Akash paced around Shreya's office biting his fingers anxiously. He had been doing it for a better part of the morning. But Shreya was actually late today. After everybody left, it took a long time to settle down then kids and sleep. Of course, she also had to deal with the mess Meera left. So she slept in today. Anyways she did not have much too since she had stayed late and completed everything before leaving for the weekend. And on top of it, she had sour throat in the morning. But who knew, as soon as she entered the corridor, she would be dragged into her office by a very distraught looking Akash.

"Hey, what happened?? Why are you sweating so much?? And why didn't you come over yesterday??" Shreya asked confused. She had actually called him over yesterday but he was a no show.

He did not reply until he brought them both to her office and closed the doors carefully behind him. He then asked, "I want to ask Madhu out?? Can you think of something nice?? I have been wreaking my brains who two days and somehow nothing seems good enough!!" He confessed nervously.

"What do you mean by how?? You go to her and you say you like her and ask her out?? What's there to think in that??" Shreya asked confused.

"Well, not every girl is as weird as you. They don't go around confessing in a car after knowing a person for just a few hours.. and let's face it you find doing anything romantic tiresome.." Akash said rolling his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong with telling a person you like them when you like them. I am not going to go around shooting invisible daggers on people around them without even tell them that I like them.." Shreya stabbed back but then after a pause, she relented and said, "But you do have a point. I do find doing romantic stuff as tiresome. So I don't go there.."

Akash rolled his eyes but still stayed quiet. After all, he still needed her help in figuring it out. She might be too lazy to do it herself but Shreya still had to have had theoretical knowledge. SO he still had faith in her.

And thankfully she actually did help out. Shreya thought about it for a while. And then said, "Okay, so we all think better with a full stomach. So take her out for a dinner.. take her to the Imperial. Tell the manager I sent you.. he will know what to do. And tell him not to do anything over the top extravagant and all. Madhu does not seem to be someone who will like something like that. Instead, you might actually annoy her. So simple dinner with simple decorations around should do.."

Akash leaned over and smacked a kiss over her head and said, "Thank you so much.." And then he left the office excited.

Shreya continued with her work for the say shaking her head. And a few minutes later, she coughed.. lightly at first and got severe as time passed.

"Damn.." She cursed under her breath.

...

The same day evening, Madhu suddenly got a text from Akash to meet her at the Imperial for dinner. She flipped her schedule to check and saw that he did not have any dinner appointments tonight. So she was slightly confused. She texted him back to ask if she had to bring anything with her, someone knocked on her doors and one of Akash's drivers walked in.

"What is it??" Madhu asked him.

"Sir, asked me to drive you to the Imperial." He replied politely.

"Okay, give me a second I will be there in a second.." Madhu said tiding her place. By then her phone dinged.

Akash 'You just have to bring yourself.."

Madhu frowned confused but still followed the driver out. This whole thing felt somewhat weird to her and on top of it, Akash had been absent for a couple of hours today without any explanation which never happened before. He always informs her clearly where he was going so that she can answer the clients properly. But today all he said was he was going out and that he will be gone for a couple of hours.

And as soon as she alights the car, someone was actually there waiting for her and escorted her inside the hotel. She had been to the hotel before for several meetings before. Since it was the group hotel, most of their functions were held here. So she was quite familiar with the place and was not intimidated.

She just followed the person around quietly. She was led to a mini-hall. When she walked in, she found that the whole place was actually decorated with flowers all around and the lighting was kept low. And in the middle of the hall, a table was set for two with candle lights.

Madhu gulped down her nervousness and walked in. Akash came forward too. He looked slightly dressed up but nothing too extra. He was wearing a suit as always but this one looked kinda porch somehow. But he looked as handsome as always. But then he looked handsome all the time to her.

"What is this boss?? What are we doing here??" Madhu asked looking around.

"I will tell you. Lets first have our dinner. We will take after eating.." Akash said with a smile that looked slightly constipated because of his anxiety.

Akash pulled the chairs for her like a gentleman.?Madhu sat down and muttered thanks.

Food was served, and both of them just ate quietly. Akash was too nervous to actually start up a conversation now and Madhu looked very out of sorts. So he started second-guessing. Maybe he did something wrong after all. Maybe this was too much for her.. but for him, this was pretty simple in comparison to what he had in mind at first.

But seeing her so tensed up, Akash called one of the staff and asked them to play something soft in the background thinking music might actually ease her mind a bit.

But Madhu did not even realize the change. She was busy shifting the food from one corner of the plate to another corner.

"You don't like the food??" Akash asked looking up at her.

Madhu came out of her head and shook her head and said, "No, it's fine." She then only started eating. Even though she was slightly preoccupied, she still ate.