Destiny or Coincidence?

Athira Patel

Rushing to my cabin ignoring my friends curious stares, I have started my work by opening the file and reading the main key points to understand the project.

It looks like it is a big project where we have to design the hotel interior and even exterior. But the exterior part is taken care of architecture department and now the designs should be done by interior design department. Great…

After some time Divya came and congratulated me for getting into the real time project.

But i just said thank you to her and continued to work because I cannot waste even a second now. I have less time to complete this file and note the main points.

Then I remembered the way i have behaved and said sorry to her and explained to her that I don't have time. I'm kind of happy that she understood my situation and went out without disturbing me.

The sound of ringing my mobile brought me back from my work. I looked at the caller ID to see that it was Dev. I gave a moment to think about whether or not to lift the call but eventually I answered while still noting the points.

"Hello" i said turning the page in the file.

"Hey" Dev said little hesitatingly from the other end of the line. I stopped writing and turned my concentration on my friend.

"Ya Dev?" I asked encouraging him to continue what he was trying to say.

"How are you?" He asked with a voice full of concern and affection.

Tears started pooling at the corner of my eyes listening to my best friend's voice. I miss my Playful Dev so much.

"I am fine Dev" i said taking a deep breath to control my emotions from bursting out.

"Ok. So when are you coming for lunch?" He asked with a hopeful voice. Then I remembered the work at hand. Sighing i put the pen on my notepad and sat straight while shifting the mobile to my right hand.

"Sorry Dev. I have so much work. I need to complete this file before going to the site. Since i am the newcomer i need to get up to date it seems. So that I can continue with other team members in the project" i explained feeling sorry that I am hurting him again when he is feeling hopeful to meet me.

"Oh.." he said and added after a moment "that's good Athira. Atlast you are getting what you were dreaming from your childhood." He said with a little lightness in his voice. But still i can grasp the sadness that he is trying to hide from me. He is not the only one who can understand me so well from all these years. Even i too know him well enough to know if he is sad or not.

"Will meet you at our flat after office Dev." I said hinting him that he doesn't need to stay back to pick me up from the office today since I don't know when I will be back from the site.

I picked up my pen and started looking at the file to complete the task within the time. When i have seen the time its already 1:30 PM and still there is half the file pending in front of me. I know that I have to skip lunch for today if I want this to be completed on time.

"Ok. Do you want me to fetch your food for you?" He asked worried for my health. It made me smile thinking about our college days. Whenever i was busy completing the assignment by skipping the lunch, he used to get me the lunch and made me eat it first before continuing my work. He was always there whenever I needed him the most. But I don't know why i am unable to return his feelings when he is the sweetest guy a girl ever wanted in her life.

What more do you want in your life Athira? For whom you are waiting that you are unable to feel anything for Dev? Mu thoughts started drifting towards Abhilash when i have stopped them from going there.

"No Dev. Its fine. I will buy something after sometime. Don't worry." I convinced him not to worry for me while writing the points again from the file.

"Ok then, take care. Call me if you need anything" he asked sighing in defeat indicating that he doesn't want to force me for this. He is playing safe then. Nice.

"Sure. See you" i said disconnecting the call and started fully concentrating on my work again.

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"May i know what is the time i have mentioned you to complete your task?" asked Abhilash suddenly entering into my cabin without even knocking the door  first. Rude much.

His voice was very high that I am sure everyone in the floor have listened to him clearly. He looked so frustrated and ready to pounce on me the moment given to him.

"By the lunch time Abhilash. But this file is huge and it's taking time. I am trying my best to work fast and not to miss any point in the process." I started explaining him slowly with an even tone trying to make him understand when inside my heart is beating faster due to the fear of his next reaction. I think this is the first time that my heart is beating fast entirely for a different reason because of him.

Wow. What an enlightenment you got there. Mocked my brain.

Shut Up..

"If you are trying your best then i don't think i would have come here instead of you coming to my cabin informing about your work" he said with such an anger in his tone that his words shot directly to my heart making me cringe and hurt at the same time.

"I am trying my best Abhilash" i argued looking at him even though i can feel the tears pooling around my eyes. I don't want to show him my weakness.

"Now you are trying to argue with me? First you didn't do your work on time, then when i have come to ask, you started giving me the reasons and now you even started arguing with me?" He shouted on my face making me flinch in my position and sure enough tears started flowing from my eyes. I wiped them aggressively when I saw behind him that some of my colleagues started to gather to look for what happened.

No, I am stronger than this and I will face the wrath of my manager if i wanted to.

But still it stung that this is Abhilash who have burst on me just because of this project. It hurt a lot but i am not going to show him.

After seeing the notepad he raised his face looking in my direction with an unreadable expression on his face. I cannot read him now as i used to read him previously. The one standing in front of me is entirely different from the one I have known from the pub a few days back. May be i was the reason for his behaviour but I don't want to dwell on this thought much and regret my decision.

"You have completed only three fourth of the project and still one fourth is pending. But it's fine, we don't have time to sit around until you complete your task. From next time, concentrate on your work than chit chatting with your friends about all nonsense." He spat venomously at my direction with a straight face. For a second I thought that i saw regret in his face but he covered it quickly that i don't know if it was my imagination or real.

"Ok Abhilash" i just nodded my head in acceptance because I don't want to argue with him anymore since I don't have the energy in me to do that.

"Come then. All are waiting at the entrance. We don't have much time for your drama" He said looking at me seriously and immediately turned around walking outside to the lift without looking at anyone.

I sighed wiping my tears and grabbed the notepad and other important items and stuffed them in my bag hurriedly before leaving my cabin. I too didn't look at anyone in the fear of seeing their calculative and accusing faces. I made my way to the lift rushing behind him and entered the lift together with him without saying a word.

We can feel the tension inside the lift between us. I want to shout at him and argue at him. I even want to crawl around the corner crying my eyes out. But I didn't do any of them, instead I masked my emotions and kept my face firm hiding them.

When we reached the entrance i can see all the four of them who are training our batch with Omisha among them. Immediately my heart started beating loudly against my chest seeing her murder expression towards me. I ignored her deathly stare and looked in another direction calming myself. They are now my teammates in the project and I have to see them often including Omisha. Great.. what a day to start…

We are totally 8 members in the team including my project manager. I have already seen Omisha, Rohan and Arpitha previously but other three members were completely new. And i got to know from Rohan that they are from Architecture department.

We all entered in two different cars and went to the site which is 10kms away from the office.

Abhilash was driving the car in which Omisha took the passenger seat beside him and me and Rohan took the back side of them. I can still feel the daggers from Omisha but i am going to avoid her at any cost. I can even feel the stare from Abhilash from the rearview mirror since i am sitting backside of him. But I even avoided him looking into the file to complete my task.

Yes i still remember it and i am damn hell bent on completing it before reaching the site. It will at least take half nour for us to go because of Bangalore traffic and that's all i need to complete it. I remember everything he said to me and I am determined to show him that I am capable of doing this.

I know i am hurt because of his ruthless words but i am not going to back down from this.

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Hello my dear readers, here is your awaiting chapter. I hope you like it.

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Sprinkle (Prathyusha) :P