Shades of Life

His Comic Misery

Holding her arm as she leaned on me, I dragged her to her apartment.

“I neeeed soomeboddy whoo can loooove me at myyyy worsttt”

I closed my eyes at her voice.

Why god!

Sighing, I looked at her. She was moving her left hand in the air singing while her right hand was wrapped around my left arm.

I usually don’t like all this and importantly I don’t care but this for some reason I don’t want to leave her here all alone. I know she is from Mumbai. I have read her profile and was surprised that she would move so far for work.

“Keys” I asked her.  

She stood up straight leaving my arm and started patting her shorts pockets and took out her key waving it in front of me like a kid.

“Look! Look! I found it” she laughed and started moving her body.

Is she dancing?

No, this has to stop here.

I grabbed her key and opened her door. I pulled her in and she closed her door.

“Yes, let’s drink more. I have some beer in my fridge” She said acting like she is sober when she is anything but.

“No way, you are going to sleep” I said crossing my arms not moving an inch. Her apartment looked the same as others but she has given the whole place a nice touch. It’s completely customized.

It is filled with her family photos and store brought show pieces looking good against the egg shell paint color.

“Why not?” She asked pouting.

I glared at her which she blatantly ignored.

I looked lost at her behavior. Do I not have that danger aura anymore? I’m a f*****g CEO of a richest company in India and she doesn’t care.

“You know, no one likes a boring person” She said looking at me and copied my action. She stood there with her arm crossed but she could barely stand straight more than few seconds.

“I’m not boring” I deadpanned.

“Prove it” She said looking at me like a strict teacher.

“I don’t have to prove anything Ms.Vashisht. Just go and sleep” I said sighing. This girl is impossible.

She chuckled and suddenly started laughing like a maniac.

I gave her a ‘Are you crazy?’ look.

“My name is Akshara” She said wiping her tears.

I rolled my eyes. God, she’s dramatic and not to forget weird.

“Go sleep” I said ignoring what she said.

“Not before you say my name” She said adamantly.

Why am I putting up with her?

Only god knows.

“Fine, Akshara go sleep” I said with a sweet tight lipped smile.

She gave me a full blown smile.

“Aww, aren’t you cute?” She said and grabbed my cheeks.

Squeezing them she kept smiling like a lunatic.

What the hell!

“You are not as bad as I thought” She said and patted my chest.

“Bye, good night. Don’t let the bed bug bite” She said waving and started walking to her room.

“Hey, lock the door” I called out as I came out of the shock.

“Oooo yes” She came back and pushed me out of her apartment and locked the door.

I stood there with door closed to my face not understanding what just happened.

You wanted to help her right! Now you got what you deserved.

Pressing my forehead, I got inside the elevator.

How did my boring normal days become this weird?

Simple, answer is Akshara Vashisht.

When she decided to move into this apartment building and join my company.

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“Guess, who is back bitches” a voice yelled as soon as my door was opened. And I know only one person has the audacity and lunacy to do it.

“Hey Aakash” I said getting up knowing what’s coming next.

He gave me an infectious smile and hugged me blowing the wind out of me.

“Oooff” I huffed out hugging him back.

For some preposterous reason, I missed him.

“How are you buddy?” He asked breaking the hug.

“I’m fine but you look more than fine. What happened?” I asked raising my eyebrows. I know this has something to do with Kaushik.

“You are the only one single now” he said grinning like a kid.

It does feel good to see him smile. This guy has been through so much, he definitely deserves love and happiness.

“He confessed?” I asked smiling widely.

“Yep, a full blown out confession” he said laughing like a happy kid.

My heart filled out seeing him like this. I have seen him at his worst and it is an honor to see him at his best. I have waited for this day. I wanted him to find someone who would love him like the way he deserves. After he came to his parents, he was deprived of all the love and affection that he grew up with. I felt really bad to see when he was so confident that his parents would love him no matter what but to see shatter in front of him was horrible.

“Congrats man, I’m happy for you” I actually smiled, a genuine smile.

“Yeah, I had an amazing holiday. Look how tan I got. You should have joined me. Pubs there are sick” he said sitting on the guest chair leisurely. I took my seat listening to him. Glad, he had a great time.

A month back, his sister’s marriage was there and he wasn’t invited. He took it pretty hard. Someone in his family spread out a rumor that he is gay which true and it spread like wildfire. They were embarrassed and didn’t want Aakash anywhere near the marriage. His sister loves him no matter what and she was devastated when her parents denied his entry.

I was the one who forced him to take the vacation and I’m glad he is happy now.

I know it is difficult for his parents to accept this but he is their beloved son. I don’t get how they can disown him like this. We both have dysfunctional family and that’s how we became best friends in the first place.

He was always as outgoing loud boy while I was the silent brooding guy who wants nothing to do with others. He wanted to befriend me and he did which was hard in the beginning when I was adamant on not talking to people unless it was necessary. Later he grew on me. He used to constantly follow me and give me snacks when I was hungry. Slowly we became friends. But when he started noticing his change or life choices he was confused and didn’t know what to do. I stood by him at that time and that’s when we became best friends.

“So, how’s work going on? Still boring?” He asked rolling his eyes.

He is a gamer. He has invented so many amazing and popular games that he has his own business. He is very talented in that area and now he is reaching new heights every day.

“It’s been going good. Since yesterday we started working on new British clients” I said shrugging.

“Boring” He said shaking his head.

I smiled as I knew this is exactly what he would say.

“Where is Kaushik by the way?” I asked him and as I soon as I took his name, he got a sweet smile on his face.

My friend is smitten.

“He is working now, he is thinking of moving here” Aakash said giving me a small smile. I could see the insecurities. Aakash always wanted to settle in US when he finds love or after certain age.

“That’s great Aakash. Don’t over think it” I said with a small smile too. I have told him few times not to care about what others think because they would come and help us emotionally or financially when we are in a problem or going through a crisis. They just talk but still it is hard for him.

“True” He said taking his phone out. There was a knock on the door.

“Come in” I called out.

Aarav entered with a file and Akshara followed him.

Akshara?

Shit! I mean Ms. Vashisht.

“Hey man” Aarav said as he saw Aakash and both shared a hug.

“Hey Aarav, how are you?” He asked patting Aarav’s shoulder while Ms. Vashisht stood behind him looking at them with a smile. I tilted my head to look at her. She looks totally fine. I was expecting her to ignore me or run away from me when she would see me but this girl is audacious.

“Isn’t it Varun?” Aakash asked looking at me in question mark.

“Huh” I asked him sitting straight.

“Aarav was asking about my holiday, I video called you once. You saw that place right” He asked raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah, it was nice” I said nodding.

“Bro, here. These are the requirements that we have for the project. Rahul directly contacted the client and they are going through all the financial and functional requirement again as they had few changes since last week. Akshara” He said and called her. She passed him a file.

“This too contains everything about it. Just go through it once and let us know if you are okay with this” He told me.

“Okay, I’ll look into it” I said nodding.

“Sir- I mean Varun Rahul said there are few changes made in the contract. You should check with your HR team it seems” she said with a normal face while I searched her face. Is she that good at acting or does she not remember yesterday’s events?

I’m sure she doesn’t remember last night.

Good, now even I can forget.

“Varun?” Aakash called and I turned my attention to me.

“Haa” I asked him.

“That beautiful girl just said something to you” Aakash said smirking pointing towards Ms. Vashisht who currently was blushing.

Aakash has always been charming. Girls fall for him all the time and he just flirts with them for fun and ignore them.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to them” I said nodding blankly at her.

Keep your cool Varun.

“Cool, see yea. Bye Aakash” Aarav said mock saluting.

I rolled my eye at him.

“Bye Aarav, let’s meet soon for drinks” Aakash said waving back.

“Not soon though, last night we all were smashed and I still am hungover. Aren’t we Akshara?” He asked her who stood silently.

“Oh please, I can handle my alcohol. I’m not hungover” She said smirking.

I scoffed out loud.

All three turned towards me.

“What?” Arav asked me.

“What what?” I asked back not knowing what to say.

“Nothing” He gave me a weird look and walked out.

“Have a nice day Varun” Aksh- Ms. Vashisht said and followed Aarav out.

“What was that?” Aakash asked as soon as they closed the door behind.

“What was what?” I asked him, trying to confuse him.

“Don’t play coy with me. That was one of the weirdest encounter I’ve seen you in” He asked leaning his arms on my table looking at me intently.

“It was not, it was completely normal” I said keeping a mellow face.

“Is it the girl?” He asked getting all excited.

I know where this will lead.

“What! No” I exclaimed at his words.

“Ah-ha, you reacted. You usually give me glare to shut up or ignore me but you yelled out which means something something is going on and I will find out” He said as if he is setting himself on a mission.

“That’s some load of bullshit” I said looking at him livid. Him having a mission is never good.

“Whatever, now let’s go for lunch” He said already getting bored. He has an attention span on a kid. His mood swings are worse than a pregnant lady.

I nodded closing my laptop.

“Can I call Carla too?” he asked with a mischievous grin. He loves to annoy me.

“I’ll kill you” I gritted out while he laughed out loud.

I’m surrounded by lunatics.