*edited*
Swayam 's POV
Sunrises are a marvel in their own selves. Watching the lazy sun, climb above the horizon, amidst the blue-white clouds and slowly turn the blue, dark sky into a bright golden one is like a recherché treat to my eyes. The orange-red sky overhead glistens and a bright new morning comes knocking on my windows.
Rubbing my tired eyes, I make my way to the kitchen, switching on the coffee maker and go about preparing a mini-breakfast. Cooking always came easy to me, maybe I have a knack for it. I feel the flow of my movements; selecting the ingredients, picking up the utensils and putting it together, as it almost makes me forget all my worries. Almost.
Coldplay, suddenly blared and I jumped a little. It was my phone. I'd always liked Coldplay, their songs had a deeper meaning, one that is not generally grasped just by listening to the song but only by going through the lyrics of the song. They always strike a chord within me.
Breaking away from my train of thoughts, I picked up the phone.
"Hello, yellow-fellow!"
"Good morning, sir. I called to update you on today's schedule."
"Aargh! Soniksha, why must you always be so uptight? Take a chill pill Old lady!"
"Sir, it's too early in the morning for me to be awake let alone to be cheary. Moving on, you have a meeting with Mr Woods in The Oberoi's at 9, then you have a con-call with the President of Oil Corp., Germany at 1 pm, followed by a Board meeting in the conference room at 6 pm."
"Okay, is that it?" I sighed quietly and picked up my coffee, black and hot as I liked it.
"Yes, sir." She bluntly said and ended the call before I could thank her.
Soniksha's mechanical behaviour was infuriating at times. It felt like she was more of a boss to me than an assistant. I couldn't even say anything to her owing to what she meant to me.
She was the one who helped come out of my misery, she helped focus on my company that I had just purchased when my mother succumbed to cancer. Losing someone can be hardship, and a psychological nightmare if you do not have an anchor to keep you grounded. But then again my mother was not the only one I lost in my short life of 20 years. Hence I needed something big, something all consuming, that would not leave a space in mind to drown me in misry.
Soniksha helped me make my company my anchor. It was mere moths prior to my mothers death that I had purchased the company albeit at menial price. The owner did not know a dime about business and lead the company to nose-dive into bankruptcy.
I'd only begun building back my company back then when life started taking a toll on me. It was then that Soniksha took me in. She was my mother's friend, my aunt. She stood by me, through thick and thin. She held my hand and I felt secure. She became my safe harbour, my anchor. She not only guided me, she did a lot more. She became, my mother.
If it wouldn't have been for her, I wouldn't be where I was today. At 39, listed among the top 10 businessman of India by India Times, I was the youngest, most successful entrepreneur of the country with our company having an annual turnover of about Rs. 30 million.
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At 7, I arrived at Juhu Versova and entering the lift, entered my password. On exiting the elevator I noticed Soniksha sitting at her desk. I signalled her to come inside as I made my way into my office. Hanging my coat around the back of my chair, I sat down.
The office had both the mixture of luxury and comfort. With only glass walls all around, you could see the majestic beach of Juhu on one side and an array of television screens streaming different news channels on the other side, giving me the real time happenings of the world.
On another corner of the room, was a hidden washroom and a walk-in wardrobe built exclusively for me so I could freshen up after long hours of work and taxing night shifts. That, I admit was my favourite part of the office!
Turned towards Soniksha, I instructed, "Ask the Executives to bring in their reports, please."
After 5 minutes, every functional head stepped into my room and submitted their files to me on my desk. They were all well-dressed but sleep deprived, being a Friday. I opened the first file being that of the Production department and glanced through. It was alarming to find the file incomplete and not containing what I'd specifically asked to be mentioned in it. Enraged I immediately turned to Mr Rakesh.
"You can leave now, Mr Rakesh."
He stared at me in disbelief with ounces of desperation in his eyes.
"You are fired Mr Rakesh. I gave you the target of expanding production 5 times this year and you have clearly, failed to achieve it. It is because of this lack of competency and inability to deliver in employees like you that stands as an obstacle in the company's path to success. Other departments too have delayed in achieving their respective targets due to your blunders. My, being on a vacation does not give you a permit to slack on your job. We're in the country's one of the most successful business ventures, Mr Rakesh. It is people like you who set examples for younger employees to slack on their job, which will not be entertained. Kindly leave the room, immediately. Your retrenchment letter will be handed to you, shortly."
Turning to others, I continued with the discussion.
"Mr Parekh, I suggest we increase our expenditures on advertising by a margin of 15%. What do you say?"
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After having attended to all the meetings and conferences, I returned home, routinely switched on the coffee maker and alongside opened my mail. There were new mails but not the ones that I wanted to see.
I sighed. "I guess you can't find something that doesn't want to be found." I remarked to an empty house. My voice echoed a little.
My day, as usual, had ended with emptiness.
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Anonymous POV
"Boss, I've been keeping a watch on the building continuously. There's been no sign of her at all in the past 24 hours. Although, she was spotted by one of our men, trying to enter the building yesterday but, on not getting permission she fled. We tried to chase and catch her, but were unable to do so. However, there was no sign of her, today."
I was angered, on hearing this.
"I gave you all one job! One single, simple job. That of catching hold of her and you fail?! We all know, she is a novice in this game but, you all? You all are seasoned players! She was still able to outrun you. It's a shame, you idiots. Now listen carefully. I'll give you 48 hours. 48 hours and you find her and present her to me, or outrun on your life, the way she outran you. Do you understand?"
The voice on the other side of the receiver shivered, "Yes, boss."
"And what about him?"
"He returned to office today, boss. Didn't appear to be any different than his usual self. However, he did fire an executive. This has everyone quaking in their boots, boss."
"Good, that means he's miserable."
"Yes, he is bo-"
"Okay, now don't call me until you've found her and remember, you've only 48 hours." I then, cut the call.
I will catch you if not today but, surely one day and then I'll avenge you and make you pay for your every single deceit.
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YOU ARE READING
Starry Nights
Ficción GeneralSwayam's heart has been scarred. Badly. His days are spent moving forward and nights remembering about the past. But what will happen when his past is no longer contained to nights but also consumes his every waking moment when SHE comes back. Wil...
