Toxic Addiction (On Hold/ Under Editing)

A Untamed Choler, Denial and Aching Hearts

Word count; 3224

Rashmi helped him with his jacket, slipping it on from his shoulders and adjusting it. Though it was late, he was leaving for work. His phone ringing interrupted the unsettling silence.

She hurried to pick it from the bed and hand it to him. He answered the call and listened tentatively to the voice in the other end, his mood changing slowly.

"What do you mean there's a problem?" His brows drew a thick frown. He was not expecting such words from the I.L.F CEO.

"It's your son." The man on the other end replied.

"What do you mean my son is a problem? What concerns him with this? It was as simple, withdraw the internship." He reiterated.

"And I did so but then Shaurya threatened and blackmailed me."

"What‽" Rashmi jerked away from him due to the impact of his yell. She didn't dare to ask, the pulsing veins in his neck and forehead gave away his anger. "You mean Shaurya? My son?" He asked again in disbelief.

The man on the other end assured him again and without listening further, he threw the phone and it came thrashing against the ground, the sharred glass screen giving away.

"SHAURYA!" He yelled pushing down the vase by the bedside table. "How dare he?"
He was erupting with anger and all Rashmi could do was stare as approaching him was even more dangerous.

"What is it this time?" Dadi walked in after having heard the noises. She was not surprised seeing the broken wares as it was a habit of him to let out his anger on something, if not someone.

"He just answered a call and I don't know, he started yelling Shaurya's name." She whispered to Dadi softly.

"How dare he?" He reined his anger in more cynical yells. "Get me a phone, Shaurya has overstepped my line."

***********

"Seriously, where have you been all day?" Nikhil asked cautiously as they walked through the half empty hallway.

"Just been busy." Shaurya explained in few words. He spent most of his day trying to help sort out the internship for Mehek's sister and it was currently late evening. It didn't prove to be as tasking as he thought but it took time.

"Shruti told me she knows about last night, she's very upset." Nick started but Shaurya only let out a dry chuckle though he knew it was not funny.

It has been a really long while since he stopped feeling for Shruti but wasn't ready yet to deliver the blow of breakup to her. To him, she was no more than a leech.

"You don't say?" He tried to brush off the conversation.

This was no surprise to Nick who was very sure Shaurya had no feelings for Shruti but then he had a slight idea of who might have been slowly capturing him. "Don't laugh about it, you know she'll take it out on Mehek."

"She wouldn't dare." Shaurya interjected sharply. The thought of anything against Mehek was not one which he entertained. Nikhil nodded in thought, gathering his words.

"You like her, don't you?"

"Yes, she's my friend."

"You know what I mean, Shaurya. I see the way you look at her, the way you held her last night. You don't do that with any other if your friends." He made air quotes, putting emphasis on friends. Shaurya nodded in negation.

He knew Mehek was special to him, he loved her presence, no denying but she was his friend. Nothing more.

"She's just...a very close friend." He stated, but what scared him was the way his resolve wavered, the way his tone was unsure. "You seem to want to convince yourself than me."