Shades of Life

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I currently am sitting in Coffee Bloom in front of Varun Mehta, who was looking at the menu deciding what he wants. I am oddly calm and not in a good way. I feel like this is silence before storm.

I was so shocked when he asked me for coffee, no I didn’t think he was asking me on a date. I know he just asked because he felt guilty for how he spoke to me. I recovered from the shock and nodded out of reflex. Though I still wasn’t completely comfortable with him, I didn’t want to prolong this since he apologized. I don’t want to act like a stuck up b***h but if he does like that once again then we are through.

“What are you taking?” He asked me. He looked calm and poise. I don’t see a hint of tension in his face.

“Cold coffee” I answered with a small smile not wanting to make this too awkward than it already is.

“Anything to eat?” He asked squinting his left eyebrows. He does look different from he usually is though.

“Nah, I’m planning on making a huge dinner so I’m fine” I had asked my mom when I called her about the recipe for snake guard curry. I love that vegetable and it’s been too long since I ate it.

“Oh, what’s so special?” He asked keeping his hands on the table leaning in as I am about to tell him something very interesting.

Gosh, why can’t I stop being sarcastic and not criticize his every move.

That’s me. Once I hate someone or get a bad feeling from someone then that is it. No matter how much of a good person they are I won’t get close to them or let them in.

But here the situation is different. He is just anyone; he is my boss. I have to see him on daily basis and follow his orders, I can’t really ignore or be mean to him. So, I just have to suck it up and get on from that incident.

If you think I’m over reacting, I have a huge ego. That’s to my dad and grand-dad.

“I was thinking about making Snake guard curry for dinner” I said placing my menu back on the table.

“Snake guard!?!?” He looked flabbergasted.

I chuckled at the look on his face.

I googled and showed him the photo.

“It’s a vegetable. My favorite” I said with an amused smile as he checked the picture carefully.

“Oh, I thought – nothing” He quickly shook his head.

“Wait, you thought I would eat a snake?” I asked him raising my eyebrows.

“Uh- no” He said looking flustered, I’m sure he is feeling silly for thinking that.

I chuckled seeing him embarrassed.

“Hey guys” Sarah said standing beside the table with a huge smile.

“Hey Sarah” I said with a smile. I saw her brother at the counter when we came in. I was shocked when I saw him, he was gorgeous. Like really, he was tall almost like Varun and fit, not too much muscles but just a little which made him broad shoulder looks absolutely delicious. He even has brown hairs, not like the ones who color it in tik-tok, no ew. His color was chocolate brown which looked so much better with his skin color. Uff! I should show his picture to Mona.

“Hey” Varun greeted casually.

“How are you doing Akshara?” She asked me with a smile.

“I’m doing great. What about you?” I asked her with a smile.

“I’m good, I was expecting you this weekend. Mom told me that you are a book fanatic like her” She said placing few tissue papers.

“Oh, I wanted to but was swamped this weekend. Yesterday went to a club with my friends” I said excitedly.

“Oh my god, really? Argh, I love night clubs. It’s been so long since I went clubbing” She said groaning.

“Oh, call me when you want to go. I’ll be ever ready” I said biting my lips from smiling too broadly.

“Sure” She said smiling back.

“Uh, I hate rain on your parade but can you our order?” Varun asked looking a bit annoyed.

Who pissed in his pants?

“Oh okay Varun, I won’t steal your date. What can I get you?” She asked smirking.

“What!” I exclaimed slowly knowing she was pulling his leg to embarrass him and how can I not be a part of it.

“Uh-no, we are not- that’s not what’s – SARAH” he exclaimed looking at her wide eyed looking confused not knowing what to say and she burst out laughing and I couldn’t stop myself from chuckling.

Umm, messing with him is easy.

“I’m kidding, what can I get you?” She asked once she stopped laughing and he was thoroughly embarrassed.

We gave our orders and she noted them down and walked off before winking at me.

She’s cute.

“That was not funny” He said grumpily.

“Oh chill out, grandpa” I said rolling my eyes and then realized he is still my boss and my eyes widened.

I have yelled at him and misbehaved with him in the past but now that everything is normal I don’t how to be around him. Should I be like a colleague or a friend?

Argh! So confusing.

“It’s fine, you don’t need worry. We are not in the office so you can be cool with me” He said looking at me expression slightly amused.

“Okay then” I relaxed with a lazy smile.

“So, you’re from Mumbai, how is it there?” He asked actually looking interested in knowing my answer.

“It’s amazing, the city is as they show in movies but my area and my friends were the highlights. I have so many memories on each road on our part of Mumbai. It’s more calm that the famous areas there” I explained my best about the place I grew up in. Mumbai is great but there is a negative side too but every city does so nothing special.

“My parents are from Mumbai” He admitted with a soft smile.

“Really! That’s great. Have you been to Mumbai?” I asked him even though I knew his parents were from Mumbai as I have seen every interview there is about his father. I idolize that guy.

“Nope, Bangalore is my home” He said shrugging.

“Not even for meetings?” I asked him.

“No, I usually go out of country for any meeting emergency otherwise I handle them from here itself” He said as Sarah came with my cold coffee and his cappuccino and some fries. As I said earlier, I don’t drink coffee or tea but coffee is an exception in situations like this.

“Oh” I said curling my lips in ‘o’ shape.

“Yeah, have you adjusted to Bangalore yet?” He asked taking his sip.

“Yes, this city is beautiful apart from traffic which I’m used to. So, all in all it’s good now that I’m making new friends” I said shrugging.

“It’s look like you bonding well with the team members, how’s work life? I’m not asking as your boss” He said chuckling raising his arms up as if he is backing off.

I chuckled.

“Yeah actually everyone is great. Vani is a bit difficult but as a group we all get along good. They are very friendly and easy going” I admitted with a smile, taking a sip of my drink.

“That’s good. You know I really am sorry about the way I spoke to you that day. I am not used to people being around me without having an ulterior motive. Seeing that you were getting close to Rose, Aarav, Sarah, Archie and hell even Aakash likes you and he barely knows you” He said with a guilty smile.

I waved my arm saying it’s okay.

“I was pretty mad. I hate when any one questions my character and my integrity. But now I’m fine, you sincerely apologized and now I get why you reacted the way you did” I said with an easy smile. Now, I’m seeing why he reacted so badly when I was nothing but honest. He must have people around him just for his money or his looks, common problem around rich people.

“Thanks. You know you can spend time with Archie if you want. I know you like him and he could meet new people too” He said raising his eyebrows.

My lips parted and slowly a huge smile formed.

“Really!?!?” I exclaimed getting excited.

“Yeah” He said looking at me amused.

“Oh that’s great. I wanted to play with him so many times” I said clapping my hands cheerfully.

He chuckled at my reaction.

“He would love to play with you, currently Aakash is in love with him” He said shaking his head.

“True, who can not be in love with him? He’s so freaking cute” I gushed releasing my inner emotions. I have been silent and not thinking about him because I have had puppy fever since I was a kid but after meeting Archie I kept my distance because of our fight and the fact that he is my boss’s dog but now that my boss gave me the permission. I will love him to the moon and back.