*Pin drop silence
Dhiraj and Rajat were in Dhiraj office quietly doing their work. Rather they both were being awfully quiet. Looking at Rajat's furrowed brows and flared nose, Dhiraj clearly knew that there was something he wanted to say but wasn't saying. Dhiraj tried to ignore that expression. 'Well if he doesn't want to talk, who am I to talk about it?!'
But despite trying hard to ignore.....Dhiraj couldn't. After all, Rajat was one of those very few people whose opinions actually mattered to Dhiraj. Sure Dhiraj was arrogant, but over a period of time, he simply couldn't ignore Rajat.
"Just say it!!" A frustrated Dhiraj snapped.
Now it was Rajat's turn to explain why he was wearing that expression. Dhiraj waited for Rajat to say something but Rajat simply stared at him. Dhiraj knew Rajat had something serious to say. Now all of Dhiraj's attention was on Rajat.
A few seconds passed and finally Rajat asked the question, their interaction earlier this morning made him have.
"Do you....really....love Nakul or is it just your obsession with monochromes that's making you act this way?" Asked Rajat in a serious tone. Past 5 years had made him well aware of his boss's infatuation with monochromes. He helped Dhiraj thinking it would be just another surface level relationship with Nakul.
He was sure Nakul won't be in any way or form, falling for his boss, but Rajat couldn't get Nakul's expressions he saw that morning as Dhiraj hugged him out of his head.
The way Nakul averted his eyes sensing Dhiraj's freshly washed body. Those soft whispers of a simple good morning that got him all tensed, flushing a pink blush on his cheeks. Those surprised eyes that weren't expecting a warm embrace. And a delicate smile as he simply wanted to melt in Dhiraj's arms. The endearing gaze Nakul had for Dhiraj did not go unescaped from Rajat's hawk-like observant eyes.
And that tender gaze might just create a huge problem for his employer. No matter how kind Nakul was, 'at the end of the day he's still a monochrome. And monochromes can become a real danger to their chromes.'
Rajat's trail of thoughts was broken by a pair of eyes glaring at him. They belonged to his employer. And that rang an alarming siren in Rajat's mind. He had stepped into a treacherous territory. He was fully prepared for Dhiraj to be angry for asking that. But those eyes send a cold shiver down his spine. He gulped uneasily.
'But I HAVE to warn you about the danger.' And so Rajat once again prepared himself to face his boss.
"You are well aware how obsessive monochromes can get. Some have turned into straight up psychopaths. A history of turning violent and locking their chromes up to keep them with themselves." Rajat paused so that his words would sink into Dhiraj before continuing, "All I'm trying to say is....it's best if you don't get involved with him too much"
'And that is exactly what I want Rajat. I WANT him to be obsessed with me. I want him to not let me go. I want him to only look at me. I want his world to start with me and end with me. I want to do everything in this world for him. I want us to be together for a very very long time. And I won't let any fucking person to stop us from being that way.'
With a shrill like tone, Dhiraj remarked, "Don't you think you are crossing the line Rajat?" His eyes were cold, devoid of any understanding.
Rajat wasn't able to understand that look. 'Line?' All he was trying to do was caution Dhiraj about a peril.
"Don't you think you shouldn't interfere in your boss's personal matters?" The same ice cold tone was evident in Dhiraj's voice. It was as if he was trying to show Rajat the place he belonged to. Long gone was the thought that Rajat was talking out of concern for him. Instead all Dhiraj could think of was: Rajat was trying to break him and his baby apart.
'But....I'm doing this for you. I want you....I want you to be safe.' Rajat's heart sank hearing those cold words. From the time he decided to follow that man, he had been nothing but loyal. He always took decisions and spoke words of truth, even when they were bitter.
The cold hearted man still continued, "Who are you? My friend? To comment on my personal life?"
'I thought.....After spending 5 years side by side, at least my words would hold some weight in your mind.' Rajat never dared to associate with Dhiraj on a "friend" level. But ever since he knew that man, all he wanted was the best for him. He thought....Dhiraj would have a little respect for his words, but...
"Why are you so concerned about me Rajat....?" asked a merciless Dhiraj.
Those words made something rise inside Rajat. A feeling of...anger. Or maybe betrayal perhaps. All this time he put Dhiraj's needs ahead of everything. But what did he get in return? He was being taken for granted instead.
"Is it because....you have feelings for me? Is that why you don't want me to be with Nakul? So that you can have me?" Dhiraj smirked, mocking the man who helped him build most of the things he had.
And that was it. Rajat was done taking care of this man-child.
"Huh?! Some narcissist you are." a Rajat, as sarcastic as ever, replied. "I can't believe you are so full of yourself" He put on a fake laugh to hide his anger. For some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to acknowledge that he was actually hurt by those words Dhiraj uttered unnecessarily.
"I have feelings for you? Don't forget that it was me who helped you to get together with that guy when you were in the devdas(a depressed drunk lover) mode. You should consider yourself lucky that someone is ready to have some sincere feelings for you." Rajat reminded him.
That was true. Had it not been Rajat, Dhiraj had nearly given up on Nakul. That made Dhiraj feel like a fool. But he was too full of himself to admit his mistakes. All he could do was remain silent.
And that silence was louder than any words. Rajat had been with him long enough to understand what that silence meant. 'As always, you are never gonna accept your mistakes.' He has had enough to tolerate for the day. His mind was on the verge of giving up. It was seldom that he had experienced such agony. And now he was completely drained.
"I bet Nakul has no idea how far up your head is in your own ass." Rajat retorted, he was done caring for this man.
All Dhiraj could do was grit his teeth. After all he too knew Rajat wasn't lying.
"I'm done for today. I'm going home. Don't call me for anything." Rajat turned to leave.
Dhiraj's guts were twisted. It was because even if he spouted shit, Rajat mattered to him. He did. He just....couldn't afford to lose that man. It wasn't just because Rajat was an excellent employee. It was because...it was only Rajat who fully accepted Dhiraj for who he was. The good, bad and ugly. Everything. Dhiraj never felt the need to hide anything for him. And now that this man wanted to leave, for the first time Dhiraj was afraid. Afraid that he would lose....his only friend.
So even when his ego wasn't allowing him to admit his mistake, Dhiraj felt the overwhelming urge to stop Rajat. And so he didn't realize when he got up and stopped Rajat.
"What?" Rajat wasn't able to understand the actions of this arrogant man. One moment he shredded Rajat's genuine concerns into pieces and now he was looking at him with those...pitiful eyes. Getting Involved with Dhiraj, was frustrating at its peak. 'Agh.....I hate him so much.' But something about those eyes just....wouldn't let him leave. Why was he so weak to them?
"WHAT?" a frustrated Rajat asked once again.
With pleading eyes and a meek voice, Dhiraj replied, "Don't leave me...."
That was it. The thin wire holding together Rajat's wit, severed.
Dhiraj realized his own words. They felt odd, since he had never said such cheesy things to Rajat. So he went back and rectified his words in an attempt to save his face, "I mean....you cannot resign over this."
*Awkward
Dhiraj was all awkward, not knowing how to handle that situation. But Rajat on the other hand understood what those words meant. He found it ridiculous that all it took was Dhiraj saying those 3 words for his anger to subdue.
"I won't. But I need a day off" saying that Rajat left, leaving an uneasy Dhiraj.
'I know monochromes can be dangerous.....but I.....love him.'
* * *
A gentle reminder: Dhiraj is not that green of a flag you might think he is.