Author's note: Let's meet AR. Shall we? ;) It's going to be a looong chapter & I'm least bothered by that fact. Things will turn out for good/bad from here, and I'm #notsorry for that.  Remember, I write psychological, slow-burn stories with complex characters. So, be prepared! Enjoy this chapter!! AND PLEASE... VOTE ON THE CHAPTERS! It really makes me happy when you vote or leave a comment or two.

~~~

21st October

The phone charger which Sange brought for her, stopped working from the second day. Upon checking, she discovered the power port of her phone broke. When she told her mother about that, naturally the latter flipped out, and the panic caused Shreya to hang up right away.

She never got the opportunity to share another number with her.

~~~

Shreya's eyes were trained on Dev as he played with a ball in the front garden of the guesthouse. She couldn't tell if she was actually watching over Dev or trying to find a way to put off her embarrassment. Because after what happened yesterday afternoon, she couldn't meet eyes with the men present in the house.

She was holding a cup of tea in her hand, and all the memories of these past three days replayed before her eyes like a movie.

Since the first day she and Abhimanyu watched the sunrise together, she didn't miss all the following days until today. Practically, she had looked forward to those early hours every day eagerly, & when they came, they never once disappointed her experience. Watching the sunrise with him was nothing she could actually put in words. They mostly shared an atmosphere mainly filled with silence. They rarely talked. Yet, the silence was never uncomfortable. As much as she felt intimidated by him in the beginning days of her work, after coming here they all melted into serenity until yesterday. It could be an influence of the environment here. But she didn't want to give all the credits to nature.

As much as she spent time with the eldest son of Mr. Abhiraj Roy, she realized his characteristics didn't blend with that of a common man, and which perhaps is the foremost reason that made his persona standout among the rest. He radiated a power around him, just not because he's this infamous CEO of Permabell, but because of his uniqueness.

Some interesting traits she had noticed in him was that he liked silence a lot. Not particularly anti-social, but he preferred staying alone. He wouldn't say a word to the least, but by his presence he'd clearly give out the message that he'd appreciate it very much if he'd just be left alone. He didn't interact too much with anyone except it was absolutely important. Mostly it was Sunny he actually spoke to. Sometimes, Mr. Chetan came and they talked business. But that was all.

Abhimanyu seemed too out of focus when he wasn't in a business meeting, as if he was uninterested in everything happening around. Especially the human things. Expecting a conversation with him was a hyper-fantasy. He simply would not talk if it wasn't something of his interest. At times, she judged him for being a selfish person. But then his contradictory side made his innocence stand out again.

In these past few days, she had observed him spending several consecutive hours watching either the mountains far off or the vast valley of tea gardens... alone. But when someone approached him, he'd just excuse himself almost immediately. As if he wanted to escape the engagement at all cost.

Only one time she saw him actually talking keenly, and although she couldn't predict the future, she'd keep that moment forever in her memories no matter what happened between them in the time to come.

It was the day before yesterday and as Abhimanyu promised Dev, he arranged for a sightseeing itinerary with the help of Dinu and Chetan. It was decided that she, Dev, Sange, Nima (Sange's younger brother) and Sunny would go to see the riverside below. But at the last moment Dinu and Abhimanyu also accompanied them.

It didn't take longer than an hour to reach the spot. According to Dinu, due to the hilly and muddy road, it took more time than was actually required. When they reached the riverside, the natural beauty of the place mesmerized her. At one side of the river there was the tea garden and at the other side, there was a dense forest. Many big and small rocks were scattered alongside and over the riverbed. One tiny makeshift bamboo bridge was made over the river to cross it and go to the side of the forest.

Dev was more interested in playing with Nima, since he was only two years older than him. The boys ran along the river and started picking up rocks with various shapes and sizes. Shreya was relieved to see that her suggestion actually worked. Dev appeared freer and more active. Although she was keeping an eye on Dev, her mind often drifted to the other side of the river.

Sange walked up to her and said, "You want to see the forest?"

"I'd love to. But it's okay. I have to look after him." As she said that she gestured to Dev with her eyes.

"Let's go, girl. It isn't that hard to cross the bridge, trust me."

She looked at her then back at everyone else. She gambled the situation. Perhaps, once in a million chance.

"If only they approve." She shifted her gaze to where Abhimanyu and Sunny were standing with Dinu. Dinu was speaking something and the other two were listening very seriously. Both of them had their sunglasses on. So, she couldn't really tell where they were looking. But they were standing at an angle.

Sange followed her gaze then suggested, "They can come along. Do you want me to ask my father to ask them?"

Shreya shrugged. She was ready for anything.

Sange went ahead towards the trio and from her place she couldn't hear what they were talking. But she hoped for the best. But after a minute or two, Sunny took a step back and said something. From his body language, it was clearly negative. She took a deep breath and looked over to where the two boys were standing on a big rock beside the river.

Shreya went over to them and noticed they had collected quite a few rocks. She asked them what they were going to do with them. In response to which Nima said, "We'll build constructions. What do you think? Anything can be done overnight? No. All big constructions need a prototype first of all. Builders can only move forward when the prototype gets approved. It goes through many stages of wear and tear, lots of improvisations, only then we get the final outcome. We're small, but it doesn't mean we can't even build a prototype. All big starts with a small."

All the while Dev nodded and showed his approval of his newly made friend's insight.

Meanwhile, Shreya's jaw dropped to the ground. She stuttered, "I didn't... I didn't mean... I mean, you're right...but I didn't try to offe...'' She was cut short when Sange came running towards them.

"Everyone! Who wants to go to the forest?"

Nima immediately rejected the offer. "Not me. I'll build."

Dev listened to him, then looked at Shreya and Sange. His brows were scrunched together. He was deciding. A moment later, he said, "I'll help him. But you can go aunty."

Shreya raised her brows. "Too big words, Dev. You aren't allowed to stay alone."

"He won't be alone." Sunny's voice and footsteps came from behind as they turned around quickly. Sunny continued with a nod at Shreya. "I will keep an eye on him as I'm also staying. You go and enjoy. Mr. Abhimanyu is also going."

She sucked in a sharp breath suddenly as her eyes darted towards AR. He was already on his way to the bridge, taking leisurely steps.

"Why aren't you going?" She asked Sunny.

"Uh- not gonna lie. I'm kind of dreading that bridge. Looks very fragile." He smiled sheepishly. "Just a phobia."

Sange nudged her once again. "Let's go."

They walked up to the bridge at a fast pace as Sange began telling a story regarding the making of that bridge. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu was already crossing the bridge.

Since the river was a hilly river, there was a continuous sound of water flowing like music to ears. Both of her eyes and mind were focused on the reticent man walking in front of her despite Sange talking non-stop behind her. It didn't take long to cross the bamboo-bridge and reach the other side. Surprisingly, Abhimanyu was waiting for them. She wasn't too shocked by the fact that he chose to come along. She was getting acquainted with his inner nature which was influenced a lot by the nature outside.

As she climbed out of the bridge, their eyes met for a quick second. He has taken down his sunglasses. She'd be lying if she denied the fact that his intense but impenetrable eyes held the depth in them to drown her any moment. Just like right now. Her cheeks were aflame as she looked down and moved past him.

The magnificence of the forest caught on soon enough. The ambience was so enjoyable that everyone scattered around and started enjoying the time on their own. Some unknown birds were singing from somewhere, while the crickets were making their own music. She looked around and saw Sange going to the left, while Abhimanyu had found a nice and somewhat relaxed place to sit.

There was no scarcity of big and small rocks alongside the unnamed river and Abhimanyu chose a big one among them to sit on. His back was facing her. So, he didn't know that she was actually gawking at him. The afternoon sunlight fell on his shoulder and head at an angle, making his appearance glow.

She didn't know why she wanted to talk to him so badly. Not about the trivial worldly matters but about the universe. Her inner voice sent a message over and over that this man possessed that kind of knowledge that escaped most of the common man's consciousness.

She didn't know from where she got the courage. As if her feet had brains on their own, they took off and, in a few seconds, she found herself climbing onto that big rock. Abhimanyu noticed her as he scooted to the side to give her enough space to sit down.

She sat and looked around the place. "This place is quite impressive. I won't feel bored even if I spend hours after hours wandering around this area."

He said nothing but smiled silently while looking at the water flowing.

A few minutes passed as they sat there, side by side, in comfortable silence, just enjoying the view. Then she asked softly, "Can I ask you something?"

Abhimanyu turned towards her and hummed.

"What happened that night? I don't remember anything."

She knew he understood which night she was talking about as he looked away and gazed at the distance. "Nothing that you should be bothered about. You were intoxicated, and I reckoned, that happened against your will. You passed out soon after. So, everything's good."

His flat tone did nothing to satiate her curiosity. But she didn't press the subject anymore, and it still didn't answer why he took her to his room. As she assumed, only he was there apart from Gyan, and Gyan was no good either.

A short pause later, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "If you don't mind me asking, but this situation is very disturbing to me. Also, if I think about Dev's mental development, I don't think living in an environment where people are so distanced can help him any better."

Abhimanyu turned his head towards her. His stare should be enough reason to make her feel uncomfortable and excited at the same time. She was extremely conflicted by this man's presence and it never happened before, not with Naveen also.

"I don't understand what you are trying to say. I asked you not to have any misunderstanding about my family," he said in his calm but authorative tone.

Surprisingly, she didn't seem to faze by it this time as she questioned back, "Why is there so many conflicts going on between you and Gyan? The distance between you two is clearly visible to everyone. I don't think it's a good thing."

"And I don't think you're eligible enough to give your unsolicited opinion on that."

She bit the inside of her cheek at his salty comeback. He was right and it stung.

"I only mean good. Gyan is in need of a trustable companion. He feels left out."

"He'll learn to toughen up over time. Leave him on his road."

"But I can't. When he comes to me pouring his heart out, it's difficult to ignore him. I've seen him breaking inside. He wants your company. He wants you to care for him. Believe it or not, he looks up to you."

He averted his eyes. "What I'm seeing from my place, you have created a huge misinterpretation about my brother. There is no such thing going on, and even if it is, he'll learn. It's his age. He's just aligning to the terms of life."

Now it was getting on her nerves. He couldn't be in denial. He was overlooking his little brother's mental wellbeing. "Why are you so careless about everything in life?"

Wrong choice of words.

But before she could stop herself, the words had already left her mouth.

He leaned back, putting most of his weight on his hands as he placed them behind. Meanwhile, the palpitation in her heart was increasing exponentially. She didn't want him to fire her for prying into their lives. But now she couldn't take her words back.

Once said words never return.

However, against all odds, Abhimanyu didn't look irritated or angry at her. The ever-indifferent expression that he wore all the time, was still on display. He just tilted his head slightly and looked up at the sky.

She clutched a handful of the fabric of her clothes and anxiously waited for his reaction which came shortly.

"Careless is a wrong word." He paused momentarily before adding, "Knowing your ultimate purpose is necessary. It makes life less complicated. Simple living, they say. When you're attached to your life, and everything related to it. Say, your family, your career, your passion, money, fame and everything that follows through --- is directly related to joy and pleasure. When you have any kind of attachment, it leads you to expectations. And expectations are nothing but your thoughts linked to the results that might be the source of joy and happiness. But what's interesting is that the result achieved is mostly short-lived. It doesn't serve the purpose of your soul."

He paused again and looked at her. Their eyes met and something in her told her not to interrupt him now. The meaning of his words held the depth she dared not overlook. They never broke eye contact as he continued, "Life in general, is like chasing a receding target. There is always something in our eyes. After achieving one goal, the next goal comes forward on its own. We are always on the run, chasing something. Making our lives binding with some things or others. When you realize this --- that is, you are doing nothing but chasing mirages, then you start questioning yourself, where does the happiness of my life lie? Is it in the attachment or does it come from the renunciation... detachment?"

She had never seen or heard him talk this much. The way he talked, it captivated her along with everything he was saying.

"When you know you're nothing but an energy being, the soul --- these worldly things become almost irrelevant."

She couldn't stop herself from asking, "But doesn't this concept make you aimless? It's like, escaping your responsibilities, running away from your duties by being uninterested in everything since you believe everything is apparent."

"No. it does not. It only changes the inner consciousness." He straightened and averted his eyes from her to the mountains at the backdrop.

A few seconds passed in silence. She wasn't able to decide whether to break the silence and ask him to explain. But that wasn't needed. Cause he resumed on his own. "Have you read Bhagavad Gita?"

Uhm- who does that? Who's got time for that even? "Er- no. But I know the gist of it."

He chuckled silently. "Then I'll give you the gist of chapter 5, Karma Yoga. When the embodied soul knows its worth, knows that nothing yields the result that is everlasting, it also doesn't get attached to the expectations of joy and pleasure from the work he has done. Technically, the realized soul is more focused on the internal happiness coming from its higher consciousness, irrespective of the outward situation of life. The truth is, all of this is just a kind of deception. Maya." He gestured his index finger in a circular motion. "If someone is able to tolerate the material senses, desires, emotions - anger, attachment --- then he's free from the bondage of life's miseries. Freedom and peace are achievable only through this way. All the rest of the ways are temporary, with a beginning and an end."

He paused momentarily before adding, "It does not mean one should withdraw from his work and responsibilities. Just withdrawing the expectation of pleasure is enough for that cause." He looked at her and gently said the next words, "I am not careless, Ms. Mitra. I just perform a restrain on attachment. I practice detachment to be able to feel the real me."

"But it definitely makes you look like an irresponsible individual."

He shrugged. "It doesn't bother me what others think about me."

"But..."

"There you are!" She got interrupted by Sange's high pitched voice. "I have been searching for you guys. Look what I found!"

Her excited voice made both of them turn around. Shreya's eyes dropped on the girl's folded arms where she was cradling a wild hare.

~~~

She had never met a person who was so privileged that it left him extremely independent. Abhimanyu was so silent and unbothered all the time, it made his persona more complicated than understandable.

He never once complained about the food they served him. Shreya knew he wasn't getting a satisfactory meal here, and every time they were eating, he was basically eating half of what he should. It was just the day before yesterday that she turned up at the kitchen to grab some snacks for Deb and found Abhimanyu cooking.

Although Sange was present there, and both of them offered their help, he refused and asked them to leave. He never once raised his voice, but after the third time of him saying no to their help, they knew better and left without another word. Later she realized he cooked his one-time meal every day and no one knew about it until that day.

When she talked about it with Sunny, he simply asked her to leave Abhimanyu alone. Because that was what his boss wanted, and she shouldn't disobey him. It was strange to her, but she didn't want to annoy any of them. So, she remained quiet.

Abhimanyu Roy was very hard to read. It was his expressionless poker face that intrigued her the most. She couldn't tell what he was thinking from looking at his face and expressions. He always displayed a stoic, unreadable expression, and he was always talking very patiently.

In fact, she actually thought the combination was very deadly. A polite tone, an unreadable face with an impassive aura, and a pair of intense eyes. No one could tell whether he was judging or just being indifferent about things just like he said. To be confirmed about being on his good side was a heck of a struggle, apart from being a hyper-fantasy.

She never saw him engaging in any kind of conflict even when on the day of their business meeting, the union leader of the tea factory wanted to create a scene, and Abhimanyu was too aloof about the situation.

She was with Dev and Nima, sitting in the lounge area. Dev and Nima had made quite a good rapport between them. She didn't want to interrupt them when Nima was showing Dev some kind of experiment with a box and some mirrors.

From the lounge area, both the front and backyard could be seen. She was listening to an audiobook while enjoying the scenic beauty of the backyard.

The company's meeting started on time as Abhimanyu asked Chetan before. They chose a separate room for the meeting and about ten people attended the meeting. An hour later, suddenly the door of the meeting room burst open and three men left in a hurry. One of them was shouting from the top of his lungs.

"What does he think of himself? I am the union leader and he didn't even listen to my opinion. Roy Sir should've come himself! This young generation is so inconsiderate! But he doesn't know me! I'll show him the cost of having a dispute with me."

His two minions repeated words of consent. After they left, others came out of the meeting room.

Chetan, and everyone else had a shadow of worry crossing their faces except AR.

Chetan cleared his throat. "Uhm- Abhimanyu. I think you should've given it a second thought. The workers are already working more than actual working hours."

"Yeah. That's why Permabell is paying them more than the normal pay in other tea factories. And still, they are demanding for the hike."

Chetan pressed, "I personally think the raise percentage is too little. 12% interim hike doesn't cover many of their expenses. The tea workers are in fact, losing financially."

"That isn't my or company's problem." Abhimanyu put his sunglasses on before adding, "Besides, I have had a word with the secretary general of ITA (Indian Tea Association). The board members aren't approving of increasing the wages more than 15%."

"But we should at least accept their minimum wage demand. Your father would have..."

Chetan couldn't finish his words as Abhimanyu interrupted shortly, "I am not my father. If it was needed for him to take the decision, he'd have come here himself, which is not what happened. I am here to hold the meeting and settle on a decision, and I did that. Now it's your job to make use of it. Besides, the elections are near. The government will intervene for sure. Presumably, we'll have to face another session of this dispute in the time to come. So, keep it low for now. And," He looked directly at Chetan before saying, "The union leader. Take a good care of him." As soon as he said so, he marched out of the guesthouse, Sunny trailing behind him.

Not for once she heard him raising his voice.

Another time, she couldn't decide whether she should believe her eyes or her understanding. Because both of them were excruciatingly right and she was conflicted beyond her grasp. Her heart's first instinct was - abhorrence. But she did not want to judge too soon. So, she forcefully unheard her inner warning.

It was the afternoon of the next day. Everyone was out in the front yard except AR. He was standing at the balcony, overlooking all of them.

An old lady and a teenage girl came up at the main gate of the guesthouse and wanted to meet AR.

The guard stopped them at the gate and called for Mr. Dinu. After having a word, Dinu came up and asked AR, they wanted to meet him for some help. Abhimanyu did not meet them. He simply dismissed them.

There was no trace of neither curiosity, nor concern. It was simply blank. Uninterested.

She wasn't really sure why she felt attracted to this critical, boring and confusing personality once. The more she had been knowing about this person, the more she was feeling repulsed by him. And especially after what happened yesterday, she'd like to stay miles away from him. It was so embarrassing and humiliating at the same time. If it was possible, she'd have left by herself long ago.

Yesterday late afternoon, the water stopped coming in their attached bathroom. When she discovered that, she regretted not showering in the morning.

"Dev, the water isn't coming."

"Call downstairs." Dev stood at the door of the bathroom and looked expectantly at her way. He had been talking more often here, and not once expressed his desire to talk to his mother.

She obliged. The extension phone was kept beside the bed. She reached over and dialed. But fate had a different plan, and it wasn't favorable.

"Sorry ma'am. The water supply has been ruptured since morning. We are trying to provide water as much as needed but you'll have to wait for your turn. The water suppliers are working in the right wing at this moment."

"How much time will it take?"

"Can't say. Maybe an hour or two."

"But it'll be dark by then."

"I'm sorry ma'am. We're trying our best." There was a sound of shuffling before Mr. Dinu's voice flew in. "Hello ma'am. Apologies for the inconvenience. Will you please adjust with Abhimanyu Sir. I've just sent hot water to his room five minutes ago. It's sufficient for two people to use."

"Oh!" Shreya looked at Dev who was still staring at her. "Uhm- I'm not sure if I can-"

"Otherwise, it might get a little late."

She gambled the options before consenting, "Okay." Then they hung up."

This was a nice uncalled trouble!

As she exited their room after assembling a fresh set of clothes and other necessary items, she stumbled seeing Abhimanyu on the balcony, just outside of his room. He was sitting and reading from a file.

She gulped before approaching him.

"Excuse me, AR."

He looked up from his file. His brooding eyes through is spectacles fell straight on hers, freezing her on spot.

She took a deep breath and let it all out altogether. "Uhm- water is not coming in our room. Reception told it'll take some time. Can- can I use yours?"

He said nothing but shrugged and went back to reading his file. It looked affirmative so, she exhaled in relief and scurried inside his room.

This room was spacious than the other one in this floor. She noticed, the room had a full glass window at the east, which was right now covered by white vertical window blinds. In fact, she could see outside through the slits. AR's focus was either on the file or he'd look at the mountains sometimes for a moment before getting back to the file.

Without wasting much time, she entered the bathroom.

The water was warm. The combination of the chilly weather and warm water formed goosebumps all over her skin.

She closed her eyes and splashed some water on her face. A face flashed through her mind causing her to snap her eyes open. 

No, it couldn't be. In fact, it made no sense! 

She had no idea why she was so intrigued by this Abhimanyu Roy. 

He had been anything but friendly with her, yet she was finding herself getting pulled towards him by some invisible string. This was unattainable, unrequited, impossible. Logically, she knew it. But... something inside her was still expectant to know him better... intimately. She wanted to know why was he so difficult? What made him like this? He was polar opposite of his brother. But why? Why were his parents extra careful towards him? And why was she feeling this urge to connect to him desperately?

Her breathing deepened as her absurd desires running wild in her thoughts.

What would it feel like to get close to him? And... have his arms around her waist? Would it be exciting since his face wouldn't give out anything? No expression. Like a mask...but without mask. Exciting? Or...

She rubbed the soap on the length of her arms and lathered it up.

Was it really possible between them? His intense eyes...as if a space holding stars in them, and the scar on his eyebrow --- what was the history behind it. She wanted to know it all.

An uneven sigh left her. Perhaps she was being too delusional. She should just stop day-dreaming. It was impossible and she was doing a mistake by confusing her heart. She must start thinking like a normal person!

She got out of the bathroom wearing her nightrobe and went towards the mirror while drying her hair with the towel. Her eyes darted towards the windows instinctively and saw the man outside talking on his phone looking at the distance. She tore her gaze from him and looked at herself.

Since she had gotten here, she felt unexplainably relaxed for some reason. It could be because there were no extra worries bugging her mind. No explanation to give for the things she was doing to her parents or someone trying to possess her (Naveen). It felt as if she was on her own (except her subconscious knew she wasn't really).

A taste of freedom.

She was wearing the nightgown wrong side up. A groan left her mouth when she realized that. Seriously?

She took a quick glance at Abhimanyu and saw him still talking on the phone. It wouldn't take much time, right? She could just change it in seconds before he finished his conversation, and by knowing his nature, he wouldn't really look or get into the room without knocking.

It didn't take her a second thought before she pulled her nightgown over her head and pulling the right side up to put it back on.

But things didn't go as planned. The door burst open and Abhimanyu entered the room hurriedly. She spun around in a flash and hiccupped. "What the-"

Abhimanyu only spared her a glance while she was trying to cover herself by holding nightgown to her chest, before he turned around and said, "I'm sorry. It's urgent. I need to leave right now. I can't wait until you are done."

He started stripping as soon as the words left his mouth. Meanwhile, she was in a shock. She put on her clothes back in a rush as her ears turned hot. This was not happening! What the actual fuck? If anyone saw them like this, what would they think?

She prepared herself to give a piece of her mind and turned towards AR, only to receive another shock from him. His back had two injury marks and from the look of them, they looked like gunshot injuries. Although these two looked timeworn, the one on his right bicep was a relatively new injury. Abhimanyu moved to the wardrobe and opened it. Her feet moved on their own towards him.

She had never felt this strong pull to examine someone's injury marks before. But these gunshot marks... they looked like secrets. Heart-wrenching secrets.

Her hand held onto the chair back which had her wet towel on it. She picked it up as her conscience told her to leave the room but her heart did not want to. She wanted to touch and see the marks... from up close. It was such an irrational thought but she couldn't shake it off. The door was beside the wardrobe. To exit the room, she'd have to walk past him. She took a step forward and her bad luck played its part efficiently. At the same moment he turned around and crashed into her. It happened so fast that the impact caused her disbalancing her strides and stumble back. But he caught her hand swiftly to stop her from falling over.

She had never in her entire life felt so clumsy what she felt around this man.

"Oh, I'm- I'm so sorry! I was just leaving- I-"

She couldn't complete her sentence, because the next words coming out of his mouth, broke the limit of all humiliation and embarrassment. She felt so tiny, pathetic and inferior which she never knew was possible to experience.

"I think, you should just give up on your little exertions to get close to me."

Wha- Her eyes widened as the words fell in her ears making them hot. Her face took a shade of crimson from the humiliation. Although he wasn't entirely wrong, at this point her dignity was at stake. She admired him. But it didn't mean she'd tolerate his inconsiderate assuming remarks. This arrogant prick had no right to say that! She liked him but she liked him differently. His ideals and thoughts were provocative, but it didn't mean she wanted to throw herself at him. Okay fine! Secretly, she did... once upon a time! But as he verbalized the situation, it made her look like some promiscuous teenager!

"Excuse me!" She jerked her hand away from his grasp. "Please think before talking, Mr. Abhimanyu Roy." She emphasized on the last two words. "It was you who entered the room without knocking. I was just on my way out, and I slipped (because of you!). I did no such thing to make you think like I was trying to grab your attention."

He stood there with his stoic face, and for the first time, she wanted to erase that annoying look off his face. Disgusting! What did he think of himself? Some kind of prince? Probably he was one, but it had nothing to do with her. Damn it!

His words sounded as if he wanted to make her acknowledge the disparity between them. The huge difference between the privileged class and the working class. In fact, she needed it. She was dreaming unreasonably.

Ashwin's words crossed her mind.

"Ah Shreya, you don't even realize how lucky you'll be if you can make one of the Roys fall in love with you. ... Trust me. The only solution is - 'The Art of Seduction'"

She noted down to reprimand his friend as soon as she gets back to home. The difference was immeasurable ... between her and her cold-apathetic employer.

She promised to herself to never ever look at him. Forget about talking.

Now she only wanted to get back to Kolkata. What a terrible experience of the first trip of her life!

She stomped out of his room and since then, she hadn't really seen him.

She avoided every chance she could've encountered him and so far, it went well. She just couldn't face him after what happened last night. Embarrassment at its peak!

No one had ever made her feel this much tiny what Mr. Abhimanyu Roy made her feel in front of him. It felt like he was the sun, and she was a tiny comet, which'd just disappear if she got a little close to him. She didn't want to see his face... ever again.