Girl Friday

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

Anjali

My eyes kept following my boss’ every action keenly. He spoke with Maya over phone for exactly twenty three minutes and forty five seconds. After that, he continued his work casually like nothing happened. Why is he not trying to pacify me? Or whatever little explanation that he gave is his best shot at pacifying me? 

I know something is wrong with me. I mean who acts like this with their boss? But, again, it is not my fault entirely. He was the one who left me behind for another girl. Though he is not obliged to be my babysitter or anything, I expect him to care about me enough to ask my opinion. One sight at his old friend and Arav Malhotra forgets the ethics of being a gentleman.

I should stop over thinking about all this. I have better work to do than decoding my boss’s behaviour with me. I should call Rishab, check on him and convince him to not try cooking.

“Sharmaji, I am too good at making Halwa and you know that. Are you trying to stop me from becoming next Master Chef, India?” asked my over dramatic brother

“I don’t want you to burn the place down, Rishab. Dare you enter my kitchen! Order something for lunch. I will make dinner for you.”

“But you don’t make good halwa.” He complained

“I will buy it from a shop near my workplace. It is as good as Maa’s.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to taste my world’s best cooking?’”

“Confident.”

“Okay, one condition. I want you to buy everything that I have texted you and please add a large bottle of Pepsi to it. Your fridge looks pathetic; I want to add some spice to it.”

In three days, he has come to stay with me, to attend a friend’s wedding; he will make me spend my three month’s salary by demanding all kinds of things. Why having a younger brother is so difficult?

I cut the call and return back to my work when I heard clicking of high heels. I lifted my head to watch Maya walk towards me with a scowl. Why is she here? I looked around to find Arav, but he wasn’t here. Great! Now I have to deal with her.

“Hello, Maya.” I greeted with a fake smile

“Don’t bother to be nice when you actually don’t want to be. Cut the act.” She said in a rude tone as she pulled out the chair in front of me and sat down. Flipping her hair away from her shoulder, Maya glared at me pointedly. “What are you playing, huh?” she asked

“Excuse me?”

What is wrong with her? She barges into my cabin unannounced and then questions me, impolitely, like this. How dare she?

“Why are you trying to create drift between me and Arav?” she asked

“Me? How?”

“Did you tell him that my business proposal is erroneous? He sounded very hurt when I spoke to him today. He thinks I am trying to cheat him.”

“You are trying to cheat with such an absurd business proposal. What is it with people trying to take advantage of his talent?”

“Why do you care, huh? What I have with Arav is more than a mere business deal? Why does it hurt you?”

“No, it is not more than a business deal to him. Arav has no interest in you.” I said. That is the truth. He doesn’t even care about her.

“How do you know? Are you his inner voice of reason? Why don’t you just stick to doing your job?” she asked

“This is my job, Ms.Maya Kapoor, to protect Arav from sly foxes like you.”

“Really! What about the job Varun uncle gave you, huh?”

Why is she bringing up that now? That is not even a job. Yes, I didn’t tell him in words about declining his offer, but I was not going to help in fixing up Arav with any girl.

“How can you forget Varun Malhotra’s offer to give you a prominent position in Malhotra industries in return for making Arav agree to marry me?”

“I was ...” before I could defend myself, we both heard crashing of something strong and turned to see a furious Arav standing just few feet away.

I swore loudly as I moved across the cabin and darted towards Arav, panicking.

“Boss, it is not what you think it is.” I said.

“What is not, Anjali? Didn’t Varun uncle tell you to play matchmaker between me and Arav?” asked Maya with a wily smile.

I glared at Maya trying to shut her up, but she was only enjoying this situation a lot.

“Anjali was doing a very good job so far, you know, in helping us.” She said standing in between me and Arav. “I don’t know why she has turned antagonist now.”

“Shut up.” I said

“Don’t be rude to me, Anjali.” She said with a fake pout. “Anyways, I don’t want to disturb you guys on a working day. I will leave. Will catch you later, Arav?’” she didn’t wait for Arav’s reply instead just gave a mock smile to me before heading out.

She sure might have guessed the sensitivity of the situation and the fact that Arav is hearing this for the first time. Everyone who has met Arav even for few times knows that he is ardent follower of truth in the lines of Gandhiji. He cannot tolerate liars. I know, I am not a liar, but I just procrastinated in telling him the truth. However, Maya is definitely not making it sound like that.

Ignoring Maya and her vamp walk, I turned my attention to Arav.

“Listen, you have heard only half truth...”

“What is the truth?” he asked trying to sound calm but he was anything but that.

“Your father did approach me with such a pitch, but...”

“You didn’t accept that? You told him you won’t do it?’”

“Well, I didn’t, not yet, but I was going to tell him. I know you won’t like interference of this sort and you never wanted to fall in your father’s dirty games in business.”

“Really! When were you going to tell him, huh? Before or after you playing a matchmaker.’”

“I never intended on playing any matchmaker. Why would I want to see you with any girl?”

“Do you hear yourself? You’re telling me that you wanted to decline an offer but didn’t. Why didn’t you say no the minute he offered you this job or whatever it is called?” asked Arav. “Let’s face it, Anjali. You always wanted to work in Malhotra Industries, right? Were you trying to use me as bait?”

“Noo... How can you accuse me of something like that?” I asked clearly hurt

Doesn’t he trust me?

“What am I supposed to think, Anjali? Was it even your plan to make Maya come to the same gallery as us in Goa? It doesn’t seem like coincidence now.”

“Please, Arav, trust me. I wanted to tell your father that I am not interested in any of his schemes. But, he didn’t even give me a chance to talk. He would just walk away after giving me orders. No fancy job is important to me more than the trust you have on me. You know me better than that.”

“I don’t know, Anjali. I wonder if I know you at all.”

“Don’t say that.” I said my eyes welling up with tears.

“You very well know I hate lies. And you...”

“Please, don’t say that, Arav. I didn’t do anything I swear.” I pleaded

“Just leave me alone.” He said waving his hands dismissively and walked out of the studio without a glance at me.

I stood on the stool holding my head in my hand, as I wept thinking how twisted everything has become in span of minutes.