Chap 5
Aryan finally let Imlie handle the Red Light Report. He called her in his cabin , "I want detailed report. Dont make filmy. We do serious journalism here. " Imlie frowned at him for saying that to her.
"When have I ever made it seem so otherwise?" She asked
Aryan shook his head , "Why you always have to be so defiant?" He asked raising his eyebrows. She kept her head down, not wanting to reply.
"Anyways next week you can start your research. This week you can help new hire around" he said going back to his work signal her to leave. She rolled her eyes but she did happy dance right outside his cabin for letting her work on the report.
Next few days, Imlie noticed Aryan stayed agitated, angry at work. During lunch while she was going down to canteen, he heard him shouting on phone on the stairs, "What you mean he got caught at drug raid? He was in jail whole night!! I have had enought am coming home" Imlie quickly backed up extra flight of stairs. and hid until he went through the door. She felt bad, he had a brother she knew that from his colleagues who said he was troublemaker but he was the most loved by Aryan. They are each other family. Imlie hopes everything falls in place for Aryan however cold he was , he is a good man.
She sat alone in canteen, eating her lunch when Aryan came and sat on her table. People around started whispering and some shocked. Imlie final found some words to speak. "Hi" is all she could say.
"Hey, just needed time off from the office. Saw you so came here. What are you eating?" He asked looking at her dish
"Um roti and bhindi sabzi. Want some?" He looked at her weirdly.
"I can try" he took a bite "Damn good , reminded me of my mom" he said genuinely.
"Are you ok Sir?" Imlie asked
"Why you ask that?" Aryan wondered
"You never came here. Plus people around us whispering" she said straightforward.
"So? I came because i wanted to. I can sit with whoever i want" he said that loudly so people around can mind their own buisness.
"Good luck on your report" he got up and left. Imlie was stunned, he came literally for few minutes and just left. This guy is bipolar she joked in her mind.
Following week, Imlie was prepare to go on Tuesday to finally interview the ladies who work for se*. But on Monday, something happened that shook her to the core. She got a letter, written in blood.
"I love you, And I want you! Why you dont understand that i need you? Please be mine ! Meet me tonight at 7 same place as last . I want to marry you!"
-Love Vihaan
Imlie was shaking, luckily the letter was handed to her instead her dad. She took it and trashed it crying at the craziness. She thought this was over , she thought he finally is thinking right but she was wrong! She will not go meet him ! And thats what she exactly did. He texted her but she didnt reply , she had enough. She slept crying scared that he doesnt come home.
If this wasnt enough, next day at office when she arrived the environment was silent and of mourning like. Everybody was gathered around boss's cabin. She asked one of the colleagues "what happen?"
"Aryan brother passed away . We are all planing to go there right now" Shital, her colleague replied.
Imlie gasped, the same brother who was in drugs? She felt sad for Aryan, the ladies decided they will break in group and go boss house to pay respect. When they arrived , there were lot of people already sprawled on the grass in white clothes. The ladies went inside, Imlie stood there , ground her feet gave away. Shital pulled her , "Come" she followed robotically and sat down as the pandits chanted.
There was the big photo frame of Vihaan, Aryan crying hysterically. Someone next to her whispered, "He killed himself, sucide koi ladki ka chakkar " Imlie was shaking from inside everything turning black infront of her eyes.
