Chapter : 10

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2 months later~

The office was bathed in the late afternoon glow, the sun casting a warm, golden hue over everything. Dev was deeply engrossed in a set of financial reports, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to make sense of the complex numbers before him. The world outside had fallen into a quiet lull, the typical bustle of the day slowing to a more subdued rhythm. But just as he was about to delve deeper into the intricate details, a soft, yet commanding voice broke through his focus.

“Mister Dev.”

The sound was gentle, almost tentative, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it—an effort to command the kind of respect that his actual boss, Ananya, naturally wielded. Dev’s eyes lifted from the page, and as he looked up, he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

Sitting in Ananya’s large, imposing chair was Rihaan.Today, Rihaan had decided to play the role of Ananya, the formidable and brilliant CEO of the company.

Seeing Rihaan in Ananya’s chair was both amusing and endearing. His tall frame seemed to fit perfectly on the chair, yet at the same time, he looked like a child playing dress-up in his parents’ clothes. His posture was straight, his expression serious as he tried to mimic the authority he had seen in his wife, but the effect was somewhat undercut by the sparkle of excitement in his eyes.

“Yes, sir?” Dev responded, his voice carrying the same level of respect he would use with Ananya, though his heart was warmed by the sight before him.

Rihaan cleared his throat, a tiny frown creasing his brow as he tried to deepen his voice into something more commanding. But the effort only made his tone softer, the childlike lilt in his voice overcoming any attempt at severity. “I want a milkshake,” he announced, his words meant to be firm, though they came out more as a plea than a command.

Dev had to suppress a chuckle, biting down on his lip to keep from laughing out loud. The juxtaposition of Rihaan’s serious demeanor with the innocent request was simply too sweet. But Dev was careful not to let his amusement show too much; he knew how important this moment was to Rihaan. He gave a small, respectful nod, the corners of his mouth twitching with the effort of keeping a straight face.

“Right away, sir,” Dev said with a slight bow, playing along with the role Rihaan was so earnestly attempting.

He turned and swiftly exited the office, his steps quick and light as he made his way down the hallway. As he walked, Dev couldn’t help but smile to himself, his thoughts filled with the image of Rihaan sitting there, trying so hard to be serious and busy. Rihaan’s attempts to mirror Ananya were adorable—his earnestness only making the contrast more endearing. Dev was glad to indulge him, finding a deep sense of joy in these small moments of playfulness.

Just as he was rounding a corner, his phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his reverie. He pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID before answering. “What! Yeah, I’m coming,” Dev said, the tone of his voice shifting from the warm, gentle one he used with Rihaan to something more urgent and professional. He quickened his pace, heading straight for the elevator at the end of the hall. His thoughts briefly shifted to the task at hand, but a fond smile still lingered on his face as he pictured Rihaan back in the office, probably continuing his little charade.

As the elevator doors closed behind him, the office was left in a quiet stillness, save for the soft rustle of papers as Rihaan busied himself at the desk. He had found a stack of old, unused documents—likely something Ananya had set aside long ago—and was examining them with great concentration. Ananya’s reading glasses were perched on the tip of his nose, far too large for his face, but he didn’t seem to mind. He had seen her wear them while working, so naturally, they were part of his costume today.

Rihaan’s lips formed a small pout as he stared at the papers, his eyes narrowing in an attempt to decipher the text. But the words on the page seemed to blur together, their meaning lost on him. Still, that didn’t deter Rihaan. He picked up a pen from the holder on the desk, his fingers clumsy but determined as he tried to check the documents, just like he had seen Ananya do so many times before.

His efforts were earnest, even if the marks he made were random and meaningless. He would furrow his brow, make a little checkmark here or there, and then set the paper aside with a satisfied nod, convinced that he had done something important. Once he had gone through the entire stack, Rihaan pushed the papers to one side and swiveled the chair toward the laptop that sat in the center of the desk.

The screen lit up with a soft glow as he opened the laptop, and Rihaan’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure at first. But then, remembering how Ananya’s hands would move so swiftly and confidently over the keys, he began to type. Of course, Rihaan had no idea what he was typing, his fingers pressing random letters and numbers, creating a nonsensical string of characters on the screen. But in his mind, he was composing something important—perhaps an email to a client or a crucial document for the company.

As he typed, his face was a picture of concentration, his lips pursed in a tight line as he tried to mimic the serious expression he had seen on Ananya’s face so many times before. The only sound in the room was the soft clacking of keys and the occasional rustle as Rihaan shifted in the large chair, trying to find a comfortable position.

But his ‘important work’ was soon interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Rihaan’s fingers paused mid-air, his head snapping up at the sound. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across his face—should he answer? But then he remembered his role. He was the boss now, and bosses gave orders. He straightened his back, adjusted the glasses on his nose, and cleared his throat.

“Come in,” he said, doing his best to sound authoritative, though his voice still carried that unmistakable note of innocence.

The door creaked open, and a young woman, likely one of the new interns, stepped into the room. She was in her early twenties, her expression a mixture of nervousness and curiosity as she took in the scene before her. The sight of Rihaan sitting behind the desk, his tall figure trying to look imposing, with glasses too big for his face, was unexpected, to say the least. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next, but Rihaan gave her a small nod, just like he had seen Ananya do.

“Yes?” Rihaan asked, trying to keep his voice even and controlled, though it came out more like a gentle inquiry than a stern demand.

The young woman blinked, clearly taken aback by the sight. She had heard about Rihaan, of course—everyone in the office knew about him. But seeing him like this, trying so earnestly to play the role of his wife, was something entirely different. She did her best to keep her expression neutral, not wanting to offend him.

“I, um, I was told to bring these documents to the office,” she said, holding up a folder, her voice wavering slightly.

Rihaan considered this for a moment, his mind racing to recall how Ananya would handle such a situation. “Leave them on the desk,” he instructed, his tone serious, though there was a hint of uncertainty behind it.

The woman stepped forward, her movements careful and deliberate as she placed the folder on the desk. She couldn’t help but notice the mess of papers, the random keystrokes on the laptop screen, and the way Rihaan was trying so hard to maintain his serious expression. It was endearing, to say the least, and she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.

“Is there anything else, sir?” she asked, doing her best to sound professional.

Rihaan thought for a moment, then shook his head, feeling a surge of pride at how well he had handled the situation. “No, that will be all,” he said, waving his hand in a gesture of dismissal—just like Ananya would.

The young woman nodded and quickly exited the room, her heart warmed by the sight of Rihaan trying so hard to play the role of the boss. Once outside, she couldn’t help but let out a small giggle, the image of him sitting there, with those oversized glasses and his determined expression, replaying in her mind.

Inside the office, Rihaan let out a small breath, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had handled that just like a real boss, just like Ananya would. Turning back to the laptop, he resumed his ‘important work,’ a small smile of satisfaction on his lips.

Unbeknownst to him, Dev was making his way back to the office, the urgent task from before now resolved. As he approached the door with a milkshake in his hand, he could hear the faint sound of typing—though it was more like the random tapping of keys than actual typing. He paused for a moment outside the door, a fond smile spreading across his face. He could just picture Rihaan inside, still playing the part of the boss, trying to show himself busy.

Ah! This is going to be a fun day.

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