A lift

"I cooked today." Mitali said in a shaky voice. In these days it was Deep who did it all the time. Even he took professional classes. His hard works made her inspire to learn cooking also. So she had gone through his books.

"You...." Deep was looking at her in daze. He knew she never liked these kind of stuff.

"Why? Can't I cook?" She looked at him disappointed. She expected some delightful reactions from him.

"Of course you can. It's just, I'm too overwhelmed to say anything." He bit his lips feeling how much dumb he was behaving. Once he was a famous playboy, he knew how to win girl's heart with words. But in front of his wife, he was behaving like a fool.

"Err....serve it then, I'm waiting." He smiled awkwardly. The moment he tasted a little bit of the kheer she prepared, he was amazed.

He didn't know how to compliment her, it was really delicious, "Your skills are far better than mine. I'm thinking if taking some more classes."

Both of them laughed with this. She blushed a little with the compliment while he was looking at her cute face all the time.

"Why don't you taste?" He asked with a smile.

"Is it really good?" She was still confused.

"Why? You didn't believe me?" He raised an eyebrow. But before she could say anything, he took a mouthful spoon and sealed his lips with hers to make her taste of her handmade kheer.

Mitali was dumbfounded. She didn't expect him to kiss her suddenly. His lips were moving so softly to make her taste the kheer fully. When he left her, asked with a smirk, "Are you satisfied how it tastes?"

She was having an urge to face plam herself. He was sometimes way too much. The amusing smile on his face made her blushing red.

"Good." She mumbled softly that made him look at her more intensely. His intense gaze was making her breath hitched.

"Why did you suddenly prepare it?" He came back to his serious mood as he was feeling something fishy.

"Mmm....for Rhea. She told me that I can't cook. So I accepted the challenge." She was feeling proud.

"Now would you mind if I feed you once more?" He asked in a serious tone.

"What?"

"Leave the kheer. I taste better." He smirked.

.

.

"What are you doing here?" Manav looked at Anand suspiciously. That always busy person came to his office without any notice, it was really surprising.

"I need to meet Avantika, immediately." Anand was in a hurry.

"Avantika? That new girl? Are you stalking her?" Manav suspected earlier something was going on between these two but he cared less about someone's personal matters.

"Do I look like a stalker?" Anand narrowed his eyes.

"Much more. A criminal stalker." Manav smirked and called Avantika. Actually she was in a meeting with financial and marketing department. So Anand had to come to Manav not finding her in her office.

"Why are you finding her now? She had asked for a leave. For some reasons, she is going to Bangalore. Maybe some board meetings from Lahiri Group. That's why she called a meeting to arrange her works in advance. I'm afraid she is in a hurry." Manav informed feeling the serious atmosphere of Anand.

"She's not going for her father's company. Maybe she is going for...something else. I think Asha or Avinash contacted her." Anand was almost he guessed right. Asha was in a good relationship with Avantika all the time. Even she informed Asha where actually Anand worked. No wonder she was going to meet Amal Mehta. That man was affectionate to her after all.

Manav nodded a little. He understood it was something serious about his family matter. As an outsider, it was good to stay away from it.

"So, I heard Avantika, Ansh Lahiri's one and only daughter liked you when you met in Bangalore. Seriously? Are kids having a poor eyesight now a days?" Manav shook his head. He heard a lot of rumors from Deep, Mitali, Rhea and Aditya. He didn't believe at first.

"Of course not. Kids now a days have better choices. That's why no one still spared a glance at you." Anand smirked knowing he won the argument.

Manav gave him an angry glare yet couldn't say anything. He faked controlling his anger as Avantika already knocked the door, but he smiled inwardly as he was successful in diverting Anand's tension.

She was stunned to see Anand waiting for her. She didn't expect him to be here. With a confusing look, she asked, "You here?"

"You're going to Bangalore, right? Your dad sent private jet for you. Can you give me a lift?"

She couldn't believe her ears. She was sure Anand would never go to help his father. But what he said just now made her dazed.

"You're going to Bangalore? With me? Are you sure?" She asked curiously.

"Hmm...I can't take much leaves from my job. I have already booked return tickets. I need to return tomorrow anyhow. I have left much works." His tone was cold and straight. It was prominent that he didn't want to talk about anything.

"Okay. I'm going to airport after office. I will call you after going off work." She was hesitant.

"Okay, then. I'm going now. Remember to call me." He said and went out if the place in a hurry. Avantika sighed and again returned to the meeting room.

Manav was looking at his reflection on the glass desk in front of him with confusion and curiosity. Did both of them just ignore him? Anand even didn't say a bye or Anantika didn't even greet him. He was the boss for God's sake. Since when he become that negligible?

Later at night, it was almost eight when Anand reached at the airport. He was grateful to Avantika as she agreed to give him a lift.

"Why did you ask a lift from me? You have a lot of money." She mused looking at his luxurious attire that she spotted in Bangalore too.

"Seriously?" He gave her a silly look, "I earn enough, more than enough as a police but I can't afford a charter plane with this income."

"But your outfits are too much lavish. Look at your watches, very pricey. Tell me truthfully, are you into illegal activities?" She was having fun teasing him.

Anand looked at her with disbelief, "I am not. I'm loyal to my job, okay? Those watches are not available in market yet, I'm a trial user. Helping my rich family members." He didn't know why he was explaining things to her. But he didn't want her to think bad about him.

"Did government permit you to get those trials?" She was really curious.

"Do you want to charge against me? Do you want me to get suspended? Your intentions are not good." Anand was feeling suspicious about her.

"Nah, I was just curious." She knew she asked too much. She was cursing Manav inwardly who gave her the idea to distract him from family matters. Things were not going well as expected.

"Manav bhai asked you, right?" Anand knew it.

"How do you know?" She didn't see that coming.

"That's how my family is. They helps but never likes to admit." He sighed. He never thought Manav would be that thoughtful about him.

"Hmm....why there is a bandage I your right arm?" She noticed it just now.

"Had a fight with some goons. I came directly from police station." He smiled faintly closing his eyes with a sigh.

Avantika really couldn't read his mind. He hated his father most. But came all the way even not bothering the fresh scars he got to donate blood for him. Why was he being so generous to the person who was responsible for all of his sufferings? What was going on in his mind?

Confusing!