Sweet little time

"When are you leaving?" Pearl asked as she entered the Mallaya mansion.

Emmett chuckled hearing her question. With a smile, he followed her in, while asking back. "Why do you always ask me the same question, Noodles?"

Pearl tilted her head slightly and asked back. "Then why are you always by my side, senior?"

"Huh? Aren't we close already?"

She stopped in her walk and looked back at him. With a sigh, she called. "Senior?"

Emmett raised his hands up in surrender. Taking two steps back he asked. "How about lunch?"

Pearl narrowed her eyes at him. Staring at him for a few seconds she nodded in approval. "Let's go."

After all these days, Emmett got a lot closer to Pearl than expected. Though for her he is still a stranger, however she accepted the fact of him as her only Senior.

Pearl herself was baffled by the closeness Emmett carried towards her. She never liked anyone around her this close.

However, the firm attitude Emmett carried for her was something that she couldn't deny for long. In the end, even if reluctantly, she did accept his moves anyway.

They both moved towards the dining hall. While the food was preparing for them, they both read some office files.

They both preferred silence while working. It wasn't awkward but right for the environment. Once the dinner was served, they both put their files aside and started having their lunch silently.

Even while having lunch they talked about nothing much. In fact, it's not the first time that they are sharing a meal together this silently. It feels more natural and comfortable this way now.

Once they were done with their lunch, they wiped their hands on napkins and stood up, and went to the drawing hall.

Taking their seat on the couch, Emmett passed her a dessert plate as he asked. "Why are you not going back?"

From what he had heard from her conversation with Mrs. Mallaya he remembered that Pearl would go back to Sen's once the funeral ceremony ended.

However, he went to her room a number of times between all these days. Even when they were having dinner in her room last night he saw that she didn't pack anything to move.

Her personal things and stuff were still there in its place. All tell one thing that she isn't moving anywhere soon.

Pearl had a bite of her dessert and replied. "They will misunderstand."

"Sen?" He asked.

Pearl just nodded in approval.

"And?" He asked.

"Want peace." She replied.

She was adamant of moving back to Sen's mansion, as it was only right for her to do that. However, after meeting them, things and her decisions started wavering.

She had second thoughts too. And in the end, after meeting Sia and Yash outside the campus gate, her mind instantly chooses the second thought. Thought of staying a little longer away from them.

She didn't want any scene and drama in her life because of them.

Emmett understandably said nothing more. He remembers them and himself believed that it's better to keep her distance away from them.

"For the next few days I'll be busy with my work, won't be able to contact you." He informed her out of concern. As he spends most of his time with Pearl nowadays, he felt right to inform her.

"..." Pearl replied nothing. It doesn't concern her anyway.

Emmett smiled at her ignorance. Tasting his dessert contentedly he guessed teasingly. "Should I guess what you are thinking of Noodles?"

Frowning little to him, she clicked her tongue and asked. "...what?"

Turning his body to face her completely, he answered. "You must be thinking, 'I never asked you to contact me in the first place. Why bother telling me even?'."

Pearl pursed her lips. Scratching her nose, she seriously looked at him. "How can you be so right? It's not your first time I guess. Right?"

"..." Emmett squinted at her. Extending his hand he slapped the back of her head.

"Hey!" She exclaimed in surprise. No one had ever hit her before.

"You don't talk much. But whenever you do, why are you so sarcastic with me?"

Pearl just shrugged her shoulders with nonchalance.

"What is this document about?" He asked as he took one of the files from the table.

"..."

"You checked it?" He asked.

"No."

Emmett opened the file and started reading it. After ten minutes he passed it back to Pearl, who was checking her emails on her phone.

"I marked a few mistakes. Mind them when signing other papers too." He concernedly said.

Pearl took the file and pointed to another file on the table. "Hmm... Check the blue one on the coffee table too."

"...Yes ma'am."

***

"Where is Rishi Sir today?" A man in torn shirt and pants came out of his house as he asked about Rishi's absence.

"Office." Pearl replied.

Hearing that short answer, other men and women standing around her chuckled. "I guess we are not having much of a conversation today." The leader of the group commented.

Today Pearl came to the village to clear out their doubt. Rishi wanted to assist her, but the SI company needed him more there.

Taking her seat on the ground like others in front of everyone she started the meeting. She read all the possibilities and conditions on the document. Villagers affirmed whatever Pearl said.

Accounting for them with everything she has in the document, she asked her last question for assurity. "Are you happy with the displacement?"

Villagers simply smiled. Leaving their home, where they lived all their life is always hard for everyone. But for the better future of their kids, it's nothing. "Yes. We are. Just guide us through."

"This place is not ours, to begin with. Whatever help you give us, is like a god gift to us in all manner. Just take care of us like this in future, ma'am."

"I will." She said in a low voice, but they heard her clearly. Having her as their guardian, they feel a lot of relief.

"You all will have a personal meeting with their secretary. You can tell them what you have and what you want in return."

***

"Are you coming back ma'am?" Rishi asked.

"Hmm."

"Isn't it too late? You can stay if you want to. It's not urgent." He worriedly sounded from the other side of the phone call.

Right now it's already 8 o'clock in the evening. Because Pearl explained each and every line to the villagers, she got very late to go back home. The highway is never safe for humans, let alone for a girl.

"You are the one who asked me to come." Pearl's one brow raised as she said.

"But it's too late and not safe."

"Forget it. Let's see if I can." Pearl said while packing her stuff.