Love that lasts

Chapter 9

Chandni's POV

As the lift doors closed slowly, my heart rate doubled up at the sight beholding me. I was sure my face looked as flushed and red as Aryan's, but for a completely different reason. Against my best instincts, I chose to dress in a saree today, as I thought it will give me a more mature and authoritative look.

But now I realise it was a giant mistake. It somehow made me feel more feminine, soft and vulnerable, or was it just Aryan's presence and his gaze that made me feel so? I wasn't sure. My hands scrunched on my Saree Pallu, a habit I had from young, which didn't seem to escape Aryan's scrutiny either. I slowly released my Pallu and drew my hands together. Everything that happened on our previous meeting began to fill up my mind again.

I was so keen to make a fresh and confident start today, I prepared myself so hard all through this morning, not to succumb to any nerves and give a good impression to all the staff, particularly Aryan.

But even my over imaginative mind could never contemplate the possibility of finding myself in an empty lift with Aryan!!!

The lift began to ascend slowly. I tried to say something but felt too tongue tied. With difficulty I tore my gaze away from him and looked down at my trembling hands.

"Uhhm..."Aryan cleared his throat nervously but just then, the lift doors opened and two girls in their mid-twenties, their eyes glued to their Mobiles, entered the lift. Aryan turned around and moved to the opposite side of the lift, almost next to the doors. I heaved a sigh of relief and turned my face away to observe the new entrants. Both were in business wear, busy showing each other something on their Mobile. Within few seconds though, those two girls observed Aryan and rushed to his side, squealing.

"ARYAAAN!!!"

"Wow look at those muscles, Aryan!! Tell me, where you do your work outs? I will come and join as well." The one with the high ponytail demanded as she wound her arm around his.

For the first time I realised how ridiculous young women look in high ponytails. Why do they style themselves like this, as if they were still in high school? I wondered. Aryan smiled at her but his gaze again turned towards me and I could see how embarrassed he was at her overtures. Not just embarrassment, but guilt as well, or am I imagining things?? I quickly turned my gaze away again.

"Hahaha very funny. Have you ever done any exercise in your life? Now you want to join a gym just because Aryan was going?" The other girl in curly bushy hair mocked her.

I must say that this curly hair girl looked far better than the "high school high ponytail" girl, who was still clinging on to Aryan like there was no tomorrow.

"Of course I jog now and then, not like you, who is stuck to her laptop all day, binge watching Netflix." The ponytail girl mocked back.

More people got in, as the lift stopped again on 8th floor.

"Archie relax. There's nothing wrong in starting to exercise now, is there?" I could hear Aryan's soft tone as he tried to stop bickering between the two girls.

"Cathy, there's a gym in the block next to ours. You can join there. The one I go to is a men's only Gym." Aryan explained.

I tried to control my smirk with difficulty, and scratched my nose to cover it up, but I wasn't exactly sure if I could hide it from the penetrating gaze of Aryan, who could still observe every movement of mine above those girls' heads, even as they stood next to him in their 3 inch heels.

The girls got out first on 10th floor, but not before reminding Aryan that he had to meet them after work again, to go to some party.

As if it was a test of my patience, the lift stopped at every floor as more people got off and finally it was just the two of us again who remained in the lift.

I wasn't looking at Aryan, and even tried very hard not to look in his direction but somehow felt, as if his gaze was stuck on me. I began to rummage through my bag to find the elusive office swipe card, which I was sure I had placed inside earlier. The lift doors opened again. I could observe Aryan moving forward under my lashes, but he stopped.

"This is us" His husky voice reached my ears, despite my best efforts to ignore him and I looked up at him reluctantly, my feet somehow still stuck at the far corner of the lift.

"This is our floor. Are you not coming?" He asked mildly, his eyes searching mine.

I gulped nervously and tried to bolt from there, but in my hurry, almost tripped at the gap between the lift and concrete floor. I felt my heart plunge in fear, as Aryan's arm sprang in front of my waist, ready to stop my fall. With a lot of difficulty, I finally managed to balance and stop myself from the fall, my waist just a few centimetres away from his hand. I was sure he could hear my heartbeat, which was beating as loudly as a church bell, as he slowly removed his hand.

"Are you OK?" He moved infinitesimally closer, his voice full of concern.

"I am perfectly fine!!" I lied, and hoped it was convincing enough.

Of course I was not OK. What was he thinking? His voice, his smell engulfed me and his close presence unnerved me. I needed some space and air, away from him. We slowly stepped out of the lift as I tried to gather my wits, his gaze unwaveringly stuck on me. There was a small alcove in the corridor before the office and he led me there. I walked on quickly but my bag fell over and I picked it up in hurry, cursing myself again. He must be inwardly laughing at my clumsiness, I was sure.

My blood boiled at my own imagination.

There was only one thing to do now to gain an upper hand in the current situation as well as to calm my nerves. Didn't someone say offence was the best form of defence?

I took some deep breaths and looked up at him, taking my time, making sure my gaze moved leisurely on his attire.

"Is this how you plan to work in the office today?" I asked him, trying to sound as sarcastic as possible and freezing him with a steely gaze.

He looked taken back at my question. My heart felt agonised as I observed the slow change of emotions his face, the hitherto concern and confusion slowly turning into resignation and disappointment.

"There's shower and change room assigned for the staff, as our previous CEO encouraged everyone to be physically active and take a break even during working hours to achieve this. I would shower and change into business wear before the office starts." He replied in a clipped tone.

"You can change into something more comfortable too If you want to." He added as an afterthought, looking at the long pallu I drew in a hurry, which almost touched the floor.

"Why? What's wrong with my attire? I don't have any plans to go to any party in the evening. So I am good just the way I am. Don't you think?" I asked aggressively and immediately regretted it.

"There's nothing wrong. I thought... It's just that...never mind. Hang on!! What party are you talking about?" His eyes scrunched in confusion before he understood what I meant.

"You know what... forget I said anything." He looked angrily at me and turned back towards the office.

I cursed myself inwardly. What was wrong with me? Why did I have to rattle myself up so much and then behave rudely towards Aryan on top?

"Suno!!" I called out to him, my voice barely a whisper. He stopped, but didn't turn back.

"Aryan, please, I am ..." My voice held the plea and apology that still refused to come out of my mouth.

He slowly turned around to face me and I took tentative, nervous steps towards him.

"I shouldn't have started off like this, I promised myself that I will behave in the most responsible way, and leave no room for complaint from anyone. It's just that I became very nervous back there..." I began, with my gaze fixed somewhere between his shoulder and neck, to avoid looking into his eyes.

Aryan sighed deeply.

"No room for complaint... that's a big ask. Please don't be too hard on yourself, Ch... Mrs Mathur. We all know this is your first day. There is no need to impress anyone here. Just be yourself and everything will fall into its place slowly. I was working all night on the project and fell asleep in the office itself. When I woke up I just felt so stiff and lethargic that, I felt I had to go to the gym and shake it off. Just because someone invited me to a party doesn't mean that I would be going there." He replied calmly.

I finally looked into his impassive face, feeling worse for myself and my previous behaviour.

"If I be myself, I will never get things done. I have to don the role of Mrs Mathur, CEO of Synergy here. And please, you don't have to explain all this to me, you have every right to go and be with anyone you want. That wasn't what ..." I added quickly but stopped, unsure of what to say.

Aryan was about to say something but paused, and took a long look at me before adding.

"I didn't say all that because I had to, I just wanted to tell you." He said softly.

I turned my face away, concentrating very hard on the small pot plant that looked suddenly green and lively.

"Your husband assured us that you have great business acumen and knack to win deals through negotiations. Is that right?" He asked in the same soft voice.

I stood up stiff to my full length, however short it was, and assured him that it was indeed true.

"Perhaps it is your chance to show your talent today. Me and Raj Singh ji were scheduled to go to the meeting with a distributor, but I am sure you have to do the honours now. Nanda & Associates is the firm, I am sure someone will help you find their file and our previous deals with them. Meeting is at 12. " 

Saying thus, he walked off, leaving me in a mix of so many emotions that I had no idea I could feel, all at the same time.

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A/N

How did find this Lift encounter between Aryan and Chandni?? Was Chandni a bit jealous ? ;) Please comment, vote and support this newbie author and her book.