पंचावन्न

"Ma'am, listen to me. Ma'am!" Ha Joon was on Gauravi's tail since Soo Young blurted out about him being cozy with her American friend. "Please ma'am, let me explain." He pleaded following her. "It's not like that at all. We are not like that, Ma'am-"

"Listen Joon, your private life doesn't concern me at all. You and B-him, I don't care about it all. Why should I? I mean who am I too, right?" Gauravi said with bitter smile on her face. "Anyways, I have a meeting to go, so excuse me." Giving him a tight smile she left. Ha Joon sighed. Why does it feel like I'm coming in between bestfriends? He sighed again before turning and leaving to think of way to make up with his boss.

After avoiding Mr. Kim for days Gauravi had finally decided to go see him. He's been on her tail since the meeting. She didn't how is she going to be of any help to him but she couldn't afford to avoid him anymore with his stalking skills, someday he's going to catch up. And either way she need to distract herself from the things around herself. Walking in Mr. Kim's department she peeked in searching for any familiar faces.

"Miss Apte?" Gauravi jumped a little turning around to see Mr. Kim standing behind her with a smile on his face.

"Ahh, Mr. Kim! I was just looking for you." Gauravi said with grimace on her face. He scared the shit out of her. "I heard you were looking for me. Sorry I was busy last few days."

"Oh no, no. It's fine." He laughed shaking his head. "Please." He said leading her to his cabin. "My assistant informed me yesterday that you've been running around busy with work." He holding the chair for her to sit before passing her a glass of water. "I wouldn't have trouble you but the thing is that, this is a big project for us so I was hoping that you might help out us a little."

"Well, I'll be glad to be of your help. But I think I wouldn't be much of your help.  I did work with other artist but that was regarding small matters. But I'll try my best with anything that I could help with." Gauravi said smiling back.

"I am sure, you will be more than helpful Ms. Apte." He smiled. "Thank you for taking out time from your busy schedule to help us."

"Oh! You don't need to thank me Mr. Kim." Gauravi said shaking her head. Without any further due Mr. Kim started with the work. Gauravi did help him out with what little knowledge she had with working with other American artist. It was safe to say Gauravi was dumb as fuck when it came to this things. She realised that after spending an hour with Mr. Kim. No wonder he preferred Suran lady over her. Gauravi don't have anything common with his interest. Gauravi thought, latter scowling at her useless thoughts she went back listening to Mr. Kim.

"Sajang-nim?" A young man poked his head in interrupting the two. "Ah ye." Mr. Kim nodded as the young man walked in holding a paper bag and two mugs. "Ms. Apte, please." Mr. Kim said while the young man handed her the sandwich and coffee.

"Oh! Thank you." Gauravi bowed taking the offering. The man smiled and bowed back. Smiling to herself she opened the aluminium foil covering the sandwich.

"It's egg sandwich. Hope you don't mind." Mr. Kim said taking a bit of his.

"Oh no, thank you." Gauravi said biting into the sandwich. She internally moaned relaxing in her seat. Food always works. All worries and useless thoughts disappear the moment you bit into your food. Peacefully munching on her sandwich, her eyes fell on the open file. Suga, Suran collab, it read. "Mr. Min Yoongi is working on new project." Mr. Kim looked up in attention. That wasn't a question but a statement. "Ms. Suran? I haven't heard about her."

"Yes. Ms. Suran is a beautiful singer. Mr. Min Yoongi and her have worked together before too. They have quite a chemistry which also leaded to the dating rumours." Mr. Kim chuckled as if he couldn't believe that they were just rumours.

"Dating?" Gauravi's voice peeked up.

"Yes, to be honest, most of us don't believe that they were just rumours you know. As I said before, they have this chemistry that makes you believe otherwise. Then, we didn't question much, since it earned us lot of TRP. And later company realised a statement saying they are just good friends."

"Good friends you say." Gauravi hummed. "Sure didn't look like it." She scowled.

"Huh?" Gauravi snapped her head up.

"Oh? Nothing, nothing." She smiled shaking her head. "Sandwich's good." She grinned nodding towards the sandwich. After the mini food break they were back at work. Though she wasn't much of help to Mr. Kim but he was a great help to her. His gossips could be important source of information if used properly. She got him to reveal all he could about the five horses she was keeping an eye on. Some information can only be collected from gossipers like Mr. Kim. "Thank you Mr. Kim." Gauravi bowed standing up.

"Oh? Why are you thanking me? I should thank you Ms. Apte." He stood up holding his hand out. "It was pleasure working with you. Thank you." Gauravi smiled and shook his hand. Before taking his leave. Walking out of the department she stretched groaning in pain after being in one place for like three hours. This must be the longest she had ever sat in one place.

"Grrrr." Her stomach growled. "One sanchwich isn't enough for you huh?" She muttered patting her stomach before making her way to the canteen. BigHit's canteen is the best. Her's didn't have one like this one, fully equipped with utensils and variety of food. Humming to herself she walked into the canteen. Standing in front of instant noddle section she hummed again, debating over which one to choose. She always ate the spicy one, Ha Joon's recommendation, but today she wanted to try something different. "Chicken flavour? Should I try that?" Picking up the packet she thought for few more seconds. "Noko. Aaj guruvar ahe parat mumma la kalala tar kon aaikun ghenar ahe. (No, Today is Thursday. If mumma comes to know then who'll listen to her nagging.)" Keeping the packet back, she picked up her usually spicy one.

"Garam! Garam! (Hot! Hot!)" She hissed while draining the water from the noddle cup. After draining the pack, she teared open the sauce packet with teeth and poured it into the cup. "Spicy hot, spicy hot just the way I like it~" Singing to herself, she mixed the noodles with chopstick. "Mhmm." She hummed inhaling the aroma of spiciness. "Ah, heaven." She muttered turning around and walking towards one of the table to enjoy her noodles when two figure entered the canteen making her freeze in her place.

"Ne, your canteen is amazing." The Suran lady said laughing as she and Yoongi walked in. They both looked up upon realising Gauravi's presence. "Ah?" Gauravi quickly bowed towards them changing her way and walking towards the corner table away from them. The container was hot, burning her fingers and they had to walk right in the moment. Her day keeps getting worse and worse. She just can't wait for the day to end.

She hissed quickly removing her fingers from the container as soon as the bottom of the container touched the table. "God damn it." She cursed silently plopping down on the chair. "What a jerk. Couldn't he at least not do this in front of me? I know I am fool, no need to rub it in my face." She muttered quietly glancing to see what were they up to. The moment she turned to see her eyes met his, as if he was already staring at her. "Fuck!" She cursed snapping her head back to her noodles. Quickly picking up the chopstick she started shoving noodles in her mouth. Why the fuck was he staring at me? To taut me? She thought pulling out her phone pretending to be busy. What the hell they are doing at canteen at this time? It's five now, shouldn't they already be gone. God, why? You really don't like seeing me happy, do you? Gauravi asked looking up at the ceiling.

"Your company's canteen is really amazing." Her ears peeked upon hearing that. "Why would you order elsewhere?" Suran lady said. So you brought her on a date to canteen. How cheap. Gauravi thought scowling. She leaned back in her chair trying to listen on to their conversation.

"Ne. It's amazing." Hah! How bland. Gauravi snorted rolling her eyes. "About the song. We don't have to make anymore changes in the lyrics, do we?"

"Ah ani. For now, we good but while recording we'll see. I tend to do that. I hope it won't trouble you."

"Of course it wouldn't. Suran-ssi you should know that by now." Look at him being sweet. How disgusting. Gauravi gagged hearing onto their conversation.

"Ah annyeonsayo!" A new voice said urging her to turned around but she resisted staring at her phone, pretending to check the messages. There were lot of texts left by Ben.

"Gauravi?" Hearing her name being called, she stiffened before slowing turning around. Namjoon and Jin stood at Yoongi's and Suran lady's table. Namjoon was the one who called out her name.

"Yah! What are you doing in that corner?" Jin asked making her flinching. Great! Just great! Gauravi thought before smiling at them.

"Nothing. Was little hungry." She answered tightly smiling, pointing towards the container on the table.

"Instant noodles? Didn't Ben tell you to have homemade food? Why are you eating that again? It's not good for your health, don't you know? There are other dishes available at canteen. Healthy ones. Eat those you brat." Jin scolded. God, this man. Gauravi thought, smile on her face faltered as she nodded her head.

"Hyung, stop it." Namjoon whispered trying to calm Jin.

"You shush." Jin scolded him making him back off. "Ben has been leaving messages, why aren't you answering back?" Gauravi's nose flared hearing that.

"Because he is a traitor." She sneered. "Tell him to stop texting me, it's annoying." She huffed crossing her arms.

"Yah! Look at her Joonie! Yah that's how you talk to your oppa!" Jin shouted walking towards her.

"My oppa since when?!" Gauravi stood up. "Wait a sec! Don't tell me you also knew about it?" She asked narrowing her eyes at Jin. "You did! Didn't you?" She snorted bitterly when Jin stopped in the way. "Woww seriously! He told you but he didn't say anything about it to me? Like seriously?" She laughed. Namjoon, Yoongi and Suran stared at them with question marks on their face. Suran leaned towards Yoongi nudging him. "Is she Seokjin-ssi's cousin?" She whispered.

"Ani." Yoongi whispered back shaking his head. "She is our publicist." He said making Suran nod her head with question mark still present on her face.

"He didn't tell me.. I guessed it?" Jin said trying to reason with her. She laughed again.

"Please stop. Why is this happening to me? My best friend keeps things from me but everyone. My partner betrays me and my lover cheats on-" She mid stops realising what was she about to see.