The car ride was very silent. Ren made sure to keep his eyes on the road. Both the marshmallows stuck to Ria like moth attracted to fire. They both were sleeping soundly while Ria caressed them softly with a smile on her face as she looked at them.
Ren's habit made him look at her, his fire. His face softened when he looked at the way she is watching over them. Ria suddenly took a deep breath and said silently, "He was one of my customers. I designed his sister's Wedding gown. That is how we came to know each other".
Ren didn't say anything and turned to look at the window. He could feel her scorching gaze on him but he made sure to not give her that attention. Ria pulled the hem of his shirt to make him look at her. Only then he faced her and asked as if he nothing happened, "What it is? Do you need anything?"
Her gaze turner into glare still he didn't say anything and raised one of his eyebrows at her. Her shoulders slumped down as she said, "Come here". His eyebrows frowned as he asked, "Why?" A tinge of smile formed in the corner of he eyes as she said, "Come here, I won't bite".
He slowly moved a little bit close towards her. Ria tilted her head and said, "Come closer". He squinted his eyes at her but still he came closer to her as he lifted Diya off the seat and she laid in his lap. The little kitten settled into both her parents thighs. Ria leaned towards Ren, he stilled in anticipation.
She gave him a soft peck on his cheek and settled on his shoulders. He didn't move an inch after that since she also fell asleep. He liked the way it is now, his Anna, his kittens together with him without any disturbances. He slowly moved his hand being careful so that she stays asleep. Then he hugged her close with a satisfied smile, he will resume his sulking after she wakes up.
...
Fast beat music played inside the car as the one driving it hummed along the way. Reyan couldn't calm down for some reason. Nash noticed her every move, she is not the type to keep quiet for a long time unless there is something on her mind.
For the short time he has known her, she is the most brightest and lively girl he has ever seen. She will be who she is, wherever she is, without minding others. Well, the last quality is something he has seen in all the girls in Raj family.
Reyan kept on thinking about something to talk about. But her mind was blank and she didn't want to offend him in anyway or blabber something. She wanted to make good impression on him. She suddenly stopped the way her thoughts are going. She took a peek at him then she thought, 'Only because he is brother-in-law's brother'.
'Definitely not anything else, definitely!', she said to her herself. "You are quiet", a low monotone was heard. She didn't hear him amidst her own thoughts. He tried calling her several times but she didn't hear his voice. He parked the car on the side way and muted the music.
He leaned towards and called again only a bit gentle this time, "Reyan! Are you alright?" His breath tickled her ear and she was startled as she came back to reality. As she jerked in the seat, he leaned back into his seat and said with frown, "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you".
She immediately shook her head and said, "It is not your fault. I was thinking about... a case... yeah I was thinking about the case. You know the one that I was talking about in the hallway".
He nodded understandingly and then started the car, once again the silence prevailed. She was the one who spoke first this time, "So, what is it?" He gave her a side glance and asked, "What?" She gave him a sheepish smile and said, "Nothing".
He narrowed his eyes at her and she scratched her nose a bit as she held his gaze. On looking at the way she sat restless in the seat made him soften his gaze as he asked in a much gentle tone, "Do I look that frightening?"
Her eyes widened and she immediately said, "No! No! Definitely not. It is just..." He gave her an expecting glance with a straight face. He suddenly said, "You look beautiful". Her eyes widened again and then he said, "The way you speak is also beautiful".
No words came out of her mouth as she blankly stared at him. He said again, "And the way you look now is cute like a squirrel". At last her composure broke and squealed, "Aaahhhh!", and then closed her face with both of her hands. He started to laugh wholeheartedly and so did she after a few seconds.
Still her heart was beating fast as she looked at his suave face blossoming. "Relaxed?", he asked softly with the smile in his eyes. She nodded and said with whine, "Still you don't have to lie to my face like that!" He look at her eyes for a little and said in his low tone, "I never lie".
Her cheeks became red at the way he looked at her and it became more redder as she processed his words in her mind. The silence prevailed but the atmosphere is different now. She suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are you attending the tender for Eco buildings project?"
Nash raised one of his eyebrows as he said, "Obviously". She nodded and said, "I thought I heard your name when my boss was discussing about the project with his client". He gave her a side glance while driving and said, "Krest Constructions?".
She was about to nod her head and but she resisted and said, "I'm not supposed to talk about that, it is confidential. But, you will know about it sooner or later so, yes. Krest Constructions has my boss as their adviser".
He wanted to ask her about the project, her opinion on it. But he didn't as they are most likely rivals. She could sense his hesitation, almost like she could read his mind so she asked, "Want to here about my opinion on the project?"
Nash lips curved on the corner as he replied, "Sure". She went on and on about the project, even he didn't knew about it this much as he formed different teams and assigned each of them for each category. He knew what is necessary regarding the project and its enough for him to know its worth.
He listened to her intently and his respect for her grew as she kept talked. When they reached her home was when she finished. They both said farewell and Nash said without thinking, "I will call you later". He frowned and continued, "Regarding the project". Her ears became red as she anticipated something and she replied in a gentle voice, "Sure".