Guilty Pleasures

24

"Falling down is an accident, staying down is a choice..."

Raghav walked out of his room, nursing a glass of alcohol at the crack of dawn. It was always happy hour somewhere he had preached to soothe the concern of those around him for he himself had no conscious regarding matters so trivial in his life.

He breathed a heavy sigh, placing down the glass that had been in his hand to try and gather the spiralling thoughts that had amounted at his temple so early in the morning; a hand raking through his tussled hair that lay lazily upon his crown, trying to shake the thoughts of her away whilst he was at it.

Unfortunately the gesture failed to yield a fruitful outcome in his eyes, that continued to imagine hers.

He turned his attention towards the files that lay littered on his desk, a pen at arms to tackle the work whilst his computer stood blazing into his already sore eyes from the lack of sleep he had managed to obtain the night before, because whilst Raghav had many workers at his beck and call, his passion for his work never slept nor did it allow for him to hand such delicate matters into the hands of others unless that person was Farhad.

He turned his attention to a specific file outlining an update to the terms and conditions of workers contracts, because whilst he stood cold to the world, his good deeds and need to help others was forever paramount, he had taken out the time to research into employment law, something he had despised, and yet he did it for those around him; tailoring something more beneficial for those who flew under his wing.

The other side of his desk, had multiple designs scattered across it, his own designs from which he was yet to select a few for a new line of wedding jewellery. His other half of designs being more intimate designs of symbols of marriage; because whilst he despised the thought of marriage he understood his market;yet whilst designing the beads of the mangulsutra he couldn't help but wonder what it would look like around her neck; another heavy sigh escaping him just like they seemed to be whenever she crept into his thoughts.

He pushed the paper away, moving to pull the glass he ditched back to his lips, his imagination wavering for a moment at the touch, wishing earnestly that it was hers instead.

For Raghav knew her words were correct, whatever she was feeling, it wasn't one sided

Farhad moments later had barged into his office like storm hellbent on worry.

"Anna." He breathed out, Raghav sitting up in his chair at the apparent dishevelled nature of the man he deemed a younger brother.

"Farhad? What's happened?"

"That man we were trying to find, the one who had your accident done the night Pallavi brought you home, it was Ved."

Raghav tensed. A fire surging forth.

"How the fuck did he get out of prison!" He roared.

"It is unclear Anna, but from what it sounds like, it seems to be an inside job."

Raghav's nostrils flared in anger, his fists clenching. "Keep your eyes open Farhad. Send our men out to scout the area of his last known whereabouts, I want eyes on everything. Increase Amma and Keerti's security as well; I know they will refuse to move and that is fine for now, but I want you and Harish there when you can be. Keep things under wraps, if we alert anyone that we know what is going on we are going to risk loosing the  advantage we have. If he stays quiet fine; but get Swamy on it otherwise tell him I am calling the commissioner and having his sorry excuse of an arse fired."

"Of course Anna I will get it done." Raghav nodded as Farhad turned to leave only to stop moments later.

"Anna what about Pallavi?" Raghav tensed at her name: knowing where this was going, knowing that she would be targeted.