Chapter : 9

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Ananya stood at the entrance of her office building. She glanced at Rihaan, who was beside her, taking in everything with wide, curious eyes. The towering glass facade, the revolving doors, the bustling lobby with people moving briskly to and fro - it was all new to him, a fresh adventure to explore.

Rihaan's gaze darted around, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and wonder. He lingered on the shiny floor tiles, the modern art pieces on the walls, and the digital screens displaying company news and stock prices. His innocent fascination with the world around him reminding Ananya of a kid on their first day at a new school.

"Rihaan," Ananya called softly, breaking his trance. She gestured for him to follow her, a warm smile on her face.

He responded immediately, his head snapping towards her voice. He hurried to her side, a boyish grin spreading across his face. Without hesitation, he reached out and held her hand, his grip firm and comforting, like a child holding onto his mother's hand for reassurance. Ananya felt a wave of affection wash over her. This simple gesture, though it was something he did instinctively, always touched her deeply.

Together, they made their way through the bustling lobby. Ananya led the way confidently, navigating through the crowd with ease. Rihaan stayed close, his eyes still darting around but never letting go of her hand. They reached the bank of elevators, and Ananya pressed the call button.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, revealing an empty place. Ananya stepped inside first, guiding Rihaan in after her. He followed obediently, still clutching her hand, his curiosity now focused on the interior of the elevator. The polished metal walls, the buttons with their glowing numbers, and the mirrored ceiling that reflected their images back at them all seemed to captivate him.

As the elevator doors closed with a soft whoosh, Ananya felt Rihaan's grip on her hand tighten. She glanced at him and noticed his expression had shifted from curiosity to anxiety. His eyes darted around nervously, and he bit his lip, a habit he had when he was scared.

The elevator began its smooth ascent, and Rihaan's tension became palpable. Ananya squeezed his hand gently, hoping to offer some comfort, but she knew she needed to do more to distract him. She turned to face him fully, her voice soft and reassuring.

"Rihaan, do you remember the time I told you about the fun event I had at my school?" she began, her eyes locking onto his.

Rihaan's gaze shifted to her, the fear in his eyes giving way to curiosity. "No, tell me about it," he said, his voice a bit shaky but eager.

"Well," Ananya started, her tone light and animated, "it was during our annual sports day. I was in the fourth grade, and I was participating in the three-legged race with my best friend, Nisha. We had practiced for weeks, but on the day of the race, we were both so nervous."

Rihaan's eyes were now fixed on her, his anxiety slowly melting away as he listened intently. Ananya continued, painting a vivid picture with her words.

"We lined up at the starting line, our legs tied together with a bright red ribbon. The whistle blew, and we started hopping and laughing, trying to stay in sync. But halfway through the race, we tripped and fell into a big puddle of mud!"

Rihaan's eyes widened, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Really?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

"Yes!" Ananya laughed, remembering the moment fondly. "We were covered in mud from head to toe, but we couldn't stop laughing. The other teams ran past us, but we just sat there, giggling and splashing mud at each other. It was one of the best days ever."

By now, Rihaan was fully engrossed in her story, his fear of the elevator forgotten. He laughed along with her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "That sounds so fun!" he said, his voice now steady and filled with joy.

Ananya smiled, glad to see him relaxed and happy. She was about to continue when the elevator came to a gentle stop, and the doors slid open. They had reached their floor. Rihaan looked around, surprised.

"We're here already?" he asked, his tone one of disbelief.

Ananya nodded, squeezing his hand again. "Yes, we are. You did great, Rihaan."

He beamed at her, his earlier anxiety completely vanished. As the elevator doors opened and Ananya stepped out, Rihaan's hand still firmly clasped in hers, the familiar environment of the office floor greeted them. Ananya took a deep breath, the scent of fresh coffee and office supplies grounding her in her daily routine.

Down the corridor, in a glass-walled office, Dev looked up from his desk at the sound of the elevator doors. His eyes, accustomed to the rhythmic routine of office life, widened in surprise as he saw Ananya stepping out, not alone as usual, but with a man by her side.

From his vantage point, Dev could only see the back of the man, his figure tall and slightly hunched in a way that suggested both curiosity and trepidation. But what truly made Dev's jaw drop was the sight of Ananya holding his hand. The image was so out of place, so foreign to everything he knew about his boss.

Ananya, the impeccably dressed, always composed, and often intimidating head of the company, was holding hands with a man? And was she...smiling?

Dev rubbed his eyes, convinced he must be dreaming. He had worked with Ananya for two years and had never once seen her exhibit any sign of warmth or affection. She was known for her no-nonsense attitude, her razor-sharp focus, and her ability to command a room with a single glance. The idea of her holding someone's hand and smiling was beyond belief.

"Am I dreaming?" he mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible over the soft din of the office.

He watched, his eyes glued to the scene unfolding before him. Ananya was speaking softly to the man, her smile gentle and her eyes filled with an emotion Dev couldn't quite place. The man, though still partially obscured, seemed to respond with a shy nod, his posture relaxing slightly as they moved down the corridor together.

Dev's mind raced with questions. Who was this man? How did he know Ananya? And what on earth had happened to the usually icy demeanor of his boss?

As Ananya and Rihaan approached closer, Dev strained to catch any snippet of their conversation. But all he could hear was the soothing murmur of Ananya's voice, a stark contrast to her usual authoritative tone. He felt a mix of curiosity and disbelief, his routine morning thrown into chaos by this unexpected sight.

Finally, as they walked past his office, Dev caught a glimpse of the man's face. Rihaan's wide, innocent eyes and slightly awkward smile painted a picture of someone entirely different from the hard-nosed professionals that usually frequented their office. There was a childlike wonder in his expression, and the way he clung to Ananya's hand spoke volumes about their relationship.

******

As Ananya and Rihaan continued down the corridor, Dev's mind buzzed with disbelief and curiosity. He couldn't take his eyes off them, the image of his usually cold-hearted boss walking hand-in-hand with a man still vivid and surreal.

Just then, the sharp trill of the phone on his desk broke through his thoughts, pulling his attention away from the scene. He picked up the receiver almost automatically, years of habit guiding his actions even as his mind remained partially distracted.

"Dev speaking," he said, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his head.

"Dev, it's Ananya," came the familiar, commanding voice from the other end. Despite the oddness of the situation he had just witnessed, her tone was businesslike, efficient. "I need you to bring a coffee to my office. And a chocolate milkshake."

Dev blinked, certain he had misheard. "A chocolate milkshake, ma'am?" he echoed, disbelief coloring his voice. Ananya was known for her strict no-nonsense attitude, her orders typically involving complex reports, urgent meetings, or high-stakes negotiations. But a chocolate milkshake?

"Yes, Dev. Coffee for me and a chocolate milkshake," she repeated, her tone leaving no room for questioning. "Please be quick about it."

"Yes, ma'am. Right away," he replied, his voice professional and composed. He hung up the phone, feeling a strange sense of surrealism washing over him. Whatever he had seen, Ananya was still his boss, and her orders were to be followed without question.

Dev stood up, straightening his tie and brushing an imaginary speck of dust from his shirt. With practiced efficiency, he left his office and made his way to the break room. The familiar routine of work helped steady his thoughts, but the image of Ananya and Rihaan remained at the back of his mind, a puzzle he couldn't quite fit together.

In the break room, Dev prepared a steaming cup of coffee just the way Ananya liked it: black, less sugar. Then, he opened the small refrigerator and found a bottle of chocolate milk. He poured it into a glass, adding a dollop of whipped cream for good measure, hoping it would meet whatever unexpected standard was required.

As he carefully placed the drinks on a tray, his mind raced with questions. Who was this man with Ananya? How did he know her? He looked familiar but Dev never met him. The incongruity of it all was baffling.

Balancing the tray, Dev walked back down the corridor towards Ananya's office.

He approached Ananya's office door, which was slightly ajar. He knocked lightly before entering, a habit of respect he had developed working under Ananya's strict supervision. As he stepped inside, he found Ananya seated at her desk, her professional demeanor firmly in place. Rihaan was roaming around, his eyes wide with curiosity as he looked around the office.

"Here are your coffee and chocolate milkshake, ma'am," Dev said, walking up to her desk and setting the tray down carefully.

Ananya took the coffee with a curt nod. "Thank you, Dev. Please ensure that the rest of the team is briefed on the updated timeline for the Prakash Industry merger project. We need to expedite the final review."

"Understood, ma'am," Dev replied, his tone crisp and efficient.

As he turned to leave, he noticed Rihaan reaching for the milkshake, his face lighting up with childlike delight. He took a sip and smiled, a genuine, pure expression of happiness that seemed to momentarily dissolve the air of formality in the room.

"Dev," Ananya's voice brought him back to attention. He turned to face her, his expression attentive. "Thank you for your promptness. That will be all for now."

"Of course, ma'am," he responded, giving her a slight nod before exiting the office.

As he walked back to his desk, Dev couldn't shake the feeling that today had been a glimpse into a side of his boss he had never seen before. The commanding presence, the unwavering professionalism, and now, the surprising tenderness she showed to Rihaan. It was a reminder that there were depths to people that often went unseen.

******

Rihaan often seemed to inhabit a world of childlike innocence and whimsy. In the CEO office, he sat cross-legged on a plush chair, engrossed in his drawing book. His brow furrowed in concentration, he sketched and colored with meticulous care, occasionally breaking into spontaneous renditions of children's nursery rhymes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of focused effort, Rihaan completed his artwork. Eyes alight with excitement, he cradled the drawing in his hands, eager to share it with Ananya. Glancing over at her desk, he noticed Ananya deeply immersed in her work, surrounded by stacks of documents and a laptop glowing with spreadsheets. Undeterred by her preoccupation, Rihaan tiptoed over with exaggeratedly quiet steps, standing beside her desk.

"Anya," he chirped in his gentle, singsong voice. Ananya, caught up in a flurry of emails and reports, absentmindedly hummed in response. Rihaan eagerly turned the drawing towards her, his voice tinged with childlike enthusiasm, "Look, Anya! I made it!"

Ananya, her mind racing with deadlines and business strategies, sighed softly, "Not now, Rihaan, please." Disappointment and frustration creased Rihaan's face. In a moment of childish defiance, he stubbornly shoved the drawing onto her cluttered desk, accidentally brushing against her coffee cup.

The cup teetered precariously, its contents cascading over Ananya's meticulously arranged files and spreading across the polished surface of her desk. Ananya's eyes widened in disbelief, instinctively reaching out to salvage her papers, but the damage was done. Anger and frustration surged within her-a reflection of the countless hours of dedication now marred by an unintended spill.

Summoning a deep breath to compose herself, Ananya suppressed the urge to lash out at Rihaan. She knew he didn't fully grasp the gravity of his actions. Keeping her voice steady, she gestured towards the plush couch in the corner of her office. Ananya took a deep breath, steadying her emotions before addressing Rihaan. Her voice, though calm, carried an underlying tension as she said, "Go and sit there."

Rihaan, caught off guard by Ananya's sudden command, attempted to interject, "Bu--"

But before he could finish his sentence, Ananya swiftly interrupted him, her tone sharper now, "I said sit over there, Rihaan."

There was an unintentional sternness in her voice that even Ananya herself didn't immediately recognize. It was as if her concern or frustration had seeped into her words, making them more forceful than she had intended.

Rihaan's shoulders slumped with dejection, his usually bright eyes glistening with unshed tears. He obediently shuffled over to the couch, his back turned towards Ananya. The air in the office hung heavy with unspoken tension-a stark contrast to Rihaan's earlier playful innocence.

Ananya, meanwhile, felt a mix of frustration and guilt. She rubbed her forehead wearily, lamenting the mess caused by the spilled coffee and the unintentional sharpness of her tone towards Rihaan. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she realized she needed a moment to gather her thoughts.

Standing up slowly, Ananya took tentative steps across her office. As she moved, her eyes caught sight of a piece of paper lying on the floor. Curious, she bent down to pick it up. The paper, now stained with coffee, revealed a drawing-a depiction of two figures. Despite the stains, the image was still discernible: a girl and a boy, holding hands, with colorful balloons floating above them.

Ananya's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the figures. Her eyes widened in surprise and then softened with emotion as she read the labels carefully written above each figure: "Anya" and "Rihaan". It was a simple yet heartfelt drawing, capturing a moment of innocence and companionship between them.

Tears welled up in Ananya's eyes as she realized the depth of Rihaan's perception of her. In that drawing, she saw herself through Rihaan's eyes-not as the cold, unfeeling executive others often perceived her to be, but as someone cherished and loved. The realization struck her deeply, stirring emotions she rarely allowed herself to acknowledge.

Ananya turned her gaze towards Rihaan, who sat quietly on the couch, shoulders slumped. Her initial frustration melted away, replaced by a profound sense of regret for her earlier sharpness towards him.

Ananya walked toward the sulking figure of Rihaan. His back was turned to her, his shoulders hunched in a posture of sadness and rejection. The echoes of her footsteps in the vast expanse of her office magnified her sense of guilt. She had let her frustrations spill over, and now she needed to make apologise.

She sat down beside him, the leather of the chair creaking softly. For a few moments, she simply sat there, the silence between them heavy and suffocating. Finally, she broke the silence with a soft voice, laden with regret. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her words hanging in the air like a fragile offering.

But Rihaan remained unmoved, his silence a testament to his hurt. He did not look at her. Ananya took a deep breath, understanding that she deserved this cold shoulder. She rose from her seat and moved to stand directly in front of him. Kneeling down, she gently took his hand in hers. He did not pull away, but he turned his face further from her, his anger clear.

A sad smile touched her lips as she looked down at their joined hands. Her smile held the weight of her pain and the guilt she felt. Why can't she manage to keep those around her happy, especially those who care about her? It seemed like all she did was hurt them, no matter how hard she tried. She shook her head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts clouding her mind.

Looking up at him, she saw he was still not looking at her, his expression stony. Her voice, quiet and filled with guilt, broke the silence again. "You know, Rihaan, I never had someone to share my feelings with, so I never knew how to feel when someone cares about me without any hidden intentions." She glanced at their joined hands, her expression distant and pained. "I never knew how to react when someone shows affection towards me. It feels.....foreign."

She paused, she looked up and saw him already looking at her with those beautiful eyes of his, confusion and sadness were etched on his innocent face. He couldn't grasp the complexity of her words; all he understood was that his friend was sad because of him, and that made him sad too.

"I always thought work was everything, that power was everything," she continued, her eyes reflecting a strange mix of emotions. "But now I'm not so sure."

Rihaan watched her with wide, innocent eyes, not fully understanding but sensing the weight of her feelings. "I'm sorry, Rihaan. Sorry for talking to you like that, for reacting like that. I would do anything to make it up to you. Just tell me how."

He looked down, his expression thoughtful as he considered her words. She watched his adorable, innocent gestures, wondering what she had done to deserve such a pure soul in her life. Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes bright with an idea.

"I know how," he said with childlike certainty.

She raised her brows in hope. "Then tell me."

His serious look contrasted with his usual cuteness. "We will eat ice cream, and then you can apologize. I'll forgive you. That's how Bhai apologizes to Riri."

A soft smile spread across Ananya's face. "Then shall we go?" she asked gently, standing up and holding out her hand to him.

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