*Kalpana Pov*

"So, black or white?" Pallavi asked the moment I sat down beside her for lunch.

"Black!" I replied, sighing and leaned back feeling tired.

"What? But even yesterday it was white, right?" she asked frowning at me.

"I know! I just wish, it turns back to white soon. I can't bear this black for more days." I replied shivering with the feeling of terror.

"Even I can see how stressful it is for you. I will pray it turns to white and we will have party this time." She said patting my hand.

"Okay! I actually thought of surprising you both, but your conversation made me completely forget where am I." we heard a voice and turned to see Kiran standing with a frown.

"Kiran!" I said, grinning and stood up before walking near to him with Pallavi following me.

"Missed me?" he asked smirking.

"Where the hell have you been?" I asked slapping his shoulder.

"Well, the project made me stay back for more days than expected." He replied and I shook my head before hugging him.

"Yes! We all missed you." I said, moving back to which he smiled at me.

"Can I talk to you? Privately!" he added the last word after glancing at Pallavi.

"Okay!" I mumbled frowning at him.

"We will go to café?" he asked and I slowly nodded before turning towards Pallavi to see her frowning at Kiran.

"I will be back." I mumbled to which she nodded still staring at Kiran.

Kiran and I walked away from the canteen and in silence reached outside the company. I glanced at him to see him feeling nervous, but I kept my mouth shut, knowing well he will tell me soon whatever it is.

"So, what is it?" I asked not being able to wait anymore the moment we sat down.

"I just want to say that... that I like you. I mean, I really like you. I wanted to say this during the party, but I couldn't even come due to project." He said and continued to talk, but my eyes widened the moment he said he likes me.

"Kiran..." I started to say, but he shook his head stopping me.

"We can't be together though." He immediately said, making me frown at me.

"What?" I asked him not understanding his latest statement.

"The branch where I gave presentation liked my work and is wishing for me to take a senior post than the present one." He explained.

"Okay!" I mumbled, still not understanding.

"It is very far place and even our boss is encouraging me to take the offer as it is very great one which would help my career." He added.

"Where are you going with this, Kiran?" I asked sighing.

"I like you, but I can't be in long distance relation no matter what, when I know you may not like me like I do. And also there will be more involvement with long distance, whereas you have a kid to take care of." He replied and I nodded accepting his words.

"Then why are you telling me that you like me?" I asked staring at him.

"Because I do not want to keep it within me forever. I don't want to have any regrets you know." He replied, making me narrow my eyes at him.

"So, you just threw that bomb at me. Do you even know how the situation is?" I asked, still not believing that he likes me.

"I really do not want to have regrets, Kalpana. No one should have any regrets right? We just do when we know the chance will not be there anymore. And now I am actually feeling relied without any questions I should have told her." He explained.

"Really? Then listen to my answer." I started, but he again stopped shaking his head.

"I know you don't like me and I also know you don't believe me." He said making me cough feeling awkward.

"Anyway, I will leave now. But first tell me about this black and white." He asked curiously.

"As you are not going to be in this building and very far from here. I will tell you." I said, leaning forward.

"The way you are saying is nothing but making me more curious." He said in an excited tone.

"The color is based on our boss..." before I could finish he took a sharp breath in.

"Did something happened to him? Is he changing colors? But he was fine just a few minutes back when I met him." He continued to question and I immediately slapped his hand on the table.

"The colors are based on his moods not on him. White means he is normal and black means he is in a very bad mood." I explained to which he chuckled nodding.

"Come on, he is running a company. He will have tensions too right." He said defending him.

"I know that very well, but we specialized them because this turning is restricted to only me." I added making him frown at me.

"The mood doesn't depend on what is going on in the company and not directed at others. Sometimes he talks normally even when he loses a deal and he talks worse even when he lands a deal with me." I explained more clearly before digging into the cake piece feeling hungry.

"I see! Why do you think he is behaving like that?" he asked frowning at me.

"I just wrote a book about him, right? To know why is he behaving in any way and reasons behind it. I don't know!" I said, scowling at him.

"Woah! Seems to be, it is affecting you too much." He commented making me slap his hand.

"Who will not be? Every day I have to walk on my toes literally to decide how I should be. Whether to be normal or too wary." I said, trying to push down the little hurt that occurs every time he gives cold shoulder suddenly.

"Everything will be fine." He said, assuring me and I just shrugged.

"Go and talk to Pallavi. She will miss you too." I said the moment we walked inside the building.

"Sure! So, that means you will also miss me?" he asked, grinning to which I punched his shoulder before laughing at his pained expression.

"Ms.Kalpana! What is the time of lunch break?" we suddenly heard a cold voice and turned to see him standing near the elevator.

I looked around to see the receptionist stopped talking on the phone along with a few passerby's who stopped walking.

"I am sorry, Sir." I mumbled, feeling like a kid when I know I was just five minutes late from lunch break.

"If you want to go for some other branch than this, then feel free to go." He said while I just stood there looking down.

"And you, Mr.Kiran, aren't you supposed to be in your new position by tomorrow?" he asked making me glance at Kiran who is frowning at the boss.

"I am just leaving, Sir. I was just leaving, but I need to say my goodbye's to others." Kiran replied to which our boss nodded.

"Make sure you are not late again." Boss added and turned to walk towards the elevator.

"That is too dark black." Kiran whispered, making me chuckle no matter how I felt low until that second.

However, the side effect was to our boss turning back hearing my chuckle and gave me a rude look and then walked away into the elevator.

"Yes, Sir?" I asked entering his cabin when he rang me the moment I reached my table.

"I need a memo to be sent to yourself." His words caused me to feel complete dread.

"But Sir..." I started saying, but stopped when he gave a sharp look.

"You are fifteen minutes late now and this is not the first time. You know I will not allow this kind of behavior. Think next time before coming late and taking long breaks." He said in a final voice and the dread turned into hurt without panic.

"Sure, Sir!" I mumbled and walked away before settling in my place.

I leaned back closing my eyes not wishing to dwell on the sudden hurt. Why am I feeling this? I thought, frowning.

Maybe because I know what I did was not such a big blunder that needs a memo. Maybe for this unfairness the hurt is spreading. Or maybe because I really lost my new formed friendship.

*Manohar Pov*

"Fine!" I said still coldly when she said she is leaving for the day and she calmly left.

When the elevator made a sound of closing doors, I leaned back closing my eyes, feeling the headache with all the frustration and anger.

Why that Kiran had to be here for so long time? Why does she have to be not found in the building? I thought, rubbing my forehead.

Was it jealousy that I felt when I saw her laughing with him and touching him? I thought, frowning, but immediately shook my head.

No! It was damn frustrating because of such act can never be expected for myself from her. If I can't have her affection, why should I see her giving it to others.

"We need to have a small talk." I groaned hearing her voice.

"No! I am not in the mood today." I said, shaking my head not opening my eyes.

"Too bad! We will have it no matter what." She said stubbornly and I heard the chair being dragged.

"Now, tell me why are you torturing her?" she asked making me open my eyes.

"I am not torturing her." I stated to which she snorted.

"Really? Just go through your behavior one tour and you will know. I will not accept this behavior for my friend." She ordered glaring at me.

"Is that all?" I asked, trying to push down the temper, not wishing to shout at her too.

"No! Now, tell me why did you transferred Kiran to such far place? And also add the reason for him missing from the party." She asked folding her arms.

"You are not involved in this, Pallavi." I said in a hard tone.

"You don't know how involved I am." She said shaking her head.

"How can you do this to Kiran? When..." she trailed off and I sat stiffly.

"When?" I asked, pressing the word.

"When he is the best for her more than anyone we know. When he likes her and when he is nothing but an answer to our prayers." She replied raising her voice.

"You know he is the best for her, then why did you send him away?" she asked, staring right at my eyes due to which I couldn't escape the look that passed on them.

"You want her." That was not a question, but a direct statement.

"Yes!" I said, realizing I can't escape this.

"How could you?" she asked in a betrayal voice.

"Like general way!" I replied, feeling anger in her voice and she stayed silent.

"Fine! If you want her so much, then why this behavior?" she asked, raising to her feet and I wish I can answer that question when I don't even know the reason.

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a little bit of revelation will be in next chap as this conversation is not having any end here... and its bye bye for kiran and i know manohar is being kind of rude but poor fellow feeling frustrated and his extention of frustration will be known in the next chap :P i know, i know i am just creating security by pushing the interest for it...

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...