Maya 

The interview ended after an hour. 

Ajay went out of the hall with the director and his guards around him. I went over to the manager, as he said he will inform me about the appointment for the exclusive interview. 

He led me and Prakash to a cabin and said, "Sir will arrive just now. He himself would like to talk to you. You can wait here till then." 

" Okay, fine. We will wait," I replied with a wide smile. I swear I felt something strange right there. A huge star is willing to meet me, probably nothing comparable to him.

After waiting for a long time, he finally arrives. There he was standing in front of me with his charming looks and apologising for being late, " Sorry for making you wait. I had some important work to complete. " 

" It's okay sir, no problem. We wished to take an exclusive interview with you. We will be glad if you could give us a few minutes from your busy schedule." I thought that it would convince him but what came from him was something I never expected. 

He was looking at me like he was observing something and then finally he asked me," Is your name, Maya Padwal?" 

" Y-Yeah," I said, stammering at my words. His intense gaze was making me nervous. 

He glanced at me and slightly bent over the table. " Maya, did you not recognize me?" 

I gulped and looked at him. What is he trying to say? I know he feels familiar but I doubt I have seen—

Suddenly, my eyes went wide and my lips fell apart in shock. I stood up from the chair and gasped as realisation hit me. " A-Ajay, you- " 

He was the same Ajay, my desk buddy and neighbour. My mom's favourite and my enemy was standing in front of me. 

I was shocked, would be an understatement. I was dumbfounded. I was out of words to say anything and maybe, also out of my mind for which, I didn't realise that we were not the only ones in the cabin. Ajay's manager, his PA and Prakash were staring at us with eyes widened. They had no idea what was going on. 

To be honest, even I was clueless. 

Never had I expected to meet him in this way. 

" I think you recognised me now, didn't you?" He asked me after a long silence.

" Are you… the same Ajay? " I asked with a very small amount of hope, half expecting him to tell me otherwise and all of it to turn out as only a nightmarish dream.

" Yes, any doubt?" With this, all my hopes died. My only wish was to crawl down the earth. I looked up and saw him grinning at me. It seems like a lot of entertainment for him. 

"What were you saying when I arrived? Oh… yeah, exclusive interview. Right? Okay, now that you were my mate, I should help you. I will give an exclusive interview to you…" 

I was glaring at him while Prakash was the most enthusiastic person in the room. "...but, I have a condition. " 

" What condition sir? " Prakash asked. 

" I want her to do as I say," he said, turning towards me. I breathed hard and was getting ready to give him a perfect retort. Just then, Prakash agreed to him and told him that I would do whatever he wants. 

My lips parted and before I could say anything, Ajay said,'' Perfect. I didn't expect you to agree so fast. Great. Today, I am quite engaged with work. Tomorrow is okay. Let's do it then." 

" I won't come," I firmly replied. 

" Tomorrow at 11 am." 

" I won't come, " I shouted at him. He was about to leave the cabin. Looking over his shoulders, he replied, " Don't expect me to wait for you." After saying that, he left the cabin with his manager and guards. 

Damn that stupid moron! How dare he—! 

I snatched my bag and notebook and dashed out the back door, leaving behind Prakash, who was calling me to wait for him. He came running as we got into the car. 

The series of events that took place today, made the whole day a worse nightmare. I am determined to not do anything that he wants me to do. I am not his puppet or anything. 

The day was a total mess. I thought about talking to my boss to place anyone else to take his interview. I just wish I don't have to see him again. 

Several thoughts were spinning in my head after I met Ajay. I wanted to cry out the feelings that were so suffocating for me. I was baffled by it. 

Those made me feel like a fool.

 Just imagine a friend… sorry, an enemy who disappears and then after 14 years you meet him most unexpectedly. I tried hard to conceal all the emotions and waited for the car to reach my house but in the end, I felt I was losing it. 

" What happened Maya? Are you okay?" Prakash asked me for the tenth time after noticing my weird facial expression. 

" Nothing… I am fine. But Prakash, who told you to agree to his condition? We are not puppets of his hands. Why would I do as he says?" I almost screamed at him, taking out my frustration on him. I was angry with him as well because he agreed to his stupid demand.

" You both already knew each other and were mates too. Isn't it a great chance? You can easily use your acquaintance with him to get his interview. This will not only be beneficial for our office but also for saving your job." He said 'to use your acquaintance' as if we were on friendly terms. 

It will not be beneficial at all. In other words, it would only mean to make my life disastrous. 

" I don't want to go there tomorrow. I will talk to the boss and convince him to send someone else." I decided and said it sternly. 

" But…", Prakash started to say something but stopped when I glared at him. 

" Okay, fine… as you say," he completed after looking at my angry face.

The car came to a halt in front of my apartment building. " I will go first," I said and opened the car door when he said," Bye''. I waved at him and went inside the building. 

As soon as I opened the door, Ayushi came running to me. She looked so full of excitement.

She pulled me to sit beside her on the sofa. Then, she excitedly asked," Did you meet Ajay? How was the interview? Did you talk to him about the exclusive interview? " She poured out all her questions. 

" Will you let me speak?" I asked and she giggled at it. "Ayushi, can you go and take the interview tomorrow? " I asked with pleading eyes. 

She looked at me with narrowed eyes and asked, "Why would I when you are supposed to take his interview?" 

Without beating around the bush, I tell her everything. Her eyes were about to bulge out of the sockets. It was quite hard for her to believe the whole scenario. 

"Maya, Why didn't you call me before?" She asked me, with concern in her eyes. 

" I wanted to tell you in person, not on calls. I am fine. You don't need to worry. " I replied with a sad look.

" I mean, I really wanted to see your face when he revealed to you that he is the same Ajay," she replies, trying to suppress her laughter, fueling my anger. 

" You want to die, don't you?" I replied while glaring at her. I threw a pillow at her which she dodged perfectly, laughing out loud. For a moment, I forgot everything that happened to me today, all about that sick Ajay. 

" Let's have some snacks. I am starving," Ayushi said, pouting like a cute puppy and rubbing her tummy. I can't help laughing at her puppy face. " Me too. I will change and then we can have snacks together," I said, pulling her cheeks.

I went to my room and grabbed my light blue top and pajamas from the closet. After changing my clothes, I start brushing my hair when I get a call from an unknown number. I usually don't pick up unknown calls so I left it like that and a few seconds later, it buzzed again. This time, I answered but then, I never expected this to come. 

" Hello, Why didn't you pick the call before?" The voice from the other end said as soon as I picked it up. It was a voice that seemed familiar. Who was this person? I immediately asked him, "Who are you?" 

" You have so little memory strength. Did you forget me already? " He asked me. Trying to observe his voice, my eyes went wide after making a guess. Is it him? Ajay? I gulped and asked, taking a deep breath, "Ajay?" 

"Yeah, you got it right." He said and I heard him smirk. How the hell did he even get my number? I was fuming with anger. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm down my mind. 

" How the hell did you get this number?"

" Nothing hard for me, you know?" He asked in a casual voice. This person is crossing his limits! 

" Why did you call me?" I asked him as softly as possible. 

" Just to remind you that you have to come tomorrow at 11 in the morning."

" The person you are trying to call is currently too busy unlike someone. So please call her after death," I deadpanned.

I heard him sigh. " Too childish. -100 out of 10." Somehow if he was in front of me, I would've thrown him in the drain. He belongs there. 

" What's wrong with you? Didn't I say, I won't go there," I said slightly raising my voice. I already made up my mind to call the boss and tell him to send someone else to take his interview. I won't let him boss me around as if he owns me. 

" You should start following my orders and also don't forget that I won't wait for you. So, you better reach on time. Don't be late like you used to be during school days," he said. As I expected, he wants to boss me. I thought of a very smart answer but before I could reply he ended the call with," Sleep well." 

I decided to call my boss. I gathered up all of the courage and repeated in my mind, " I can do it… I can." 

Just when I was going to press the call button, my phone buzzed loudly, making me jump and my hands started shaking. It was from my boss. 

I picked up immediately and he said," Maya, I hope you talked with Ajay sir about the interview. Take it very seriously. I guess you know how important it is. Tomorrow, you don't have to come to the office. Just prepare nicely. Your job will depend on it. Best wishes." 

That is when he ended the call. I didn't even get a chance to speak. No one listens to me! 

I had no other option left. Without thinking about it anymore, I went to the living area. I grabbed the packet of chips from Ayushi, who was enjoying her favourite television show. Ayushi asked," Why are you looking so tense? Any problem?" 

" I have decided to go there and take his interview. He can't boss me, no matter what. " I swear to myself that I would do it for the sake of my job. This won't affect my smooth and happy lifestyle… or would it?  

~•~

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