Part 10
As soon as Piya entered Raichand Empire next morning, Abhay called her straightaway. She knew what was coming so she made her way to his office reluctantly. Abhay dropped his pen and leaned back on his chair as he saw Piya come inside and walk quietly to his desk.
"Where were you yesterday?" he asked. "How professional is that? Not turning up on the very second day of the job you're so keen to do without informing your boss."
"I was ill," she told him. "And I did inform Ruhi."
"So you were too unwell to come to work but miraculously got cured in one day?"
After a short pause, he said calmly, "It should not happen again. If you want to work here then you must follow my rules and I'm very strict about attendance and punctuality. Remember that next time. Now sit and take my dictation."
Piya was staring at him with surprise; that was the politest he had ever spoken to her.
"I do not repeat things," he said.
She quickly sat down and took a notepad and pen out of her handbag.
Throughout the day, Abhay kept Piya so occupied with work that she got no time to do what she had planned. She was photocopying some documents when Sid called her and asked her out for dinner and she instantly agreed. She was glad that she had something to look forward to after a boring day at work. At the end, she was gathering her things when Abhay came over to her.
"Where are you going?" he questioned.
"Home," she quietly answered hoping that he would let her.
"If I'm still here then how can my personal assistant leave? I might need you so you're not going anywhere. And I don't think you've completed the tasks I gave you."
"Abhay I can't do-"
"Firstly, call me sir," he cut across. "And secondly, if you're not capable of doing this job then quit."
Piya made a face and sat down on her chair and Abhay went off to his own cabin. Soon all of the staff except Piya had left. After a while, she called home to inform her mom that she would be late. She then remembered her dinner with Sid and rang him sadly. She could tell he was disappointed when she said she could not make it.
Hours later, Piya was very tired. Abhay had not called her once for anything. She put her pen down and massaged her wrist which was aching from writing too much. She looked out of the window; it had got dark. She caught sight of the clock and jumped. It was past 8. She packed her stuff and got up to leave. As she passed Abhay's office window, she noticed something weird. Abhay's eyes were fixed on his laptop's screen and he was typing at a very fast speed that she could not even make out his fingers. She looked away and shook her head. Abhay realised she was there and slowed down. She looked back and found everything normal. Maybe she was imagining things because of fatigue. She entered after knocking and found Abhay looking so fresh and active which was not possible for someone who had been working nonstop for 15-16 hours.
"It's very late. I need to go home now," she told him.
"Fine," he said.
...
A week had passed since Piya had started working at Raichand Empire. She found her job very boring and tedious. It was not something she ever wanted to do. Abhay was giving her a lot of simple but time consuming work which was unimportant to do but she did not dare to complain in fear of being sacked. However, her main problem was that she had found no proof to suggest that Abhay had any involvement in Kabir's death. The more she observed Abhay the less likely is seemed to her that he would murder someone. He was a complete workaholic and it was like he had no other objective in his life other than work. He stayed in his office most of the time and would only leave it for meetings and at that time Piya would accompany him. So she found nothing strange about his daily routine. But then he was present there. He might know who or what attacked Kabir so she wanted to speak to him about this once but he was very difficult to talk to because he did not like to talk unnecessarily. Piya tried being very nice and friendly to him too but he was still rude to her. Whenever she smiled at him, he frowned at her in return.
Abhay was driving back from a meeting and Piya sat quietly next to him. She decided to talk to him now and bring up the topic of Kabir's death. He had just finalized a good business deal so she thought he might be in a good mood.
"Have you ever lost a loved one?" she asked looking at him observing his expressions.
He remained expressionless and replied, "I don't think I ever gave you permission to ask me personal questions."
After a while, they were passing the jungle when she asked, "What kind of animals do you think exist in this jungle?"
"You were brought up in Dehradun so you should know better," he said.
"Have you ever imagined someone when they actually weren't there?"
"Yeah I imagined you with a letter at my office," he said rather meanly.
"What letter?" she asked distracted.
"Resignation letter."
"Very funny," she said sarcastically. "Abhay, I want to talk-"
"Enough of you nonsense," he said irritably. "Now shut up and sit quietly!"
Feeling hurt, she fell silent.
...
Indigo restaurant
"There is a prom night at my college next week. I want you to come with me," Alina told Abhay next evening over dinner.
"Fine," he said knowing he had no other option.
Just then, Alina sensed the presence of another supernatural and for some reason she was sure it was the same one she sensed at the pub a month ago. Could it be someone from Panchi's clan who was spying on her? But how would they know about her? She decided to go and increase the protection around Panchi.
"I need to go," she hastily said and hurried off leaving Abhay confused.
He called the waiter to pay for their untouched food. When he looked around he noticed Piya and Siddharth Mehra at another table.
Piya fell unwell at work so Abhay let her go home early. She was taking rest when Sid called her and asked her to have dinner with him. She didn't go last time too so she accepted.
Over at their table, a waiter came to them with a bouquet of white lilies and Sid took it from him.
"This is for you," he said handing her the bouquet.
Piya smiled, "Thanks but what are these for?"
"Does there have to be a reason for a friend to gift a friend? I thought you'd like them so I bought them for you."
"Yeah these are my favourite flowers."
Abhay watched them furiously. She lied to him to leave work early. How dare she? And she thought she would get away with it? He watched her get up to go to the washroom and followed her.
When Piya came out, Abhay pulled her to a secluded area and pinned her to a wall.
"Abhay, what are you doing?" she asked more shocked at his behaviour than him being there.
"You lied to me to go on a date," he said sternly.
"I did not lie to you and I'm not on a date. Now leave me!" Piya cried struggling to free herself but Abhay tightened his grip and she winced in pain.
"You know I always hated you but I never knew you were such a big cheat."
"Why do you hate me? What wrong have I done?"
Abhay did not answer.
"Is it because I'm not one of those stupid girls who run around you trying to please you?" she asked.
"Oh aren't you one of them? Then why are you so desperate to work with me?" he asked in response.
Piya stared at him. Of course he would think like that because he doesn't know I only want to know about Kabir's death, she thought. Abhay heard her and became angrier. She was planning against him?
"Well why do you keep me at office until late all alone with you? What goes on in your mind then?" she asked. Wanting to say something hurtful she added, "You can never hate me more than I hate you."
"You hate me?" he repeated in a dangerous sort of way.
He started to move his face closer to hers and looked into her eyes. As she looked back into his cold eyes her expression began to soften and he loosened his hold on her. He moved closer but she was too lost in him to realise what was happening. When she finally closed her eyes, he let go of her.
"This is what I mean," he said nastily and Piya opened her eyes in shock. "You are no different from others. Instead of stopping me you surrendered yourself."
She felt disgusted at herself and her eyes filled with tears. She walked away from him fast and went out of the restaurant crying. Meanwhile Sid was wondering why Piya was taking so long. He was looking for her when he came face to face with Abhay.
"Oh Abhay Raichand," he said. "Have you seen Piya?"
"She has left," Abhay smirked.
"Left?" Sid repeated. "But why would she leave all of a sudden? And how will she reach home?"
"I don't know and I don't care," Abhay said and left.
He was driving home when suddenly he got visions of Piya standing in the middle of a road and a car speeding towards her. He stopped abruptly with shock and fear written on his face.
Edited by .tanu. - 13 years ago
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