Darling, you have always been mine

Part 16

Splashing cold water on her face, Ina stared at her reflection thinking about the things that had conspired a while back. Staring at her face, wet with water droplets and despite her eyes that had slight redness in them, there was still a slight smile on her face, which made her think about the man who was the reason behind that.

She wasn't thinking that how that devil of a man was mean or rude to her in fact she was just trying to recollect and find one good enough reason that the man could have to behave and console her like a baby. Yes, like a baby. The man she referred to as the devil normally treated her like any loving person would behave with kids.

Pulling out 4-5 tissues in one go, Ina slowly wiped her face and adjusted the now smudged kohl near her eyelids after being washed from the stream of tears and the incessant splashing of water. She didn't want her face to show any traces of the fact that she had cried or something wrong had happened. Because in all the wrongs today, she left all the more right.

Rolling the paperweight with this hand, Viraj's eyes just seemed to roam around the screen where he saw Ina walk back to her seat from her way to the washroom. He knew it was kind of creepy of him to follow her movements like that but only if a person had a reason for doing everything then I guess half the problem would have been eliminated from this planet.

Sighing at how his thoughts started running into psychology, he shook his head to remove those thoughts and thought to read through the couple of files that were kept on the table for him to review.

Moving the paperweight to rest, he picked the topmost file and started to read through it when Ina's tear-stained face came in front of his eyes. Looking blankly at the paper in the file, he couldn't bring himself to remove the vision of her looking at him with so much helplessness.

When did all this start to affect me so much? She forgot the file, it was going to be my loss but still why did I feel so miserable to see her like that.

Rubbing his forehead lightly, he reminisced the whole incident and ended up with a small smile curving his lips when he recalled how soft and tender her lips felt to him. He felt a zillion of hormones guzzling through him when she saw him with such shyness that all he wanted to do was take her then and there.

Trying to control the situation that was becoming so sexually charged he started to pull her leg, embarrassing her in the process which she didn't seem to mind. But all those words that he had said to her were real. He didn't like her being so sad and helpless. Hell, if it was in his hand he would never let her feel that.

But the way he spoke to her was bothering him. And how even when he shouted at her so badly with his harsh words, this girl was still standing in front of him with a shy smile and pink cheeks that were just turning into a beautiful shade of red with each passing second. Her innocence seemed to let her ignore the razor-sharp words that were used by him. Feeling overly guilty, he kept his head on her shoulder and asked her about the whole thing that led him to the earlier shouting spree.

My lack of patience and her innocence will be the death of me.

Walking back to her cubicle gave Ina an alien feeling. With Riya and Aryan's concerned pair of eyes following her, she felt conscious of every step she took. Not meeting anyone's eyes, she quietly sat and started typing an email to reschedule the meeting before personally calling the assistants of the directors and informing them about the change.

Seeing how natural Ina's face looked with the traces of wet hair around her face gave a clear indication to Riya that Ina had cried inside Viraaj's cabin. Making the deduction, she removed her eyes from her only to meet Aryan's pair of eyes that almost held the same expression as hers. But since they were in a professional environment, it was not wise of them to question Ina immediately, so they thought to ask her later when the time permits and when she is comfortable sharing her thoughts. Giving a polite nod to each other they turned back to their work.

" I don't understand why can't our office canteen have some good food rather than selling the same roadside oily food," Deepti grimaced as she made her way to the table where everybody was coming to sit for lunch. Ina didn't feel hungry at all but still, Riya dragged her to the table to at least make her eat something rather than letting her work alone in the department.

" Hello Ladies, Missed me?" Aryan suddenly popped from behind as soon as both of them grabbed their seats. Hearing somebody from behind, Ina gasped while Riya slapped Aryan's shoulder in fake anger.

" You know Aryan, there are many other ways to kill a person. Not necessarily you have to give them a heart attack." Riya commented with a very sweet smile while Ina hid hers seeing their expression.

" My dear, why invite a police case you know? Aryan winked making Riya fume at his comment.

These two really fight like kids, Ina thought to herself while observing them but one part of her mind was still stuck in her devil's cabin. Lowering her eyes, her mind kept on playing the scene that had occurred a while back. Riya watched as Aryan gestured with his hands that he will handle her while giving her an assuring smile but somehow Riya didn't have a good feeling about this.

" Dreaming about me, are we?", Aryan asked; dashing his shoulder with Ina's which immediately brought a smile to her face.

" Well, yeah, was planning to plot ways in how to slowly suck the life out of you in more than 10 ways", Ina commented and a devilish look came on Aryan's face.

" Do you really just want to suck the life out of me? I don't mind but there are better options you know", Ina blushed brightly in embarrassment. She turned to face Riya, who gave her a knowing nod before both of them began hitting Aryan for his suggestive remark making him yelp in pain.

" Oh my God, Ladies! I meant someone else can be the person whom you can suck out the life. Geez, you ladies are so corrupted", Aryan said while rubbing his tricep that pained because of the assault by the girls who were proudly looking at his condition and giggling at his whining as they went and sat back on their chairs.

" Though now when I think of it, I don't mind the thought," Aryan winked while getting up from the chair. He bolted from the scene as soon as he saw both of the females standing up once more, which made them giggle till they were crying. Looking at Ina laughing her heart out, Riya mentally thanked Aryan for cheering up her friend. With Riya's critical glare, Ina had to stifle her laughter and wonder what the heck was going through Riya's mind. Riya's typical "I'm thinking about this really hard" expression.

She silently pleaded with herself, "Please, it shouldn't be about me," knowing full well how difficult it would be to keep the truth from Rhea, her rock through it all.

" Were you crying today morning?" Riya bluntly asked; understanding that Ina knew something was on her mind.

" No No! Are you mad? Why will I cry?" Ina gave out a dry laugh trying to dismiss Riya's question; knowing fully well that it wasn't working seeing the pointed frown that had formed on her face.

" Oh really? So is it a normal occurrence for your kohl to vanish from your eyes when you directly rush to the loo after visiting the man who was behind the asses of your friends to get you to the office?" Riya asked sarcastically with a sweet smile; sweet enough to kill a diabetic patient.

" She is right you know", A familiar voice came from an already dumbstruck Ina's back. Aryan with a serious yet relaxed look approached the girls again. Out of which, one was looking at him with pleading eyes while the other pair held determination to find out what exactly left her friends in tears. " I failed him"

Ina whispered with tears clouding her eyes making the other two people look at her with concern. With a lump forming in her throat, Ina struggled to choke out the words as she narrated the whole incident to them," He trusted me with that file so that I can prepare for the meeting. I didn't want to disappoint him or give him a reason to get angry on me so I ended up staying late. And then I didn't get up on time and with you guys calling I completely forgot about the file. He had a meeting scheduled and I BLOODY FORGOT THE FILE."

Pearl size teardrops started falling out of her eyes as she said the last sentence while the other two looked at her with their widened eyes." My goodness! He must have been so angry", Riya said to herself in a low tone making Ina flinch.

" Did he say something harsh to you?", Aryan asked while cupping Ina's left hand on the table. "Ye-", Ina opened her mouth but closed it again reminiscing what all happened in that room.

Did he really say something harsh to you, Ina? You were ready to f**k up his project and that person can't even get angry at you? That too, he immediately stopped when he saw tears in your eyes. What kind of expectations do you have from a man when you almost screw up his project? He even BLOODY apologized to you, Ina's inner goddess scowled at Ina while Aryan looked at a lost Ina and waited patiently for her to speak.

"He didn't say anything wrong, Aryan," Ina whispered as she recalled how she got pressed against his chest and the events that followed thereafter.

"I am glad he didn't. Now stop crying you have already turned so red due to crying so much," Aryan said; pulling 2-3 tissues in a row for Ina who internally face-palmed herself for blushing due to the recent events though she was glad that her friends thought it was just because of crying.

To be continued...