Mine Yes! : Forced to be yours Mr.Devil

________@UTHOR 'S POV:~~

Anaya's heels clicked against the polished floor of Singhaniya Corp as she made her way through the sprawling office building, clutching the approval letter tightly in her hand. Her heart raced with a mix of nerves and excitement—this was her first significant task since joining as an intern, and she was determined to make a good impression. But the Executive Director's office was somewhere in the maze of corridors she hadn't quite mapped out yet.

She paused near a large window, glancing at the bustling workspace around her. The clock read 6:30 PM, and while most employees were wrapping up for the day, she still had this task looming over her. With a sigh, she began walking again, her eyes scanning the doors for the Executive Director's nameplate.

As she wandered down yet another hallway, she caught sight of a familiar face—Ravi. He was standing by a conference room, chatting casually with a few colleagues. Anaya's heart lifted at the sight of him. Ravi had always treated her like a sister, especially since her marriage to Rudra, but in the office, he maintained a professional demeanor. Despite this, his warmth and care were always evident in subtle ways, and Anaya often felt reassured by his presence.

Hesitating for only a moment, Anaya approached him, her steps quicker now that she knew someone she could trust was nearby. "Ravi!" she called out softly, trying not to disrupt his conversation. He turned, his eyes lighting up as he spotted her.

"Anaya! What are you doing here so late?" Ravi asked with a grin, excusing himself from his group and walking toward her. His tall frame and casual confidence put her at ease almost immediately.

Anaya shifted the letter in her hands nervously. "I, um... I've been given the task of delivering this approval letter to the Executive Director, but I can't seem to find his office. I've been wandering for a while, and I'm a bit lost." She laughed sheepishly, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Ravi's smile widened as he listened to her. His tone was professional but held the familiar warmth of an older brother. "You should have come to me sooner," he said, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Come on, I'll take you there myself."

He walked toward her, his posture relaxed yet purposeful. Anaya felt a sense of relief wash over her as she followed him down the hallway. "Thanks, Ravi. I wasn't sure who to ask," she admitted, glancing at him as they walked side by side.

Ravi chuckled softly. "You don't need to worry about that. You can always ask me for help." His tone was matter-of-fact, as though it was obvious to him that he would help her in any situation, both inside and outside of the office. "Plus, you're doing great for someone who's only been here a week. I can already see you're getting the hang of things."

Anaya smiled at his encouragement. "I'm trying," she said. "But it's a bit overwhelming sometimes. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right."

Ravi nodded thoughtfully as they continued walking. "That's natural. But don't overthink it. You're already proving you can handle responsibilities. Just take things one step at a time."

They reached a tall set of double doors at the end of the hallway, the nameplate reading Executive Director's Office in bold, gold lettering. Ravi stopped, turning to Anaya with a reassuring smile. "Here we are," he said, motioning toward the door. "You go ahead and hand in that letter. I'm sure you'll do just fine."

Anaya hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, straightening her posture as she approached the door. Before she could knock, she turned back to Ravi, a soft smile on her lips. "Thanks again, Ravi. You always seem to show up at the right time."

He gave her a wink, his professional facade cracking slightly. "That's what brothers are for, right?"

With a grateful nod, Anaya knocked on the door, ready to face the next step in her journey at Singhaniya Corp.

Anaya stood before the door to the Executive Director's office, her hand trembling slightly as she knocked. The sound echoed softly in the hallway, and she took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what lay ahead. It was just a simple letter, but the weight of the responsibility and her desire to make a good impression loomed large in her mind.

A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing the Executive Director himself—Mr. Verma, a tall, imposing figure with sharp features and an air of authority that seemed to command the room. He glanced at her, his brows raising slightly as if surprised to see her standing there.

"Ms. Malhotra, isn't it?" His voice was firm but not unkind. "What can I do for you?"

Anaya swallowed hard, feeling her heart race, but she quickly regained her composure. "Yes, Mr. Verma. I'm Anaya Malhotra, an intern here. I was asked to deliver this approval letter for a re-test of the device that was sold out last month."

She handed him the letter, her hands steady now, though her mind raced with thoughts of whether she had written it perfectly, if everything was in order, and if her approach was professional enough.

Mr. Verma took the letter from her, glancing down at it as he read through the contents. The silence in the room felt thick, but Anaya remained standing tall, waiting patiently.

After what felt like an eternity, Mr. Verma nodded slightly and looked back up at her. "Well done. The letter is clear and concise. I'll approve this and make sure the re-test happens." His eyes flickered with approval as he handed the letter back to her, stamped and signed. "You can hand this to the Quality Assurance team."

Anaya exhaled softly in relief, a smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, sir. I'll make sure it's delivered right away."

"Good," Mr. Verma said with a nod, then turned his attention back to the papers on his desk. "Keep up the good work, Ms. Malhotra."

Anaya offered him a polite smile and quickly exited the office, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over her. She had done it—her first major task, and it had gone smoothly. As she walked back down the hallway, she felt a spring in her step, her confidence growing with each step she took.

As she made her way toward the Quality Assurance team's office, she spotted Ravi waiting for her near the elevators. He was leaning casually against the wall, checking his phone, but when he saw her approach, he looked up with a smile.

"Well? How'd it go?" Ravi asked, straightening up as she neared.

Anaya beamed. "It went well! Mr. Verma approved the letter, and now I just need to hand it over to QA. I was so nervous, but everything worked out."

Ravi grinned, a look of pride on his face. "I knew you could do it. You handled it like a pro."

Anaya's heart warmed at his praise. Ravi always had a way of making her feel more confident in herself, especially when she doubted her abilities. He treated her with the same care he always had, even though they were in a professional setting now.

"Thanks, Ravi. I really appreciate your help earlier," she said earnestly, her smile genuine.

Ravi waved it off with a shrug, though the warmth in his eyes remained. "You don't have to thank me. It's what brothers do."

Anaya chuckled softly, feeling a sense of ease in his presence. Despite the whirlwind of the day, she was grateful to have someone like Ravi around. His friendly demeanor, even in the office, made the stressful environment feel a little more bearable.

As they reached the Quality Assurance department, Anaya paused at the door, turning to Ravi once more. "I'll see you later?" she asked, knowing that the day was winding down and everyone would soon be heading home.

Ravi nodded, giving her a quick wave. "Yeah, I'll see you around. And hey, don't overwork yourself. Remember to take care of yourself too."

Anaya smiled softly at his concern, nodding in agreement. "I will. You too."

With that, she stepped inside the QA office, ready to hand over the letter and wrap up the last part of her task. As she handed the document to the team, her mind wandered back to Rudra. She hadn't seen him all day, but her thoughts of him had been constant—especially with the snack surprise earlier, which she was still grateful for.

As the QA team accepted the letter and began their work, Anaya felt a sense of closure for the day. It had been a long and challenging day, but she had pushed through. With a deep breath, she gathered her things and began heading for the exit, looking forward to a quiet evening and the possibility of finally seeing Rudra.

Her thoughts were no longer on work or tasks but on the quiet moments she would soon share with him, knowing that despite the distance between them at the office, he was always looking out for her.

_______________

As Anaya walked down the long corridor, her mind began to wander. She was lost in her thoughts, thinking about the day's events and her small successes, particularly the approval letter now tucked safely in her hands. Her gaze drifted toward the large glass windows of the meeting room, distracted by the busy office still buzzing with activity. Without paying attention to where she was walking, her footsteps carried her forward, unaware of what—or who—was in her path.

At the same time, Kunal was heading her way from the opposite side of the corridor. He was multitasking, his eyes glued to his phone screen while casually sipping coffee from a large cup in his other hand. His brow furrowed as he focused on the message he was typing, completely absorbed in his task.

Neither of them noticed the other until—smack—they collided hard, Kunal's coffee splashing all over Anaya's clothes, the hot liquid instantly soaking through her crisp white shirt and part of the approval letter she was holding.

A gasp escaped Anaya's lips as she stepped back in shock, staring down at the damage. The letter—the letter—was now smeared with dark coffee stains, the ink starting to blur where it had gotten wet. Her once-pristine shirt was now a mess of coffee stains, and the approval letter she had worked so hard to get signed was half-ruined.

For a split second, her mind froze. The weight of the situation settled in. Internally, she was furious. This couldn't be happening! Anaya clenched her fists, the frustration bubbling up inside her as she crushed every bad word she could think of toward Kunal in her mind. She had been careful, she had been focused, and now, because of him, everything was falling apart.

Kunal, on the other hand, was just as taken aback by the collision. The moment he realized his coffee had spilled all over someone, his immediate reaction was to snap. His face tightened, and he opened his mouth, ready to give whoever it was a piece of his mind. But as he looked up, he stopped short. His sharp words died on his tongue the second he saw it was Anaya standing there in front of him, drenched in coffee and holding the now-ruined letter.

His expression shifted from annoyance to something softer, more apologetic. "Anaya…" he started, his voice quieter, the edge completely gone. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing from the mess he had caused to her furious expression. "I didn't see you. I'm… I'm sorry about that."

But Anaya wasn't listening to him. Her eyes were locked on the approval letter, her heart sinking as she saw the coffee seep further into the paper. All her hard work, the careful preparation, and the signed approval—it was all being ruined by a careless accident. She let out an exasperated sigh, her mind racing with thoughts of how she was going to fix this.

"Are you okay?" Kunal asked, his voice still cautious, knowing very well that she was anything but okay. He stepped forward slightly, realizing the gravity of the situation as he noticed the soaked letter in her hands.

Anaya barely registered his words. Her anger and frustration were boiling beneath the surface, but she knew better than to snap at him directly. Calm down, Anaya, she told herself, taking a deep breath as she tried to rein in her temper. It's not worth it.

She turned to Kunal with a forced smile, though her eyes betrayed the irritation she was feeling. "I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth, her voice tight. "But the letter isn't."

Kunal glanced at the soggy paper, and for the first time, a flicker of genuine regret crossed his face. "Ah, that looks bad. I didn't mean to—"

Anaya cut him off with a wave of her hand, still trying to keep herself composed. "It's okay, Kunal. It was an accident," she said, though it didn't sound like she fully meant it. Her mind was spinning with thoughts of how she was going to explain this to the QA team or, worse, Mr. Verma. She had just gotten the approval, and now, thanks to this mishap, she was back at square one.

Kunal, sensing her frustration, finally set his phone aside and looked at her more seriously. "Listen, let me help. I'll talk to Mr. Verma and explain what happened. I'm sure we can sort it out."

Anaya glanced at him, surprised by his sudden offer to help. It wasn't like Kunal to go out of his way for anyone, let alone be this apologetic. She hesitated, the anger inside her slowly fading as she realized there wasn't much she could do now except deal with the situation.

"You'll talk to him?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Kunal said, his voice steady. "It's the least I can do after this. I'll explain the situation and make sure the letter gets re-approved. Don't worry about it."

Anaya let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. Maybe this wasn't the disaster she thought it was. She gave him a small nod. "Okay. Thanks, Kunal."

He nodded back, and for a moment, there was an awkward silence between them. Anaya glanced down at her ruined shirt, feeling sticky and uncomfortable, while Kunal shifted on his feet, clearly unsure of what to say next.

"Well, I better get this cleaned up," Anaya muttered, holding the letter out as if it were a delicate piece of ruined artwork.

Kunal rubbed the back of his neck again, offering her a sheepish smile. "Yeah, sorry again about that. I'll catch up with you later."

Anaya gave him a tight-lipped smile before turning on her heel and heading toward the restroom to clean herself up. As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel both relieved and annoyed—relieved that Kunal was willing to help, but annoyed that this had happened in the first place. Today had been a rollercoaster, and it wasn't over yet.

As Anaya headed toward the washroom, trying to salvage both her shirt and the soaked approval letter, Kunal stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure. He couldn't help but feel responsible for the mess he had caused, and although he had offered to fix the letter issue, the sight of Anaya drenched in coffee lingered in his mind. He scratched his head in frustration, thinking about what to do next.

Then, an idea struck him. Pranali!

Kunal hurriedly made his way to Pranali's desk, his steps quick and purposeful. He was a little nervous, unsure of how to explain the situation without making it seem like a total disaster. As he approached Pranali, who was engrossed in her work, he hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to tell her.

"Pranali?" Kunal called out, his voice a little unsure.

Pranali looked up from her computer, slightly surprised by his sudden appearance. "Kunal? What's going on?"

Kunal shifted on his feet, his mind racing. How do I explain this without making it seem like a catastrophe?

"Uh, well… it's Anaya," he started, glancing down the hall nervously. "She's in the washroom, and I think... um... she might need your help."

Pranali raised an eyebrow, giving him a puzzled look. "Help? What kind of help?" she asked, her voice filled with concern and confusion.

Kunal scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He was still unsure how much to explain without making things worse for himself. "Well, you see, we kind of—um—bumped into each other, and my coffee… kind of… spilled on her."

Pranali's eyes widened slightly as she sat back in her chair, already imagining the mess. "You spilled coffee on her?" she repeated, her tone incredulous.

"Yeah," Kunal admitted with a sigh. "And... well, her shirt and the approval letter she was carrying got soaked. I think she's trying to clean up, but I thought maybe she'd feel better if you went to check on her. You know, since you're her supervisor."

Pranali pursed her lips, clearly not thrilled about the situation, but her concern for Anaya quickly took over. She stood up from her desk, glancing at Kunal, who still looked like he wasn't sure how to handle the whole thing.

"You really made a mess, didn't you?" she muttered under her breath.

Kunal shifted awkwardly. "Yeah... I didn't mean to. I was distracted."

Pranali waved him off, grabbing her bag. "Alright, I'll go check on her. But next time, Kunal, try to be a little more careful. You've created quite a problem."

Kunal nodded sheepishly. "Got it."

Pranali gave him a quick nod before walking briskly toward the washroom. As she made her way down the corridor, she couldn't help but shake her head in mild exasperation. What a day.

To be continue...***