Rainbow Skies

It had been six months after Manya's declaration that she was not ready to afford the luxury named 'love'. The time that had passed hence, had changed many things. She had returned after a week to get questioned about where she had been and how, and the only question she had asked in reply was, "Isn't it enough that I am back within seven days?"

She herself had announced that she would be running the businesses which were meant to be under her name, and she had lost himself in the work, effectively on the run again. She had managed to achieve undiscovered heights of success, and now she was back in the city for the most important project- the one that had been her Massi's dream! 

This was last effort from her end, which she needed to do, to fulfill her Massi's dream. She had kept a part of her soul within herself, to provide her immortality till the time Manya Rahal was alive.

The new office building was quite aesthetically pleasing, the afternoon was in full bloom and she was in the city which was her home. The city where her story had started, she was born, started walking, learned her first words, had made her first friend, and experienced life for the first fourteen years of her life. She found herself starting down from the glass window of her twenty-fifth floor cabin, at the changed skyline. She tried to invoke the same feelings of safety within herself and experience the same sights and smells, but it seemed like she didn't have the destiny to get back whatever she once had in her perfect life. 

*The week she had spent in seclusion had helped her immensely in processing the recent events, that had taken her on an emotional rollercoaster to hell and back. She still shuddered as she recalled the number of times she had broken down in front of someone, in the first two months of coming to India- it was already more than the entire decade she had spent in Milan. But now, the same stoic Manya was back, and behaved according to the belief that what she was going through or feeling was nobody's business but hers, and only she would be the one witnessing it. The only difference was that in Milan, she had been calm on the surface but there had been a storm raging underneath- she managed to pull off the facade of a cold, indifferent person but she had been hurting and struggling underneath it all. Whereas, the calm that was on the surface now was a reflection of the way she actually felt- the wounds were still there, and they still hurt when she accidentally brushed past their origins, but she had learnt to be mindful of them by now. The peace came from a place of acceptance towards everything that had happened and a sense of forgiveness for her own past self, instead of the way she had violently and ruthlessly been suppressing any and all feelings for the years she had been trapped in that bubble of helplessness.*

She was still in her thoughts, when the new secretary knocked on her door, asking for permission to enter.

"Yes, come in!" 

"Ma'am, there is someone with a huge bouquet of flowers outside, and he keeps insisting that he is here to meet you. On asking him if he had an appointment, he replied that he doesn't need an appointment!"

A smile appeared on Manya's face, which she quickly concealed, scolding herself for getting carried away by her emotions again.

She spoke with a tender voice, "It's okay, no need to panic. I will be meeting that person myself, you just look after my schedule and mail it to me, as I will be off now."

Saying this, she grabbed her bag and walked towards the doorway. Within two minutes, she was in front of the person who had converted her office into the most happening place without even showing his face, only by his voice and cheerful attitude, which was able to charm everyone around him. 

*She walked up to him, thinking that she definitely didn't deserve him. This person deserved the happiness of the entire world, and she was left with nothing but emptiness- she was not allowed to be happy again in this lifetime. After sorting out all her emotions, she was a hundred percent sure about her feelings about him, but she needed to suppress them if she didn't want to lose him now, she couldn't afford that. That fateful day, she had decided that she won't have anybody in her life and had told Arjun the same, but she had still managed to convince herself that she could be careful not to harm him, and his presence would bring her some happiness as well.*

She smiled and said, "What do you think you are doing here, Mister?"

"Um, actually I am waiting for my best friend, do you happen to know Miss. Rahal? She has won the 'Best Businesswoman of the Year' award despite having handled the business only for six months!"

"Oh really, is she that good? Then we must want to meet her." Manya replied with her eyebrows raised, playing along.

"Ah, that's pretty simple. Just give me a minute," Arjun replied and removed the bouquet from his face with a dazzling smile. "Can I get the location for the nearest mirror?"

Manya smiled back at him and grabbed the flowers, saying, "Enough, stand up now and tell me, how did you manage to come here when you were in the other part of the country?"

"Actually, I had to manage this because you know, my best friend has a habit of running away. And mind you, she hasn't stayed more than fifteen days in one city for the past six months."

"Arjun! This was not the answer to my question!" Manya whined.

"Of course, by catching a flight you dumbo!" Arjun giggled.

"Hahaha! Very funny," she replied, deadpan.

"I know, I am a funny guy." 

"Oh really? Then you must be deluded, because I disagree-"

"It's totally okay Minnie, not everyone is blessed with a good brain and an intelligent personality like I am. So it's not your fault that you are not able to decipher my capabilities!"

Rolling her eyes, she murmured to herself, "Dio! Può mai cambiare questo ragazzo?"

['God! Can this boy ever change?']

"Hey! Excuse me, madam! You need to know one more thing: after struggling with your curses in Italian, I have learned enough of it by now, to be able to understand what you are saying about me."

"Aha! That's brand new information!" Manya glared at him, chuckling at the very next moment.

"Yes, you can no longer hide anything from me by saying it in a different language. I am proud of myself!" He patted his own shoulder.

"Actually, I still can!" She clarified amidst his self-applause.

"How?" He asked, widening his eyes. 

"By learning a new language!" She winked.

Arjun looked towards the ceiling dramatically, saying "God! What have I done to you that you are punishing me like this? Weren't you able to make her into a normal human, who has certain limitations when it comes to learning? After a while, everybody wants to stop learning; but this girl and her love for language will definitely bring me on the road someday!"

Manya hit him on the shoulder, saying "Enough of the drama, now tell me, what do you want?"

Arjun looked back at her and smirked. "Finally, you remembered to ask! I thought you are never going to ask me, and this poor fellow is going to starve till death!"

"So you want to starve?" Manya teased him.

"No, your Highness, all this poor peasant wants is a lunch with you! Please have some mercy on me, please." He clutched his hands together, clearly not done with being dramatic.

Manya chuckled again, "Has anybody ever told you that you are in the wrong profession, you should try acting instead!"

"I will definitely consider your valuable suggestion, if only I will be able to surpass the misery of my life and get something into my stomach. I have been hungry since last night!" Arjun made a pitiful face once again. 

"You haven't eaten anything since last night?" Manya became concerned as her heart pinched her, remarking that this was all because of her, she was the sole reason behind it. She managed to push that voice down and grabbed his hand. "Answer me?" 

Arjun realised that the fact he had let slip in his dramatic overtures had caused her to get worried further. Rubbing the back of his neck, he replied "Uh, yes. I didn't, because I didn't have enough time."

"Didn't have enough time, Arjun I will kill you! Why do you always do this to yourself, you would have gotten plenty of time if you hadn't been in a rush to get here! I-"

"You are gonna tell me that I don't deserve this! I know, I know your favourite lines and you as well. So Manya Rahal, or my dear Minnie can you please postpone your anger till our lunch is done? Or else you will definitely have to follow me to Hell, in order to continue this rant."

Manya smiled again as his statement was enough to change her anger to concern once again. She managed to speak with mock irritation, "Shut up! And let's go, but I am telling you- the lunch is on me."

"As you wish, your Highness!" Arjun smiled as he stood up, remembering the promise he made to his Maenu, father and himself to bring back Manya to the state that she had forgotten she deserved. He would make her remember the love and care she carried inside her heart for everyone. He was not afraid of waiting; while he had waited twelve years without any confirmation or hope to meet her again, then this time, she was standing in front of him. All he had to do, was to reach out. All the clouds which had been blocking the sunlight of happiness from entering his sky were cleared, and there was a colourful rainbow shining as a bonus and reward of his patience. 

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A/N- Hey everyone! Guess who got overwhelmed by her schedule yesterday and could not post on time? (・_・;)

This girl! (^～^;)ゞ

I am really sorry, and I am working on a bonus chapter for you guys today. I cannot make any promises though, my degree has got me working on a very irregular schedule. I am grateful for your love and support, love you all! (◔‿◔) ♡