PRAKRUTHI
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'Good afternoon Mam...this is the repo-' but before I could interrupt Kripa Mam said

'Prakruthi thank god you are here...I was looking for someone who could escort Mr Karthik to our floor...some issue with his id card swiping and the security protocols are such that the guard wouldn't swipe for him or let him in unless one of our teammates swipe their card for him. I was thinking of sending over Amit but he seems to have got caught up in a meeting with Ken. Can you attend Mr Karthik please...even I have to attend the meeting...in another 30 mins you folks have your first session of training with Mr Karthik. It's your turn to break the ice with your mentor. Go go...' saying she pushed me to do the most uncomfortable task ever. The man I'm trying to avoid is whom I'm going to receive ....way to GOOOO Pakku!!!

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'Heyyy thank you so much Prakruthi' saying he showed his flawless pearly white smile. The one that had left me smitten for a long time.

'Heyyyyy ummm Prakruthi???' saying he snapped his finger infront of me making me come out of my lala land.

'Ohhh Ummm Mr Karthik...this way' saying I started walking while he was following me.

Imagine!!! The Karthik Shetty is following me.

Wasn't this your dream Pakku??? How many bollywood songs have you dedicated to this guy from singing all the SRK songs to crying upon all Himesh Reshammiya's sad songs...you have done it all for him. But now the same man following you is making you uncomfortable.

Fuck!!! I seriously want to jump out of the window. If only I could become invisible like Anil Kapoor from the movie Mr.India.

We reached outside the meeting room when 'Prakruthi' he called me again and I abruptly turned around only for my front of crash into him making me loose my balance and fall flat on my back while Karthik tried to grab onto my waist but I the dupatta of my salwar kameez came under my foot making it unable for me to stand straight and just when I thought my butt would kiss the floor I felt a strong grip over my wrist and just when I know I didn't fall, a strong pull upon my wrist threw my body into a hard wall and I opened my eyes to notice Kedar standing like a wall between me and Karthik. I didn't even realise when his grip left my waist and when my bosoms crashed into Kedar's strong chest.

I gulped as his strong gaze traced my eyes, nose and landed on my lips. I swallowed hard whispering a 'Thank you' to him but he simply glared at me and then glared at Karthik. I didn't know what to say.

'Mr Shankar...I'm getting late...can we go inside please!!!' saying he walked into the room and I was shocked.

'Mr Nayak this...this is the meeting room where I'm going to train your new employees!!!' Karthik said to which Kedar turned around saying

'I know!!! And that is the reason I'm here!!!'

'I am sorry Mr Nayak...I don't think you are needed here...it's a usual training ' but Kedar simply looked into his eyes saying

'And I want to make sure the training is good enough for my new employees!!! You have a problem with that Mr Shetty???' he asked raising an eyebrow and Karthik helplessly said a 'No!!!' and I Kedar walked into the meeting room. Shockingly Kedar took a chair next to me which was on the farther end of the oval shaped table and I sat on his left.

Like expected all my batchmates who were now my colleagues looked at me and then Karthik in horror. Slowly there were hush hush talks but because Kedar was in the meeting room they went silent. In a way although Mr RavenBird's expressionless face helped me today.

Karthik continued the training. It was a good session. It was more of an interactive session but everytime Karthik asked me questions I felt dirty glares from every other person in the meeting room except Kedar who wierdly was glaring at Karthik which kind of made him nervous and he tried not to pick me up however smiled at me frequently. But everytime he looked at me I noticed muffled voices, smirks from my batchmates. I didn't like it but I had to deal with it.

Post the session Karthik walked towards pantry to pick himself some water, Kedar got a call so he went to pick the call while I heard all our batchmates giggling and giving me wierd looks.

'Heyyy isn't that Karthik...heeeer Karthik?'

'No wonder she selected this organisation!!!'

'Man he was her school crush but I can't believe what a despo she is...still not over him?'

'She is a stalker dude!!! Poor Karthik '

And i couldn't stand anymore. I simply picked my bag and ran outside the meeting room only to crash into Shankar Sir and Karthik who was shocked seeing me. I failed to control my tears but managed to ask Shankar Sir...

'Sir can I leave...I'm...I'm not well!!'

'Heyyy Prakruthi...all ok?'

'Sir ... please' I said with a lot of difficulty and he simply nodded. Karthik was angry and upset too I didn't even wait for him to begin.

I wanted to run away...from him

From everything!!!

On my way I crashed into Kedar again who was shocked to see me in tears but I didn't have it in me to explain anything to anyone so I ran towards the elevator but noticed Kedar following me however the elevator arrived and I left.

Walking outside the tech park I took the first auto going back home. Crying all the way home I cursed my confidence levels for behaving so weak. I cried infront of everyone. What would everyone think about me. What happened to me. I hated this weak side of mine.

Karthik might have questions and Kedar..how would he react???

I simply walked towards the house only to notice Kedar standing at the gate of our apartment already. Why didn't he go inside? He also has the flat key.

Just while walking towards him I heard my neighbours gossip..

'Tch tch tch...this is why I don't want my daughter in law to go to work. See poor guy has to wait for his wife!!!'

'Correct Akka...he was waiting for last fifteen minutes... can't she come on time? God knows what would her mother in law do...I would have given my daughter in law an earful if she made my son wait like that.'

'Areyyy Shanta this is why I ask why should girls work? Cant they sit at home and cook? A man can work na.. this women going to work, coming home late, then having career and independence nonsense has spoilt lives...poor kids don't even get the love of a mother!!!'

'Where do nowadays women have kids Akka? They only enjoy...then cry of not having kids in 30's and then finally waste money on these new technologies. Instead I say these girls should immediately get pregnant after marriage, quit job and take care of house. Career and nonsense isn't for women!!! Should keep them under control!!!'

I kept on hearing their crap only until I lost my head and I turned around and shouted at them

'Aunty women are not cow or cattle that you tie into a certain place. We are as humans as your sons are and why do you forget you are also women? You didn't achieve things outside but surely you must have done things at home and I respect it but that doesn't give you any rights to judge me or my choices. And if you think you are 'controlling' them then remember every dog has a day. You ill treat your daughter in law today tomorrow she will give you the same.

Instead make her your daughter aunty and see the amount of love you will get in return and ohhh you don't need to worry about our baby making process. I and my husband know when and how to have a baby. You don't need to train us!!! We will have loads of babies and believe me you will not attend anyone's birthday party !!! I promise!!!'I screamed when Kedar simply threw me on his shoulder and walked into the house. Strangely it was open.

'If you had the key why didn't you open the door??? Saw what those women gossiped??? Why did you do this?' I screamed while suddenly I was been pulled into his chest and his hands tightly wrapped around my back. My head resided against his stomach abs and I was screaming but he didn't let go off the grip. I struggled and pushed him away but he slowly patted my back and slowly caressed my head after sometime my screaming and yelling reduced... gradually stopped and I slowly relaxed my head against his abs and slowly hid my tear struck face in his stomach.

'Shhhhhh!!! Go wash your face' he whispered

'No!!!' my voice broke down again

'I will make you maggi okay?' he said and for the first time ever I didn't want maggi I wanted him. I didn't want to let go off him.

'No!!! Stay!!! Hug me...' I whispered and he didn't say anything

'Please Kedar...Hold me tightly....please' I broke down again and next second I felt a strong grip on my waist as he lifted me up and my feet were now hanging in air. I threw my arms across his neck and  simply hid my face in his neck inhaling his fragrance which strangely calmed me down. I don't know why I wanted this more.

'Tighter!!!' I said and his grip on my waist tightened as I felt my body crushed against his beastly one.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I cried my heart out in his arms.

This was long due.