I was crying reminding my parents sitting in one corner of the room. The light in the room was dim. I woulda shady figure in the dim light.
Loneliness is not being alone,
it is a feeling even we have many people but no one cares for us.
"So here you are?" someone called me.
I wiped my tears and checked who it was.
It was my aunt, my father's brother's wife.
"Don't you have any work other than crying? Even you cry louder, the people who are dead will never come back." She yelled at me.
" I don't know how many days, I have to bare you in my house. I am getting irritated to your see your face" she said looking at me disgustingly.
" You idiot can't you control your tongue?" My uncle stopped her.
"she is having valuable shares on her name which have profits in the market." my uncle said in a cold tone.
I startled with his words that how he would talk without having any shame when his own brother and sister in law is dead. I looked at him with full hatred. Even they were not feeling a bit bad about my parent's death.
"Here there is no one to console you, better you understand it." My aunty said in a cold voice.
"Come and eat, I don't ask you again," she said and left.
I was praying for God kneeling on the floor, please help me...
One hand touched my shoulder from behind…. I raised my head to see his face… it was not clear and looks like a familiar face.
"Don't worry, I am with you…" he assured me.
I opened my eyes and my body is trembling with fear. It was my dream. I sat on my bed and checked my surroundings. I found myself on the bed in the hostel. I cleaned sweating on my forehead. I always used to get scary dreams about my past but the dream which I saw now was different. I didn't understand any person who tried to console in my dreams but I found a familiar face in my dreams but I could not recognize him.
I thought God may be sending some people to console me.
I checked the time, it was morning at t 5.30 am. As I am always an early riser, I woke up and completed my morning work. I checked my friend, Shreya, she was sleeping like a log. She is a always lazy person. I tried to wake her but she turned to the other side and requested me, " please more 10 minutes".
"Idiot, don't you want to go to the office?" I asked her.
"oh my God! Office. Yeah, I forgot about it." She jumped from the bed and I laughed with her action.
We together had our breakfast and started our workplace.
Her presence with me in Hyderabad makes me happy as I was not feeling alone anymore.
I went to the office and my daily office work is started. I used to have a habit to keep my mobile in silent mode in the workplace.
Then I found a new message popped up…
I checked whatsup messages, who it would be. It was from Mr.karthik.
Karthik: Good morning Priya….
I don't know what to do whether to give a reply or not.
Karthik: still in confusion to give me a reply??
I was astonished to see the message, how he understands my inner feelings.
Karthik: I can read your mind even I am not with you.
Me: Good morning sir
I replied.
Again message pop up in the inbox.
Karthik: no sir from next time.
Is he a Playboy? I doubted in my mind.
Karthik: I am not a playboy. If you feel uncomfortable chatting with me, I will not send any message until it is important.
Have a nice day…. Bye ….
I felt bad for him. But I can't trust anyone so easily due to my past. My own relatives left me when I needed them. I trust only my friends, Vamshi, and Shreya.
Still, I was watching his chat messages.
"Hi beautiful, I think you are in deep thought?" Swetha, my colleague asked me.
"Nothing serious miss. chatterbox" I lied to her with a smile.
" Okay, shall we start our work?" she asked me.
I nodded my head and check the appointment of our clients. I made the calls for an appointment. Most of the clients want to meet in the evening hours as they will be busy in their office work in the morning time. Nowadays, I was feeling uneasy with a few clients as they were giving their appointments after the evening at 7 pm. As per my job profile, I can't say no to them as we have to follow according to the client schedule. Most importantly, I need this job.
Sometimes, I was getting frustrated with client behavior and the way they flirt with me. I don't know why people behave in a disgusting way with a working woman. Days were passing, I got habituated with such clients.
On the other side, I was trying hard to reunite both Arvind and Shreya with help of Mr.Karthik but all our plans were in vain.
It had been one month, there was no progress in their relationship and Karthik sir was also not sending any message other than messages related to Arvind and Shreya.
Gradually, I understood Mr. Karthik. He is a perfect gentleman. As he said earlier he never sends any messages except about Aravind and Shreya. He stood on his words but in the deepest corner of my heart, I wanted to him send greetings every day.
My heart was yearning for him but my mind was warning me not to think about him, later I may hurt because of him.
********
As usual when I was working in the office. I got a call from vamshi that he was coming to Hyderabad after five days as Shreya's birthday is coming next week. He wanted to arrange a surprise birthday party for her as he was leaving for the USA within one week. He wanted to spend some time with us.
I overjoyed thinking after a long time we are going to meet together and that also we were planning a surprise party for Shreya's birthday.
I ended my call with vamshi and started packing my things to return to the hostel. Then I got a call from my senior that I have to meet one client which was walkable from our office. He wanted to meet now as their company was organizing annual celebrations.
I cursed my senior in my mind and started to that location which my senior texted to my mobile. When I entered the office, only the receptionist was present in the entrance office. She guided me that her boss was waiting for me in his cabin.
I was scared of going alone as there was no employee on that floor. I stood in front of the client cabin.
My subconscious mind was telling me that some bad thing was going to happen.
Finally, I gathered some courage and opened the door, and took permission from the client to enter inside.
"Come to Miss.priya. I am waiting for you. Nice to meet you" he smiled looking me from top to toes.
" Please be seated, Priya. We have to discuss arrangement" he said and showed the chair.
I seat opposite him uncomfortably. His eyes were scanning my body with lustful looks, I could sense it.
"Do you know miss. Priya, why I prefer your event planners?" he asked coming close to me.
" No sir" I answered in low voice.
He stood up from his chair and started to walk towards me.
" It is because of you. I saw you at my friend's party when you are organizing the event. You were looking hot. From that day I couldn't erase your figure from my mind" he bends towards me.
"Just I want you for one night, Tell me what is your price," he said intimately.
My legs started shivering with proximity but I covered my face to not show it.
"Mind your words, mister. I am not that type of girl what you are thinking. I will leave now. I think you are not in the right mind" I stood up seriously.
"Not so easy to escape from me. I send all staff to have fun with you this night" he holds my wrist.
He was smelling like as if drowned in alcohol. I was struggling so hard to escape from his tight grip but he pulled me closer. He tried to rip the sleeve of my top and his nails dug into my skin. I screamed loudly in pain.
I gathered all my strength and pushed him back. I ran quickly from his cabin. He was quicker than me and blocked my way. Then I ran backward and locked in one room. I hide under the table.
He was yelling from outside that I can't escape from him.
I started crying silently. My mind was not working properly.
I was praying to God to save me.
Stay tuned…..