Part Eight~
Anurag shook his head, raven black hair making drops of water hit Prerna's face "If you'd just let me explain"
"Explain what, how dare you try to take advantage of me like that, I thought you were weird but not this weird" she gripped her arms tightly "I kind of thought we were friends you know, I expected better" she looked down, thoroughly embarassed
"No, no, a work wife like you know how wives are always making better decisions for their husbands and they make decisions based upon what is best for their relationship, just like that, nothing sexual, you just advise me, be my friend and help me turn this workplace around"
"Really"? Her brows knitted together "So I just advise you and be your friend, that's it, no strings attatched"? She felt silly for lashing out in the first place, Anurag wasn't like the rest, he was different, good different
"I mean if you want strings attached that's a different conversation but-"
"No, no, no strings attached, just the job" she smiled "Sorry about the water, I didn't really think, wait" she stepped forward "Do you want strings attached"? Her brow raised "Oh my god you do, I knew you'd been checking me out, when God gave me good looks I didn't think it would turn out to be such a curse" she sat down, resting her chin in her hands "You're obsessed with me aren't you, it's like having my very own stalker"
"Wait I-"
"Does that mean i'm famous now, oh of course it does, god is it hot in here, I don't know if i'm made for the life of fame"
"If you would just-"
"Like I don't know if I could wear those dresses they wear and those high heels and stop for pictures, what about when it's four in the morning and I want nuggets and I have no make up on, what will they think of me"? Prerna gasped loudly
"Well I-"
"This is all too much" she jumped up, waving her hand "Do you know what this is, it's karma, right so when I was younger I saw a bhai saab and he wouldn't let me have nuggets, so I stole them" her eyes widened, bottom lip jutting out "I was only six, young and dumb, I never thought about the consequences" she sighed dramatically "Now what will come of my-"
"Prerna WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP" Anurag fumed, finally tired of her constant chatter
"Alright, jesus, someone got out of bed on the wrong side, no need to raise your voice" she blew out an exasperated breath "You know, we're even arguing like a married couple now" she giggled "We always argue like a married couple"
He rolled his eyes "Anyway, I wasn't offering a-"
"You love me, I get it, i'm loveable but you're gonna have to put a ring on it if you like it" she held out her left hand turning it around once "I'm like the asian Beyonce, i'll sing for you if you like" she opened her mouth only to feel his hand over it
"Please don't" he shuddered "My ears already hurt from the last time, do you even have an inside voice, you're always so loud"
"Are you tryna fin oaw if im led inta broom" she spoke against his han
"What"? He pulled it back
"I said, are you tryna find out if i'm loud in the bedroom" she winked "Can't tell you, I am virgin Mary"
"Why am I not surprised" Anurag crossed his arms, a jovial smile on his lips, eyes teasing
Prerna narrowed her eyes "Well you should be, i'm a bloody treat" standing back up she smiled "Anyway I have a lunch break to get to, don't wait up hubby dearest I may be late" the minute she turned around her face paled, forehead crumpled as she released a heavy breath and opened the door, walking toward the lift she pressed the button, entered and slammed her hand against a button only to fall back into the wall, sweat dripping down her forehead as she heaved she grabbed onto the bar and slid onto the ground "Guess you never got around to fixing this lift Basu" closing her eyes she groaned, grabbing her sleeve, then her shoulders crashed into the floor while her body shook
Tapping his fingers on his desk he pushed his tounge into his cheek, usually she didn't just walk out so quickly, something felt terribly strange, opening the door he looked over at the lift light and pressed the button, eyes widening when he saw her unconscious body on the floor "Prerna" he stepped inside and lifted her into his arms "Somebody call an ambulance" he shouted loudly "Prerna, Prerna wake up" he sat her down, tapping her cheek
~'~'~
Prerna cleared her throat, eyes sparkling with unshed tears, she had been checked over in privacy and had been told to return home to rest. "Sorry about um" she looked down
Anurag's brows furrowed, never in his life had he felt such immense pain at the thought of someone getting hurt, but today he had felt it, his whole body had been on edge, constantly walking up and down the hallways, the worst thoughts racing his mind "You have nothing to apologise for, is everything okay"? He reached out to touch her then thought better of it and dropped his hand
"Um, yeah, yeah i'm fine, it's just, well" she laughed as tears rolled down her cheeks "I wasn't going to say anything, it's just" she looked away "I have cancer Basu" looking over at him she gulped "Surpise" she laughed sadly "I'm not dying persay, well, we all are, it's, I kinda stopped having treatment, it was expensive and made me feel ill, I just wanted to live, sorry" she wiped away her tears "It's stupid to be crying, I know the issue, I always have"
Unable to stop himself he pulled her into his arms "Oh Prerna, you stupid, stupid woman" he pulled back and cupped her cheeks "You know I can't lose you too, right, I can't in good conscience allow you to work here if you have-"
"No, this wasn't what I wanted, I don't wish to be treated like im ill, I wanted to be treated like a normal person, I don't need your sympathy, i'm still me, we're all dying, just because I am dying quicker doesn't mean anything" she shouted "Get off of me, I said get off of-"
Holding her to him tightly he relaxed when she stopped shoving him away "I don't want you to feel I am treating you differently, I just want you to consider treatment, I know people, they may be able to suggest better things, please, for me, as your work husband who isn't ready to be a widow yet, will you just try, I can't lose the light of my life yet" he tapped her cheek
"The what-" Prerna smiled softly, brown eyes like melting chocolate as she looked up at him "I'll think about it" she nudged him "Told you, you're obsessed" laughing she grabbed her coat "Fancy dropping me home"? "Of course"
~'~'~
Anjali opened the door to see Prerna with her hand up
"No lectures please, I" she stopped upon seeing Anurag's father then turned "What is he doing here"? She whispered
"He um, came to ask for my uh, hand in marriage for his son"
