Destiny or Coincidence?

Athira Patel

It was like a blur until dad left after having breakfast with us in the morning. I became a little emotional when he left and Dev tried to cheer me up by mentioning about today's party but I was not in the mood for that. I wanted to be somewhere where it will be peaceful to get my emotions and thoughts in check. 

So I decided to go to the temple on the way to the office. With that in mind, I got ready by wearing a cream colour churidar and left the house informing Dev. I took a cab to the nearby temple and got out of it by paying the amount and went inside. 

It was lord Krishna's temple, so there are not many of them to which I released a sigh in relief. I wanted to clear my mind and if it was rush then i won't be able to feel peaceful. This place is peaceful with so much greenery around it placing the temple in the middle. Some families were sitting at the corner and chit-chatting with some of them sat alone and enjoying nature. 

I went in front of the door for darshan and gave the pandit coconut cover while i prayed to god. I don't exactly know what i want to pray so i just wished that everyone should be good and happy. My mom used to say that we don't need to ask God about what we want since he will always look after us, so the only thing we need to do is pray to God about others who are in need of prayers. She always used to explain that some people might need prayers desperately when everything goes wrong or everything turns against them. So then maybe someday God will listen to us and help the one who needs these prayers so that they can be happy again. So from that day onwards, I used to pray for others itself. It was never about me and I like it that way. 

After the darshan, i came outside and took a seat nearby steps by placing the bag beside me and started looking outside. It was so peaceful that i want to stay here itself. There is something in the atmosphere of temples that makes us feel peaceful and pleasant. It was so calming and refreshing that all my thoughts went away and I started enjoying nature with a smile on my face. 

I always used to come to the temple whenever i feel lonely, upset or miss my mother. And today is one of those days and I miss my mother a lot. I want to share everything about my life with her but I can't, so i came to the temple since i believe that she is with the god looking after me from heaven.

After some time I looked at my watch to see that it was 8.40AM already and i need to reach office on time otherwise i will be late. So I immediately got up and took a cab to the office once again. 

Once I reached our floor, i texted Dev informing him that i have reached the office and greeted Divya on the way to my cabin. I gave a glance in the direction of Abhi's cabin to see that it was empty and I sighed a little in defeat and went inside my cabin. 

All-day I was in my cabin working for the project since I was lacking in it due to my personal issues these days. And I don't like being lacking in the work. It was only in the lunchtime that I went outside of my cabin to have lunch with our gang where i got to know that today we can leave by 5.00 PM so that we can be able to attend the party on time. It will start at 7.00 PM in the evening and we all decided to get ready at Charitha's house since it is the nearest one to the office. 

Abhilash was on leave today due to some personal emergency and I couldn't help but get worried about him. I hope that he was ok and it was just some personal work. He messaged me in the morning that he won't be able to come to the office today and he will be meeting me at the party in the evening. At Least i am happy that i am going to see him in the evening. I miss him a lot that it scares me sometimes about the way it was running so fast. It was just a month since I met him but here we are already thinking about the relationship between us. I am scared but i know that it will always be him. 

So after completing the work we all went to Charitha's house to get ready. I have left my dress with her yesterday since we have already planned to get ready at her house today. So we don't have anything to carry with us, unlike our boys. 

When we reached the house it was already 5.30 PM and we have only one and a half-hour of time to get ready. So Sahana pushed the three of us into Charitha's bedroom while the boys took the other bedroom. Once we got in, immediately Sahana went inside the bathroom to take a bath while we unpacked and arranged the things we need to get ready. 

After 15 minutes she came outside wrapping a towel around her and started drying her hair while Charitha got inside. And i helped Sahana to get ready with her makeup. 

"I hope that Karthik likes this dress Athi" Sahana said getting worried to which i smiled looking at her in the mirror since i was braiding her hair.

"Don't worry Sahu, You look beautiful in this dress. He will definitely fall for you again today" I said winking at her to which she blushed. 

While i was handing her the earrings Charitha came out and gave me the towel by pushing me into the bathroom. I shook my head smiling due to her dramatic expression and closed the door by getting into the shower. 

I am really excited to see Abhi today but nervous at the same time. This will be the first time that i will get ready fully in front of him. I hope that he likes it. 

Since when did you start caring about your attire Athira? Asked my brain teasingly.

I know that. But this time it's different. It was Abhi and I want to look presentable in front of him. And for the first time after so many years, i want to get ready to impress him. So it's common that i am a nervous wreck. 

"Get your ass out Athi, It's becoming late woman" Charitha shouted from the bedroom making me come out of my deep thinking and immediately I turned off the shower and dried myself with a towel in a hurry. 

After wrapping a towel around myself i got out and wore my undergarments before taking a seat in front of the mirror for Charitha to do my makeup. I am lucky to have this girl since her fingers do wonders on my face all the time. 

Within 20 minutes she got me all ready by doing my makeup with simple touches here and there. I am glad that she didn't do heavy makeup since i don't like wearing it heavy. 

"There you go. All done. Now go and wear your dress quickly" she shooed me away from the mirror while Sahana chuckled looking at my pouting expression.

"Common, I will help you," Sahana said while taking my dress in her hands and opening the back zip for me to enter into it. Once I wore it, she zipped it up from backside carefully and turned me around to look at me. 

"Wow girl, You are looking hot in this dress. I am damn sure that Abhilash is going to get one hell of a shock looking at you. I wonder if he can keep his hands off of you in this party" Sahana said smirking at me to which Charitha laughed making me look at them in shock and flushed cheeks. 

Oh my god… These idiots don't have a filter to their mouths.

"Shut Up you both. I hope that Karthik won't rip your dress on the spot looking at you" I countered back smirking at her which in return made her shut her mouth and froze on the spot opening her mouth widely. 

"Oh my God, Athi. You are so dirty" commented Charitha laughing like a mad girl by catching her stomach. I just winked at her in return and looked at Sahana to see that she was glaring at both of us while we burst out laughing again like mad girls. 

"I hate you both." Sahana cussed throwing the pillows in our direction which we ducked in time and winked at her.

"Ok girl… Now cool down. You got what you have created for you." Charitha commented composing herself and sat on the bed breathing heavily while I too did same and dragged Sahana with me to the bed.

"I love you too Sahu," I said kissing her cheek and hugging her to make her embarrassment lessen. She whined like a little girl before wrapping her arms around me and hugging me in return with a smile. 

"Oh you two.. Where have i gone bitches?" Char shouted from beside me making us chuckle and we both dragged her to our group hug. It's good to be with these two. I miss my one friend but got the other two. I hope Riya too was here. We would make a gang of idiots for sure. 

We came downstairs to the living hall after our group hug to see that our boys have already got ready and was waiting for us. Once they realised that we are coming down, they got up from the couch and turned towards our side only to freeze on the spot. 

We all we chuckling to ourselves looking at their reactions. I can see that Karthik was looking at Sahana with a look of shock and awe in his face while Sahana was blushing red like a tomato here walking slowly towards him looking down.

But that's not the reason i was surprised in the first place. It was because of Dev's reaction, the way he froze by not even batting an eyelash with a look of pure shock in his eyes and he was looking at Charitha making her freeze on the spot with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. God, she is blushing… Our Char is blushing… That too because of Dev...

OH MY OD…. AM I SEEING CORRECTLY HERE…?

Yes, girl, you are. And looks like Charitha has captured our Dev's attention today...  Commented my brain with amusement.

For once i agree with her. It was surprising to see Dev and Charitha like that but i am soo happy for it. I really hope that they click. How i have not seen this coming before? 

I have realised that Charitha used to be shy around Dev always but never gave any thought about it.

You were too busy in your own little world to observe around you. Did you forget that you were so oblivious to the things around you? Mocked my brain again to which I kind of felt ashamed for ignoring my friends.

Now i got the confirmation that Char likes Dev from the start and it was us who did not observe it in the first place. Now, for the sake of my two friends, i will definitely become a cupid in between them…

Hmmmm… I rubbed my hands together mentally smirking at my own idea. I got a plan in my mind now. Looks like i have to blast their own bubble otherwise, we will become late.

I cleared my throat to get their attention "I hope that I am not interrupting anything here because I think we are going to be late if you guys continue to stare at each other like that" I commented smirking at all of them to see that all are looking either way and avoiding each other gazes in embarrassment of getting caught. 

I laughed looking at their faces to which they all glared at me and started coming together like a predator coming for its prey. I immediately raised both of my hands in surrender "Ok ok sorry for teasing. But can we please leave now?" I asked them with a puppy dog eyes to which they all looked at me in amusement.

"I know that you are so eager to see your boyfriend, but you don't need to beg us Athi" commented Char smirking at me to which I looked at her in shock. 

Chuckling Dev got near me and hugged me to distract me mainly because i am sure that i was going to strangle her there itself. 

"You are looking beautiful Choti," he said near my ear to which I scoffed and removed myself from him.

"Oh really? But a few minutes back you were so busy to glance in my direction" I teased him by standing in front of him to which he blushed in embarrassment and cursed internally by walking towards the door making me laugh at his reaction.

I got you Dev. Now you cannot escape from me. Just you wait and watch. You are going to see what your Choti can do if she made up her mind. 

We all got out while Char locked the door and went to her car getting inside but I ran towards her before she got inside and stopped her.

"Char... Wait… I don't think it's necessary to bring our car too. Anyway, you are the only one to ride in your car right. So me and Dev will accompany you while Sahana and Karthik will take Karthik's car. What do you say?" I asked looking at her with a serious face so that she won't catch on to my idea. I can see from the corner of my eye that Dev was looking at me in confusion but I just ignored him.

"Sure. No problem. Dev... Catch it" she agreed by throwing the car keys at Dev to let him drive. Immediately I went to the back seat acting normally by leaving the space in the front side so that she can sit beside him. 

When she too started climbing beside me I immediately stopped her again.

"Wait. what are you doing? Dev looks like a driver escorting us to the party if we leave the front seat, Char. Go and sit in the front" I shooed her away while she looked at me with furrowed eyebrows before realisation dawned on her about what i said and agreed by nodding her head.

When I glanced at Dev, he was already looking at me like he was going to kill me. Uh-oh... I am going to be in trouble i guess. But it's worth it if you ask. I just gave an innocent smile to which he glared, even more, cursing under his breath and got inside the driver's seat and started the engine.

My phone beeped indicating that i got a message and I pulled it out of my clutch to see that it was from Sahana. I curiously opened it and an evil smile crept on my face reading the message.

"I can see what you are trying to do girl. I am with you on this :P"  she sent a message with a smiley making me giggle like a girl. Oh, it's gonna be interesting.

I replied to her with "Mission started" with a wink smiley and kept the mobile back in my clutch. 

----

After parking the car we all went inside the hotel where the party is held to see that it was full of people indicating that the party has already been started. 

Ivan, Bharath, Chandan and Divya came to us once they spotted us near the entrance. The hall was huge where at least 1ten thousand people can fit in easily without any difficulty. 

"God, these people are loaded" Charitha muttered to which all of us nodded in agreement. I was in awe looking at this hall. Its interior was so classy with red and golden colour curtains and designs. All the pillars were surrounded by gold and red colour cloth with lightings around it. Big chandeliers are hanging to the ceiling making it even more classy. To one side it was a bar area and another side was eating zone. There is a stage at the front and round tables were placed for everyone to sit and enjoy the party.

"Yes, they are. What do you expect from a company like this? Parties will be rare from them but it will always be a huge one if they throw it" explained Sahana with a look of pride in her. 

Some girls are playing the song on the stage while others are enjoying it. I can see our HR department sitting at one corner of the table and enjoying the show. I can recognize some of the faces while most of them are unknown. 

We went towards the middle and occupied one table which can fit ten people and was looking around us in awestruck. No one was saying anything since we all were admiring the beauty of it. 

"I hope that today we are going to get a glance of our CEO," Karthik said cutting the silence and making all of us turn towards him.

"Ya i agree with you," Ivan said nodding his head.

"Ladies and gentlemen," someone said making the hall quiet and by getting the attention of all of us. We all turned towards the stage to see that some man in his 30's was standing on the stage holding a mic. 

"I would like to say a huge thank you for all of them to attend the party in such short notice. As you all know the reason behind today's party is because the birthday of our CEO." he said with a genuine smile on his face.

"And the other reason for this party is that today Gordan Saint has completed 24 Years successfully" he shouted on the mic making all of us cheer in return. 

Wow. Really... It was a great achievement for them. 

"So on this occasion, our CEO Mrs. Hemalatha Srivastav would like to give an important announcement. So i would like to invite our CEO on to the stage" he said turning towards his back where the backstage is there. There is a pin-drop silence in the hall eagerly waiting for their CEO to enter. We all held our breath to look at the lady about whom we have heard so many things and even about hard work too. 

Some lady started walking towards the middle of the stage wearing the saree which is a simple cream colour but it looked elegant on her. When she came forward on the stage I froze in my spot looking at her face. To say I was shocked would be an understatement of the century. 

"Oh my god…" said Dev looking at her in shock same as me. 

Indeed it was oh my god. Since she was none other than our Hema aunty who stays in the penthouse of our apartment...

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Hello everyone,

here is your awaiting chapter, i hope that you you liked it. what do you think about this new twist? any ideas about this new revelation? And did anybody thought about this turn of event first itself?

And what do you think about this new blooming relationship of Dev? Do let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter.

Love...

Sprinkle...