[18]

Oberoi Industries...

Rishit and Kartik were engrossed in a discussion inside Rishit’s cabin when a soft knock interrupted them.

"Come in," Rishit commanded, his tone authoritative.

The door opened, and a young woman, Reet, recently appointed to the team, stepped inside. Her posture was poised, and her smile brightened as her eyes locked onto Rishit.

"Good morning, sir," Reet greeted, her gaze lingering on his face, her tone polite yet subtly suggestive.

Rishit glanced at her, his face void of any emotion, his expression as cold as ever.

"Here is the file for the next meeting," Reet said with a wide grin, extending the file toward him, her demeanor radiating eagerness.

Rishit, however, was unfazed. His eyes flicked to the file briefly before his icy voice broke the silence. "Keep it on the table."

Reet's confident expression faltered momentarily at his curt reply, but she complied, quietly placing the file on the desk.

"Now you can leave," Rishit added, his voice firm, leaving no room for further interaction.

With no choice but to obey, Reet turned and exited the room, though her smile had dimmed.

Later, the entire team assembled in the conference room for the scheduled meeting. Rishit and Kartik entered, their presence commanding immediate attention.

During the meeting, Reet stood up to deliver her presentation. As she moved toward the projector, she intentionally brushed her arm against Rishit's, her actions deliberate and calculated.

Rishit's piercing gaze shifted to her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. However, Reet seemed oblivious or pretended not to notice.

As her presentation concluded, she walked past him again, repeating the same gesture, brushing her arm against his.

This time, Rishit's patience snapped. His anger flashed in his eyes, and his voice cut through the air like a whip. "Everyone, out."

The room fell silent, and his command echoed with the weight of authority. Startled by the sudden outburst, everyone quickly started gathering their things and filing out of the room.

As Reet began to leave, Rishit's voice, now sharp and icy, halted her in her tracks. "You, stop."

Reet froze, her earlier confidence replaced by visible unease.

"Come here," Rishit ordered, his tone devoid of warmth, his expression dangerously serious.

With hesitant steps, Reet approached him, her eyes now reflecting the fear she felt.

Rishit’s voice lowered but carried a chilling edge. "Be in your limits," he warned, each word deliberately measured.

Before leaving, Rishit held up his left hand, the wedding ring on his finger gleaming under the lights. His action was deliberate, his message unmistakable.

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out, leaving Reet rooted to the spot, her face pale and her confidence shattered.

********************

Rishit's Cabin...

"Oohoo, ring flaunt ho rahi thi," Kartik teased as they entered the cabin, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

Rishit shot him an exasperated look before sinking into his chair. "Chup kar, mene use sirf itna kaha h ki I am married," Rishit said nonchalantly, adjusting the files on his desk.

"Haa haa, dekha maine," Kartik continued, clearly enjoying the moment. Mimicking Rishit's stern tone, he added, "‘Be in your limits.’" His imitation was followed by a burst of hearty laughter.

Rishit leaned back, unimpressed. "Ravan jaise kya has raha h, chup chaap kaam kar warna salary cut kar lunga," he retorted with a hint of amusement.

Kartik instantly stopped laughing, scrunching his face like a child whose favorite toy had been snatched. But Rishit ignored him and picked up a pen to jot down notes.

Muttering under his breath, Kartik turned to leave. "Meri salary cut karega? Rukh, abhi batata hu tujhe," he said, stomping out of the cabin.

Once outside, Kartik pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Meera’s number.

After a few rings, Meera answered, "Haa bolo, Kartik."

"Aunty, aapko ek baat batani hai," Kartik said, his voice dripping with mock seriousness, intent on building suspense.

"Kya baat hai?" Meera asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

With dramatic flair, Kartik narrated the entire incident in the conference room, emphasizing Rishit’s cold demeanor and how he showed off his wedding ring to Reet.

When he finished, Meera chuckled. "I am proud of my son," she said, her voice laced with maternal pride.

Kartik smirked. "Ab mujhe kya karna chahiye, aunty?" he asked, though his tone already hinted he had something up his sleeve.

Meera's laughter deepened. "Kartik beta, thodi pados wali auntiyon ki qualities lao apne andar, aur Vaani se jaake chugli karo," she said, a sly edge to her words.

A mischievous grin spread across Kartik’s face. "Okay, aunty," he replied before disconnecting the call.

Without wasting a moment, Kartik dialed Vaani’s number. After a few rings, her cheerful voice came through. "Hello, Kartik bhai!"

"Bhabhi, aapko ek bahut zaruri baat batani hai," Kartik announced, his tone tinged with mischief, as he narrated the entire incident—carefully omitting Rishit’s dialogues.

Vaani’s expressions darkened, her jaw tightening as she gripped the phone in her hand with visible restraint.

"I am coming," she stated, her voice resolute, before striding out of her cabin.

Kartik, now alone, let out a smug grin, mumbling to himself, "Ab aayega na maza," before making his way back to the cabin where Rishit was engrossed in his work, oblivious to the brewing storm.

A short while later, the door swung open, revealing Vaani. Inside the room were Rishit, Kartik, and Reet, who had come to deliver a file to Rishit.

Kartik, ever the instigator, caught sight of Vaani and discreetly gestured toward Reet, silently signaling that she was the girl in question.

Vaani’s steps were deliberate as she approached Rishit, positioning herself beside him with an air of authority.

"Ahn ahm," she cleared her throat, her sharp tone slicing through the hum of the room as she demanded attention.

Both Rishit and Reet turned toward her, though before Rishit could utter a word, Reet spoke up, her tone laced with unintentional arrogance.

"Girl, are you new here? How could you enter Sir's cabin without permission?"

Vaani arched a brow, her expression unreadable but her presence commanding. Kartik, meanwhile, leaned back on the couch, thoroughly enjoying the unfolding drama. "Ho gaya satyanash," he quipped, pulling out his phone to record the scene with unrestrained glee.

"Aunty ko dikhaunga," Kartik muttered under his breath, a wide grin plastered on his face as he hit ‘record.’

Rishit’s gaze turned cold as he addressed Reet, his voice devoid of warmth. "Be in your limits while talking to my wife."

The weight of his words silenced Reet, but before she could respond, Vaani stepped forward, her tone icy and dripping with authority.

"I am his wife, girl, and I don’t need anyone’s permission—not even Rishit’s."

Her words, laced with anger and jealousy, left Reet visibly flustered. Stammering, she quickly apologized, "I am sorry, ma’am," her gaze dropping to the floor in shame.

Vaani’s piercing gaze remained fixed on her as she responded in unison with Rishit. "You should be."

Straightening her posture, Vaani gestured toward the door. "Now you can leave," she instructed. Reet nodded hurriedly and turned to exit.

But Vaani wasn’t finished. Following her to the door, she halted Reet with a measured step and a venomous tone.

"Be in your limits. He is my husband. No one has the right to flirt with him except me."

The sharpness of her words left no room for ambiguity. "Be grateful I’m not firing you," Vaani added, her voice steady.

"Sorry, ma’am," Reet murmured, her tone barely audible before scurrying away.

Vaani watched her retreat before re-entering the cabin, her composure still intact but her emotions simmering beneath the surface.

"You rocked, Bhabhi," Kartik remarked, his grin as wide as ever. Vaani allowed a faint smile to tug at her lips before her expression hardened again.

"Is chudail ki himmat kaise hui mere pati par nazar daalne ki," she hissed, her gaze still locked on the now-empty doorway.

Rishit, who had been observing her silently, let out an amused chuckle. At the sound, Vaani’s sharp gaze snapped to him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. He quickly straightened his expression, feigning seriousness.

"Aapne kuch nahi kaha usse," Vaani demanded, her voice sharp with accusation.

Rishit, unfazed, turned to Kartik, one brow raised in question. "Kyun, Kartik? Sab kuch nahi bataya tune Vaani ko?"

Kartik, sensing danger, muttered to himself, "Bhaag le, Kartik beta, warna teri khair nahi," before bolting out of the room—but not without tossing back a cheeky remark. "Tu toh bura maan gaya."

Now alone, the tension in the room thickened as Vaani looked at Rishit, confusion clouding her features.

Noticing her expression, Rishit clarified calmly, "I already warned her. Kartik ne maza lene ke liye nahi bataya hoga." His tone was measured, his face unreadable.

Vaani, still unconvinced, pressed on. "Btw, aap hanse kyun the?"

For the first time, his eyes softened slightly as he responded. "I like your bossy attitude."

The unexpected compliment sent a rush of heat to Vaani’s cheeks. She quickly composed herself, though her voice betrayed a hint of flusteredness as she asked, "You also said that I am your wife."

Rishit’s expression didn’t falter as he replied, his tone steady and firm. "Because you are, Vaani. Nothing can change the fact that you are my wife."

His words, spoken with such conviction, left her momentarily stunned. The weight of them lingered in the air, making her heart skip a beat.

After a pause, Vaani straightened her posture, brushing off her emotions as she said briskly, "I should leave now." Rishit gave a small nod.

"Okay, bye," Vaani replied, her voice softer now as she turned and left the room.

Vaani stepped out of the cabin, her heart racing, the echoes of Rishit's words reverberating in her mind.

"Cause you are, Vaani, nothing can change the fact that you are my wife."

The weight of his straightforward declaration left her in a whirl of emotions. Her grip on the file tightened, and she bit her lower lip to hide the faint smile threatening to break out.

Walking down the corridor, she muttered to herself, "Calm down Vaani, Ye bas casually bola Rishit ne... aur kuch nahi." But the warmth creeping up her cheeks betrayed her composed demeanor.

Once she reached her cabin, she sank into her chair, her thoughts tangled. The image of Rishit's piercing yet calm gaze and the way his words held a subtle but undeniable sense of possession stayed with her.

"Why does he always say things like this and act so unaffected?" she wondered, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the file.

But deep down, she couldn't deny the faint flutter in her chest. "Hayee....mere patidev," she whispered to herself, her lips curling into a soft smile as she shook her head, trying to focus back on her work.

********************

Bangalore…

Ved strolled aimlessly along the corridor, hands in his pockets and an unmistakable pout on his face. Vidhi and Vidhan were off enjoying their alone time, leaving him feeling abandoned, yet again.

"Ye Vidhi mujhe roz chhod kar chali jaati hai," he muttered under his breath, kicking an imaginary pebble. But as he walked, a strange sensation crawled up his spine. Someone was following him.

Frowning, he stopped in his tracks and glanced behind him, only to find an empty corridor. Aarohi and Amrita, the culprits, had ducked behind a pillar just in time.

After a moment, Ved shrugged and continued walking, his suspicion lingering. Aarohi and Amrita peeked out cautiously, their giggles stifled. But when they looked again, Ved was gone.

The two girls exchanged puzzled glances, a mixture of confusion and mild panic setting in. Suddenly, they felt a tap on their shoulders.

"Kaun hai be?" Amrita exclaimed, whipping around with Aarohi in tow, only to come face-to-face with Ved.

He stood there with his arms crossed and a raised eyebrow, his expression a perfect blend of curiosity and annoyance. "Ye kya ho raha hai?" he asked, his tone skeptical as he scanned their flustered faces.

Aarohi fumbled for an excuse, her voice trembling slightly. "W-woh, hum… chidiya gin rahe the. Bahut saari hain yahan," she blurted, grabbing Amrita’s wrist in a panic and bolting down the corridor, dragging her reluctant accomplice along.

Ved stood frozen in confusion, staring at their retreating figures. "Mujhe toh ek bhi nahi dikh rahi," he muttered, scratching his head before shrugging it off and walking away.

Meanwhile, Aarohi and Amrita burst into the canteen, panting heavily. Amrita shot Aarohi a death glare, her frustration evident.

"Tu pagal hai kya?" she hissed. "Koi aur bahana nahi mila jo itna ghatiya de diya?"

Aarohi, still catching her breath, looked at the floor guiltily. "Mujhe kuch aur mila hi nahi," she admitted sheepishly.

Amrita sighed dramatically, shaking her head in exasperation. "Aarohi, I’m telling you, go and confess," she said, her voice resolute.

Aarohi’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. "Kahin der na ho jaye," Amrita added, her tone softening slightly.

Aarohi looked away, biting her lip. "But… main kuch bol hi nahi pati Ved ke samne," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Amrita slapped her forehead, groaning. "Toh phir bolna seekh, Aarohi!" she scolded firmly.

Aarohi nodded hesitantly, her gaze still fixed on the ground. "Hmm," she murmured, but the thought of facing Ved again made her heart race.

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