I was looking at the files for my new business contarct with clients in USA when my secreatry walked in. He smirked at me and threw a pile of photographs on my table. They were photographs of me and Priya on various occassions. I rolled my eyes in reaction because this had come in a little later as compared to my expectation.
"What? What is this boss?!"
I sighed and rested further in my chair. I was prepared for the questions that I knew will be asked when people find out about these things.
"We have been going out Sam. It is very recent." I calmly answered.
"Recent? Freaking 75 days it has been. I do not understand you at all and from what I have heard and found from my investigation, this is very confusing and can be problematic in future."
I knew where Sam was coming from. I have known him and he has been working for me for years now. He knew secrets that even my family is not aware of. But I wanted to know how much was the story known from his end.
"What is problematic in this? What I share with her behind doors is not the concern of anyone according to me." I stated clearly what was in my mind.
"And her views are the same? You do not think that this will go forward and culiminate into a relationship and that will involve families and families will question, boss. What have you got to say to them?"
I could feel my temper rising with this conversation. I was sure from these words that Sam had no clue how it began and what transpired between Me and Priya. He being my devoted ally and secretary was trying my tactic on me to get information. He was not going to get lucky though. I quietly stood up form my chair and collected the photographs strewn across my table and put them in my drawer. I could feel his eyes on me. After closing the drawer, I looked him in the eyes and said, "I have got nothing to say to you or to anyone. Let me know when you get more information about me and her. We will discsuss then."
I could see the smirk leaving his face. He sighed and left my cabin after saying a goodbye.
After Sam left, I opened the drawer and took the photos of me and her. One of them was taken with me holding her wrist and even in those pictures, her eyes had the power to captivate me in them. I recall the memories vividly. I know how it all began.
~75 days ago~
I was disturbed after seeing Priya in that counsellor's office. Even though not family, she knew my family very well. Her sister's husband was my partner and our families knew ecah other well. I had seen her and met her on a number of ocassions in the past few years. She was this timid women who looked okay and spoke with such respect and humility that I only respected her for her conduct and mannerisms. But today she is somone who knows a secret of mine. She is a threat I cannot help but feel like wiping out from the face of earth.
I sat on the driver's seat of my car waiting for her to come outside from the clinic. It has been over two hours since I left her cabin in haste. Just then I saw her walk outside through the gate of the clinic. She looked lost in her thoughts as she walked past my car. I quickly got out and walked towards her. Reaching behind her, I caught her wrist and turned her around.
A gasp left her lips and her eyes widened in shock on seeing me. I could not help the smirk forming on my lips seeing her like this. I knew she was too good to open her mouth about today, but I had to be sure.
"About me coming to see you today, this should be between us. I do not want you to open your mouth and utter about this to anyone." I tried to be as cold as I could be. Not that it was an issue but I had never been cold with people I knew. This was new but this was necessary.
She looked at me. She actually looked at me. Her eyes kept gazing at mine with intent and I felt my calm and cold demeanor crumbling. It seemed as if she was trying to discover something hidden beneath the layers of earth. As if she was looking for some treasure and I wanted to scream at her and ask her to get lost. But I could not. She looked so calm and unlike my cold exterior, I felt the warmth radiate from her. She lifted her right hand and ever so lovingly, she cupped my cheeks and I felt a strike of light hit me.
"Tell me, what is it? What happened?"
I studied her eyes and it only held sincerity. Something that pulled me towards her. An attraction like never before. She was honest and that kept me hooked. I held her palm on my face and asked,
"Why? What will you do?"
Because the storm inside me had no answer. The peril was deep and I was bound to drown. Not that I could not swim but I did not feel like it anymore. The darkness was making me numb day by day and nothing could make me smile or cry.
"I will be your lifeguard. I do not know what it is. But the man that walked into my cabin for help, that man, I want to hold his hand and be his partner."
Her words held so much love and care that I was shook. It was a hope, and that scared me. Till now I had been living with the darkness, letting it envelop me and kill me softly. Here, this women with her soft petal like hands holding me, promising me hope, this scared me and fear was the biggest strength, wasn't it? Fear was the ultimate risk I wanted to take and so I let it go.
"Alright. I give you three days. If in these three days of your session, any emotion invokes in me, I will tell you my story."
She sighed and nodded her head. She held my both palm in hers and looked me in the eye. Her eyes they held a promise so fierce, I knew I would loose and for the first time in my life, I wanted to loose.
****