Sacred Heart

10.

Mannat ignores the continuous ringing of the phone. A faraway look on her face as she sits there amidst her team. First they were excited with the surprise visit of Ahad and tried enquiring about him but her silence gave them her answer. So since then she sat there and no-one else said anything, not even Kashi.

The door opens and Manoj enters.

"Here you are, Mannat!" He exclaims, slightly panting, "we have been trying to reach you for the last hours but no reply. Nalini Ma'am, Tara and others were trying to call you. Where is your phone?" He stops by the other side of the table, looking at her for an answer. She tilts her head and looks at him with a blank expression.

Dipping his chin at the device lying on the table, he signs, "you need to pick up the calls Mannat. Many are trying to reach you for hours."

Even though he tells her, Mannat makes no effort to spare a glance at the device. "Anything important?"

"There's an important meeting. Asher sir wants you to be present there. Now."

Mannat sighs and packs her bags. At last she looks at her phone. More than thirty missed calls and dozens of texts from different people. She ignores it and pocketing the device, looks at Manoj. "Let's go." She says and walks away from there. Manoj follows her. When they're seated inside, the driver drives the car away. The whole ride she sits inside, with eyes outside the window, lost in her own world. Manoj frowns at her behaviour. She looks lost and sad.

They reach straight to Mir House. As she steps outside the car, her eyes fall on Asher standing at the porch, waiting for her.

"Where is your fucking phone, Mannat?! Why keep the device when you don't have the intention of using it for the basic utility?" Asher growls as he walks near to her. Anger and frustration directed at her. "Do you have any idea how many times we tried contacting you? God! How irresponsible of you!" He yells, barking the words at her.

Mannat visible flinches. Her eyes close and body stiffens when he nears her, glaring down at her with fury.

"Asher sir," Manoj tries to intervene but one look from Asher has him stop in his track and lower his eyes.

"Do not interrupt me Manoj!"

"Asher!" Vardaan's voice booms.

She can feel him stand beside her and her eyes open, but they are fixated on the ground.

"Don't shout. Have you lost it? Do you talk to her like this?" He counters and looks at Mannat's frightening form, "she's your cousin, not an employee."

Tears gather in her eyes. Her throat clogs, wanting to cry but they dare not to threaten in front of them.

Vardaan turns towards her, his face softens as he notices her looking so scared. "Nothing happened Mannat. We are just worried about our work. There's something we need to discuss so please meet us at the hall after making yourself presentable." Mannat gave him a nod before walking away from there. Her fingers curl into a fist and nails poking her soft flesh till it hurts.

Till it hurts, not her heart.

A tear drop slides down followed by another. She swipes them away but they again fall, not listening to her own orders. As she crosses the corridor, her steps cease. Ahad stands there with his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

He looks at her crying form. Her eyes display the hurt and sadness in contrast to his dark brown chocolate irises that stare at her with apathy.

She looks down and tries to walk away.