The Imperfect Marriage - Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye Fanfic

9. Won't let you walk away

"What a hellish day!", Virat  thought while he was taking his car out of the office parking. While driving back, his mind reflected on the events of the day. He knew he did not have to be that rude to all the employees he chided today. They deserved being called upon but maybe not that strongly. His mind was so messed up with everything going on in his home that he could not control himself. All he could feel was helplessness that converted into rage. He could not say anything to his mother so he used that energy on his employees. There was one person in particular whose shocked & hurt face flashed infront of him every few minutes during his ride back home. Amruta defintely did not deserve his wrath. Virat knew very well that she put in her best at work but still he said some pretty mean things regarding her work to her. "What's done is done. She would just have to get over it." he told himself. Virat knew he majorly overreacted but it is not like he would accept it infront of anyone. 

Once he was home, his mother excitedly showed her pictures of marriage propsects for him. He kept his calm for the sake of his mother and saw the pictures and selected 3 pictures that he liked better. Babita knew the decision would be based on the horoscope but she would at least ask about the selected girls especially. Babita just wanted her son to be happy. She knew he was very agitated with all this but she did not have a choice. It was his life that was at stake. Virat was one of the those who were sought after as marriage prospects. So, Babita did not have any  difficulty in finding matches for him, even though she was restricted to only one letter. She was expecting many more prospects before Guruji is back. 

At Amruta's home, her mother, Bhavani, had sensed her daughter was upset and tried to get the reason out of her but all Ammu told her was that it was work stress. Bhavani did not quite believed her. She knew her daughter would not be so preoccupied with work once she was back home. It was something else, something more personal. 

Amruta just could not forget Virat's harsh words that she definitely did not deserve. She could not believe he would react so badly over something so trivial. He questioned her committment to her work, something she prided herself for. She did not even feel angry at that point. She just felt very  upset. Her work meant so much to her and she always gave her best and to be questioned for that made her wonder what had she earned in the last 3 years at this job if her dedication was still being doubted on. She wanted to just sit  alone and relax her mind for sometime without anyone asking her if anything was wrong with her so she went downstairs. 

After dinner, Virat sat on the hammock in their terrace garden and busied himself in his work. He had to make a presentation that he had to give in less than two days. He had to go to Jaipur for a new township project.  While he was taking a little break for his work, his eyes wandered to the building compound, where he saw Amruta just sitting on bench below the lamp post with a book in her hand that she was clearly not reading. She seemes lost in her own thoughts. Virat had a good idea about why she looked troubled. Virat did not even think anything. He just rushed downstairs & sat beside her on the bench. He waited for her to notice him & say something. He was sure she would start another argument with him over what happened in the office. But, she did not even look up to see who sat beside her. She was just lost in her own world looking all sulky and gloomy. 

Finally, Virat said, "Ms Banker, I need the file on the new project of the resort in Manali as soon as possible."

Amruta look up startled and said softly, "The deadline is 4 days away. I will submit it before that." 

"I need it by tomorrow first half.", Virat said knowing fully well she would lose her cool. But she did not. 

"Okayy", she nooded and started to read the book she had. Or atleast, she pretended to.

Virat did not expect her to behave like that. He thought she would yell at him, pick up a silly fight and just get over it. But, this was unexpected. Virat was thinking about what to say next when she stood up and started to walk away. 

"O Banker, wait. I have to talk to you.", he said. 

Amruta did not stop and kept moving. Without thiking he ran behind her and pulled her towards himself. She came colliding back to him. With her hands still tighly secured in his, he looked at her intently. 

Amruta looked worried and tried to free her hands from his. But she was no match to his strength. Virat simply watched her trying to free herself. 

"Sir, please. Let me go.", she said looking at him.

"I will. Just listen to me first."

"I don't want to.", she said a little loudly. Her expressions were turning into the annoyed ones that Virat was used to. 

"You have to.", Virat said, a little amused that she had stopped trying to get away from him. 

"I don't have to do anything you tell me to do.", she said sharply with her eyes shooting daggers at him.

"Listen na, I should not have yelled at you in the office. I said things I did not mean.", Virat said sofly. 

Amruta was taken aback by this. She thought he would say something vile to her but here he said something else entirely. She wondered if she heard him right. She whispered, "What?"

"I should not not have been so harsh on you. I really did not mean what I said about your work."

Amruta's expression softened and she just looked at him trying to figure out why he confessed his mistake. He was definitely not the type to do that. He had not exactly apologized but to actually admit he was wrong was a huge deal too. Amruta smiled slighly and said, "You really did not mean it?

Virat just shook his head. 

Amruta smiled at him and said, "It is okay. I just hope you know I am true to my work."

"I do."

Amruta felt a weight lift off shoulders. She felt so much more relaxed now that she was feeling 10 minutes ago. Suddenly, she became super sensitive to how close they were standing. Her ears started to feel warm and she whispered, "I have to go", and nudged him to let her go. Virat looked at his hands that clutched hers. He let her hands go with a jerk. Like, he had not noticed he was still holding her hands. 

Gaining his composure back, he said, "haan to go na, who is stopping you?"

Amruta simply rolled her eyes and walked towards her block.