FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 27

Next day, when I come to office, Ruchi is the first one to meet me. She smiles widely and hugs me tightly. I am surprised to find her arrive before me. She was celebrating last night, right? I smile when she informs me that last night she partied with Rishabh till she puked and passed out. She didn't want to come but the excitement of getting the rest of the payment made her bounce to work.

I laughed as she described her party life, I was little disappointed when she informs me that DJ played most of my favorite songs. But I am glad I didn't go partying, instead I spent my time with Adnan. Being with Adnan is million times better than dancing like senseless fool.

I listened to her while I go through the photos Anil had clicked for the engagement.

'Stop...Stop.... Ruchi' I had to stop her when she started describing her night with Rishabh, I don't need so much detail of her sex-life.

Ruchi stops mid-way and frowns at me 'Dude...you are so boring. Who stays a virgin at the age of 31...its high time you lose it' she says rolling her eyes and leaning back against her chair. I shake my head; I look at my computer screen. There is a family picture, with the bride and the groom in the center, Rizwan's parent standing on his side and Liqa's parents, Urooj, Hanan and Riad on Liqa's side. I zoomed Riad's photo completely ignoring Ruchi blabbering about sex and loosing virginity, she also adds that Adnan too should stop thinking about work and find a girl and loose his virginity too.

Her voice disappearing and my surrounding blurring, the only image prominent is Riad's smiling face.

Without breaking my gaze from his photo, I asked Ruchi to leave. I am sure her jaw would have dropped on the floor.

'Caught you...' she says into my ear; I am startled and quickly closed the tab.

'Wha-Wha-what are you talking about' I say fumbling with the mouse of my PC. Ruchi giggles and twirls around dancing to her seat singing "Kya karoon, Haye...kuch kuch hotha hai"

'Shut up, Ruchi' I glare at her, she doesn't stop but her pitch only increases when I keep asking her to shut up. Irritated to the last strand, I threw a file at her, she was shaking her hips and so I couldn't miss my aim.

'Ha!' I say happily as my file hits its target, Ruchi's swaying bum.

She glares at me massaging her bum, I smirk at her.

At this point, if anyone walks on us they can never say we run a wedding planning agency and I am the owner/boss and Ruchi is my assistant.

After Ruchi leaves, I quickly open the tab and five minutes later I find the photo I had been looking for. I zoomed the photo again, on close inspection of his face I noticed his face hasn't changed much only got handsomer, that eyes and the lips, the lips that I had once kissed.

Haye!

Hey, one minute. I composed myself and minimized the photo, why the hell am I swooning over him? He was a loser and will be a loser, champu! Though I tell myself this, why does my heart say otherwise? Would it have said the same had Riad been his 17-year-old self? Of course, not, I am just getting attracted to him because of his looks, that's all. It will pass, hopefully it passes soon.

I glance at the wall clock opposite to me, it's 1pm and I am hungry. I take my phone and called Adnan.

'Bhai! Had lunch?' I say, as expected I get the reply that he hasn't. And like always I scold him for neglecting his health, and like always he replies 'okay madam!'

I know cut the call, knowing that I will have to call him again after fifteen minutes and 100% I will be getting the same reply that he hasn't. I smile and take out my tiffin from my bag, I was about to open my tiffin and see what oily yet tasty delicacy Vimala has prepared. But before that someone knocks my cabin door and I groan.

'Come in' I say stuffing my tiffin back into my bag. I adjusted my hair and sit straight in my seat. The door opens and my eyes widen as Riad enters my cabin. He is looking dashing in a navy-blue business suit. He looks so slim, perfect. No one who sees him now will believe he was a big round nerdy ball once. I felt my heart flutter, I looked at him from top to bottom. He is the only person I can see, rest everything is blur.

I had never paid attention to this, but my office is small compared to hi-fi agencies and is also cramped up in a narrow lane. What will he think of me, that I am some small-time business woman.

'Yes!' I say, I wanted my tone to sound like a business woman but it came out as a whisper.