Mr. Saxena gulped on seeing Eifad walk towards him. She is dressed in a grey top with the sleeves pulled till her elbow and black pencil skirt. One look and Mr. Saxena knew she is in a bad mood. Terrible mood, actually. Mr. Saxena greeted her humbly but she ignored him and simply went inside her cabin. Mr. Saxena rushed to get coffee for her.

Eifad glanced at her phone again, this is the nth time she is doing this. Since the time, Farhan had left her apartment he hasn't been picking up her calls, and didn't even respond to her furious voice mails. Eifad had expected him to respond next morning, she had planned she will then show him attitude, but that didn't happen. This infuriated Eifad further. She leaned in her seat and joined her finger tips together and continued to stare at her phone. Her trance was broken when Mr. Saxena entered with her black coffee. Eifad is relieved, the hot coffee will relax her. Before she could take a sip Mr. Saxena ran out fearing if something was wrong with the coffee then she will grill him bad.

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1 pm, as Eifad worked in her cabin there is a knock at the door. Mrs. Singh, one of the elderly member of the panel entered carrying a file. Eifad greeted her formally gesturing her to sit.

'Maam, Mr. Kayshab has come to work today,' Eifad looked at her surprised, the women continued, 'and before we announce our verdict we need both of you with us, together. This evening by 5.'

Eifad simply nodded, she wondered how Gaurav managed to come out of jail. He has attempt to murder charge against him. The woman stood up and left. As the door closed behind her, Eifad leaned forward and picked up her landline. She speed-dialed Mr. Saxena's number and asked him to come to her cabin straight away. He agreed.

Minutes later, Mr. Saxena stood in front of Eifad.

'What is Mr. Kayshab doing outside the jail?' Eifad asked straight away. Mr. Saxena made a face expressing his displeasure about the same.

'He has hired an excellent lawyer, he got him out on bail.' Mr. Saxena said

Eifad is terribly disappointed. She waved Mr. Saxena off, he nodded and left. Eifad leaned in her chair massaging her forehead.

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5pm,

Eifad stood with Mr. Saxena outside the meeting room. Mr. Saxena nudged her arm and she looked up. Gaurav walked towards them. Eifad noticed that in this one week Gaurav has lost some weight, he looked thinner and paler than before, his eyes tried. The case and the excessive smoking has taken a toll on him. He glared at Eifad, she glared back. Eifad didn't feel an ounce of guilt seeing him this way. He has brought this on himself, especially after hurting Farhan. Eifad vowed she will never forgive him for that and will make him pay. Soon, Eifad and Gaurav were called in. Eifad walked in first and then Gaurav.

Eifad and Gaurav sat opposite each other across the table. They kept glaring at each other. The more she glared into his eyes, the angrier she felt.

'So, Ms. Hooda and Mr. Kayshab, let us begin the proceedings?' Mrs. Sushma Singh, an elderly woman who headed the panel said. Eifad and Gaurav looked away from each other and at her, they nodded.

The proceeding started and Gaurav tried his best to prove himself innocent, he stood by his story which completely stunned Eifad. According to his story, Eifad was the one who had made the first move. It was he who was smoking and Eifad had come to him, asked for a smoke, and got touchy. When he refused her advances, she threatened to file a case against him and when he was adamant, she filed a case against him.

'It is a lie. What about the other women who have spoken against him. Did they threaten him as well?' Eifad said trying to sound as calm as possible. Honestly, all she wanted to do right now is punch and kick him. How flatly he lied? Eifad is appalled by his guts.

'They are all paid by Ms. Hooda.' He said simply. Eifad looked at him wide-eyed, but when all the eyes were on her Eifad quickly composed herself.

'And the shooter.' She said

'There isn't any proof of that. It is Ms. Hooda's assumption because her boyfriend was hurt.' Gaurav snapped.

'You are getting personal now, Mr. Kayshab.' Eifad said sternly but Gaurav didn't change his demeanour, instead, he grinned, a very shark like grin. Eifad composed herself, she realized the more annoyed she gets the happier Gaurav will be and she doesn't want to give him that pleasure.

'Mr. Kayshab, you can't make personal attacks at Ms. Hooda.' Sashi, a woman Eifad's age, said sternly.

Eifad and Gaurav passed each other a glare before he looked at Sashi and nodded muttering, 'Sorry.'

*************************************************

The meeting went on for half an hour with Gaurav and Eifad throwing accusations and counter accusations at each other. Both had different narration of what happened that day up at the terrace and both sticking to their narrations. After the meeting Eifad felt very stressed.

'My coffee on my table in five minutes.' she ordered Mr. Saxena who nodded. As Eifad walked towards her cabin Kiran came to her.

'How was the meeting, Maam?' she asked. Eifad doesn't respond, she kept on walking and Kiran guessed the meeting didn't go too well.

'No problem, Maam. I am sure the verdict will be in our favour.' Kiran tried motivating Eifad, who kept ignoring her. Kiran bit her lower-lip as Eifad disappeared inside her cabin without responding. Forget speaking, Eifad didn't even spare a glance at her.

Kiran felt bad but she didn't take it to her heart, she knew how stressed Eifad is right now.

'What do you mean you haven't caught the shooter yet? What are you guys doing?' Eifad sounded angry as she spoke to inspector Ravi. He assured her they are doing their best and such things take time. He too sounded annoyed. Eifad slammed the phone and leaned forward massaging her forehead.

'Maam, coffee.' Mr. Saxena said placing the coffee mug on the table. Eifad didn't look up, her eyes closed and her forehead resting against her overlapped palm. Mr. Saxena waited for Eifad to respond for few seconds before leaving.

Eifad sighed and picked up the coffee mug. As she brought the mug to her lips she wished Farhan was with her. She missed him. Without him, she felt demotivated and very cranky. 

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What are your thoughts on the case? Who you think will win? 

And after the fight, Eifad is sure in a cranky mood. Do you think she will realize Farhan's value?

Drop in your comments and let me know :)

And thanks so much for reading and voting *_* *_*