Every version of my happily ever after will always include some version of you.
~Xavier,
King of Sloth
☆☆
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~A D V I K~
"Aarohi Advik Oberoi!! Get up" I said as my hands shoot out to grab the blanket from her body, she tried to pull it instinctively muttering something in her sleep which I couldn't quite make it out . Her eyes were still shut, hairs dishelved as she looked like an absolute koala clutching onto the blanket, like her dear life depends upon it. And I had been a fool of I say that it wasn't adorable.
She looked cute. "Hey. Wakey Wakey" I say again, this time my voice a little gentler, trying my best to get her awake.
"You got a thing for disturbing my sleep..?" She finally replies back , her voice groggy from sleep words slightly slurred as she slowly rubs her eyes, trying to focus on my face. And yet again , that tiny burrowing of her brows, some tiny strands of her hair sticking out to her face. They all make her look pretty.
"You are hangover...?" I ask even when i already knew the answer "ofcourse you are" taking in her form. Her tiny frame wrapped in the mattress like a baby with its blanket.
She replies with a soft sigh, followed by rubbing of her temples . As if she was embarrassed. She should be.
"Let's do something to fix that" I say without any hesitation, knowing what to do right now already. I did anticipate this. So I moved across the room , grabbing the tiny paper bag from pharmacy I had bought earlier. Because i knew somewhere she will need that.
I handed her the headache meds . "I was planning on taking you for some sightseeing" I add softly as I see her swallow the bitter pill. Her face scrunching up due to the pill. Cheeks slightly flushed..
"Aren't you like super busy..?" She asks finally in that morning voice of hers which was more like her baby voice.
"Well work can wait. Don't want my little wife sneaking out again" I say, barely restraining that low chuckle , remembering the chaos from last night.
"You know I hate you. Also you don't need to rub it in" she says defensively even though she was not able to look at me in the eye and say those words. She looked guilty. I raise my hands in an dramatic submission.
"Hey. Past be buried" I say , reaching out to slowly tuck back the loose strand of hair which came over her eyes. "You look like hell"
"Great. Fine. Let me freshen up. Then whatever that sightseeing is" she says getting up, stretching her limbs, yawning softly.
"Aarohi" I called out at her retreating figure, as she haults in her steps, looking back at me
"Yes..?" She asked.
"Nothing" I fumbled immediately, all I wanted to say was that it's okay . SHE DOESN'T have to be sorry about yesterday or feel guilty. But I couldn't get those words out of my mouth.
As i turned on my heel to go to my room .
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~A/n ~
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His phone buzzed as he walked out of Aarohi's hotel room. 'Pratik' the caller ID said. His assistant. Which meant the work was done.
"Hello. Everything done..?" He asked, turning the keys of his room before entering it.
"His Vietnamese, came on a tourist visa."
"Yah and then..?"
"I destroyed his documents. And money. His stuck in Malaysia for now. "
"Well. That's not enough "
"Am digging his past up"
"That will do. Be precise "
"You sound like actual mafia Advik. Drop the arc" Pratik, says on the call trying to hide his chuckle.
"You have seen through me. But seriously. Just make sure he doesn't fly out of here easily. He troubled her alot. " He confessed, fiddling with door knob.
"Don't worry"
"You know you are my favourite in here"
"Am elited Advik"
"Now don't climb onto my head"
"Aye Aye captain" with that the call ended .
Josh, he had spent the night digging up upon him along with his assistant. He couldn't just let him go easily, even though he had a broken rib, that was not enough to satisfy Advik.
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She was out now , as first things first he quickly handed her a helmet , walking out of hotel entrance. She had wore a yellow white sundress while he was in a white button up and pair of khaki pants. Travel ready.
When she had entered down from her room earlier, his gaze had rested upon her for little too long. She looked perfect and his breath had hitched seeing her look so effortlessly good .
"So are we going on a bike..?" She asks
"Beats the traffic and that's fun" he answers her question with a small smirk on his lips, as the staff bought a spotless, black Kawasaki Versys infront of them. Handing him the keys.
"It's yours...?" She could not hide her curiosity, he turned slowly towards her, his hands lifting up as he adjusted the helmet over head. Adjusting the strap of it near her chin. Eyes , dark grey on doing the work.
"Ours" he says then , barely above a whisper. His breath fanned over her features , as he asked softly "you want to drive..?"
Nah. Nah. She nodded her head in no immediately. She could, but this was an unknown country. She didn't knew the rules and mostly she was terrified of having him sitting behind her.
"As you wish. Hold on tight" he said then, as he got on the bike, adjusting his own helmet.
She followed his lead. Hands instinctively resting on his shoulders as she sat climbed on the bike. Keeping a safe distance as the engine came to life beneath them.
"She's lucy" he tells then
"Who's Lucy..?" She asked confused.
"The bike. Duh" he said as the bike roved through the hotels driveway. The 7 star hotel disappearing behind them as they roved ahead.
The morning chills hitting her face, which she embraced warmly.
They drove in silence for long.
"How many countries have you travelled so far..?" She asks leaning down towards his ear as the wind cuts her voice .
She had come to a realisation that she had no idea about him. Except for his name and position. And that was not a good thing if they had agreed upon being friends first.
"25 plus " he says simply, his grip tighten on the accelarator .
"Woah woah. Really. That's incredible" she says amused.
"Well I am hoping for atleast 60 before 45" he said
"Well why..?"
"Am gonna settle in Himalayas after 45"
"You will freeze to death!!!" She immediately barks out, barely suppressing the amusement that flashed around her face "And why himalaya..?"
"I like it there. In the mountains."
"What about family and buisness..?"
"Family..? They already have an heir. 3 actually. Aditya, Adesh and Adheera. They won't mind my absence"
"And what about me...? "
"What do you mean..?"
"Nothing"she replies , biting back her tongue. Then smoothly asking something else to change the topic "Why do you like travelling..?"
"That's not the type of question I anticipated"
"Just tell me. "
"I just...it's complicated. I like being at different places. Meeting new people. Doing reckless things. Living a life. And ofcourse exploring the new world .I love airports and packing and the smell of a new city and hotel breakfasts and doing cute touristy stuff, woman I love traveling "
"That's so you." She says but the real thought she had were quite judgemental. What about stability? Home? Family? Those are some aspects. Being reckless and selfish won't run your household. But she kept that to herself
"Well honestly no one knows who you are on a vacation. Nobody cares. You can be you. No judgement. " He adds then, now waiting for her answer .
"Well but at the end you have to come to home" The question lingers in the air,
as the bike comes to a hault at a medium sized hotel. Not a Michelin star one.
"Woah. Here..?" She asks getting off the bike. He followed. Removing their respective helmets.
"I could treat you to a fine dine. But that's not how this works. We are having authentic food. And this place is a hidden gem"He says as he holds on the door for her.
"Well so is this place special.?" She questions.
"You can handle spice right..?" He questionsbback , as the waiter guided them to a table of two.
"Kaya toast, Nasi lemak . For two" he orders at the counter, even before checking the menu. And then looking at her "any refreshments..?"
"Latte." She says simply. Latte, her go through order. She favoured it over black coffee always .She sat across from him. The hotel was lightly crowded as it was tourist season. Couples, families, bachelors. Some foreigners, some locals.
Just then her gaze landed upon the white couple sitting on the table ahead of them. They both were young.
"Kuih on house for the new couple" the waitress announced cheerfully as she placed the plate down to the couple. The girl immediately started taking the pictures.
Aarohi and Advik, both of them looked at the couple before turning to look at each other. A sheepish grin spreads across his
face, so does hers.
He works an eyebrow "what..?"
As she quickly announced, looking at the couple "are you guys on honeymoon ????. congratulations!!. Because we also just got recently married" she says pointing at the ring in her hand. A delicate diamond ring on a platinum band.
"Wait That's incredible. Am sasha and his max" the girl says quickly, showing her own ring.
"Wow. I love when couples visit us" the waitress claps her hands as she walks to the counter.
"This is my wife Aarohi and myself Advik " he says pointing at each of them respectively.
"We are from Barcelona" The guy said as they both gave him a smile.
The waitress came up with their order and placed the plate of free 'kuih' . The middle aged woman smiled warmly , her motions practiced as she efficiently placed the food .
"Kuih for the newlyweds on house" she says beaming as they both returned the favour with a smile.
When she left. He turns towards her.
"You are evil ,wife"
"Anything for free food" she says taking a bite, no waiting now. "Free food tastes better" she says covering her mouth, chewing on the food. Her expression first confused then as she slowly chewed on more ,the flavours blasted in her mouth. She gave a approving nod, showing her thumbs up.
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They walk through the limestone cave temples at Batu caves. She occasionally clicked the pictures on her phone while he just captured everything through his eyes. Reading each information pamplet neatly.
"This is beautiful" he says finally, eyes roaming over a stone statue.
"Indeed" she joins, standing beside him . As they both take in the moment.
As they walk ahead , they see a small market. Full of tourists buying souvenirs .
Keyrings, magnets, perfumes, some artistic creations like hats , pine stools. Wood carvings.
Her gaze drops upon a stoll selling wooden sculptures. A sculpture, big as 3 feet catches her eyes. A waving fortune cat.
And immediately she tugs on his sleeve
"Can we take her with us..?"
He immediately says no. "Nope. That is huge"
But she just pouts with those puppy eyes "please. It's calling us. See. "
He couldn't help but a chuckle.
"We can't take her. How do you plan to take it back to the hotel..?"
"But it is cute"
"You can't buy everything that is cute That's the whole point" he says gruffly as he points at other stores .
"Their are options"
She sighs dramatically, stomping her feet before finally turning to other stolls .
"Sometimes I wonder if I am raising a kid or handling a wife" He sighs, muttering under his breath, rubbing his temples out of habit.
"Repeat that. What did you say" she ask, raising her eyebrow.
"Kuchh nahi meri maa!" He says dropping his hands down before turning away as she barks a laughter.
"The feelings are mutual Mr." She adds on falling in a step beside him.
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"Wow Bhabhi this place is Wonderful!!" Adeera says excitedly as Aarohi shows her the KLCC park on the vedio call , a famous tourist attraction well-known for its manmade lakes and fountains.
"I miss you yar" Aarohi says then as she brings the camera to show her face now.
"This house is so quite without you. I have to take talking to the furniture" Adheera adds dramatically just as Advik comes in the picture behind Aarohi.
"Madam your Icecream" he says handing her the cone.
"Ohho Bhai. Bhabhi ki itni seva" Adesh Snickers behind Adheera.
Aarohis face burned, her expression shifting from 50 shades of red to finally settling to a dark scarlet colour.
They both looked equally mortified while the duo of Adheera and Adesh smirked, having the time of their life.
"It's okay. Pure Oberoi Khandan ko pta hai 'Advik bhai is on honeymoon ' including the servants " Adesh grins joyfully
"Am going to cut your allowances" Advik growls before disconnecting the call gruffly as they both settled in the chaos.
Aarohi is the first to break the silence, as she laughs whole heartedly. "Your siblings are little hellions"
"I know better " he says , looking at the ground below like it has some secret manuscript written upon. Trying not to let her see how red his ears had become. And it was just some teasing from his annoying siblings .
"You got mint chocolate for yourself..?" She asks licking her own dark chocolate ice-cream.
"Yah. It's good" he says, biting in the cold icecream as if proving a point.
"Well. That is basically toothpaste you eat" she says showing a yucks look. Scrunching up her nose .
"Woah. Don't . It's not toothpaste." He says in a protest "I just got mature tastebuds , not everyone has taste as that of a Michelin chef, princess "
"Yah!!" She slaps in his shoulder " maturity is nothing to do with Icecream flavours "
"Ofcourse. You are her eating a flavour every child likes. But if it lets you sleep better. Carry on" he grins sheepishly
"You always gotta get the last word right..?"
At that he chuckles wholeheartedly. For a moment they just enjoy the peace, eating their icecreams. Without judging eachothers preferences.
"Tomorrow is this buisness gala in here " He says then , now finally breaking the quite moment.
"Ohh and..??" She asks curious.
"Buisness stuff. I want you to come with me. If you are okay with " He says as he now turns to fully face her.
"Am I required..?" She asks then, trying to wipe the cream which had now splurred on her mouth, near her lips.
"I want to formally introduce my wife to my business partners " he says softly, his lips pressed in a straight line as his gaze locks onto her. Gently wiping the cream off her mouth with his thumb.
For a moment her breath hitches at that contact. His thumb had swaped near her lips and it had sent a shiver down her spine.
And introduce his buisness partners to her....as in his Wife..?
That was a huge thing. Since nobody knew about the wedding yet. They knew about Aditya getting married, not Advik.
After a lot of internal debate she finally nods once. And that was all the confirmation he needed.
As he slowly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch lingering upon her skin for a little too long. The touch sending her shivers.
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Hope you all are liking the book!!
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