Monsoon

10. Agreed!

N: Alr8

S: What?

N: I agree with u

S: Finally!!!!!!!!!

N: But Papa will not hear about this. That responsibility is yours.

S: Ob

N: I'll cal u l8r

S: *thumbs up*

Shardul smiled leaning on the bar counter. He had been going through the tiny chat again and again. He clicked her profile picture. The girl knew how to pose. She had a small smile and lowered eyes, like she knew a secret.

"She is beautiful," voice said over his shoulder and Shardul raised his head as Luv slapped him on shoulder.

"What took you so long?" Shardul asked letting Luv pull away his phone.

"What else? Wadhwa," Luv shrugged and motioned for the bartender to come over.

"What did he do?" Shardul frowned.

"He wants us to get rid of pro bono cases in criminal department," Luv said zooming Naina's photo.

"He cannot do that," Shardul said darkly. "That's not good for the firm's image."

"I said the same thing," Luv said. "Bro, scotch, on the rocks," he instructed the bartender.

"Beer for me," Shardul added.

"Anyways," Luv sighed. "I was so pissed off, I told him we will discuss this tomorrow and left. The guy drives me crazy."

"I hate him," Shardul said accepting his beer.

"Forget the bastard," Luv said. "I think I have seen this girl before," He pointed at the photo.

"That's Naina," Shardul said sipping the beer; it was too cold for his taste.

"Naina," Luv frowned thoughtfully. "Wow, no doubt you broke with Rakshandha because of her."

"Don't go down that lane," Shardul warned. His wounds were still fresh.

"You always loved Naina. Rakshandha did say, 'I am not Naina,' right?" Luv frowned. "Accept the fact, you were out of that relationship the day Naina left that flat."

"Maybe liked Naina," Shardul corrected. "Not loved her."

"Why were you with that witch when you could have had this one, again?"

"I never had chance with Naina," Shardul huffed.

"Seriously?"

"Do you know who she is?" Shardul asked leaning ahead.

"The girl you tried to hit on but missed and ended up sleeping with her roommate."

"That is one part," Shardul admitted taking back his phone. "There is more."

Luv waited.

"This is Mrugnaini Fadia."

"Mru-," Luv scrunched his nose in confusion and then his eyes went wide. "No way! Really?"

Shardul nodded.

"Shit, so she is the Mrugnaini of Mrugnaini Group?" Luv cursed. "How long do you know this?"

"Four years."

"And Vishwesh bhai knows this?"

"You think I will hide something like this from him?" Shardul asked back.

"What is the deal, man? I am sure she must be a good person and all otherwise you won't have kept her around. But seriously, what's this deal between her and Vishwesh bhai? All the Fadias are hush hush about her."

"She ran away from her home around ten years ago after having an argument with Vishwesh bhai. She actually, jumped off the balcony and ran away."

"Wow! Why?" Luv keenly.

"Typical story," Shardul continued. "Father had established whole business thinking the daughters would join him. But Naina had no interest in business. She wanted to be a doctor."

So?" Luv frowned. "Ran away?"

"Running away is easy, you know," Shardul took a swing from his bottle. "It's the returning, that takes courage."

"Ever tried?" Luv asked eagerly. Shardul shook his head.

"She decided to wait for a month before contacting him. Month turned into a semester, which turned into a year and then complete degree. Till then Vishwesh bhai had got so angry that she did not dare to contact him even after finishing post-graduation. It has been almost ten years now. Vishwesh bhai's anger is increasing every year and so is Naina's fear of facing him."

"Which side you are on?" Luv shot.

"I have taken no side yet," Shardul said sincerely.

"As far as I know, you were getting attached to her few years back," Luv mused. "But you are too much loyal to Vishwesh bhai."

"He is my client," Shardul said shortly.

"Naina knows?"

"Of course,"

"And?"

"She doesn't care," Shardul stated. "As long as I don't talk to Vishwesh bhai about her."