Seasons Of Love

#7 : Concede

Ria's POV

🎶🎶

It's hard to remember
how it felt before
Now I’ve found the love of my life
Passes, things get more comfortable
Everything is going right

🎶🎶

            The clock had struck two o'clock, indicating it was time to make a move towards the cafeteria. However, the lunch break wouldn't be much of a break, as we all would dine together. That meant, Vicky and obviously Chitra too. Not that, I had anything against them individually but their togetherness, made me gulp down the lump formed in my throat. An unknown feeling spread through my bloodstream.

"Let's go, let's go".

             The chirpy voice of Chitra found it's way to my ears, making me cast a genuine smile at her. Her infectious personality and our mutual longing for being back with friends took the front seat, pushing all the lingering thoughts and unanswered questions behind.

            We slumped down at the chairs, which we were able to grab after a toilsome waiting period and scanning the entire cafeteria like hawks. It was lunch, with the extended gang, atleast for me. Though I had hardly met them a couple of times — Sasha's band of boys; I was able to gel up with them easily, inculcating into a breezy conversation constantly hovering across the table. From their behavior, I could decipher, they weren't aware of Vicky's and my past.

Good, atleast few less people judging me.

Ruhi and Chitra, never judged you!!
      
My conscience, immediately retaliated back. Heaving a long sigh, I took my first morsel, yes there's only one person who had a constant judgmental gaze on me.

            Thankfully, the person in question's attention was diverted by the numerous other table occupants. Working together and these luncheons with a big gang, seemed to have played a role in diminishing the power of his piercing stares. The current conversation doing the rounds at the table, made me look up from my meal.

           "When did you get transferred from AIR (All India Radio) to BBC (British Broadcasting Company)? Wasn't covering Indian territory enough for you, that you had to cross international borders and call up Raghav, across seven oceans?" Vicky scowled at Chitra seated across him and beside me.

            Chitra raised her wrist to her mouth, in an attempt to stifle her snickering. After gobbling down her morsel, she put her tongue out in a tease. Chinning up, she said with an air of haughtiness to it.

            "My news, my friends, my wish! When you have deemed me as the news broadcaster, I should do justice to the job, right? After all I'm a dedicated and sincere employee."
Making others chuckle and Vicky to scoff in irritation.

            He discarded his spoon and fell back on his seat to cross his arms. "First of all, you don't need to show your 'exceeding the expectations' performance on a non-existent job title. Make your over-achiever performance reflect in the job that actually pays you."

Now it was Chitra's turn to scoff and roll her eyes. She mumbled under breath, under the disguise of a cough. "Typical manager talk", which apparently wasn't the best cover-up.

"I heard that. But that's for another day, let's not deviate from the topic." Flashing her a sarcastic smirk, that eventually turned into a small smile playing on his lips.

Chitra scrunched her nose and made a weird face. "You are not my manager who would rate my performance in the upcoming appraisal cycle. So keep your advice to yourself."