Ting tong.
Swadheenta rang the bell to her boss's house and stood waiting nervously. She was going to attend her first hearing with Suhasini Sinha in Court today. But that wasn't the reason why she was nervous.
Please let me not face him God! She prayed silently.
The door opened and she stood face to face with the one man she really wanted to avoid. Adarsh Sinha. She stared at him a little apprehensively as she saw his face shift from smiling to lock jawed. Their eyes met and the last conversation they had flashed across both their minds.
"For Heaven's sake take a hint Adarsh! Har jagah mil jaate ho. Your stalking feels almost like harassment! Just leave me alone, will you?"
"Hi, is Su-" she started, but stopped as Adarsh donned on his shades and walked out of his house.
Great! Swadheenta groaned. Why can't I control my temper a little? She had no intention to lash out at him. It just happened. She was freaked out by his attention. He was so likeable, with his easy smile and that kind helpful nature. And she didn't want a distraction like him at this juncture of her fledgling career.
Well it's done now. You got what you wanted, that smile isn't coming your way anymore nor are any of his words, kind or otherwise.
"Hey, what are you waiting for?" She heard a voice behind her. "I'm Vanshika, the other breakfast guest."
Swadheenta looked up from her desk as she saw someone walk across her desk from her peripheral vision. It was Adarsh, entering his mother's chamber.
"Mom I need to talk to you."
"What is it?"
"It's that girl. Why did she come home for breakfast? We discussed about her, didn't we?"
"Because I asked her to. As to your other question, I recall asking you to keep an open mind."
"Mom, I don't want her around me."
"Well she isn't around you, she's around me. And that's not keeping an open mind. Let's discuss this at home. Shall we?"
Adarsh nodded and walked out.
Swadheenta sat their feeling dumbfounded. She couldn't have made him that upset. He couldn't really be meddling with her career over that conversation. The whole persona that she created of him, as a kind and generous person, came crashing down her eyes.
Maybe he needs another piece of my mind, she thought as she walked out after him.
"Mr Sinha!" she called out.
Adarsh stopped in his track and waited for her to catch up without turning, wondering if she wanted to apologize for the other day.
"How dare you?" Swadheenta bit out. "How dare you sabotage my career like that?"
"Excuse me?" Adarsh said taken aback.
"Don't try to act cute with me. I heard you telling your mother that you don't want me around."
"What?" The conclusions this girl draws. So much for an apology, he thought.
"Just because I spurned your advances you're getting back at me by getting me fired? That is a low blow. Is your male ego so fragile that you have to settle personal issues by attacking me professionally?"
"Swadheenta. Shut up!" He said carefully. "Contrary to what you might believe not everything I do is about you. All right? And while I've registered your low opinion about me without ill grace, I would advice you to stop eavesdropping on conversations that do not concern you. There are more chances of such habits getting you fired than whatever silly accusations you've just come up with. Now if you'll excuse me I have somewhere else to be." He said buttoning his coat and walking away.
Swadheenta stared at his retreating back, reflecting. Why God!
CID
