The Boundaries of Love

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Needs some heavy editing. Please bear with it.

***

"Suman, the press is here." My secretary peeks around the door. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. This is the part where all I want is to run away from here and never come back for good.

I nod at her, "Tell them I am coming."

"They want to know about . . ."

"I know."

I almost drag my feet towards the corridor of the NewAge, standing briskly in front of Nirmala Aunty's cabin. How everything has changed.

"So, how are you feeling, Ms Tiwari, taking over the NewAge. What are your experiences so far?"

I gulp down my nervousness, "So far, it's not what I feared. The employees are friendly because they are my friends, I used to be one of them. I still am. So handling the publication house isn't a problem."

The interview goes on for another thirty minutes, as the reporters ask about NewAge, about the new books, any changes that I would want to implement." I try to reply to their every question as truthfully I can.

"Ms Tiwari, Where's Mr Shravan Malhotra? It's been a month since . . ." One reporter starts. I look at the ring on my finger, as I fidget on my chair; I try to smile at him, "He is busy handling a project. He is still in California."

A soft murmur echoes as they start talking to themselves. Because they already know the truth.

"We can see the ring which means, you two are still together. So, we are assuming, the marriage is on the card." One of them tries again to make me speak.

"The moment he comes back. Yes." I smile brightly looking at them.

My secretary, Rati, looks at me with a forlorn expression. She is more like a friend to me. She used to work at Malhotra Automobiles as Ram uncle's secretary. He adored her like a daughter he never had, as she is the daughter of one of his good friends. He asked her to take care of me as I am new to handling all these things. 

"That's it, we should end this now." Rati holds her ground firmly. No one bothers to question her. They already know her and how she works.

When the reporters are gone, she looks at me, "You need to practice a lot, Suman. They can clearly say that you are lying." 

I bow my head, "This is just too much, Rati. You know, I didn't want this . . ." I wave my hand, "any of these."

Rati smiles at me softly, "You are doing exceptionally good, Suman. Just don't let your guards down." She sighs, "Have you heard from him?" Mumbling a broken no I walk towards my cabin.

Sitting on my chair, I look at my ring. This ring, which he had chosen for me, saying, just like the two Ss here, we will always be together. But I guess with time, every promise loses its value.

I look at the calendar, it's exactly been one month since that day. The day, when we were supposed to get married, the day which changed everything. He left, without glancing back at me.

I was angry at first. Whatever happened, it wasn't my fault. But I guess I love him more than I have thought. I couldn't leave his ring, I couldn't leave . . . Him.

***

One month ago:

Squinting my eyes, I sigh out loud. I am still standing on the foyer of my house, while my heart is already running a mile per hour. Shravan and his insane plan! And I am dumb enough to follow that without throwing a fit.