The idiot

My new assistant

Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?

CHAPTER-7

"You are nothing but a womanizer!" announced Mr. Awasti.

I could hear Malvika laughing behind my back.

"You are a womanizer!" he said again. They both laughed at me.

"I am not a womanizer," I shouted, waking myself up in the process. I was panting and my forehead was sweaty. I looked around and felt relaxed when I realized I was not in office but my room.

What a nightmare!

It was impossible to sleep later that night. I wanted to forget my episode with Mr. Awasti but the whole scene kept running behind my closed eyes in a loop.

I am not a womanizer.

I was loath to admit it.

I always had been in a relationship with one girl at a time. I did get chances to hook with other girls while dating one but I never took advantage of it. Arjun was the real womanizer. I remember my ex-girlfriend, Yuvika, once turned up at mid-night high and horny. She had broken up with her new boyfriend a day before. I haven't seen her so desperate ever before. She was so out of control. I went insane. Arjun came to my rescue immediately. He took her to his room saying he was me. Arjun and she did not sleep that whole night. Neither did I as the moaning was too loud.

It was all past and things had changed since then. The only thing in common then and now was I could not sleep the whole night.

***

I was in my office, just like any other weekday, and was reading the project file that Mr. Awasti handed me.

I started off vigorously like a kid with his new book but in spite of my unceasing efforts to keep my eyes open I could not help myself from dozing off. I repented for not getting enough sleep last night. This project was an opportunity to rejuvenate my falling career so I did not want to leave any stone unturned. I decided to get some coffee to come to wake up my mind.

I bumped into Malvika near coffee machine. I caught her gaze but pretended as if I didn't see her.

I quickly walked to the coffee machine, poured black coffee in the cup and hastily turned to get back to my seat.

"Is somebody ignoring me?"

Malvika was standing right behind me. "Oh, it's you!" I said trying to look surprised.

"Wow. You came from nowhere," I added to cover up.

Malvika was definitely not impressed with my acting skills.

"You know you would make a very bad actor," she said and burst into laughter. I beamed to hide my embarrassment.

"So why are your eyes so heavy?" she asked, noticing my under slept eyes.

I rubbed my eyes. "Is it?"

"Dude, didn't you sleep last night?" She asked with a big grin plastered across her face.

"For the matter of fact I didn't."

She leaned in and asked, "Who kept you bust all night long, huh?"

"Aisa kuch nahi hai." I replied, shyly.

"Ha-ha," she gave out a hearty chuckle. "Don't worry dude. I am just kidding."

"Do you want some coffee?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Umm...okay," she replied with a smile. "No sugar."