Third man's p.o.v.
"Anu, enough. If you don't want to believe then don't. Don't ask the same question again and again."
Suddenly she let an outburst at me.
"Why are you getting angry, Dadi? Ok, I won't ask again but just have one request please don't bother yourself or someone else. Just remember one thing if anything happens to you the person who will lose everything is me."
I rushed out controlling from breaking down in front of her. I am not sure if Dadi lied to me or not but I so want that to be true. Moreover, last time we got to know he was out of the country.
Yes, I don't want him near me, near Dadi, near us, in our life. Oh! Really! Who am I to get him out of our life? He doesn't even care if we want him or not.
The day went on in a boring way. I and Dadi haven't talked much since the morning incident. Maybe she tried to talk and me also but couldn't. I know she needs time and so as I. In the evening Rahul called me.
"Hello"
"Hello, Anu, how is she?"
"Better. Just needs some more rest."
"And you?"
"Hm. I am fine too."
"O..ok."
There was an awkward silence. Both of us don't know what to say next. Then something came to my mind.
"Acha, Rahul I wanna ask you something. That day how you..."
"Hello, Anu Di."
"Suddenly Pooja's voice came from the other side."
"Hi, Pooja how are you, sweetie?"
"Cool." She replied joyfully.
"And you?"
"Hot."
"Ouu we are the perfect combination. Cool and hot."
"Yeah. By the way, how is your study going."
"Perfect. Anu di my exams are at the door. But once it ends you have to go to watch a movie with me. Please?"
She pleaded sweetly.
"Ok."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Thank you so much. Ok bye."
"Bye. Accha…"
She cut the call before I could say that I want to talk to her brother. Oh no! I again missed asking him. I groaned a little. I don't know what's wrong is happening around me nowadays. No one is answering my question. Either it gets interrupted or I got scolded.
Next Morning
I was busy making breakfast. Someone had pressed the calling bell. I opened the door. An unfamiliar girl of nearly my age was standing in front of me.
"Yes?"
"Ji, you needed people to take care of the patient?"
"What? No."
I tried to remember if I have applied for anything like that.
"No. I can't remember. I think you have come to the wrong house."
"Ji, aren't your name Ananya Roy."
At this I got surprised.
"Yes. But I never contacted you."
"But ma'am if you don't need then why Arjun Bhaiya sent me?"
"What? Arjun sent you?"
"Ji."
I got really confused. I never asked for anything like that from him. Moreover, why would I ask him if needed, he is not running any Health care center.
"Ok come inside. Let me check."
I asked her to sit in the drawing room. I came inside. What is going on in his mind? Has he started health care center leaving the business?"
As I dialed him,0 I remembered that it was midnight there again.
Urgh! But I have to call him. I can't make her wait all day waiting when he's going to wake up. I dialed him.
Obviously, he won't receive it. I tried again. Same thing.
I cut the phone frustratingly and was about to dismiss her. My phone started buzzing.
It's him.
"Hello, Sir."
"Do you only get this time to call me in 24 hours?"
I smiled. I can clearly see his cute irritating face. Somehow it amazed me today.
"No Sir. I never meant to disturb your sleep but there is something urgent I need to know."
"What?"
"Have I ever asked you for someone to send me to look after Dadi?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. I have sent a girl to take care of Dadi so that you can join the office from tomorrow."
"But I never asked you."
"So how many days are you planning to take leaves or going to leave your job forever and take care of her only."
"I never said that."
"That means you are not going to leave it. Then who will take care of her in your absence?"
Ok, now I have no answer to that.
"You are right but... how can I leave her with someone completely stranger I mean I don't even know her from where she's coming from... how can I trust her so easily?"
I asked with a little hesitation.
"Ok so trust issues? But if I have sent her then it's my responsibility also. So if you trust me then you can trust her also. My family know her for years. But the matter is do you trust me?"
"No."
I can imagine his annoying face. Though I joked I'm not sure if he understood that or not.
"Congratulations Ms. Roy for successfully destroying my sleep. Bye." And he didn't guess it.
"Wait, Sir..."
"Now what?"
"Thank you but I had no idea that now companies provide caregivers also to their employees."
"Obviously it's within the health package."
"Well, that's a good thing. Nowadays companies are this much careful about their employees. But I have one condition."
"What?"
"I shall pay her salary."
"Obviously. Who told you I'm gonna pay her."
I felt a little embarrassed about my comment. Of course! How did I even get the idea of him paying her?
"No… I mean sorry Sir. Of course, I will pay."
I stammered.
"Ok, bye."
"Bye."
So, I kept her for Dadi. At first, Dadi was not agreeing but later I convinced her.
"Ok. You can work here."
"Thank you so much, ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am. Call me Didi, oops sorry I didn't even ask your name. What's your name?"
"Ji, Neemri."
"What? Neemri? Isn't it a little weird? Please don't get me wrong but I have never heard such a name so…"
"My mother loves neem trees. So, she named me Neemri."
"Neemri from Neem! But Neem is bitter, no?"
"Yeah, but it's very good for our health also."
I smiled at her comments. She is smart and a sweet girl.
"By the way how come Arjun know you?"
"Oh, actually my father is serving them for many years even before my birth. In my childhood, my father used to take me to their house. So since then, I know them. And right now, I needed a job so he offered me this."
After that, we discussed her salary and duty time. She will be here with Dadi in my office time.
I felt relieved after keeping her for Dadi. Now I can do my work without tension.
He is such a caring person. Even after going abroad his concern is with us. I think I should thank him with a gift. But what shall I give him? I have no idea about his likes and dislikes.
How would I know what he will like!
"Neemri"
"Ji Didi"
"Umm... Actually... can you tell me about your Arjun Bhayia, what he likes or not?"
"Ji, I don't know much about him. I have just met him 4-3 times."
"Ok. You can go."
Whom should I ask now? Rahul! Yeah, I can ask him.
*****
On Tuesday I again joined the company. Arjun Sir will return on Friday. I started my work.
The whole day was quite busy. But within that me and Diya enjoyed our lunch. But the whole time I missed one thing which I never thought I shall be. That's Arjun Sir. Making coffee for him, getting scolded by him, our nokjhoks, and his cute irritating face. The employees are gossiping more in his absence. Everything seemed to be a little unfamiliar. It felt like the company is missing its boss. The two days went on like this.
On the second day after I was done totally, I came out of the office. But as I noticed outside it was 6:45 and dark has started gulping my surroundings and to add to that I realized it was going to be raining.
Shit! I don't have an umbrella with me.
But what can I do there was no sign of rain in the morning. I'm not God that I shall know before that it's going to rain today.
No, it's not like I don't like rain. I just love rain. But right now, rain is not going to be an amazement for me as I have to return home safely and it's already late. And if I get drenched, I can be caught cold. Dadi is already in bad condition and in this condition, I can't fall sick.
But the next moment crushing down all my thoughts it started raining heavily. I quickly rushed under the shade of my office. It's been 5 minutes since I was standing there. Even the road was empty. I thought to call Ola or Uber. I took out my mobile phone but to my dismay it's the battery is going to die soon. It has only a 2% charge. Oh God all bad things have to come together!
As time was passing my tension was growing. Suddenly a car came to stand in front of me.
I tried to see the owner through the glass window. But I hardly could get a look. It was totally hazy.
The owner opened the window and then I saw his face.
"Rahul"
"Anu, come inside. Quick."
"But..."
"Anu it's not the time to argue."
I also think it's not the time to argue. Somehow, I have to reach home safely.
As fast as I can I ran into the car but my hair is already wet.
"Oh, God. Thank you."
"You welcome."
"But what are you doing here?"
"I was returning home from office and then I saw you in this miserable condition. So, I stopped."
"Oh, ok."
Arjun's p.o.v.
After my meeting ended, I decided to go for a visit outside.
In front of me is the great Atlantic Ocean and I am like not even a bacteria to its expansion. Its cold breeze swallowed all my tiredness.
I sat down on a rock. The cold breeze was giving me chills. I clutched my jacket more tightly. Far from all crowds, all pollution, all stress, all distress. I closed my eyes to inhale the fresh smell of nature.
But a face emerged in the dark page of my mind which made my heart ached for a second. I opened my eyes immediately.
Ananya! Why are you doing this to me? There are long distances between us now. Still among all people why only you, coming to my mind again and again. Your bright smile, sweet voice, and...and that last hug! Was it so needed? It feels like your presence is roaming with me always like a shadow.
I can't explain how much my inner soul wished to have you with me here. But that's not possible. Never! Every time whenever I think that everything is gonna fine between us your words of accusations hit me hard. But you know I will prove to you one day that it was not my fault.
I was right and what I did was good for both of you. Rahul never loved you. Yes, I was right. I don't know what love is called actually and how it feels but the least I know is that you deserve that love.
Damn, man! What has happened to me? Love! Which I doubt sometimes to be existing actually. Stop it! These all things are fake, just a waste of time, one day will come and will go again.
I decided to call Avinash to know if everything was alright in India or not and most importantly to get out of those thoughts.
"Hello Arjun, how are you? And how was the meeting? Are they happy with the deal?"
"I'm fine and the meeting was also good. They liked the deal and agreed on it."
"Wow congratulations, Arjun. Then there must be a party on that occasion, what you say?"
"Of course, there will be a party once I return. But tell me how is everything going on there?"
"Everything is all right and perfect. And I must say Ananya is doing really hard work. For the last two days, she is continuously working. Even after office hours also she is staying with me to assist me."
"It's good. She is proving herself."
"Yeah."
"Ok bye. I need to call someone."
I really couldn't resist calling her after hearing those words from Avinash.
I dialed her.
What the hell! She cut my call. How dare she!
I dialed again. And to my dismay this time it's switched off.
I felt frustrated. Where is she? I tried to remember if there is any other way to contact her. I don't have any other number for her. Then an idea came to my mind. I have Neemri's phone number.
I dialed her.
"Hello"
"Hello, Neemri. It's Arjun. Where are you?"
"Right now, I'm at Ananya Di's house."
"Give her the phone."
"But Bhayiaa she hasn't returned from office yet."
"What!"
I cut the call in anger.
Is she still in the office?
I again called Avinash.
"Avinash, where are you?"
"At my home. Why?
"And Ananya?"
"Ananya? Maybe at her home."
"When did she leave office?"
"Actually, it's been quite late to finish all the work almost 6:30. Though many employees already left. I, Ananya along with a few employees was still in the office. But once we were finished, she left packing all her things."
"Then why she hasn't reached her home yet?"
I asked instantly.
"Umm... I think she must have gotten stuck in the rain. Actually, it's raining heavily here right now. So that's why..."
"Come on Avinash why didn't you give her a lift?"
"Arjun, I thought the same. Even was going to offer her but then I saw her getting into someone's car. After that, they left."
"Someone's car? Whose car?"
" I saw him from far. Probably it was that friend of yours. What's his name?... Yeah, Rahul."
"Rahul!"
"Arjun, Arjun, are you listening to me?"
I cut the call. I tried his phone and to my surprise, he didn't receive his call.
I can feel the storm brewing in me.
Ananya is with Rahul! Where are they?