My Lovely Boss

Chapter 3

3.

It s Sunday. I thought I would feel satisfied with my resignation letter in my hand but no. The rest of Saturday went with me rethinking my resignation. My heart was telling me not to do it, but my mind was disagreeing. This was the only right thing to do in this situation or I should say to control my own emotions. I was more afraid of myself than him. Better keep me away from him.

I was still in bed, admiring the beautiful Sunday morning from my window. It s 7 am. There was a chill in the climate. The birds were chirping, and mist was surrounding the rows of Ashoka trees. It s all so pleasant.

My phone started vibrating. I just answered it without checking the ID and continued looking out.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hello, baby doll." This voice startled me. I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked the caller ID. It was Aryan Patel.

The Aryan Patel.

I was paralyzed for a moment and kept on looking at his name. Then realized that he was still speaking. I put the cell to my ear again.

"Are you there? Hello?" he was saying.

"I - I. Why did you call me?" I asked while getting up and sitting straight in an alert position. Oh, my dear heart, please stop overreacting, why are you thumping so fast? I was rubbing my chest with my free hand to calm down my heart. I tried hard to understand what he was saying.

"I called you to apologize. I was about to follow you as soon as you left my cabin on Friday, but you know, Joseph was there. And then after some time when I visited your desk, I found out that you left an hour ago. So, I thought you need some time to think and accept my proposal." I took sufficient time to relax and process every single word he just said before answering him back.

"There s nothing to think about, Mr. Patel. My answer is a straight-forward no, NO" though I tried to enunciate the word no confidently, I looked at my frightened and very emotional face in the mirror which I instantly disliked. I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Look Ananya, please don t make the mistake of ignoring your heart. I know that you love me. Why are you marrying someone else?" He sounded very emotional. But how was he so sure about me loving him. I just ignored that part.

"Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Patel, but the person I am marrying is the type of man every girl wants to marry. And he already expressed so many times that he loves me. That s what is very important to me. So, I am marrying him because of his love. But I still don t get all of sudden, why you want to marry me?"

He sighed on the line.

"OK, OK, I get your point here but let me clear one thing. I will not accept your resignation. If you don t want to marry me, that s okay, but that doesn t mean we can t be friends, right?" he pleaded.

Oh, friends! He wants us to be friends. Is it right? Oh hell, why not! I confirmed with myself before replying to him.

"Yeah, sure we can be friends. And how come you know about my resignation letter?" I said, feeling somewhat relaxed.

"Oh, I know you that much. I know that you would try and run away from me." I could sense a smile in his voice.

"No, I am not running away." I denied.

"Deny all you want baby doll, but it would not change anything." He teased.

"Oh shut up" I laughed a little. How easy it was to talk to him now. I feel so alive as if some extra energy has been added into my system. He made everything so easy, at least on the phone.

"Ananya, I am really sorry." He said with sadness.

"For what?" I know what he was sorry for, but I want him to say it.

"Sorry for everything, I know I caused you so much trouble. Tasha told me everything last year. But I was going through so much that it blinded me. When you announced your marriage, it was that moment my blindfold was opened. But it was too late to realize what I had lost. I saw that you were so happy celebrating your news with your friend that day. I decided to let you go that day. But day by day the feeling of losing you increased. And that caused Friday s event. It was my outburst. I am truly sorry for kissing you and asking you to marry me." He confessed.

I felt disappointed that he didn t want to kiss me; that it was all his outburst or whatever he was calling it. Anyway, the main thing for me was that everything was okay now.

"It s okay, I forgive you," I said, meaning it.

"This is not enough for me, I must treat you. Let s meet today." He suggested.

"Today?" I was planning on meeting Ansh (Anshuman) today.

"Yes today, did you have plans?" He sounded disappointed. No, no he shouldn t feel like that because of me.

"No, it is fine by me. Where should we meet?" I asked, trying to hide my excitement. Finally, I am getting my old Ryan back, as friends of course, but he would be part of my life again. That would be enough for me.

"Let s meet at Café Coffee around 10 am, OK?" he said excitedly.

"OK. Wait. 10 am means now in the morning, but I am still in bed." I yawned.

"Stop yawning, that sound of yours invites me to join you in your bed." He said.

"Ha... Ha... very funny. My mom is home by the way. And why do you want to meet so early." I complained.

"Because I want to spend the whole day with you, baby doll. So, I can t join you in bed cause your mom is home." He said, certainly laughing at me.

"Again very funny, leave this topic now. I will meet you at the café, bye." I said, smiling.

"OK, it's 7:30 am now, you have plenty of time to get ready. Wear something sexy, OK bye" He said.

"Ryan! I -" He hung up before I could finish shouting at him. He was behaving as nothing had happened at all. Was it true or a dream? After so long I called him by the name I always craved to call him "Ryan" and he just hung up.

My cell rang again. This time I checked the caller ID. It was Ansh. I picked it up immediately.

"Hello, Hi good morning." I greeted him.

"What is so good about this morning? I have been calling you for half an hour now, but you were busy with someone else!" he sounded angry.

"I was talking with my friend. I am going out with him today." I told him.

"Him? So, your friend is a guy? And you are going out with him without asking me!?" He was angrier now. What the hell?

This was the first time Ansh talked like a typical husband.

"Umm, Ansh please don t make a big deal out of it. He is just a friend. After a long time, we have decided to meet as friends otherwise we behave as boss and employee all time." I said, crossing my fingers. Please say it s OK, please. I don t want to fight, please, please.

I heard a sigh on the other line.

"OK, but keep in mind that your friend should behave like a friend only. You are mine, only mine." He stated, I felt like I was talking to a werewolf, who all-time claims their mate by saying mine, mine. Ha, ha, ha. Oh stop it, Ana, it s not funny. I scolded myself.

"Err, right, see you tomorrow evening for the party. Am I still invited?" I asked. I wanted to attend this party, I love meeting new people. Plus dressing up, makeup and jewelry. In short, I am a typical girl. But there is one difference; I don t like dressing up every day. Only on special occasions. Simplicity is my other name.

"Of course you are coming. I have to live my life peacefully, you know." He teased me as usual.

"And what do you mean by that?" I pouted.

"Nothing, nothing. I will pick you at 8 pm, say Hi to your Mom for me. And Bye dear love you." He said.

"OK, bye" I didn t reply to his love you as usual. We had a deal; the day I fell for him I would tell him, till then he had to wait. And he was still waiting.

We had known each other for almost 2 months now. I didn't understand how he could have this love feeling for me so soon. And why didn t I feel it in his eyes? Maybe I didn't understand it by myself. Maybe it was love at first sight for him!

I got up from my bed; it s already 7:40 am. I went for a bath and took extra time as my head was occupied with Ryan s thoughts. How would he behave today? Friendly? As Anshuman wants us to be?

What would he wear? I have always seen him in formal clothing after college. How would he look in casual clothing?

While washing my face, my fingers stressed my lips and my mind went back to Aryan s office and that scene repeated in my head. I don t know how I shaved my legs, how I brushed my teeth or when I finished my bath. It all passed in a blur, but I somehow got ready.

When I stood in front of the mirror, I was wearing a dark blue knee-length sundress with white polka dots. The dress has black straps and a square neckline. I straightened my hair though I love my original curly hair. I wore matching big blue hoop earrings in my ears. I took my black clutch purse and put on black pencil high heels. I had very light makeup on which consisted of vanilla flavored lip-gloss and a light layer of eyeliner.

I went downstairs and entered the kitchen. My favorite aroma hits my nostrils tempting me to eat as much of the egg omelets as possible but I resist the urge, instead, I had only one bite from my served plate. Mom must have seen me exiting my room so she kept my plate ready.

She was now on the phone with my one and only Aunt Sangita. I could tell that it is my Aunt as Mom was talking about my wedding dress and what jewellery I would wear. My Aunt was the only person more enthusiastic about my marriage than Mom.

Before Mom could even ask questions about me going out, I took the chance and went straight to our small garage, where my baby was waiting for me. My car is a Chevrolet Beat in a linen beige color. When my Mom gifted me this car on my last birthday, I couldn t stop dancing with delight. I instantly fell in love and swore not to leave her. Ever.

I took a deep breath as I got in the car.

Mr Aryan here I come, I thought as I pulled out of the driveway.

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