Once Upon A Mr. Goody Two Shoes

Chapter 21

1 month later

'Vishal Kapoor, the business magnet of Kapoor and Co. finally receives a long jail sentence on the charges of harassment' read the day's newspaper headlines.

Everyone had been desperately waiting for this. The media had gone from Mr. Kapoor's scandal to other news very fast, but the tempo of putting him to justice hadn't slacked a bit in his company. Taira had maintained the pressure over the case, which had been famously called the standoff between "father and daughter", but Taira hadn't cared about the gossip at all. She had stayed with me for 2 weeks before giving in to the company's demands, coming out in the public and taking over the position of her father, along with the apartment offered as a token of bargain against her position in the company.

The partners knew that the daughter had left her father's house and would not go back, and the apartment had been the peace offering from them. She was going through a really tough time handling the newfound status and responsibilities that came with the company, along with the heartbreak that she had faced due to her father. I was trying to create normalcy in her life, supporting her as much as I could.

The first thing she did as she took her place in the board was to propose stronger laws against harassment in the company. I had overheard that Abeer had flown back to Delhi, and gone to every court hearing. His mother's case was registered, but since no solid proof had been administered, it had been merged with the other similar cases of harassment against Mr. Kapoor. But I still hadn't contacted him. I had no reason to back why I hadn't, and when I thought of it, there were too many reasons as to why I shouldn't.

At that moment, Taira strode into my cabin.

"Are you fine?" I asked softly,  glancing at the headlines of the newspaper on my desk.

"Your half day has been approved Miss Singhania," she said instead, making my brows furrow.

"I haven't applied for a half day and why would you approve it? My immediate boss will," I replied, confusion lacing my voice.

"Don't question me. Don't you know I am on the board of the company you work in now?" She said with a playful smile. I rolled my eyes at her supposed show of power, but my heart swelled when I saw the smile on her lips. I hadn't seen her smiling ever since the Bangalore conference.

"What is going on Taira? Tell me clearly," I stated, my voice stern.

"Abeer is going back to Kolkata today," Taira said, her voice now devoid of the faux attitude it had before. I froze in my seat, a pang sounding in my chest as I heard the news.

"Last time I checked India was a free country and anyone could go anywhere they want. What is it to me?" I said, hoping the nonchalance was on point as I tried to look busy on my desk, ruffling various files to prove my point.

Taira sighed. "We both know what he is to you Aashi, I am not forcing you. But I think you should forgive him. His intention to approach you was wrong but his love for you is pure Aashi. Consider it. And now he doesn't work here so you aren't going against the office rules if you date," she said, her tone resigned and hopeful at the same time.

I glared at her from my seat.

"I am not going," I said with finality.

"Your choice, the flight leaves at 5'o clock so reach before that if you want to meet him," she shrugged, and left the cabin.

I wasn't going anyways. It's useless. My parents aren't going to ever agree for us. And I would hate an estranged life with my parents. But somewhere, deep down, I knew my priorities had changed. They had changed the moment I had opted to go on the so-called date with Abeer.