Update || FF: Poker Face || Chapter 4: Dil-E-Muztar : Page 14 - Page 10

"Well I guess it's good you know," he straightened up his tie, "But then I guess the question here is why are you still here?"

Luckily Akash kept his cool, and answered with a slightly amused smile. "I'd love to talk this over with you over a cup of coffee Abeer, but after lunch."

"How 'bout a rain-check for 'never' on the coffee, and 'hell no' on the lunch," and the next thing I know my hand's in his and we were headed for the door.

I felt my temper rising. At the absolute end of my tolerance, I wondered why Abeer couldn't just stop for a second and think about where he was putting me. Granted he didn't know everything, but I still would've expected this much decency from the man who claimed to love me.

"Abeer!" I finally succumb to my thoughts, freeing my hand from his. "Bas! Bohot ho gaya! As this company's CEO and your boss I demand that you leave my cabin right this instant!"

He looked hurt, almost shocked. I didn't want to meet his eyes but I forced myself, very well aware that this was the only to get him to leave. Masking 8 years of yearning and what I wanted to believe was unrequited affection, I greet his stunned eyes with my own. "Did you not hear me? Now!"

But he didn't seem to give up just yet. And the worst part was I couldn't even make him see how...why this was so incredibly difficult--why it was just best that he left.

"Meher," again there he was inches from my face, "You don't mean that." I could tell it wasn't a question.

"Alright I think you need to get out of her personal space," Akash intervened trying his hardest to keep a matter-of-fact, calm tone. Mostly because he how important my image in the company was to me.

"Look Romeo, this is between me and my wife, I'd appreciate it if you kept your smartass out of it."

Alright that was enough, yes I was doing Akash a favor, but that didn't mean he had to tolerate this sort of childishness.

"Abeer! Apologize, now!"

Now he sounded outraged, heartbroken almost. "Tu-tum iska side leh rahi ho?"

"Akash mujhe aadhi raat ko chod kar nahi gaya tha."

Did I regret saying that? A little bit.

As if tracing the patterns on the floor he stood there for a second, not knowing what to say next. Finally letting a gentle apology slide through his lips, he left.

***

~Akash~

He didn't slam the door on his way out, but looking at her face, he really didn't need to. If he came across any more forlorn, I would've called him Akash.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I-I'm fine," She said through the tears.

"Dikh raha hai," I mock, at least it got a slight chuckle out of her. Handing her my handkerchief I finally take note of the state of her desk.

"Do I want to know?" I ask cheekily.

"Um, that..." her tone wavered with embarrassment.

"Don't worry about it," I finally ease the tension in the room, "Hota hai kabhi kabhi," I tease.

"Very funny," and ladies and gentlemen, she was back. "Kuch kaam tha?"

"Nothing too important, I was going to meet Zayed and just stopped by in case you wanted to come along," I fiddle with a pencil taken from her desk.

"But didn't we already have our weekly visit?" She sounded pleasantly surprised.

"They're lifting some of the restrictions now that the adoption papers are in," I didn't even bother trying to not sound too elated. "That reminds me, have you checked the financial inquiry paperwork I gave you, I didn't miss any signatures or anything right?"

She lifted the yellow envelop off her desk, "Everything's perfect, now breathe!"

Breathe? I've been trying. But it humbled me to see her, still standing so tall, looking beyond those scary 8 years. It gave me the courage to remind myself that there was still something worth living for.

I looked up to find her frantically fixing up her desk, saying something along the lines of, "Just two minutes, promise!"

It broke me though, completely just took the life out of me, seeing her struggle with her feelings like that. So needless to say, being the reason behind it only left me feeling like a complete piece of selfish shit. And I hope she knew that if there were another way out, I wouldn't in a million years have put her in this position.

"Meher," I rested my hands on her shoulder, reminding her to take a breath. She looked up, slightly puzzled.

"Thank you," I whispered, right before I was pulled into a hug. She finally allowed herself to cry, unleashing all the words she held back. Knowing very well what I put at risk, I ease her like a defeated child in my arms, "Tell him."

Kritiii

Originally posted by: -Ishana-

First comment res 😃

Originally posted by: naina927

I wanted to be the first one... 😔

Res

Originally posted by: IttiSiKriti

Aww Naina, don't worry 🤗 I still love you just as much <3