Yuvika didn't even realize for how long she had been standing on the terrace of the skyscraper building, holding the safety railing, her eyes fixed on the beautiful view upfront.
Some rich kid was confessing his love with grand pomp and show. The normally deserted beach area was filled with rose petals and flashy decorations. She even tried to count the number of balloons there were, but failed profusely.
' Beautiful view, isn't it?' She heard a low, magnetic whisper near her earlobe, which startled her. She immediately pulled herself away, in a fair distance, from the source of sound.
'Come on. Am I that scary?' Ashutosh asked in his usually stern voice, but she could see the teasing in his eyes. So, she just ignored him and gave her undivided attention to the view in front.
' Wow. Miss Chauhan, you are becoming more and more like her. You know! That's not a good thing. Not even in the slightest.' Ashutosh said, feigning the hurtful expression.
' Because she is my idol, my inspiration. I want to be like her. But I know, she will only cringe at this, if she finds out. God knows why she hates being praised or getting complimented.' Yuvika said with a deep sigh.
' Huh! I think it's because she gets the respect and reverence of everyone, either sooner or later. So, for her, it's just a normal thing.
That's the reason why she craves normal treatment. She just wants to be considered as an ordinary being, which her identities can never allow. So, trust me, she will make a big fuss if she finds you idolizing her.' Ashutosh said with a big smile on his face.
' But how can one not worship, not idolize her.' Yuvika asked, absent-mindedly.
' By treating her as a friend. Just like I do.' Ashutosh replied, making Yuvika to stare at him for a good few minutes.
' What? I am in no way interested in her. Or idolizes her. All that I am trying to say is that, be her friend, get ditched by her mostly in the important times and occasions and you will never ever get the idea of revering her.' Ashutosh said in a single breath. Bringing a smile to Yuvika's face.
' You know, we are incomparable to her love of flying and exploring. Then, why hurt yourself by even thinking, she will be choosing you when the other side of the bait is freedom, happiness and life?' Yuvika said with a cute smile.
The fresh breeze twirls her hairs, almost covering her face.
' The wind is strong here. Let's go inside.' Ashutosh suggested.
' But it's rare for Boss to come outside of his office. Why not just take some rest?' She suggested.
' Only if you are willing to lead the meeting with Robert.' Ashutosh offered to which she shook her head like a rattlesnake.
' It indeed is a bit chilly here. Let's go inside.' She was quick to suggest, earning a throaty chuckle from him.
Gosh, this girl, she is the best when it comes to management of the things , but when it comes to leading, then she ends up becoming like a lovelorn, stray kitty, who is worth the love and protection.
Though, Miss Rajput has given her many leading projects. But only the trio know how she survived them. Most of the time,the trio handle the main talk or the assistant department of The Raj, depending upon the situations.
It won't be wrong to say, Miss Chauhan is more behind-the-scenes worker than the limelight gathering one.
~~
' What?' Vivek and Yuvika exclaimed in unison.
Ashutosh gives them some time to digest the news, he has just unraveled in front of them.
' So, you are getting married.'Vivek finally asked. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry at the news.
' That too, within a week.' Yuvika added, shock evident in her voice.
Ashutosh nodded.
' Damn. You should have told us earlier, Mr. Pratihast. We already have a deadly packed schedule and now your marriage. You know, Miss Rajput, is abroad. Not to mention, all the new responsibilities which will fall on our team's shoulders.' Yuvika felt like the ground was slipping beneath her feet.
Not due to the news. But just by the imagination of the responsibilities that comes with this news. Damn. She needs her Boss here. She needs Miss Rajput here. Only her boss can handle all of this, which she definitely can't.
'Calm down, Miss Chauhan. Have a seat.' Vivek offered the meticulous, hard-working girl a place to rest.
' But why, all of a sudden?' Vivek asked.
' Pandit ji prophesied some kind of astrological problem and only a marriage can resolve it. That too, within a marriage before 11th of Feb. So, here we are.' Ashutosh explained, making even Vivek, who was trying to keep his cool till now, feel the stars spinning in front of his eyes in the broad daylight.
' I didn't know you believed in astrology.' Miss Chauhan asked in amusement.
' Does that even matter? My parents believe in it.' Ashutosh explained with a sigh. He was part of a typical Indian family, where whatever the elders say is final.
' Wow. So, who's the unfortunate girl?' Vivek asked sarcastically.
' Unfortunate ?' Yuvika asked in confusion.
' Yeah. The girl, whose husband's first love is his work. Second love is his company. Third love is his start-ups. Fourth love is us. Fifth love is his family. Sixth love is his country and the list goes on.
I can bet, that girl will be nowhere near one thousand eight hundred and ninety sixth love of his.' Vivek explained seriously, making Yuvika to chuckle.
' Guys, I call you here for a serious matter. You can pull my leg some other time. You know!' Ashutosh said with a deep sigh.
' I can go on a blind date, in your place. If that's what you need my help with. After all, we are friends beyond this building.' Vivek said in a teasing manner.
' Don't worry, Boss. You can count on me for your wedding preparations. I will make sure that it will become one of the grand weddings of India.' Yuvika said, while patting herself with full determination in her voice.
' Guys, listen. I don't need any help with either the blind dates or the wedding preparation.
I am in an even more dire situation.' Ashutosh said, while emphasizing on the seriousness of the situation, making the duo stare at him, unblinkingly, waiting for whatever he wants to throw in their direction.
' We have to find a bride first before the wedding.' Ashutosh said, in as calm a voice as he can. As if he hadn't just dropped the nuclear bomb in front of the duo. The expressions on the duo's faces were indeed very funny. But who was to blame, here. Their Boss has given them such a shock that they can never forget.
' What do you mean by 'finding a bride'?' Vivek and Yuvika asked in unison.
' Did she get abducted somehow? Or is her life in danger? Or something like that? Did our rivals seriously act up?' Vivek asked, trying to think about this information with a new perspective, or maybe the most obvious perspective.
' Then, Mr. Pratihast, what's there to talk about? Let me inform the hacker's team and the security team. Rest assured. It would be as usual. Illegal work in the most legal way possible.' Miss Chauhan said and was about to leave, when Ashutosh held her by the wrist.
'It's not what you two are thinking about.' He clarified, dumbfounding the duo once again, who were ready with warrior spirits just now. Can anyone explain what their boss is trying to explain to them?
' Then what exactly do you mean, Boss?' Both asked in unison.
' I mean, we have to firstly find someone qualified enough to be my wife. But if we can't, then we have to find an eligible candidate, who can pretend to be my wife for some period of time.' He explained, as if he was explaining to some six year old boy, as slow, as softly, as calmly as possible.
The duo, who till now, were wondering which soul possessed their boss, was now staring at him,dumbfoundedly, constantly blinking.
' So, we have a marriage. But not the bride.' Yuvika asked in bewilderment, her voice shaking. While Vivek was still digesting the news.
When they saw Ashutosh nodding his head, they had one thought in their mind. Who among them wants to break this floor-to-ceiling window, they or their boss.
After all, even a suicide would be more easy than the current situation they were in.
'So, uncle and aunty forgot to recommend one of their relatives's known's daughter to you? Or one of your distant uncle's friend's doesn't have a daughter? Or no one in your maternal family knows any eligible girl to marry you?' Vivek asked, getting a hard time digesting the idea, his friend's marriage is fixed, but not the bride.
' They do come with a girl. But I said, it's my life, so at least the choice regarding this matter should be mine, too.' Ashutosh explained to the duo patiently, who were on the brink of losing their sanity and consciousness.