10. Falling?

Jai

I've never felt this way before, Anika made me genuinely happy. She had the ability to make me forget everything else.

I might be falling for my future wife. Am I? No I don't think so.. But will I fall in love with my future wife in the near future? Definitely!

After spending a few peaceful hours with Anika, I headed home. She was a goofball, but that was one of the things I loved about her.

As I drove home, I realized that I needed to start searching for a home. I wanted us to have our own private space when we got married.

It wasn't that Anika didn't get along with my parents; in fact, she loved them.

I had my personal reasons for wanting more privacy.

When I got home, I had to attend a meeting. I felt the need to participate in all of them to gain a better understanding of everything before taking over as the CEO.

However, today was different. I felt restless and had a terrible headache.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was just the beginning and if the workload would only get more overwhelming in the future.

I knew I was overthinking, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

I woke up early the next morning, around 6 a.m., and did a quick workout before heading to the office. I was usually the first one to arrive, eager to start my day.

However, today was different. I couldn't shake the restlessness, and my headache had worsened. I tried to work, but it was a waste of time.

The constant meetings and discussions only added to my discomfort.

During lunchtime, I retreated to my cabin, sitting at my desk and massaging my temples. I rarely had visitors in my office, and meetings were usually scheduled through the landline.

So, when I heard a knock on the door, I was surprised.

"Come in," I said, not expecting anyone but my assistant.

Anika walked in, and I couldn't help but feel a slight relief. Her presence alone seemed to reduce my headache.

"Hey," she greeted me with concern in her eyes.

"Hey," I replied, looking up at her.

"What brings you here?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I just wanted to stop by for lunch," she replied, her caring nature evident.

I gestured for her to sit, offering the chair across from my desk. I decided to join her, taking a seat beside her.

"You don't look great. What happened?" Anika asked, stating the obvious concern in her voice.

"Headache," I replied, rubbing my temples.

She studied me for a moment, her concern growing.

"Do you have any plans after lunch?" she inquired.

"I do, but honestly, I'm not in any condition," I admitted.

She seemed to read my mind because before I could decline her offer, she said, "Don't worry; I won't tire you out."

I smirked, my mind momentarily wandering in the wrong direction.

Anika quickly corrected me, "I didn't mean it like that, you idiot." She laughed, a mixture of amusement and embarrassment on her face.

She was soo adorable.

I wasn't about to admit it, but Anika had been my ray of sunshine since college. She and Aarav used to have endless conversations at our dining table, from class gossip to career plans.

I felt like I knew everything about her, but perhaps there were still hidden depths to her.

"So, what brings you here?" I asked, steering the conversation away from personal matters.

"I brought you lunch," she said, holding up a bag that presumably contained our meal. She handed me one of the boxes, which was still warm.

"Thank you," I said, accepting the box.

We opened our lunch boxes, and I was pleasantly surprised to find my comfort food, rajma chawal. I hadn't had it in a while.

"I wanted to thank you for yesterday," Anika said, her gaze fixed on me.

She didn't need to thank me for something so small. I had merely bought a few supplies and some takeaway lunch.

"You really have low standards, Anika," I teased.

"Maybe," she replied with a smile. No one had ever looked at me the way she did, like I held a piece of the moon.

I simply shrugged in response, unable to express how much her presence meant to me

"How's your day been?" I casually inquired.

I wasn't much of a chatterbox, and I enjoyed letting her fill the silence with her stories. Her stories had a way of making me want to keep grinning, especially when she made those adorable expressions.

"It was alright, had a client meeting in the morning. I'm heading to the vendors later to discuss today's stuff," she replied.

"You could just give them a call, you know," I suggested.

"I know, genius," she rolled her eyes playfully.

"But I prefer being there in person. I'm not the boss; I just tell them what to do and show them my designs."

In that moment, it struck me how different our work styles were. I could handle things with a simple phone call, while she preferred face-to-face interactions.

She went on to share some stories about her colleagues, and we dug into our meal.

The food was fantastic, reminding me of my mom's cooking. Even though I was home every day, I couldn't spend as much time there as I used to.

"How's the food?" she asked.

"Delicious! Where's this from?" I inquired.

"My kitchen," she replied.

"You made this?" I asked, genuinely surprised. I realized there was so much I didn't know about her beyond what she discussed with Aarav in my presence. I wanted that to change.

"You'll be in charge of cooking after we get married," I teased, almost smiling.

"Yes, your majesty," she quipped, making it all feel easy and comfortable.

She had a way of making interactions enjoyable. She effortlessly brought out my feelings and words.

"Take this tablet; it'll help with your headache," she said, handing me a pill.

"You carry tablets with you?" I asked, taken aback.

"Only when I'm on my period" she replied.

"You might need it, then," I said, passing the tablet back to her.

"I'll grab another on my way back. Have this one," I took the tablet with some water.

"When was the last time you got more than four hours of sleep?" she asked, eyeing me. I told her about that a when we met at the restaurant.

"Not since I arrived here, I think," I admitted.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, you know," she pointed out.

I didn't respond because, well, maybe I was, but I wasn't about to admit it. I had a burning desire to succeed, a major goal I'd been pursuing for years.

"You should talk to your dad about it. Is he putting too much pressure on you? He won't refuse to—" she started to say.

"Know your limits Anika. Don't overstep the boundaries just because we've been getting along." I immediately regretted my words after I said them.

I was calm most of the time, but this headache seems to bring out the worst in me.

"I didn't mean—" I began.

She stood up, ready to leave.

"No, you're right. It's none of my business," she replied, her expression neutral, and left my office.

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