The Thalapathy Game

Small Talk

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"What!?" Everybody in the room shrieked hearing my statement, but thank God for Hold option. "Don't you fucking kid with me. I swear, I did nothing!" Aditi freaked out. Oh no, this is not the moment she should have an panic attack.

"Or maybe you did! Asking out the rival guy on a date and following him halfway to his house." Oh, Anirudh this is not the time you add fuel to the fire. Aditi was on the verge of crying. "What if they're fucking criminals and kill me when I go there!" What nonsense, is she talking about? "Aditi, they may also want to meet you to settle the account-" "What?!" Aditi's shriek interrupted my calm talk. "In the sense, pay you money for the service you did to them - Catering!" I placed the receiver on the side of the telephone to go near Aditi.

"Go talk." Arjun patted her back, and pointed to the phone. "Yeah, go." I assured her. She went near the receiver and looked at us confusedly. "Now blabber more details. Okay, grasshopper?" Anirudh freaked her out more.

"Dammit, man. Shut up! Arjun, observe." I ordered Arjun and dragged Anirudh to the porch. He'll be the reason for her next panic attack.

"What in the earth, woman!" He exclaimed when I let go off his shirt collar. "You don't know the importance of a phone call. You were almost ruining the moment! That was a freaking call from freaking Anamika's office! The woman we are placing our bets on for being Mr.A!" I was irritated with Aditi and Anirudh's cat and mouse fights.

They affected each other's outcomes! And Anirudh doesn't believe in a freaking telephone call, but that's what our clue towards the quest of Mr.A.

"Thank you, Mr.Dhruv. The interest you showed in the case told me you'll take action, but I never thought it would be this immediate." Dhruv had taken her to the hospital's canteen to have their lunch. Since the hospital was also a medical college, the canteen was placed at the entrance of the medical college. The canteen looked more like a small restaurant as it was situated on the highway. Dhruv smiled at her as they continued eating.

The tension between them caused crackles in the air between them. "So, mrkrmm..." Nethra started again to gain his attention and to reduce the tension. "You said you'll talk to my boss. Did you - ummm - speak to him, Mr.Dhruv?" She asked him.

He took a while to answer since he was munching his food. "Yes... I mean, no. His phone was busy. I'll talk to him after we are done with food." He replied earnestly. There was something   teenager-ish about how he behaved which caused Nethra to chuckle inwardly. "Oh, okay." With pursed lips she nodded.

"Also, mrkrmm.." Nethra smiled to herself as he repeated her move. "Yes, Mr.Dhruv?" She replied immediately. "That's what. Please don't add Mr.Dhruv to every sentence please. I'm feeling a teacher-student kind of relationship. It's a little - umm.. uneasy." It was hard for Nethra not to laugh and snort at his statement. But she had to.

"Yes... Yes, Mr... I mean. Just yes." She couldn't help but chuckle. "Excuse me." She got up immediately as she had finished her food. She laughed to herself heartily as she washed her hands. With tissues, she wiped her mouth and kept it on her lips a little while to slow down her laughter.

She came out of the washroom and noticed Dhruv was on a call. As she approached him, a waiter came and placed the bill folder on their table. Dhruv multi tasked by being on a call and yet fishing into his pocket for his wallet.

As he was about to place money in the folder, Nethra slapped his hand to stop him. She placed half the amount and mouthed, "We're splitting. I'll wait in the parking" Not giving Dhruv time to argue, she went outside immediately.