There were times when nights were for sleep. All that took place now was chaos. Unhinged & uncalled for!

Neil took a hot shower to provide his body some relief from the cold weather and to take his mind off certain things that unfolded not in a very pleasant way in the span of last twelve hours. 

His men had found a mole in their organisation who had been successfully leaking information of their next move to his rival. However, before he could coerce him to provide leads on his rival, he had committed suicide. Also the fact that he just couldn't stop thinking about the woman he collided into at the club last night was beyond his comprehension. Her desperate moans, soft pleas and strikingly captivating black orbs was all that he could think about. 

Sighing, he turned the knob of the shower off as he wrapped a towel around him and walked into his closet. Picking up one of his regular pleated dark beige trouser pants and a brown pullover sweater, he dressed himself up before making his way towards his little munchkin's room. 

Neil smiled once he entered the room only to find his three years old niece snuggling into the blankets as she was still into a deep slumber. 

N - Ishipie! Wake up, baby! Look the sun is up already. - he spoke softly as he massaged her scalp slowly. 

I - Sun is running early, N-man! We need to sleep some more. - she mumbled as she tugged upon Neil's hands with her little ones. 

N - I thought you'd like to go on a date with N-man today? - he sighed. It's okay if you want to sleep in! - he made a long face to make sure that it would work. 

I - Brunch date? - and she was wide awake. 

A hearty chuckle escaped Neil's throat as he nodded his head in affirmation. He brushed back her hair as they fell on her tiny face. 

I - Will N-man help me get ready for the date? - she jumped up on the bed as she hugged Neil while her arms failed to meet each other around him. 

N - Anything for my Ishipie! - he carried her in his arms as he walked to the bathroom.  

Brushing her teeth and getting her clean after a warm bath, Neil dressed Isha up in black woollen leggings paired with a light brownish-orange frock. And then came the most dreaded part. It always took Neil almost an hour to get her hair done the way she wanted them to look like. So just like always, Isha chose how she wanted her hair to be done. 

I - I want to have braided-piggies, N-man! - she clapped her hands with a big grin on her face. 

N - Ishi, how about we settle for a big-girl ponytail. Yeah? - he tried to bargain as he blinked his eyes, hoping that would work. 

I - But I want piggies! - she blinked her eyes back and Neil almost groaned at how easily he was sold. 

 N - Piggies, it is! - he sighed. I guess, I'll just use Youtube! - he mumbled to himself before playing a video on the internet to help him with her hair-do.

After about an hour of tying and untying her hair in braids, Neil was finally able to get done with her braided pigtails as he sighed in relief with a satisfactory look on his face. Though one of the braids was a little crooked, but who cared. His Ishipie just looked cute anyways! 

I - You forgot the bow, N-man! - she told him while he nodded. 

Getting an off white bow to go with her outfit, Neil completed dressing her as he took her in his arms before walking out of the room. Once they were in the drawing room, he made Isha stand on her feet as he checked the time on his wristwatch. Isha was supposed to start schooling and Neil was paranoid about her safety, so the best option that he could come up with was to homeschool her. He had taken dozens of interviews of the best teachers but just couldn't hire any as they were apparently not good enough as per his giant checklist. 

Hoping that the one who was going to appear today would be a good catch, Neil asked Isha to wait for him before he walked towards the lobby once he was informed that the lady had been here.   

Neil looked up from his phone screen once he reached the lobby only to find the same strikingly captivating black orbs from last night staring back at him. Shock with a hint of embarrassment was written all over her face and if he was being truly honest, even his stomach did a flip when he saw her sitting there, in front of him, in his house, with those thick glasses as she blinked at him hard, her fingers fiddling with the ends of her coat. 

Taking in a deep breathe, he pushed all the swirling thoughts aside as he sat on the sofa opposite to her. 

N - Can I have your CV? - he asked, seemingly pulling Avni out of her thoughts. 

She nodded to herself a bit awkwardly before fishing the CV out of her bag. With slightly shaking hands, she held them out for him to take and just when he held the file, their fingers brushed. Avni's throat worked on a swallow as her eyes blinked, while Neil's reaction was more intramural and thus Avni couldn't notice it. A sudden flicker of warmth shot through Neil's body when their fingers came in contact and as someone whose body always remained cold for some rare medical reason, he was surprised how warm she felt. His eyes snapped up to hers while she shifted slightly in her seat as she met his gaze. And there was this thing that both of them felt but couldn't name it. 

Lust? But it was too intense to be just that! Longing? But how could one long for something one doesn't even know of! Anticipation? But that was just wrong, no matter how right or tempting it felt!  

Neil recovered first as he cleared his throat while tugging at the file that Avni was still holding. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she pulled her hand back as she rested them on her thighs while she watched him flipping through the pages of her CV and other documents. 

N - Things seem fine with the qualifications and your work-experience. However, I would only confirm the job once we go through a probation period. One month. In the mean time, you too,  can get to know about what I expect from you as Isha' s teacher. Works? 

A - Uh, Okay. I think it works for me, Mr. Khanna. But I'd like to meet the kid first? 

N - I'll arrange that. - he nodded. One more thing, I'll need longer hours than the usual. I'm out for work through out the day and Isha needs someone around. So, I guess you'll have to be present from 11 am sharp to 8 pm till night. I'll pay you as per your demands, but the time is non-negotiable. - he finished, eyes held no emotion, tone business-like curt and cold which almost made Avni shiver.    

A - I guess I'll have to see to that. We have time till the probation period. I'll let you know if the timing works for me. - she said with a thoughtful expression on her face.

N - Fair enough! - he nodded.

And the discussion went on for a while till the point they had discussed her fees, timings, things that Neil wanted to put forward about his expectation in a teacher for his niece. 

N - Miss Mehta, I want you to be a little patient with Isha. She is all excited and goofy but she does get shy whenever she encounters someone new. So, she might take some time to warm up to you! - he told, for the first time his eyes softening as he mentioned his niece and Avni smiled at his thoughtfulness.

A - I'll take care of that, Mr. Khanna! - she said.

N - Well, its settled then. We can start with the probation from tomorrow? - he asked.

A - Sure. - she smiled, her nervousness nowhere to be found now. 

N - Would you-

I - N-man, we're getting late! - came Isha's voice as she ran with her little steps towards Neil. 

However, her steps took a halt when she looked at Avni. Quietly she walked up to Neil before she settled in his lap, swinging her legs back & forth. 

I - Who is she, Mama? - she whispered in Neil's ears while Avni just kept watching the duo. 

N - She is going to teach you. Remember, you wanted to count up to hundred? She's going to teach you that! - he told her softly while Avni was just completely mesmerized at how beautiful and comfortable they looked together.

I - Will she teach me how to write my name? - she asked as her big doe eyes moved to Avni.

N - Yes. She is going to teach you all that. You want to go shake hands with her? - he smiled while Isha nodded. 

Sliding down Neil's lap, Isha walked up to Avni who was smiling at her warmly. Isha extended her tiny palm in front of Avni as her cheeks turned a faint shade of red.

I - Hi. My name is Isha. - she said, a bit shy as she told her name to Avni.

A - Hi, Isha! I am Avni. Would you like to be my friend? - she asked as she shook her hand. She couldn't unsee how her eyes were exactly like that of her uncle's. The same hazel brown colour with a beautiful sweep of thick lashes. 

Isha grinned as she nodded at Avni, and then ran back to Neil, making her laugh at the cuteness. She indeed was curious to know about her parents and about the fact that why she was staying with her uncle, Mr. Khanna. But going with her better judgement, she kept silent as she resisted to ask about Isha's family. 

N - Ishi, could you please go & get your bag-pack? We'll leave for the date, hm? - he asked and Isha nodded in excitement. 

Placing a kiss on his cheek, she ran inside to get her bag. 

N - Alright then, Miss Mehta, I hope to see you at 11 tomorrow? - he stood up, and Avni followed the action. 

A - Uh, about last night! Look, I- -she was cut midsentence & it was only then that Avni realised she was standing only a few steps away from him. 

N - Trust me, it's the best for you to forget that last night happened. - he mumbled, voice held the edge of a threat as he took a step towards her, making Avni gulp in anticipation & fear.

A - Yes, I- - she tried.

N - Please come regularly, Buttercup! - he whispered as he brushed back a loose strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Avni could feel a shiver running down her spine as he looked at her with those whiskey eyes, the same danger lurking behind the coldness that he held in them. 

Stop! Stop you little menace. He is talking about coming to work regularly & not that coming! 

A - Mr. Khanna, I- - she breathed in. I need to leave. See you tomorrow.  

Or not? Not so dear Universe! What in the crispy pringles is wrong with you? Was it not embarrassing enough that I was shamelessly jumping his bones last night in a state of complete waste? Now I'm even getting turned on just by his so-hot-that-it-is-stupid voice! And god, that delicious smell! Okay-okay. Sush! Alright, at this point, just stop, Mehta!

Shaking her head in an attempt to clear the fog of her self-derogatory and horny thoughts, she resisted the urge to sprint out of the room while taking each step with precision, not wanting to fall down in front of him. Again! 

However, she could swear she heard him chuckle behind her. 

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A/N : That would be Isha with her N-man for you all -