Chapter 162 - Be My Personal Assistant

|Innaya|

Once again, I had woken up to the cold bed. Eshan wasn't beside me. Opening my eyes felt a huge task as they were swollen. They always did whenever I lost control over my emotions. The first thing I did after getting out of the bed was to find Eshan.

He had returned. I knew it, and he was somewhere in the house. Maybe, he was trying to be strong for me. In the solitude would he shed the pretense of being strong and unaffected. I knew he had a lot to handle on his plate, and above everything he prioritized me. So, it was only natural for me to worry about him.

On not finding him in the study, I changed the direction to the living room. There I found him perched upon the sofa, caressing Fortune. A tiny bit of smile bloomed across my lips finding that he wasn't alone. Pets were a great company for they provided one a peace and calm company rather than being noisy like human beings.

When I tried calling his name, my throat screamed in protest. It hurt as the dryness made me cough up a bit. My voice came out very feeble, yet Eshan heard me. His face snapped in the direction where I stood, and seconds later Fortune rushed over, beating Eshan to it.

"Fortune, NO," Eshan screamed, but fortune did not heed to it, nor did he stop.

Fortune's eagerness for some reason did not scare me. Rather when he thoughtfully slowed down before reaching me and just slumped on the stair one step below the one I was standing upon, made me feel touched.

He knew how to behave. Maybe, that's why they said that pets could sense your mood and make it better. Little cautiously, I sat down on the stair, keeping my distance from him.

What unfolded later, was something I would have never thought. Eshan showed me new perspectives always. He did not impose his thoughts or tried to make me believe in his words. He gave me time. He waited for me to take that step and make a choice. Just as despite knowing about my fears about dogs, he was showing me a way to do what I wanted.

I wanted to touch Fortune, and he was showing me how to. Tentatively I followed Eshan's actions, however, I was startled when I heard a throat clearing followed by a male voice.

"Ahem... sir."

My head snapped upward so quickly that I worried about getting a whiplash.

"Who're you?"

"Why are you still here?"

I looked at Eshan when we both asked the questions at the same time. Eshan looked a little annoyed and embarrassed. I wondered why though.

Turning my gaze away from him to the youth standing near the sofa whose ears had turned red, I frowned. I remembered never seeing him before. The gold-rimmed spectacles of his reminded me of grandpa. The style was awfully familiar.

I felt a burning sensation in my eyes. I pushed back those tears. Instead, I stubbornly stared at him questioningly. Who was he? Why it looked as if he was embarrassed?

"He's Parth, my assistant. He's someone I consider younger brother as well," said Eshan as his eyes softened when he introduced Parth to me.

"And, Parth, meet your sister-in-law and my beautiful wife, Mrs. Innaya Eshan Singhaniya." Eshan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in his arms. I blushed at the proximity. How proudly and intimately he introduced me to someone other than family warmed my insides.

The thought of how it would be if we made our marriage public, made me feel delighted as well as fearful. Sometimes families as powerful and as influential as us made nothing easy. Being in the eyes of media could be disastrous for one's personal life - both mentally and physically. If they were to dig more into my personal life, nothing would remain peaceful for me.

"Hello Ma'am." The man stuttered.

"What Ma'am? Call her sister-in-law," Eshan chided him.

"Hey." I smiled at him. I knew nothing else about him. I had nothing else to talk about as I had never been a sociable person.

"Oh... Nice to meet you sister-in-law." Parth returned my smile.

After the whole emotionally draining day, I had no energy to be entertaining. It then hit me like a thunderbolt about how poorly I was dressed. My face must be looking like a zombie with puffed eyes. I hadn't even bothered to wipe away my tears before coming to find Eshan.

On an impulse, I covered my face with my palms. Making a gap in my fingers, I peeked out through them. Parth and Eshan looked confusingly at me.

"I'll come later, Sir." Parth very cleverly excused himself after a moment of silence. Eshan didn't stop him either.

With Parth leaving us alone, suddenly awkwardness filled the room.

Back then my father had taught me in his way of insult's what it meant to come before his guests with untidy appearance. That incidence of his venomous words came awake in my mind, refreshing my memory.

From the corner of my eyes, I looked at Eshan, wondering what his thoughts were. Though deep down, I knew, he was not like that, but men didn't like the untidy appearance of their wives outside the bedroom, and never before the eyes of other men.

Eshan's reaction once again surprised me. He had a smile on his face as his eyes held a warmth for the youth who left. I sighed internally in relief.

"That kid..." Eshan laughed at the way Parth flew from our home.

"Why didn't I see him before?" I tilted my head, tucking my legs underneath. I found a comfortable position and started probing more still hiding my face behind my palm. Knowing Eshan did not mind my untidy looks made me feel at ease, yet I still kept my awful face away from his sight.

Eshan mimicked me as he shifted his body and sat facing me. With both of us sitting face to face on the same step, made the space narrow down, leaving only small space. Eshan's knees brushed against mine, and when he scooted further they pressed firmly.

"Hmm... Now thinking about it, I also don't know why. We've been married for so long, and I wonder why I hadn't even introduced you to my secretary yet. I think it's time to take you to my office," Eshan said as he brushed back the hair from my face, pulling my hands away from my face alongside.

"Won't media make a ruckus if they get wind of it?" I blinked my eyes. It was the reason we didn't publicize our marriage until I completed my education. I wanted to pursue a master's degree and handle grandpa's business. Mom was looking after it, for now, I wanted to relieve her burden by shouldering her responsibilities.

"Hmm... Yeah, my wife wants to learn first." Eshan made a sad face before he leaned and softly hit his forehead against mine.

He pulled back and looked at me mischievously. I felt nervous watching that grin appearing on his face. He was planning something. Something which might not be too pleasant for me.

"Don't worry. How about interning at my company for half a year? You can learn faster that way." Eshan stated as his eyes glittered with mischief. I knew he wasn't done, he had something more to add.

"What department I should intern?"I cautiously asked him, avoiding the way his face was turning more and more gleeful.

"My dear wife, how about working in the CEO's office, to know things better. Be my personal assistant."

There. He said it. I so knew things weren't as rosy as he made them.

"That way, we can always be together and work on progressing our love. Spending more time together would give us more chances of —"

Eshan then winked. He had the nerve to wink. But, why it made me feel shy. Lowering my head, I scrambled on my feet.

Eshan's chuckles followed me as I disappeared from his vision, making my way to our bedroom.