Third man's p.o.v.
Arjun's phone started buzzing.
"Excuse me, guys."
"Shri, let's go I'll drop you. Let's go."
"Arey Rahul, I will go with you."
"But Vishal I have to take Shri on my bike. We have come together also."
"Ok Rahul don't worry you can take Vishal with you. Arjun has a car. He will give me a lift."
"But Shri, Vishal can go with Arjun instead." He felt a press in his arm.
"Arey let her go with him. I don't wanna go with him. The whole time I have to keep my mouth shut which is impossible for me. You know him na? Please."
Vishal whispered in Rahul's ear.
"What the hell!" Rahul exclaimed annoyingly.
"What you two are chit-chatting?"
"Nothing. You go with Arjun. I'll go with Rahul."
"Ok, fine."
"Bye Rahul. Bye Vishal."
"Now let me see where this Arjun has gone while talking on the phone."
And she left leaving a disappointed Rahul behind. She came out of the club.
"Hey, baby seems like you have lost your partner. Don't worry babe, I'm here to give company to you."
Shriya stopped on her way. She saw two drunk boys shamefully looking at her. Giving a disgusting look she started walking but one of them stood in her way.
"Leave my way," Shriya warned keeping her face tightly.
"I guaranteed you, you won't regret my company."
Saying this he extended his hand to hold Shriya's arm.
"Be prepared to get a high-voltage shock before touching her. Don't tell me later I didn't warn you."
Arjun said greeting his teeth.
"Acha? U will give me shock?" The boy started laughing maniacally along with his friend.
As she touched her hand he felt a hard punch straight in his face. He fell on the floor. His mouth started bleeding.
"Wanna touch her again?"
Arjun said coldly.
He got up and ran away with his friends.
"Not bad Mr." Shriya teased Arjun.
"Let's go. It's late already."
"By the way I just love this possessive overprotective Arjun Singhania."
Shriya expressed. Arjun didn't reply.
"Acha, say something, na?" After waiting for his reply for a minute, she said annoyingly.
"What's your rush to tell Rahul that today?"
Arjun asked while driving keeping his eyes on the road.
"What?"
"About Ananya?"
"Oh, so what?"
"So, nothing Shriya. But you shouldn't have said like that?"
"And may I know the reason? Arjun, he would have known one time. Then what's the problem if I said that today?"
"Then let him know later. And what you said he can make himself prepared before going to my office because there is Ananya in the office.
"Arjun it was just a joke. So now you are fighting with me for that Ananya?"
"I am not fighting with anyone. I'm just saying. But look the way you said 'that Ananya'! I don't understand why you hate her."
"She also hates me. And by the way, I don't hate her. I just don't like her. She is so strange."
"What do you mean by 'strange'?"
"I don't know but I got some strange feelings whenever I see her."
"There is nothing strange. It's your girls' habit to start wherever you get the chance."
"Oh really? Then what you and Rahul were doing at the club? Vishal lied to me I know that you two were arguing. Actually, you know since you have come back to India you have changed a little."
"Bye."
Shriya raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"We have arrived at your house."
She looked outside and realized that the car has stopped.
"Oh yeah, bye."
She placed a small kiss on his cheeks. Arjun rubbed his palm on that. Shriya smiled seeing this gesture of his.
"Now go."
"You will never change, Arjun. Ok bye, good night."
And she left.
"Sometimes says I have changed and within a minute says that I can't ever change. Such a confused person."
Arjun whispered in his mind annoyingly.
*****
As Ananya took a book from the book rack a picture slipped on her feet. She glanced at the picture and her beautiful eyes got moisturized. She touched her lips on that photograph.
"I hope wherever you are, you are happy."
A waterdrop slid down on the picture.
"Anu"
She heard her Dadi coming. She hid the photograph in the book.
"Anu"
"Yes, Dadi."
"What were you seeing?"
"Nothing important Dadi. Just these books."
"One second. Tears in your eyes?"
"Oh actually. I was looking at the book continuously so it got tears."
"Are you sure?"
"Dadi! What's about not being sure here?"
"Ok, ok. Now let's go to sleep."
"Dadi it's just 10."
"So? You had a hectic day, na? You have office tomorrow also. Now let's go to sleep. You are having dark circles under your eyes. You need rest."
"But Dadi?"
"No buts. Keep the book."
"Ok madam, I'm going. But you go first. I'll go to bed."
"Ha but.."
"No buts. Now goooo."
"Ok baba, I'm going."
As Dadi left she took a last look at the photograph and kept it carefully in the book.
Next morning
"May I come in Sir?"
"Come in." She saw him hooking his eyes at something concentrated in the laptop.
"Sir?" He lifted his gaze.
"I hope you are aware of our new deal with a company in Ireland. This is our first deal outside India."
"Yeah, I know that. The talks are going on."
"Good. For that, we need to go on a business trip there next week."
"Oh yeah, Sir."
"So, are you ready for the trip?"
"Me?"
"Don't you remember the contract paper that you have to join your boss on any business trip?" Arjun explained raising his left eyebrows.
"I also have to go, then?" She became tense.
"Until I don't agree to take you with me."
Ananya looked at him in confusion.
"You don't need to go with me."
"But sir?"
"I know you don't wanna leave your Dadi alone. Besides Rakesh is accompanying me though I can handle this myself."
A small smile showed up on her lips.
"Thank you, Sir."
"But. In those days you are going to have more work pressure along with Avinash in my absence."
"I know, Sir."
"I am sending you a mail. All details regarding my trip and my flight ticket are written there. Arrange everything as said in the mail."
"Right there, sir."
"You may leave."
As she opened the door to leave she heard.
"Aren't you happy?"
She turned.
"Why Sir?"
"You are not going to get bothered by me for a whole long week?" His eyes were intense.
"Not at all, Sir. I don't think you will leave me that easily without bothering after the work pressure you are going to put on."
She left leaving a smiling Arjun looking at her.
"I think I would like to take you with me."