Chapter-24 Too Close to Handle

Next Day – Office

Ruby greets Aarohi warmly as she arrives.

Ruby: "Good morning, Aarohi!"

Aarohi (smiling): "Good morning, Ruby."

Ruby: "There's a meeting today at CNB Hotel at 1 PM. You'll be going with sir."

Aarohi: "Today? The meeting is today?"

Ruby (nodding): "Yes. Normally, I would have gone but sir said it's not a good idea now. I've just entered my seventh month, and I'm going on maternity leave starting tomorrow."

Aarohi: "Yes, I know. Please take care of yourself—and the little one, too!" (smiling)

About thirty minutes later, Ruby reminds Aarohi to get ready.

Ruby: "Start getting ready for the meeting. Follow what I've explained, don't panic, okay?"

Aarohi (confused): "But it's just 10 AM!"

Ruby: "Maybe sir has some other work before the meeting."

Aarohi gets ready and heads to the parking lot with Nirvay. She stays quiet during the drive.

Nirvay: "I'll first stop by my flat."

Aarohi: "Your flat? Why?"

Nirvay: "I need to change my shirt. It's an important client meeting."

Aarohi: "Hmm."

After some time, the car stops.

Nirvay: "Get down."

Aarohi: "Why should I? You go and change, I'll wait in the car."

Nirvay (teasing): "No, you need to approve which shirt looks good on me."

Aarohi: "That wasn't in my job description!"

Nirvay (playfully serious): "It's an order. Are you scared?" (leaning a little closer)

Aarohi (heart racing): "Why would I be scared?" (but her heartbeat betrays her)

Nirvay: "Don't worry, I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. Now come on."

Inside his flat:

Nirvay: "Want something to drink?"

Aarohi: "No, I'm fine. Go quickly and change so we can leave."

Nirvay (grinning): "Come to my room."

Aarohi: "No, I'll sit right here in the hall. You change and come out, I'll approve from here."

The shirt trial begins.

Shirt 1: Aarohi: "No."

Shirt 2: Aarohi: "No."

Shirt 3: Aarohi: "You look like a joker in this one."

Shirt 4: Aarohi: "No."

Shirt 5: Aarohi: "Definitely not."

…and this continues.

After trying 29 shirts, Nirvay is exhausted.

Nirvay (half pleading): "What about this one? Is this okay?"

Aarohi (enjoying herself inside): "No." (thinking: test your own medicine, Nirvay.)

Shirt 30:

Aarohi: "Hmm… it's a little better… wait, no. No, this is not good either."

Nirvay (now seriously done) storms inside and comes back—without a shirt.

Aarohi (shocked and laughing): "You came without a shirt?!"

Nirvay: "You rejected every single one! I'm going like this."

Aarohi (laughing hard): "How does it feel to taste your own medicine, Nirvay?"

Nirvay (pretending to be betrayed): "You were messing with me?"

Aarohi: "Why? Only you're allowed to mess around?"

Aarohi (smiling big): "Go wear the first shirt. It was perfect."

Nirvay: "You made me change 29 extra shirts!"

Aarohi (smiling): "I know."

Nirvay (pulls her closer): "You need to be punished for this."

Aarohi (nervous): "What are you doing?"

Nirvay (softly): "Punishing you."

They're inches apart, time seems to pause. Nirvay tilts her chin up, leaning in for a kiss. Aarohi, surprisingly, closes her eyes.

Just then, Nirvay's phone rings.

Aarohi quickly steps back, flustered.

Aarohi: "Go put on a shirt!"

The caller ID shows Ayush.

Nirvay (picking up): "Ayush, your timing is the worst!"

Ayush (confused): "Huh? What happened?"

Nirvay: "Nothing. Speak."

Ayush: "Let's meet this Saturday."

Nirvay: "That's all?!"

Ayush: "Why are you sounding so irritated?"

Nirvay: "Nothing, I'll talk later."

Meanwhile, Aarohi is thinking: Why did I close my eyes? What was I thinking! So embarrassing!

Nirvay comes back. They glance at each other awkwardly.

Nirvay: "Let's go."

Aarohi: "Yeah, okay."

On the way, they both stay silent. At the hotel, the meeting goes well. Aarohi follows Ruby's instructions perfectly and even helps in sealing the deal.

After the meeting:

Nirvay: "I'll drop you home."

Aarohi: "But it's only 4 PM."

Nirvay: "By the time we reach the office, it'll be 5:30 PM or even later with traffic. Do you want to do overtime again?"

Aarohi: "No… drop me home."

On the way, Nirvay stops at a shop and buys her chocolates.

Nirvay: "You did well today. Don't say no."

Aarohi (smiling while accepting): "Actually… I needed this. Thank you."

Nirvay: "Stay like this with me. Your angry face doesn't suit you."

Aarohi: "Will you eat some?"

Nirvay: "If I eat, who'll drive? You eat, or you can feed me if you like." (playful smirk)

Aarohi (thinking): Flirt CEO, huh?

Aarohi: "You can eat later. I'll keep it for you."

She turns to face the window and dozes off.

When she wakes up, it's already dark and the car is parked in front of her flat.

Aarohi (startled): "What time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?"

Nirvay: "It's 7 PM. You were in deep sleep."

Aarohi: "How long have we been parked here?"

Nirvay: "Two hours."

Aarohi (in shock): "Two hours?! You should've woken me! Are you crazy?"

Nirvay (smiling softly): "Yeah… crazy… for the last five years… anyway, bye."

Back in her flat, Aarohi feels guilty about how she's been treating Nirvay. She recalls Ayush's warning:

"Aarohi, make Nirvay so weak. She break him.she is not good for him."

She feels sad and conflicted.

Before sleeping, she checks her messages:

Sukhi: "Where are you? Pick up your phone!"

Dhruv: "You ditched me yesterday and didn't show up today either!"

Nirvay: "Good night."

Aarohi replies:

Sukhi: "I'll call you tomorrow."

Dhruv: "I'll explain at lunch tomorrow."

Nirvay: "Good night."

---

Next Day

Ruby is officially on maternity leave.

Nirvay calls Aarohi to his cabin. Aarohi knocks.

Nirvay: "You can come in without knocking now."

Aarohi (smiling formally): "No sir, I'm professional. I take all my duties seriously."

Nirvay: "Professional, huh? What time is it?"

Aarohi: "It's 10 AM, sir."

Nirvay: "Bring me a coffee."

As Aarohi heads to the cafeteria, Dhruv follows her.

Dhruv: "Aarohi, wait up!"

Aarohi: "What is it? Let's walk and talk."

Dhruv: "Why didn't you come the other day?"

Aarohi: "I was in the office till 8 PM. Lots of pending work."

Dhruv: "But Ruby left at 6 PM…"

Aarohi: "I stayed back alone to finish things."

Dhruv (directly): "Don't take this the wrong way… but your connection with the CEO… it doesn't feel like you're just another employee."

Suddenly, a spark from faulty wiring causes a fire in the cafeteria. The fire alarm blares.

Nirvay (on call): "Why is the fire alarm ringing?"

Employee: "Sir, there's a small fire in the cafeteria due to a wiring issue but—"

Nirvay hangs up before hearing the rest.

He rushes to the cafeteria, smoke everywhere.

Nirvay (panicking): "Where's Aarohi? Where is she?"

He finds her, freezes for a moment, then pulls her into a tight hug.

Nirvay (softly, relieved): "Thank God you're safe. I was so scared."

Everyone in the office stares in shock.

Dhruv (disheartened): "So the cutest girl in the office… is already taken by the CEO."

Shruti: "What's going on?!"

Pooja: "Aarohi never told us anything!"

Aarohi (whispering, embarrassed): "Let go. Everyone's watching."

Nirvay (ignoring everyone): "I don't care."

Aarohi: "But I do. Please. This isn't right."

Nirvay: "It's right for me."

He holds her hand and walks her to his cabin.

Aarohi (panicking): "Let go of my hand, everyone is staring!"

Nirvay (coldly): "Let them. I don't care."

In his cabin:

Aarohi (angrily): "What was that? What will people think?!"

Nirvay (grabbing her arms, frustrated): "Why do you care about everyone except me? Why don't you ever think about how I feel? Why don't you talk to me? Don't you trust me?"

Aarohi (tears forming): "Nirvay…"