NOTE:
Hey guys!
So I'm finally back with the next part!
It's another long one to make up for the delay (which unfortunately you'll have to get used to )
I have the worst midterm schedule and paper due dates, so the next update might not be until late Feb or maybe even early March. I'll try to have another part up in the middle, but please don't be too disappointed if I'm unable to keep my word. I'll surely try my best though.
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PART TWENTY TWO - TURKISH GRIND
"Good morning Sir," Avantika beamed. I gave a curt smile with a quick, "Morning! Listen, could you please inform Ms. Agarwal to drop in to my office sometime this morning before 10am? I need to discuss something important with her."
"Yes, of course," she replied. I was just about to enter my office when she spoke again, "Randhir Sir, are you okay? You look a little off."
She really had been with me long enough to pick up on my tendencies... I smiled, "I'm fine, don't worry. It's just that I didn't get any sleep last night," I admitted to her.
She looked around discretely and whispered, "Want me to postpone the staff meeting by an hour?" I raised an eyebrow, "You know, that'll be enough time for you to get your fix!" she said, winking at the end.
"You're spoiling me Avantika," I grinned. But then leaning in, I whispered, "I owe you!" Sporting a wink back at her, I left my bag in my cabin and went back down to drive myself to The Coffee Club. I had spent all of last night reading that letter over and over again, coming up with more reasons to get this whole thing over with. But even after all that deliberation, I knew I wasn't ready to do that as of yet.
Instead of wasting time and going inside, I went to the drive-thru and bought myself a large coffee. On my way back, I couldn't help but think back to the times the coffee place served as my escape from the stress of college. It wasn't necessarily the coffee which made it so special though. It was mainly the people with me; out of which, specifically one... I sighed; the slow-moving lanes of traffic were only increasing the speed of the racing thoughts in my mind.
It was just one question that I had to answer. Was I ready? But as my mind would have it, even after spending a whole night in contemplation, the decision was still hazy.
--
--
Upon entering the office, I was immediately told to meet Randhir before 10am. My initial reaction ended up leading me to sit down and focus on getting my errating breathing under control. My heart fluttered thinking perhaps he was willing to hear me out... But it didn't take long for me to realize that it was probably not why he was calling me. He wouldn't have asked Avantika to tell me this otherwise...
Sorting out my paperwork with a sigh, I prepared to give a short presentation about my progress to Randhir, erm - Mr. Shekhawat.
--
--
"Okay so tell me, how do you plan to justify yourself?"
I looked at Mr. Solanki who was putting no effort to conceal his confusion at the sudden change of tone with which Randhir spoke.
"Randhir, want me to leave you alone? I'd hate to intrude!" he said sincerely, probably not even aware of why the post-presentation discussion turned this sour.
"No no," Randhir quickly added, dismissing his request entirely. "If she wants to talk, she can do it right here."
I was almost certain, after hearing him say that, that Randhir was openly challenging me - or rather daring me to talk in front of Mr. Solanki. But I wasn't one to back-off so easily either. Especially not when getting this one chance really meant the world to me.
"No Mr. Solanki, it's okay. I'm not ashamed to admit that what I have done was wrong," I spoke boldly, maintaining my eye contact with Randhir.
Mr. Solanki stirred uncomfortably in his seat, "Your presentation was a little weak, but it was your first one! I'd hardly call that as you being wrong!"
(It wasn't until later when I recalled that conversation that I realized Mr. Solanki was thinking Randhir had been disappointed with my presentation. Well I don't blame him; I mean who would even guess that the CEO of such a big firm was once involved with someone who is just a mere intern at the firm?)
"But she is at fault Vishal. To make it worse, she thinks she can write some things down and get rid of the blame?"
It was at this point that I could hear the rage in his voice screaming out to me. It took every ounce of my courage to not back down. I wouldn't have minded this had we been alone, but our conversation was privy to another person and that's what irked me.
"Randhir, come on, give her some credit at least. The analyses she conducted of the market values are precise. They might be leading to the incorrect conclusion but her ideas were on the right track!"
"I'm holding myself accountable for all my actions Sir. I'm not apologizing for doing what I did. I'm apologizing for..." He waited, holding his breath from what I could see, "for disappointing you," my voice a mere whisper by now.
"Well that's just the worst, isn't it?" he too replied calmly before walking out away slowly.
My eyes stung as I bit my tongue to stop the tears. Mr. Solanki held out a glass of water to me. "Don't feel too bad Ms. Agarwal. I know he's really strict, but trust me when I say this, he's also very forgiving. I'm sure he'll forget about all of this if you make up for it with an even better presentation next time!"
I smiled at him; I wished he were right about it being that easy to make it up to Randhir. But an apology and a promise to do better wasn't going to do much at making up for what I had done...
"I'll tell you what," he interjected my thoughts. "Randhir and I are heading to a press conference tomorrow where we will be presenting our budget goals for the year. How about you join us? You could perhaps get a better understanding of our expectations?!" He seemed so hopeful for that suggestion.
I could tell he genuinely wanted to help me out, and so I agreed, despite knowing very well that Randhir would not be happy with this.
"Thank you so much Sir! I'm really grateful for your help!" I genuinely said. "And don't worry too much about what he says. He just expects a lot out of his employees," he added, to which I just simply nodded. "I'm not sure Mr. Shekhawat will be okay with it though," I finally voiced out my concern, more to myself than to him, but he definitely heard me. And so did someone else...
"Okay with what?" his loud voice echoed in the room, startling me up from the chair. "Oh it's nothing. I just told Ms. Agarwal she can join us tomorrow to observe our presentation," he said ever so nonchalantly.
I felt a gaze piercing through my skin and took it as no other cue but to leave. I could hear Randhir trying to convince Mr. Solanki otherwise, but I guess the COO was just as stubborn as the CEO. "Give her a chance Randhir!"
I looked in from the outside as the door was about to close. Our eyes meeting for a mere fraction-of-a-second, and it was while looking at me dead in the eye that he muttered a quick, "Fine."
--
--
I'm definitely not ready to talk to her, I thought after what just happened. I had honestly thought I'd be able to hold my calm, but that was far from the truth. Just the idea of her being around me brought me back to the first couple of years after she had left - the times I was desperately trying to forget. They hadn't been easy at all, and all I could ever wish for back then was for her to somehow come back into my life But now that she was back, I felt - surprisingly - angry. Angry at her for leaving me. For not trusting me enough with the truth. For breaking her promise...
Even though a part of me feels - heck, knows - she must have had a reason, I wasn't ready to let go of this anger just yet.
--
--
It wasn't as if this sort of a response wasn't expected, but I just thought he'd have been more direct. The Randhir I knew never talked in circles; blunt was it for him.
Walking down the hallway lost in my own thoughts, I was amazed at the circumstances I landed myself up in; never in my wildest dream would I have imagined myself to be dealing with this someday.
I was waiting for the elevator when Mr. Solanki and Randhir joined me as well. But engaged in their discussion, I didn't get much out of either one except for an affirmative nod and smile to acknowledge my presence, and of course neither of those were from Randhir.
Fiddling with my pen in the elevator, I tried to keep myself busy. Of course with the luck I had, everyone else left, leaving only Randhir and I in the elevator now. I looked everywhere except toward him, and it seemed to work until I felt his hands grabbing my upper arms and pulling me close. Furiously close.
Edited by basket_101 - 9 years ago
