Only for you

Chapter 35 - Strained Relations

There he sat in the middle with his signature smirk. Anyone  even someone from the far corner can  feel the dangerous aura surrounding him making them to squirm in their seats.

"I am glad to welcome Mr.Sashi Kumar, ACP to deliver the speech", the announcement was made. He stood up from his seat and walked towards the podium to give his speech. Sashi was out of his office for nearly two weeks. When he was close to getting evidence against Lekha groups, he was ushered by the head of his department to attend a conference. Initially he was happy that, he can spend some time with Vijay but he was asked to go to a different city. In the midst of all these, he was missing his lady love. It was a very hard good bye for both of them. They both cried when they departed. It's been two weeks since he returned but he had not gone to his office in these two weeks. What worried him most was, he had not received any reports from his subordinates in these two weeks. He sighed when he reached the podium to deliver his speech. He presented his report on how to solve cases being in undercover;what are the difficulties they will face. Even he pointed his own experience at appropriate times to enlighten his audience. His speech and presentation were listened by the audience very keenly. He stepped down from the podium with a tight smile after hearing the applause from the audience. His body was here in that auditorium but his mind wandered to the conversation he had with Vijay last night.

"They planned well", was the thing uttered by Vijay when he took his call.

"Yeah, I assume you didnot received any reports", Sashi said with a smile.

"Ha, you bet", Vijay replied. They both laughed for good two minutes.

"Hmm jokes apart, this is getting serious", Sashi said.

"Yes Sashi. I think we underestimated them", Vijay replied.

"Let's think of our next move after finishing this damn conference", Vijay continued.

"Don't you think, it will be too late", Sashi asked his friend with a frown.

"Let them enjoy this small victory", Vijay replied but Sashi could see the smirk playing on Vijay's lips.

"Okay boss", Sashi replied with a laugh.

"How was your trip?"  Vijay asked his friend.

Sashi looked up at the dark sky before replying. He sighed and continued.

"It was an emotional journey. First I was excited to meet her after 3 long years. After meeting her, I was beyond happy to have her in my arms"

"Wait, I don't want to hear more about your love life", Vijay said in a rush.

"Ha, I sense some disappointment in your voice", Sashi said with a mischievous glint.

"Why I had to be disappointed?, Vijay asked.

"As if you don't know", Sashi pointed out making Vijay chuckle.

"Okay, I have to go now. We will discuss the case in our usual place after this damn conference", Vijay said.

"Okay then..Bye, take care Vijay", Sashi said and hanged up the call.

Meanwhile,

Naetra was standing infront of Chitra's home. She looked at the marvelous gate and wondered how she can get inside.  And that's when she heard a horn sound. She turned around to see her nightmare standing before her with a frown.

"What are you doing here, Dr.Neatra", Karthik asked.

She flinched at his tone. It's all because of her. She thought of their conversation after that rainy day. She was the one who asked him to stay in his limits. She don't know about him, but she missed him dearly. She remembered her words,

"From now on its Dr.Naetra for you, Dr.Karthik"

They had no chance to come face to face like this after their small argument. She was seeing him nearly after a month. Though his eyes were looking at her, the ever present glint was missing, his dark circles underneath his eyes told her that he didnot get much sleep in these days. When her eyes wandered his face, he looked at her properly. It's been a month, he had seen her. He noticed that she had lost some weight. He chuckled inwardly seeing her wide eyes. He missed her dearly. He waited everyday for her to barge inside his cabin to force him to drink coffee. But never once she appeared as he imagined. His ego got the best out of him, when she asked him to call her as Dr.Naetra. She cleared her throat to stop their eyes, talking with each other.

"Ummm...I am attending a conference with Chitra mam and she asked me to come here as we have an early morning flight", she said without a break.

"Yeah, I remember. Mom told me. Come let's go inside", Karthik said.He came towards her, increasing her heart beat. Without breaking the eye contact he took her bag from her hands and went towards the car.

"It's okay.I will come by a walk", Naetra said halting Karthik. He looked at her, there she stood with her head bent down her long fingers fidgeting with her shawl. Though he was not able to see her face clearly, he could feel that she was broken. Now, looking at her like this, all he wanted is to take her in his arms and comfort her but he cannot do it, can he?
He sighed and went towards her. She looked up feeling him beside her. His eyes captivated her making her not to realise what was happening around her. She came to her senses when she heared the door closing sound. He looked at her with a sly smile 😏 making her to close her eyes in embrassment.

Vijay was sitting in his room looking at the message he got from his assistant. As he suspected some one played their cards well and separated him and Sashi.

'I like the challenge', he thought.

He had never thought he will become an IPS officer in his early days. Many had questioned and critised his decision especially his uncle, Prakash. But he stood firm in his decision and pursued his passion. He came out successful making his family proud. He had always seen the admiration and proudness in his uncle's eyes for him. Even he stood up for him against Kalaiselvi in the past. But they drifted apart due to Vijay's involvement in company's deeds.

Vijay realised that and stayed away from the company as much as possible. But the more he tried,the more he was pulled into the company. He had signed every deal, his uncle had asked him to sign but when he tied their company with the wrong person, he opposed and starined their relationship more. He sighed thinking about his past and the disturbing message from his assistant informing that Prakash had signed the deal with Lekha Industries. His thoughts were disturbed by the ringing of his phone. He frowned looking at the caller ID. It's from his home. He attended and his heart skipped a beat hearing her voice after many days. All his worries flew out of the window just by hearing her voice.

"Hello Sir, Can you hear me?", the person on the other side said making him come out of his trance.

"Umm..Yes Kavitha. Everything is fine na", Vijay asked sobbering up. She called him from the household landline in the late night. What if something happened to someone; what if something happened to Mazhi or Kavitha.

"Kavitha, are you okay?", Vijay asked with a panic.

A/N

Hey guys..Thank you guys for all those votes and comments. Hope I have meet your expectations in this chapter too.
Be happy always.