Next morning

At office

Prateek's Pov

"We want to finalise this deal by this evening"I said to my manager and averted my gaze towards Swathi's cabin.

"Yes sir!"He nodded and left my room.I didn't find Swathi anywhere.Where is she?!I closed my eyes for a second pressing the bridge of my nose.

"Sir,Rohith sir called for a board meeting with out any prior intimation"My manager stood in front of me with a pale and worried face.

"But what's the reason?"I looked at him with a frown on my lips.

"May be?!"I sighed and looked away.

What's going on?!What does he want?He was following me all the time.I saw him at mall.I wonder what if he meets Swathi's father.Oh god!I shook my head as it started spinning for a minute.

Did he went to dad?Did Swathi's father met dad.I completely forgot to ask dad about him about the issue last night.I left Swathi at flat yesterday and was searching for Krithik all the time.

I contacted all our mutual friends but no use.I miss him so badly.I just wanted to take the help of Abhimanyu and approached Sameer they just asked me to wait for somemore time.

My thoughts are unstoppable.They are uncontrollable but somewhere in my heart I can sense that something is going to happen very badly.I walked towards the conference hall with a sulky face.

I saw someone moving suspiciously into our manager's cabin.Who is it?I hide myself and watching a shadow creeping through the half ajar door.

I can see its a girl.I held my breathe and walked towards the door.I saw a girl,Is it Swathi?Oh my god?!I gulped and chocked suddenly realising what just happening!What is she doing here?!She is busy in checking a file.What?!What does she want.

I didn't flinch,I want to know what just she doing here?She changed a file.What's it?She twirled and peeped her surroundings.I walked away and hide behind a wall near that cabin.

She was wearing a scarf around her face.She removed it and looked at the file.What is it?I sighed and completely clueless what is she doing.She ran away from there just like that.What was that?!What did she do?I am truly puzzled by her behaviour.

"Sir,"Stream of my thoughts were stopped by a very familiar voice.

I tilted my head to see my manager standing in front of me with a blank face.

"What?"I looked at him with  anger filled eyes.

"Sir,Everyone is waiting for you.Please come to conference hall"He almost begged me in his pleading tone.

I felt sorry for him,I shook my head and faked a smile at him.

"Rohith sir is going to give a presentation about you"He whispered.

"What?What did you say?"I am shocked,I know he is going to point out me for keeping Avni with me.What did Swathi's father do?Oh god!I scolded my half wit.How could leave him there before Mr.Rohith Mishra?

I walked towards the conference hall with my own smirk.

"Welcome Mr.Prateek"My very own Uncle Mr.Rohith Mishra welcomed me very warmly.

"Thank you Bade Papa"I smiled sarcastically hiding my anger.

"Don't you dare to call me Bade papa again"He came and stood beside me muttering something in my ear.

"I will for ever,What would you do?"I am very angry now,I don't know why I am feeling as such,May be because of Swathi,What just she did,I can't believe my eyes.I closed my eyes for a second and looked at him with bloodshot eyes.

"I would never allow you to do that"He smiled teasingly and looked at everyone.

"Well ladies and gentlemen,I called all of you here to tell you something which is very true and real.Our Very own talented CEO of Mishra group Mr.Prateek was caught romancing with a girl.Well you all can question me what's wrong in it.Yes!Yes!I know nothing is wrong in it but look at these pictures you will see with whom he is romancing?Who is that lucky girl?"He laughed and pressed the remote.

I am shocked to see Avni,Oh god!What did he do?He took pictures of me and Avni.Myself caryying Avni in my arms and few other pictures which can misguide others,they are convincing enough to show us as a pair.God!I was helping her.I adore her as my sister.

"She is Avni,AVNI SISTER OF MR.ASHOK"He laughed like a maniac.

"So what's your problem Mr.Rohith Mishra"I dragged mike to me and questioned him.

"What's my problem,Are you crazy?She is Avni,Ashok's sister"He looked at everyone with a shock written face.

"That's what I am asking Mr.Rohith Mishra?What's your problem?Why would it matter if I love her or not?Why should I answer you?"I smiled calmly.

"It's ridiculous,She is our rival's sister,What if she does something which would harm us?Our company?She may carry our secrets to her brother?"He looked at everyone trying his best to convince them.

"I just want to clarify two things to everyone.very first thing Avni is not my lover,just because I am holding her in my arms it never mean that I love her or she is having an affair with me.She loves Krithik and like a sister to me.So don't anyone dare to speak ill words about her.I will simply break your bones."I sighed and looked at everyone for a second and continued.

"Second thing,She filed a case against her own brother Ashok hence she is also a sufferer like us.So just mind one thing Mr.Rohith Mishra before pointing at others mistakes that you are not a demigod to know everything.It's better to find the truth before you accuse anyone.Soemtimes your own bloody eyes can decieve you very badly"I looked at him seriously.

He didn't speak anything.

"You won't change Rohith"I heard dad entering the hall with a serious face.

"Avni is just like my daughter and I believe my son.So better leave it here"Dad almost declared and I saw most of the board members nodding at him in agreement.

Its truly frightening,eerie of silence all around,all the board members and employees left one by one threwing weird glances at me,some are appreciating my courage,while few are questioning my loyalty,a sad smile escaped from my lips.

"Don't worry,everything will be fine"Dad just came to me and patted my shoulder,I faked a smile and sighed.Suddenly a pair of eyes dragged my attention.

Swathi is standing there at a corner far away from us,She is looking at me with a pale face.I can't read her reaction.What does she want?Does she want an explanation?or She is angry with me?I don't know but I just wanted to slap her for the very first time in my life,I know I can't do that for ever in my life time as I strongly disbelieve in physical abuse but she broke my heart.I know she is hiding something from me but not to an extent of stealing files.How could you Swathi?!A lone tear escaped from my eye.I wiped and looked away.

Mr.Rohith Mishra who was looking at me with sharp anger filled eyes came to me hastily and clenched my collar firmly.Not a fair move by him,I never expected this from him for sure.

"Leave it Mr.Rohith Mishra"I mumbled looking into his eyes catching his wrist.

"You....you can't stop me"He stammered,Probably for the very first time in his life.

"I said leave it"I yelled at him and dad too might have shocked by my reaction.Dad was there and trying hard to control his brother but he caught my collar very quickly just in a fraction of seconds,he was so stringent to realise it.I am truly irritated by his behaviour,I am truly sorry to him as this time I can't stop myself.

"What do you want?Why are you after me?What did I ask from you?Money?legacy?Power?fame?Did I ask any of these things from you?I just want to be a part of our family?What's wrong in it?I just asked love?If you can't give me the love I deserve then just stay away from me,my life and my business.Why do you want to throw me away from my family?from my parents and everyone?What will you get in return?For God's sake please leave me,let me live my bloody own life in peace?Who the hell are you to interfere?What will you gain from doing so?How could you let your own brother suffer?Just get away from my life?Why would it matter to you if I romance with a girl?or I just die as such,I beg you,Leave me.I always respected you as much as my dad but you never proved yourself worthy of it"I just folded my hands before him and shouted at the top of my lungs.

Dad looked at me seriously,I can see he is weeping,his eyes are brimmed with tears.I sighed for a second and averted my gaze at Swathi,She just smiled at me hopelessly.I can't smile at the sometime I can't cry even,I am experiencing a different feeling for the very first time,I am completely and utterly devoid of any emotion.I am shouting just to releave my pain.

I loosened the tie dangling around my neck.I unbuttoned few buttons of my coat and rambled around the hall for a second.Suddenly I got worried about Avni,Is she fine?Or?!I looked at Mr.Rohith Mishra who stood there wiping the sweat beads formed on his forehead.

"What did you do to Avni?"I whirled and asked him.

He looked at me with a baffled face.

"What did you do to her?Have you tormented her?I will see your end if you do anything as such?"I looked into his eyes and I can see those are filled with guilt.

"What?"Dad stammered and looked at me.

"I am asking you Mr.Rohith Mishra what did you do?"I am shouting at him madly still he didn't fumbled a word,Damn!

Suddenly his phone started ringing and I dragged it quickly from his hands.

"Ashok?"I showed dad Mr.Rohith Mishra's mobile and Dad was about to collapse.

"Dad"I just patted his shoulder and caught his hand in time.

"I never ever imagined that you will stoop to this level Rohith.I always adored you,loved you as a brother but now you broke my trust into pieces.I sometimes used to have a soft corner towards you but now you killed me,my love ruthlessly"Dad spoke with heavy heart.

I picked the call and kept it in speaker mode.

"We didn't find her in his flat,she is missing."Ashok is shouting on other side.

"Oh my god!"Dad looked at me worriedly.

"Don't worry Dad"I sighed assuring him.

"I won't leave you"I caught my car keys and walked towards the exit.

Suddenly a hand stopped me.I turned around and saw Swathi standing infront of me lowering her head a bit with tears in her eyes.

"I am sorry"She just hugged me quickly embracing her arms around me tightly.

"Leave me Swathi,I need to go"I said slowly trying to release myself from her hug.

"I am sorry"She loosened her grip and looked into my eyes lifting her head a bit.

"It's okay"I mumbled and looked away.

"I am worried about you"She spoke very sofly which clenched my heart.

"I am okay Swathi,Please leave me"It takes tons of patience for me to keep quiet,I know if she budges me a bit harder I will shout at her crazily which wouldn't be good for us both.

"Please"She placed her hand on my cheek and I took it away quickly.I can see she got hurt by my action but I am helpless.

"I need to go"I just walked away without a word.I won't forgive you Swathi I said to myself.

Prateek in his new attitude