Neighbour Next Door

26) Busy

3 months later : 

Mallika's POV :

I lean back tiredly and sighing. Corporate life changes you and it feels weirdly good. Atleast I don't have time for overthinking.

 One day 3 months ago I was laughing, smiling, doing assignments and here now I'm on a desk with my laptop and tons of reports which have to be read proofed, checked and edited. 

I close my eyes and my glasses feel heavy on my nose. Yes, I got glasses. Dad scolded me saying it's because I use my phones a lot.  Typical Indian parents.

"A coffee date?" I turn around to meet my colleague Vedika who was standing with a grin. I met her on my 3rd day. I work as an sales analyst while she works as digital markter head. She's 2 years elder to me and joined an year back. We're friends, atleast from last one month where I bumped into her spilling my lemonade on her papers, and she being the kind girl didn't scold me even after being elder can me. 

"Nobody refuses coffee with Vedika Sharma, letsssgooo." And I was being dragged and I didn't protest. Surprise. 

There's a weakness linked to that name that I can't ignore.

We grab coffee ( though I hate coffee now)

A certain pair of eyes haunt me whenever I see coffee and especially in a mug. Shrugging off my thoughts I try to focus on what she's saying something being engaged.

Wait a moment

My eyes widen and I cough letting the bitter coffee get inside me and choke on it.

"I didn't knew you were this excited me getting engaged." The fuck 

"who, what, why?" I ask and she blinks before grinning like a fool.

"Akshay Kumar." I laugh, laugh like a madwoman before she smacks me.

"Akshay Kumar is already married." I say and laughing more.

"Dude, not that Akshay Kumar. Akshay Praveen Kumar." And the laughter died. 

Akki bhaiya?

No way

I'm gonna kill him

"S-show me the photo." She grinned before passing her phone where she stood beside Akshay bhaiya, who smiled a bit so typical of him and an arm around Vedika's shoulder, not really touching.

"Dude how the f-

"Arrange Marriage." She sighs dreamily

"He's such a prem material." 

"And you're never gonna be his Poonam. " I scoff before dialing his number which got cut-

how dare he

"Call him please?" I ask Vedika who frowned

"Let me hear his voice atleast." 

"You can meet him-

"I will, but will you please call?" She nodded but I could read her expression. She felt I was a mad woman, which I am no doubt. 

"Hi Aksh- oh..and you're?.. Sumedh. oh hi yes. Where is Akshay?" She shakes me but I shake my head.

"Pay the bill, I'll be back." I whisper and walk away to my office desk. I grab my items stuffing them inside my bag before seeing the clock. It was 5:49 and perfect time to leave. I shut my desktop, grab my bag, take my keys and walk outside. I leave a text to Vedika to catch up with her at the weekend after meeting. 

I start my activa and drive back to my apartment. I press the lift to 7th floor and lean against the walls of lift. 

Third Person's POV

'hi Mr. New Neighbor. ' It was the first time in the lift she had seen him. Well not seen properly but just a glance. 

'It takes just a glance' she read somewhere

'stupid thoughts' she cursed herself and when the floor opened she walked outside entering straight into the Kumars' house. 

"Where is Akshay bhaiya?" she demands. Mr. and Mrs. Kumar blink and Priya giggles.

"he went out. What's the matter beta?" Kajal aunty asks keeping the papers aside.

"BHAIYA got engaged?" 

"It was just roka and-

"and you guys didn't tell me?" A scoff was heard and she turned around seeing Akshay standing there.

"3 weeks ago I called you and said I met a girl, you stopped me saying 'I know I know, give her a chance and be good bhaiya' , the next time I called you, you didn't even hear me said you're busy. I called you on Sunday because I was getting engaged, but you did not pick up calls. I know we're not your family-

'BHAIYA' she yells out eyes watering

"bhaiya? you don't care about me anymore Mallika, stop pretending you do." he says

"I was busy." He chuckles

"you started you job just 6 weeks ago and you're suddenly busy? Which office makes employees work from 7am to 8pm that too a fresher? Which office doesn't gives permission to talk to your friends and families during office times. Which office takes so much time of yours so you're always busy even if it is a Sunday. ?" he throws questions everyone has been avoiding. 

There were changes, huge big changes happening but nobody question them. Because they feared the answers.

"What happened? Have no answers? It's okay. But don't go around complaining I didn't tell you. You cut me off, like you did with almost everyone." He says and Kajal walks to his side telling him to calm him down.

"Don't go blaming around others Mikks." her chin wobbled

"when you're the one who's drifting apart." words hit her like anything. Tears dwelled. 

She had cried numerous times. And nobody judged her, instead consoled her, hugged her, listened to her. The people were same, but somehow different. 

Outside world was her reason to cry, and these people her shielders, protectors. 

She didn't realise she started seeing these people as the outside world too. 

How did this happen? 

She was being busy by being occupied in her work to not think of anything else.

She was a coward, she accepted it too. But did it lead to anywhere good?

All she had is regrets

She is a person full of regrets

How long will this last?

How many more days to suffering.

She leaves at the loss of words and this time nobody follows her. 

Leaving her to deal with everything alone. It was now or never.

The world can help you, but not all the time. People will be there for you, but not all the time. Someday you have to take the rein of life in your control, make your own decisions, shed your own tears and support yourself. 

Because no matter how you try, in the end all you have is yourself. 

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Hi, I know the update was supposed to be on Tuesday but I scheduled it for the 17th somehow, sorry. Next is Sumedh's pov, with a bit of Arjun, coming this week itself. How is the small leap?