Chapter 48: Impossible

“Aakash!” Aanya thundered when he entered their bedroom, immediately eliciting a wince from him.

“Aanya.” He returned, with a genial smile…which awarded him only a death stare. “Oh, I thought we were exchanging names.” He spoke a little awkwardly, prompting the raise of an eyebrow.

Seeing that his woefully awful attempts at comedy were only making the situation worse, the man raised his palms placatingly before plopping down onto the bed.

His wife though, still stood and looked down her nose at him. “Care to explain?” She asked acidly.

Letting out a breath, he ran a hand through his hair, “I was hoping you let out all your anger on Cabir.”

“Oh, he’s been repaid in full. Too bad that I reserved some just for you.”

“Ha ha…” he laughed weakly. “I just…I think it’d be nice if you picked up the violin again.”

“Aakash…” Aanya shook her head as her hands worked smoothly to let her glossy black hair fall freely. “I haven’t played the violin in years. I mean, I don’t think I’ve touched a violin after Aarav was born…and he’s 16 years old!”

“So…?”

Aanya’s lips pursed, “Don’t you see? It’s been too long! I can’t just relearn everything so quickly! It’s impossible!”

“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.” Aakash replied calmly, his eyes meeting hers, taking note of the slightly haggard look around them.

“Don’t reply with quotes! That too from anywhere!”

“It’s by Napoleon.” Aakash kept his gaze fixed at her smouldering eyes.

“Didn’t know, and now knowing, still don’t care. Not to mention, he wanted to conquer the world and failed. An impossible dream.”

“Quite a valid point.” The professor chuckled. “But is practicing the violin anywhere as difficult?”

Aanya threw her hands up in the air and broke eye contact with him.

“I’ve so much work to do! That new agreement and then the preparations for the Founding Day! The countless projects on the side…”

Even as she spoke, Aakash just sighed with a fond expression on his face. Leaning forward, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, making her sink onto the bed.

“Hey!” She protested.

“You work too hard.” Aakash rebuked. “Learn to take a break sometime.”

“That has nothing to do with the violin-” She began.

“It has everything to do with the violin and you know it.” The man cut her off halfway. Drawing her closer, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Giving in to the very obvious temptation of rest, she leaned the back of her head on his shoulder. Closing her yes, she spoke, “Fine, I agree. If I finish up some tasks quickly, I might be able to practice the violin but-”

“No buts and no finishing up either.” Aakash interrupted her again.

“What do you mean?!” Aanya’s eyes flew open as she struggled to sit up.

Chuckling, Aakash circled the other arm around too, not letting go. “I mean that you should decrease your workload. Naina’s been your assistant for so many years. Plus, your yourself said that Parikshit is a near-perfect Vice-President. I don’t know much about the ins and outs of your company but I do know that these small-scale projects are not something you need to supervise from beginning till the end.”

“But-”

“I’m not done.” He wagged a finger at her, “You can read the regular reports if you want but show more trust towards your employees.”

“I trust them!” She retorted. “Don’t act like I don’t know what I’m doing! I just need to know how everything’s going-”

“So much need that you haven’t even taken most of your scheduled breaks over the last two years?” Aakash pointed out.

Aanya pursed her lips at that.

Seeing his wife’s disgruntled expression, he leaned his face on her shoulder.

“Look, I’m not trying to butt in on things I don’t know-”

“That’s not what I meant! It’s completely fine to butt-”

Aakash snorted, “Oh, please. Butting in or no butting in, I don’t know an ounce of how the company functions. Well, okay, I know the basics but anyways! What I’m saying is that you’ve left tasks up to them before but ever since the company expanded, you’ve heaped more and more things onto yourself.”

“There’s so much work to go around!”

“And just a single brain to go over it all!” Aakash countered.

“…Fine, that’s a valid point.” She conceded.

“I’m always right.” He smirked.

“Don’t get an inflated ego now. It’s enough trouble to deal with one person with that personality. I would prefer you not emulate him.” Aanya cast him a sidelong glance.

“But he’s quite a role model…on annoying you.” The spectacled-eyes twinkled.

“You can do it well in your own way too; think over what just happened.” Aanya let out a sigh, slowly falling back onto him, her head resting again on his shoulder.