Dually Devoted ?

Chapter 23

Though Mr. Tripathi's presence was long forgotten by her, he could very well see her state of mind. He realized that she was overwhelmed and so very relieved to know the truth. With a small smile, he got up, knowing she needed time to process everything through. Resting his palm on her head with a mute blessing, he told her as she gazed up at him, "Whenever you want, you can come ask me whatever you want to know, child. Forgive me if my decisions have unintentionally hurt you... I ask just one thing- don't tell Sid about this, Arpita," he pleaded with her. "That boy has fought enough inner battles. Let him, at least, have no confusion of what his name is, what his identity is."

Arpita assured him with a meek smile and a nod, and got up to close the door behind him. At his absence, all her emotions filled her eyes as she smiled her widest. Her Arnav was in front of her all along.

She wanted to run to his office to see him, but she knew she would stand staring at him with tears brimming in her eyes. What reason would she give him to have come there? To be acting so? She laughed, she is still to give him his answer which was of course a big yes. Blood rushed to her face as she ran up the stairs, as if wanting to hide herself.

Looking at the swing and the empty hall, she remembered how happy he had been when giving it to her. Drinking in her own place, she blew out a puff of air, as if to release a part of the excessive happiness she was feeling. Tracing the swing chain with her fingers lovingly, she sat down on the swing, letting it sway slightly, lullingly.

After a few heartbeats, she took out her mobile and dialed his number.

"Hello," happiness was clearly audible in his tone. She grinned.

"Hi," she bit her lip, suddenly feeling coy.

There was something in her voice, a joy, a lightness, that sped Siddharth's heartbeat. He fell back in his seat, as his eyes fell on the clock above the office door. Noticing that his dad had stayed long at her house, he asked, "Did he bore you?"

She chuckled, "Not at all." In fact, Uncle helped me throw my worries away. And told me what I wanted to know most. He brought me closer... To you. To my happiness.

"...I'm bored though. I didn't realize work could be so boring," he said, discreetly conveying that he missed her.

"Then let me come there." She attempted to convince him, a tint of pink on her cheeks.

He barked out a laugh. "No can do. You're strictly resting today. Just relax at home, Arpita," he said caringly, his eyes twinkled with mirth.

Her name from his mouth sent shivers through her. His voice had always been nectar to her ears. And she was, finally, free to feel everything that it made her feel.

God! She was desperate. She needed to see him.

"Did dad introduce you to a helper?" he inquired.

She was about to answer him and also try to refuse the help, but he bet her to it. "A yes or no is enough, by the way," he smirked, "I don't want to hear anything else in this matter."

"You're as stubborn as a mule," she sighed out.

His smirk widened. "...Tarun had come to office today, and he couldn't believe that the one day he actually does come, you're on leave," he told her with a chortle.

"Me?"

"Ya. He wanted to meet you, too. He said he'll come back next Monday, and he wants to meet you that time. And... we finalized Mr. Darya's project today. I'm sure my assistant is going to have more work from tomorrow. She better rest well today," he told her, telling her about his day without even thinking.

She chuckled. As if they ever had less work! If not one project, then another. "I'm already better, Sir. It's only you who doesn't think so..." She trailed off, wanting him to believe her enough to let her come to work, or at least let her work from home. Then, she'd find a random excuse to go see him somehow, she planned.

"Sure," he said sarcastically, "I'm not buying that, and. You are to only relax at home today." His voice held a warning.

She bit her lip in thought. But she knew he wouldn't listen. With a pout, she retorted, "I'll get bored, Sid."

"That's... Did you just call me Sid?!"

Her brilliant brown eyes widened as her palm covered a side of her face. She hadn't realized at all. Blushing, she tucked a hair strand behind her ear. "Ya..." She exhaled.

Sid grinned. "Say it again," he said, wondering if this closeness was really leading their bond to where he wanted.

"...Sid," she slowly breathed, her cheeks turning crimson red.

His heart leaped. He could keep listening to her calling his name. Damn, he wouldn't ever be satisfied! "God, the things you do to me," he muttered under his breath, running a hand down his face.

She cleared her throat subtly. The fact that her simply calling his name made him so elated lightened up her face. The pace of her heart increased, as she decided to let him know. Breathing in and out to calm her racing heart, she tried to arrange the right words in her head, "I-" And the rest got stuck in her throat. She brought her lower lip between her teeth, playing with her hair. An anxiousness surging within her.

Sid instantly sat up straight. For some reason, he could sense what she wanted to tell. Her voice, her heavy breaths and the smile her tone held- each of it giving a hint. His eyes sparkled in anticipation. "You... ?" He prodded, not able to repress the wide smile tugging at his lips.

She tittered, looking down at the floor. "I. think I have the answer to your question," she found herself saying. She shook her head, for beating around the bush. Well, at least she had said something.

Pushing himself off his seat, he grabbed his blazer off the seat. "Great! I'll come right now," his perfect teeth shined.

"No!" She frowned, making him pause. "Don't you have another meeting today?"

After a second, he threw his head back and laughed a deep-throated laugh. "Are you kidding me?" He asked between his laughter. He couldn't believe this woman was still being his assistant first and then, his... to-be-girlfriend? He shook his head, making his way out of his office.

"No, really! Don't miss the meeting." He could hear the pout in her voice.

He just wanted to see her, right at that moment. He wanted to see the adorable pout on her face, the coy colour on her cheeks, and most importantly, the love in her eyes. "I'm getting into the elevator, Arpita. I'll talk to you lat-"

"Siddharth!" She called, upset. But it only made him feel elated, so much that he stood rooted at his spot, hearing it with a huge grin plastered on his face.

"...I'll come there," her voice turned shy. "So, don't leave."

He leaned his attractive side frame against the wall, his free hand in his pocket, and a sideways smile on his face. "Hmm... And then, you'll start working like the devoted secretary that you are."

She heaved a long sigh. "I don't love to work as much as you seem to think, Sir."

"Is that so?" He asked her playfully. "You better prove your point when you arrive here, dear," he walked back into his office.

"Hmm," she managed to hum, turning pink at his endearment.

He laughed slightly. "I'll send Joseph to pick you up. Come soon."

"Okay... bye." She chewed on her lip.

"Also,"

"Ya?"

"Leave your hair open," he smiled.

A shy smile adorned her lips, "Hmm."

***
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