Athira Patel

When I have entered inside after knocking the door to this cabin, I saw that he is busy working on his laptop without even looking for the person who came inside.

To get his attention I have cleared my throat "Good morning Abhilash" I said greeting him by looking at his face.

When he got to know that it was me, he immediately lifted his head from the laptop looking in my direction with a straight face not showing any emotions or feelings. I think I should be glad for that.

While taking a seat opposite him I have handed him the file which he gave me two days back with the notepad where I have collected all the information about it and explained about the clause.

He eyed it for a moment before taking it from my hand and keeping the file on the table, he opened the notepad without saying anything.

He was going through the notes which I have written yesterday night before everything happened. I was observing his facial features to know about what he is thinking, but to my frustration, he didn't show any of them on his face. His face is neutral while reading it. I suppose that's how he gets all the projects accepted from the clients.

After ten minutes or something, he kept the notepad on the table while looking towards me.

"I see that you have found out the clause within the given time. I'm impressed" he said looking into my eyes with an expression of proud?  And even smiling?

What the hell? Why will he be proud of me?

"I always knew from the start that you are more than capable of this Athira. Congratulations, you have reached up to my expectations and now as promised you can work with me in a real-time project" He said smiling at me genuinely and extended his hand for a handshake.

Listening to his words made my day. Because it's not every day that your manager will praise you for the work you have done. I'm so happy that I have reached up to his expectations that I even forgot about the insults a few minutes back.

Smiling I took hold of his extended hand for a handshake "Thank you Abhilash" I said smiling widely unable to contain my happiness. Anyone can see it on my face how happy I am. God at last my dream is going to fulfil and I am going to work in a real-time project. I'm so excited about that.

"You look beautiful when you smile Athira"  He suddenly said looking into my eyes with a smile of kindness and adoration on his face while keeping his right hand under his chin with the support of the table.

I froze in my spot listening to his compliment and remembering the words Omisha said to me brutally. I even remembered what I have decided before coming into his cabin. I think it's better that we clear the things before it gets out of hand.

All my happiness is gone from my face within a second and I have become serious. I think he too observed the change of reaction on my face because the next moment his smile slipped from his face making a confused look in place of that.

He opened his mouth to say something but I beat him to it "Look Abhilash, we are professionals and I think it's better if we keep it that way. I don't want to think about that night anymore. It was a mistake in the first place." I said looking into his eyes with a serious expression on my face by folding my hands for the support. Even though it's hurting a lot inside saying those words out, I still said them out without quivering. I can see that he too was shocked listening to those words because he was looking with an unbelievable expression on his face.

"You think it was a mistake?" He asked placing both of his hands on the table and looking into my eyes intently like he was searching for something on my face. I cannot look into his face directly afraid that he might read my emotions and I don't want him to know how hard it is for me to say those words.

"Yes, It was a mistake," I said looking into his intense eyes with a neutral expression on my face after composing myself.

He stood up from his seat with lightning speed and came over to my side by lifting me up from my chair and catching hold of my shoulder with his right hand. We both stood face to face with a gap of two feet between us.

"Mistake? Mistakeeee?" He shouted gritting his teeth with anger and took hold of both my shoulders with both his hands shaking them. "Are you listening to yourself woman. Do you think it was a mistake what happened between us on that night? Do you think I'm a playboy to flirt with every girl that I can see? You think that I can get down to that level?" He asked raising his voice by firing the questions with so much emotion in his eyes. I can clearly see the hurt in his eyes because of my words and I felt myself melting down because of his eyes.

"God…. Mistake Athira? Do you even know what I feel for you?  Do you even know what I felt from the moment I saw you again in the pub after two damn years?" He said tugging his hair in frustration and closing his eyes breathing deeply to control himself.

What? Two years? What is he talking about? My heart raced with this unknown emotion.

"Two years? What are you talking about?" I asked confusion litting my face. I don't know why but I have a feeling that I really don't know what is going on.

He froze listening to my question and his eyes widened slightly as if he had said something which he didn't want to say it in the first place. But composed himself very quickly so that I cannot see. But it's too late since I have already seen his expression.

Why am I getting a feeling that there is something he is hiding from me? I was unable to dwell on that thought much because he came closer to me by invading my personal space making my heartbeat at a much faster rate than normal.

"You think that it was a mistake right?" He asked with a sharp edge on his tone while looking into my eyes without any emotion in them. He masked his emotions with a stone expression on his face.

"And we have to behave as professionals itself right?" He asked continuing in the same business tone he uses with the clients for a business deal. I hate this side of him because I have never seen it in the first me. At Least it was not directed towards me before. But I have to accept the inevitable because it's me who have asked him in the first place that we have to be as professionals itself and nothing else. Taking a deep breath I nodded my head in acceptance.

"Yes, Its best for both of us. I want to reach my goal and I don't want anything to distract me. And especially, I don't want to create any misunderstandings between you and Omisha. We both know it was just in the moment of time and nothing else. So it's better if we forget about it and move on." I said keeping a straight face avoiding his eyes by looking at the wall behind him. I was glad that I said it without stammering even though inside I was feeling a hell nervous having him this close to me.  

"Oh ya, right! Omisha... How can I forget about her? You are right Athira, I don't want to create any misunderstandings between us. Thanks for informing me" He said in a sarcastic way with a hard look on his face looking into my eyes holding them captive with his. Ouch… That hurt…  

I don't know why my heart felt as if it had been squeezed by someone. Why am I feeling jealous of Omisha? I know from the start that she is his girlfriend. Then why all of a sudden am I feeling this way?

Because all this time you thought they were in a relation and somewhere at the back of your mind you hoped that it would be wrong. But today you got the confirmation from him directly. Explained my brain without any emotion.

I ignored my brain and my heart which is beating very fast and getting hurt because of his words and nodded my head in acceptance.

"Yes. So I hope everything is clear then" I asked keeping my voice strong not giving in to my emotions.

"Yes. Everything is damn clear Athira." He said going back to his place and taking his seat.

"We are professionals and I will behave as your manager itself from now on," He said very calmly folding his hands and leaning back in his chair while looking at me.

Unable to say anything I just nodded my head again. I just want to leave this room and go to my cabin. The atmosphere around us very thinks with the tension that I am unable to breathe properly.

"So, as you are the new team member in our project, I want you to learn about the project and give me the key points about it by lunchtime." He said giving me another file which is the same as the size of the previous one I have returned him just before. Oh god…

"Because today at 4:00 PM we are going to look at the site and since you are the team member now, I expect you to learn about it before we go. Am I clear?" He asked with the hard tone indicating he serious about this.

How can I complete this within lunchtime? It's already 10:30 AM now and there are only 4 hours left for the lunch break.

"How can I complete it within lunchtime?" I asked not able to understand how he is thinking that I can do it.

"It's not my problem Athira. You have to manage it. And now you are not a trainer that will give you the training about how to utilize it well. If you want to be in this team then you have to do this work on time." He said looking into his laptop without showing any concern.

I started getting angry listening to his words. Who does he think he is?

"But Abhilash…" I still tried to explain maintaining my coolness without lashing out on him.

He looked up from his laptop with an irritating look on his face. "What is your problem Athira? If you want to work then go and finish the task I have given you. Don't stand here and argue with me. It will only decrease your time and nothing more. Because I am not going to change my rules for the sake of you. You are the same to me as other team members." He said with such arrogant voice that it cut straight through my heart. I searched his face to look if there is any sign of concern but none. I guess this is how it will be from now on.

Get used to this arrogant manager of ours, Athira. You will see him a lot from now on since you provoked him to be like this.

I released a breath of sign in defeat and took the file from the table and started leaving his cabin when he said again.

"And don't forget to give me the key points before leaving for lunch" He ordered with authority without lifting his head from the laptop.

That idiot… Urghhhh…. Arrogant, self-centred, egotistical prick…  I cursed him in my brain and left his office ready to work on the task which is on hand.

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