The next step might be marriage?

Rudra came out of his thoughts and remembered the woman who settled constantly in his mind. He shook his head and immediately called Maahir.

Maahir was asleep when his phone buzzed. He woke drowsily and saw Rurda displayed on his screen. In an instant, his daze cleared.

"Why is he calling me now? Did I make a mistake?" Maahir froze in place staring at the screen. He sighed with a grunt, "I need to lift it, or else I'm fired."

With a squint, "Boss!"

"Did you get the details I asked for?"

"About that girl?" Maahir again felt the tingle at the back of his neck. To say he was shocked would be an understatement.

"What is happening to him? He never showed the slightest interest in women, but it seems different now. I guess she'll be the future madam." Maahir struggled in his thoughts.

"Yes, boss!!" Maahir informed.

"Forward it to me now"

"Okay. 'Boss! One min', are you at home?"

"Nope! I'm at my mother's house. Is anything important??"

"Great. His mother's house, which means he's in a bad mood, so I guess I shouldn't piss him off." Maahir deduced.

"Yes, that builder contacted me. He said he won't cooperate with us." Rudra remained silent in encouragement to continue.

"I think… the matter is getting… out of our hands…" Maahir said in a tremulous tone biting his nails with scrunched eyebrows. With each passing second, Maahir breath hooked, and he clasped his hands.

"Okay, I will take a look at it. Forward me the details he mentioned, and also to vice-president, Tamaz."

Rudra opened the document curiously. Ms. Tanvi Siara Agarwal. 27 years old, working in Umbro technologies as a program analyst and design engineer and a Fashion designing enthusiast. "Good job Maahir." Rudra thought.

"Umbro technologies?" Rudra narrowed his eyes, "If I remember correctly, they collaborated with Chauhan Group of Companies recently." The corners of his lips curved into a slight smile.

"He got the information from her childhood to till date." Mother is a housewife, and her father works as a teacher in a private school and has no siblings. She's a workaholic, 'interesting,' thought Rudra.

Scrolled down further, the pictures of the trio made his lips go wide, "It seems that they're best friends." Zoomed the snap and stared at her with amusement. At last, her registration in matrimony sites ticked him.

"Most importantly, she is single." He smiled to himself. Rudra freshened up and made a quick call to Tamaz.

"Hey bro!! What's up?" Tamaz asked.

"Nothing much! I came to my mother's house."

"Oooh! How are you feeling now??"

"Pretty good! I'll be back home tonight, join me there."

"Okay, Bro. Take care!!"

Rudra went into the storeroom where the toys he used to play with her mom are present. He gazed at them with a sense of longing when his stomach rumbled vigorously. "When was the last time I ate?" He racked his hair while thinking and realized, "It's been more than 20 hours."

Rudra stepped down and sat at the dining table. Immediately, Karan came in and placed the dishes he made. Karan knew him well since he raised Rudra for a few years. He always prepared food according to Rudra's taste and mood. Rudra was pretty happy about that.

Seeing the dishes, "Um! You never send me without a feast." Rudra exclaimed. Karan stood beside Rudra, looking at this almighty man, his eyes moistened.

Rudra was a meticulous observer, he decided to change the old man's thoughts while eating. "You are fifty now. How's your health?" Karan chuckled, "I'm still the same master in martial arts." Rudra nodded without raising his head, "I know."

"I learned some special moves. Want to try?" Karan raised his eyebrow with provocation. "You would know how healthy I'm."

"Haha! No need. By looking at your strong body, I can say that." Rudra smirked, and they both burst out laughing.

"You can beat more than ten top-notch bodyguards," Rudra spoke while staring at him.

"I can be at peace while I'm here. He takes good care of this house, which is a relief." Rudra reflected. "He is the person on whom I can rely on without a doubt."

…

Rudra reaches his mansion at about 09:00 PM, freshens up, and sees Tamaz. Tamaz was already waiting downstairs. Rudra greeted him and went down into the wine cellar to grab their favorite bottle of wine. A red DRC from 1990.

They went into the study room, and Rudra told him how to deal with the builder and a few other jobs while drinking their wine. Eventually, they went to the rec room and played billiard tables.

After a while, Rudra confessed, "I am attracted to Tanvi." Tamaz is utterly shocked. Rudra rarely spoke about any woman, and even if he talks about them, he didn't show much attention or affection towards them.

Tamaz gave a puzzled look, "Am I listening correctly?" Rudra grinned aloud while nodding.

"I am happy for you, bro!! Finally, one woman got your attention." Tamaz said with excitement.

Rudra chuckled listening to Tamaz reminisce. They chit chatted for a while until finally wandering off to find their beds.

…

Tanvi sat on the couch while designing the garments. She is portraying it considering every meticulous detail. Her swift movements gave a smooth look to the draft. Satisfied since it was perfect and was exploring sketching it to look more appealing.

Meanwhile, her phone buzzed. "Is it Riaan again?" She pondered. "He already called me five times today." With that, she glanced at the screen, "Huh! As expected." They spoke for a while.

"I don't know if he is like that with everyone or only me, but I kind of liked the way he talks with me." She mused.

"Riaan was born in Nagpur, and his family settled in Jaipur, but he's living in London." 'It's interesting,' she inferred.

Tanvi opened the matrimony site and surfed through the legal information, The legally verified profiles have a badge elite." She checked the profile of Riaan and found the badge. "Huh!!! It's verified one then." A reassuring smile appeared on her face.

…

Ameera sat on the couch and was watching vampire diaries on her smart television. When the scene was interesting, she heard a knock. "Uf!! Who the hell is banging the bell-like crazy?" She sighed with annoyance and opened the door.

"Surprise!!" Tanvi shouted and entered the house. Ameera laughed, "Damn you! I thought a crazy maniac is hitting." Tanvi gave a sly smile, "I am a fanatic know," and they burst out chuckling hard.

"You're continuing this series?" Tanvi asked in a puzzled tone. "Don't you get bored?" Ameera hooked her hand around her neck, "Fantasy lovers won't get bored seeing this."

"You look different, baby! What's the matter?"

"Um!! Actually, I'm here to tell you about that." Tanvi gave a 'hard to read' look.

"I am all ears then. Come on, spill it out."

Tanvi handed her mobile to Ameera while showing Riaan on the screen. "Woah!! Who is this handsome?" Ameera gave a mischievous look. "Umm…" Tanvi's face turned red.

"Wait! Did anyone approach you? Was he from the matrimony site?" Tanvi nodded trying to hide her excitement. Ameera became full attentive with the turn of events. "Wow, dude! Tell me about him."

With that, Ameera opened the refrigerator and grabbed a few Budweiser beer bottles, chicken lollipops, and french fries. They arranged the complete setup for endless conversations near the window.

Tanvi glanced at the faraway moon when the cool breeze hitting them makes her feel pleasant while discussing with a beer. With the heavy air, Ameera's hair strands fell on her eyes and closed her view. She tucked them, "He said he liked you? What next?" Ameera inquired curiously with a lollipop in one hand and held the beer bottle in the other.

"I don't know babe! Talking with him makes me comfortable. There's nothing odd with his attitude either." Tanvi reminded Riaan and a slight smile was replaced on her lips.

"He seems to be from an educated family, well-settled, good-looking, great manners, and moreover, he liked you!!" Ameera rephrased whatever Tanvi said. Tanvi's eyes sparkled with this conclusion while Ameera gave her a tight hug in approval.

…

07:00 AM, 31th August

Ameera woke up a little earlier than Tanvi. she had to get to the office about an hour ahead of Tanvi. Ameera called out to Tanvi as she blows her hair dry.

Tanvi quickly freshened up and got ready. While on her way to the office, her phone rings. Riaan's name lit the screen. She blushed slightly and lifted the call.

"Hey, Tanvi!!"

"Hi, Riaan! What's up?"

"I'm still in bed! Just woke up and called you." He replied cozily.

"Oh! that's great. I'm on my way to the office."

"Okay, carry on. Call me when you are free."

"Sure!!"

"I'll wait for your call. Don't forget that." He said in a soothing tone.

"Hahaha!!!! Sure!! Bye! take care!!"

Tanvi is laughing remembering their conversation. "He is very caring towards me. I don't know the exact reason for his behavior, but makes me feel great inside." She reddened. Tanvi arrived at the office and as usual, got straight to work.

…

Riaan tossed his phone aside and lay on the bed under the duvet. He rolled off the soft mattress with his hair mussed and a subtle beard. The room is well-racked with good closets, and deep blue walls and a picture of his mother alongside him is hanging on the wall. A working desk beside the bed with piles of information files and pictures of females left unorganized. He grabbed Tanvi's picture among them and stared in a daze.

She always seems so busy. Still, she did seem happy that I called. Maybe I'm getting through to her. Although, it'll probably take more time for her to trust and open up to me. But, even if I'm not there yet, I'll make sure we get there as soon as I can.

…