Ananya's p.o.v.
Just like the sky has worn the cloud today the day also seemed to be colorless and I who was not getting sleep for a few past days and as a result, my working hours suffered from sleepiness top of that the boring schedule was making it worst. I made my way towards the washroom to get rid of this. But on entering my eyes fall on Diya standing in front of the mirror. Her long hair covering her face was not allowing me to see her. I stood beside her and started splashing water when I heard the sound of sobbing. I turned to discover Diya crying.
I kept my hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, what happened?" I said in a calm tone.
"Was I doing so bad in my department that they made me do work for him?"
"Who?"
"Arjun sir." She replied amid sobbing.
So Diya is my replacement. But why is she crying?
"That's good news. Why are you crying for that?"
"I'm not crying. I'm tense. You know how much strict he is. One look from him and I feel like someone is running through me. He scolds too much. One mistake straight termination letter at your table." She gazed up at me.
I don't know why but I started laughing inwardly hearing her assumption about great Arjun Singhania. Wow, he seems too scary.
"Relax he won't eat you. Just be sincere and do your work," I said smilingly. This girl is so innocent.
"Moreover, working under a tall dark, and handsome boss, isn't it cool?" I said to make her feel better.
"That's the problem you know more handsome more tough and strict. My old boss was so good. He was an old man without any type of arrogance. But Arjun sir is just opposite to him. Last time I had to go to his office for making a mistake. And his scolding scared me the whole night. Why has he replaced you?"
"Because I scared him more than he scares you."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. All the best."
As I passed his office my footsteps paused for a moment. My stupid mind, why you stopped me, don't you know he asked me to not show my face? Finally, I made up my mind and leave for my office.
Third man's p.o.v.
"Why are you still standing here? Want more work?" Arjun blurted in anger. He could feel someone's absence was making him restless and the realization of who the person is was making him more frustrated. The whole time his eyes were somehow making their way toward the door.
Yeah, she wants forgiveness from you, this way. She doesn't even care for you.
He got up. It's lunchtime. He has to go to meet his friends. At least their friends might make him forget about her.
He entered the cafe in front of his office. It's a small meeting called up by Shriya for the upcoming anniversary party of her parents.
"What's this Shriya? What's so hurry to meet at this point? There is still some time. We can discuss it later also. You know it's my working time."
"Arjun. It's already late and you are saying there is still time. I have to organize the whole damn thing. And you guys know very well I can't do anything without you people."
Arjun took a sit beside Vishal. The only emotion coming out of him was his unintentional temper. Firstly he shouted over Diya and now Shriya and in the end he ended up feeling bad. So to make everything normal he called the waiter and order a coffee.
As their discussion started Arjun's mind started traveling somewhere else. Rather than listening to the planning when he was so busy checking out a little boy with his parents, a movement came to his notice. And immediately the frustration he was gulping for the past some minutes came out.
"What the hell is she doing here?" All of them turned towards Ananya who was just standing nearly one meter away from them looking shocked.
"Who called her?" Arjun stood up.
"We. Why? You have any problem?"
Rahul asked in a confused tone."
"I have. If you guys think that I will come in her presence then you are wrong." Saying this he moved to get away.
"I'm sorry you don't need to go anywhere. I am going. Rahul and the guys will meet you later." Saying these in a go she went straight out of the Cafe.
For a moment she got confused about how to react, should she cry or get angry at him? She started walking along the foot. She got so lost in nothing just nothing. The irritating sound of the horn of a car, the humming sound of gossiping people, the almost unheard rustling of wind; all the sounds balanced each other so perfectly that everything sounded similar to her. Today her mind started recalling all her friends back in Kolkata. Sometimes she feels jealous of this gang. It reminds her of her school college gang whom she still missed in her subconscious mind. Yeah, Neha is with her now. But is she enough to consume her loneliness which she feels nowadays every time Arjun ignores her? And today his harsh words left her speechless for a moment. She never expected such things. But where did she go so wrong? Isn't it obvious for a girl like her whose past has shown her cruel things to her? Was her fault so unforgivable? But she has asked for his forgiveness also. She came back to her office.
*****
"This time everything will be so special because I'm arranging everything." Shriya declared proudly. They were sitting in their all-time favorite club.
Arjun was just enjoying his drink lost in his thoughts. Suddenly his phone started buzzing.
Unknown number!
"Hello"
"Beta, I'm Ananya's Dadi. I'm sorry for calling you at this time. Can you please tell me if Ananya is with you or not? She's not taking my calls. You are her boss, na?"
He heard the conscious voice of Dadi. At first, he couldn't react to this but he controlled himself after some seconds realizing there is something wrong.
"Dadi, she's not with me but don't worry I am trying to get her, ok?"
After assuring her he instantly stood up to leave.
"Hey, what happened? Who called you?"
"I have to go now. Will catch up with you soon," and he left.
He tried her call but no response. He stopped the car in confusion about what to do, from where to start first. How can this girl be so careless? Always does things in her arbitrary way. Doesn't she know that Dadi will get tense? He back-to-back tried her call. Suddenly after at least 100 times of calling her, she picked up.
"Where are you?" He started shouting at the top of her voice.
"I thought my phone is on the loudspeaker. But then I checked and found it in low volume," she replied in a calm tone.
"Is everything looking fun to you?"
"I couldn't get hear the ringtone."
"Then at least you have in your mind that there is your sick Dadi waiting for you in your house."
"What? But I informed Neha and told her to tell her that..."
"That what? Where are you? Ananya, for Dadi's sake tell me?"
"Ok, for safety I can tell you. I'm on the beach."
"Send me the address."
"What will you do with that? You will come here, ha?"
"Are you sending me the address or not?"
She cut the call suddenly. What the hell!
The next moment a message entered his phone revealing the location adding peace of mind for him too. As he started driving the flashback of his rude behavior with Ananya in front of his friends started moving in front of his eyes. He felt guilty. He shouldn't have behaved like that.
On reaching the location he came out of the car. The address took him beside the great Arabian Sea streaming in its rhythm. And there standing a white figure in front of the sea. Her hair was flying like some birds whose tails are captured to her. Her white dupatta was surrounding her like a mist. She stepped one more step forward, closer to the sea, the streams hitting more strength. Seeing her like this a fear formed in his mind. He hurried towards her.
"Ananya" he dragged her out.
"Relax, I was not going to do suicide."
"Sarcastic, ha?"
"Why are you ruining the mood? Sea in front of you, the moon above your head, and the cold breeze admiring your body and two lovers."
Arjun got stunned at her comment.
"Mamma loved to imagine things like this. Sea used to make her extra romantic. No, I'm not here because I'm some kind of romantic person, I'm here because I can feel her in this greatness. She believed love is the epitome of life. Trusting people was like a habit of hers. But she never realized when it turned into bad habits and she became so blind that her theory of love back hit her breaking her to the core. Her easily trusting people too much made me trust people hardly."
His eyes got stuck on her peaceful face which was lightening in the serene moonlight and a smile adorning her lips.
"I don't have too many people in my life. But whom I have I don't wanna lose them as it's not easy to get them to overcome my trusting issue. And when it came to you I failed again. I never meant to hurt you. It's just there is something which is still some kind of hurdle for me." She paused a little. "I'm sorry."
Arjun didn't find any words to reply. Everything was looking magical to him. Her soft calm voice made him speechless. He saw her eyes glittering at the reflection of moonlight from small teardrops formed there. He wanted to wipe them off. He wanted to console her the most. But something was stopping him maybe the limitations she created between them.
"I think it's late. We should get back to our places." Saying this he turned away to go but a hand stopped him from behind making him spotted at his place. He faced her.
"Won't you forgive me?"
"Does it matter to you?"
"It matters or else I never rushed to your private farmhouse at that time despite knowing that I have no rights or it might look bad or you can throw me out."
"I can never throw you."
"I know that because you are one of those special person in my life now."
Saying this she left his hand and passed over him.
Ananya please don't give me hope. I don't know when I will lose control over myself.
Arjun's overwhelmed inner soul screamed this again and again which remained unheard by her.
"Come I will drop you." They both get into the car and he drove it towards their home.
They reached finally.
"You didn't reply," Ananya said before getting off.
"Let's see if I could." He said teasingly. "But right now you should go."
She got off the car. "Good night."
"Good night"