(Rk's POV)

(One Year Later)

It's been more than a year since Miss. Malik joined my company & I slowly started growing feelings for her since the day she nursed me when I fell sick. I loved the care she showed for me. It made me feel loved. I have never been loved by anyone before. I am an only child to my parents, thankfully. Yes, I am thankful to them for not having another kid. I would have been in total mess wondering how to handle my brother or sister because I don't know to handle myself. I am a self constructed man not guided & guarded by my parents as they were too busy in quarreling. I had a very traumatic childhood. Never been in a peaceful atmosphere. At one point my parents got divorced & part their ways away & I had been in a tug of war. Both of them fighting for my custody. I didn't want to live with either of them & that's what exactly I said when the judge asked with whom I want to live. I just wanted to run far away from them but my ill fate, my custody was given to my mom & my dad can have me & spend time on weekends. I hated my parents even more when they totally forgot about me & remarried to their own love affairs. When I attained major I left both of them back in London & came to India, lived with my grandparents but didn't depend on them, I joined college & did various part time jobs to pay my expenses & once I completed my Masters in Administration, I set up my own business which brought me to the place where I am now. Rich, Successful, Arrogant, Egoistic & workaholic.

If anything is missing in my life then it would be True Love. I want to be loved by someone & that someone is Miss. Malik. I feel happy when she is around me. I feel complete. I don't believe in love at first sight crap, but I should agree I had a spark for her since the very first day she joined as my secretary. Then I started admiring her, her sincerity, her down to earth nature, her patience, her care, her love, everything about her tucked my heart and I fell 'In love with my secretary'. Yes, I just not want her. I need her, all my life. I don't know whether she loves me or not. She has never shown any sign of liking or interest for me which really hurts me. Only a few times I have caught her staring me while taking my dictation or traveling with me in car & I don't know whether to take that as a love sign. But I don't care, I just want her so I am gonna let her no my feelings to her, may be after that she will start feeling for me too. If she still rejects me, then I can be very persuasive. No one dare to deny Rk's wishes or wants or words or orders. And I am sure, Miss. Malik is well aware of that.

Tonight we are having new year's eve party in Purple Orchid Hotel & I have invited all my staffs so Miss. Malik will definitely be there, if not also I will make sure she attends by assigning some work to her & force her to stay with me, which I am doing more often these days just to hold her to me for long by over loading her with works & once she complete I will drive her home. So yeah, I can't find a better time than this to confess my love to Miss. Malik. I just wish to welcome her into my life along with the new year.

__0__

I am impatiently waiting for Miss. Malik to reach the party venue. Already the party is going on full swing but still she hasn't arrived. I let myself to the bar counter & order a flute of white crispy wine. I take the glass in my hand & casually glance around & my eyes land on a beautiful sight. Miss. Malik walking slowly & gracefully, draped in a beautiful black net saree, her gloss rich hair streaming down over her breast. This is not the first time I am seeing her in saree, even in her sister's marriage which took place two months back I have seen her in silk saree. I felt so happy to take part in her family function, I have never attend one before that. Every time I see her in saree my heart skip a beat. She is just wow. She has a perfect hour glass figure. Suddenly she catches me staring at her & she smiles at me politely. I just rise my wine glass little & nod my head acknowledging her presence. Then she mingles with her friends gang while I take that time to calm my nerves & wait for the right time to confess.

Finally, I lost my patience, she is not paying attention to me. Not even a glance. She is too busy sipping her drink & chatting with her colleagues.

"Miss. Malik, could you please come with me for a minute?" I ask.

"Sure, Chief" she places her drink beside her on a table & walks with me. I take her to the pool area as it is deserted. She waits for me to say something. But I walk past her close to the pool, my hands tucked into my pants pockets as I look at the image of the moon on the water. A minute later Miss. Malik joins me standing beside me looking down at the pool water. I smile seeing the water image of her face. No question, she is more beautiful than the moon.

"Miss. Malik, I have something important to tell you..." I start but she cuts off me saying "Is it about the deal, Chief?" Deal? What deal she is talking about? Yes, of course its a life time deal but how does she know about it before I tell her? I wonder.

"Our new project in which we are working for months now" she clarifies obviously getting my confused look. God! She is talking business. I want to talk about my life... Our life!!

"No it's not about the deal, hopefully we will seal tomorrow. It's something personal" I tell her. She looks at me biting her lower lip.

"Um... Tell me, Chief"

"I... You..." I clear my throat. She patiently waits for me to complete.

"Happy New Year" I wish & hug her as we hear the sound of fireworks. I hold her for a moment longer inhaling her sweet scent, drawing strength from her to confess my love.

"Um...Thank you, Chief. Happy New Year" she wishes me back stepping back from me. I guess I took her by surprise by hugging her. She smiles at me & then looks up above the sky & her eyes glitters with childish glee.

"You like to see fireworks?" I ask conversationally.

"Yes. I love fireworks." she dazzles a smile at me & went back to gazing the sky.

"Madhu..." I whisper near her ear & turn her to face me. She looks at me surprised. Yes, I have never addressed her 'Madhu' but only Miss. Malik.

"Yes" she says giving her undivided attention to me.

"Madhu, I love you. Marry me!" I dictate her. Oh Crap! I sound so business like instead of being romantic. Well, I don't like beating around the bush so I blurted out my feelings openly but I could have made it little more romantic though I feel going on knees & proposing an outdated proposal.

Madhu stares at me shell shocked with her lips slightly parts. Wish I could sweep my tongue in through the partings.

"Madhu?" I gently shake her shoulder to bring her back to earth.

"Um... I guess I heard you wrong, Chief"

"No, you heard exactly what I said" I am sure she heard me right, that's why she is dumb stuck.

"So?" I ask.

"So what, Chief?" she looks clueless.

"I want to marry you" I tell her loud & clear.

"Why me?" she asks.

"What do you mean?" What's her problem in marrying me?

"Chief, you are so rich but I am not. I am just your employee, how can I be your wife?"

"Miss. Malik, I am talking about love not richness & status." I say & run my fingers through my hair.

"But I..." Is she going to reject my proposal?

"No, Miss. Malik, don't tell your decision now. Go home, take your time & tell me your decision... Hope its positive" I tell her with a gentle smile.

"What if its negative?" She asks nervously. I can guess where she is coming from.

"Don't worry Miss. Malik, if you turn down my proposal also I wont fire you." but why the hell she would reject my proposal? Who the hell will not be willing to marry me? The most handsome, successful & eligible bachelor? But who am I kidding? This is Madhu we are talking about.

"Thank you, Chief" she sighs in relief. When I am offering her myself, she is worried about her job. I cant believe her. She values her dignity & self esteem & that's the most I adore about her. She is something... Something different... So sweet & pure at heart & I want her for myself as long as I shall live.

"Miss. Malik, wait..." I stop her when she turns to walk back in.

"Chief?"

"Two days. Your dead line is two days" I don't think I can wait any longer to hear her decision. She blinks her eyes stunned hearing my commanding tone. Well, that's me! After all I am a fucking businessman.

__0__

Finally!! I walk into my bedroom & halt in my track seeing Madhu sitting at the center of the bed. She hasn't changed her wedding attire yet. I like it. I realize I am holding the door & gawking her mindlessly so I turn & lock the door. Then I walk towards her slowly not taking my eyes off her, she has hidden her face beneath a veil & her hands hugging her propped up knees, her head bent down in shyness. I sit right opposite to her on the bed & look at her admiringly, wishing & hoping to hear something from her sweet voice.

"Madhu..." I gently call her. She tilts her head up & looks at me through the veil. I take my hands forward to reveal her beautiful face.

"Masha Allah" I murmur seeing her flawless face. She nervously fidgets her fingers & I place my hand over hers to stop her doing that at the same time I want to touch her & make sure that I am not dreaming & I truly got married to the love of my life.

"You are here. It's real!" I tell her with a smile. She looks puzzled.

"You took me by surprise by giving your consent to be my wife" I was literally stoked when she agreed to marry me. Well, if she didn't agree also I have my ways to make her agree. I can be very persuasive but I am glad she willingly accepted.

"You took me by surprise by proposing me to marry you" she whispers in her soft little voice. I chuckle.

(Flash back)

(Two weeks ago)

This is my D-Day. I didn't sleep for the past two nights wondering what will be Miss. Malik's decision. Now I regret giving her two days time to decide. I just wish she puts me out of misery soon by answering to my proposal & pray her answer is favourable to me.

Today is a very busy day, three meetings since morning & all the while I had Miss. Malik by my side but she didn't even show a hint of acceptance or rejection to my proposal. She behaved so normal & very professional. Is she really giving a serious thought to my marriage proposal?

I hear a sharp knock on my cabin's door.

"Come in" I call. There Miss. Malik enters as fresh as daisy. She is one nature beauty. Simple & elegant.

"Yes, Miss. Malik" I expect her to say her decision as its almost close to her dead line but she forwards a file in front of me.

"I need your sign, Chief" she says in her soft voice.

"Keep it here. I will check & sign later" I tell in my usual business tone. She nods & places it in front of my table. Then she turns to walk back to her seat but I stop her.

"Miss. Malik..."

"Yes, Chief" she gives her undivided attention to me.

"Have you given any serious thought to what I had said on new year's eve?" I ask softly not wanting to show my desperation.

"Yes, I have" she whispers back.

"Well?" I ask.

"Can we go somewhere private?" she asks hesitantly. Oh! That's fine by me. In fact I thought of suggesting her that.

"Sure. Shall we discuss this in my penthouse?"

"Hmm... okay" she trust me enough to come with me to my penthouse to discuss our future. I like it.

"Come" I open the door for her to walk first and then I lead her to the elevator which takes us to my penthouse.

"Wine or water?" I ask as she takes a seat on the living room sofa.

"Water, please" she sounds nervous. I nod & went in to my kitchen to pour some water for her & white wine for me.

"You don't have servant maids to do all this for you?" she asks when I hand her a glass of water.

"Well, I do. Patil is my caretaker. But I do have two long legs & hands to do some simple jobs. So why trouble him?" I tell her with a gentle laugh.

"Relax Miss.Malik, I am not any vampire or werewolf to gobble you" I tease her. She smiles a little.

"So?" I ask. I am losing my patience.

"I can't understand the things happening around me..."

"What do you mean?"

"Your sudden love proposal, marriage talks... I can't believe I am sitting in front of my employer..."

"Hold on, Miss. Malik... here we are not sharing employer & employee relationship. I thought you would feel so in office so I brought you to my house to make you feel better..."

She looks at me silently.

"Miss. Malik... I just want you to feel free and honest tell your decision. I am not forcing anything on you. It's totally your call to marry me or not" oh! Please say you will marry me. I want you baby to love you all my life.

"Well, then please call me Madhu, Chief"

"Back at you Madhu, call me Rk" I say. She giggles. I love that sound.

"Rishab, do you really love me?" I got lost the moment she called me Rishab. It's been so long since I have been addressed by my first name.

"Come again?"

"Do you really love me? Because I find it hard to believe. I am nowhere to your standard. You can do lot more better than me. Super rich girls are lined up to marry you then why me?"

"I really can't answer why? Because I have never felt the way I feel for you. I was never interested in marriage life & all. I was like a hermit living in this huge mansion. But now I feel the need to share whatever I have with you, with only you, I want to give you everything & anything you want... I want to cherish you... I could see my future only with you..."

"But why?"

"Because... I love you" I say confidently.

"For how long you are having this feelings for me?"

"Long enough"

"Exactly when?"

"Why its so hard for you believe that I can love you?"

"I am trying to understand things"

"If I say the very first day you joined my office then if would be a lie. No! It's not a love at first sight. But yeah, I liked you the very instant I met you, you were so beautiful & intellectual & I name that as attraction or admiration but definitely not love. Love can never happen in a moment, it takes time... time to know & understand someone... it took me a short while to understand you as you are an open book. You are so sweet, strong willed, stubborn girl which I adore the most in you" I tell her sincerely. She blushes sweetly.

"So I guess I really took a reasonable time to fell in love with you. But trust me, I truly madly deeply irrevocably in love with" I confess taking her hand in mine as we stare each other intensely.

"Do you love me, Madhu?" I ask her.

"I don't know..." she tells & bites her bottom lip, may be feeling guilty for openly telling how she feels. But I am glad she is honest to me. I know she hasn't fallen in love with me but soon she will if she gives her consent to marry me.

"I know" I smile at her.

"Like how I took my sweet time to fall for you, you too will need time" I reason her & myself. So this is her answer. She is not in love with me so she is not ready to marry me. I leave her hand & sit opposite to her on the couch & we remain silent not knowing what to say or ask.

"Umm... can I ask you something?" she hesitantly asks breaking the silence. I am just glad that she is still here & talking.

"Anything?"

"Your family?" she asks.

"What?"

"Your parents or siblings or..."

"I stay alone here & I don't have any siblings"

"So where are you parents?"

"Why do you want to know about all that unnecessary information?" I ask puzzled. I don't have anything good to say about my parents as they never cared for me & I for them.

"I just wanted to know. But that's absolutely fine if you don't want to share with me."

"Well, my parents are living in London. They got divorced & remarried to their love interest when I was a small boy. I stayed unwillingly with my mom on weekdays & with my dad on weekends. They were so neglectful on me & soon after I attained majority, I came to India to live with my grandparents..." I take a deep breathe. Its hard to rekindle my childhood.

"I'm sorry" she whispers, obviously getting my uneasiness.

"Then I did my college education here & started my own business & you know where I am now"

"Do you visit your parents often?"

"Not really. It's been more than two years since I last met them when I went to London on business."

"But you went London two months back too?"

"You were with me only most of the time & we were busy finalizing the deal & I didn't see them in my spare time too"

"I know they didn't care for you but still they are your parents..."

"Now what you expect me to do? Okay, for your satisfaction I will pay them a visit, fine?"

"Okay..."

"Now what?"

"Do take me"

"You will come?" But why?

"So that I can get blessing from my future in laws" she shyly tells.

For a minute I didn't understand what she meant by that. Does that mean she will marry me?

"You will marry me & be my wife for the life time?" I don't want her to leave me ever & part ways just like my parents. That's miserable.

"Only if you give me some time to love you truly madly deeply & irrevocably like you do me. I don't like to stand behind in anything especially not in showing my love & I guess you are so easy to be loved."

"Take your time, Madhu. I will wait as long as you make our bond so strong with your love" I say & dazzle her with a contented smile on my face. She really made me ecstatically happy by giving her consent to be my wife.

"I guess, I should leave now"

"I will drop you"

"Thanks"

"And Madhu..." I call.

"Yes"

"Will your mother agree for our marriage?"

"She will" she says confidently. "My happiness is hers"

"Then I will make you happy as long as we shall live together" I vow solemnly. She just smiles.

"Come. I will drop you & also talk to you mother about our marriage"

"Okay" she agrees.

Her mother was so happy for us & she only asked me to keep her daughter happy & I promised her that I will. She is so like Madhu not at all concerned about how rich I am. They value their self respect & dignity.

Then that weekend Madhu & I flew to London to visit my parents, though I was least bothered to inform them about my marry as they themselves know a little about marriage & its sacredness but I did that just to please Madhu as she feels their approval & blessings important. And of course my mom & dad seemed so happy for us but not their new partners, well who cares about their feelings. They didn't even care to visit India to attend their only son's wedding & their absence didn't affect me at all as I have Madhu now to wipe out all my worries & loneliness.

(Flash back ends)

"You are looking so beautiful, Madhu. I couldn't take my eyes off you" I whisper to her. She blushes.

"This red saree compliments your flawless skin" I say grazing my hand on her lehenga.

"Are you happy?" I ask her.

"Yes. I am" she says softly. "You?" she asks back.

"Can't you tell? Of course I am happy. This is my most memorable & happiest day of my life" she smiles hearing that.

"Now, Go! Change to something comfortable" I tell her. She nods & I make way for her to climb out of the bed.

I use the other bathroom to freshen up & by the time I returned to our room I find Madhu sitting on the same place of the bed like before.

I smile at her & climb on the bed next to her & lie down.

She frowns at me before asking nervously "You... You don't have any expectation from me?"

"Well, I do but I know you are not ready for any kind of intimacy this soon so I am not going to make any advances... take your time, Love" I say caressing her cheek with my index finger. She is so soft.

"How do you know that?"

"Know what?"

"That I am not ready..."

"From the moment I entered in you were so nervous & just now you heaved a sigh of relief knowing that we are not going to make love" she turns pink hearing me say that. She is so pure & innocent.

"I am sorry for making you wait." she whispers, seems embarrassed too.

"You don't worry, I will make up for all the wait" I wink at her. She blushes  cutely, again.

"Shall we sleep?" I ask her. She nods & lies beside me.

"Can I hold you?" I ask her permission though I know she is mine for taking.

"Oh please, Rishab. For God sake you are my husband & you have all right on me so don't embarrass me even more than I am already by asking my permission to touch me." she gently scolds. I f**king love to hear her call me Rishab.

"Touch you but not touch you?" I love to tease her. I don't want to sleep but just talk with her all night as I never had company.

"Oh please. You can touch me. I am yours, forever"

"I am very pleased to hear that" then I lean forward to kiss her but I sense her nervousness again.

"Just a goodnight kiss. I am not going to f**k your mouth so don't worry" I tell her grinning & she blushes again. God! How I wish to kiss her rose petal lips? How I wish to make love to her? How I wish to hold her in my arms till eternity?

I lean down & tenderly kiss her forehead as she closes her eyes in bliss. This is more than enough for now. I can sleep peacefully with the knowledge that I have someone to love me & care for me & I have someone to reciprocate it.

... To be Continued!!!

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