The Illustrated Mystery

They own fragile hearts, but also the biggest.

I consider myself the luckiest man. I have Ekta and there's nothing else I ask for. We've been together for six months in a live-in for more than three months already. Life seems perfect. Everything is sorted.

"Tea or coffee Aryan?" asked Ekta

"Both?" I replied 

"Then I want Gucci and Prada too!"

"Woah calm down? You're going too far!"

"Then tea it is"

"Do what pleases you!"

Sometimes I'd wonder if I was living in my own house or some government owned hostel? I mean, give me a dime for whenever Ekta would work her ways and I'd be giving tough competition to the Ambani's.

"Aryan, can  you come home early today?"

"Woman let me enjoy some freedom. No."

"I'm serious, stop joking"

"Why? What's the plan?"

"Yukta and Dev called for dinner. Dev's got a promotion."

"Fuck that's great news, I should call him."

"So come early haan?"

"If the workers will give up fighting for a day then surely."

Ekta always despised my career. She hates people and I'm a Human Resource Manager at Panache Enterprises. Asking her to join me for dinner with my boss is pretty taxing. Shockingly, I have great relations with my boss, except for the fact that his daughter is a big time flirt and Ekta's possessive ass gets triggered. 

"So where is madam working today? Under the seas? Above the trees?" I jokingly questioned.

Ekta says "Listen, don't make fun of me. Inspiration ki zaroorat hai. Not like you, trapped in a fuckall cubicle with losers constantly screaming SIR TANKHVA BADHA DO! SIR MUJHE YAHA KAAM NAHI KARNA! SIR ADVANCE DEDO, MUMMY HOSPITAL MEIN HAI and what not."

"Oh Ekta dekhle one day you're gonna work under me"

"Bitch you wish"

"You spoke too soon, my wishes always come true!"

"No they don't"

"I wished for you, I got you"

And Ekta stared directly into my eyes and said "I'm cringing, do not do that again."

"Oh shutup. Girls are suckers for cute shit!"

"Go away! Bye!"

"Caught you bitch!" 

And I ran out before madam would beat  my ass and and drove off. I knew it would be a tough day at work, a growing Trade Union were against Panache Industries. Workers wanted an increase in their wages and that's not really possible? 

Karan barged in "Bhai, Lavanya se jhagda ho gaya aaj subah!"

I retorted "HAHA what did you say to her?"

"She's draining my bank account Aryan!"

"Oh."

"I'll have to start sleeping on the streets ab toh!"

"Take shelter in a dharamshala Karan. Streets are too much?"

"You douche, give me a god damn solution."

"To save more money, you gotta drain some money!"

"What do you mean?"

"Spend 10 a day, get her a flower, she'll be happy and she'll stop spending!"

"Ghanta"

"Try karke dekhle bhai"

Sometimes I felt I wasn't just a Human Resources Manager for Panache but for fools like Karan. God's given me the brains. Maybe I do understand girls in a way no one does. 

They own fragile hearts, but also the biggest.