Mine Fever

Authors Pov

It had been a few days since the engagement, and Ruhi and Aayansh still hadn’t talked or met.
Between office work and the chaos of the upcoming wedding preparations, no one had free time.
And after the last conversation they had… neither of them knew how they would face each other.

But now, they had no option.

They were all supposed to leave for Jaipur together.

Everyone reached the airport
except Ruhi.

Aayansh wanted to ask where she was, but he couldn’t bring himself to.
Thankfully, Riya did.

“Where’s Ruhi?”

Aayansh mentally thanked her .

His relief instantly turned into irritation when Rishabh replied,

“She had some urgent work. So she and Shrey will come tomorrow together.”

Aayansh had already strangled Shrey a hundred times in his mind since the engagement incident.
Now he wanted to do it in real life.

Meanwhile  At Ruhi’s Office

Ruhi was drowning in work.
She had planned everything yesterday ready to leave with everyone  but then a late night call came.
The client wanted immediate changes so she decided to stay and finish all the work and then go so she could enjoy the wedding functions peacefully later.

As she was working, Shrey barged into her cabin without knocking  as always.

He plopped down in the chair opposite her.

“Ruhi, let’s go eat something. I’m hungry.”

“No, I’m busy. You go and eat. I’ll eat later.”

“It’s already 4! After this you’ll straightaway reach dinner territory,” he complained dramatically.

Before Ruhi could argue, a voice boomed from her phone
Rishabh on speaker.

“Ruhi, go eat. You can finish your work later.”

She glared at Shrey.

“Rishabh bhai!” Shrey whined loudly. “Dekho kaise ghoor rahi hai mujhe!”{“Look how she’s glaring at me!”}

“Ruhi, stop scaring him and go eat. And Shrey, if she doesn’t eat  tell me.”

The call ended.

Shrey smirked.

But his smirk died instantly when Ruhi stood up slowly and said,

“Toh batayiye kya khaana pasand karenge? Latt? Ghussey? Ya chappal?
Oh… sorry. Heels?” {“So, what would you like to eat today? A slap? Some punches ? Or maybe… a sandal?  Oops my bad. A heel?”}

Shrey narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t eat all that”

“Exactly. But now you will.”

And she removed her heels.

“RUHI  WAIT!”

Too late.

She chased him across the office, threw a heel at him he barely dodged it, but then finally caught him and beat him with a cushion from the sofa.

“STOP! If you hit me again I’ll call Rishabh and tell him how many lunches and dinners you’ve skipped!”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would.”

“Fine. I won’t hit you.”

A peace treaty was signed, and they finally went to eat.

Back at the Airport

 But the person sitting next to him had heard everything
and his mood had turned sour again.

Why was it always Shrey with her?
Why wasn’t he the one eating with her?
Talking to her?
Laughing with her?

Why wasn’t it him?

Next Day Jaipur

By evening, everyone was gathered in the living area, talking about the next day’s pooja.
A car pulled up outside.

Shrey and Ruhi stepped out.

Before she could even get her balance, Ayan practically ran to her and hugged her tightly.

She blinked in surprise, but she let him.

She greeted everyone politely. Shrey followed.

And then her eyes met Aayansh’s.

Everything they had said to each other flashed in her mind
and she instantly looked away.

But Aayansh didn’t.

He watched her.
Watched the blush dusting her cheeks.
Smirked to himself.

So it wasn’t just him.

But that smirk vanished when Shrey placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her to sit beside him
very close.

Too close.

Then Shrey rested his hand on the back of her chair.

If looks could kill, Shrey would be six feet underground.

Shrey leaned closer and whispered,
“I don’t know why, but I’m getting chills…”

Ruhi looked ahead
and saw Aayansh glaring holes into them.

She instantly sat straighter and shifted away from Shrey without even thinking.

Riya followed his line of sight and instantly understood.
She nudged him with her elbow.

“You good?” she whispered.

“I’m fine.”
A blatant lie.

Riya raised an eyebrow.
“But it looks like you want to kill someone.”

Aayansh didn’t respond, he just shot her a warning glare.
And she instantly shut up.

Ruhi’s Room

Ruhi walked inside, exhausted.

A knock came just as she sat down on the bed.

She opened the door
and froze.

Aayansh.

Before she could even speak, he stepped in and locked the door behind him.

“Aayansh, what are you”

He didn’t answer.

He just walked closer.

She backed away…
and away…
and away…

Until her back hit the wall.

But he didn’t stop.

He caged her between his arms, palms on either side of her head.

Her heart was pounding so loudly she wondered if he could hear it.

For a full minute, no one spoke.

Then

Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Ruhi?” Shrey’s voice.

Ruhi flinched and moved to push Aayansh away, but he quickly grabbed both her wrists and pinned them above her head.

He leaned into her ear.

“If you say a word… I’ll do something.”

A soft sound escaped her lips.
“What…?”

He smirked.

“I’ll kiss you to shut your mouth.”

Her lips immediately sealed shut.

He chuckled quietly.

After knocking for a while, Shrey left.

But Aayansh didn’t move.

Their breaths mingled in the small space.

“Why didn’t you listen when I told you to stay away from him?” he asked, voice low.

“Why do you think I’ll listen to you?”Ruhi replied

His jaw tightened.

“I’m warning you, Ruhi. If you don’t listen I’ll punish you.”

This time, she smirked.

She grabbed his collar, pulling him close, and whispered,

“Why? Are you my teacher? Who will punish me?”

She shoved him lightly and stepped away

He pulled her back instantly, catching her in his arms.

“I don’t mind being your teacher,” he murmured.
“But I’d prefer if you call me master.”

Ruhi stomped on his foot and dashed out of the room.

Aayansh hissed in pain, then smiled.

“My jungli billi…”{ my wild cat}

Outside

Ruhi’s face was still burning.
She walked straight into Shrey.

He complained about searching for her everywhere, but she wasn’t hearing a word.
Her mind was still locked inside that room.

“Ruhi? Are you even listening?” Shrey nudged her.

She hummed absently.

He frowned.

“Your whole face is red. Do you have a fever?”
He touched her forehead.

And just then
Aayansh arrived.

 He shoved his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t punch someone by mistake.

“What happened? Why are you both here?”

Before Ruhi could speak, Shrey answered,

“Look at her, her face is red. I think she has a fever.”

Aayansh’s gaze lingered on her.

“I guess you got a fever,” he said casually.
Then whispered in her ear so only she can hear 

“Mine fever.”

Ruhi’s breath hitched. She looked away immediately.

“It’s nothing. It’s just hot here,” she muttered.

Ayan leaned closer.

“The weather… or me?”

She blushed even harder.

Shrey grew concerned.
“Ruhi, you should rest. You’re looking very tired.”

“I’m going,” she said quickly and left.

Aayansh watched her disappear upstairs, a soft smile tugging his lips.

Ruhi’s Room

She shut the door behind her, leaned against it, heart hammering again.

“What was that, what was that…?”

His breath, his touch, his words master ,kiss
God, what was wrong with him?!

And what was wrong with her for reacting like this?

She splashed cold water on her face.

Still red.

“Great. Even my face is a traitor.”

She changed into a simple kurta and hugged a pillow.

Her phone buzzed.

Shrey:
Should I bring soup?
Are you feeling sick?

Ruhi rolled her eyes.” but then replied yes I'm fine, just tired.

Before she could put her phone away  another notification popped up.

She thought it was Shrey but then she saw

Aayansh:
Are you still feeling hot because of the weather… 

She froze.

“Oh my GOD.”

Her face turned tomato red again.

She typed:

Ruhi:
Shut up. I’m trying to sleep.

Instant reply.

Aayansh:
Sleep tight. Try not to dream about me too much. 😉

She choked on air.

She threw the phone on the bed

But then she smiled.
A small, involuntary, dangerous smile.

Downstairs  Aayansh

When he saw “Ruhi is typing” appear and disappear three times before her message finally came, he laughed quietly.

He leaned back on the sofa, utterly satisfied.

Good.
At least she’s affected.
She should be.
Because I’m not stopping now.

Little did he know
Ruhi wasn’t sleeping at all.

She lay in bed, wide awake, whispering to herself,

“Why does he affect me so much…”