Petrichor to his Heart

2.16

"Pallavi, where are you? It is the second time you have said you could not complete reading the papers I sent you some two weeks ago ?" Keerti opened the door of her cabin and rested her hands on her hips readying them both to interrogate her about the reasons for her strange behavior in the last few days.

"Keerti, I am sorry...I told you last week, there is no need for my approval... you have handled these things better, you would do the same this time." Pallavi stretched her brows as if trying to stay awake then huffed sending Keerti the sign of something not okay with her body language.

Every person had their good and bad days and there was nothing wrong if someone wanted a break but not this woman, all these years Keerti had known her, She knew Pallavi would tell her directly about the issue she was facing if she needed her help otherwise it would not even be visible on her face.

"I am observing you look pale nowadays, what is it? Is there everything alright between Bhai and you?" Keerti had now sat in front of her and was staring at her.

"No, no it is not about him... I think it is because of the weather, I could not sleep properly the last few days maybe that is why when I try to concentrate on something my head starts aching..." Pallavi looked up and this close even her eyes were swollen telling a story of sleeplessness.

"What is this Pallavi, you are unwell and no one knows about it, what is this, and if not the house help, Bhai should have noticed it..." Keerti was surprised how her brother who used to ache first on Pallavi's discomfort didn't see her condition.

"No no, he is already busy with something, hardly home these days and it is nothing I am telling you it is the change in weather, April and such things are common but this headache is new." the last words were barely a mumble as she bent to open a drawer in her table.

"also, Ramya was here a few minutes ago and she informed me that the girls have started working on the latest designs, Eid is just a month away... did you finish working on Fiza's inputs?" Pallavi was searching for something in the stack of files in her hand and the creases between her brows relaxed when she got the one she was searching for.

"Pallavi, here I am asking you about your health and you are talking about work... is it Bhai or is it you, don't know who has influenced whom." nodding her head in annoyance Keerti gave her a long stare that was more on a furious side.

"Raghav is something else, he can stay in his den for eternity, I can not do that, I don't even know how he works in that windowless room." even the thought of that specific room made Pallavi nauseating and she sipped some water from the half-filled glass she had taken a few sips already.

"Here it is," A thin green folder was in her hands. " I don't know why but I would not be able to concentrate even if I sit for the meeting... so please check the last year's bids and  Keerti, keep in mind you have to make the decisions I would just be there for namesake." pressing the files in her direction Pallavi's nose crinkled and a loose smile spread on her lips trying to convince her.

"I'll call Bhai right away, all the time he is like Pallavi this Pallavi that, and here you look sick and he does not have an idea, I cant buy that... be honest, are you guys not talking, has there been a fight. tell me what it is, I can talk to him." Keerti was now standing near her chair and in reply she found Pallavi playing with the skin on her forehead looking down.

"so you guys are fighting..." Keerti declared and Pallavi realized her mistake, her unintentional silence had made Keerti assume things but the care was evident in her friend and now sister-in-law's voice, indeed Raghav would have been in a tough spot if he had made her upset.