Jab we met

Dhiraj looked out of the window, staring into the Manhattan lights as he made a mental note of the things to be done once he got back to his country, India.

With a towering height of 5'11" and well built muscles, his poker face gave him quite an intimidating look. Working out everyday sure paid off. Dark black hair paired with brown almond shaped eyes; they had a certain mystique to them. His face had rugged features that gave him a mature look. He was 30 but every time he smiled, it would age him down by 5 years.

A flirtatious yet charming smile, it gave him a puppy-like innocence. He often shamelessly took advantage of that to get his work done. He cannot be said as a man with no morals but believed in doing whatever it takes to get what he wants.

I should get going. He thought, as his time was extremely precious to him. After all, he was managing 2 companies at the same time.

The day had just begun and soon he realized a pair of hands wrapped around him. It was the absolutely gorgeous woman he spent the last night with. He didn't really remember much about her except that she was good in bed and was an up-in-coming Victoria's secret model.

His last night was good. Sweet moans turning into seductive ones, bodies colliding, sinking into each other and finally orgasming. But deep down, he still felt frustrated.

This is annoying. He thought to himself as the woman kept clinging to him. Maybe because he knew why she was doing that, having a sponsor always helps.

The doorbell interrupted his train of thoughts and soon, the door opened. The ringing of the doorbell was more of a formality by his secretary Rajat, a sign of politeness as he would then begin to clear the mess of his employer.

"Sir, a brunch with Ma'am is scheduled in the next 18 hours. For that, we need to hurry." His secretary stated with his ever-existing poker face.

The model got the hint that she had to leave. She placed a small peck on Dhiraj's cheeks, picked up her clothes and went to the bathroom. He let out a loud sigh. Now that he can't wash up, he decided to watch the news instead.

"...mono-chromes are getting out of hand these days. Their obsessive nature is becoming increasingly harmful for their chromes..." a person on the panel insisted.

Dhiraj kept staring at the TV. Monochromes are this obsessed with their chromes?! But is it that bad though? That was something he always wondered. Subconsciously they always stayed in his mind. But in the past few years, the very mention of monochromes caught his attention.

The woman finally came out and looked at Rajat as if wanting to say something.

"We have the car ready Miss. Evans. It will take you where you want. You will find everything else is in it." He promptly replied as he realized what the woman wanted to say. The woman gave Dhiraj a quick wink and left. Dhiraj forced a smile but was secretly glad she left.

Rajat quickly opened his laptop to see what work needs to be done. Soon he sensed Dhiraj's eyes on him and turned to his direction.

"What? Should I thank you for sleeping with her instead of her designer, a guy and that you successfully avoided any more tabloids discussing your sexuality?" Rajat asked in the most sarcastic tone possible.

Dhiraj let out a giggle. He loved seeing Rajat getting all worked up over trivial matters.

"Ma'am strictly doesn't want any tabloids about you after the whole fiasco with that Swedish guy, last time. She doesn't care about whom you spend your time with, but the board members don't like to be associated with a man who has a questionable reputation" Rajat continued with his lecture.

"I'll handle the rest. You should focus on the meeting for potential investors for the chip. We will leave in an hour." Rajat said as he buried himself once again in his laptop.

Dhiraj smirked to himself more. He had indeed done a great job recruiting this guy 5 years ago. One of the best assets that I've procured.

"What?!" Rajat questioned his boss.

"Nothing. I'm glad that you are working for me" Dhiraj replied with an idiotic grin.

Rajat knew the narcissist that his boss was. So he couldn't help but arch his eyebrows, questioning Dhiraj's gratitude.

"Well, more like I'm proud of myself for the asset I've acquired".

Now that sounded more like his entitled boss. Rajat got back to his work as he saw the man making his way to the bathroom.

Rajat's Boss was an up-in-coming entrepreneur Dhiraj Raghuvanshi. He was a man born in a family with generational wealth. He was just blessed with excellent managerial skills through his parents who themselves were giants in various industries. He further honed his talent and started working at smaller levels at his mother's IT company at the age of 21, although unofficially. He had started his personal venture recently handling 2 jobs at the same time.

Although he had many pros they didn't come without some cons.

Born in a privileged family, one had fair chances to be out of touch with reality. Although his parents tried to raise him in the most humble way possible, a tint of entitlement and narcissism did make its way into his character.

His love life was a mess in a similar manner, with only a long strand of one night stands. It didn't matter to him who it was. As long as he was the one putting his cock in the hole, gender didn't matter. But lately, these one night stands were only increasing his frustration.

A part of him had started craving for more. Maybe a warm touch, a person to hug, share meals with and cuddle all night. Someone for whom he would be the beginning and end of the world. Someone who would be completely obsessed with him.

Dhiraj was ready and looked at himself in the mirror.

I'm handsome. And rich. I can provide anyone with whatever they want. Why am I still alone?

"...there should be more laws protecting chrome. They must have the freedom to choose. Choose who they want to be with. And not bind them with their monochromes..." Dhiraj overheard the debate on the TV.

The conversation made him recall the question he wondered about for quite some time now. What if I am someone's chrome?! Someone being obsessed with me?!...it doesn't sound that bad.

***

Dhiraj was seated in a well-lit room having his brunch. He was back from the states and as soon as he adjusted to his jet-lag, he came to have a meal with his mother, Avanti.

Technically, she was his step-mother. His biological mother passed away when he was 10. His father was devastated when he lost his childhood friend, wife and love of his life. But 2 years later, he met a 24 year old woman who took his world by storm.

Dhiraj never really thought of Avanti as his mother. She wasn't really one of those stereotypical evil step-moms. She tried to give the boy motherly affection but she soon understood he wasn't seeking that from her. He was.....good by himself.

To Dhiraj, she was more like a mentor. He had picked up most of his skill set from her. They were more like Allies, having a common goal and helping each other to reach one step closer to it.

A report was going on, on the television "...It's said to be in their genes. Monochromes have an obsessive element ingrained in their brain itself..." a female anchor pressed.

Both of them quietly eat their food and Avanti lowered the volume of the TV, indicating Dhiraj she had something to say. Few moments passed by and she finally broke the silence.

"I strongly feel you should consider marriage." She said in her regal voice.

Dhiraj didn't want to have this conversation. He mentally rolled his eyes.

"You know it's a good way to expand. You don't need to actually like her. You can just keep up the appearance and..." she continued.

It wasn't that Dhiraj was against marriage. He just didn't want to get caught up in a relationship that would just lead to exhaustion. He already had enough tedious things in his life. He didn't want to add one more to the list.

"You both can have your personal life. We can make a contract-"

"Avanti-" Dhiraj tried his best not to sound irritated. "How's dad doing?!"

Avanti knew, calling her by her name is Dhiraj's way of letting her know not to cross certain boundaries set by both of them. After all they weren't mother and son but allies. They need to respect the boundaries set by the other person.

"He's doing good. Spend some time with him. He's been wanting to be with you these days."

Dhiraj let out a slight hmm and continued with his food. Professional conversations took over soon after. But Dhiraj kept getting distracted by the faint voices from the TV. He was too invested in knowing more about the world of Monochromes. It fascinated him. Especially with the fact that a monochrome was ready to give his all for his chrome. His thoughts were interrupted by Rajat.

"We will need to leave for the meeting, sir"

Dhiraj just simply nodded and so they concluded their affairs. Saying Avanti a goodbye, he left the room.

***

Dhiraj was in his car driving to the meeting venue. His eyes were staring into space as he was lost in thoughts of his own. What would it be like if I was someone's chrome. Will they....give their all to me?

He let out a sigh knowing their more probability of a lightning falling on to him than him being a chrome. If only someone was ready to go to such lengths for me. He rested his head on the seat and closed his eyes. If only I could be someone's chrome.

That thought made his heart pick up pace.

The car stopped and he knew it was time to leave. So pushing his thoughts aside, he got out of the car and started walking towards the meeting room.

He walked into the building, checking his phone to see if Rajat had sent him the reports containing the agendas he needed to go over, in the meeting. And that's when he stumbled upon someone. He looked at the person as a reflex.

It was a bit scrawny looking boy. He wasn't really skinny but had a lean body frame with wide shoulders. On a closer look, it wasn't a boy but a young man, maybe in early 20s. Dressed in a navy blue turtleneck and formal pants, he had an air of sophistication around him.

The things in his hands seemed to have fallen down and he was desperately searching for something. Soon, he found a pair of thickly coated black glasses.

Dhiraj instinctively picked up the things around him and handed them over to the young man. The man was about to wear those glasses when his eyes met Dhiraj's.

His eyes widened and the glasses in his hand fell down once again. His legs trembled and he seemed to be struggling to breathe. Soon after, he collapsed into Dhiraj's arms, their eyes glued to each other, his body stiff as if paralyzed.

His eyes were having a hard time to gain a focus, but they desperately cling on to Dhiraj's. It didn't take long for Dhiraj to understand what was happening to that man.

He was experiencing a color rush for the first time in life.

That man in his arms was a monochrome.

And he was his chrome.

***