Ayaansh rolled onto his stomach and raised his head to locate his father. Srishti who had been reading a book beside him, watched him carefully with an amused smile on her face.

It had been four months, Ayaansh was now four months old and she felt time was running too fast with him. He was growing up too fast and she hated that.

Ayaansh made humming sounds to gain his mother's attention and stared at her blinking his eyes. She chuckled and picked him up, making him stand on her legs. He wobbled but as she held him in place, he flapped his hands in excitement as a squeal escaped his mouth.

"What are you so excited about?" Srishti asked rubbing her nose with his and he giggled. He touched her face with his tiny hands, tracing her eyes, cheeks before he leaned forward and placed a sloppy kiss on her chin.

"I love you." She lost the count of times she told her son how much she loved him but it came natural. He smiled and rubbed his eyes as if he was shy.

"You know, you're the cutest. Don't grow up so fast Ayaansh." She pouted and he looked at her carefully before vigorously flailing his hands and going forward to hug her. She hugged him close to her chest dearly and kissed his head countless times.

"Srishti," The door opened and Sahil walked in making Ayaansh look at him. Sahil looked at his son and a small smile broke out on his face.

He walked towards them and on instinct Ayaansh pushed himself away from Srishti and leaned towards Sahil who almost made a run to catch him. Srishti smiled as Sahil took him in his arms and shook her head.

"What's up buddy? Did you miss me?" Sahil asked Ayaansh who giggled in return before hugging his father. Sahil couldn't explain the feeling every time he would throw his tiny hands around his neck to hug him. It was surreal.

"Why isn't he sleeping?" He questioned looking at Srishti who looked up from her book.

"He was waiting for you." She replied before going back to her book but he kept staring at her instead on looking away as he usually did.

A squeal from Ayaansh brought him back to reality. He looked at his son and found him staring at his mother with his twinkling eyes. Ayaansh surely loved his father but he was the closest to his mother.

"He's calling you." He mentioned and she just nodded not looking up this time.

Ayaansh gurgled, stretching his hand towards Srishti and opening and closing his tiny fist as if calling her. Sahil stared amused at the little guy's way of gaining attention.

"Srishti," Sahil called her again but she was too engrossed in her book which made Ayaansh scrunch up his face. He didn't like it at all and for some reason Sahil hated it as well.

"What the!" Srishti exclaimed as the book was snatched away the next second and watched as Ayaansh gave her a toothless grin while Sahil smirked at her a angry expression.

"Mr. Malhotra, give me my book!" She demanded but he just walked away, securing Ayaansh with his left hand and the book held in his right.

"Seriously?" She yelled and Ayaansh giggled making Sahil smile with him. It was fun irritating her.

────────

Zevah slammed the files on her desk as she glared at Aditya who was busy flirting with some client's secretary.

Their relationship had been smooth according to her because in these four months he was back to being his old self and she couldn't be more happy about it. But from the past few days he's been behaving flirty with any woman he sees and it annoyed her to no extent.

Why was it affecting her? She herself declared that she wasn't looking for a relationship right now then why?

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as the girl rested her hand on his arm and gave him a seductive smile which Aditya was clearly enjoying.

Gritting her teeth she tried to concentrate on her work because whatever he did was none of her business.

"Ms. Zevah." Her head snapped up and she found Aditya smirking down at her while the female monkey chose to keep clinging to him. When did they come out?

"We're going out for dinner now, so you can leave because working hours are already over. See you tomorrow then." He smiled sweetly and she kept staring as both of them moved out of the building until she couldn't trace them.

Her eyes stung, heart hurt but she couldn't understand why. Why was she hurt? Did she harbour any feelings for him? No, how could she? He was her boss. She couldn't feel anything for him.

Taking a deep breath she collected her belongings and left. When she reached outside looking for a cab, she found Aditya waiting in the car for someone. The girl from earlier sat beside him and they drove away.

Shaking her head she looked sideways for a cab but then a car pulled up infront of her. She stepped back instantly being startled and watched as the window rolled down.

"Hey, need a lift?" It was the client from earlier. Her heart sank because she thought it was Aditya.

"No thank you, I'll manage." She declined politely and walked away not wanting to go with him. He anyways didn't give her good vibes.

"Oh come on, it's just a ride. I'll drop you home. Come." She jerked around and found him just a few inches away from her. When did he get down from his car? She was being so careless these days.

"I said I'll manage." She said sternly and he smirked. It made her want to run away but she stayed firm on her place.

"Playing hard to get, huh?" He chuckled and held her hand. Zevah gasped and tried to free her hand but he was much stronger. When he didn't budge she raised her knee and kicked him in the shin.

The guy groaned in pain covering his part while she took the chance to run away. When she was sure that she was safe from the creep she sighed in relief and closed her eyes.

She didn't even want to think what she was going to go through if she didn't muster up the courage to kick him. Crossing her arms and looking around consciously, she decided to walk back home not trusting anyone anymore.

Almost forty-five minutes later she finally reached her destination and sighed in relief. The kids were already sleeping so she didn't have to face anyone with her disturbed state of mind.

As she lay on her bed, a tear slipped out of her eye and then there was no stopping. She couldn't stop the sobs that racked her body as she tried to keep quiet not wanting to wake up anybody.

The next day as she reached office, Aditya noticed her gloomy face and thought it was because of her jealousy. He smiled to himself knowing she was affected by his behaviour and had feelings for him but wasn't ready to acknowledge them.

He was going to keep acting until she would realise and confess her feelings.

"Ms. Zevah, please come in my cabin." He buzzed through the intercom and she was there the next minute. He looked at her and found her staring at the ground which made him frown.

What was wrong with her? She should've been angry but instead she looks lost and pale. What was he missing out?

"Are you alright?" He asked and she just nodded not looking at him. Yes, something was definitely wrong with her.

"Zevah," He called out and she clenched the sides of her dress. Her lips trembled but she refused to cry infront of him. When he have had enough, he held her chin and made her look at him.

"Tell me, what's wrong." He demanded and her vision blurred despite her trying to control herself. She blinked her eyes and pushed his hand away taking a step back. Aditya clenched his jaw and gave her a bitter smile.

"Wh─what did you need sir?" She stammered and his gaze pierced into her very soul. She intentionally willed herself to not look into his eyes because it would weaken her resolve.

"The truth." His voice was hard and she winced slightly. This was the first time she was seeing him so angry and she didn't want to know how angry he'll be after knowing about the incident.

"Sir there's nothing ─"

"I won't let it go until you tell me, Zevah." She had to give in and she knew that. Taking a deep breath she explained everything that happened yesterday and watched as his expressions changed from shock to anger.

"That bastard! I'm not gonna spare him." He hissed lowly and clenched his jaw whereas Zevah was worried.

"This is outside work so please don't bring it here." She said hurriedly and he chuckled wryly.

"Like hell I will not." He gritted and just then the person walked in along with his secretary. He glared at Zevah while his secretary winked at Aditya.

"Mr. Varun," Aditya said through his clenched teeth and gave him a tight smile totally ignoring the person who tried to gain his attention.

"Mr. Aditya," Varun nodded and his eyes wandered back on Zevah who looked at anywhere but him. A little smirk formed on his face as he checked her out and it was enough for Aditya to punch him but he didn't.

"So this deal ─"

"Is done and dusted with." Aditya completed his sentence and he gave a confused look.

"What do you mean?" Varun asked and Aditya rolled his eyes. The attitude was annoying him but he kept quiet for the deal.

"I'm not interested in this deal so you get show yourself out." Aditya said bluntly and a gasp was heard in the room. It was Varun's secretary but no one cared about it.

"You can't do that." Varun said in a hard voice and Aditya smirked.

"That's where you're wrong. I can do whatever I want. And right now, I'm rejected this deal." At this point of time Varun looked every bit of pissed and as he glanced at Zevah, everything clicked.

"Oh, so you're doing this because she told you what happened yesterday, isn't it?" Zevah glared at him when he smirked but Aditya stepped in between and covered her giving Varun a hard look.

"So you can do anything with my secretary and I can't with yours?" Zevah hated the smugness in his voice and wanted to kick him again but she knew she couldn't.

"You can ask your secretary what I did with her yesterday." The confidence in his voice surprised Zevah and she stared at his back. Varun glared at his secretary who looked every bit of embarrassed.

"He─uh─He just dropped me home." She informed and didn't dare look at her boss who looked very pissed. Aditya smirked totally getting his plan and clapped his hands in appreciation.

"Nice try, Mr. Varun. Getting your secretary to hook up with the opposite party and then trying to molest their secretary in the name of 'tit-for-tat'. Next what? You were going to blackmail me into this deal because you thought I slept with your secretary? Right?" Zevah even hated to hear the last line as she stared at the duo disgusted.

Being exposed both looked here and there but Aditya wasn't having it as he clutched Varun's collar and punched him in the face.

"That is for trying to molest my secretary." He gritted and stepped back adjusting his blazer.

"Now get out before I call the cops." Both of them hurried out of there the next second and Zevah wondered if she should thank him looking at his tense back.

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