Hers Forever

Chapter-3

The day was beautiful in contrast to the dread in my stomach. The coffee I drank on the way made me even more jittery. Standing in front of Arun’s office building, I felt like a lamb to the slaughter. I was off from work for two weeks. I sent some bullshit mail to the HR about getting typhoid. My leave was approved, but I shuddered at the thought of catching up on everything I missed. Even as a child, I hated missing school. I needed the routine and the approval of the authorities. I strived to be the darling of my teachers. Missing classes made me feel physically nauseous, and the trait followed me into my professional life.

But who was I kidding? I was not just worried about work. I was worried about facing Vedh. I was a coward when it came to confrontations. I would bend over backwards to get out of any difficult situations. To keep everyone pleased and happy. But since I came to Delhi, all I seemed to be doing was fighting with people.

The office was bustling as usual. People, sharply dressed and engrossed in their work, sat at their desks, tapping at their keyboards. I took my seat among them, wondering if people still remembered the photos Vedh had circulated in Yammer. But no one except for my fellow interns spared me a look. They gave me a perfunctory wave and got on with their work. I let out a relieved sigh. So, two weeks was enough time for all this to blow over.

Squaring my shoulders, I logged into my workstation, eager to catch up with my work. After forty minutes at my desk, sifting through emails, I got a call from an unknown number.

“Janvi Patil,” a faintly familiar female voice said. “Mr. Sinha has asked to see you.”

Okay, this was Vedh’s assistant, Aasha. I saw her sitting in the hallway of Vedh’s office before. So, it started already. It was naive of me to think that I could work under him and avoid him.

“I’ll be there,” I said, nodding grimly. If I wanted to progress anywhere careerwise, I couldn’t sit here, dreading Vedh. I should face him and tell him where to shove it. I got up from my chair and headed to the elevator, which whisked me to the tenth floor.

***********

Aasha was sitting at her desk, wearing a beige silk blouse and cream pencil skirt. She smiled at me through her rose-coloured lips.

“He is waiting for you.”

I cringed inside but nodded as I made my way to his door. As the door opened, I could see the large desk and the revolving chair. Vedh was sitting in it, his back to the door, just as the day I found out the truth about him. I didn’t bother with pleasantries. I stepped into his office and closed the door behind me.

“Whatever it is you want to say, say it quickly. I have so much work to do, which I missed because of you.”

“Sorry,” A male voice said.  A voice unfamiliar to me. The chair revolved, and in it sat a man I had never seen before. He was of average height and lean build and at least as old as my father. He had glasses on and a gentle smile on his face. 

“I…you..” I stuttered, unable to understand whom I was seeing and what he was doing here. “I thought I was meeting Mr. Sinha here.”

“Yes. That explains the tone.” He gave me a friendly nod and waved me to the chair across the table. “Take a seat.”

I took a seat, crossed my feet, and looked at him for an explanation.

“I was told that Mr. Sinha was calling me,” I said.

“Yes, I am Mr. Sinha.”

Then it hit me. He was the Mr. Sinha. Vedanth’s father. Startled, I was about to move to my feet when Mr. Sinha stopped me with a hand gesture.