Sorry for being late - plz expect patchy updates in Sept - am booked till the 30th.
This chapter is completely unedited and am NOT too happy with it...the stress is messing wid my head.
Lemme kno what u think...can't 'Like' ur posts - I messed up the comp - so have my progs hav vanished.
love
Chapter 39 - Hope...
Vicky was typing a few letters. The day had been going very slowly. Considering the fact that Sid and Raina were in town, the day was very very slow. He'd planning on bunking work, but there were a few jobs that had to be done that very day.
He'd been trying to keep himself involved in work, but it had felt bland. And he'd ended up delegating tasks to the employees and let an otherwise boring game of solitaire , seduce him.
Meera walked in suddenly, her stern demeanour recharged; and he almost fumbled and shifted his computer screen, away from her view.
''Did you finish reading the last file I gave you...,sir?'' The 'Sir' seemed to be tacked on for the sake of propriety.
Vicky looked up and folded his hands on the table.
''Meera, why is it that, whenever you walk into my office and demand a 'file' from me, I can only imagine a whip in your hands??''
Meera stared, going pink in the face, as he realized the innuendo in his words.
He cleared his throat, embarrassed ...''I mean, you make me feel like an inexperienced boy''. She raised an eyebrow.
''I...I...m-mean... like a novice.'' She shut her eyes in frustration.
'' Meera, just go!'', he said in frustration. Once she was out of earshot, he let out a snort of laughter. He turned in his chair grinning , when his eyes alighted on her in her cabin, with the same laughter on her face. Their eyes locked and they saw each other's faces go red. Simultaneously, they turned back to their respective computers, the smile still on their faces.
**********************************
It was late in the evening, when Vicky made up his mind. It was a decision he had made after a lot of deliberation and uncommon co-incidences.
He had gone to the pantry to make himself a coffee and to gather his scattered bits of common sense, when he had bumped into Meera. She had frozen mid-way as she was stirring her coffee, lost in thoughts. He tell-tale blush, was enough evidence for Vicky to realize that he had been the subject of her thoughts.
She'd made a run for it, but that had only been the 1st of such incidents. Throughout the day, they inadvertently kept bumping into each other, either in the elevator, or the accounts office, or the conference hall. And that made it all the more imperative, that their thoughts focussed on each other even more.
So, taking them as a sign, Vicky requested her to step into the privacy of his cabin, and asked her outright.
''There's a party at XLY, and I'm going to meeting up with old friends. Would you like to go with me?''
She looked startled. Then slowly, said, ''Me??''
''Look, I'm gonna be straight with you. I like you, Meera. And I wanna get to know you better. So what do you say?''
She looked at him straight in the eye, thinking, assessing. She seemed to make a decision. Taking a deep breath'.
''I'm sorry, sir, but it goes against the office decorum,'' she said a tad stiffly.
''If that is the only thing stopping you, then I want you to know that, that office decorum's gonna last only a week longer, so I'm hoping you give some attention to my request. I mean it.'', he replied.
If she had looked startled, earlier, it was now replaced with a complete and utter shock. And as she left the office, Vicky was pleased to note the fallen expression of disappointment on her face.
The two months of the bet had come to an end. And what a change it had brought. Vicky was surprised at the events that had taken place and the person he had evolved into. Little had he known that life would change this way, He knew that between him and Maan ' it had risen to something more than the bet and the people they had become. He was proud of what he had achieved in KC and he was more than proud of his elder brother, though he had expected as much from him. The employees had come to respect him and boy, did that taste good!
That evening ' XLY:
The gang was seated at a table and each were involved with their own conversations.
Geet and Nida made up a rare sight, with their heads together. The y seemed to be discussing or rather exchanging texts about their latest project, since sign language was a serious giveaway. Zakhir, seeing their uncommon discussion, was busy with a game on his cell phone, while Lyla had found a prey and was currently stuck to him in lieu of dancing.
Farhan was at the bar, swirling his drink, sitting quietly. And Isra sat facing him, her body language a tell tale for anyone who was observing. Since Raina was spending time with her family, Sid and Vicky got to speak and catch up.
''So Sid, how's the chef thing coming?'', Vicky inquired
''It's good, man. Another year or so. Then I guess the internships begin. How come you're brother's running Studio 77?''
''Yeah, we decided to let each other get the feel of the other's work places. Working in KC has been good. '' he stated, with feeling.
Sid's expression turned serious. He lowered his voice,'' How's Geet doing, man. She seems much happier.''
''Yeah, I was quite surprised too. I'd never thought she'd take it that well. I don't know what happened, especially as she was a couple of months ago; but whatever did, it was after I joined KC.''
''Maan happened...!!'', a voice stated, close to them.
They jumped and looked about to see Farhan sitting next to them. He seemed to have been there for a while.
''Maan ' he played a big role in Geet's attitude.'', he repeated. He fell silent, having given them a lot of food for thought. As if to prove a point, Geet looked at Vicky and asked distractedly, ''Err, Vicky, is Maan coming.?''
Vicky exchanged a soft smile with Sid and replied, '' No, Geet. For the third time; he isn't coming.''
Sid observed, that it seemed to put her in thought, and she frowned. But, that was lost as Nida nudged her again.
Vicky, himself turned for the nth time and looked towards the entrance and scanned the crowd. No, she hadn't come. He had been expecting a no-show, but he still had a bit of hope.
Meera hadn't given him an answer, and he too hadn't felt like asking her. He wanted her to take her time. But, he was hoping against hopes that she'd show up. Dejectedly, he turned back to Sid.
Chapter 40 Anger is only skin deep - page 117
Edited by mechantefille - 13 years ago
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