She went downstairs and went straight to the kitchen where Raymond was making Scrambled eggs for her.

"You need a hand?", she asked.

"No, I am good. Just grab a plate and come", he smiled and said looking at her.

She picked up a plate and came immediately and stood close to him and asked again,

"You really-really don't need any help?"

"Ok if you are so interested in doing mundane chores then go and get my laptop from the bedroom. It would be inside the left side-drawer", he said while working on the eggs.

"Ai Ai Captain", she said and marched up towards the bedroom. She had just opened the side drawer and was about to pick up the laptop when she saw Raymond storming inside the bedroom.

"Wait wait, I will get it myself", he said and pushed the drawer back.

"What are you hiding there Raymond?", Akira asked getting all curious.

"It's nothing. Some personal papers. Can you just go to the kitchen and eat your food", Raymond spoke with his face looking pale and panic-stricken all of a sudden.

"I am not liking this Raymond, Can you please tell me what is there that I cannot see?", Akira asked sounding all irritated.

Raymond looked at her helplessly for a moment and then moved aside.

Akira dashed forward and open the drawer and look the laptop out and saw what was underneath.

"My boarding pass !!!", she exclaimed.

"You were trying to hide this? And how did you even get this?"

"See, this was precisely the reason why I didn't want you to see it in the first place. I didn't steal it. You had dropped it at the airport exit and I just happened to be there and I picked it up. I even tried to stop you to give it back to you, but you didn't even turn back once".

Her mouth was left open.

She couldn't believe that he would treasure such an insignificant thing just because it was related to her. She came forward and stood on her toes and hoisted herself up and said,

"You make me love you so much more".

And then she kissed him and said,

"I am going to make you fall in love with me all over again with my dedicated work in the office from tomorrow", she said and touched his nose with hers.

"So you are going to talk with Vikram about it?", Raymond asked.

"I already did and he knew that I wanted it, without me even asking about it. So he has called me to the office today. He said he will initiate the resignation process."

"I see", he said, not sounding that happy.

"Why do you sound so grumpy when I am resigning and coming back to you?"

"I am happy for that, just that the thought of you going...."

"I am just going there to resign, have lunch with him and come back. That's it.

"Lunch !!!" You are going out on lunch with him", Raymond exclaimed and he seemed clearly displeased.

"It's not a big deal Raymond. He is not as bad as you think. He promised me that he would do anything to keep me happy. So let's just give him a chance, shall we? For my sake at least?", Akira begged.

"Ok Ok, but this is so not fair. You wear the dress I buy for you and go on a lunch date with some else??? Not justified Akira !!!".

"Well then how about, I will let you off this dress later?", she asked acting all coy.

"You !!! You are becoming way too brave day by day. From where are you conjuring all... "

And suddenly their conversation was interrupted again by a phone call.

.

.

It was a call from Vikram on Raymond's cell phone.

"Pick it up !!! and be nice", Akira said and went downstairs.

"Hello, Raymond".

"Hello Mr. Shah", Raymond replied curtly.

Vikram took a deep breath for Raymond's curt voice itself was an insult to him.

"The annual event of the Global Council of Gaming is only a week away, so I wanted to push the personal matters aside and wanted to check on the progress. A victory in this would mean a big deal for both our companies, so I expect that we can cast away our differences and work hard towards it".

"I suppose so !!!", Raymond said.

"That's great then."

He said and paused and then continued again

"Well I never got a chance to apologize, but I am really sorry for the things that my mom did. But she did it all just for my sake. She had no other evil intention behind it."

Raymond heard him and stayed silent for a while.

Who knew better than him that to what extent mothers could go for the wellbeing of their child.

After a brief pause, he said,

"That's how mothers are. You really can't blame them".

"Still I am really sorry for all this. If I had any clue of what was happening behind my back, I would have stopped it immediately".

"That's ok".

"I will not deny Raymond. I love Akira. Probably more than anything else in my life. But I also value her happiness above everything else in the world. So if being with you keeps her happy, then be it. I will have no qualms about it".

"Well, what can I say Vikram. I know that I am also at fault for judging you when you were not even at fault. But the circumstances made me think that way and I respect the friendship that you share with her. I honestly do, but I honestly love her Vikram. She has been through enough and I just want to give her some peaceful and happy memories."

"I know that. Maybe if she didn't have that fateful flight with you that day, she would have been mine. Maybe our fates were not written in this birth. But trust me she will be mine in the next".

"We will see what we can do about that", Raymond said and chuckled.

"All the best for the GCG. Let's strive to make our project win", Vikram said and disconnected the call.