Part 2 -The Lovers

“Good morning, Sir.

I am Ms. Samiksha Samuel.” She said with a mixture of emotions of nervousness, anxiety, and joy but with confidence too. With a knee-length midi dress, hair left loose, and light makeup done, she stepped forward. Her beauty was naive and soulful; any man would yearn for it.
“Please take your seat”, Karan replied modestly. Hoping that his thumping heartbeats were not audible to Aarun and Samiksha, he set his eyes on her and could barely think.

“So, it’s your first working experience?” asked Aarun.
“Yes sir. But be assured, I will not fall short of your expectations and my work will speak for me”.
Samiksha’s words impressed Aarun and, of course, Karan.
“What should be the one reason we should appoint you for this post, Samiksha?”
Asked Karan.

She smiled, “Your heart is the best judge for this reply. I believe the following heart leads us to the right choices in life. And yes, the universe helps me to choose. You can also ask the universe, Am I the right choice for your company?”
Karan’s heart had already given him the reply. The universe had already answered his question. But he also sensed the effect she had on his system. Since the minute he dashed against her, then saw her strolling in his office, and now, when she was right in front of him, he knew for sure.

She is the right choice…

For now, he wanted her badly in his life, no matter if it was professionally.
“Thanks, Samiksha. We will get back to you,” he replied with a smile. But Aarun already knew his choice.
“Thank you, sir,” Samiksha said this, picked up her file, and started to move toward the door.
” Samiksha.”

She stopped and turned around. “Do you remember our brief encounter today, in the morning, with my Duster?”
Karan asked finally…
“Of course, yes, sir. It wasn’t your fault, but. I was in a hurry and took a wrong turn to reach my destination on time.”
Samiksha replied with a smile.
“Sir, may I leave now?”
“Yes Samiksha, sure”.

Her lips, especially the upper lip, had a slight pea-shaped bulge in the centre. Delicate, full lips, so beautiful, thought Karan. Her eyes, with the innocence of a child, a woman’s charm, and her elegant height. She was his perfect match, sent by the Almighty Himself. He felt. She was so beautiful and pure, unadulterated.
A smile never left his lips. Karan looked at Aarun.

“Shall I get the appointment letter typed?”
He asked, looking at Karan’s face.
Karan knew his bestie had fathomed his heart as always, and he said, “Yes.”
Smiling, Aarun left the room, leaving Karan lost in Samiksha’s thoughts, feelings, and innocence.
He knew. Karan had fallen for Samiksha, deep and genuine.

“Mom.”
Samiksha called out after barging into her home.

Mrs Maria Samuel,

a calm and poised lady who had brought up Samiksha into a beautiful human, a sensitive soul. Samiksha’s beauty reflected her inner purity and grace inherited from her mother.
“I guess the interview went very well sweetheart”, said her mom with a smile.
“Hmm. Yes, I can say so. At least, I felt like that. The sir liked my attitude, and I hope to get this job. Mom, I will get it right.”
“Why don’t you ask your best friend, the universe?”
“I already did.”

“And what was its reply, my baby?”

Mom was staring at her angel, waiting in anticipation.
“Positive”, Samiksha said with a giggle.

“I have made arrangements for sending the appointment letter to Samiksha, okay, bestie”, Aarun informed his boss and his friend, Karan. ” She will receive it tomorrow, alright. So tell me. What happened? Have you met her before? What is so special about this girl? You were looking at her differently, my dear”.

Karan almost blushed.

Aarun was waiting for his answer.
“I met her in the morning today. My car touched her; it was just a small collision. She didn’t get hurt. But since I saw her, I cannot forget her childlike face. Aarun, I mean, you saw her face? So naive and innocent. She is so different from others. She is so kind, beautiful, understanding, and confident.”

Karan could go on and on and on. But the knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
“Sir, I have mailed the appointment letter to Ms Samiksha, and a hard copy has been sent to her home.”

“Thanks, Varsha.” Karan turned to Aarun, who was waiting for Karan to complete the narration.
“She is a deserving candidate and will handle her duties well, Aarun. I am sure. My heart says.”
“Do you still have it with you, my dear?”

A smile on Karan’s lips was his answer to Aarun.

“Mom, I did it!” screamed Samiksha after checking her mail. “I got this job, and I am so happy, Mommy. I will do my best. Let me rush into the kitchen to bake my favourite vanilla cake.” Saying this, she hugged her dear mom.

“What’s this fragrance? Hmm, it’s Vanilla.” Karan was talking to himself. He got up and checked his kitchen. It smelt of vanilla. He opened his fridge and found vanilla chocolate cake inside. “So Saru has made this for me. No doubt I could smell vanilla from my bedroom.”

He took a knife,

cut a piece of the delicious cake and tasted it. “Hmm, yummy.Thanks a lot, Saru. You know my taste for cake.”

“Umm. What a yummy cake.” Samiksha spoke to herself, licking off the cake bits from her fingers.
“Thanks, universe, for gifting me with this passion for baking. I wish I could share this yummy cake with someone of the same taste. Mom likes chocolate, and Jummy likes mixed fruit. My dearest Universe, please send someone I can share my vanilla cake with.”
Jummy was Samiksha’s diary, her best friend from her school days.

The night was cold and breezy.
Samiksha smelled vanilla after making her favourite cake. Lying on her bed, she was curious about her first job day. She turned to her left, then right, then again left, a smile never left her face.

Karan was in a similar condition to her. He was also restless in his king-size bed. Thinking that she would be working in his office excited him.
Each of them thought the night seemed longer than usual. Samiksha was waiting for the first job opportunity she would get in her dream company, and Karan was counting the moments so that he could be near her.
“I wish I could share these feelings with you mom, I am really missing you now.”

Dressed in her best,

Samiksha was super excited about her first venture of a job.

“Hello, Samiksha,” Varsha said to her boss’s newly appointed PS. Hi.”
“Varsha.”
“Yup,” Samiksha said with a smile.
“Please come with me.”
Varsha led Samiksha to her cabin. “Wow, it’s beautiful.” She noticed two chairs.
“This is yours”, Varsha pointed at one, and Samiksha wondered whose was the other. Before she could ask, Varsha spoke.
“Sir likes to choose every minute detail of his office himself.”
“Hmm.”
“Come, I will take you to him.”

Samiksha’s heartbeats

were a bit faster as they proceeded towards his cabin.
“Sir, Samiksha is here”.
“Welcome to our company, Samiksha. Please have a seat”.
Varsha left the cabin full of Samiksha’s heartbeats and Karan’s hidden smiles.

For a few moments, the cabin was silent. An unknown restlessness and racing heartbeats filled the room.

“Did you like your cabin, Samiksha?” he asked, looking at her intensely.
“Yes, sir”, Samiksha replied with a smile mixed with unsaid nervousness.
“Are you ready for your new venture? This is your first job, right?”
“Yes, and also a dream coming true for me.”

He was eager to know about the dream she just talked about.
“I have heard about how you established your business with determination and persistence. You are an inspiration to many, Sir. It will be a great learning experience for me.”
Samiksha was ready with her diary.
Karan explained her duties and briefed her about his clients and the tie-ups.

His gaze never left hers…

And she noticed his charm for the first time since they met.
His height was a perfect match with hers. His deep, intense voice could touch the deepest feelings of a heart. He had masculine features—his beard was the most attractive feature of his face—ways of making a person comfortable, and a manly aura with poise. He was a perfect man.
She thought, with a deep blush on her cheeks.

“You may go to your cabin and wait for me. I will join you in 5 minutes and browse some important files. It will help you get to know our company better.”
“Sure, Sir, thanks for everything.”
She left his cabin.

As she returned to her cabin, she smiled. He certainly had an effect on her nervous system.
An everlasting effect.

“May I come in?”
Karan asked Samiksha after opening her cabin door.
“Sir, please,”:
She got up from her chair in a hurry.
“Sit. I will be showing you the information on the computer. So relax.
There was a vast cushioned chair next to hers. He came and sat on it, which was meant for him—big enough to accommodate his persona.

“This computer is protected.

As we have confidential data in it. Sam.”
And she looked at him in anticipation…
“Um. I meant, Samantha. My previous Secretary had all the records stored in this one. Its backup is on my laptop. One is here and the other at my home. So the data is safe in 3 places.”
“Is your nickname Sam, too?”
“Yes,” she said with a giggle. “I have one more.”
“And that is?”
“Miksha.”

She said with her kiddo smile.
Karan looked at her with his killer smile.
“See these,” he said, taking her on a tour of his company’s achievements and futuristic plans.
And talking about the same….

“Sir, I know now that I am in a workplace that will bring out my best, and I assure you, I won’t disappoint you.”
He was looking now at her face with the same feelings he felt when he saw her first.
“I know that, Samiksha. Welcome to the KV group of companies.”
He put forth his hand for a shake. She had an adrenaline rush when she lifted her hand from her lap and slowly, suddenly with a hesitance, returned his handshake.

His handshake

was firm yet assuring. He looked deep into her eyes, and both were silent. A mixture of feelings was flowing through them both. She had handshakes before, too, with other males. He, too, had done the same with countless ladies and girls. But this feeling was certain.
For him, he held a part of a world of upcoming joys in his hand.
For her, she could feel the firm and secure closure of his hand around hers.
Their worlds were not the same any more.

Lying on her bed that night, Samiksha’s mind was flooded with Karan’s thoughts. She was missing him.
“Is it love at first sight?”
She asked herself.
No. Maybe I am thinking too deeply. He is good-looking—um, very, very good-looking. He is a charmer as well as a perfect gentleman. How caring and gentle he is.
Sami, dear, control. What’s wrong with you? He is your new employer, your first job, your first work experience. Focus on your goal, Sami.”
But she was still changing sides on her bed, and her restless mind had a new tenant: Karan.

As she was getting ready the next day, her phone rang. It was Karan on the line.

“Good morning, Sir”,

Samiksha spoke with a bright smile on her face.
“Good morning Samiksha. So, all set for today?”
” Yes, Sir. “
“Then get ready. I will pick you up from your home. We are going to meet our new client Mr Ketan Shah.”
“Um… ok, Sir. I am almost ready. But please give me five minutes.”

She quickly did her make-up and ran down the stairs after bidding goodbye to her mom.
Karan was leaning against his car, checking his phone.
“Hello, sir. Where are we going?”
“Andheri, Lokhandwala complex. I told you about our new client Mr Ketan.”
“Ready, sir. Shall we leave?”
Karan started his car. With Samiksha on his side, his day was already made.

“You like deep shades, don’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean the shades you chose are intense, deep. The strawberry colour dress you wore yesterday, and this orange mixed with yellow.”
She was surprised at his keen observation of her dresses since yesterday.
“Yes. I love these shades. I believe life should be like these colours, passionate, intense.”
Blinking her eyes, Samiksha said to him.
“Which one is your favourite?”
“Pink, like the lipstick shade you wore just now.”

Red colour

flushed on her cheeks, and she was suddenly conscious of how he was observing her.
She was seated next to him. His presence suddenly made her nervous.
“Say something, Sami. I hope you don’t mind me calling you by this name?”
“No sir, surely not.”

After the meeting, it was around 12.45 pm, and they both headed towards the car..
“Hungry?”
“Yes.”
“Come.”
And they drove to a nearby restaurant, ‘Feelings’.
“This is my favourite food place”, Karan said with a smile.
Samiksha returned the smile while wondering how comfortable they felt in each other’s company.

“What will you have, Sami?”
“Sandwich or pulaav.”
“Alright, sandwiches for me too. Soup?”
“Um, no. I am not much into healthy eating habits, you know.” Grinned Sami.
“And something sweet for later.”
“Vanilla cake.”
“Vanilla cake.”

Both stared

at each other at the coincidence of their choice and laughed it out.
“I just love vanilla flavour. Also, it’s just irresistible.”
“Me too. I also love that flavour.”
They finished their lunch with talks, discussions, and, last but not least, their vanilla cake.
“Seems like they have added a tinge of lemon to this, sir. It’s just heavenly.”

Karan smiled and was happy he had brought her to his favourite dining place.
He noticed a tiny bit of the cream on her upper lip.

“Just a moment.” He took a tissue and wiped the bit of cream from her lip. His touch sure kept her warm in the chilled AC dining room.
“Are you fine?”
He knew the effect he had on her.
“Yes, I am.”

Samiksha lied to him. Because her heartbeats raced like the fluttering wings of a bird.
She was lost in this newly found feeling—the comfort and ease she felt when he was next to her. His magical touch ignited several dormant yearnings in her. She wanted to feel him, touch him, and know more about this Man named Karan.

While driving back to the office, each of the two introspectively considered this newly found need—an urge to be with the other.

They fell for each other, hopelessly.

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