Chapter 15

Athira Patel

By the time I got freshen up Dev came with the food and started serving us. We both started eating when Riya called to me. Dev took my mobile from the table by picking up the call.

"Hey Tiger, wassup?" Dev shouted on the call making Riya shout on the other line. He kept on speaker so that I too can listen.

"God dammit Dev. Are you nuts? Can't you talk normally like other people. What if I go deaf because of you" Riya scolded making us both laugh at her.

"Hello madam. So you too are with him and making fun of me then?" Riya asked indicating me to which I smiled. Drama queen.

"Don't bother Riya. I am not with him. You were complaining like a small child so I just laughed. That's it. So how are you?" I asked changing the subject. Because knowing her she won't leave the topic until she wins the last word.

"I am not a child. You are the child here if I am correct. And yes I am awesome. Me and Rishi are going to explore the city this weekend" Riya said excitedly. This was not the first time that they both are roaming together. But I think this is because of the place and staying together. She is happy with Rishi and I am happy for her.

"Wow that's great. And here we are sulking in the room because of the task given in the office" Dev complained about the project which is given to us. He has to design the waiting hall in a modern look using only black and white furniture.

"Awww.. already fed up with the job Romeo?" Riya asked teasing him to which he grumbled in response.

" Ah. Easy to say than doing madam. Anyway I need to bath. I think you gave a call to talk to your best friend. So carry on. I'm leaving. Bye" Dev said going to the bathroom to freshen up.

"Ya go boy. Need to talk with my girl." Riya shouted on the call making me cringe.

"Stop it Riya. He already left. Now you are going to make me deaf if you don't slow down your volume" I said removing the call from speaker and placing it to my left ear while taking a seat on the couch.

"Oh. Sorry babe. So wassup? How was your first day at the office?" She asked shuffling on the other line.

"It was great and hectic. As Dev said we got the task to complete in a week. But unlike him I'm excited to do it." I explained her thinking of the events from today.

"That's good. I know this is your dream. So what about new friends? Common choti. I need full information" Riya said demanding. I know that she wants to know if I met any new guy here. I am thinking whether to tell her about abhilash or not. But knowing her she won't leave me until I said everything. So it's better to tell.

"Actually Riya. There is something I want to say." I said sitting straight on the couch.

"Ok tell me" she said sounding serious. I think she too noticed the seriousness in my voice. So I explained everything from the start to her. From the moment I met him in the pub to our meeting in the conference room and how I am feeling about him whenever he is near to me or whenever he touches me. I need her suggestion in this matter but afraid to accept it.

"So you are saying that this Abhilash is none other than the one you have kissed in the pub?" She asked repeating for confirmation to which I said yes. "God. So I am correct when I said that it's not over." Suddenly she exclaimed on the other side. I moved away from the mobile preventing myself from her screams.

"Oh my. Riya please will you calm down." I asked shouting at her.

"Sorry sorry. I just got excited. I never expected it to become true. It was just my instinct at that time. But looks like it's really just a start for the both of you. " Riya said becoming serious.

"Please Riya, you know that I don't want any of these. I am confused as to why I am feeling this way about him. And probably he is having girlfriend too according to the looks of both of them" I said remembering omisha and the way they were talking with each other in the cafeteria earlier.

"So you are jealous of her" Riya stated directly without even thinking for a second.

"What? No. Why would I be jealous. I am not. And he is just my project manager. I need to forget about that pub incident. That's it. Then everything will be alright." I said too quickly that Riya just snickered from the other side but kept calm. I got to a conclusion to forget about that incident and about him.

"Ok. Whatever you think it's right." She said calmly. She never reacts like this. Something is running in her mind but she is not ready to explain it. So I too didn't ask. If she wants to tell she will definitely say.

"Ok then. Will catch you tomorrow. I am feeling sleepy." I said yawning and getting up from the couch. Dev is still in the bathroom. So I went to the bedroom and sat on it.

"Ok then. Bye. Take care. Make sure to intimate me about the details. Good night" she said and disconnected the call. God this girl is always in a rush. I kept my mobile in the charge and climbed on the bed to sleep when Dev entered the bedroom ruffling his hair.

"Done with your call?" He asked sitting beside where I slept on the bed.

"Yes." I said turning to his side.

"So he was the one from the pub then?" Dev asked suddenly looking at me after some time. I am surprised that how he got to know it.

"How do you know that?" I asked getting up from the bed and sitting in front of him.

"I forgot to bring a towel with me so I came out when I overheard your conversation with Riya." He said looking into my eyes while moving closer to me and keeping his both hands on my shoulder. "Really choti? Why are you distancing me from you?" Dev asked feeling sad. Again I am surprised by listening to this.

"What are you talking about? I never did that Dev. You are my friend." I said placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Then why are you not able to share with me? I am the one who is near to you. But you never bothered to tell me about this." He said looking down and removing his hands from me.

"Look Dev. I may be of forgot. Or I didn't know how to tell you. But you are my friend. I am sorry if I made you feel that way." I said turning his head by catching in both my hands.

"Is that so?" He asked feeling hopeful.

"Yes Dev" I said nodding my head in approval to which he hugged me suddenly.. I too hugged him back smiling. After some moments he released me smiling as well.

"I don't want you to keep me distant" he said placing his right palm on my cheek and rubbing it slowly.

"I won't" I assured him. He suddenly kissed my cheek and moved away from me getting up and going to his side of the bed. What happened to him these days. Why is he acting this weirdly?

"Good night choti." He said turning of the light and climbing the bed. I am really confused now. I shook my head and slept back on the bed turning to the other side of the bed sleeping. I slowly drifted off to sleep thinking about some brown eyes.

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The moment I entered our cabin Ivan and Chandan waved their hands to come towards them. All the four of them were already present at the table discussing something. Both Bharat and Divya wished me when I came closer to them.

"What's up guys?" I asked placing my bag on the other table and taking a seat on the chair which is beside Divya.

"You definitely have to know this." Ivan said nodding his head at Bharat to tell the news.

"Abhilash said that he will call one by one to his cabin today for one on one meetings" Bharat said scratching his neck by his right hand.

"What? All 20 members? But why?" I asked getting panicked. I am not ready to face him personally without anyone but us.

"Not all. Only our team." Divya clarified to which they all nodded.

"Ohh ok. So when he will call?" I asked looking at them so that i can be prepared. I cannot avoid him forever. I need to face him today or tomorrow since he is my manager.

"Don't know. He said he will ping us separately. He can call at anytime it seems" again Divya said looking at me and smiling. Ok this is going to be one hectic day.

"Will he ask about our designs? Because if he asks then I don't know what to tell. I didn't even start it for God's sake." Ivan said making dramatic expression.

"Shut up Ivan. He said that he will ask after one week. Maybe it's just to know about us more. Why to worry. It's not like we have done anything wrong. It's just 2nd day here. Chill. Let's see what happens." Chandan said looking at us to which we all nodded in agreement.

We all departed to our own cabins waiting for our turn. I started researching about my task and noting the important points when there was a knock on the door. Divya peeked inside the door looking at my side asking if she can come inside. I nodded my head and said her to come in. She opened the door completely and came inside closing it.

"Sorry to disturb you. Wanted to know if I can join with you in lunch since I don't know anyone here." She asked hesitatingly coming towards my table and stood in front of it.

"Ya sure. You can. There is no problem in that. I thought you were not comfortable with our gang. So I never asked." I said smiling at her and indicating her to take a seat.

"Thank you Athira." She said smiling. "So are you going now or still there is time for you to go?" She asked to which I was confused and checked my watch. God it's already afternoon. I was so busy in designing and collecting the information that I have not even checked the time. I hope my friends are still in their cabins itself.

"My bad. I have not even checked the time until you came inside. Sorry. Just give me five minutes. Will go together." I said gathering my stuff and placing them neatly at the corner of the table.

"Sure no problem. And by the way, I just got to know that Bharat is done with the meeting at 11.:00 AM itself it seems and now Ivan went inside 10 minutes back." She said taking a seat on the chair and looking at me.

"Really. I was not aware of that. So he is not calling us in line then?" I asked thinking.

"As per the current situation no. I think he is calling whenever he is free" she suggested leaning on the table and keeping her hands on it.

"Ya you might be correct. Shall we go then?" I asked after arranging everything in order and got up. I took my mobile and messaged in our WhatsApp gang to meet us at the same place in the cafeteria.

"Ya. Sure." She said getting up and following me. We both went to the cafeteria and I have introduced everyone to Divya. Surprisingly she is not that shy. I think it's only in the starting. Because once she was familiar, she even started making jokes with us. Lunch was one entertaining part because both Sahana and Karthik were bickering at each other.

I have even noticed that Divya was stealing glances at Dev whenever he is not watching her. Now this one is interesting. When Divya got the message that within 10 minutes her meeting will get started, we both got up saying goodbye to our gang and went to our floor. After reaching our cubicle Divya went inside for meeting when Bharat informed that each one of us are getting one previous designs. And from that designs we need to look for something which Abhilash will intimate us. I think this will be another task for us.

After talking some time with them I got inside my cabin and started working on my design. I want my furniture to look classy and walls with modern which gives both classy and modern look. After three hours

I got to know that even Chandan has completed his meeting half nour back. It's almost logout time and he didn't bother to call me for meeting. My mind is running through many different questions but the most important one is whether he will call me today or will he postpone it to tomorrow. Thought I will wait for another 15 to 20 minutes to find out. Even if I didn't receive any text from him by then I will leave. Everyone said their goodbyes before leaving and said to wait up to sometime to check. After 5 minutes or so I finally got a message from him saying to meet him after 10 minutes. Great. I messaged Dev that I will be late to which he replied saying that he will wait at the lawn. I checked the time and got up for the meeting. I need to face him without feeling anything.

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