Chapter 5

Hredhaan Grover

8 Years Before:

"One day… You make a note of it that one day I will kill him myself with my own bare hands" Said Advika by slamming her hands on the table with a frustrated look on her face that I looked at her in Amusement knowing that it was again about her chemistry lecturer who always finds a way to get under her skin because he got the hots for her.

"Ok…." Dragged Manu with a look of confusion on her face.

"Ok? No it's not ok. Until yesterday he only used to make comments here and there which was fine with me. But today he crossed the line by trying to touch me" She glared at no one in particular while saying those words with anger that I immediately sobered up and got up from my seat in an instant by listening to her words.

"Vika… Tell me that he didn't succeed in it, otherwise I swear to God that he will have a bruised nose and eye by the next class" I said with a clenched fist while looking at her to get the confirmation. My blood is boiling by just listening to her words that he tried to touch her inappropriately.

"Hred.. Relax. It's Advi we are talking about and we all know that she can handle men very well" Said Mag, trying to make me cool but I wasn't going to get cooled down until I got the confirmation from Vika. I just glanced at her with a pissed off look on my face which I am trying to control because of her.

"Don't worry Chotu. I have handled it for now. But if he tries again, I promise that I won't sit back and let him walk over me" Stated Advika while giving me an assuring smile of hers and taking a seat beside my chair by pulling my shirt to take my seat.

This made me relax a little bit and unclench my fists before taking a seat of mine.

"Promise me that you will tell me if anything like this happens next time" I asked with a pleading tone by turning towards her and looking at her intently with a serious expression. I can’t bear to see her getting hurt by someone.

"Ok Mother. I promise you" She said with a teasing tone to her voice but i can hear the gratefulness which she is trying to cover with her teasing. I groaned after listening to her words because she knows how much I dislike her calling me that..

"Don't call me that" I grumbled like a little kid before biting into my pizza.

"Sure mother" she again mocked with an innocent face that I glared at her in return to which she surrendered.

"Ok ok. Sorry" she said ruffling my hair that Iinstantly got away from her hand in frustration.

"Don't do that either" I said, indicating to her hand and my hair.

"What? I always do it" She stated as if it was the most common thing in the world.

God… why does she always treat me as I am the little one when I am just one year younger than her.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Mag smirking at me that I gave my best glare for him to stop it. He knows very well about my feelings towards her and even about how she feels for me. So he always teases me with it.

Advika relaxed after that and continued chatting with our friends while I stole glances in her direction whenever I can get. I was listening to every single word she spoke but nothing was passing from my ears to my brain because all I can see is the heart stopping smile on her face which always makes me go crazy about her.

It's been two years since we first met and I started liking her but I don't think that she feels the same way because she always treats me as her junior and best friend but nothing more than that. So I never took a courageous step to let her know about my feelings to her in fear of losing her permanently even as a friend.

While thinking about all the things, an idea struck to me immediately which made me excited and i know that even she too reacts in the same way.

"Guys… Why don't we make a prank on our chemistry lecturer for making our Vika get angry?" I Suggested with raised eyebrows in question while rubbing my hands in excitement.

This made everyone’s attention turn towards my direction and after thinking for a moment, I can see their faces turning from confusion to excitement in a second. Even Advika is looking at me with a mischievous look on her face. The word prank is enough to make us all jump in excitement and eagerness because that's our most favourite word among everything. Especially me and Vika.

We love to make pranks on people whom we don't like or even who don't like us or comment on us. It's our special thing because we both love to do it.

"Good idea. This should teach that son of a bitch a lesson to never touch our Advi again" Said Mag while nodding his head in agreement.

So we all made the plan and hurriedly got up by walking in the direction of the chemistry lab because we know that in the lunch time he always spends it in the lab.

Once we reached the lab, we slowly glanced inside to see that he was taking a nap which made a clear way for us to enter inside the lab without getting caught.

Me, Vika and Mag went inside silently while Manu and Kashvi eyed outside and kept an eye on the lecturer to see if anything goes wrong or anyone comes in this direction.

We got to the chemicals part of the side and slowly Mag and Advi mixed some chemicals with the help of me giving them the bottles of chemicals from the shelves.

Once they were done with the mixing, we slowly made it to the side of the window from where both me and Advi immediately jumped outside into the corridor and joined Manu and Kashvi who were hiding behind the wall which directly leads to the staircase for the third floor so that no one can notice us. We are lucky that we don't have the cameras in the college.

Slowly Mag poured the last chemical into the mixed ones and immediately got out of the lab and came running in our direction with a smug look on his face.

We all watched that the smoke rose in the air making the whole lab a cloud of them and then the coughing sounds were heard which definitely was from our lecturer. This made us grin and laugh silently in excitement that we gave high five to each other for success of the plan.

When the door opened and out came the lecturer with a coughing pit, we were unable to control our laughter so we ran away from there before he could catch a glimpse of us. Once we made it to the third floor, everyone started laughing hysterically by clutching their stomachs that it became hard for us to breathe.

"God. It was hilarious to watch the stunned expression of him. It was like he was lost in a desert not knowing about what is happening around him" Manu said while still laughing when Advika immediately hugged me with a grin on her face.

"Thank you Chotu." She said by placing a kiss on my cheek before releasing me from the hug with the grin plastered on her face. My heart started beating erratically and it became hard to breath for a second.

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Present:

I was lost in my thoughts when someone nudged my shoulder with a little force that I stumbled by coming back to the present to see the smirking face of Mag whose gaze is directed towards her. When I glanced at her, I saw that everyone was waiting for me to say something.

But what? I was lost in thinking about the past that I didn't hear a thing about what they said.

Great Hredhaan. Now you made yourself a fool on your first meeting itself. Compose yourself before you do anything more. I scolded myself before glancing back at everyone who was still watching me for my answer. I cleared my throat before speaking.

“Sorry. I was lost.” I said with a straight face and also with a hint of apology in my words that Mag gave me a teasing smile in return.

She nodded her head but didn't say anything which made me furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Because normally if she gets a chance to tease me, then she would definitely won't leave it alone but now she is acting as if she is looking at us for the first time.

I think Mag understood my situation because he took the liberty to introduce himself and us because I was lost after seeing her like this.

“Sorry for that. I am Magnus Jade. Senior Advisor of Mr.Grover.” Said Mag with a straight face and a small smile on his face while looking at her confidently with an extended hand like he doesn’t know her from before. This made me even more confused than before but didn’t speak it out loud. Why are they acting like they don't know?

“Nice to meet you Mr.Jade. It’s a pleasure to have you here” She said in a professional voice like she too didn’t know him before but her tone still holds the same angelic voice that I sighed with content. “I am Advika Laghari. CEO of this company” She continued while taking his extended hand for a formal shake with a stiff nod that i was surprised seeing her like this.

In that moment I definitely compared to her past self because there is a lot of change in her. Her eyes which always hold the energy and spark in them are missing now and instead it is replaced with the cold ones which held no emotion in them. Her hair which used to be till her shoulders has now grown longer which touches her backside.

She is not the same old bubbly girl but a grown woman who likes to keep it to herself. She became restricted and closed off by showing no emotion on her face. It's like she didn't smile in a while or even forgot how to smile or laugh in reality.

Even with all of these things, she is still as beautiful as ever. No. I think she became even more beautiful than before. Her sharp features have done the justice to her face.

I even think that she has grown one or two inches in height now. Of course she was never short before but now I think she is easily 5'7 or 5'8 with her stunning figure.

“This is Falan Khan. My assistant.” Mag introduced, directing his gaze on Falan that I shook my head in silence for getting distracted again. They both shook their hands for a moment with a nod that I observed her face feelings which showed nothing away. It was totally blank like she is masking her expressions. I can give credit to her for this because she is doing a good job in it. At that moment I realised that she doesn't want to discuss or even want to acknowledge us being friends before. She wants to keep it totally professional.

Fine then. If she wants to be unknown then even I can become one and act like nothing happened. I made up my mind to not show my face feelings if she is not willing to express it.

“And this is our CEO Mr.Hredhaan Grover.” Mag said, introducing me by looking in my direction that I immediately composed myself by keeping my poker face and extended my hand for her to shake.

“Nice to meet you Ms.Laghari” I said with a professional voice by extending my hand and not giving anything away on my face. But if she is still the same Vika i knew then she can easily find the accused tone of mine which i hid behind carefully so that no one can observe it except Mag because he knows me too well.

But as I thought she just nodded with a formal smile and took my hand in hers to shake it gently which made my heart skip a beat for a second because of her touch.

Shit. How can she have the same effect on me even after these many years? This is not good and I need to get it together.

“Likewise Mr.Grover. It’s a pleasure for us to have you here. Thank you for choosing to invest in our company.” She said with a formal face and a fake smile which I can easily identify from anywhere.

I had to remind myself that we came here for an investigation purpose and not to rekindle our lost friendship. Also it is for the best that she wants to keep it formal. Maybe that is the right thing and even the safe thing for both of our hearts.

“This is my secretary Praneel Ahuja and my assistant cum advisor Kashvi Dalal.” She said while directing her gaze towards her back to introduce her colleagues that I was surprised to see our other friend there.

Those two stood silently behind her all this while that I didn't even know they were standing there.

What the fuck man… Really? Kashvi?? Here?

I was in shock to see her here with Advika and even Mag too because I can see the surprised look on his face. Well.. maybe he too didn't know about this then. If she is working here as her advisor then I think they are still best buddies.

Great. So she just eliminated both of us from her life then. This made it clear that she doesn't want us in her life anymore which stings because I never knew that she can become this stone hearted woman one day.

I slowly nodded my head in acknowledgement with a small smile on my face to Kashvi that she returned it with her warm ones.

Well atleast one of them remembers everything then. I thought sarcastically before I realised something.

Wait Praneel?? I glanced in Mag’s direction with a surprised look which he too returned it before composing himself and I too did the same.

Oh my luck… This was the person we were looking for all the while. So he is the secretary of her then?

Again what a coincidence… Looks like we have more questions coming on our way. So it will be Professional a way then. Game on Man… For the first time I am so determined to solve this case that I was surprised with my own determination. Maybe it has to do with some betrayal or broken friendship.

“Please have a seat.” She said motioning towards my seat before stepping back to take her seat graciously.

Shut up and concentrate man. I scolded myself before nodding my head in acceptance and took my seat by releasing a tensed breath which I didn't know that I was holding until now.

God… How worked up I have been just in a few moments? It definitely feels like I have run a marathon. I thought to myself before realising that I forgot to introduce Isha with everyone. Shit dammit.

“Sorry. I forgot. She is my secretary Isha. She will be handling all of my work and calls.” I said, introducing her to which Advika nodded with a smile in acknowledgement.

“Nice to meet you Ms.Isha” Said Advika with a small smile but i can see that it’s fake again. What is it with her and fake smiles? I have never seen her fake smiles before. At Least they were not directed towards me at that time. But now?

I think everything changes with the time. I can feel her cold heart from this much distance. She has the same face as my Advika but nothing more. Everything has been changed about her.

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