The way of life

Chapter 13

Muskaan's POV: The present time...

"Stop being so formal you two! Muskaan, this is your childhood friend, Sunny tai's daughter...Arya" Mom said.
I was shocked! This is my childhood friend Arya! She is the receptionist of Malhotra Industries! That's why her name was familiar!
"Arya! It's been so long, I didn't recognize you!" I said as I hugged my long lost friend, I was truly happy to see her after all these years.
"Yes it has been a long time Makhi! I missed you so much!" Arya said as she pulled out of the hug.
"So, I have heard you are a famous lawyer!" Arya said with a smile
"Yes, I am!" I said, not knowing what else to say I asked her about her trip and when she came back etc... then it struck me! Arya knows nothing about what happened between me and Akash! She still probably thinks we are friends! What will I tell her when she asks where is Akash!? Oh god!
"Muskaan, take Arya to her room. Shagun and Virat, you two also go." Mom said gently.
So we took Arya to her room, it was right beside mine. Her room was a bit smaller than mine as well, but otherwise, the rooms were the same.
"So Arya, how does it feel to be back?" Virat asked
"It feels great to be honest! I am so happy to meet you guys! Wait though! Where is Akash?" Arya asked....and there was the question I dreaded the most! Shagun and Virat looked at me with the same questioning face 'what the hell do we say?'

"Oh, we aren't friends anymore!" Shagun said bluntly, I mentally cursed her for saying it just like that.
"WHAT! How..why..when did this happen?" Arya asked, the poor girl was very shocked!
I then narrated the full and complete story to Arya, she looked very sad. After all Akash was her friend too.
"How could someone be so.......mean!" Arya said, she probably had more 'better' words than mean, but she was in shock. I don't blame her.
"I...I don't know dear. I don't know if I should tell you this either..." Virat said slowly
"What, tell me what?" Arya asked curiously
"You are the receptionist of Malhotra industries right?" Virat started..this would be a big shock for Arya
"Y..yes!" Arya stuttered, she probably already knew what Virat was going to say.
"Well....Akash is the owner of the Malhotra Industries" Virat said calmly.
"What! How didn't I guess!" Arya said. She put her head between her hands. She was probably very frustrated.

Like our problems couldn't get any worse.. Sunny tai walks in with a tray with cookies and juice. Surprisingly she didn't look that surprised at Arya's condition.
"So you guys finally told her about Akash?" Sunny tai asked calmly
"Aai! (Mom in Marathi) do you know what happened!" Arya asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I know! Muskaan told me everything the day it happened." Sunny tai answered with a serious voice
"Do you also know that Akash owns Malhotra industries?" Arya asked
"Yes, Pappu paanwala told me! I wanted to make you resign from the company, but I didn't." Sunny tai said sadly
"Well, it is never too late to correct your mistakes! I am going right now to Akash and telling him who I am. Then once we meet and whatever, I will resign from my job!" Arya said while wiping her tears.
Everyone looked at her shocked, I wasn't necessarily happy about her decision, Shagun looked as if she got a good gift, Sunny tai looked at her worriedly, the one whose expression I was not able to understand was Virat, he looked guilty and sad. I wonder why?
"Arya, you don't need to do that!" I said, I was hoping that she would change her decision. Not that I cared what would happen to Akash's company...he would find many receptionists in just 1 phone call. I was worried about Arya, she was going to quit her well paying job, just for me!
"No Muskaan! Don't think I'm doing this for you! I am doing this for myself! I would rather be jobless but I am not working in a company whose owner is stone hearted!" Arya said with determination as she got up and walked out.
Suddenly Virat also got up and said...
"Okay, I have to get going, I told Mom I would be back home by 12:00 with the pooja equipment." Virat said as he said goodbye and left.
"I guess I will go too, bye" Shagun said as she too left.
Sunny tai and I sat in Arya's room for a bit and then we also went and got started with our work. I was just worried for Arya, and I was also curious about Virat's behaviour this morning.

There are a lot of questions that need to be answered...