"So I have put ice cream in that slippy tongue of yours so I would expect to keep it shut."
Ananya demanded peeping through car windows while licking the remaining ice cream.
"You still remember those stuff when we used to do as kids! Every time one of us commits something wicked how we used to seal each other's mouth so that parents couldn't get to know."
"Uu hu, I remember everything."
"That..."
His words cut midway.
"Don't tell me some storm just passed by us."
Ananya stood up taking some steps towards the gate following the car but couldn't see the rider. She stood at the gate with a wide irritated face.
"Hope he ends up alive. By the way, who's that?" Rahul joined her.
"Obviously some idiot, stupid who thinks himself some hero. Couldn't make his place in car racing so here showing his heroism."
"You haven't seen him?"
"You thought it was possible! But seems like not from this building or someone new. Leave it."
"Ok bye."
"Won't you come inside?"
"No, another day. I have to go now."
"Bye then."
"Bye"
After Rahul left Ananya walked up to her flat. On entering her phone started screaming signing its presence. An arch formed on her forehead noticing the caller ID.
Arjun!
"Hello"
"Hi, so where are you?"
"At my place, why?"
"No just asking, you were not feeling well. I was worried if you could reach home safely or not. So when did you reach?"
"When...just after some time...I mean.." she quickly checked her watch. It was almost 8.
"Yeah around 6:30. Why?"
"How are you now?"
"Umm fine. I'm totally fine."
"Ok. Take rest. Bye"
"Bye"
Neha opened the door.
"Hey, where were you?"
"Ra..." She paused midway.
No, if I say I went to meet him she will unnecessarily open her question bank, why what how!
"Office! But.."
"But?"
"Nothing, come inside."
*****
Ananya's pov
The next day when I reached the office I found his office empty. He didn't come even after 2 hours. But it's just not looking normal to me. I dialed him but it was switched off. Everything seemed to be so dull. Even the sky has joined it with its cloudy makeup.
I came back to my office and sat down on my chair. Was he supposed to have some work outside? Well as his PA I should know this.
I immediately checked my Gmail and found his mail regarding my work today. But where is he?
I walked out and made my way to Diya.
"Hey, good morning."
"Hii good morning." She greeted me with a bright smile.
"Morning but it's quite shady." I greeted back with a light smile.
"Yeah, I think it's going to be raining today."
"Isn't it looking like a calmness before a storm hits?"
I whispered while looking outside through the glass window.
"Don't you like rain?"
"I like rain but this calmness sometimes gives me shivers," I concluded. The next moment I realized there is no response from the opposite. I turned to her to look at me with a confused look.
"Leave it. I am talking rubbish. Oh yeah, I almost forgot what I came. Do you know where is Arjun Sir or Avinash Sir?"
"Don't you know?"
I nodded in disagreement.
"They are having a meeting with Mr. Dibakar Arora. But you... Also supposed to join them, na?"
"Not really. You can see I don't even have any idea. And you?"
"No, Rajesh is going to be there. So I am not needed.
"Ok"
The whole day passed like there is no ending to it. Most of the time I just spent checking my watch, making sketches, and counting buildings. In one word I did nothing fruitful. I almost slept on my table when my phone absorbed all my sleepiness with its harsh tone. I jerked up. I was about to pick it up but it got disconnected. There was a text also.
Good afternoon, hope you had a good sleep. Now get out of there. A car is waiting outside. Get in.
Arjun!
What! How come he knew that I am... I checked my surrounding for some hidden cameras. Nope! Then...
Again my phone started crying. I was about to take but again it got disconnected before I could pick it up.
Weird! Why on earth this weirdo is giving back-to-back missed calls? Doesn't he have balance in his phone? I tried him but to make things weird he cut it. I quickly went to the washroom and get myself fresh splashing water.
I gathered all my things and was about to leave, again a text came from him.
The driver is waiting.
So what! I haven't asked him to wait.
I came down and noticed a car. The driver opened the car door for me to sign to enter. The car started. It was an awkward silence.
"Vaaiyaji can you tell me where we are going?"
"Ji ma'am where Sir has ordered."
"And where Sir has ordered?"
"Where we are going."
I was just speechless hearing his reply. Even his driver is weird. God, please keep me safe. After almost 35 minutes it finally stopped in front of a hotel.
I got off. I tried to scan the place I have ended up and just there my eyes got stuck on a car number. It was the same car from yesterday.
"Please come with me, Ma'am."
He guided me inside the hotel up to the fourth floor.
What's going on? Why am I following this man? What if this man is fake? Wait that car outside and here in this strange house, what are we doing here? Stalker!
Excuse me, where are you taking me? But I got no answer from him and then I sense spoke up that the man has gone and I am standing in a dark room. My nervous system started its work with rapid motion.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
I quickly turned to the door to leave but the next moment I got myself trapped in a tight hug from behind and I don't need to look back to recognize the person. His hot breath on my neck turned off my senses to respond. His hands was surrounding me with authority.
Third man's p.o.v.
"Arjun"
He swirled me making me face him with the same closeness.
"I was missing you. Didn't you? Or there is something else going on in your life that's keeping you busy from missing me."
His words were cold holding intensity, allegations, and a warning sending a shiver down her spine.
"No, I..."
"You?" He raised his brow pushing her to the door.
She got trapped between the wooden door and his tough body.
"So what you did do yesterday after returning home."
"Nothing much. I just took some good rest." She said while looking below.
He cut off the distance between them more.
"Well, that's good. Anu, your heart is beating so fast, even I can hear it."
His closeness was making it hard for her to talk back.
"Is it the effect of my closeness or..."
"You are scared that I might catch your lie."
"Hu?" She looked up.
"Nothing. I have a surprise for you." He tenderly hold her palm and kept it up to his left chest. Ananya looked up to his eyes which were roaming her face with utmost caring.
Her eyes were holding confusion and anxiety both.
With his left arm, he opened the two top buttons of his white shirt revealing his muscled chest with a tattoo on it.
Ananya!
Arjun noticed the change of expression on her face from soothing to mad.
Ananya immediately took back her hand. Her wounded self came out drastically.
"What's this Arjun? Are you a child? Who told you to do this? Have I? Then?" Ananya screamed with her voice broken in anger.
Ananya's reaction seemed to fire up fuel in him.
He chuckled.
"Yeah, obviously this is childish. I also realized it when I didn't find you at your place and then discovered you with your ex-boyfriend in his car enjoying ice cream." Arjun spat out in his hard voice, his eyes holding anger and pain.
"Here I was concerned for you. I thought to visit you after the meeting and show you this. With the hope that my small gesture will help you feel good. But you...."
"I thought to surprise you but I came out surprised." He snarled in a sarcastic tone and came forward to her making an eye to eye contact.
Ananya stood there stunned, scared, and worried. The flame that was ignited in her just some time ago has dimmed already. But Arjun's every word was digging into her like a knife.
"You have no excuse?" He asked again, this time with a light of hope.
"Wow, so you don't even think it's important to answer me." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
She bowed her head to hide herself. The eyes are that organ that can tell more than the speaking organ.
Arjun hit the door not being able to keep himself calm anymore.
"Look at me. It's an order." He boomed out losing his patience.
He hold her cheek gently and moved it up. Their eyes met again. He tried to look deep into it.
"Why Ananya? Why you lied? What do you think, if you told me the truth I wouldn't let you go. Do you think that bad of me?"
She slowly nodded her head.
"Then WHY?" He asked pressing his words.
But without giving any words she just kept staring with the same intensity but hardly could say anything.
"Again no words!"
Arjun fisted impatiently. His heart was whispering those eyes had something to say but his brain was making it hard to just adjust to her silence. He took a deep breath and moved away from her.
"Good night" With this he took his coat and car keys and stormed out of the room.
Ananya fell to the ground. Tears rolled down in a soundless flow. Just to give her company the sky also started washing down all its sorrow with thunder.
Ananya slowly gathered herself and stood up. With stuttered steps when she came out of the hotel it was raining cats and dogs. All her tears were wiped off by those water drops, maybe raindrops can be the only scarf for her.
She looked at her surrounding. The road had started to become empty. People are running to get themselves under a shade. Some lucky ones have their umbrella. No, she is the luckiest today. If it was not raining then how could she hide the useless water drops still flowing down her cheeks?
"Ma'am" her thoughts got interrupted by the same driver who took her here.
"Please get in the car."
"No, it's ok. I can go by myself."
"Ma'am please it's an order from Sir to take you safely to your residence. If you don't come with me he will cut my salary. Please." He pleaded.
"Ok, I'm coming." She answered tiredly and got in and the car started.
"Vaaiyaji, do you know the address of your Sir's farmhouse."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Took me there."
"But ma'am."
"It's my order."
He turned the car.
*****
"Sir she lives there with her grandmother and a friend."
"And... Her parents?"
"No Sir. I have asked the residents of the building. Her parents are probably no more."
"What's her name?"
"Ananya Roy Sir."
"No, her grandmother?".
"Debjani Arora."
The phone was about to fall but he clutched it in time.
"Hello, Sir, Sir?"
He cut the call. For a moment his nerves don't seem to work properly. He balanced himself by holding the table. His brain was shouting just one name, Debjani Arora. With that, a slight pain passed through his left chest. A pain, agony gulped him.
"Dibakar"
Nibha entered the room.
"Dinner is ready."
"I am not feeling like having dinner. You and Shriya can continue."
"What's the matter, Dibakar? You are not looking fine." She kept her hand on his shoulder concerned.
"No, I am fine. Just leave me alone for some time."
"I know something is going on in your mind but I don't know what it is."
"You know my mind always suffers from an unknown restlessness nowadays. I feel like I am losing something." She continued moving towards the window.
Dibakar turned towards his wife who was looking lost facing the outside.
"I think you are stressing yourself too much. Go take a rest."
"Shri told me you have asked her about that girl to her."
"Hmm"
"Why?"
"Just out of curiosity."
"Curiosity?" She chuckled sadly.
"Curiosity is obvious after that anniversary night. She was like adding insult to an old injury which can burn oneself." She muttered.
"There is nothing like that. Don't think too much."
"Her words remind me of someone." She stated.
"Maybe because the injury is the same in both cases," Dibakar concluded.
"I am telling the servant..."
"Not needed. I can eat myself if I felt hungry."
"Ok"
She left but not before checking up on the tensed, exhausted face of her husband.