Deviant (A Kabir/Pooja FF)

Chapter eight

Dhruv was working on remaking the accounts for the current quarter of his company. 

He had never been a topper in school, but he did moderately well. Even so, with his grades and his past experience of being an associate partner in the Mittal industries, it had been hard for him to land a job. 

The Human Resources people at all the firms he applied were reasonably satisfied with his qualifications, but somehow the interview board were never impressed. Finally, with some good luck, he landed this job. Or it might be that there was only one other candidate, who was fresh out of college, and a little too raw for the company. 

Working in the Sales department of this small enterprise should have offended him, but it didn't. The salary was peanuts and there were no benefits to speak of, but any money was welcome right now. 

Dhruv always knew in his heart that he didn't love working in the business. But unlike his siblings, who at least had some passion or ambition in their lives, Dhruv didn't. He was just an average guy with average talents and skills, doing an average job. His father knew this and that's why he was perpetually disappointed with his son. 

Maybe, thought Dhruv, he should consider himself lucky, that he had such a great business to join right after college. Now that he didn't, he understood his real value, sitting before the computer, in his tiny cubicle doing accounts for the firm. 

Still, it didn't bother him. He had accepted that he was a mediocre man.

What he couldn't accept was that this was the reason of his heartbreak. He was a fool, and Pooja took advantage of his stupidity to betray his entire family. What his family was going through today, was essentially his fault. 

But time changes. He had changed as well. Pooja had won the first round, she had ruined their lives, but she would lose too. She got her revenge, and now he would get his. 

"Hey man, are you done?" asked one of Dhruv's colleagues, leaning against his cubicle. "I have to give you some more figures here. Please don't tell me you were day dreaming again."

"I wasn't. This will be done in half an hour" said Dhruv calmly.

"Dhruv, why are you so slow? Everyone else in the team is done, and has moved on to the next set. Please, speed up. You know right? The team that does best this quarter, their members will get a bonus the next month? Please, don't mess up this chance for us" said his colleague sounding annoyed.

"I won't. I want that bonus too" said Dhruv, and fastened his pace. He needed that bonus for his plan. He better push Pooja to the back of his mind, and concentrate on his work this quarter. Once, he collects enough money, he can put his plan into motion. 

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"Thank God, Di, those kids left today. I thought they weren't going to leave at all" said Rani, plopping down on the sofa. "Now we have the mansion to ourselves."

"And what will you do with such a large mansion? Play hide and seek?" said Amma jokingly, as she shelled peas, sitting on the sofa chair opposite to Rani.

"Maybe, like old times" said Rani. "I can be the princess of this mansion, Amma. Oh, this is so exciting."

Amma smiled and shook her head. 

Pooja entered the mansion at that moment.

"Arey, Pooja beti, I was waiting for you. Look, today I am going to make your favorite Matar paneer (cottage cheese and peas), to celebrate" said Amma.