Chapter - 31
Shivanya ~
It was almost eight in the night when I was finally done with drafting a merger contract that was supposed to go through by the end of the week but my head was still stuck upstairs in Vihaan's office and how he fed me the whole of it himself and by the end of lunch, my cheeks must have turned permanent red.
God, why was that man getting so into my head and system...how was he always around? In my head, in my thoughts and in reality!
I had just shut my laptop down after checking the last of the mails when there was a soft knock on the door again before it opened and Vihaan was there.
"Are you done for the day?" He asked and for a moment there, standing under the soft evening lights of the office, he genuinely looked tired.
Okay, handsome but tired but I refuse to digress.
"Yes, I am. What happened? Long evening?" I asked, standing up and took my bag in my hands before walking up to him.
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Longer than it should have been," he said. "Mostly because someone kept distracting me all day."
My eyes widened, and I felt my face warm up instantly. "I did not do anything like that!!" I shot back, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.
"You did," he teased, "Hard to focus when my wife sits there looking like that and turning to the most beautiful shade of red every time I so much as offer her a spoonful."
"Vihaan..." I hissed, glancing around even though the floor was almost empty.
He laughed softly, that low, quiet laugh he reserved only for me. "Come on, Sunshine, it's late. Let's get home."
We walked side by side toward the lift and when we reached the basement parking, Vihaan pulled out his keys, turned to me with that same teasing glint in his eyes and tossed them lightly in my direction.
I caught them, blinking in surprise. "Wait," I said, raising a brow at him. "Didn't you tell me you'd never let me drive your car?"
He chuckled, and kept looking at me. "I might have said that," he admitted, sliding his hands into his pockets. "But I was only trying to get a little reaction out of you, Shivanya."
"Really?" I asked, arching my brow higher, not quite believing him.
"Absolutely," he murmured, his eyes locked on mine, heat dancing in them. "And besides, who am I to stop my wife from doing what she wants?"
He said and then walked over to the passenger side of the car and I walked to the driver's seat before putting my bag in the back.
I slid into the driver's seat and buckled up, feeling his eyes still on me so I turned my head, smiling. "What if I accidentally bang your weirdly expensive car into a tree?"
That's when I saw it. For the briefest second....barely half a heartbeat, his eyes actually widened, and his jaw tensed like he had just watched someone drop his favourite vintage scotch bottle. Pure, unfiltered panic flashed across his perfectly calm lawyer face, and it was so quick and so real that I nearly snorted.
I couldn't help it and burst out laughing. "Oh my God, Vihaan sir, did you just panic? Look at your face!"
He blinked, caught, and then narrowed his eyes at me, lips twitching. "Not funny, Shivanya." he muttered, though there was a reluctant smile creeping in.
"And here I thought that the great Vihaan Raichand feared nothing," I teased, biting back more laughter.
"And yet here I am," he shot back, voice low and warm now, "terrified of my wife's destructive thoughts."
Wife again....every time he called me his wife, my heart would flip over for a second for some damn reason!
"Chalein?" I asked, laughing to cover for my stupid thoughts.
(Let's go?)
"Ji, chaliye." He replied with a smile and I ignited the engine.
(Yes, let's go.)
The car rolled out of the parking and into the streets. I kept my eyes on the ramp ahead, but I could feel his gaze still fixed on me as he head was thrown back and his whole body leaned back, relaxed.
I tried so hard to ignore him, after leaving the longest of the signals, I could not stop myself from speaking.
"Aap mujhe aise kyun dekh rahe hain?" I asked, biting the inside of my right cheek.
(Why are you looking at me like that?)
He did not answer right away. Just kept watching me, eyes half‑lidded, that faint, lazy smile tugging at his lips like he had all the time in the world.
"Kyunki ab mai aapko bina kisi wajah ke aise dekh sakta hoon, Shivanya. Nahi?" He asked, the leg pulling tug in his voice clearly at play.
(Because now I can look at you like this without any reason, Shivanya. Can I not?)
My breath caught somewhere between my chest and throat, and I had to grip the steering wheel tighter just to steady myself.
"Vihaan..." I muttered, half warning, half helpless, though it only made his smile deepen.
"Haan?" he drawled, voice low, amused, and maddeningly calm. "Shaadi ke kaafi faayde hain, Sunshine. Ab toh mai aapko khule aam dekh sakta hoon."
(Yes? Marriage has quite a few advantages, Sunshine. Now I can look at you openly, without hiding it.)
I bit down harder on the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh. "Aap na... thode se impossible hain," I shot back, shaking my head as I turned into the main road.
(You are impossible!)
"Accha?" he hummed, eyes still fixed on me, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was enjoying this far too much. "Magar galati toh meri bhi nahi hai Mrs. Raichand. Aap hain hi itni khoobsurat ki nazarein hat hi nahi paati aapse."
(You think? But it is none of my fault either, Mrs. Raichand. You are so beautiful that I simply cannot look away from you.)
My face went warm all over again, heart skipping at the way he said Mrs. Raichand so casually
"Sir, if you don't stop flirting with me in the next ten seconds, I have a tree in my mind that could do some significant damage to your beloved car." I mock threatened him and prayed to all the gods that he could not see me blushing.
"What do you have against my car, Sunshine? I am going to shut up now so please, please don't try to hurt it." He said, his voice almost begging me.
I finally turned my head just a little bit to look at him, his eyes were closed but there was a smile on his lips like he knew I was staring.
"I'm serious," I muttered, trying to keep my voice stern. "One more cheesy line and I'll actually find that tree."
He opened one eye lazily, the smile growing wider. "Understood, Mrs. Raichand. Complete silence now," he said, pressing his lips together as if to prove his point.
But even in silence, I could feel him smiling. And worse, I could feel my own lips trying to smile back.
In another fifteen minutes, we were home.
"Ah, aa gaye tum dono?" Mom and Dad were sitting in the living room, in front of the TV watching some crime thriller that looked halfway through.
(You both are here.)
"Ji Maa, thoda late ho gaya." I said as they paused and then stood up.
(Yes Maa, we ran a little late.)
"Shivanya, tell me beta, is Vihaan making you work a lot?" Dad asked, glaring at Vihaan and I smiled.
"You know how bosses are, dad. I can't help that." I replied, looking at him and he laughed, agreeing.
"Chalo, both of you go and freshen up and then we will have dinner." Maa said and I nodded, making my way inside our bedroom. Vihaan was right behind me.
I dropped my bag on the chair, took my heels off and stood near the dressing table to take off my earrings. Vihaan shut the door behind us and loosened his tie, throwing his laptop bag on the bed.
"No." I said, looking first at the bag and then at him through the mirror.
Vihaan paused, halfway through rolling up his sleeves. "No, what?" he asked, one eyebrow raised, clearly amused.
"Don't leave your bag on the bed," I scolded him lightly, still removing my earrings.
He chuckled under his breath. "Yes, Mrs. Raichand," he teased, picking up the bag again and putting it on the chair instead. "Better?"
"Better," I said, nodding.
He came closer, his reflection growing bigger behind me. His eyes caught mine in the mirror, and for a second, everything felt oddly quiet.
"Aap mujhe daante hue bhi acchi lagti hain, Shivanya." He said.
(You look beautiful even when you are scolding me, Shivanya.)
"Vihaan sir," I warned, though my voice had already lost its edge.
"Just telling you, Sunshine," he murmured, holding up both hands in surrender before turning away towards the wardrobe.
I shook my head, fighting back a laugh, and put my earrings down on the table. Then I started untangling my hair, watching him from the corner of my eye.
"I have a meeting with the law minister next week Shivanya and there are a few points that I want you to review and give your opinion on. The file is in my bag so I need you to go through it anytime this week." He told me once he was out of the bathroom.
"Of course, what is the meeting about?" I asked him back. I too was done changing and was just putting the clothes away.
"It is about that new data privacy draft bill," he said, picking up his phone from the side table. "The ministry wants informal comments from a few of us before they move it to the next stage."
"Oh," I said, genuinely interested now. "You want me to look at it?"
Vihaan nodded, leaning one shoulder lightly against the wardrobe as he watched me. "I do. I know how carefully you read and have a fresh perspective. And you always catch what I miss," he added, softer, almost like it slipped out.
I felt my chest warm at that. "I'll read it tomorrow morning," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "But you'll have to tell me what part worries you most."
"The language on cross‑border data transfers," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It feels rushed. And too open to interpretation."
I nodded again. "Alright. I'll make notes."
We then walked out and were having dinner with Mom and Dad when Dad spoke up.
"Shivanya beta, chalte hain casatta khane. Kuch meetha ho jaaye." He said and his eyes were practically glowing at the thought.
(Shivanya beta, let's go have some cassata. Let's have something sweet.)
I agreed immediately.
"Haan, Papa, chalte hain," I said.
(Yes papa, let's go!)
"Dad, you should not be consuming sugar at night, it is not...." Vihaan had just tried to interrupt but was cut off.
"Beta boss hoge ab tum bas office mein, samjhe. Iss ghar ka boss abhi bhi Amar Raichand hi hai." Papa announced and I laughed.
Mom and Vihaan were just looking at each other, sighing like they did not know what to do with themselves anymore, it was really fun to watch.
We did invite both of them too but they refused, saying that they were going to eat saunf and then take a walk instead.
Both papa and I rolled out eyes before heading out.
We had just reached back home after eating when I saw Taran and Radhika walking too along with Maa and Mr. Birdbrain.
"Dii!" She came and hugged me before entwining my hand with hers.
"How was your day?" I asked her and she started telling me about it before Taran joined us too.
"Shiv, how was your day back to work?" He asked.
"Great! I was missing work." I confessed and he looked so disappointed at me like he always did when I told him that I actually enjoy working.
"You cannot be helped." He declared, Radhika laughed.
"Okay, goodnight you all." Taran said, giving me a side hug. "Don't work too late, please."
"I won't," I promised, though we both knew I probably would.
"Bye, dii!" Radhika chirped, giving me another quick hug before walking away with Taran.
"Goodnight, you two." Mom and Dad called it a night too and went to their bedroom while I settled myself on the couch in front of the TV.
"So, what are we watching?" Vihaan asked, taking a seat next to me and I tried to straighten up just a little bit but he kept a hand over my right shoulder and squeezed it very gently.
"We are watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine," I told him, switching to Netflix and pulling up the first season.
His brows furrowed slightly. "I have never watched it."
I turned to look at him so fast I nearly twisted my neck. "You what?"
He raised both hands slightly, as if to defend himself. "I don't watch movies."
"Oh my god, it is not a movie and what? Who does not watch movies?" I gasped, now sitting straight, glaring at him.
Vihaan just smiled, a small, quiet smile. "I never had the time." he said, like it wasn't a big deal.
"You never had the time?" I repeated, still stuck on the idea. "In thirty-six years?"
"Thirty-seven," he corrected softly, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And no, I really did not. Law school, then practice, then the firm. There was always something."
"Unbelievable," I muttered, pressing play anyway, still half glaring at him. "You're watching now. And you're not allowed to fall asleep!!"
"Yes, Mrs. Raichand," he teased, settling in closer beside me.
For the next twenty-five minutes, I stole glances of him watching, smiling, laughing and by the end of the first episode, he stretched his arm behind me on the backrest, his fingers grazing my shoulder lightly. "One more?" he asked.
"One more!" I agreed.
Halfway through the second episode, I shifted, resting my head lightly against his shoulder without really thinking. I felt him tense for a split second, then relax, his hand brushing my upper arm.
"Oh, and one more thing Vihaan." I said, raising my head to meet his eyes.
"What is it, Sunshine?" He asked, looking down into mine.
"You should know this, because now we are married and I don't want to hide it anymore." I spoke up again and found his attention on me more.
"Go on, tell me." He asked again.
"Rosa is my girl crush," I confessed, trying to keep a straight face.
Vihaan blinked once, twice. "Rosa Diaz?" he repeated, as if making sure he heard right.
"Yes," I nodded firmly, though I could already feel laughter bubbling up in my chest. "She's so cool. And scary. And those leather jackets? Iconic."
For a second, he looked like he was trying to process it, then his mouth curved into a slow, amused smile. "So that's the type you like? Brooding, scary women with leather jackets?"
"Exactly," I said, grinning now. "You're safe though, because you neither brood nor wear leather jackets."
He laughed.
"I don't want to be safe from you, Sunshine. Have you not noticed?" He asked.
For a few seconds, I had no idea what to say but I could feel the butterflies trying to kill me in my stomach. Then, trying to hide how flustered I felt, I turned his face back toward the television with my hand on his cheek, pretending to focus on the show instead.
He laughed again, and I turned back to the TV, trying to look calm even though my heart was beating way too fast.
We kept watching in silence. His arm rested behind me on the couch, and now and then his thumb brushed my shoulder. Every time it happened, my chest tightened a little, but I forced myself to keep my eyes on the screen. It felt both new and strangely safe sitting this close.
When the episode ended, I glanced at the clock. "It's late," I murmured. "We should get some sleep."
"We should." He agreed and we made our way back to the room.
I switched off the brighter light and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the blanket over my legs. Vihaan put his phone down and came to his side.
We lay down on the bed and then after some ten minutes of lying down, out of nowhere, an idea for my trial tomorrow popped into my head. My eyes flew open. "Wait," I whispered, starting to sit up. "I just thought of something for the Medacare trial. If I write it down now, I won't forget."
Before I could get up, Vihaan held my arm. "Shivanya," he said, "it is very late. You can do it in the morning."
"But it'll just take a minute," I protested, even though I was so tired.
"It can wait," he insisted, his voice calm. "You have worked enough for today. Now get some rest. We can take care of it tomorrow."
I hesitated but he held my gaze.
"Alright," I whispered, letting my body relax into the mattress.
His thumb brushed the back of my hand, slow and gentle. "Good," he said softly. "Now, just sleep."
"Goodnight, Vihaan," I murmured, my voice barely above a breath.
"Goodnight, Sunshine," he whispered back.
And with that, my eyes fluttered shut, my thoughts finally quiet and my heart steady, ending the day exactly where I somehow knew I was meant to be.
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