ABOUT LOVE

Chapter 27

A lot had changed between Shiv and Arjun. Anyone who knew them could trace the history of their tumultuous relationship: Arjun Shergill was a tyrant when Shiv first met him, and she had suffered under his regime; A few years later, when she got promoted, she became a tyrant herself. Two tyrants with different goals couldn't coexist peacefully; There was a brief golden age of peace in their kingdom of tyranny, but now it was a time of bloodshed.

No one could guess what had changed, and things certainly weren't back to normal. Normal was them throwing snarky remarks at each other and trying to outdo one another. What was happening now was far from normal. Every day, Arjun tried to steal Shiv's clients, and Shiv struggled to keep her composure. Everyone could see it. The situation became heated when Arjun yelled at his friend and co-partner, Neil Thapa, for working with Shiv.

Everyone was afraid to upset either of them, especially Arjun. He became more aggressive and unreasonable. Even Mrs. Bhatia, who had been working for the Shergill House for more than a decade, reminisced about the old days during the godly hour of lunch break. "This is exactly how it was back when he first joined the company," she shuddered. "Shiv hasn't seen anything of his tyranny," she chewed the corners of her ice cream. "To be honest, when Shiv came, he somehow managed to keep his head about himself."

"It was because of the competition, I tell you," remarked Natasha, one of the employees who joined the company with Shiv. "Shiv was bossy, you know. She knew how to push Arjun's buttons."

Mrs. Bhatia dismissed the comment with a wave. Everyone in the office knew she had a grudge against Shiv because Shiv had succeeded while Natasha remained in her cubicle. "Oh, come on, anyone with two eyes can tell he doesn't need someone to trigger that anger of his." The others nodded in agreement.

Back at the project site, Arjun was relentless. He wouldn't let Shiv make a single decision. He continuously belittled her in front of the construction workers, spoiled her mood rotten and left to take a call. 

Now, Shiv faced the old patriarchy unearthed by Arjun Shergill. The workers refused to cooperate when Arjun showed no signs of returning. 

"We will not take orders from you. Let Shergill Saab come," one worker voiced his opinion, and the rest murmured in agreement.

"He's not the one you're working for. You are here to work for me. I cut your checks," Shiv responded icily.

Someone scoffed, gathering all their attention. The man had a mocking grin plastered on his face. He was an old, stout man, chewing tobacco. "It didn't look like that. Shergill Saab is your boss. Don't lie."

Shiv glared at the man but couldn't look at his tobacco-spitting face for more than two seconds. It disgusted her. "If you don't want to work, you all can get lost. I'll hire someone else," she looked around at the others. And she realized one thing: because Arjun had scared off half the employees, they had left with Neil. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest. She was alone with these men.

"Why should we listen to you?" another worker remarked, and the others laughed in support.

"Because I'm the one paying you," she answered icily.

"You are just a woman," the guy leered at her from across the room. The others stepped forward, invading her personal space. Shiv refused to back down. She clenched her hands, ready to defend herself if needed. She wasn't scared; she was humiliated because these men thought her powerless and believed they could say or do anything and get away with it.

She gritted her teeth. "Back off, all of you," she looked each one of them in the eye. They were a total of fifteen men, probably in their 20s or 30s. At that moment, they looked nothing less than hyenas eyeing their prey.