Choices

CHAPTER | 13

"Where is he?" Sharath muttered on a Monday, cursing as he brisk-walked along the office to get hold of the person in question. "Late as ever!"

Sharath roamed about in the whole building looking for Vijay, searching even in the small balcony where Vijay loved to puff his smoke up. But Vijay wasn't found. He had to be last as always, Sharath mused.

No one had ever raised the issue of Vijay being late. He was a newbie in this field and yet he was treated like a prince, just because a few of his articles had gained attention. And even Pranay had never talked a word against him.

Now, with him being late, everyone had to accommodate their work according to his timings. Where was Vijay's work ethics?

He huffed as he went back to his cubicle muttering obscurities along his way. Now, he had nothing left to do other than wait for the prince to arrive and brighten his day.

"Why so grumpy today, boss?" Bhargav said as he was walking across Sharath's cubicle. He didn't stand there to get a response but went ahead to his work.

Taking this as an opportunity to vent his feelings and distaste towards his colleague, Sharath stood at the door of his cubicle, ready to share his views. He waited as Bhargav went to the water can to fill his water bottle. When he came back leisurely already drinking away half of his water, Sharath had already opened his mouth.

"Where the heck is your favorite guy today?" Sharath started off. "Haven't seen him all day! It's been twelve in the noon and yet he isn't here? Where the hell is he?"

"I have many favorite guys here in office." Bhargav shrugged. "You need to be more specific than that."

"It's the late-thief Vijay!" Sharath's voice rose. "Who else do you think?"

"Ah, the late comer." Bhargav wanted to say late-bloomer, but altered his words in the last minute. He wanted his path to be clear of Vijay and he had made sure of that. He didn't want anything else from him. "Why do you need him today?"

The teasing glint in Bhargav's face made Sharath scowl at him. He knew what Bhargav meant with that last sentence and he didn't want to be another guy who was stuck in the rumor mill unable to get back to the reality.

"He's the one with the article that was about the deforestation in Shanti Nagar." Sharath put out his worry. "He had to go there today, collect the information and start with his bloody work! But, no. He's decided to come late as always. No one ever has the guts to say otherwise to him, anyway."

"That's today?" Bhargav's face crumpled up in confusion. "I thought it was after a week."

"Pranay changed the schedule." Sharath muttered. "Vijay probably begged him to get him out of the office on the basis of work. What else do you think?"

"The rumors haven't come down yet, huh?" Bhargav asked, but he knew it hadn't.

Bhargav felt sad for the guy. Just because he had been seen with a hijra talking and having a cup of coffee didn't have to mean anything. Yet, he was being ragged in the office for nothing. It wasn't fair. It was the only reason why he had brought up the subject of a brothel and Pink Area to make sure that the guy didn't drown in self-pity.

It wasn't a selfless act either. He had a liking for Ambika and wanted her to like him back just like she had done with Vijay. They had seemed to jell up so quickly, going out and coming together. It was a shocker when he learnt that they travelled together in a bike with her clinging onto him.

Though he was happy with how the events had turned out for Vijay, a part of him felt guilty for enjoying the fact that Ambika no longer saw the guy in the same light.