Posted on April 30th, 2017 | Edited on October 16th, 2018

| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.8.1 : C A L M - B E F O R E - S T O R M. . . |

Next morning, while dropping me off at work, Armaan begun once again, "I don't like the idea of you being there alone."

I tried to reason with him, "Armaan, you said we can't let him know we're scared, right? I can't stay in four corners of my room just because he's threatening. I say, this time, he pays for what he's done."

He put his hand on my head feeling proud. "Okay, well, take care. And if anything happens, then please go to Arnav, okay? Regardless of everything he's done, he will keep you safe."

I have yet to understand why Armaan trusts him so much with me. Somewhere, I wonder if it has to do with something he had once said when he'd come to Australia to get me when dad was in the hospital. He'd asked Arnav to look after me and it had told me the two knew each other from before but knowing how Armaan knew a lot of people, I had never specifically asked him where exactly he knew him from because in the past two years, I never wanted to initiate a conversation about Arnav.

I promised to put him at ease, "I will. See you in the evening." I stepped out of the car giving him a quick peck on the cheek and a note to myself that I would have to ask him when I get a chance just how he knows Arnav.

Getting to my desk, I greeted Payal who's desk was next to mine.

She informed, "Hey! Good morning. Before I forget, boss was looking for you." I left my purse on the chair and started walking towards Aman's cabin when Payal corrected, "Not Aman. ASR."

I questioned, "You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm guessing some more changes to the design," she said as she typed on her computer.

I nodded and left, figuring it made sense that that would be the reason he was looking for me in the work space. If it was something personal, he would have texted, right?

After getting up the stairs, I knocked on the door before pushing it in to enter. Lavanya was already there sitting on a chair. "I'll come back later," I started to leave when Arnav stopped me.

"No, come in. I need to talk to you too." He pulled his laptop screen down and started tapping his fingers over it.

Cautious of Lavanya, I walked in and sat on the empty chair next to her.

He glanced at her, "Lavanya?"

She glared at him, "No."

They seemed to have a silent stare down before he announced, "Fine, be that way. But neither of you are leaving this room till this is solved."

I dared to interrupt between the two, "What is solved?"

My question was dismissed as Lavanya warned, "You can't do this."

He stood up pushing the chair back, "Watch me."

I sat there confused as he walked out of the room and then it made sense when he turned the lock from outside, locking two of us in here.

Damn.

It seemed that karma was getting back at me for all the times I have locked Armaan and Riddhima in one room to solve their issues.

I cleared my throat to get her attention, "So... um, what does he want you to say?"

"I'm not going to say it," she remained stubborn.

I tried to reason, "I don't think he's going to let us out till you do."

She threw me a dirty glance and catching her intent, I shut up, shrugging my shoulder.

I walked up to the edge towards the windows looking down at the work place. It seems almost scandalous for Arnav to be able to watch over his employees while none of them could know if and when he was watching. He should not hold this kind of power. But, then again, no wonder everyone works sincerely here. They know that at any second, their boss could look down on them and they wouldn't know.

Fifteen minutes passed in silence. Lavanya was using Arnav's laptop and I figured she knew his password. I bit back the pinch of jealousy of how close they seemed to be by pacing back and forth for a couple of times and telling myself I needed to stop feeling this jealous. They have a son together and they even work together. Obviously, they'll be close. Why wouldn't she know his passwords and stuff?

When pacing didn't work and I got tired and also a bit dizzying from walking back and forth, I went to sit at the chair beside her. I stay still for a minute before my fingers start tapping on the table.

She scolded me, "Will you stop that?"

Oh. It was irritating to her. I pulled my hand back but that shifted to shaking my legs up and down.

She let out a sigh, "Apparently he was right. You have no patient bone in you."

I shrugged my shoulders, wondering if he told her anything else about me and if so, what? And... why?

She murmured, more to herself. "And that's why he locked me in here with you. Arnav, I'm so going to have my revenge."

I pointed out, "He can't hear you, you know?"

She scoffed, "Oh, I'm pretty sure he can."

My brows knit together in confusion but didn't question it.

Half hour after, I finally asked, now getting annoyed by her calm composure and ability to continue her work as if we are not locked up in here. "Okay, look, whatever you have to say, just say it and let's move on. I need to get back to work."

Truth was, I just wanted to get away from her. I'd like to paint myself as someone who had great work ethics but that would be fraudulent. I had yet to discover myself which work ethics I held. So, for now, I only want to escape and not feel intimidated by her.

She seemed to think for a few seconds before bringing the laptop screen down and turning the chair to face me. "He thinks I need to be nice to you since apparently, the two of you are 'starting over'."

I put aside the taunt in her tone when she says certain words as if she doesn't believe us, "We arestarting over."

She scoffed, "With the history you have? Forgive me if I don't buy that."

I crossed my arms over my chest, "What does it matter to you anyway? You've already decided you hate me."

She challenged raising a brow, "Don't I have a good enough reason to?"

I answered a bit uncertainly, "No? It's your boyfriend who ruined my life, remember?"

She opened her mouth, a flare of anger crossing over her eyes before she fisted her palms and decided against whatever she wanted to say. Seconds after, she said something other than she planned, "We're friends."

I repeated her words, "With the history you have? Find that hard to believe."

She looked me in the eyes, "Believe it. I'm probably the only friend who's stuck by him."

"Why?" I found myself asking before I had control over my tongue.

Her brows narrowed, "Why what?"

"Why do you stick by him? Surely you know what he does... how he is?"

Her jaw clenched again in anger and I didn't know what it was I had said. Had I offended Arnav? She had to know of his way with the ladies back during college days. I had only said what I knew... Was it wrong?

She breathed out her lips moving quietly without voice to say something to herself before she looked at me again. "Look here, however he is, Khushi, I stick by him because there is good in him. People so easily brush that off, but I wish they would see it... get past his guard and see the person he is behind that."

Her words forced me to take her seriously, ponder over them. It was true... I've often thought it myself. He does have an invisible guard around himself and he doesn't let people in so they can get to know him. It's like he does not like to be vulnerable around someone.

For a reason, it makes me think of Jennifer and the last time I visited the shelter all those years ago. I never had the chance to be a friend to him the way he had been to me.

She concluded in a warning, "Look, he wants me to be nice to you and I'll try for him. But if he's hurt again because of you, don't expect the kind treatment to continue."

He was hurt because of me? What had I even done?

Then... I figure it was what I had not done. I hadn't accepted his friendship. Kripa's words during our very first argument... that I had hurt him. Lavanya here seems to believe the same and after learning this... dare I say, she does have a reason to not like me... right?

She walked around the desk and from under a file, pulled out Arnav's phone that I hadn't known was there. She put it to her ear, "Is that enough for you to let me out of here?"

Her earlier words return to me when she said she was pretty sure Arnav could hear it when I had thought she was talking to herself.

That sneaky bastard.

Seconds later, the door rattled and he walked in. Lavanya thrust his phone to his chest, sending him a deathly glare for locking us up and making her do this before walking out.

I raised a brow at him myself, questioning his actions. He shrugged his shoulders and answered sheepishly as he walked around to his chair behind the desk, "What? I wanted you two to get along. All I asked her to do was apologize for crushing your burnt foot the other day."

Well... she technically did not apologize, did she? She just said she would play nice.

I sighed at his genuine wish given both of us were going to be a part of his life. I couldn't deny that I would keep running into Lavanya because of her connection to Aarav. It was nice of him to try. Still, I warned, "Next time you want us to exchange words, don't lock me in a room with her. I don't know why but she scares the life out of me."

His brows narrowed in amusement, "Lavanya? She's harmless."

I argued, "To you, maybe. But all that calm façade of hers is scary... it's like the calm before the storm, you know?"

He chuckled tough took my words lightly, "Sure, if you say so. Lunch today?"

A beat momentarily skipped my heart at the sudden change in topics and at how casually he threw that in. It was quite an innocent question, but it still took me aback for a second. "Uh... sure. I have work to do..." I said, trailing off and standing there for a second feeling awkward before I muttered, "Okay," and walked out when he didn't say anything and had continued to look at me without a blink.

His intense gaze on me.

Why did it unnerve me?

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.8.2 : D E A R - F I A N C E . . . |

Every few minutes, I found myself looking at the time. What was wrong with me? I was looking forward to having lunch with Arnav. Something was very wrong with me. And yet, somehow, it felt right.

I turned to my phone when the screen lit up with a text message. Unlocking the screen, it was from an unknown number.

I see you're trying to not be scared. Let's see if you get scared when your dear fiancé finds out.

A gasp escaped my lips and shaken, my phone dropped from my hands and clattered into pieces on the group. A reaction I could not control. Others around me momentarily stopped to turn towards the source of the sound before shaking their heads and going about with their own things.

Ignoring it, I bent to pick up the pieces.

My hands trembled even as I eventually managed to put it together. Flipping it to the front, I saw the cracks across the screen. Damn iPhones for having such sensitive screens. And my fault for not applying a screen protector. I should have known that with how I was careless, it was only a matter of time before I would drop it.

Payal winced at the destruction, "Ouch. What'd the poor fella do to you?"

I blinked up trying very hard to act normal and not let anyone see how rattled I was on the inside, "Uh, did you need something?"

She forwarded a sheet, "Yeah, Aman wants you to fill this out - list of materials. Also, you need to get ASR's signature before faxing it to the manufacturer."

I nodded taking the piece of paper and she left to complete the next task on her list. My mind returned to the message I'd read. I tried to turn on my phone but it was a goner. Still, the words were imprinted in my brain.

...when your dear fiancé finds out.

He knows I am engaged. How...? Does he know to who? It isn't the impending question though. There were many ways he could have found out I was engaged.

But finds out... I don't need to be scared, do I? Arnav already knows. He may not know who or the details but I did tell him in college. I tell myself I don't have to be scared. But... there is something I have never told anyone. Not even Armaan and Riddhima. What if... what if he did find out? What if that is what he is talking about? That... that does scare me.

I started to feel the air around me turn thick. It was getting difficult to breathe. I did not want another episode like yesterday today. My gaze blinked up towards Arnav's cabin. I couldn't see him from where I was seated but I knew he was in there.

Next thing I know, I found my legs carrying me towards the stairs leading to his cabin.

"...if anything happens, then please go to Arnav."

My mind wasn't consciously thinking it but it did remember Armaan's instructions. Even without it, I reckon I wouldn't have had hesitations in going to Arnav. I could always trust him in this matter. This was one topic he had never betrayed my trust in. In this, he had always done his best to help me. I was certain the estranged two years in between didn't change that.

Knocking once on the door and after he had looked up, I entered. "Can..." My voice came out barely a whisper and I cleared my throat to speak clearly, "Can I please stay here?'

He instantly grew concerned and nodded, trying to assess me. I walked up to the chair and sat there, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. "Khushi?"

I tilted my head towards the ceiling, "I'm... okay." I exhaled again, "I just need to... be here."

He walked around the desk and occupied the second chair next to me. "Khushi, look at me." He instructed turning the chair with some force so it would face his direction. I sat up properly so my knees wouldn't brush his. "What happened?"

It was written all over his face. His worries. I shook my head not meeting his eyes directly for I didn't want to feel in this moment that he would be looking right into my soul. I did not want to feel violated right now even though my heart knew his gaze could never be a means of violation. When in one of my panic attacks, my mind seemed to never listen to my heart. It always took over.

I reminded him of our original deal, "No questions."

He looked like he wanted to argue but reluctantly listened and asked instead, "Can I get you anything?"

I shook my head again in a polite decline. Just being here, away from everyone else, helped. Then I put my arms on the table and my head over it, wanting to rest my head there and close my eyes for a few seconds - get my breathing back to normal and stop this uneasiness, this shaking and the goosebumps all over my skin.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

As I came out of sleep, I heard voices around me, quiet ones. One of them was definitely Arnav. His voice I could recognize anywhere. Mustering enough energy, I forced my eyes open and saw Aman standing next to Arnav's chair getting him to sign something.

Aman.

I immediately sprang up on my feet. Both of their eyes looked up at me from the file at the motion in their peripheral.

How long was I here? Did I really fall asleep while at work? How very professional of me. I should get fired for this.

The clock hanging on the wall read 2:18. Past lunch time. I had been here for roughly four hours. Yeah, those are definitely grounds for getting fired.

"I..."

Arnav cut me off, "How do you feel now?"

"Huh?"

"You don't remember? You passed out."

"What?" I passed out... when? I was so sure I was only sleeping.

He handed me a slip of pills, "Anyway, take these. The doctor said you were probably too stressed out and so fainted."

My brows squinted in utter confusion. Did I really pass out?

Aman spoke up, "I'll get these faxed. Khushi, feel better." He offered a sympathetic smile before leave.

The second the two of us were alone, I asked. "What happened?"

He said, "I told you. You fainted," and finished it with a wink. I understood he made up that excuse for Aman and to cover for me.

But, that was not the important part I focused on.

There was an immediate flutter in my heart at his wink. Did he just... wink at me? He looked damn attractive doing it and that boyish grin on his face... I masked the thoughts that passed through me and smiled back.

In the past years, I have never focused on someone's attractiveness. I was always too scared to. Even right now, at my acknowledgment, it made me feel slightly uneasy. Out of nowhere, it was a whole new concept for me even if being attracted to someone or finding someone attractive is one of basic instincts.

I told myself to focus on the fact that he covered for me instead of that wink. Aman was my direct boss even if Arnav was the owner but it was a good thing that my reputation wasn't blotched in front of Aman.

He caught my attention back by asking, "Anyway, what do you want to eat? You must be hungry."

That is when I recalled the time. "Oh. Right. Me missed lunch..."

He raised a brow in amusement, "Me?"

My English currently was childish. Give me a break, okay? I am still reeling for how that wink made me feel. "You know what I mean," I grumbled trying to fight my blush - not because he called me out on my language but because of the actual reaction from his wink.

Damn it.

Forget the wink already!

I'm sure he's winked at many girls. It shouldn't be affecting me this much.

As if recalling himself, he pushed the entertainment aside and asked serious. "What do you want to eat. I'll order it."

I shrugged, "Dunno. Anything." Then, I quickly added, "Anything veg."

He laughed back, obviously remembering that one time. The first time he took me out to eat and the first time I acknowledged I needed to get better with my appetite. "How does Italian sound?"

The name itself brought me to salivate. "I love lasagna."

"Italian it is." He dialed a number from memory and it made me wonder if he often got take out. His next words into the phone confirmed that. "Hey Sandy, Arnav here. Yes, the usual but add lasagna as well? Great, that sounds good too. Thanks."

If he had a usual, he definitely ate at this place a lot.

Seeing my expression, he asked. "What?"

The signs flashed in my mine, "You didn't eat lunch yet?"

"I figured you'd wake up eventually and we could still eat together."

Oh, my heart. These random things he said so casually but still meant something. Everything.

He blinked a smile at me before returning to work and I let him be. I needed to sort out my brain. I'd came into this cabin panicking and am now experiencing some things I have never before. It should scare me that my body was reacting this way but it wasn't.

It felt comfortable.

It felt right.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |

I particularly love the La-Khushi scene. Who else with me?