Chapter 5
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The following day Mukti and Prem had spent good amount of time at the work they had to finish. Prem closed his file which was lying on the table in front of him as he glanced at the watch on his wrist. He sighed as it already late in the evening and the fact that he hadn't noticed.
He closed the door after him and headed toward Maukti's cabin. He knocked as he opened the door and saw her putting a few files in her drawer.
"Ready to go... Basanti?"
Mukti raised her gaze upon hearing the name she thought she would never hear him say. However she shook the feeling away.
"What? Basanti? Please, don't start already. My brain cannot handle arguing with a brainless man right now."
He was stunned to hear her replay. "What? Brainless? Are you really saying this to a guy who's going to drive you home? Maybe you should reconsider your words."
She shrugged her shoulders, "so? I didn't tell to do this?"
He let go off the door he was holding, "Fine, take the bus, and see if I care."
He left the room without looking back while Mukti simply huffed at his respond and got ready to go outside.
Once she stepped outside the building, she noticed that it was raining - and of course she had forgotten to bring her umbrella with her that day.
She cursed as she quickly made her way toward the bus station in the hope of it would arrive sooner today
But before she could check the time of the bus, a car was held up against the street. She caught the owner of the car as he slid down the window.
"Get inside or else you're going to catch a cold."
She had no choice but opening the back door and get inside. Prem started the engine as he drove down the street in pure silence.
Mukti sat wiping the water off her face, as she heard him speak, "careful you don't ruin the seats" he told her.
She shot him a glare once she saw the small grin on his lips. Oh, how much she wanted to wipe it off his face.
"Of course you're worried about your precious car, I mean there's nothing wrong with me, no no, and I'm all fine. No need to worry at all."
"You're a big girl now, you can handle a little bit of rain" he said as he winked slightly. The rest of the journey was filled with silence.
Once they reached the house, they were greeted by Prerna who was placing a few plates on the dining table.
"There you are, I've been calling you for so long, Prem?"
Prem shifted slightly as he took a silence look on Mukti. "Uh, I couldn't take it while I was driving."
Prerna nodded as she heard him speak. "I'll just go upstairs to change."
Prem left the two women downstairs as he excused himself. Prerna however could sense something different between the two - but what?
"I'll go upstairs to change before the food gets cold."
Mukti got to her room, where she found some dry clothes she could change into. However her mind was too occupied with a moment that happened a few minutes ago.
They both got out from the car, trying not to get soaked from the rain in the process. Somehow they caught each other's gazes which they both had planned not to take such risk.
It was like a fire burning inside of them both - their eyes could easily tell what they were thinking, what their hidden desires were. But that was not possible to conquer. It like a thick wall was trying to separate them from their goals.
Mukti lowered her gaze and turned around but was stopped when she felt something holding her back. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
How could he even take such a step?
She turned around and was shocked to see that the hem of her dress was not being held of him but the car door. He opened the door and released the dress as he stood in front of her, close enough where she could see truth in his eyes.
"Don't worry I won't do anything which you're not comfortable with."
He left leaving her with a surprised expression on her face and a heart beating vividly fast in her chest. The rain falling heavily down on her.
She came back to the present time.
Oh god, what is happening to me?'
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Early that morning, Prem was seated in his office with his mind too busy with starring at a file in front of him. He reached forward and opened his mail box as he read the same sentence for the 10th time.
The particular sentence had sent him confused in what to do. He took a deep breath and called his secretary to arrange the thought he had in mind.
A few hours later he was in his father's cabin as they shared a small conversation. The senior Bajaj raised his gaze upon his son. "Are you going to leave then?"
Prem nodded, "yes, we'll leave the first thing in the morning. Mukti have already agreed on going."
"Very well then, I just hope everything goes fine."
Me too' he thought to himself.
Just like they had prepared, they boarded the early plane and landed at London Airport. A car stood parked outside to pick them up so they could reach the Conference Hotel. There was an awkward silence roaming around them both as flashes of last time they had traveled together.
They were unsure of weather to start a conversation - and on what basic? Friendship or perhaps something else?
However Prem manned up as he took a silence glance at the corner of his eye, "I didn't want anyone else to be here with me, now that we've already traveled to another place before. I know that there are memories attached for.."
"What makes you think there are memories?" she interrupted.
He couldn't help but feel hurt by the respond she had given him.
He however shook the feeling away and noticed that they had already reached the destination. They climbed out and got inside the building with their luggage.
They stopped by the lobby where the receptionist met them with a smile. "Hello, how can I help you?"
"Hi, we're here for the conference meeting and I've booked two rooms under the name, Prem Sharma Bajaj."
"Yes, of course, Mr. Prem. Here are your keys and I hope you'll enjoy your stay. If you need anything at all, then please, don't hesitate to tell us."
He nodded his thank you and handed the second key to Mukti. She was rather surprised that he had booked two rooms - but on the other hand, of course he had to book two rooms, there was no question about it.
Meanwhile the female receptionist took a small glance down at the paper and raised her gaze.
"I almost forgot to inform you, that there will be holding a conference party at the end of the schedule."
"But we're barely here for 5 days.." Mukti said.
Prem continued, "Exactly, and I don't think we'll be.."
"It's a part of the program. It will be held on the day fourth. It's a way to let other business associates know each other."
"I would rather stay in my hotel room, play some Playstation or read a book," Prem muttered.
Mukti couldn't help but stare at him as she led out a snort like laugh.
"What?"
"You want to read a book?"
He stood confidently while facing her fully, "Why yes, for your information, I do read books."
"Please, I can't take a joke this early on the morning." she said waving her hand.
Prem couldn't believe what he was hearing. "It's the truth."
"Are you sure you haven't mistaken books for magazines?"
He shot her a light glare, where else Mukti decided to play along. "So what do you read?"
He smirked as he leaned closer to her, while maintaining eye contact. "Crime series."
"Don't tell me, you're one of those people who read the ending first?"
He grabbed his luggage as he wore a fake surprised look on his face. "How'd you know?" he said while walking toward the elevator as he pressed the button.
Mukti stood back staring at him. "Hey, what about my luggage?"
He shrugged his shoulders lightly, "What? You're the one who keep saying; I can do everything on my own. I do not need anyone.' - now it's your golden chance to actually prove it."
She huffed at his remark as she grabbed her luggage and made it to the elevator.
Adultery, my foot' she thought.
Once the elevator doors opened they stepped inside. "So much for being a gentleman," she said as they waited for the 7th floor.
Prem turned to the side and smirked lightly.
"For your information, I'm always a gentleman."
The doors opened and as they was about to step outside, he grabbed her luggage as well alongside his own. He made it toward the two rooms which were right beside each other.
"Prem.."
He stopped as he turned around, "you're the one who got the key," he said.
She went on and opened the door of the room she was staying at. He took her luggage and walked inside where he settled in near the bed. Mukti walked inside following close behind.
He turned around and shot her his rare smiles he had.
"It's like I said - I'm always a gentleman," just before he closed the door behind him, while leaving her inside.
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To Be Continued!
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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