Aftermath
A fair skinned, tall lean man in his 30s was sitting on the couch observing the red swollen eyes of the woman in front of him.
"Tanya, will you stop crying? You will get a headache if this continues", Niranjan said out of concern.
Tanya continued weeping not listening to a word he said.
He sighed and started pacing the room in worry.
"I'm sorry! I just.... can't.... control.", Tanya sobbed in between the words.
"Tanya, you're elder than Riya. It was your mistake to have gone to their place. They are recently married and trying to figure out life themselves. Please understand and stop crying, baby!", he moved closer to her and kneeled down, taking her in a sweet embrace.
"I know.... It's my fault.....", his warmness surrounded her making her feel at ease. What had gotten into her to decide on cancelling the wedding? This man was the love of her life.
Niranjan respected and adored her, and did everything he could to make her smile, but why would she do that?
The sudden marriage of Dhruv did take a toll as after the wedding Dhruv started acting very distant making her worry all the time. And Riya hated her since day one. Of course, she didn't expect him to be close like before, but at least he could call her up sometimes. Maybe this was what people quoted, a person's importance is understood only when they were gone.
"Are you fine?", Niranjan asked softly still hugging her weak body.
"Yes! I'm really sorry. I don't know what has gotten into me that I suddenly did all this. I really love you, Niranjan. I would never do that again!", she apologized and really meant it. She should get a grip on herself.
"Is something bothering you, baby?", he asked releasing her from his embrace and holding her chin to face him.
Her eyes were puffy, beautiful hair now unruly and wild.
"No.", she said and looked down guiltily. She herself couldn't comprehend the feeling yet.
"Let's go out on a date and not worry about the wedding, okay?", Niranjan stroked her hand with his thumb, then took it into his, helping her get up.
"Okay", she wiped off the remaining tears and followed him with a small smile.
~~*~~
Riya went to her room soon after, saying she was sleepy, but actually she wasn't. It was just a cover to get away from Dhruv and let her mind think about things.
Although she acted like nothing mattered, knowing the whole truth suddenly dawn on you, would make anyone weak. The wounds opened again, and everything seemed like it happened yesterday, which was literally the case for her as she remembered them only yesterday.
The gruesome scenes and pictures haunted her more than before, now without even anyone accidentally touching her. Her psychiatrist had always said remembering the past would help, but it clearly didn't for Riya.
And Dhruv, she liked him, but feared to move forward. Things were different now with her past becoming so clear and intense. What if she shouted when he touched? What if she panicked when they were in the middle of things? That would hurt him more and he might misunderstand her feelings. The only option was to get herself treated completely before anything could happen.
She was distressed about how to let Dhruv know about this, when she received a ping on her mobile.
An email from NGK Holdings.
They are one of the biggest equity investors in Riya's Choice who owned more than 40% of the shares. There were other shareholders too, but NGK Holdings had more voting rights and they had a big say in all her company's affairs.
From: laurent@ngkholdings.com
To: riya.ravichandran@riyaschoice.in
Cc: rohan@ngkholdings.com; kamu.mahadev@riyaschoice.in
Sub: Appointment of New Director
Dear Riya,
We are very glad to inform you that Rohan has joined our team and will be replacing me as the new investor director from NGK Holdings. Mr. Rohan would like to visit you and the team, in your office, tomorrow or the day after, whenever you feel convenient.
Hoping Riya's Choice to continue the good relationship with NGK Holdings.
Thanks,
Laurent
Riya sighed after reading the email.
Laurent was one of the investor directors from NGK holdings in her company, but before two years he was diagnosed with cancer. Although he was treated now, suddenly he started sprawling all life and death nonsense and had been wanting to quit to follow his passion ever since.
NGK Holdings and Riya was able to hold him for a year, but it looked like he was finally being replaced by a new face.
Riya was very comfortable doing business with Laurent and the team, as they have been very supportive of her decisions in the past. She was wondering how the new investor was going to be. But the problem was Riya, not him as she never got comfortable easily with strangers.
She soon started drafting a reply.
From: riya.ravichandran@riyaschoice.in
To: laurent@ngkholdings.com; rohan@ngkholdings.com
Cc: kamu.mahadev@riyaschoice.in
Hi Laurent,
Disappointed to see you leave but looking forward to meeting Rohan tomorrow in my office after lunch, if that's fine.
Regards,
Riya
'Why should everything change!! I hate changes', she grunted to herself.
The door lock clicked open disturbing her thoughts.
"I believe you said you were sleepy. Maybe I heard wrong!", Dhruv noted sarcastically and entered inside.
He wore a casual torn jean and grey t-shirt looking goofy but stylish. His grey eyes were extraordinarily cunning drilling her down with the deep smoldering gaze every time.
'The man looks like a candy', her mind whispered when her tongue reacted by licking her lip.
"So, how long have you decided to stare at me?"
"Ahem…", she cleared her throat not sure why she always had these thoughts on seeing him.
She controlled herself from the mischievous desires. "I was sleeping but received a mail. Someone is joining new on my board", she remarked dryly.
"Do I know him?"
"No.. I don't know him either.. He's coming to my office tomorrow. Such a drag!", she started rubbing the back of her neck which pained because of yesterday's adventure.
"Hmm.. Come, let's eat", he took her to the dining hall.
~~*~~
She gaped wide at the table in front, filled with ecstasy in Riya's language.
"You bought all this for me?", Riya's eyes widened too, and her face broke out in a huge grin.
"It's not a big deal...… You're behaving like a kid", he casually said dragging a chair to sit.
The dining table was lined with all sorts of desserts she liked. There were only two dishes for main course but around fifteen varieties of sweets.
Riya concentrated only on eating the desserts and ate very less of main course, that too only because of Dhruv's constant nagging.
She started the conversation which she dreaded the most all day.
"I'll….uh.....Go back to my room today", she said uncertainly.
"..."
"...."
They were both quietly expecting each other to say something.
Dhruv wanted her to stay, but was it too pressurizing if he asked that? Although she acted strong, maybe she could still be silently suffering inside.
"Why?"
"Tanya is no more here. So, according to the contract, I can go back", she said as a matter of fact.
"Oh! Didn't you say the contract was invalid when you were sexually harassing me back then?", he smirked.
Her stomach did a backflip at the mention of their hot make out session few hours back, "Ha….. Harass?? I....didn't...… You….", she stammered to find the right words which only made him smirk wider.
"I hate you!", she declared finally going back to attacking the cake.
He chuckled and gave up, "Go back….but….", he didn't know what he wanted to say so ended up telling, "take care" awkwardly.
This was a difficult topic, and as they were already married, it only made that much harder to pin their relationship now.
She soon finished eating and carried an ice cream box with her upstairs. On the corridor to their rooms, when she was about to go inside, he stopped her by calling her name.
"Riya?"
"Yeah….", she pursed her lips unaware of how to act.
".....Have a good night", he smiled and went inside.
Her heart only felt heavier. She expected Dhruv to be irritating or nagging but not understanding.
The door to his room was inviting her, but she hesitated and stood outside overthinking it.