Daksh tried to concentrate on the meeting being held in his regional office but found it difficult to. He frequently rubbed his head and tried hard to keep his eyes open as the chief executive went on to explain their next project; a multi million project on the suburbs of the city.

"That's all...do you have any questions?"the chief executive looked at him keenly and he shook his head "let's start it right away..I want to visit the site first and monitor the development" he suggested and the others gave an official nod.

Slowly, the other members dispersed from the room and he breathed a sigh of relief, pouring himself a cup of hot espresso which the office guy had summoned.

"You're not supposed to be working on this condition you know" he raised his head to see a large frown etched across Shlok's face and sipped the espresso slowly "I'm perfectly alright and fit to work...and you can mind your own damn business" he added, although not seriously.

"You're a walking time bomb..and you're spreading the flu everywhere" Shlok shrugged "damn you Daksh! Why can't you take a day off and visit a doctor? Your eyes are bloodshot and your face looks pale, like a vampire. You need rest, be it for few hours".
Daksh grinned "so now you're my new shrink?"

Shlok didn't smile "whatever happened to the one I booked?" Daksh finished his last sip "he was a sour loser...started asking about private affairs...I paid him enough to leave the country".

This time Shlok had to laugh "that's their job you asshole! To dig your mind and free whatever's bothering you..and they get paid for that shit".

"I'm better off myself...I don't need anyone to counsel and make me a better human" Daksh quipped. Shlok collected the file "do whatever floats the boat...but right now you need rest and lots of sleep...I've already called Alok to drop you off home...and Dr Mehta will see you there".

"Screw you!" Daksh yelled "I don't need any doctors". Shlok rolled his eyes in amusement "don't we all know why?" Daksh ignored him "what about the appointment with DC builders?"

"It's scheduled for five...are you sure you don't want to go home? I can tell them you're held up with something and..." Shlok's words hung in the air as Daksh stared at him firmly "I never cancel my appointments...ever...don't make me do it now". With that, he strode outside the room, closing the door behind him.

Shlok watched him go with exasperation; Daksh was one stubborn man and he wouldn't listen to anyone, he mused. Although he knew some of the reasons why his boss slash friend was the way he was, there were things even he wouldn't open up with anyone. He was a closed book, a dark room full of unopened treasure and Shlok could only wish things would change for his boss.

It was worth the wait...

◇◇◇◇◇

By the time he was done with two meetings and a tour around his latest project, Daksh had to admit his friend was right. His head was pounding badly as he made his way back in his car and he was unable to open his eyes properly. He needed caffeine..and badly.

"Can you see any cafe nearby?"he asked Alok who briefly looked out of the window "I don't think so...most of the shops are closed in this area".

Daksh rubbed his aching forehead and slipped a tylenol into his mouth which Shlok had given him. The pain hadn't reduced still "just stop at any cafe when you see one"he said, stifling a yawn. The medicine was making him dizzy, if not killing the pain.

"There's one bake shop...but I doubt if it's open for business" Alok stopped to a side "and there's no parking sign". Daksh got out slowly "I'll call you once I'm done...pick me at the same place".
Alok nodded and turned the car away.

Daksh saw the open signboard and heaved a sigh of relief; he couldn't wait to get in and sip a hot cup of black espresso to calm his nerves and swiftly made his way into the shop.

◇◇◇◇◇

"You know what? I feel there's something really wrong" Nishi said, all the while stirring the cream. "With the frosting?" Meera asked, tasting a little with the spoon.

"No you idiot!" Nishi pinched her playfully "nothing could go wrong with your ganache...I'm talking about your boyfriend". Meera had just finished narrating about the dinner fiasco while Nishi listened in curiosity and amazement "I don't understand you...what could be wrong with Yash?"

Nishi patted her back "oh come on! That man didn't even bother to turn up after you prepared hell of a fancy dinner....and couldn't even have the courtesy to inform you that he won't be coming back!"

Meera gave a small smile "that's because he lost his phone...and he was caught up in the last minute emergency...I have to understand him rather than blame him".

"If he didn't have a phone the least he could do was leave a message through any of his staff...or could have come personally to your home..it would have hardly taken a minute to explain to you" Nishi counter attacked "I think he was too embarrassed to come your house..how many times has he visited anyway?"

Meera didn't reply as the question still hung in the air; he had never visited her house before. "We can't be seen together publicly before we make an announcement..the tabloids would have gala time torturing me" was all he said whenever she insisted that he meet her parents. She didn't want to question him more.

She wondered if he was really embarrassed and absently shook her head. I must be imagining things, she mused; how could she doubt his love?
"He loves me and that's all matters...I must give him benefit of doubt".

"Hey! I'm not discouraging you" Nishi said immediately, sensing her friend's discomfort "I want you to be guarded.. and just be careful okay?" Meera nodded without saying anything.

It was almost nine when she wrapped up her work and was ready to go home and Nishi had already left.

"Meera? Can you do me a favour?" Sandhya, who was in charge of beverages came to her with a troubled look "can you take my place for an hour more? I've to leave early. My parents have come from the town" she said fervently "only for today please? Jitesh is still stationed outside...if you've any problem, you can call him". Jitesh was the security guard in that building.

Meera looked thoughtful but agreed since Sandhya never escaped work and she was a hard working woman.
"Thank you so much Meera" Sandhya beamed, getting emotional and walked away.

Meera called her mother to tell she was a tad bit late when the main door opened and a figure entered.

She gulped harder as the man approached the lounge and sat on the large chair, his eyes somehow not clear as he had bent his head and was rubbing his head vigorously. The very first thought that came to her mind was that he could be dangerous and she was all alone.

"Excuse me?"she looked at him, feigning courage. He raised his head and she got the view of him finally. He would have been pleasant looking if his eyes weren't that reddish with dark hue around them and his face which was contorted with a frown.

"An espresso without sugar" he announced curtly and she wondered if she made a mistake by agreeing to stay. He didn't look like a creep or a stalker but there was something in his voice which made her fear a little. Maybe it was time to wrap up and go.

"Er...we're closed for the night" she said as calmly as possible. He raised a curious eyebrow "the sign board outside says open". She gulped the saliva and nodded "I forgot to change it...sorry" she walked ahead and changed the sign.

He stared at her for what seemed like a while and she realized he had difficulty keeping his eyes open. Probably a drug addict, a chain smoker who needed black coffee to kick in, or perhaps an alcoholic who had run out of drink and the bar was closed.

"I'm afraid I can't help you" she said, a little strongly this time but he didn't budge "I'm asking for a cup, not the entire shop...the least you could do is be a professional and make a refill instead of acting like a snob...or else I could have you thrown out of your job".

"Really? Who do you think you are?" she snapped, her voice getting louder now that he was getting on her nerves.

He was still calm "just a dissatisfied customer who's royally pissed off by the unprofessional behaviour of a mediocre staff who thinks she's better off showing her good for nothing attitude rather than the job at hand".

The insult seemed to have seeped to her brain but she couldn't deny his words..he had only asked for a bloody coffee. And the damn expensive suit he wore and the Rolex watch clasped in his wrist didn't quite match his stalker personality. What the hell was wrong with her? She thought about the conversation with Nishi and realized she was still pissed off about Yash as she hadn't seen him since two days.

Wordlessly, she walked back to the coffee counter and switched on the espresso machine.

When he came back with a hot mug of darkest coffee, she almost gasped with utter shock; the man had his head down the table and dozed off to sleep.

"Sir? Excuse me?"she patted the table to get his attention but he didn't budge. Slightly panicked, she patted on his arm gently but no reaction.
Oh God! She slapped her forehead "please wake up you fool!"

There was no reply nor any response from his side. She pushed his arm and realized he was burning with fever. Feeling another nightmare coming on, she rushed outside to find the security guard. "Jitesh!"she called out to him and he walked towards her "what's wrong madam?"

"Can you help me? This customer fell asleep and he's got high fever...I.. uh..don't know what to do" she blabbed, a thousand things running in her mind. What if something happens to him here? She could hardly breathe.

"Relax madam...I'll see" Jitesh smiled and followed her inside. She gulped for air while he checked the stranger and tried to wake him up "I think he's unconscious..he needs to go to the hospital" Jitesh said in a serious tone.

Meera sighed in defeat "I don't know him...he came all alone..how can I take him?"

Jitesh looked thoughtful "we can't just leave him here...poor man doesn't deserve this" he shrugged "I would have taken him but it's my shift now.. but God will bless you if you drop him to the hospital.."

The guard was a religious person obviously and Meera had to mentally slap herself for being in such a situation. Damn you Sandhya!she gritted her teeth "fine, I'll take him. Can you atleast arrange for a taxi?"

Jitesh nodded, looking relieved and walked out.

◇◇◇◇◇

Shlok Mehra wasn't a party animal. His schedule had always remained the same, come what may.

He went to office early in the morning, monitored the work and the staff on site and then would finish his job around ten and would go straight back home. He had very few people whom he called friends and he hardly hung out with them.

Even Daksh who noticed all this would feel a little sympathy for him "why don't you take the day off and go do something fun?" Shlok would wave it off "my idea of fun is work".

"My God! You're turning into me!" Daksh would tease him "don't Shlok! It's a curse". Shlok laughed "you're talking like a middle aged man".
Daksh would roll his eyes in mock anger "hey! I'm only two years older than you...beware!"

But Daksh didn't know everything about him and he meant to keep it that way. Knowing the truth would probably jeopardise their relationship and he didn't want that to happen. He owed that much to his boss.

His phone rang continuously as he tossed and turned in bed, and it was just going to be eleven. Cursing himself, he picked up and saw that it was Daksh calling him.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"he asked immediately, wondering if his boss was alright. He had left with a heavy headache after Shlok had insisted.

But the voice wasn't Daksh's "hi...is it Shlok?"a female voice asked and Shlok could only blink in disbelief. What the hell was his boss doing with a girl in a condition like this? Or was it her he had gone to? But she knew his number and wouldn't have asked if it was him. It had to be a stranger.

"Who is it? And how did you get his number?"he asked hastily. "It doesn't matter..your number was listed in his emergency contacts...can you please come to the Lifeline hospital? He's admitted here".

He immediately got up, pulling the blanket off him "how's he? What happened?"

"I don't know....can you please hurry up? I've to go home" she said, confusing him more. Who the hell was she? And where did he even meet her? What was going on?

But there was no time to dwell on the questions "I'll be there in few minutes...can you atleast tell me your name?"he went on to ask but she had already cut the call, leaving him infuriated.

◇◇◇◇◇

"I can't believe I landed here!" Daksh said, looking around. Beside him, Shlok was still laughing.

He had regained consciousness and had a spur of surprise at finding himself at the hospital, alone. The nurse who came to check on him didn't help either "you need rest.." was all she said.

It was a while later that Shlok entered and found him and to his utter anger, howled in laughter "fancy seeing you here!"

Daksh gritted his teeth "who brought me here anyway? I'll kill them". Shlok snorted "she was gone by the time I reached....instead of being thankful that she saved your life, you're barking the wrong tree".

"It was a girl?" Daksh blinked, trying to remember the last time he was awake "I wanted to have coffee badly and I got into a cafe..the girl there was really stubborn and..." he realized how he came to be here and shook his head "it was that waitress...she was arrogant and snobbish...said she won't serve me and then I don't remember..."

"Maybe she changed her mind after you threatened her" Shlok winked "you seem to have that affect on ladies". Daksh didn't reply and scratched his head "am I getting discharged? Where the hell's the doctor?"

"He'll come in a while" Shlok replied, checking his watch "so..how does she look like? Is she pretty?" Daksh leaned back and closed his eyes "I didn't notice...my head was aching terribly".

"She must be old...the voice sounded really gruff...must be in her forties" Shlok stated,sitting next to him. "She's much young...and her voice isn't that rough, it's sweet actually" Daksh corrected him.

"I thought so..." Shlok grinned "for someone who didn't notice in spite of their flu..."

"Screw you man!" Daksh yelled, turning to the other side.

◇◇◇◇◇

Yash cleared his throat as Mr Ahuja welcomed him into his lavish house which was situated on the heart of the city.

It wasn't as huge as their own but Yash had to admit; it was grand and the architecture was on a different level.

"Everything is my daughter's choice... she wanted the architecture to be unique and exclusive" the old man said with a beefy grin. Yash realized how much he loved his daughter and valued her wishes. He went on to speak about her and even Yash became slightly bored but irritated that they were discussing more about her rather than the new business settlement.

"I'm looking forward to starting the new project" he said, politely interrupting the older man and Ahuja smiled broadly "of course my boy..I met your uncle and we had a brief meeting at the site...I'm sure it'll be a huge success".

They went on to talk about work when the door knob clicked and a middle aged woman entered, followed by a younger girl who was behind her.

"I totally forgot to introduce you to my family..how silly of me" Mr Ahuja said as soon as they approached "this is my wife Veera" he said, pointing towards the older woman with a pleasant smile who nodded at him.

"And this is my only daughter Nidhi" he wrapped his arms around his daughter and Yash could only gape at her in stunned silence.

"Nidhi! This is Yash Sehgal..proud chairman of Prime Corp...and the most eligible bachelor in the city" her father added with a chuckle.

Nidhi forced a smile but stared at him with a blank face. Yash finally caught himself in time and shook her hands "it's a pleasure to...uh...finally meet you..." he managed to say "your father spoke a lot about your talents".

Nidhi simply nodded and smiled, standing close to her father "dinner's ready papa" she said softly. He nodded and they exited the living room.

Yash couldn't concentrate on the dinner nor the words that were spoken. His mind raced at the thought that he was trying to woo his girlfriend's best friend who knew him already.

He was in deep mess...

Hi guys!!
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