'Wow. Why didn't I know you can give such a good massage? You are certainly improving, Vivek.' Ashutosh praised generously, while leaning further and further. The stress, the tension getting farther and farther away .
Before whenever he would ask Vivek for a massage, he would feel like an ant crawling on his skin. But see, as they say practice makes man perfect, now he is massaging like a professional, knowing where to increase the strength , where to decrease it, which acupoint needs to be avoided and which one deserves further pressing.
It was like his Vivek is getting in the category of professional. He was impressed.
'Well, I didn't know that, either.' A voice came from the door, tensing the hand resting over his shoulder. Ashutosh glances at the door, to see Vivek with a cheeky grin on his face.
But when he felt the hand resting on his shoulder getting more tense every passing moment, he cursed in his mind. There was hardly any need to say who the person could be, with the wide, cheeky grin Vivek bore on his face.
' Miss Chauhan.' Ashutosh finally uttered his suspicion. As expected the hands tensed further, confirming his suspicions.
' I knew it. This guy, you see, Miss Chauhan, he only knows how to eat and sleep. He knows nothing about these things. It's not like I am very fond of massaging or something. It's just that, he was bragging a lot about the massaging session he took last month with an acupuncture specialist Mr. Hua.
So, I just wanted to test that. Nothing serious. Though, thanks for helping me. I am really feeling better than before. But next time, it would be better if you let me know, it's you, rather than helping this idiot gain free compliments. Okay!' He said, while staring at her.
When he turned to see Vivek again, he saw the scowling face.
Fine, you want to praise her, go ahead. But why dissing me in the process. That's completely unfair. Alright. Yuvika saw Vivek's face and ended up laughing out loud. Poor Vivek, who did nothing, yet ended up getting poked mercilessly by his own boss.
' You seem like a professional. Have you taken a crash-course before?' Ashutosh asked while staring at her smiling face. His hands holding hers, who were now more or less relaxed.
'No. It's just that I used to massage my father and my grandmother, when I was small.' She justified. While Ashutosh turned towards Vivek.
'See, that's how you learn it. Not through some crash-course.' Ashutosh added, earning another round of laughter from her. Vivek, left with no choice, ended up blurting out ; ' I am better than her. I can bet on that.'
But he regretted it. He regretted it more, when he saw the cunning smile on Ashutosh's face.
'Prove it.' Ashutosh simply said. While Yuvika was enjoying the conversation.
'Naah, my skills are far beyond perfection. I don't show it to mere mortals. Besides, I am a busy person.' Vivek said with the air of an immortal saint and ended up leaving the room to protect his pride, while the duo left in the room, ending up bursting in laughter once again.
She finally got back to normal, after having a hard time controlling her laughter, while he just kept staring at her. When she stared back at him, he finally asked ; ' Did you need something, Miss Chauhan?'
She just gave him a confused look. 'You came here earlier, then did you need something, at that time?' He asked, while explaining to her at the same time.
'Oh no. I was just here to check up on the updates and make a follow-up of that.' She explained.
'But you know the rules clearly. Don't you? Overtime isn't allowed. So, go down to the 'Food hub', have something, then go back and rest.
I am handling everything. So, it won't be that bad.' He said with a smile, bringing a small smile on her face.
'But Boss, have you eaten something?' She asked, while holding the door of the room, which she was about to leave, when this thought struck her.
'Oh yes. I am not like you. My diligent employee. Go and rest.' He waved at her, dismissing her. But his smile was still there.
After half an hour, Vivek came with a tray of food and cursed when he couldn't open the door of Ashutosh's cabin. With utmost difficulty he entered inside and placed the tray full of appetizing meals and beverages on the table of the sitting area, then walked towards his Boss's desk, where he was engrossed with information processing.
'Boss, time to eat.' Vivek announced while knocking at the table, in front of him to gain his attention.
'Not now, Vivek. I still have some follow-ups left.' He replied. While Vivek's wide grin was back on his face.
' Boss, does Miss Chauhan know you haven't eaten anything today?' Vivek asked lazily, as if he didn't mean anything. His words are nothing. But Ashutosh's eyes were already digging holes in his face.
'Oh wow, she doesn't. Yet, she has the guts to lecture me on 'being like you', when it comes to food, rest and sleep.' He said cheekily.
'You met her!' Ashutosh said, more like asking him.
'Oh yeah. In the 'Food hub', she was having no end of nagging, when she found out I didn't have my meal, yet.
Guess what would happen, if she finds out….' Vivek wasn't even able to finish his words, when Ashutosh left everything and started walking towards the sitting area, to have his meal.
' You are not telling her.' Ashutosh said with a death glare.
'Of course. Just finish your food and I don't know anything.' Vivek replied back in a nonchalant shrug.
~~
Once again the processing work begins.
'Oh, did I mention that…' Vivek said, but paused in between, as if to know if his fish had caught the bait or not. But when he saw the two eyes glaring at him, he knew it did. He did.
'Nothing. Good night. Boss.' Vivek said with a cheeky grin, was about to leave, when he found the room getting locked automatically. With a horrified face, he turned around, only to see a calm person staring at him.
'Boss, I am your friend and employee. You can't kill me. I have been loyal to you.' Vivek couldn't help but shriek in terror, knowing full well what awaits for him next.
' You were mentioning something.' Ashutosh said in an eerie calm voice. Vivek freaked out once again.
'I-I was saying.. saying that.. I didn't meet her at all. I am telling the truth this time, I didn't meet Yuvika anywhere. I just wanted you to have your dinner in time. That's all.
B-But Boss, are you sure, it's Her?' Vivek spill out everything with terror, but still his curiosity didn't defy in front of the terror of what awaits him next and he asked.
'So, you were lying. Leave.' Ashutosh said nonchalantly. Ignoring the question Vivek asked. While Vivek ends up running away from his Boss for his dear life. The door opened up for him.
~~
Ashutosh stares at the moon and asks the same question Vivek has asked. 'Is it really her?'
Then, he sighed and once again started working.
~~
Next day;
Yuvika got out of her room, only to see her Boss sleeping on the sofa of the living room, with TV turned on,muted, business news was displaying on it.
She read the headlines and sighed. It happened sooner than they expected. The value starts decreasing at midnight and now it's in the rapid decrease phase already.
As expected from the market which is full of ups and downs. Luckily, this genius predicted it on time and saved them. She shut her door and locked it. As she hadn't gotten the time to set her clothes on the wardrobe. The room was a mess, with her items scattered everywhere. Even some books were also on the queue.
After checking her locked door, once again. She was about to leave, when her gaze once again wandered towards the fellow sleeping on the couch, carelessly. She sighed deeply, then unlocked her door and brought the duvet from inside. She covered him with it. Then, once again locked it and left to do the work.
Unknown to the fact, a certain sleeping creature was staring at her back with a sweet smile.
~~
Vivek and Yuvika handled the office for half a day without their boss's presence. Then, they both come to a conclusion of taking rest. After all, as a business person, procrastination is a common thing to do in normal timings.
But half an hour later, their peaceful rest came to halt, when Vivek screamed, earning Yuvika's attention and there it was, looking like a devil from hell, their boss, giving them a skeptical look. Fine, their company has a strict 'No procrastination' rule, which they sometimes forget. Just like this one. After all, that rule comes under implementation only when Miss Rajput is present.
Well, Vivek felt some tingling sensation and found a toy lizard on his arm, leading to the scream. It took him a moment to realize, it's fake. Also that he had been caught red-handed resting in his workplace.