The Mafia's Collateral

Part 75

Deep's P.O.V.

Arohi held onto my arm and asked smiling, "Shall we go my love?" I looked at her taken aback. Normally, I would call her my love but she is calling me it today. It felt strange but nice. I nodded. She looked at Sonia and said smiling, "Excuse us. This is our home and not some public park that you can remain here without permission. We are leaving now, and there will be no one here so neither are you wanted nor needed to stay here. Please turn around and walk away." I was completely shocked to hear this from Arohi and felt amused. I looked at Sonia as she fumed. "Don't you see how rudely this girl is speaking to me Deep? Aren't you going to tell her anything? I thought that you hated disrespect?" she asked annoyed. "But Arohi didn't show any disrespect. In fact, she's right. We are now heading out and you don't have any reason to stay here," I said calmly. She glared at me and turned around and left. I smiled and turned to Arohi. "I thought that you would have rooted out her hair the next time you meet her," I said. "That was my initial feeling but then I thought, why do that and dirty my hands? If I tell her a few things, then my mouth would remain clean and my job would be done," she said. I smiled and shook my head as she giggled. "Let's go," I said. We left the apartment and went downstairs to hers. Upon entering, we stood frozen and looked at the transformation of the apartment. The walls were covered with streamers and balloons. There were a huge sign behind the dining table with the words, 'Welcome Home Ananya.' I stood and looked in awe. We walked inside and saw Uncle Navin, Uncle Zeeshan and Avinash in the kitchen which was in a complete mess. "What are you guys doing?" I asked. "We are baking a cake for Ananya," Avinash said in glee. "That's awesome! Wait, I'll help!" I said excited but as I was about to enter the kitchen, Uncle Navin stopped me saying, "No need! You and Arohi can go and prepare her room. There all the stuff inside there already for the decoration." "Sounds like a plan," I said and turning to Arohi asked, "What say?" She nodded.

We left those three master chefs in the kitchen to work their magic and went inside Ananya's room. I was expecting Arohi to break down or even have tears in her eyes seeing the room but instead, she smiled. As she took a step forward, I held back her hand she turned to me. I cupped her face and said softly, "I am very proud of you." She smiled and looked at me confused and asked, "Why is that?" I wrapped my arms around her waist and began stepping back with her. My back jammed the door and I walked back until it closed behind me. "When we came inside here, I thought that you would get weak and break down. But you are smiling strong and brave," I said. She smiled and held her hands around my neck. She stepped onto my feet and said softly, "When my strength is with me, how can I fall weak?" I pulled her closer to me and said, "Someone is in a romantic mood." "When I have such a loving boyfriend who only thinks about romance, what else do you expect?" She said. "Hmm...I would like to meet this boy," I said playing along. She came closer to me and said, "Bad idea. You won't be able to handle his dashing looks." "Try me," I said smirking. She stepped away and held my hand. She pulled me in front of the mirror and pointing at me, she said, "Look." I smiled and looked at myself in the mirror. "You have tricks Madam Mafia," I said turning to her. She bent her head and smiled. I stepped away from her and said in my normal tone of voice, "Come on now. The only thing you think about is romance. Let's get to work." She held my hand and pulled me back to her. I looked at her giving me a sensuous look. It made me nervous. "Madam Mafia, what are you doing?" I asked. She rested her finger on my lips making me go silent. Her eyes were fixed on my lips as she came closer to me. My heart never raced this much before. The entire world froze and all I could think about was her. As our lips were about to touch, Avinash opened the door coming inside saying, "Arohi...." But he stopped and turned around. 

Arohi and I both stepped away from each other embarrassed as I stammered nervously, "Ca...can't....you....knock?" "I'm sorry sir," he said amused. "Can I turn around if you two are in a decent position?" He asked. I looked at Arohi bending her head in shame. "What is it?" I asked. He peeped over his shoulder and looked at us and then turned around smiling. "I'm sorry for disturbing your romance for the second time in one day but I just came to check on how you guys are preparing her room. I took a step forward and said with narrowed eyes, "You seem to be too caring for a room. What's the matter?" He looked away and said nervously, "Nothing. What are you talking about? I am just helping a friend." "Hmm...even I am your friend, you never did anything like this for me. So what's so special in Ananya's friendship?" I asked. "There is nothing like that. I am only trying to be nice and fulfil my duty as a friend," he said. "You guys carry on, I am going outside to help," Arohi said. "No! We sent you two to clean this room and you came here to romance instead," Avinash said, "When you are finished here, then you can come outside." He turned around and left me satisfied with his answers. There is something for Ananya in his heart. We just have to make it more obvious to him. I smiled and Arohi snapped her fingers in front me asking, "Which world are you in?" "Nothing. Let's get to work or else Hitler might punish us the next time," I said referring to Avinash. She shook her head and we began cleaning the room. I never knew that cleaning such a small room can be so tiring and within five minutes, I dropped on the bed sweating. "Deep! What have you done?" Arohi yelled at me. I sat up and asked, "What happened?" "I just made the bed!" She complained. I rolled my eyes and said, "Sorry then. I was just tired." She held my hand and pulled me up saying, "Get out! I will manage by myself!" She literally pushed me out of the room and closed the door. I looked at everyone outside looking at me silently.