Chapter Twenty Five - Peas in a pod
"How was it?" she asked, brushing her hair.
"It was great," said Muskaan, blushing with an invariable smile plastered on her face, "I mean, it's not anything like I imagined it to be." Ridhima raised her eyebrows when Muskaan added, "It was so much better."
Ridhima 'aw-ed' and imitated the adorable shy girl face that Muskaan was putting up with while Muskaan continued to curl her hair beneath her fingers. The two had been Skyping for nearly 2 hours, discussing the usual girly stuff and nonetheless, it gave Ridhima a certain kind of warmth. She tucked her left leg beneath her right thigh and pulled her laptop screen towards to get a clearer view. She waved her hand across the webcam trying to catch her attention and when she did receive it, Muskaan stuck out her tongue.
"So how is it going there?" Muskaan asked.
"Don't ask," said Ridhima, putting away her brush, "That major client from Canada comes next week so the stress is pretty high around office. And Bua has gotten back to her you-need-to-marry mode again," she ranted.
Muskaan chuckled at the way Ridhima pulled off her frustration "I bet she is. What did you say?"
"I just told her I couldn't just now. And you know what? You triggered it," said Ridhima in accusation.
"What did I do?"
"You married. Nuff reason," said Ridhima incredulously.
"Oh that," Muskaan giggled and winked at Ridhima, "I think you should follow her advice. Marrying is not so bad. At least if you know the right method to shut up an annoying husband"
Ridhima stared at Muskaan. She stammered "Erm..I really didn't need to know that."
Muskaan laughed and they continued to chat all evening.
Nikhil put down the receiver for the umpteenth time that day. He swiveled back and trotted to the conference room where Armaan sat navigating through some files.
"Sir?" Nikhil asked as he took a seat beside his boss. "I have had surveillance around the warehouse. So far there has been no unusual activity."
Armaan let out a sigh, "So there is a good chance that he is on the run, right?" He knew the answer himself but doesn't everyone live for that tiny streak of hope to emerge out of nowhere.
"Yes, sir," said Nikhil after a pause. Armaan nodded and lunged in a huge breath as he thought hard on his next step.
"But you know what? He's been out of India for a long time. I don't think he can stay in hiding and with so much protection without help. Draw up all of his previously known associates from the archives, even the ones who have had just one deal with him. It's pretty hard but there is a heavy chance that he's befriended someone from his past life here."
"Sir," Nikhil acknowledged and got on his feet immediately.
"And Nikhil, keep this within you, Vivek and Yash. I don't think we can risk a leak," said Armaan meaningfully.
Nikhil read Armaan loud and clear and he felt deeply for the hopeless concern of a lonely man. "I understand, sir."
Another conference room at similar timelines was witnessing a great girl to girl old school drama.
Dev Mallik was not just satisfied with the proposal that Ridhima had come up but he also assigned her to lead the negotiation team, a job that ogled more than a few in the office but accepted nonetheless by the majority. Except maybe for one person who had now found more than one reason to be flustered.
Ridhima swelled in joy. She hadn't felt so useful in the past few days and today made up for it. She enjoyed every bit of recognition that she already gained from Billy and she was overwhelmed at the gradual acceptance by others. It was truly a productive day.
She pulled up the slides on the promethean screen and she talked open and bold, serious as hell about her work, putting in every amount of dedication she could on her job as she had promised herself. She paused for a moment when she finished. She felt her heart pound when loud applauses replaced her voice. She smiled, blushing a little on her cheekbones. She felt someone thump her from behind and she randomly hi-fived Sid. Yes, she said to herself. She had nailed her first assignment.
"That was brilliant. Now, I am hell sure that we are getting this project," said Neha happily.
"Yeah, I mean really. I am glad that Sir chose you," added Felicia.
"Watch it, Ridz. You are turning to our female boss," Sid said from behind her.
She turned around to face him and put a full on attitude look.
"That's because she is one, Sid," they heard a not-so-complimentary voice speak from behind the small crowd around Ridhima. "Or at least trying her very best to be so, isn't it?"
"Whatever you mean with that, Tamanna," fired Ridhima, knowing exactly what Tamanna was hinting at.
"Oh, don't you know? Well, let's see. You grabbed the top position among all proposals AND you were made head of negotiation. Isn't that too much of a jackpot for a woman who is too new and too weak for business fraternity? Or did you pay a little for it?" spat Tamanna, her voice so slim and sly that the anguish she held within her came out in the vapors of it.
"Watch your tongue, Tamanna," Sid intervened firmly, shocked that she could cross the lines of limits.
"Hmm. Nice," she eyed Sid cunningly before facing Ridhima who had now gone red in her eyes rooted hard to where she stood, "How do you manage to do with successfully Ridhima? Every man just falls your way,"
"Don't you dare.." Ridhima stressed every word, fighting back threatening tears. She knew Tamanna didn't deserve even a drop of them yet they were there waiting to shower at the slightest disturbance.
"I dare Ridhima. I do dare. Because it's beyond me the way you can slither your way in and get yourselves everything. The boss and oh the boss's hot and handsome son. He buys all that you say, right? Or is it.."
"Stop it. NOW. You get no freaking right to say that to me. Not you," Ridhima broke out loud. Sid caught Ridhima's elbows as she moved 5 inches closer in a single glide and pulled her back.
"I would stop if you hadn't been so low," smirked Tamanna relishing the whirl of emotions in her least favorite person. "wh**e!"
That was the last straw and Ridhima knocked off Sid and stormed out of the conference room as she played deaf to the pleas of her friends. She snatched her handbag and hugging her blazer, walked out of the building.
*
The sunset was an intensely beautiful one. It was cloudy with shades of navy blues and purples lining every other corner the eyes could perceive, the winds were blowing awaiting a sudden burst of shower and the sunlight gorgeously spread over its wide rays along the cloud lines creating an image so powerful that Ridhima stared at it for long. She was lying on the raw sands of the beach, her hands loosely placed above her tummy and her feet interlocking each other. Armaan gazed and wondered if there could be a more beautiful sight. As this thought went past him, he was left with the choice of going to her or resisting it for he doubted if she would want it.
*
My first actual scene with heavy drama. Please give me honest feedback on it. The last scene was supposed to be a part of this chapter and that is why I said it would be long but I really need additional time to shape this scene because of the tension. So yeah, it will be a part of the next chapter. Thank You very very much for the support you guys have given me. This chapter may seem fast paced but it isnt. Its just that there has been gaps between the previous chapters that you feel this one is a rushed one. It isn't. I have just chosen to not write anything apart from YAS and hence, chapters will be coming soon *fingers crossed*
Love and Prayers,
amal.
Hit the like button if you wish for PMs on updating Chapter 26.
Vanshaj
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
270