✿ F i v e   Y e a r s    A g o ✿

As always Angad Shekhawat a.k.a. Mr Late Lateef reached the office one hour late. But now it had become a normal occurrence for Rudraksh. Angad's laziness annoyed him. But it's not like he could fire that idiot. Angad was well-informed about all of his affairs and flings. He could probably write a book on them. And whenever Rudraksh threatened to fire him, Angad will use his ultimate weapon. Blackmailing. Rudraksh didn't want to admit this but he was helpless in this situation.

Just when he was throwing colorful words at his ‘hardworking’ secretary, Angad walked into his cabin with a cup of coffee.

“Think of the devil and the devil is here,” Rudraksh mumbled under his breath.

Angad put the coffee on Rudraksh's desk and turned to leave with a sad face.

“Angad, take a seat,” Rudraksh called out Angad, who was about to open the door. Angad looked back at his boss and moved to sit opposite Rudraksh with the same gloomy expression.

“Why do you look so depressed?” Rudraksh asked while taking a sip of the coffee. The coffee was drinkable, much to his disbelief. Angad didn't respond immediately and just kept staring at the paperweight kept on the table.

“Angad, tell me. Looking sad all the time won't do any good. You can share your problems with me,” Rudraksh urged.

“Raina left.” Angad said quietly, before he fell silent again.

“Huh? You are sad because Raina left? Are you stressed about the workload?” Rudraksh was genuinely puzzled.

“No... I... I had proposed to her. She left because of me,” Angad tried to explain while controlling to control his own emotions.

“Oh, you are sad because of Raina's resignation,” Rudraksh realized.

“Hmm,” Angad murmured in agreement.

“Heartbreaks are painful. But you will get back to normal after some time. Don't tell this to anyone but... I used to like a girl back in college,” Rudraksh confessed in an attempt to comfort Angad.

“Oh, I thought who are just a playman,” Angad said, momentarily distracted from his sorrow.

“It's playboy, you idiot,” Rudraksh corrected him.

“You aren't a boy,” Angad pointed out.

“Whatever,” Rudraksh dismissed Angad's comment.

“Umm... what about that girl?” Angad asked.

Rudraksh chuckled lightly before he began speaking, “I was around twenty-three at that time. It was the last day of college when I proposed to her to marry me. She didn't reply and just ran away. Later, she just dissappeared from the face of earth,” He recounted the memory of his first love.

“Is she the reason why you don't want to get married?” Angad asked.

“Umm... yeah. She just set the bar too high. I could never find a girl who could make my heart beat faster like she used to,” Rudraksh admitted.

“Hmm, maybe I will also die alone,” Angad mused.

“Angad, you will definitely find someone,” Rudraksh reassured him.

“Thanks. I'm taking leave for two weeks then. I should travel to Europe to refresh my mind,” Angad announced.

“Aye, I'm not granting you any leave,” Rudraksh dismissed the idea immediately.

“Okay, then I will tell your mother that you did threesome with two fashion models,” Angad did what he was best at. Blackmailing his boss.

“Angad, my dear, why just two weeks? Go on a vacation for two months if you want. I have no objection,” Rudraksh changed his words faster than a chameleon changes it's color. He was really scared of his conservative mother who might just disown him if she got to know about his sexual adventures.

“Aww, you are the world's best boss. If you are insisting so much then I will extend my leave to one month. Thank you, boss,” Angad took good advantage of Rudraksh's helplessness. But it visibly improved his mood.

“When will I get rid of this bastard?” Rudraksh muttered to himself as Angad left the room.

✿ ✿ ✿

✿ P r e s e n t    T i m e ✿

✿ ✿ ✿

Angad entered the office of Yaduvanshi Enterprises followed by a bunch of bodyguards. Some of the staff was surprised to see him in the office. There used to be a time when this guy would rush into the office looking clueless and now he was there as an investor. No one had ever imagined that once clumsy and clueless Angad would one day enter politics and carry on his family's legacy.

“Wait for me here.” He instructed his bodyguards, leaving them in the reception area as he took lift to Rudraksh's cabin.

Rudraksh was sipping coffee while going through some documents when Angad entered the cabin.

“Hey,” Angad shared a casual greeting with Rudraksh as he took a seat opposite him.

“What are you doing here? Investors' meeting is next month,” Rudraksh replied, not paying much attention to Angad.

“I'm not here to discuss business,” Angad said, leaning forward slightly.

“Well, if you want to discuss politics then you should go to your sister. Waris is also in town so you can meet him too. I'm only interested if it has something to do with the finance policies,” Rudraksh responded, still focused on his documents.

“Rudraksh, I saw Raina!” Angad announced a little loudly.

“Raina? The name is quite familiar. Oh, wait... the girl who worked as my second assistant for a while and resigned after you proposed to her?” Rudraksh recalled.

“Yeah, I met her again,” Angad confirmed.

“So? What's so special about it?” Rudraksh asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It appears like she still likes me,” Angad explained, while staring at the paperweight kept on the table. It was the same paperweight from five years back.

“Then go ahead. Date her, marry her, whatever you want to do,” Rudraksh suggested nonchalantly.

“It's not that easy. Our situation is a bit tricky. I mean, she is into a profession which might create hurdles in my political career,” Angad said, his voice laced with worry and confusion.

“Then don't go ahead,” Rudraksh advised plainly.

“But I want to be with her,” Angad admitted.

“Then say goodbye to your political career,” Rudraksh retorted.

“I don't want to do that either,” Angad replied, frustration evident in his tone.

“Then ask her to leave that profession. By the way, what's her profession?” Rudraksh asked him curiously.

“Oh, umm... it's quite an unconventional profession. You know, it's not socially accepted even though it's legal,” Angad hesitated.

“You are making it sound like she is a prostitute,” Rudraksh commented nonchalantly, not meaning his words.

“Well, she is,” Angad confessed quietly.

“Angad, tell me it's a joke,” He narrowed his eyes at Angad, not ready to believe his words.

“It's not a joke. Raina really is a prostitute,” Angad sighed helplessly.

“How come that innocent girl got into this business?” Rudraksh wondered aloud.

“I want to ask her that,” His voice softened.

“Ah, something similar happened with me too,” Rudraksh added.

“Something similar? Did you start charging women for sleeping with you?” Angad asked in all seriousness.

“Do I look like a manwhore to you?” Rudraksh glared at Angad.

“Yes, you do,” Angad replied without missing a beat.

“Whatever. I saw the girl I used to like back in college,” Rudraksh disclosed.

“Oh, that's wonderful. I hope you get married soon,” Angad gave his best wishes.

“She is already married,” Rudraksh revealed with a hint of disappointment.

“Oops, my condolences. It must be heartbreaking to see your love with someone else,” Angad sympathized.

“Her husband is an asshole. He offered me to spend a night with her in exchange of a business deal,” Rudraksh uttered bitterly.

“What!?” Angad exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

“And I'm confused. What should I do? I want to help her,” There was a vulnerability in his voice.

“You should talk to her first,” Angad suggested.

“Hmm... you should also talk to Raina,” Rudraksh advised Angad.

“Yeah, I will,” Angad nodded.

With that, Angad stood up, gave Rudraksh a nod, and walked out of the cabin. He was determined to not let Raina walk out of his life again.

•••

Sorry for the delay and I hope the chapter was funny ♥