Deceptive Affections

CHAPTER 2

ZAISHA

"The deadline for this project is two weeks from now." Atharv, my boss, told us. He continued, "This project is our topmost priority right now, so give this your full attention. I don't want any mistakes." My team has been working on this project for the past month and I have to finally present it in two weeks.

The meeting was dismissed and we all went to our respective places. I went to my cabin and started working on my dress. It is not the showstopper dress as I have completed it already. I don't want any mistakes in that. Only two more dresses are left and I have plenty of time to complete them.

"Zee, your mother called when you were in the meeting. I think your phone was on silent." Aarohi, my best friend told me. "Okay. Thanx." I replied. Aaru and I have been friends since school and we know everything about each other. We even went to the same college and are working in the same office. We both manage different teams.

We have been inseparable since childhood. We met when we were in 6th grade when the teacher assigned us the same seat and became besties. We both can break someone's nose if they trouble us. Once when we were at a fair, a guy was being very touchy with me. I pushed him off twice. When he tried the third time, Aaru actually punched him in the face. It was an awesome day.

She copies my notes and I steal her ice cream. We have a what's mine is yours friendship and I love it because I get to steal her clothes and she gets to steal my shoes.

I picked up my phone and called my mother. "Hi Mumma! You called?"

"Yes, you wanted to plan Aditya's birthday party. Only a week is left and you still haven't prepared anything." She spoke.

"Oh shit. It completely skipped my mind." I realized. I am planning my brother's surprise birthday party. I know he is too old for birthday parties but that is the sole reason I am planning this, to make him realize he is getting old. This will irritate him so much, I love it. And honestly, I want him to chill out a bit. He has been brooding a lot lately.

"It's fine. We still have time. If you are busy with work, I can make the arrangements", mom suggested.

"That would be great actually. Can you look after the decorations? I will take care of the invitations and cake." I asked.

"Yes sure. Don't take too much stress, okay?" she said in her calming voice.

"Yeah. I will get back to work now.", we said bye and cut the call.

Since the dress was already finished, I started working on the guest list. I wasn't going to invite a lot of people. I don't hate him that much. It was just his friends, some of mine and some very-very close family members.

I yawned because it was too boring to work on the guest list and call everyone. I don't particularly enjoy organizing but I do enjoy the power I have to order everyone around.

I called everyone one by one and only a few people were left when it was time for lunch break. I thought I would call the rest after lunch because I was damn hungry and I need all my strength to talk to Isha, my cousin.

Isha is the most annoying person on the face of earth. She is one of those people you couldn't tell anything to because she cannot keep her mouth closed. And she is so pretentious. Whenever I see her, I want to punch her. If it wasn't for my mother, I wouldn't even talk to her let alone invite her to the party. All of my other cousins are great and we collectively hate her.

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REYAAN

I was working on my laptop when my phone ringed. I looked at the screen to see Zaisha was calling me. She doesn't really call me or text me for that matter. She doesn't even talk to me face to face. Why would she call me then.

I picked up the phone and answered her, "Hello"

"Hey, Hi Reyaan! Are you busy?", she asked.

I replied, "No! why did you call?"

"Are you busy next week?" she questioned.

"No, why?" Why is she asking me if I am free next week. Is she asking me out?

"Great! So, as you might know, it is Bhai's birthday next week and I am planning a surprise party for him. It would be great if you will be there." OH! That's why she was asking me if I am free. Why would I think that she is asking me out.

"So... can you make it?", she continued.

"Yeah, I think so. I'll confirm by today after checking my schedule if that works.", I answered.

"Oh yes, sure. That would be great. I'll will text you the rest of the details."

I was about to cut the call but she suddenly started speaking, "Oh by the way, gifts for Bhaiya are totally unnecessary but gifts for me are mandatory." She said with a hint of mischief in her voice.

"I'll keep that in mind", I said with amusement. "Any preferences?", I asked just to prolong the conversation.

"Umm... let me think. Maybe the new pair of Louboutin black heels. Your wish." She suggested.

I heard a man's voice from her side and I stiffened. The voice was muffled and I couldn't make out what he was saying.

Before I could ask who, it was, she started speaking again, "Okay, well I need to go now. Please be there on time. Bye, have a good day." She said all in one breadth and cut the call not giving me a chance to reply.

After staring at the screen of my phone which displayed her name for far too long, I kept it aside and started working on my laptop again. My assistant, K artik, entered my office at the same time and started telling me the rest of my schedule.

When he was finished and was about to leave, he turned towards me again and asked, "Sir, what's that on your table?"

I looked at the table to see what he was referring to. When I realized what he was talking about, I looked at my laptop screen and answered in a low voice, "It's a sharpener." He looked at me in a shocked expression but I didn't bother to care about it and resumed my work. 

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