Series: Unheard tales of an antagonist- Tale 5 -P13 - Page 4

3. Pause

Monday mornings bought with them grumpy bosses, reluctant employees and sea of pending work. On one such morning, when I was in my cabin, working on my new assignment and was giving out some instructions to my secretary who was taking down notes diligently had I received a call, that tilted my life to a new 180 degrees.

"Miss Dixit" I heard a chirpy voice call out to me from the phone "We're speaking from Khurana Constructions"

It's strange how some simple things could trigger a thread of memories, and open the doors of past that were tightly locked and hidden beneath. The name- his surname - so easily dropped off had wiped the small smile that was present on my lips as the pencil between my fingers froze.

The entire world blurs as my conscious plays in and out with the present, as the past keeps coming before my eyes, and my eyes glazes over. The lead of my pencil hums periodically with the table, as I try to be focused with the call.

It was an offer, I received. To be the designer of one of the most eligible bachelor's fianc. To be a part of the big day of him and his girl and make it more special by making the girl look like a princess with my creations.

There was a pause then before I giving the answer to the offer that was made, in an affirmative. However, there was also a pause I felt then around me, like the world stopped for a moment, before taking a leap and falling back to place, working as it was before the call.

Everything seemed normal, making me feel that the pause I felt didn't exist at all. My secretary Lyla, was sharpening her pencil, the customers in the boutique, whom I can see from the first floor of my office had smiles on their faces, as they envisioned themselves in the attires that would be a part of their big day. Everything was a usual sight, everything was normal; well, everything except the presence of dull ache in my heart now.

"Miss Dixit" I heard the name I was tuned to be called again and the realization slowly sinks through my heart like ice cold water. I was Miss Dixit now, not Sameera Kapoor, a name which was my given name, which was an identity that I left behind a lifetime ago.

I was Ms. Dixit, the designer now. Not Sameera Kapoor, the librarian from his college a decade back.. My fears of my identity I hide myself behind being snatched from me dissipates and the shadows that were blanketing me seemed more safe as I relax in my chair.

"When should I schedule the appointment with Miss Geet?" I hear the lady speak in phone, and I feel I heard a hint of happiness in the voice.

"Schedule a meeting on Wednesday afternoon please" I say as I look at the digital calendar on my table and mark Wednesday in red.

Meeting with to be Mrs. Khurana I write instead of writing the girl's name.

May be writing it would make it more real, and acceptable, and the sting in my heart more bearable.