He loves me not .. continued

I hope it lives up to expectations … 🤞🏼 

He loves me not ..continued 

The next morning. 

“How long did she spend on the floor that way?”  Asked Rishabh making sure his words were quiet enough to allow Prerna to stay in slumber. 

“Difficult to say sir she was reading when I left last night” answered George as he poured Rishabhs coffee into his cup and mixed in the sugar before handing it over.

Rishabh still in his dressing gown seated at the lounger looked over at Prerna thinking upon what he’d seen of her last night. 

“You’ve not noticed anything different about Mrs Bajaj have you over the last few days.”

Rishabh was trying to understand whether there was something was the matter or it was just a figment of his imagination. 

“She’s been quieter than usual. I would say she’s missed you sir.” Replied George straightening his posture and resting his hands behind his back having served the coffee. 

“Thank you .” Said Rishabh excusing George. 

A few minutes later Prerna began to stir in her sleep. The aroma of coffee fill her senses. Adjusting her eyes to the sunlight and then her mind to where she was she she turned to Rishabhs side of the bed. Seeing it empty she stayed still for a moment. Rubbing her eyes she began to stretch and finally sit up in bed.

When she did manage to prop herself up

In bed  to see Mr Bajaj sat in front of  her  wasn’t something she was expecting. 

“Good morning” she heard him say from behind his paper in relaxed poise within the  chair.  

“Good Morning” she replied  pausing for a second before adding “I thought you’d be in the office”. 

“I rescheduled after you said  wished to speak to me about something important last night.”

Prerna instantly began to reflect and think back to last night. She didn’t recall what she may have said in her sleepy slur but the feelings of last night were still heavy on her heart even now .

She was hesitant for a little while but knew  the only way to free her mind of the sadness was to confront it.

“I have some questions” she said uncertain but  grateful that the morning paper was shielding her from her husbands eyes. 

She didn’t know if she could meet his gaze whilst even touching on what was on her mind, never mind questioning him. 

“Go ahead, ask away” he said again from behind his paper the same way he’d welcome Kukis curiosity and her many questions.

“Ek shart par …” (“one condition”) she said which made Rishabh look up from above his paper and Prerna drop her gaze whilst she completed her words. “Maafi, for any words that go a stray”

“You have my word” he replied with steady conviction. Knowing that Prerna found certain matters difficult to talk about he eased the pressure on her by going back to look at his paper.

Prerna appreciated this gesture in every such moment. 

“Aap ne apni gitab mein mera Sikar kyun nahin kiya?” She asked  ( I wanted to know why I wasn’t mentioned in your book?)

“There was a chapter, I had it removed” Replied Rishabh. 

Instead of asking why Prerna assumed it was something she had done or not done that resulted in this.  She paused for a moment wanting to ask him about why he seemed so aloof.

“Ghusa hai aap hamse?” (Are you angry?) She asked not able to find another way to ask him about his distant ways over the last few days. 

“Not at all, I have no reason to be.” He said in return. Each of his replies gave her some level of comfort but didn’t put her demons to rest. She had to pluck up the courage to ask what was really on her mind.

“Aap aaj bhi ..      pyar karte hai hamse?”  As soon as she let those words out she heard the rustle of the newspaper Rishabh lowered to see her. She quickly followed up with “I know I will never matter as much as kukis mother or the girls but .. 

Rishabh watched Prerna scatter her eyes about, gritting his teeth a little he tried to keep hold of his temper but his irritation bled through his words and his gaze became a lot more intense. 

“There was no chapter because I couldn’t bare the thought of sharing you with others. No man in the right mind would and no dam businessman gives away his secret to success. 

I’m not intentionally being distant, I’m busy working on the biggest project of my life for you and you have the nerve to ask me if I love you!!” 

Rishabhs response was scolding and he only realised this  when the room went completely silent and he caught a glimpse of Prernas eyes before she hid them. 

Sighing in disappointment at what he’d just done he dropped the paper on the table in a brisk throw along with his glasses and looked over at Prerna who now sat in silence staring down at the bedsheets as if to hang her head in shame.

 The only thing to be  ashamed of was that he’d let matters get to this. 

A moment of silence having passed Prerna could sense Mr Bajaj rise from his chair, hearing his footsteps approach the bed all she wanted to do was understand what he’d just said to her before any other words were exchanged.  Her mind was still trying to peice it together when she felt him take a seat at the bed side in front of her and his fingers lift her face so he could see her. 

Prernas eyes carried uncertainty, insecurity, sadness, but above all they were the  fragile eyes that he remembered meeting with on his first encounter. He had allowed for this to take place and now it was up to him to put it right. 

“I love you” he said as he watched Prernas eyes continue to be uncomfortable and refuse to meet with his. 

Those words, the gentleness made Prerna look to his gaze and find the Mr Bajaj she missed so much over the last few days.  She realised that if  she’d found her way to his eyes earlier they would have corrected her insecurities without a need for a single spoken word. She’s made something of nothing it seemed and his eyes along with his words from earlier all infused her heart gradually. He kissed her affectionately on her quivering lips.

The first of many kisses and caresses to tend to her heart. He continued his ways until he could see the look in those eyes of hers change. He intended to make love to her until he found the Prerna he knew. 

..

Now in a more restful sleep in his arms then she’d  managed to get the night before Rishabh remained still for over a hour, caressing her bare back letting her rest with a more content expression on her face and ease in her posture.  When he was certain she was in deep sleep he was careful to move away gently. 

Picking up his dressing grown he put his arms through, fastening it he looked over to Prerna once more before walking out into the porch.

Taking a seat in his chair Rishabh looked over at his autobiography silently. Maybe he was wrong to have left Prerna out completely but he had his reasons. 

His phone beside the book rang, seeing the display show “Ma” (Mrs Sharma) if there was one person he was obligated to pick up the call on it was her.

“Mr Bajaj, Mahesh ka doh baar phone aa chuka hai, pata nahin office mein kya ho raha hoga”) 

It was comforting to hear Veenas panicked tone in a way. 

“Rishabh ..” she said when she heard just silence but could still hear him over the phone. 

“I can canceled”

“Is everything alright?” She asked wondering if her daughter was getting in the way of his work commitments.

“It will be” he responded with conviction. 

“Atcha aap ne Priyu ko project ke bare mein bataya.” (Have you told Priyu about the project yet) 

“Rishabh was silent “not yet”

He looked on at the file beside his book labelled Prerna Bajaj CEO, Rishabh Bajaj exit 2022. 

Only a select few new about Rishabhs ambitions and Veena was one of them. 

This was the penultimate phase of Rishabhs mentorship of Prerna as a entrepreneur. She would soon be out of his shadow and writing her own autobiography.  With Prernas shattered eyes from earlier staying with him he just hoped he hadn’t undone years of work in a matter of days.

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