" Kalpita... Ji.. "

Kalpita breathed fast, supporting herself against the railing.
She didn't look in his direction.

Shivaji walked over and stood next to her. Blinking eyes several times, and gulping litres of saliva, he uttered,

" I....really don't....know...what's going on..

I only...know... you had been to the office... And then there...was some heated discussions....with someone...then you left...and then people came over to....sir's chamber... And I was greeted with weird...stares..
No one...told me anything..

I only heard someone shout...inside his chamber...and then...they stormed out...
I was... informed nothing...

Sir had gone silent...
He...didn't talk to me the whole of the journey back home...

I....am completely....blank...

But, all I...can say is....sorry for being rude to....you last night.. "

Kalpita stared at him for a long time.

He knew nothing, no one informed him a word. His timid, shy self, was probably struggling within, because he could guess, that the matter surrounded him.

Despite everything, he had come over to her, to apologise for the previous night.

Kalpita suddenly felt extremely bad for him. Just so bad, that she wanted to hug him.

The next second she knew she was flowing away with unexplained emotions, and she grew firm. She looked away.

Shivaji still tried to keep up with the talk. Because, to him, she was the only person who was probably listening, and to whom he could probably say things.

" Also... I am...extremely thankful to you....

I understand, you probably....had a fight with someone...that involved.. me...
And you have been....standing by me since day...one..

You are a very good human... Kalpita ji...
I.... I... "

" Why?? " , Kalpita suddenly glared at him.
" Why can't you stand for yourself?
Why do I have to do that for you?? "

An untold rage grew within her.
She knew she was breaking boundaries and going places she had never, only for him, rather, probably, for the responsibility she was given.

Also, why even was she given the responsibility, in the first place??

Shivaji blinked again, rubbed his nose, his face, and kept scratching the railing, trying to hold back his awkward self within the tall stature.

" No... No... You don't have to do...it Kalpita ji...

Please don't....trouble yourself...

I....too don't...know why you're...doing...

If it's a burden....why to....have it on your shoulders...?

For almost a....stranger...

Yes I can't...stand for myself..

Not that I'm...very proud of the fact...but... I just....can't...

However....you don't need to... "

" Shut up!!!! I can do whatever I wish!

You, or anyone for that matter, can't decide what I should be doing, whom I should be taking stands for!

And go hell with your burden! I do nothing I don't want to! Got that? "
Kalpita screamed. Shivaji shivered a bit, but nodded silently.

Immediately, her insides calmed.

She looked away from his face... that displayed the softest possible features.

Nothing was truer than what she had just screamed though.

Kalpita would never do things only because she was requested or ordered, if she didn't want to, that too, to this extent.

She wondered..... was she getting attached to Shivaji, more than she should be, beyond requests or promises?

While she would have definitely hated people of his kinds, why couldn't she, this time?

Why didn't... standing up for him, really become a burden for her, when she was typically resentful of withdrawn people as such?

She stopped thinking.

And turned to Shivaji.

She met with a blank. He was gone.

____

" Shivaji, is someone troubling you here? "

Devendra asked.

Shivaji took sometime.
Ultimately, nodded sideways.

" Are you sure? "

" Yes.. sir. "

He was in no position to invite troubles for anyone, be it Devendra or Kalpita ji.

" Phew.

My daughter is not only straightforward, but also highly impulsive on occasions. Not always, she's very sensible otherwise.

Who hasn't faced issues at workplaces? Ask me! Was I gifted this chair? No. I too had to face severe negativity. I handled them, myself.
You too will.

She doesn't have to jump for you, right? "

Shivaji nodded again.
Wondering, if she jumped this way only for him. And if for everyone, why even was her father so bothered. And if for him specially, then, 'why even' , was the biggest and the most troublesome question.

" I believe, since she has been a reason for your appointment, she thinks she needs to protect you.

She's a kid at times. "

Devendra as if read his mind, or was finding explanations to himself.

" Okay, get back to your desk. "

" Sir, you have...a meeting in...fifteen minutes....with the Aroras.. "

" Oh... Thank you so much..

I'll just prepare myself.
Thanks again.

You get the papers ready, those I had sorted last night. "

Shivaji nodded and walked out of the room. Somehow, he wasn't feeling very well.

He settled on his desk, and suddenly, startling him, someone placed a glass of milk tea on his table with a sound.

He looked up, and was greeted by the red teethed Bhairo Singh, who looked unusually amicable today.

Shivaji was beyond surprised.

He hardly came upto him. He knew Bhairo brought tea to everyone, but not to him. The dislike at first sight, seemed mutual. Also he didn't receive the butter he was used to, from Shivaji.

" Shivaji Sir, good morning.
Do you prefer milk tea or black tea? I'll bring anything you say. "

Shivaji stared with his jaw dropped, for a long time. Bhairo kept smiling as if he was his most loyal servant on earth.

" Errm.... Thank you...
This will...do... " , he said slowly.

" Hehe. This is one of the best teas available nearby.

Anyways, I'm always at your service. If you have some problem, or someone troubles you, just inform me. " , he lowered his voice.
" We can't do anything about shameless people, but Kalpita madam and Devendra sir can definitely do. Hehe.

By the way, Kalpita madam is a very powerful woman. Also, very beautiful. Isn't she? "

Shivaji frowned and looked down.

" Whatever. Don't you worry. I'm there for you. 24*7. "

Tucking a paan, Bhairo Singh walked away.

Shivaji kept staring...for a long time after this...at the end of which..a smile crossed his lips.

Dr. Kalpita Chatterjee, was indeed, very powerful.

_____

" Kalpi, he's staring at you. Ohh, he's hot!! Grab him. "

Rimjhim pressed Kalpita's shoulder.

The disco sounds that rang through the pub was already getting on Kalpita's nerves.
The buzz seemed hugely irritating, tonight.

She pushed Rimjhim's hand off her shoulder and gulped in a shot of Vodka.

Rimjhim walked away to Shamita, and they joined Rohan on the dance floor.

Kalpita kept staring.

" Hey beautiful!! " , a man moved in next to her. She tried recalling his face.
Yeah, she had spent a night with him a week back, though he was such a bad kisser that it had ended there itself. But, the talk had extended for long, just because she wanted to kill time.

She threw a smirk, and looked away.

" I have been searching for you frantically since the night we met. Thanks to my stars, I could catch you tonight.

Don't you visit regularly? "

" No.

Also, you are too worthless to even have the right to look for me. "
Kalpita jumped down the bar counter.

" Hey!! I know I couldn't satisfy your needs that night, but can't you give me one more chance? "

" Fuck off. " , Kalpita walked straight out of the pub.

He followed her.

" Hey listen. At least your number.... "

Kalpita gestured the guards outside the pub to hold him back.

For the first time in life, she left the pub, hooking up with no one at all.

She breathed deep under the night sky.

" I'm leaving.
Enjoy. " , she posted a text on their WhatsApp friends' group, and called Ganesh.
" Take me home, Uncle! "

_____

" Kalpita won't return for the night. Neither will we.

We have got plans to stay at my sister's place, post dinner.

We'll get back home around nine, tomorrow morning. Kalpita returns by six. " , Suchandra stood at Shivaji's door and spoke.

He kept staring.

" Govind will be there with you. He'll serve you dinner. He stays at the guest room. You can call him in the night if you need something. Also you can call me. This is my number. "

The lady was wonderful. Shivaji reflected.

Although he nodded, a fear gripped him from within.

Govind hardly talked, also the guest room was far away from his.

Shivaji tried calming himself, as Mr and Mrs Mukherjee left at around 8:30 in the night.

He could see Govind nowehere.

He took seat on the sofa in the living room. A headache gripped him, rising from behind the neck.

Should he call Govind before he got a panic attack? However, he kept sitting without movements, for a long time.

The door bell rang.

Shivaji stared horrified at the door, trying to ponder if he should answer. Soon, Govind appeared from nowhere.

He opened the door.

Kalpita walked in.

Shivaji felt, as if, he just got rid of a fever running upto 104 degrees.

He stood up, smiling.

" Yucckk!!! I was hating the pub so much tonight. The DJ was irritating. " , Kalpita aimed the words at him.

" Mom and Dad left, right?
Is there food? "
Govind was interrogated. He nodded a yes and went inside the kitchen.

" Let's eat together. Freshen up. "

Kalpita almost ordered Shivaji and ran up the stairs.

Shivaji realised, she was looking enigmatic, in a red pencil dress, and black smudged kohl.

He had hardly seen such perfect features, a powerful blend of an urban smartness and a rural calm. He smiled to himself. She must be having millions dying for her.

Kalpita ran down soon in the dress itself, with just the makeup removed.

Govind served food.

They sat at the table.

" I...was wondering....how I would spend..the night..alone...in this huge..." , Shivaji said.

" See, your saviour is here, once again. " , she danced her brows.

Shivaji softly smiled, and looked down at his plate.

Kalpita, however, didn't.

She, rather, stared a bit longer at him.

He had a very, very beautiful smile.

Girls in his village, might be dying for him.
She was sure. Should she ask?
Nah. He would blush so much that he might not even eat after that.

She laughed within, and looked at her plate.

Finally, Saturday night, done right.

_____

My enthusiasm curve going downwards. Can drop this story anytime. Or can write regularly and end soon.
Don't know depends on my mood.