Chapter 13

Athira Patel

Why do we feel that there is no other place or sight in front of us when we see the special one in our life, or why do we get attracted to them that easily? These feelings should come with an emergency precaution. So that we can be prepared from getting our heart beat faster or from taking our breath away. His brown eyes has something in it that, like a magnet it's dragging me towards him which I cannot stop from doing it. It happened on that day and even now. What is so special about his eyes that its capturing my heart with its strings. Those warm chocolate colour eyes have a lot to explain and a lot to show me which I cannot understand. But the way his intense gaze is locked with mine says a lot without even saying a word. I can remember our first encounter from the pub and our first special kiss. It's like my mind is playing everything from that day again to make me remember each and everything. I can feel how my heart is beating faster and how my lips went dry remembering that kiss again. Suddenly I came out of his world when I felt a moment to my left side. I turned away from his eyes to look at my left side. Charitha is stopping Sahana by catching her both hands and telling her to control it. I am unable to get a word about what they were talking except some words like kill and murder.

"Hey what happened?" I asked looking at both of them in confusion.

"It's my fucking brother and that idiot didn't said me that our project manager is his best buddy. I will kill him. That asshole wrote his own death date in my hands today." Sahana said looking at Rohan by giving him a death glare and stomping her foot.

"What? Rohan is your brother?" I asked looking at her in shock. But I didn't get why she is angry on that "But I don't understand. What makes you angry about this situation" I asked still not getting why she is giving a violent reaction to it.

"That idiot knows that I have a crush on his bestie and that is the reason he didn't said me his name and only mentioned that one of his friend will be our project manager." she said trying to get up again.

"Common Sahana. You are not a small kid and this is not the appropriate time or place to fight with your brother." Charitha explained trying to give her some brain to think. I turned towards Rohan to see him giggling to himself by covering the backside of this fist on his mouth. God he did it wantedly to get a reaction from his sister and he very well got the reaction he wanted and is enjoying it very much from standing there. I wanted to laugh seeing both of them but controlled myself since this is not the place. I turned my eyes away from Rohan only to see that Abhilash is talking with his colleagues. I don’t know why but there was a small sting in my heart that he was not watching me. It’s not like I expected him to look at me, but i don’t know why am I feeling like this. And the way Omisha is having hard time keeping her hands to herself from Abhilash is making me uncomfortable. so, i turned away from him to look at my friends.

Dev moved a little closer to my side near to my ear “Don’t you think that there is something between Abhilash and Omisha?” he said looking at both of them like solving some mystry. If Dev and I can see that there is something going on between them then may be the whole office knows about them.

“Don’t know Dev. I don’t think it's our business to know.” I said dismissing him because firstly discussing this will make it more real and secondly there is no chance that i am going to think about him. He is just my Project Manager.

“Ok Guys. Now as I said, four teams will get trained separately for first three months. Except my team, rest of the other team members will leave with their assigned trainers to other conference rooms where they will explain you about the training process and the tasks you need to complete. After three months of training, we have one project to design and develop. So learn as soon as possible, If i think that any of you are ready to design the project in between these three months then you will directly enter into my project team from training department. Is that clear? If any of you have any more doubts you can ask now itself.” Abhilash explained us about the training process while looking at us waiting for any questions to raise.

One of the member from our team stood up “So, you are saying that if you think we are eligible to handle the project without any mistakes then you will make us get into real time project before the completion of training period?” He asked the question that is running on everyone’s mind probably.

“Yes, You are right. If you prove yourself, then you are more than welcome to work with real time project with me. But until then i want you all to concentrate on your training. We will have weekly meeting which details i will share with you guys via mail. Any other questions?” He asked and turned towards the table to take one file in his hands. Everyone was silent indicating no more questions.

“Ok then. Now other team members can leave with your respective trainers. If you guys have any doubts you can ask your trainer or you can directly contact me. I think everyone got the pamphlet right?” He asked to which we all nodded. “Good. there is my mail ID and my contact number. You can contact me for any personal or professional queries. You are always welcome” He said looking at us. Everyone nodded to it and started getting up from their seats to go with their respective trainers.

“Now i can kill my brother” Sahana said getting up and taking her bag with it. Charitha shook her head and hugged me.

“See you later at the cafeteria Athira” She said while going towards the door with sahana.

“Ya Athira. Will meet you there. Bye” Said Sahana swinging her bag on her right shoulder.

“See you later babe.” Dev said kissing my cheek and hugging me. I am stunned for a while since Dev never kissed me even if it was for friendly sake. When i turned towards him, he just winked and rushed to the front doors of the conference room. I shook my head and turned to take my seat but saw that Abhilash was watching me and by the look on his face I think he saw the interaction between me and Dev. He was looking at me intensely which got a shiver through my whole body. I don’t know why i am feeling nervous when there was nothing wrong happened between me and Dev. He turned away from me and took the seat in front of the table. I sighed and looked beside me to see that only one girl and three boys in our team.

Wow what an interesting training this is going to be. Note the sarcasm.

Once everyone settled in their places Abhilash got up and stood in front of our chairs. “Now, I want all of you to introduce yourself because for the rest of the three months you will be a team” He said smiling at us while taking the seat opposite to me. All the while avoiding eye contact with me. “Come close and sit. No need to be formal” He said showing his hands to make a round. The guy who is left to me dragged his chair nearer to us while the other two boys got up and took the seats on either side of Abhilash. Other girl is beside me to my right side.

“Hai, My name is Ivan, and I am from Mumbai. Nice to meet you all.” The guy who is left to the abhilash spoke first introducing himself.

“I am Bharath from Chennai” Said bharath who is right side to Abhilash.

“Hai guys. I am Chandan. I am from Mumbai. I hope all are excited here. Because I sure as hell I am” He said getting more excited that he is unable to sit in his seat steadily for a second. Abhilash just smiled at him and asked the girl beside me to introduce herself.

“Hi Everyone. My name is Divya and I am from Hyderabad.” She said shyly and averted her eyes downside. So she is the shy type. Great. Now everyone is looking at me to introduce myself.

“Hai. I am Athira Patel and I am too from Hyderabad. Nice to meet you all. Looking forward to work with you all” I said looking at all of them to which they all nodded and smiled at me. But Abhilash was looking at me intensely without nodding or smiling. My heart started beating faster so I averted my eyes from his and looked at my hands.

Abhilash cleared his throat getting our attention “Good. It's nice to meet you all. Since you will get trained under me, You will be sitting near to my cabin from tomorrow onwards. All will be given their own laptop after lunch. You can carry your laptop anywhere with you. But make sure to be careful. Once the technical department creates your official Email IDs and access cards, will send you a mail about the process and weekly meetings. As of now i want you all to create a Design which I am going to assign you and you need to verify our previous projects. This will be your task for this week..” Abhilash explained about our tasks looking at us. We all nodded our heads saying Yes. “Good. Now go for your lunch and come back here after 3:00 PM to take your assignments and Laptops. Meanwhile go to Komal and ask for your access cards and Email ID’s” He instructed us looking seriously. We nodded and everyone got up and started to leave. I bent down to take my bag when I saw the feet near me. I raised my head to look who it is to find Abhilash standing in front of me. I gazed at the front door to see everyone left leaving me and him in this big hall. My breath became faster knowing that I am going to face him now. I slowly got up from my seat and stood in front of him facing him.

He looked at me for a few seconds before saying “Hai Athira. Never thought I would meet you in this way.” He said smiling “Congratulations for joining here. You will have a great career as you wished.I hope there won’t be any awkwardness between us because from now on we are going to work together.” He said looking at me while keeping his both hands in his pockets.

I nodded my head “ Thank you.” I said smiling back “Ya, this is my dream and i want to fulfill it.” I said swinging my bag on my shoulder and looking at him.

“Good then. Go and have your lunch. All the best” He said stretching his hand in front of us for a hand shake. I brought my right hand and took hold of his hand to shake it, but the moment our hands touched there were small tingles rising on my palm where he touched it making my stomach feel this weird sparks. He too breathed in heavily indicating that he too felt it and i am not the only one. We both looked at each other. His eyes are so beautiful that i want to stay like this forever and look at them. Before I got lost myself in his intense gaze I removed my hand from his grip by placing the string of hair behind my ear.

“Ok then. See you later. Bye” I said backing away from him and going towards the front doors. He just nodded and stood there. Once I was out of the door I leaned on the wall beside the door and closed my eyes to control my heartbeat and breathing. Why does he have this much affect on me. Why do i forget the world around me when he is near to me. And why do i get this type of tingles and sparks when he touches me. God this is crazy. I lifted myself from the wall once my breathing became normal and went to the cafeteria to meet my friends.

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“God this girl is an idiot you know. The moment she saw her brother alone she tackled him to the ground and started beating him” Charitha started saying the moment she saw me sit on our table. “His brother gripped her tightly to keep her in place when Arpitha entered the conference room and saw the sight of them. What we don’t know is they are in a relation itseems and Arpitha thought that Sahana and Rohan are making out.” She said holding her laugh like she would explode at any moment. “She dashed out of the room once she saw them. God Athira you need to look at Rohan’s face when he saw that Arpitha misunderstood him. He immediately pushed Sahana aside and took a run after her. It was hilarious.” She started laughing getting the attention of some of them in the cafeteria. I to joined her in laugh when Sahana entered with Karthik and Dev.

“You already told her?” Sahana asked immediately after sitting beside us dropping her bag on the floor. Dev and Karthik took the other two vacant seats where one of the seat was beside me which Dev occupied it by placing a hand on the back of my chair.

"Yup. Everything, until Arpitha's exit" said Charitha while giggling.

"He deserved it. That idiot had done it wantedly and I know it. So I don't care. Let him beg her." Sahana said chewing her Roti and showing her satisfaction on the situation.

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Dev to which Karthik nodded in agreement. They both doesn't know the situation at all. So Charitha started explaining everything to them from the start while we both were busy eating. I was looking at the cafeteria giving a deaf ear to the conversation between our friends when both Abhilash and Omisha entered the cafeteria talking to themselves and took the seat at the Corner table near the door. Omisha was laughing to something which Abhilash said and he is just smiling at her and saying even more to which she laughed even louder. I want to go and smack that face of hers seeing her laugh with him. Is there really something going on between them? If so, then why did he kissed me in the first place? God Athira. How can you be so naive. It was just one night. It meant nothing for him and here you are looking at both of them like you have lost something. Why are you getting bothered looking at them so close. It's not like he is your boyfriend or you like him. Just get it over with. He himself said to forget about it awhile ago. So don't get that situation or kiss again and think about it. Just forget about it. Now he is just your project manager. That's it.

I was deep in thinking when there was a sound at our table to which I got back my concentration to our table to look at what happened when Sahana was saying "I will kill her. I know she is definitely trying to become his girlfriend. That bitch." she said starting to get up looking at Abhilash and Omisha's direction. Oh my God she is talking about Omisha. Shit I forgot that she is having a crush on Abhilash.

"Cool down Sahana. I don't think they are a couple. They may be good friends too. We can't come to a conclusion without knowing the truth." karthik is trying to explain Sahana in an attempt to cool her down. But I don't think that they are friends by the look of it.

"Do you really think that they are friends? Anyone with two eyes can easily say that she definitely wants to be more than friends with him" Sahana said exactly what I am thinking. But I didn't said anything approval. She again got up to take a step towards their table when karthik too got up and caught her from behind stopping her from moving any further. She is definitely a short headed girl. When she tried to shout at him he closed her mouth with his right palm while holding her with his left hand.

"Guys, I Don't think she will cool down any time soon. Will meet you down at the lawn after your lunch." karthik said nodding at us while dragging her away from the cafeteria still keeping her mouth shut. She was struggling and thrashing in his hold like a little kid. But his hold is like an iron that she is unable to get out of it. This got the attention of some of them in the cafeteria but luckily Abhilash was busy talking to her to look at this side.

Once they are outside Charitha said laughing "God what a drama. Sahana likes Abhilash, Omisha likes Abhilash. Rohan and Arpitha are couple same as you. And probably karthik likes Sahana. Wow is it only me who is completely single here?"

"What? No. We are not a couple. What gave you that idea?" I asked her shocked. God did everyone thought of us as a couple itself. I cannot blame them though. It's not the first time that someone asked this question.

"What idea. It's so obvious by the look.." she was unable to complete her sentence because suddenly Dev dropped the sauce on the floor.

"God Dev. Careful. Look what you've done. Now leave it. They will come and clean" I said looking at the floor which is a mess due to the sauce.

"Sorry. It slipped" He said looking apologetically.

"It's ok" I said turning towards Charitha. "You were saying something" I asked her looking at her.

"Oh it's nothing. It's probably my eyes. That's it. Never mind" she said looking at me and Dev before devouring her lunch. We all completed our lunch while chatting about our college life and about ourselves. I got to know that she is the only daughter to her parents and native of karnataka but staying separately from her parents since there was a small difference between her and her parents. She is an independent girl. Good to know that someone is like Rita where I can count on her. But I really miss my best friend now than ever.

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