ETHEREAL

.12.

She did all she can do to keep her distracted for few days. Everytime, everyday. She sat with aunt Zara and uncle Zayn for hours, read them books, watched movies with them, went on walks with them. Rest of the time she helped Maria in whatever she could like in kitchen, laundry or sometimes cleaning too. When there is still time left then she would water the plants or grew some more plants in the backyard. Gardening has becoming her new hobby from past few days. But when there is still time left to pass through and when it's harder to sleep at night, Peter was always there, ready to talk about almost everything.  But even after  feeling dead tired, after working all day she couldn't sleep. As soon as she close her eyes she saw all her worst memories coming in front of her eyes and she felt the trauma all over again.

Another thing in which she gave her best was avoiding Randhir.

She had no idea how much he knows about her. She had no idea how much Aamayra haven't tell him yet. Or even if she have left to tell anything at all? What he is thinking about her now? Most probably how he must be judging her on the basis of what he heard. He must have known about her name, family, school everything now.

And here she thought she had run far away from her past.

She avoid bumping or even crossing him in corridors. She busy herself with the cleaning or gardening whenever he is home. He is barely home though. It helps when he leave early for work and come home late.

But people have began to notice now. Specially Maria because whenever she asked can you give coffee to Randhir in his office.

"No." The first blunt no from sanyukta have been shock to Maria.

But when sanyukta denied to pass salt to him, or give him his ironed shirt, or to get his car keys from his table, it all made Maria suspicious.

Now sanyukta have to be subtle about her avoiding him. Because sanyukta seems to feel herself getting rude to Maria unintentionally.

But Maria didn't complained. It was Peter who did.

"Are you scared of him?" Peter asked sanyukta.

"No." Sanyukta said quickly.

You have no idea.

"Then why are you running away from him?" Peter asked, Maria must have discussed sanyukta behaviour with Peter.

"I'm not running away from him." Sanyukta lied. I'm running away from my past.

"you are not scared of him? "

Sanyukta nodded hesitated.

"you are not running away from him?"

She nodded again confidently.

"Prove it then. " Peter challenge her which made sanyukta knees buckle.

But she maintain a composure.

"Okay" Sanyukta played cool.

"Take his permission for the restaurant's opening on Zara's birthday. " Peter smirked.

"But why would you need his permission? " She was trying to make excuses not to go in there.

"It's his house. It's basically his restaurant and it's his grandmother's birthday. Out of courtesy, I guess. " Peter mocked. "And I don't think any of us have money to organise a party alone."

Sanyukta bite her cheek.

"Go on. He is in his office. Tell him what we are planning to do and when he asks whose plan was this tell him it's your's. " Peter told her.

"No. It's your's. " Sanyukta complains.

"Then tell him that it's your's and mine." Peter added. "You are involved in this the second you stepped into that restaurant."

"Remind me again why we started this and what I get from this?" Sanyukta step back.

"Maybe free meals at the restaurant or free rides or maybe anything you want from me." That's sounds inviting.

"Now go." Peter literally pushed her up the stairs.

"Fine. I'm going. Give me a minute." Sanyukta protest while Peter put his hands on his waist. Waiting.

She has no other option.

Fine then.

She took a deep breath full of dedication and walk up the stairs. Her heart thud harder when she reached in front of his office.

She didn't look back at Peter to check if he is still watching. She know he is.

Mentally preparing herself, she push the door open.

Fuck.

She didn't knock. He was standing very close to the door, probably leaving his office with a coffee mug in his hand with some coffee left in it.

The door hit directly the mug he was holding in front of him, Randhir was quick to get hold of the falling mug but he couldn't save the coffee.

That was now on his shirt. Probably the shape look like big map of Russia on white shirt but she wasn't sure.

Kill me please.

The annoyance was so clear as  day on his face.

"I'm sorry. Do you want me to clean it?" Sanyukta was surprised how she didn't fumble even once.

Randhir stood there holding his empty mug of coffee and try to understand the woman standing in front of her.

Sanyukta mind sky rocket to a past memory where Aamayra has spill a cup of coffee over sanyukta head because she spilled a little coffee on her shoes one day.

Has Aamayra told him that incident too?

Is he imagining that incident too?

"I should go." Sanyukta murmured to herself before turning around.

"Wait." Randhir voice was as cold as before. "Come inside and close the door." He ordered.

No fucking way.

For a minute, she stayed still at the threshold. Her breath becoming shallow while her heartbeat rising high.

She had been running away from this. She should have continue running. But till when?

Without turning back, she took two steps back which were enough to close the door in front of her. The door locked with a loud click that triggered a heavy gulp to her.

"Turn around and look at me." Randhir voice was closer than she expected it to be. If she isn't wrong, she even felt his breath falling on her neck.

Sanyukta took a deep breath.

Fine. Let's finish it for once and all.

Thank you so much.

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