3. Be ready, Darling!!

AKSHAT'S POV

“Insane!!” I mumbled settling into my chair.

We were going to start a meeting related to our upcoming quarter problems, execution plans and spendings, but Miss Lost Kapoor made it hell. After all it was not her but me at mistake— yeah, I am the one at mistake.

Women!! They're crazy when angry.

Actually, no. It's us men who are crazy, why do we even look forward to them, expecting apologies?! We are not deserving enough to be asked for an apology.

God, she’s eaten up my mind.

I am not able to remove her face from my mind. She keeps ringing into my mind like a pendulum clock and God—

I touched my jaw.

She punches hard.

When she grabbed my collar, I expected another punch but she looked at her friend and God knows what kind of conversation that was?! As if either they knew this would happen or they have some kind of telepathy— whatever, I don't care!! But she stopped after that invisible— at least to my eyes —conversation.

I looked forward and gestured to the lead asking her to present her plan. She started and—

The meeting went well, with scattered information, half done articles, designs with really no attractions, un-signed documents, no profits, higher losses. Yeah, It went really well.

Why am I being so sarcastic today?!

Lost Kapoor, virus?!

I shot all of them the most dangerous of my looks.

“Is this how you people would work?! Nothing is proper and you are expecting and dreaming of promotions?! That too in the core team. Do you know what it actually means?! Being one of the core members!!” I started.

I was already exhausted due to the day. I went directly to that building from the airport just to look after the Miss Lost Kapoor issue and she wasted my time. I had to leave work— half done in the branch in France because of that issue.

These pieces of shit don't even know how to work. I didn't know until now that I have hired such lazy people. I can't tolerate this— Not me, Not Akshat Singhania. Fire!!

“Twenty!! You are twenty.” I pointed at all of them. My voice almost burning from rage, for fuck sake I was controlling myself from creating havoc. I turned towards my secretary— “I need the resignation letters of these people now. In my cabin!!”

I walked out. None dared to speak a word against my decision. Usually, I am calm and composed, going through problems and situations easily and firmly but I don't know what went into me today that made me this reckless.

Whatever— The decision is right!!

Even if calm and composed, I would have done that only.

I went into my cabin and started working. I called one of the teams, the best ones, instructing them to hold interviews and enrollments to get all those seats filled within 4 days.

PRISM can never wait!! That's our rule.

People can but not actually me. I am someone who demands timings, I chase deadlines, I want work on time, I don't praise— I reward. I don't like even a bit of laziness around me, it irritates me to my limits.

{A/N: Only if you knew man, the girl with whom you will fall madly in love— is more than just lazy.}

Within an hour, everything was settled. I decided to head home as there was nothing I had right now. Yeah, a big project was waiting and that's why, I am waiting for that building— But, Tss.. Miss Lost Kapoor, has already signed it and paid for it.

I chuckled to myself as I settled into my car. Getting my signal the driver started the engine and we drove away from the main building in no time.

Childish. The only word that came to my mind after thinking about her, she is really childish. She thinks she can get the place I have my gaze over— just by, signing a few fucking documents and paying for the place. Is that so?!!

But, I have to agree. Even after knowing who I am, she still had the nerve to challenge me that too fearlessly. She is something else for sure. Actually, I can't deny facts, so yeah— she is feisty and someone who holds the power to endure me, at least for a few moments.

I had noticed her confidence breaking and clouds of doubt covering her gaze as she frowned slowly after challenging me. Her shoulders slumped down as if exhausted. But what made her desirable were her Lips.

Last but not the least, that kiss.

I smirked at the thought.

She kissed me. For a moment I would have convinced myself that dear Akshat, that was not purposely. But—

The way her face and expressions changed when she—uhuh?! I guess Roohi, her friend. Yeah, Roohi, I know her as well, I have my sources —spilled the beans.

Indeed her lips are tasty, if any man other than me would have been there— maybe he would have claimed her that moment only. But to praise my self control, I left her after that one kiss— If it were in my control I would have dragged her to myself. Caged her for myself. Forever with myself.

Her lips drove me away. I never knew when I responded back?! That too, so deeply.

To be honest, she’s my first kiss. But she won't be my last, I would never wish so or maybe— yes, I will. My mind is so messed up, I can't get to one point.

My trance broke, when the shrill screeching sound of tires reached my ears. We’re finally home, I mean only me.

Well, at home. I have my mother and my younger brother. My father stays apart from us in Germany. I don't know why?! But, from what I have noticed— My mom and he are not on good terms. We never got to know, they never told us. But it's not like they don't meet.

They do!! For us, I guess. But they seem happy together, they don't argue. Still they don't agree to be together, the reason— I don't know. Still, I miss my father, actually who won't?! For me, I have stayed with my father for just 4 years after my brother turned 1, he left. But good thing, he keeps visiting.

I huffed as I walked inside. I know she must be here— Yeah, she is —Reva Oberoi, the princess of the well known, Vidyut Oberoi. When I met, she broke into a fight with me, just like Miss Lost Kapoor.

But Reva is simple. She isn't one of those bold, sassy and strong ones— like Miss Lost Kapoor. She is soft, she needs care, she is not fragile but she wants peaceful and serene environments to live in. She is bold at times but to be honest, being bold takes all of it from her.

After all, she is spoiled.

When around me and Vidyut, she would throw tantrums like balls. If we won't?! That's not an option, it's a compulsion to fulfill what she needs.

I sat on the sofa in the living room and there comes tsunami. Reva and Neil, fighting as always. Neil— is my brother. No need to give his introduction, he is a fit in himself.

“Akshat ise dekhle, koot dungi isko mai!!” Reva yelled. Her voice is so pitched, c’mon I need to rub my ears. Maybe the drums blasted.

(Akshat, I will literally beat him up!!)

“Bhai, ye ladki roz yaha kyu aa jati hai?!” Neil questioned, nice question but only it was someone else instead of me.

(Bro, why does this girl end up here, daily?!)

I won't tolerate her disrespect!!

“Not a word more than this. Both of you!!” I growled and both of them fell silent, looking at eachother— maybe silently blaming eachother for their conditions.

Look people, I haven't killed you right?! Stop acting like that— makes me feel inhuman.

“I will ask Vidyut Bhai to shoot this guy.” Reva’s threat made me chuckle. At the end of every fight with Neil, where she is obviously not the winner she would threaten him like that and he would simply nod.

She shot him a glare and stuck her tongue out at him, before hugging me. I hugged back and she adjusted herself beside me. Within no time, my mother came out of her room.

“Young lady glowing and all haaa—” I teased her and she swatted my hand away, which I was going to place on her shoulder as she sat beside me.

“Maa kal se iss aurat ko ghar me aane mat dena!!” Neil ordered like the king, pity little child— the king’s me, not you. Reva shot him a glance.

(Mom, please don't let this woman inside our house from tomorrow onwards.)

“Roz bolta hai tu ye, koi change aaya?!” I looked at him sarcastically. Reva laughed and threw a pillow at him and he retorted back the same action.

(You say that everyday, is there any visible change?!)

Mom just shook her head at their daily quarrels.

I kissed her forehead and walked towards my room. Freshening up myself, I settled in the balcony chair for a moment of peace.

This is how my life is— still peace is missing. People often tend to think, oh they must be having peaceful lives, because they have money. The more money, the more you get rich, but the more you get rich— the more complex things become for you. Resources become easy to possess but— sigh!!

In all this, I have only one person to share all my problems with. Moreover, I am not too friendly, to hang out and make friends like others do. I am reserved to some people. Talking about my only friend, Vidyut— Yeah, I share everything with him but when it comes to emotions, I seek a place beside Reva.

I prefer to speak less, act more. In some matters Vidyut and I are just alike, we are even mistaken for brothers but obviously we aren't. Vidyut is almost all alone, he only shares with me— given his nature. He is friendly to people, not too fast but his real side is just opposite to his to the facade he has built around himself.

My trance was broken when someone patted my shoulder. I moved a bit to see Reva standing beside me. I smiled at her and asked her to sit, she sat beside me.

“Something's bothering you?! Right?!”

I shook my head and smiled. “Nothing, just those daily thoughts of life.” She formed an ‘O’ of her mouth.

She's really the one, after Vidyut, to whom I can open up myself. I can speak about anything or I can even blabber endlessly— but that's out of syllabus for me. I can think endlessly but I can't speak like a parrot. Less words, look perfect.

And about what she is to me?! Well yeah, she’s my friend or I can even say the only female friend I tend to have. I never wished to have a female friend but she's the one. She's just 2 years younger than Vidyut, not much. But she's more understanding than him, he is reckless. Yeah, to be honest, he is!!

“You know I met Miss Lost Kapoor today!!” I started, I don't know how but the mere mention of that girl brought a smile to my face.

“Lost Kapoor?! Who's she?!” Reva frowned.

“Just another woman but something about her attracts me, I don't know why?!” I glanced at Reva, she seemed interested so I continued— obviously it's necessary to check whether what you're speaking is really a subject of interest for the person in front of you or not.

“She is stuck with me in a building dispute. Dad has always wanted that place, for God knows what reason. But when I visited it before my trip to France, I really liked it. It is a kind of centre of attraction for people, settled in between the main city.” I thought of Rhea but then about my father's wish.

“I thought to leave the land to her as she was already done with the work needed. But then Dad’s wish dragged me to it. I decided I will get that place at any cost even if I had to pay double or triple.”

Then I narrated the incident that happened between Me and Miss Lost Kapoor this morning and all she could do was laugh and roll like a cat being tickled over the floor. I shook my head and sighed— I know why she was laughing, she was laughing at that punching point.

“She punched you and you literally left her without anything but a single threat?! And you both even kissed?! I can't believe it, because the Akshat I know can never leave someone after they speak a word against him and here she punched you still you didn't do anything. Nice, nice…” She laughs horribly, someone might get scared if left alone with a laughing Reva during the night.

“Enough girl, now c’mon sit.” I pulled her to myself and made her sit beside me, she just looked at me like I was the Kohinoor diamond being returned to India and she couldn't take eyes off me.

“You're in LOVE!!” She whisper-yelled excitedly. Her voice animated and enthusiasm dripped like honey over pancakes.

I smacked her head not too hard but enough to make her scowl, “Pagal!!” This is the peak word of her curses.

(Idiot!!)

One day by mistake, in rage, she cursed someone with the word “Bitch!!” and for fuck sake, she regretted it the whole month.

Meanwhile, the girl I met today?! She is just a trumpet when it comes to curses. I am experienced enough to understand what people are thinking through their expressions and her expressions told me how she was cursing me after Roohi spilled the beans.

“Ek solution du?!” Reva suddenly sat straight.

(May I give you a suggestion?!)

I nodded and she started- “You can simply just know for what purpose, she is purchasing that buld—” I cut her mid sentence as I remembered the details. “She owns two graphic designing firms, one in Delhi, one in Pune and she is looking forward to one in Bangalore, that's that same building.”

She smiled like she got something, “You could just simply ask her to join your web!!” She suggested and I frowned.

What idea is she upto?!

“Care to explain,” I placed my hand on the back support of the sofa and she adjusted herself.

“Look as per you told me about the last performance of PRISM and today's meeting also. One thing's clear— You need the best Graphic designing team. As per the scale of PRISM, you need a whole company!! And she's just started, you both need that same place. She needs it for opening her another firm and you need a firm which is specially dedicated to graphic designing. Understood?!”

I looked at her impressively. But then shot her a look.

“After the conversation that happened between her and me?! Do you really think she would comply or try to relate like you are doing right now?! Let me tell you from my understanding of that girl, she is way too fast, when it comes to decisions.” I made her understand and she nodded.

“But your idea seems to find a way for my problems!! Before that let's get more into her skin and test her dedication and passion for her work.”

She smiled knowingly. “Yeah, after all PRISM looks ahead for dedication and passion towards work. It screams sacrifice…” Blah, blah, blah— she started with her daily blabbering session but I smirked knowing what I need to do next.

Be ready, Darling!!

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Hope you're doing fine!!

Do tell me in comments how was the chapter?? Your votes and comments are very invaluable to me. Sending you loads of love, take care, be fine, be happy, stay blessed, stay safe. That's all I wish for— Love yaa'...💋

—Rooh🫧

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