• chapter 03. •

My eyes blinked open and I sighed tiredly. The whole night was spent tossing and turning. Three minutes past six, I glanced at the digital clock at the side table and prepared mentally for the day.

I mentally shortlisted the priorities as I rinsed my mouth. My body moved on an autopilot as I checked on the list of things that I had to wrap up today.

Ahuja Steel Corporations, nine a.m.

Video Conferencing with Pune's client, twelve thirty p.m.

Going over to Nishant's, and then to his friend's that he was talking about.

And if I return on time, look through the Bangalore branch——have to speak to Kshitij.

Honestly, not that bad—than I had initially thought about, isn't as tiring as yesterday, so I can say that I would survive. It was manageable.

Wiping my face with the face towel, I made my way downstairs to have breakfast before I left for the day.

"Bhaiya! Good morning!" Priyanka chirped before she turned back to whatever that she was doing.

"Good morning, bachche." Her smile widened at the term of endearment. She liked being called that.

As of now, she was holding the cone of the whipped cream with her both hands as she tried to design her oddly shaped pancake.

Perplexed, I asked, "what are you doing?" She looked up with furrowed eyebrows. "Making a flower." She replied in a duh tone.

It took me another moment to see which is the flower that she was referring to.

"Good morning, bhaiya! Prinku!" The exuberant voice belonged to none other than my dear baby brother, Rudy.

He stopped shortly to stare at the 'flower' that Priyanka was trying to craft.

"What's that?" He pointed at the lump of ribbons of whipped cream, looking aghast, I don't blame him because even I thought it was something else——

Clearing my throat I interjected, "that's a flower."

"That is a—" he pointed at the whipped cream, "—flower?" I nodded seriously, trying my best to keep a straight face. At this, Priyanka looked up from her work to frown at Rudra.

"Acceptable." Rudra spoke as he took a seat beside mine.

"Can I get a pancake as well? Without the flower."

I couldn't hold back the snicker that escaped me at the glare that Priyanka threw in his direction.

"Morning—" Om too stopped by to see what their sister was doing. He blinked. And before he could ask, I answered the question he was going to voice out.

"She is trying to accessorise her pancake." I drawled taking a bite of the toast that I had buttered.

"I see." Om winced as he looked at the surface of the pancake in remorse.

I watched as the rest arrived one by one, and by then Priyanka had decided there was no point in decorating it further when she was going to eat it anyway.

"Shivaay, you are handling the meeting with Ahuja's right?" I nodded at bade papa's words.

"Shakti and I are actually thinking of checking a few plots for the warehouse," I nodded slowly at the words, "Can you handle the meeting with the board members?" He asked.

I blinked, just when I had thought I had it sorted, I need to go to Nishant's at that time, but I can't refuse either. "I am actually going over to Nishant's—"

"Why?" Om piped up before I could even finish the sentence. I narrowed my eyes at him, he quirked an eyebrow. He is too paranoid.

"Mallika's is coming." I said avoiding his querying eyes. Sometimes——well, not sometimes, always, I hated the fact that he could look straight through my lie.

Tej nodded and he turned to look at Rudra who immediately looked away.

"And you, young man, I hope I see a better performance this semester." He said pinning him under the scrutiny of his gaze. I shook my head at that.

Getting Rudra to study is as much of a herculean task as digging a well with a spoon——though as cruel as it may sound, but it is the truth. Sorry Rudy.

"And, Shivaay. You are not going to help him. Om you too." Bade papa added, pointedly ignoring Rudra's protests that this is not fair and all.

"Shivaay, please if possible, handle the meetings for today." I gave him a smile before affirming his words.

Wed, 24 September
7:56 a.m.
Me : Change of plans, we are meeting tomorrow or whenever. I will text you if possible today.

cc. Mallika & Dr. Nishant

I sent them a quick text before turning back to my breakfast. Yep, my plans to have a quiet day, is cancelled. Thank you bade papa.

.

Annika groaned as she felt a sudden weight on her back and she turned to her side pushing her away.

"Di!" Gauri whined as she was crushed under her. Annika smiled slightly in her sleep.

Gauri shook her slightly, causing her sister to groan in her sleep.

"It's ten thirty." Annika hummed going back to sleep. Alright, it's just ten—TEN THIRTY!?

My shift starts in fifteen minutes!

Dr. Kulkarni is going to kill me!

She sat up straight. "It's ten thirty! And you are waking me up now?" Annika asked as she rushed to get ready for her shift. Gauri sighed exasperated.

This was an everyday story yet——she looked at her phone screen and grinned to herself. Eight thirty-two.

"Chutki, you are so——" She heard the familiar screech and she winced. Maybe the prank got too elaborate.

"You only told me to wake you up." Gauri said with a sheepish smile. "And since, I am such a good sister, I take my responsibilities very well——" she winced suddenly.

"Ahhh! Di, I am sorry!" Gauri whined as Annika pinched her cheeks. "Thank you, dear sister." Annika cooed as Gauri massaged the spot.

"I hate you." She muttered glaring at her.

Annika smirked, "I love you too."

.

I blinked at the new pile that was waiting for me at the table before turning to Mishra, who was looking at him sheepishly, "You are serious?" I breathed as I looked at the files the man had dropped on the table a moment ago.

There is no way, he'd be able to finish this by the evening, I was thinking of wrapping it up quickly so I could go for the check-ups.

I picked up the green file and frowned, "this is Bandra's project. Wasn't bade papa handling this one? Why is it in my cabin?" I asked as I turned the pages.

I noticed the graph of steep decline and my eyebrows furrowed, "You have to handle it, sir. He had assigned your names to the clients." This has to——I sighed, this is going to take the whole day.

I sighed, picking up the phone and pressing it between my ear and shoulder, I turned the pages, "Who's handling Bandra's branch?" I asked Mishra, he frowned for a moment before he took out his phone.

"Rohan, sir." He said, I nodded. "Tell him to contact me the earliest" before I turned back to the call.

I winced, "No, Mr. Mehra, I was talking to Mishra" and let's just say that was how my evening was spent, being grilled between the meetings and the never-ending plethora of the paperwork.

.

"Sir." I groaned audibly before looking up from the file that I had closed a moment ago, the sun was about to set, that I gathered from the golden light that was filtering in through the glass panes of my cabin.

"Yes, Mishra?" I asked with a tight smile. He smiled nervously.

"Sir, actually...." He spoke up and before he could say anything I interrupted him, "Mishra, I had never thought a day like this would come in my life. But, no, I am not looking through any other file and there will be no meetings held, look around, half of the office is now empty."

He frowned, "but sir——"

"No! I have attended four meetings today! Dealt with this countless paperwork and I still can't believe I am saying this, but for once I am actually feeling tired——"

"But, sir I was saying that you could go home now, I can handle the rest." He frowned.

I blinked at the words as they slowly registered into my brain, wait, did he mean? "Well, thank you Mishra, tu bhi na yaar, why did you take so long to tell this good news?" I dumped the files in his hands before I made my way out patting on his back.

There. It's your problem now. I grinned and walked outside the cabin.

.

I frowned suddenly when we were going through the familiar road. The traffic was huge so they had to turn the other way hoping they'd reach early this way.

"Stop the car." I said. The driver turned to look at me. "But sir——" the man was surprised at the sudden request.

"Do it." I added a bit more sternly. I looked at my watch, it was not that late. Just the time I was around the beach yesterday.

"I will call you back after a few minutes, you can drive away for now." I instructed the man, who nodded and drove away following my words as I walked closer to the familiar shore.

I looked around until my eyes fell on the familiar silhouette, was it her? I tilted my head to the side to get a glimpse of her but she was facing the see——staring at the sun that had disappeared below the horizon leaving a reddish hue in the skies above.

I walked over to the figure and to my surprise she turned around to pick her phone up when her eyes turned to me. They widened slightly at the recognition before a smile was sent on his way. She was sitting on a pale blue sheet. And like before in her hands there was a roll wrapped up in the aluminium foil.

"I wasn't expecting you." She spoke as she scooted away to make some space before nodding towards the empty space on the sheet.

I took a seat beside her. "Having a good day today?" I asked, opting for a small talk, even the silence——well not silence when the sound of waves were prominent.

"Kahan. But much better than yesterday, except for what I was pranked the first thing in the morning by my sister and the busy day." She smiled. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the glare of the skies before she turned to look at him.

"Reminds me of my brother, he is the same." I said, her words made me remember about the pranks that Om and I had become prey of.

Rudra and Priyanka, the crime partners.

"What about you? What are you seeking this time?" She asked, arching an eyebrow in amusement, "not solitude I'd presume."

I shook my head with a smile. "Just...aise hi." I trailed off, I had no particular reason to be here.

She hummed and turned back. My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID. Mishra. I groaned silently.

She chuckled, I turned to look at her inquisitively. "Who are you running away from, today?"

I narrowed my eyes, "I wasn't running away. I just needed some time alone." Well, similar but not the same thing.

"Oops, my bad." She apologized but she didn't look sorry. I huffed, before picking up the call——Mishra couldn't find the file——did he have to call now?

"You look frustrated." Her voice made me look up from the now blank screen of my phone, I pocketed it before turning my attention to her.

"I don't know, earlier these, this was my passion. I loved—love what I do. But for a few days, it all just doesn't make sense." I spoke looking away.

She passed me a sympathetic look, "Why don't you take a break, then?" She asked.

When I have to take a break that would last eternity there's no point to take one now-I paused my thoughts there. The reports are yet to be confirmed. I can't lose hope. But that question—

"Can I ask something?" I turned to her, she nodded. "Sure thing." There was no harm in asking an innocent question, right?

"You are a doctor, right?" I asked remembering her words when we met here the first time, yesterday. A serious look flickered her eyes which she soon replaced with a kind smile.

She nodded, "the last time I checked, yes I am." She smiled.

"Is death really as painful as it is portrayed?" My voice was soft against the ripples.

And the smile that lingered on her lips dropped in an instant.