A Control Room

    "Shhh" Denver pulled me closer to him and shushed me, putting his index finger on his lips, looking into my eyes.

    I looked back into his hypnotic eyes. I did not want to melt again, I looked away immediately.

    "I told you not to switch your phone off" He grabbed my face in his one palm violently, and moved my head facing him. He made me look into his eyes. I could only see anger in his eyes now. They were not melting but scaring me this time. 

    "It hurts" I tried to pull myself back from him.

    "I am hurt, damn it." He removed his hand from my face and grabbed me violently. "I said I'm sorry, Don't do this please. I did not intend anything wrong from hiding my identity. You know it. It did not harm you anyway. I was going to tell you soon. I told you." He said, holding tightly.

    I was looking into his eyes. They were wet, I could see suffering, I couldn't get this man, he said he did not mean anything for me, on the other hand all this drama. I did not reply a word, on whatever he said, Kept looking at him.

    "Why are you not going to the office, is me hiding my position this big reason to make you leave the office?"

    "I am on leave" I replied, removing his hand from me and moving back.

    "For what, because I did not tell…" 

    "It's not because of you" I did not let him complete his sentence. 

    "Oh, right, I remember seeing you going to Austin's cabin, that son of bitch is my biggest enemy till now"

    "Please leave Denver, I am not in the mood to talk" I said in a lowered voice. 

    "Babe, are you sick?" He suddenly changed his tone to caring one, I hate him suddenly changing his personality every time.

    "No, please, I need some time alone." I said looking at him. 

    "Ok but 2 conditions, one you are coming office tomorrow, second you are not switching off your phone, promise me"

    I gave him a weird look, our relationship was not that great to make promises and sudden change in his behaviour was not digestible at all.     

    "I am not leaving," He continued.

    "Promise"  I replied, just to make him leave.

    "Take care, my calls and texts." He kissed me on the cheek and left.

    I hate him. I hate him doing all these. Being violent, rude then nice and caring. 

                                                                                            ***

    "This is it Auntie, I can't handle it more" I told everything that happened to Emily Auntie on call. She is the only person who will not be angry for not telling her all these earlier.

    "It's ok my love, But you can't run from a situation. These all are silly things, they don't even matter in building life. These are just part of life, not whole life. Be brave and try to continue your bond. Don't let all these make you lose anything." She replied in her sweetest motherly tone.

    "I try, but I can't face them both together, and the situation becomes unavoidable" I replied, still in my childish tone.

    "Go for a few days more, complete this month at least, and if you still feel awkward leave it and come to me. We will have fun together, Frido is incomplete without you anyway."

    "Ok I will try" I said, hopefully there is at least one person who really cares about me.

    "That's my girl. Be sassy. Good night."

    "Good night"

                                                                                              ***

    Words of Emily Auntie brought me here again, in the office. But also the other reason was, I could not find a job after my bond even, So getting an instant temporary job was impossible for me. 

    Its been few hours I am working, but I did not see anyone giving fuck about my existence. I think I was getting nervous for no reason. I did not see Austin since morning, and not even Denver visited here yet, so the day wasn't as bad as I expected. But I really miss Linda, to distract me, making me feel working in between humans.

    It's lunch time, I am thinking of skipping my lunch so I would not have to face all the people together in the canteen, also I have no company for lunch. I saw everyone moving towards the canteen, But if I did not go, and Austin saw me working, he would be thinking I am seeking his attention or something. Bad Idea. I immediately got up and went to the canteen.

    I took my dish and sat in the corner of the canteen, so could not be easily visible if Austin comes here. There was anyway no chance of seeing Denver here. 

    I was deep looking at my dish, making a smiley with tomato ketchup on omelette. It reminds me of the day Lucas was leaving. I wanted my last few months in this office to be cheerful. But I can see no one around me now. Now the day I used to blame every moment here, seems to be best for me.    

    "Hey" I lifted my head to the voice, it was Austin, standing in front of me with Dish in his hand.

    "Hi," I replied, wondering why even he bothered me, especially after whatever he said in the last talk.

    "May I join you" He asked, pointing to the chair. I looked at him with a vanilla expression but did not reply. He sat not waiting for long.

    "What brought you here" I asked, taking a bite of my omelet.

    "I am sorry for what I said that day, I didn't mean to hurt you" He said, looking away from me, nervously.

    "But you did" I replied, continuing chewing.

    "I am sorry for that" he looked at me.

    "You know what hurt me more, not your words, but because you said it, I did not expect you to behave like this." I replied looking back to him,

    "Why? Then what do you expect me to do? To help you with your new love, See I was broken already. But knowing the person you love, loves someone else, hurts you the most, I was hurt thousand times more than the day when we broke. At least I had hope that you will come back to me someday, But that day, I lost that hope too." He said with a numb voice, Looking away from me.

    I immediately put my hands on his, calming him down, I felt his words making hole in my heart, He was feeling the same as I did. Maybe he was right, I deserved what I faced.

    "I understand, I am not angry with you, I know you were right" I replied, calming him down.

    "No, I am sorry, I take my words back" He said, looking at me.

    We smiled, finishing our lunch.

                                                                                             ***

    Talking to Austin in the canteen made working here easier. At least we are acting like good acquaintances and not as heartbreak victims, I am not quitting now. Of course I will surely leave ADC soon, but after 6 months, completing my bond. Otherwise they won't give me my experience certificate and I cannot start again as a fresher in another company. 

    Also when Denver visited my home, After that I felt I could face him, without falling for him, without getting melted. But I was still a stupid burger patty stuck between both buns, 'Austin and Denver'

    I stepped in the Elevator at ADC, the man with furniture tools in his hand entered too, I gave him a side to stand. He pressed the button of the 3rd floor before me, maybe the cheapster ADC is doing some renovation. 

    I stepped out of Elevator on the 3rd floor, I saw some woodworkers working in the storage room.

    "Is the conference room shifting here?" I asked a man working next to my cubicle.

    "No, it's for the control room" He replied, with a formal smile on his face. And turned to his computer screen back.

    I remember Denver telling me his agency provides all technical service to ADC, I just wished shifting the control room here has nothing to do with me. I turned my computer on and  put my headphones on.

    I saw Austin coming towards me.

    "Good Morning" He replied, with a smile on his face.

    "Morning Austin" I replied in the same way. 

    "This is the Form you need to fill, also need to mention reason at the end."  Austin said, handing me over the papers in his hand. Its formality for employees not renewing their  bond with ADC.

    "Thank You" I took from his hand.

    "Are you sure Helena?" Austin asked, looking into my eyes.

    "Yeah, You know this job has very slow growth" I replied in a numb voice. 

    "I understand," He said, keeping his hand on mine. 

    I smiled back, He went back to his cabin.

     I turned to my computer, I was about to work when I heard the voice of Denver, talking to the manager of ADC. I turned to the voice immediately. His eyes were on me, I immediately turned back to the computer.

    "Happy?" Denver asked, standing behind me.

    "What?" I turned to him, pretending not heard.

    "We are gonna work on the same floor now." He replied, bending himself to me with a smiling

 face, Holding hand rest on my chair.

    "It doesn't make any change for me Denver" I turned my chair back facing the computer.

    "I did it for you" He said firmly, turning my chair to him again.

    "I did not ask for it." I replied with a grumpy face.

    "Oh, you must be thinking I will disturb you to meet your so-called boyfriend in the corner of the canteen, then promise I won't, but we are friends right, you could have appreciated what I did for you."

    He replied, gnashing his anger and left immediately angrily.

    Do you do all such things for each of your friends, I wanted to ask. He completely forgot about making out with me in his car, but I am unable to forget his touch. It made me feel so alive that day. I can't be just friends with him, it's my way or highway Denver.

                                                                                            ***

    It's been a few days since the shifting of the control room was pending. Denver hasn't visited ADC since our last talk. He did not even call or texted. Linda is back to work, I told her everything that happened in the last few days to her on the bus. Since she is a little angry at me. I looked at her, she was busy on her keyboard finding out some letters I guess. 

    "It wasn't that long vacation to make you forget the keyboard order" I said, teasing Linda.

    "But it was long enough that it made you lose your humor without me" He replied, without looking at me.

    "Ha Ha Ha Ha"  I replied in a vanilla tone, making her realize it was a bad joke.

    "Hello Girls"  Austin jumped in conversation.

    "Hello," Linda replied, still busy with her keyboard.

    "Hi" I replied turning to him

    "Haven't done it yet. Changed mind or what?" Austin asked, winking at me.

    "Oh, sorry, I forgot. I will give it to you in some time." I replied, taking out the form he gave me last time.

    "Take your time, By the way I am here to invite you girls to my promotion party" He replied with a smiling face.

    "So are you our new manager now?" Linda asked excitedly.

    "Not now but have received confirmation yet, soon you guys will enjoy my management" He replied Linda, looking at me, smiling.

    "I am already enjoying your friendship. I am happy for you" I replied, smiling.

    "So done, Training Seminar Hall, Friday Night, Sharp 9.00 pm, meet you there girls." Austin said, looking both at us.

    "Seminar Hall?" I asked, shockingly, as it is only available for office stuff.

    "Actually it's a combined party organised by me, earlier manager and some others who got promoted. Not the whole office is invited. Just special ones."

    "We will be there," Linda replied. I nodded and smiled.