Ishqiya - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

The next morning, the whole Maheshwari mansion was in hustle and bustle. Their eldest son, the heir was finally back. Samrat smiled at everyone present at the dining table wishing them good morning.
"Kaisa hai mera ladla beta?", his dadi asked passing him a sweet smile
"I'm great, dadi hope you are also doing good", he replied and continued having his breakfast as his mother served him his favourite.
"Thoda aur kha le, dekh kitna dubla patla ho gaya hai, ek dam sukh sa gaya hai", his mother complained like a typical mother would and added one more ghee paratha to his plate.
Later Samrat was in his home office when someone knocked at the door.
"Bhai Mai andar aa jau?", Sarah peeped her head inside to which he just hummed
She walked towards him with a box and stood before him with a guilty face and puppy eyes which she knew worked on all.
"Bhai kal jho kuch bhi hua uske liye I'm sorry, thankyou maa aur dadi ko kuch na batane ke liye aur I-", she spoke but he cut her in the middle
"Let the bygones be bygones, but make sure you don't repeat the same mistake next time", he warned and resumed his work
"Bhai vho- actually please aap meri Adu se baat mat bandh karvayega. Vho meri bohot acchi dost hai please please please", she pleaded and he just stared at her
He felt his heart twist again at the mention of her name as those pair of brown eyes flashed before him and a warm feeling spread in his body.
"Hmm, mai nhi karvaunga tumahari baat ya milna band tumhari uss dost se per make sure you don't break the rules and go leave your bodyguards behind", he warned and she quickly flung herself in his embrace
Sarah pecked his cheeks muttering continuous thank you and quickly ran out, disappearing from his sight.
Samrat just shook his head at her childish act. The box kept on his table caught his sight and he took it in his hands. He read the written note and a small smile grazed his lips.
I'm sorry Mr Maheshwari, aaj ke baad aisa kabhi nhi hoga. Aap na Saru ko please jyada mat daatna. Yeh brownies na meri taraf se ek apology gift samjhiyega. Saru bata rhi thi ki aap bohot acche hai, toh please ham dono ko maaf kar dijiye.
Adriti:)
He looked at the brownies took, one from the box and ate it. The flavours exploded in his mouth and he felt an eruption of delicious flavors. His tastebuds felt blessed and he swore he felt heaven on earth. He leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes enjoying the brownies. Yeh kya ho raha hai mujhe?
Meanwhile, Adriti shouted at the top of her lungs in her room not able to find the specific pair of jhumkas. Jhumkas were her love after her chai and gajras. Chai was her first love, she couldn't function throughout the day without a dose of adrak vaali kadak chai in her system.
"Ab kya ho gaya? Kyu shor macha machakar pure mohalley ko jaga rhi hai?", Her mother yelled at her entering her room
"Mumma, mera jumka nhi mil raha", Adriti complained pouting, still searching in the drawers
"Hey Bhagwan,kya hi hoga iss ladki ka, kabhi kuch khud se milta hi nhi hai", she ranted and helped her find the specific earing
In a few seconds she found it under heaps of bangles, she glared at her daughter who gave her a sheepish grin and dashed outside.
"Pata nhi kya hi hoga iss ladki ka, shaadi ki Umar ki ho gyi hai per fir bhi ek kaam khud se nhi kar sakti", her mother held forth serving the e breakfast
"Kya mumma, hamesha meri shaadi ke piche padi rhti ho, dekhiye na papa", Adriti whined twisting her lips and turning towards her father
"Kyu bichari ke piche padi rhti ho? Bacchi hi toh hai", her father spoke in her favour, but in return received a glare
"Aap toh rhne hi dijiye, bohot ser per chada rakha hai aapne dono betiyo ko, badi beti sambhalti nhi, dusri kisi baat ke liye mannti nhi. Pata nhi kya hoga mera, kaunse paap kiye the ki tum logo se pala bidha hai iss jaman meh, hey bhagwan", her mother scowled and went on and on while Adriti quickly kissed both her parents' cheeks and made her way towards her workplace bidding them goodbye
It was late afternoon when Adriti was engrossed in baking the new batch of cookies, suddenly the bells near the entrance jingled indicating the arrival of a new customer.
She worked in a small bakery, which was owned by an old couple. She wanted to open one of her own but since she lacked experience she decided to go for job hunting and finally the old couple who needed someone to look after their bakery took her under their wings. Their son and daughter were happily married, and since their son was shifted abroad, Adriti would manage the bakery whenever they would visit him. And in their absence, she was the sole caretaker of the small abode, she called a bakery.
"Welcome to- Mr Maheshwari?", she flashed the customer a smile which flattered when she looked at the tall frame that stood near the entrance
The almighty Samrat Maheshwari stood in all his glory. The black work shirt stuck to his body outlining his muscular frame, and his black dress pants hugged at the correct place. His shoes shined on the marble floor, his Rolex glistening in his left wrist and his messy hair made him look so attractive. A total Greek god.
For Adriti, he was damn handsome and just like a model walked out of a magazine. Dark thick eyebrows, straight nose, high cheekbones, sharp sculptured jaw, plump full lips and toned body. But what outshine his appearance were his dark chocolate brown eyes. They were so intimidating. His aura screamed power and wealth.
A five-course meal? Nah
Samrat Maheshwari? Hell yeah
A throat clearing brought her out of her spell and she realised that she was caught shamelessly ogling at him. A red hue covered her face and she looked away trying to act cool. It would be a lie if she said he didn't affect her. He did, he made her heart flutter like no other man did, hard and deeply.
"Y-you want something?", she shuttered and bit her tongue at her foolishness.
She felt embarrassed and hot in his presence as his gaze pierced through her soul.
"You", he broke the icy silence and she tilted her head staring at him confusingly, "Huh?"
"I-I mean b-brownies, yes brownies that you make", he quickly covered up smattering and rubbed his neck in embarrassment as his ears turned red
She nodded her head and walked behind the counter while he mentally chided himself for his foolishness. Itna bhi desperate mat ho ki vho dar kar bhag Jaye pagal, remember one step at a time
"Here", she passed him a box with a small smile and he quickly took it. Their fingers brushed in the process and both of them felt the spark flowing in their veins.
"Payment?", he questioned. "Rhne dijiye, kal joh bhi hua uske liye as a sorry samajh kar le jaiye", she replied looking anywhere but at him
"But-",
"I insist", and finally her brown eyes locked with him and he felt the same same warmness in his body, his heart was at ease and everything around felt calm.
Can't I just kiss her already?
Nah, vho dar jayegi!
His subconscious warned and he mentally agreed with him. He nodded and Adriti quickly stepped back ready to dash inside when he called her.
"Adriti", Samrat called her name and her steps halted, uff the way her name rolled on his tongue made her feel warm and those butterflies.
"You look beautiful", and gone, she was gone, then and there
Her whole face burned, turning into a red tomato. Butterflies in her stomach somersaulted and she felt herself on the urge of fainting. Yeh kya kar rhe hai aap mujhe Mr Maheshwari? Just what you are doing to me?