Hiiiiiii!
Chapter X
"You want me to what?"
Really, why did women say that when he was around? Yug plucked the cup from Bharti's hands and downed most of the scorching coffee in one go before turning and striding towards the lifts, Bharti clattering behind him with her strappy heels and look of outrage.
"I'm your assistant Yug, Not your stylist."
"You're also too small to be this hugely irritating."
"And talking about assistant, shouldn't you have at least called before disappearing on me? Two days! I had to spend two days canceling your meetings, flitting between your clients and worrying if you were lying in a ditch somewhere."
"Nice to know my death rates so high on your list."
"And now you want me to drop everything and shop for your fianc?"
"And the problem is…?"
"Hey Bhagwan, I need chocolate. Where's my chocolate stash?"
Her head whipped around the confines of the lift searching for something to cram in to her mouth and release the stress bubble threatening to blow up in her face.
Yug sighed and clasped her shoulders forcing Bharti to tilt her head up.
"You look like you need a break."
"Damn right I do."
"So how about you take the rest of the day off?"
She beamed.
"Really?"
"Yeah, and you can take Vrinda shopping as well."
Bharti scowled, following him out the lift and straight in to Yug's cabin, barely glancing at the champagne colored walls and imposing mahogany desk; to intent on the scrawny figure looking out through the huge windows and dressed in drab sweats with a mass of curls haphazardly secured in a bun.
Vrinda turned at the sound of voices; her gaze sliding over Yug's much washed white cotton short teamed with light dockers and matching loafers, idly wondering where he had changed even as she tried to ignore the sudden constricting in her throat.
"There is no way that's your fianc."
Vrinda almost jumped, having only just noticed the girl standing by his side and watching her with a calculating expression. She seemed to be dressed in a lilac blouse coupled with a billowy white skirt accentuated by what looked suspiciously like marching peacocks. Tiny wrists were weighed down by chunky bracelets and a pair of steep, strappy heels completed the outfit.
But she looked good and Vrinda found herself sinking just a little further into depression. Out-glammed by peacocks.
Yug ignored them both, striding towards his desk and dropping the files before switching on his laptop.
"Vrinda, this is my assistant Bharti. Bharti – my fianc Vrinda."
He made the introductions with his gaze fixed firmly on the laptop screen and fingers flying across the keyboard.
Vrinda sighed even as Bharti repeated her statement.
"Honestly Yug – she's not your fianc."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because your fianc would have been taller, fuller, ditzier and with the face of a cover model."
Vrinda shot her a bemused look, not sure if she'd just been given a compliment or insulted.
"Which is why I need you to clean her up for tomorrow."
Bharti sighed.
"I'll go get the car brought to the front."
She turned and strode out, muttering under her breath and shaking her head. Yug waited until the doors of the lift had safely shut before turning his attention to Vrinda who had already returned to the sights of the city.
They had barely spoken two words to each other since the heated…discussion since last night – Raj's awful singing and Ria's squeals of delight the only sounds to break the oppressing silence.
He knew he should feel the guilt for having bullied her in to the trip. God knew that everything was complicated enough without him letting his ego get in the way. But instead he felt oddly relieved that she was here – silent and probably plotting ways of getting him under a rickshaw – but still, here with him. Barely a few feet away.
He could easily cover the distance in mere seconds, to brush his fingers across the nape of her neck, unraveling all the beautiful hair until it cascaded down her back even as that oversized t-shirt would be slipping down her shoulder and he would lean forward and…
Yug pulled out of his daydream, blinking owlishly as he realized that Vrinda was calling for his attention, the words sliding of her tongue in sweet symphony.
Dear God, he wasn't going to start sprouting poetry was he?
"Yug?"
She called him impatiently and he snapped to attention.
"The car's waiting downstairs. I'm leaving."
She strode past as he racked his mind for something to say.
"Make sure you choose something appropriate."
She assessed him with cool eyes.
"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you in front of your family."
Yug cursed as he realized he'd botched up – again.
*****
"So, am I ever going to find out?"
Vrinda glanced over at Bharti who was chewing absentmindedly on a bar of chocolate whilst at the same time typing away at her laptop like a madwoman as she caught up on all the files Yug sent her way whilst simultaneously answering e-mails and picking up the occasional call. How she could strike up a conversation as well, Vrinda had no idea.
"Find out what?"
She asked before turning back to the gleaming counter as the sales assistant flourished another spangly sari – this time with heavy zardosi work and in a gorgeous midnight blue. It was also probably worth more than two months rent.
She sighed and pushed it away as Bharti looked up from her laptop.
"Vrinda, why are you with Yug? I know you probably think it's not my place to ask but I've known Yug almost all my life and this isn't in his nature. Dropping everything for two days and then magically re-appearing with a mystery girl who looks...well; not like the models he usually dates. He wants a trophy wife, shallow I know but that's men for you. And what's wrong with that sari?"
"It's out of my budget."
Bharti arched a brow.
"Exactly what I mean. Any of his other girlfriends would have bought out the shop by now."
"Well I'm not his girlfriend."
"I know. But just remember, if this all goes wrong then it'll be you that gets hurt the most."
Vrinda gave a grim smile.
"Don't worry, there's not much else he can throw at me. Now how about you take me somewhere where I can actually afford to walk in through the door."
Bharti groaned.
"Yug will kill me if he finds out that you paid."
"He'll have to get used to it. Now come on – up, up."
*****
"She did WHAT?"
Bharti grimaced and held the phone at arm's length as Yug started a prompt round of cursing.
"I can't believe you let her pay."
"Should I even bother pointing out that she's as stubborn as you?"
"Don't I know it."
She could almost hear the weary sigh in his voice and it wasn't hard to imagine Yug tousling his hair as he incessantly rakes his fingers through it, pacing his cabin like a caged tiger with a frown marring his brow.
"Hand her the phone."
"Urh. Well, you see Yug she…ahhh…"
"Bharti."
The warning in his tone was clear and she allowed herself a long-suffering sigh before answering.
"She's at a hotel."
Her answer was met with complete silence for approximately 23 seconds [Bharti had of course been counting] before the cursing started again.
"Which hotel?"
He managed to grind out after calming himself down. Bharti cringed.
"I don't know."
This time the silence seemed to stretch on forever and Bharti idly wondered if her boss had had an aneurysm. Considering his stress level she wouldn't be surprised.
"You let he go to a hotel and didn't even bother asking where? She's completely alone in an unfamiliar city and you don't even know where she is?!"
"She told me you'd say that. And she asked me to tell you that she can take care of herself and you can shove your money…urh, you can guess the rest."
"I'm going to kill her."
"She told me you'd say that too and wanted me to remind you that violence is never the answer. But I did get her to promise that she'd be at the office tomorrow at 10."
"Ever the efficient assistant."
"Thank-you Yug."
She replied primly, ignoring his sarcastic tone and barely flinching as he slammed the receiver down on her.
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