It was totally a rocking time waiting for Riya outside Arjun's cabin.....Shree and Chotu were already waiting for her to come out.....yes they knew she was in from her bag kept near her desk.....the one she used before she quit 3 years back.....it wasn't used by anyone else and was kept vacant as if waiting for her return.....Shree had cleaned it up soon after he knew that his best friend was coming back!
As soon as she stepped into the conf area, Shree yelled out "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi " and rushed to her and gave her a big friendly hug..........
Chotu also walked to her quickly and hugged both of them in a group hug.....Riya couldn't keep her serious stern self for long....she loosened up and smiled like old times......her dimple showing up in the same cute way.....there was no change in it......she looked like an epitome of beauty and brilliance now.....She also responded to the hug and her eyes welled up with tears of happiness.....She had missed them both so much.....but she had no choice but distance from them too!
Shree spoke up after the initial round of hugs and tears "we missed you Ri....."
Riya smiled at him with a "you are so sweet guys" expression and said "I missed you tooo yaar"
"Jhoot....tum jhoot bhol rahi ho Riya! Agar tum miss karthi toh aise hum sab se dhoor nahi rehthi.....teek hai mil nahi sakhi....magar ek phone call, ek mail....woh bhi nahi kar sakhi??? Uphar se apna sab contacts bhi change kar diya????? Kya aise miss karthe hai dhoston ko??? Haan, shaayad tumne hum sab ko apne life se missing hi kar diya, right?? Kya yahi thi tumaara dhosti??"
Shree's initial excitement turned to anger.....he didn't stop his venting out till Chotu placed his hands on his shoulders and "bas Shree.....shaayad Riya ki koyi majhboori hogi!"
Shree: kaisi majhboori ke apne friends ko bhi bhool gayi....agar koyi majhboori thi bhi, toh humse share karthi...[adds after a pause].....aisa kuch nahi hai Chotu.....Riya toh apne life mein mast thi aur humse baat karne ke fursat nahi thi.....hai na Riya?? [sarcasm dominated in his comment and it was more than evident when he addressed her as Riya and not his usual "RI"]
[Riya stood speechless not knowing how to justify herself.....She just let both her friends pour out their anger and sadness.....She felt, silence was golden at such times!]
Their ranting stopped when Rathod entered the office with a big hearty welcome message for Riya "Welcome Riya....good to see you back!"
Riya was surprised pleasantly to see Rathod sir...."Sir, aap?? Aap toh??
Rathod: haan main ek case ke wajeh se yahaan hoom.....aur waise bhi, tumaara ETF reentry ka pehla din hai....mujhe toh yahaan hona hi chahiye na??? aakhir yahaan tumaara first boss main hi tha na??[he grinned and she smiled at that]
Shree and Chotu forgot the rest and smiled too......Chotu remarked chirpily "Ab lag rahaa hai ke ETF hai! Sab ka full on attendance hai!!"
Riya's mind voice murmured "ek ko chodh kar....woh ab bhi wahi ke wahi hai jahaan maine teen saal pehle choda tha......haan hui hai bathlaav par phir bhi kuch bhi nahi bathlaa..." [she herself didn't know what changes did she expect in him or rather didn't see in him]
Shree: Arjun sir bhi yahaan hote aur bhi accha hota, hai na Ri???
Rathod: [searching around] waise hai kahaan tumhaara chief???? Apne room mein bandh hai kya??? Iss Rawte bhi na??? humesha aise naye naveli dulhan ke tarah apne kamre mein.....yeh kab sudhrega???
All the 3 were hell shocked and also amused by their ex boss's funny remark and comparison......
Riya: [rolling her eyes in doubt] Sir, yeh aap hi hai na??? aap itna funny baatein bhi kar sakthe hai??? Socha bhi nahi tha!!!
