since I graduated. I need to take a job."

She smiles shaking her head.

"What's so funny?" He asks frowning.

"Jaan, you do realize that you have six standing offers right. And that too from the biggest banks in Wall Street."

He sighs. "If you are going to give me the lecture my Dad gave me, I am not interested."

"No. That's not what I was going to say at all. I am just trying to say that there is nothing to be sad about. And I think you just get grumpy when you don't have your hands full." She smiles. "And you fight with the people you love."

"Can you stop it about my Dad." He scolds.

"I can't see you so sad. Accept it, you are sad because you fought with him."

"Manvi, the first job I am going to take is going to determine the rest of my career. He thinks I just need to pick the one with the best pay package. Doesn't matter that there would be no growth for me...doesn't matter the person I would work for is a jackass...doesn't matter that it doesn't align with my long term goals..."

"Virat....he doesn't mean all that.."

"WELL, I am not going to sell my dreams, Manvi. Not the least for a little high monthly salary."

"But look at it from his point of view...he doesn't want you to throw away a good opportunity. That's all...I don't want you to agree to his point of view, just understand it." She tries to explain.