It was an early time out on an odd week day for Anuradha and Christopher. Bringing Shika along they headed to the police station first before going back home to collect information about Roopa's case.

As their car entered the house compound, Manohar was seen huriedly coming out of the house followed by Roopa, Manoj and Cameron.

"What happen?"  

"Karthik just got a call from Uday that the house has turned upside down" Roopa replied. "I'm worried about Digvijay at home. I just hope he is fine" prayed the strong lady.

"Upside down?" Anuradha asked.

"A group of people have broke into our house and took some important documents related to the company, I have to go now" Manohar said.

"What about amma?" Manoj asked.

"I want to bring her along too but the police hasn't said anything about her going out of the city, right?"

"Clamant has allowed aunty to leave the city any time" Anuradha handed Roopa her bag. "They are yet to catch the thieves and they don't need you'll to be in the city"

Without wasting any time, Manohar left London with Roopa, Manoj and Shika to Scotland.

Looking back at the events that happen Cameron murmured "this doesn't look like a coincident"

"I'll ask Mark to send few mans following them, just for safety purpose. Clamant hasn't given the full green signal for safety yet for them" Anuradha said as she received nods in agreement from both.

*-*-*-*

It was almost half past eleven at night by the time Manohar and Roopa reached home. Thankfully nothing happened to Digvijay and to the rest who was working in the house. The damage was just a broken door and security locker.

Of course with their important documents of their company was taken away.

Uday and Manohar headed to the local police station to file a complaint against this unknown group of people who seemed to be targeting their family as they referred the recent events happened including the two year old accident.

It was an hectic day for Manohar and all he wanted was to doze off as soon as he eyed his king size bed.

If a name can eraser the tiredness off his face than that name would be RADHA. His lips shaped to a crescent as the name flashed on his silent vibrating mobile.

"Hello" her voice sound soft and low.

"Not asleep yet" he asked as he checked on the time.

"I hope I'm not disturbing. Just call to check how is Roopa aunty and things there."

"Nope you did not, Amma is fine."

"Oookay..., I guess you have missed something of yours here"

"What is it?"

She simply blew and Manohar knew it was his new flute that he bought two days ago.

"Ah.. the flute... I must have left it"

"Do you carry it with you always?"

"No. I bought it two days ago"

"Oh, I heard you did new composition here and I didn't know anything about it. That's bad"

"Sorry Radha, I will do a live performance for that composition and future ones for you. Specially for you" 

"That sounds good. Anyway do you want me to send it to you?"

"Maybe you can bring to me"

"Maybe you should come back here for this"

A light conversation of nothing was bringing them closer, was giving them confidence to put their feeling forward, was giving them the urge to be and know each other more. 

They knew it was love growing stronger in the conversation of just nothing.

*-*-*-*

Its been three consecutive days that Anuradha was leaving office at the wee hours. The house was empty again though it was only for just two days, Anuradha was missing the presence of her guests. 

With Christopher too had gone off for a long vacation even her office hours seems to be extremely silent and torturing. She recalled the conversation with Christopher when Shika came to her office the other day.

"Stop putting yourself in your parents shoes, Butterfly. You are not them!" Christopher who was standing at the doorway scowled.

"Chris, pleeease explain to her. I need help" said Shika.

"I know you like Karthik and your freaking parents marriage outcome is always stopping you from moving forward. Just forget that they even exist, Butterfly"

Anuradha said nothing, she knew no one would know her better than Christopher and Cameron.

"You have seen enough hatred and sorrow, Butterfly. I wish I could give you the love you wanted but I know it's not my job. It's his. Always been his." Christopher paused, fighting the tears from rolling down. He put his best smile.

"I'm taking a long unpaid off, you know my heart is weak. I can't see my butterfly fly to another person so, I'm leaving. But I will be back to check on you. After all, you are the people that I have as a family apart from mom" Anuradha found no words to express how grateful she is to have him, she ran and hugged her best friend. 

"You have come back soon, okay and be my Head of Creative Team. Your job will be waiting for you. And I wish you get another Butterfly. Probably a better one" Anuradha wiped her tears off.

"Nope. No one can replace you. You are beyond comparable. Do me a favour, I want you to know and realise your feeling for Karthik before you tell him about it, okay. Don't rush.

If there is love,
Time is nothing."

She missed her Romeo who never left her alone since her family broke. Now, it was all silence. If there is anything she hated now is silence.

Kamlesh noticed Anuradha's odd timing and decided to check on her, "It's nine already, Anuradha. Not going back home?" Kamlesh poked his head in. 

"In a while dad, just checking on the recent marketing plan" she replied closing a file and picked up another.

"You have worked a lot these days, come let me drop you home" she declined his offer.

After so many 'no's', Kamlesh finally convinced Anuradha to go with him.  And since Anuradha had been skipping her dinner as well, Kamlesh had made a reservation for dinner reserved at a restaurant. 

As they approached their reserved table, Anuradha noticed that someone has already occupied the table. To her surprise, Kamlesh was smiling widely at the person who reciprocate the action. 

"Anuradha, I'm sorry but I had to do this." her father whispered.

"What did you do?"

"I fixed a date for you with Shyam. The proposal I was talking about a few days ago. Please don't do anything that will spoil my name, I have spoken highly about you"

"That's not my problem, dad. Why do you have to do that in the first place?" she hissed. 

"I'll explain to you later, Anuradha. Now smile, please" Kamlesh pleaded to her as she glared at him for making such decision on his own. This is something that she hated the most from her father. 

"Anuradha this is Shyam Kashyap. Shyam, this is my daughter Anuradha." Kamlesh introduced the both as Shyam extended his hand to Anuradha. 

"Hi, Anuradha" she gave a tight smile and gave a firm hand shake. 

"You both enjoy your dinner" Kamlesh said clapping his hands once. 

"Where are you going, dad?" Anuradha asked.

Kamlesh pointed to a table further from theirs where his wife Kriti sat. "Get to know each other, I hope you both will enjoy the evening" said that he left.

The thought of enjoying the dinner had gone long ago when Kamlesh spoke about his sudden date plan arrangement  for his daughter. The dinner merely went on with a formal question and answer with minimal eye contact. 

Shyam's question on her favorite music reminded her of someone. Someone who works closely with music, the one who made her sing for the first time.  Her thought hovered around Manohar throughout the dinner and how music had somehow brought them closer.

Anuradha hardly took interest about knowing Shyam as she only answered his question and never revert them back except for one question. "Where is my father?" she asked as soon as she finished her dinner. 

"He left just a while ago and texted me to send you home." 

Anuradha closed her eyes for a moment, calming herself down. This angered her even more but what did the man in front of her did that he has to endure her anger. Controlling her burning ire, she put on her best smile to keep things cool. 

"Are you alright?" Shyam asked. 

"Yes. Can we leave, I have an early meeting tomorrow morning" she said while picking up her bag from underneath the chair. 

"Erm... yeah, we shall"

In the car, curiosity was killing him to know more about her and the reason behind her silence. It's not new for him to go on a date but this was the first time he experienced such a date. Flat but not boring at all. 

"Mind if I ask you something, Anuradha? ...Are you interested in this proposal?"

"To be honest, I'm not. It would be good for you if you don't keep hopes on this proposal. My father thinks I'm living a robotic life that he wants me to get married to live like any other girls" she said. 

Silence prevailed, Anuradha hate it.  She wanted to reach home soon.

"You don't want that?" he asked halting the car to the side. 

"Don't want what?" 

"To live like normal girls. Being carefree, enjoy going out with friends,..."

"I do have friends and I go out with them, Shyam. I don't have to get married to do all that, right?"

Shyam sat quietly thinking, "maybe I can make your robotic life better?"

"I think you should start driving. It's getting late for me" Anuradha chose not to answer him because she knew the answer. 

Anuradha had been thinking of him all day and just the thought of him brightens her day. 

She knew who can make her life better. 

"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Shyam..... And to make my life better... I already have a musician doing that for me. All the best and see you if time permits" Anuradha shut the passenger door and left behind the dumbfound Shyam. 

Shyam never had any girl rejected him before, it was always him and this was the first time a girl had said no. He smiled to himself 'I guess I made my move a little late' he thought.

"All the best to both of you too, Anuradha! And sorry for being the reason for your phone to now dwell on the river bed" he grinned. 

It took her sometime to recall the incident, that someone bumped onto her when she was at the London Bridge and all three of their phones fell in the river.

"It was you?!" she asked from her door entrance. 

"Yes. I have been trying to approach you since then but I'm little too late I guess. Anyways, good bye" he waved at her and drove out of her house compound. 

Destiny has made its choice. Destiny gave no one the way to get into her life other than him even if it had taken years.

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

And NEW STORY ALERT!!

I just started a new story ONCE MORE...
Hope to see you'll there too 😉

Don't forget to comment and vote...
Lots of love
DEVA ❤