FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 3:PREPARING THE NEXT MOVE

Abhay had just fired one of his employees who had dared to make three printing mistakes in an important paper.His eyes were now cold and stormy as he leaned back in his chair.That's what he was known for.No mercy.No pity.No feelings.Feelings made a person weak.Well,he allowed himself only one emotion.Hatred.Yes,that was pretty strong.Hatred for that Arjun and now for that sister of his.Piya.He scowled as he remembered their meeting yesterday,at the anger he had felt when she had called him"Bhai"how those baby browns had filled up with tears as he had shouted at her.He remembered how he had had to clench his fists to stop reaching out to her when he had seen that.And that had made him angrier.She had made him feel something for a second there,and that something had scared him because he hadn't recognised it.And Abhay Raichand wasn't a man who liked to feel scared.Stop thinking about her,he told himself sternly.Think about the next step.The next step towards the slow process of her destruction.And then it hit him.Of course he knew exactly where to hit next.He picked up his phone and dialled a number.A female voice received at the other end,"Hello.Office of Dehradoon Chronicles" **************Piya walked into the headquarters of the newspaper,DEHRADOON CHRONICLES,the place she had joined for work just a month ago.Although the Dobriyals were rich,she wanted to earn money on her own and be independent,and her father and brother had always encouragd her in this regard.She wanted to be known as Piya Dobriyal also,not just as Arnab Dobriyal's daughter or Arjun Dobriyal's sister.From the time she was young,she had wanted to become a journalist and she had found her first job here,and wrote articles for the business section of the newspaper.As she reached her table where she worked,her co-worker,Diane smiled up at her."Had a good birthday party?"Piya's greeting smile faltered a little as she remembered the events of last night,specially her meeting with Abhay Raichand last night and Madhu's words.She unconsciously touched her pendant"Yeah,it was great"she mumbled."Oh,Piya,Bossy wants u to meet her regarding a new article"Diane informed her before turning back to her work."Oh she does?"Piya frowned-she was already busy working on two articles right now which she had to submit by this week."Ok,I will meet her right now".Dumping her bag on her chair she made her way to their boss,Anita Agarwal's cabin,whose nickname was Bossy. **********Arjun Dobriyal was sifting through his music CD collection,trying to find one of his favorites which he had apparently misplaced.Just then a picture fell out from between two of the of the CDs.He bent to pick it up.As soon as he recognised the pic he froze.It was one of the pictures one of his friends had clicked during their final year at school,right before their farewell.A picture of HER.But how had this picture come here,he thought his eyes still transfixed on the picture.SHE was laughing at the camera,those beautiful blue eyes twinkling with laughter.Arjun's face hardened.How DARE that picture still stay here..He had done everything in his power to forget her,forget everything related to her.In rage,he crumpled up the picture and threw it into the pile of rubbish in his dustbin.It was her fault,his mind kept on repeating,Her fault that I fell in love with her.And the reason u killed her,a voice whispered in his head. ************Piya's mind was whirling with confusion and shock,as she came out of Bossy's room,her mind replaying her conversation with Bossy a few moments ago."We're going to delay that Maria's interview article by another week.We're going to have another hotter topic on the cards before that.About the Raichand Empire.The newest and hottest business talk in Dehradoon."Bossy had informed her without preamble,making Piya look at her in shock.Raichand again?But before she had even opened her mouth,Bossy had dropped the bombshell"It'll be complete with an interview of Abhay Raichand.And u r going to do it."Piya had stood there,opening and closing her mouth,looking ridiculously like a goldfish out of water."Me?"she finally squeaked."Why me?"Bossy had shot her an Are-you-crazy look.Of course people were dying to take an interview of the great Abhay Raichand."Yes"she had snapped."He called this morning,saying he wanted an article done by us about his industry,and said he wouldn't mind giving an interview either,if u'd take it."she ended,her tone slightly envious."Me?"Piya repeated faintly."He mentioned me?""Well,obviously,who else is named Piya Dobriyal?"Bossy said impatiently."He said he met u yesterday at ur party.He must have been pretty charmed."she added,that envious note in her voice returning again.Piya shuddered.She was pretty sure that their first meeting had been far from "charming"."Well,what r u waiting for?Go to their office headquarters"Bossy barked."N-now?"Piya squeaked."RIGHT now."Bossy answered."Can u imagine how great an honour it is that he has personally called up our newspaper.I want this article ready ASAP."Piya sighed now,as she stepped outside again,hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions.How does Abhay Raichand know I work here,she wondered,frowning.He did not seem even remotely interested in me.Then how-?And why did he ask for me?she thought.But she only got more confused and felt nervous anticipation at the thought of meeting him again.Would he still be that cold?She had only met him yesterday but she already knew this one thing about him:Abhay Raichand was an enigma.