AVNEIL

Chapter 3 - Part 3

     She walked up to a woman behind the counter. 

    "Welcome to Khanna department stores, where you can get the latest clothes, jewellery for your wife, husband, and children." The woman declared in a stiff expression clearly rehearsed.

     "I saw your job hiring sign, I want to apply," She gushed.

    "You can't apply here. I'm sorry." Another woman answered from behind Avni.

    Avni twisted her heels to woman and lowered her gaze down to a badge that clearly says assistant manager. "What do you mean? I just saw the sign."

    The woman scanned Avni up and down. "We can't accept you. I'm sorry."

    "Why are you looking at me like that, Is it because of my outfit?" she asked obviously knowing the real answer.

    "You don't have what it takes." The assistant manager stated.

    Her shoulders slumped as she headed for the exit but caught a glimpse of Neil. He marched through the aisle of the store followed by 5 of his entourage. Can't she go anywhere without running into him? Her eyes darted around the store in search for a place to hide.

    In a swift motion, she disappeared to the children section and ducked her head behind a clothrack. She waited for him to move along and he did. In an attempt to stand, her shirt got caught by the clothes rack, the more she pulled, the more it got ripped. With all the energy she had, she yanked herself free.

    The rack fell and erupted in a loud crash onto her.

    The noise caught everyone attention, including Neil. He strode over to the commotion and was followed by the manager and his secretary.

    "What is going on here?" he demanded.

     The assistant manager came up to him. "I'm so sorry sir, but it's this girl fault." She gave way for Avni.

    "You."

    Sporting a counterfeit smile, Avni hoped the awkwardness that bathed the moment would be transient. She wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole but there was no rescue from this embarrassment. "I didn't do it on purpose, I swear."

    "You can all go back to your work now and get someone to clean this mess." Neil dismissed the crowd.

    She coughed, pushed her hair back behind her ear even though it was already there. "I was just browsing through—

    "You are not only clumsy but also stupid." Neil's temper flared up. "Just how much do you like destroying my stuff? First, my car, now my store and seriously how do you think you can get a job dressed like that? Everybody knows you dressed how you want to be addressed.

    "Her eyes widened, her hand still held onto her shoulder covering the rip of her shirt. Maybe the Neil she knew is not too far away. Her throat was dry and the only word she could utter.                                             

"What?"

    "Come with me." He swiped her hand off her shoulder and yanked her away from the scene.Not like she had a choice, her feet immediately followed him.

    He stopped, let go of her hand, turned around to finally notice the rip on her shirt. It exposed her pale shoulder which was under a black bra strap. She followed his gaze down to her chest to the ample of her cleavage then back up. The second she realised this, she held her rip shirt back in place.

    For a few moment, silence hung in the air like thick cloud which Abhi, his secretary particularly awkward and attempted to break it with a nervous cough.

    "You don't even have anything." Neil muttered as if disappointed.

     They had stopped by in the female section of the store and Neil pulled out a bunch of clothes after giving each a quick scan, he dumped them on Avni.

    "What are you doing?" her knees bent with weight of the clothes she carried, they almost blocked the piercing glare she had on.

    He walked ahead and emptied another rack, dumping the clothes on her again. "When you dress with a little class and elegance people will treat you differently." He took out a yellow flair dress. "Try this." He held it to her.

    "No, I'm not going to."

    He sighed. "Do you want to show the whole world that you can't afford good clothes? Your jeans are all worn out and your blouse torn." He pushed the dress to her again. "Now stop being stubborn and try the dress on."

    Rush of anger and confusion crawled over her skin until the sensation reached her cheeks. She curled and uncurled her fingers underneath the heaps of clothes he dumped on her. It was the only outward reaction she'd allow herself and sought to calm the turmoil with her mind.

"You talk like being poor is a disease."  

TO BE CONTINUED...

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