𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 56

The office had resumed and so did the rumours.

The usual office hours were so boring that a new rumour has surfaced around and it was as stupid as ever.
Why were three holidays given for Holi celebrations when it was usually just one?

Did people have to find out reasons for something good happening to them? She sighed in irritation. Just be happy that it happened and that's it!

"Hi," she looked over to find Mandeep on the door knocking. Alia waved her in.

"Hello, how are you?" Alia stood up as well out of respect. When she had lied Mandeep had believed her and taken charge on her behalf.

"Good, good," the woman sat down in front of her. "Soooo, I felt really bad when you had to go the other day because of your period and you could not meet the boss." I do not like where this is going, yet a smile remained on Alia's face."So I took the liberty of rescheduling and today he is free two hours straight!" She clapped her hands excitedly.

"Uh..I..nice!" Alia, with the sudden rush of fake enthusiasm, clapped her hands as well. "But why would you do—I mean you didn't need to." She changed her tone and smiled. Her cheeks hurt. Her heart hurt.

Her Brian hurt because for the first time it was pulling a blank on her and she had no idea what to do.

"Alia," her boss, the manager to which she was the assistant to came in making her stand up immediately and greet him. He nodded and handed her the files, "Do you know what these are?"

She took a look at both of them and nodded. "We finished reviewing them an hour ago."

"Good, I was told that you were meeting the boss. So I want you to go to him and review the files." He pointed at her making her nervous, "Don't mess up." He warned.

She nodded frantically. "Yup got it."
She collapsed on her chair as he left. "Shit, shit..shit.." she mumbled. She was cornered in. Now, she has to go.

"Everything okay?" Mandeep frowned.

"I forgot you were there," Alia muttered under breath before turning around, "Nope, not at all. So tomorrow?"

"No," Mandeep denied. "It's today."

"Ah, is it?" Alia stood up and frowned. "I don't feel well do you think that it would look bad if I have to cancel today too?" If Alia's mother saw the innocent look she was pulling now she would have cackled like a hyena.

Mandeep nodded with a slight grimace on her face. "I think the first time was understandable but if you repeat it, he might take offence. After all, he is the big boss."

Is she making fun of me? Alia stared at her with a blank expression. She couldn't possibly conclude the obvious. Alia was delaying the meet.

"Come on," Mandeep stood up and waved Alia to follow her.

She gulped and picked up the files and then picked herself up, dragged her feet to the lift and stood next to an over-excited secretary.

What in the world was she excited for?

She stood in front of the cabin door. The place where he stood behind,
the place where he used to call her from, telling her that he missed her and what was he to do when they met.

The one who never met her mother even though her friends had.
He's my boss and that's it. Treat him like one.

She squared her shoulders and knocked on the door. On hearing a come in, she entered with a bright smile on her face. "Good afternoon sir. I'm Alia Ahuja and I joined recently, I would like to thank you for rescheduling the meeting." She then pointed to the files, "I also have the six-monthly review files. Would you like me to go over them?"

Arman, the man she loved, sat behind the desk without a blink of expression on his face. If he was remotely surprised or happy to see her he had covered it well.

He stared right into her soul like he had done many times before. She knew that he was analysing her yet she stood strong on the outside.

Inside, she was on the verge to pee herself.

"Have a seat." He pointed to the one directly in front of him, the one in the middle of the three.

Face to face. His eyes to hers.

She didn't object and took it. She placed the files in the middle.

"Go ahead." He nodded and she handed him one, "No, I'll be listening to you." He pointed to the file in her hand.

Well, fuck thank you for that. She nodded and opened up the file.
"For the pre—" The room was silent and the only thing that could be heard was vibration which made her stop talking.

She looked at him with a slightly anointed expression.
"It's yours." He stated calmly as if expecting that from her and she felt it.

It was. Now that he had said it she could feel the vibration coming from her thigh.

She scrambled for words, her panic made her stutter. "I'll—I will put it on—"

"Attend it. If it's important." He leaned back and took a file on the table.

She checked and picked it up. It was an unknown number. "Hello?" She whispered harshly.

"Alia Ahuja?" Someone asked.

"Yes?"

"Daughter of Sahil Sharma?" A sudden chill ran up her spine. It was daily when someone called her in regards to her father.

"What do you want?" She forgot that someone else was in the room as well and her voice had returned to the normal volume.

"I will assume that you are since you did not deny. Your father has escaped a central prison and hasn't been found for which we advise you to be on guard."

"Escaped?" She whispered, how?

The next words haunted her soul. "Yes and I'm sorry to say that he has been on the run for the past six years."