Raghuveer only knew that Vaidehi was a professor. It wasn’t until later that he found out her major job. That was the day she took her petty, but satisfying, revenge. Had he bothered to check her profile, he would have known. “Aaj kaisa chala aapka din? Woh accounts security wala problem theek ho gayi?”

(How was your day today? Has that accounts problem been solved?)

Raghuveer had come home late that day, just as they were about to have dinner. It was only now after they had come upstairs that he had had a chance to freshen up and relax.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “No, we’re missing two accountants, so the work is going slow. One of them is on maternity leave and the other on grievance leave, so I can’t call them back.” “Technically, you can, but it seems like you’re a boss with morals,” she pointed out. He huffed out a laugh at that. “And the cyber team is still trying to work out the security issues.” “You know…,” Vaidehi ventured, “shayad main kuch madat kar sakti hoon.

(Maybe I can help.)

My background is in mathematics and cybersecurity, and I have a bit of experience with accounting.” Actually, she’d done her minor in accounting, because she’d found it interesting at the time and wasn’t sure about her career path. Veer smiled at her suggestion but shook his head.

Vaidehi wished she could stop time for a moment every time he smiled. He usually never granted her more than a small grin, but the way he was becoming more comfortable with smiling was heartening to her. “No, don’t worry. You don’t need to stress about it, too.” “Are you sure? I don’t mind.” He looked sternly at her. “I’m sure. I hire many talented people who are equipped to manage these challenges. It may take some time, but they can do it. I don’t want you to take on any more than you already do.”

She debated whether or not to argue. She truly did want to help, and this would be an interesting challenge. Veer had already gone back to his work. Finally shrugging, she went back to setting the room to rights. “How was your day? No unruly students today?” “Thankfully, no. Usually an unruly student indicates that there’s something going on in their personal life that’s affecting their mood, and I was proven right again today. I spoke to the student and his family life isn’t too great. The emotional tension is getting to him, and he’s not able to focus on anything.”

“Hmmm, have you thought of anything to help the student long term?” She smiled at the way he immediately tried to solve the issue. He was exactly like her, yet he had the temerity to say that she already took on too much. Pot, meet kettle. “Yes, I offered him a position as my teaching assistant and introduced him to a group of other students who are also TAs for other classes. Now he has a valid excuse to give to his family when he spends long hours at school. He can both avoid the tense environment and learn something from the experience.” “Your students are lucky to have you.” She blushed, hiding her face as she settled on the bed.

“Thank you, even though he wasn’t…I mean, my father was a great professor.” Veer ignored her slip-up, although it made him curious. That seemed like a conversation for another day. “That may be true, but you’re a person who truly cares about everyone else around her, and that shows in your teaching. That’s not something you could have learned from your father.” Vaidehi never knew what to say to compliments, and it was a whole new level of feeling when the compliment came from her husband. “Thank you,” she mumbled again.

“You’re horrible at accepting compliments, but don’t worry. I’ll help you get used to it.” He chuckled at her embarrassed silence. “I thought we could go out to lunch tomorrow. Send me the address of your college and I’ll pick you up.” His words were casual, but the tone of his voice hinted at something more. “I would…like that, but there’s no need to pick me up. I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

“Here I’m trying to squeeze in extra time with my wife, and you’re denying me. And get one thing straight, when I’m there, I’ll always be your chauffeur.” Why did that sound so seductive and possessive to her? Probably because he meant it that way. Did he, really? ‘Back to earth, Vaidehi,’ she told herself. She shrugged again, “I happen to like driving, and I like to think I’m a pretty good driver. Perhaps you’ll have the privilege of being my passenger someday.” Her sly smile belied her calm tone, and Raghuveer gave her a sidelong glance.

Well, the real problem was that she wouldn’t be at college tomorrow, and it would take a while for her to go to college first and then come back to work from college after lunch. She mentally threw up her hands. You know what, it was time her husband knew that she was a full-time working woman, and not as a college lecturer. She would send him the address of her office and have him wait outside. And it wasn’t like he could come up to her floor without clearance anyways. “Theek hain, address bhejthi hoon. Ab aap so jaiye. Der ho gayi hain aur aap bohot thake hue lag rahe hain.”

(All right, I’ll send the address to you. Now you should sleep. It’s late and you look very tired.)

He hummed in response but set aside his laptop and glasses, which he only used when looking at electronics. And she thought made him look really hot. Settling under the covers, he came close, wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her cheek and murmured good night, falling asleep. The first time he had gathered her close and kissed her cheek, she blushed hard and went into shock for a moment.

She had asked if friends slept cuddled together like them or kissed each other’s cheek. She was feeling brave at that moment. He responded that if said friend was your wife, then yes. She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep, to escape the sight of his wicked smile. Since then, that had become their habit. Vaidehi would sleep on his bicep as if it was her pillow, and Veer would have his other arm draped over her waist, hugging her close. The first and last thing he did every day was give her a peck on the cheek. She still couldn’t control the blush that graced her cheeks every time he did that.

The next day, Raghuveer arrived at the address she had sent him. Within minutes of driving, he realized it wasn’t the address of her college, but when he messaged her, she confirmed that the address was right. What game was his wife playing? It took him to a community of offices in one of the major corporate neighborhoods of the city, not far from where his office was. Based on what she had told him, he expected her to be waiting outside by the time he arrived. But she wasn’t there, and neither was she picking up her calls. Raghuveer parked and headed inside the building, passing the initial security clearances.

Walking up to the receptionist, he said, “I’m here to meet my wife, Vaidehi Malhotra.” “I’m sorry sir, but there is no employee by the name Vaidehi Malhotra.” “Shilpa, don’t worry, I’ve got him.” A man who was heading out for lunch, one of Vaidehi’s bosses and the one who had assigned her the new project, overheard and walked over to Raghuveer. “Mr. Malhotra, a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard much about you. I’m Ravi Khurana. Let me guide you to Vaidehi’s cabin.” Raghuveer nodded and followed through security clearance.  

While he had never been inside this building, Raghuveer had worked closely with the government in the past and had a certain level of clearance at many agencies. He realized that this was another community of government agency offices disguised in plain sight. Not their existence, but their function. “You must be proud of Vaidehi. She has accomplished much in a short time. And she’s one of our most gifted employees. I’m quite relieved to be her superior.” “I’m glad to hear it, we’re all proud of her as well.”

Raghuveer still had no idea exactly what Vaidehi’s work was, but his statement wasn’t a lie. “Ah, here’s her cabin.” He knocked on the door. “Srivastav, it’s Khurana here.” “Come in, sir,” she called out. She and another employee, a padhaku-type young man, were bent over a laptop screen looking quite serious. (Padhaku- studious) Vaidehi began typing furiously, murmuring to herself. “Yes! It worked. So, the same way we fixed this issue, try running the rest of the program, and I think that should work. Then we should be good to move on to the next level of testing.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can definitely do that.” The boy sighed in relief. “Take a long lunch break first, you deserve it.” The boy beamed before rushing out the door, nodding respectfully at Khurana on the way. “Sorry for making you wait, sir. I…” Vaidehi trailed off as she noticed her husband standing beside her boss. “Aap, yahan?”

(You’re here?)

“Ring!” Vaidehi’s desk phone went off. Saying, “One moment,” she went to pick it up. Through the phone they could hear a frantic, “Ma’am. I’m so sorry, I know Khurana sir is in your cabin, but this is urgent…” before Vaidehi turned down the speaker. “First, take a deep breath. Good. Now, tell me clearly, issue kya hain.”

(Now, tell me clearly, what’s the issue.)

For the next several minutes, Vaidehi outlined a thorough plan of action, covering nearly all possible loopholes, to troubleshoot their issue. Finally, she laughed, indicating the end of the phone call. “All right. I’m on my lunch break for the next two hours, reach out to Krishnan if you have any urgent questions. And you take a break, too. Bye.” Seeing his wife in her boss lady avatar was a sight Raghuveer couldn’t forget. He stared at her unabashedly, unfiltered admiration and attraction in his eyes.

“I apologize again for keeping you both waiting. Lekin sir, aap inko yahan le aaye? Kaise?”

(I apologize for keeping you both waiting. But sir, you brought him here? How?)

“Vaidehi, you'd be surprised to know that your husband has clearance in some high places. We have interacted with him several times before, though not directly.” Vaidehi smiled, intrigued. She should have guessed that her husband would support government endeavors. “I was heading out for lunch when I found Mr. Malhotra waiting for you. I thought I’d show him your cabin and get an update from you as well. But it looks like you’ve got everything under control. Keep up the good work and let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, sir.” “I’ll be heading out. Enjoy your lunch date!” Winking, Khurana left the cabin. Vaidehi picked up her handbag from the side of her desk and looked at her husband. “Chalein?”

(Shall we?)

Without waiting for him, she walked out of her cabin. Veer followed behind, smirking widely. Vaidehi on the other hand was extremely nervous inside, hence her walking ahead without waiting for him. She had been preparing herself to drop the bomb, but she hadn’t expected it to happen this way. 

Once they were seated in the car and they had backed out of the community, Raghuveer broke the silence. “So, madam, care to tell me why you orchestrated this grand reveal rather than simply telling me that you are one of the government’s most talented cryptologists?” “If you bothered to read the file you have on me, I wouldn’t have had to reveal it this way,” she replied sassily.

Veer burst out laughing, and it was the first time since they had gotten married. Vaidehi looked at him with awe, then cursed herself afterward for not documenting the moment with a picture. “Hum samajh gaye, biwi-ji! That’s why Yagnik was saying that it would be better for me to find out about your work myself. Congratulations to you on your well-kept secret, wife.”

(I understand now, Madam Wife!)

He picked up her hand and kissed the palm, holding on to it as he drove with the other. He leaned in, lowering his voice.

“But can I confess, my wife looks…hot…while taking charge and giving orders. I was mesmerized for a few minutes back there.” Vaidehi flushed and looked out the window, holding back a silly smile. Her husband was a charming man when he decided to flirt outright. He was definitely interested in her, and she couldn’t delude herself anymore into thinking otherwise. God, the dreams she hadn’t even dared to dream were coming true. “Keep your eyes on the road.” Could her luck truly be this good? A loving family and a loving husband?

Veer chuckled again and kissed her wrist. The rest of the ride passed by in comfortable silence. Their lunch was enjoyable, with friendly banter, and Raghuveer regaled her with tales of his college mischief. “Hmm, so the only difference is that you and Abhiram bhaiyya met in college, while Radhika, Shraddha, and I met in school.”

“You call him ‘bhaiyya’? Then why was he…” He trailed off as he realized his friend’s master ploy to make him jealous. “Bastard. Either way, I want you to keep some distance from him, ok?” Vaidehi nodded, laughing at his frowning face. “Are you laughing at me, wife?” “Would I ever dare?” Vaidehi went to turn on the radio to distract him, but he stopped her hand. “I have a request.” She looked at him, questioningly. “Will you sing for me? I was an idiot not to tell you last time, but you have a beautiful voice...this time, I only want to hear your voice.”

She cleared her throat, nodding shyly. Ignoring the goosebumps on her skin, she asked, “Is there any specific song?” “Whatever you want, I just want to listen to you.” Vaidehi thought for a moment, then began singing one of her favorite songs. “Aap ki aankhon mein kuch meheke hue se raaz hain…”

Veer kept requesting her to keep singing, until she had sung the entire ride back to her office. (**A/N – give her voice a break dude!!!) As they pulled up at the building, he said, “I’ll never get tired of your voice. I’ll always ask you if you would sing for me.” You might never get tired of it, but I’ll definitely get tired of hearing my own voice at this rate. Vaidehi quickly stepped out of the car and waved. “I’ll see you at home.” She turned around and hurried inside, leaving Raghuveer staring after her. God, what can I do to make this miraculous woman understand that I’m falling for her. I’m seeing love for the first time…and it’s becoming a welcome addiction.